Chapter 27: Adolescence

Faced with the Chief Nun’s skepticism, Eric immediately chose to deny it.

“That is, of course, impossible. In the Cimino household, the Holy Scripture is treated exactly like family history; it is required reading for every member.”

He wiped away a bead of sweat. “It is just that, for one reason or another, my interpretation has not been particularly profound. Especially in the presence of an envoy from the Holy Capital, one might even call it superficial.”

Alana studied him for a moment. She seemed poised to speak, but stopped herself, eventually giving a nod that served as an acceptance of his explanation.

However, with this delay, the matter of interpreting the scripture was left hanging. Eric did not press the issue further for the time being, though he felt a bit dejected deep down.

He had been telling the truth. The Holy Scripture was indeed required reading for the Cimino family, but there is a difference between reading every word and scanning pages at a glance. Eric, who had been immersed in swordsmanship since childhood, happened not to be the former type.

He recalled the last time he had leafed through the scripture; it must have been when he was still learning under a tutor alongside Irene, back when he was at an age where he still drooled...

He hadn't put his heart into it back then, and so much time had passed since that it would be a miracle if he remembered anything at all.

Even without the awakening of his memories from a past life, he suspected that piety was something he would never truly be associated with in this lifetime.

However, since interpreting the classics could boost his attributes, reading the scripture again had to be put on his agenda.

By the light of the campfire, Eric glanced at the silent Chief Nun.

To interpret the scripture, an envoy from the Holy Capital would naturally be the best choice. Yet, he vaguely sensed that Alana’s attitude toward him was somewhat contradictory, making it difficult for him to broach the subject.

On one hand, she seemed to remain on guard against him due to the previous fabrication of a miracle. While she cooperated when necessary, she still doubted his devotion to the gods.

On the other hand, regarding his lack of piety, she unconsciously displayed a subtle emotion—not the disgust one might feel toward a heretic, but rather something akin to a helpless, "if only you were better" frustration.

Eric found this quite puzzling.

Perhaps this was the same attitude a manager might have when dealing with a client who acted on their own, liked to stir up trouble, and yet seemed connected to the upper management of the parent company—all while the boss remained unresponsive?

Having integrated the memories of his past life, he could only ever offer a feigned piety toward gods who were invisible and intangible.

But Eric was certain that this did not matter. After all, judging from the missions he had completed in his previous life, even a bishop of the first district was not necessarily truly pious toward Yella in their heart.

What mattered was making others believe in his outward show of piety.

And he happened to possess a unique advantage in this regard—how could someone favored by the True God, whom everyone believed in, and who could prophesy the unknown, possibly be anything but pious?

Eric raised his head and took a deep breath.

The performance in the square was merely a small warm-up; he was waiting for a miracle that no one could possibly question.

*Snap!*

A piece of wood in the campfire, perhaps containing some unknown impurity, suddenly burst, sending a small spray of sparks into the air.

The silent Chief Nun spoke at this moment: “It is getting late; we should rest. Good night, Mr. Eric.”

“...Good night, Chief Nun Alana.” Eric pulled himself out of his thoughts and nodded toward her.

The latter rose to acknowledge him, her gaze shifting to the young nun, who was squirming in her seat.

“Sophie?”

“I’m not sleepy yet, I want to sit for a little longer...”

Sophie’s eyes darted away, trying her best not to look at Eric beside her. Yet, the other two by the campfire knew perfectly well what was on her mind.

Alana looked at Eric once more, but said nothing further, merely telling Sophie to get some rest soon before returning to her tent.

With their own thoughts, Eric and Sophie both breathed a sigh of relief in unison, exchanged a look, and smiled.

***

“Actually, the Chief Nun is a very good person...”

As soon as Alana left, Sophie shifted quite a bit closer to Eric. “Although she can be a little strict sometimes, like a teacher, compared to the other nuns in the convent, Chief Nun Alana is truly very gentle.”

