Don’t Be Holy! - Chapter 186

Eir looked silently at the pale, milk-white gleaming marble floor before raising her head at the Proxy’s command. Due to her self-perception as a sinner, it wasn’t easy to look at the Proxy’s face even as she raised her head.

For some unknown reason, her hands trembled, and even her arms shook. Eir closed her eyes momentarily and exhaled deeply, as if trying to expel the things making her heart anxious, and only then did she look at the Proxy with clear eyes, as if she had accepted everything.

“Do you know what your sin is?”

“I do.”

“Tell me.”

“I…… I received God’s power but failed to fulfill my duty and ran away.”

“Do you know what that duty is?”

The calm series of answers stopped. She couldn’t find the right answer to that question. It was just like when she faced the Proxy years ago, when he asked her what the meaning of God was.

She still hadn’t found the meaning of God, and couldn’t know what that duty was.

When Eir failed to answer, the Proxy clicked his tongue with a “tsk” and slowly rose from his chair, descending the steps. She heard the sound of his heavy sacred robes dragging on the floor. Eir lowered her head again, and the Proxy stood before her, bending his knees as if kneeling to offer a prayer.

“Lord Del Gatos…….”

Startled, Eir raised her hand as if to support him, but the Proxy gently brushed it away, adjusted his attire, and looked at her with a face so upright it felt sacred.

“Eir.”

“……Yes.”

Eir was surprised that the Proxy knew her name, but replied without showing it. However, as if it was impossible to hide such things before the Proxy, he calmly resolved her doubt.

“I have never forgotten anyone. I know the names of all priests, including you. But no one else remembers you. Why is that?”

“Please speak informally to me.”

“Answer my question first.”

When Eir, flustered by the unexpected formal speech, bowed her upper body and acted as if she had committed a crime, the Proxy commanded in a clear voice.

Eir calmly began to explain how she had spent the last three years, why she had wanted to escape, and how sweet the grandmother’s outstretched hand of salvation had seemed. The Proxy showed no surprise even when he heard that Eir had been forgotten by everyone with the help of a witch, or even when she explained that the side effect of her blessing led people to ecstasy.

His expression remained so unchanged that Eir’s blushing face as she spoke felt more inappropriate by comparison.

“So it seems Lord Rubel misunderstood because of the witch’s mark that appeared then.”

Eir stumbled over her words before giving up and submitting to her fate.

After pondering something for a while, the Proxy asked how she had obtained the treasure. Eir explained that in detail as well.

“The witches seemed to be collecting and analyzing items from our side. There were many items, but I couldn’t bring them all, so I just took the mirror…….”

“Did anything happen after you obtained the treasure?”

“Well…….”

Just as Eir’s explanation was about to continue, there was a sudden urgent knocking at the door, drawing both the Proxy’s and Eir’s attention. Since interrupting the Proxy during an audience was extremely unusual unless for something critically urgent, the Proxy quickly granted permission for them to enter.

“What is the matter?”

“It appears there has been another invasion from Albarm. Moreover, this time the scale is large, and the firstborn of the Shinote family is threatening suicide…….”

“I understand. Let’s talk outside.”

Perhaps mindful that Eir was listening, the Proxy said this and left the audience chamber. The holy knight who had come to deliver the news looked at Eir with an expression that seemed to ask why they had to leave, but after the Proxy told Eir once more to wait until their conversation was finished, he soon complied and withdrew.

Eir nodded in understanding, and the Proxy hurriedly left with the group of holy knights, leaving Eir alone. He showed no concern whatsoever about what Eir might do in his absence.