“I can tell,” Eric said. “She takes good care of Miss Sophie, just like a younger sister.”

Sophie looked at him. “Yes. After my training ends and I leave the convent, I will always remember the Chief Nun... and Mr. Eric, too. I don’t think I will ever forget the experiences of these past few days.”

*Too direct, little nun...*

Eric could only pretend not to understand. “This was also my first time actually participating in combat; it’s certainly different from my daily practice. I will also remember this for the rest of my life.”

“Combat, huh...” Hearing him not mention her at all, Sophie managed a forced smile, her head drooping, and she did not speak again for a long time.

Looking at the adolescent nun who had suddenly fallen from bright and cheery to melancholy, Eric felt a headache coming on.

Truth be told, he quite liked this straightforward and cute little nun, but it was merely an appreciative fondness; it hadn't reached any other level, let alone warranted a response.

Anyway, most adolescent crushes are based on looks—they come fast and go just as quickly...

Eric shot frantic glances at Leslie, who was by the other side of the fire, trying to get him to come over and break the increasingly silent atmosphere so the little nun would return to her tent.

However, the Captain of the Guard was busy painting a picture of drunken revelry for tomorrow’s celebration with his subordinates, completely oblivious to his young master’s eyes, which were blinking to the point of cramping.

If it weren't for the fact that it would be too obvious, Eric would have really liked to pick up a piece of wood and throw it at him.

“Mr. Eric, is something wrong with your eyes?”

Leslie hadn't received Eric’s signals, but the little nun sitting closer had noticed his odd behavior.

“It’s nothing, my eyes are just a bit dry...” Eric rubbed his eyelids. “I’m tired after a long day; I think it’s time for me to rest as well.”

Sophie’s eyes rolled, but she pretended not to hear him; she didn’t want this rare moment of solitude to end so quickly.

However, she was also worried about his statement that he was going to rest—even though he had already said it. After thinking for a moment, she threw out a new topic: “What does Mr. Eric plan to do in the future? Will you go on adventures across the continent?”

*Is it time for a talk about life and the future?*

Eric discovered another point where Sophie differed from Alana: The Chief Nun was skeptical about him becoming the Saintess’s successor, seemingly waiting for the Saintess’s word, whereas Sophie seemed to have no expectation that the Saintess would ever agree.

“It’s hard to say. I don’t yet understand the duties of a Saintess, so I don’t know if I’ll still be able to run around the continent after succeeding her,” Eric said.

Sophie was taken aback and, predictably, pursed her lips in disapproval, though she was not quite as blunt when she spoke.

“Why is Mr. Eric so obsessed with becoming the Saintess’s successor? It was already decided that Miss Irene would be the Saintess. If you were her sister, it might be one thing... but Mr. Eric, you are her brother. You are a man.”

“Does the Holy Scripture say that a man cannot become a Saintess?” Eric countered.

Sophie was stunned again, and this time the silence lasted even longer, as if she were searching her memory for any relevant content in the scripture.

“It seems... it doesn’t...”

“Then that settles it.”

“But... but...” Sophie struggled for a long time before finally managing to say that there had never been such an exception before.

“Well, there wasn’t a ‘Saintess’ thing before that, either,” Eric said. “The system of the Saintess has only been established for two or three hundred years.”

The family history recorded this clearly; he had just leafed through it recently and happened to remember.

Sophie nodded slowly. “That is true...”

“Breaking a convention that is only two hundred years old is hardly a big deal.”

Eric poked at the fire in front of him, his tone indifferent and casual. “The elves born in that era who lived a bit longer are still alive today. They’ll probably be able to see the next era, the one I open by succeeding as the Saintess.”

The little nun’s eyes widened, and she was finally speechless. It took her a long time to realize that what she had originally wanted to ask wasn’t whether he *could* succeed, but *why* he wanted to.

“Why? It seems Miss Sophie still doesn’t believe me.”

Eric looked at her. “It is not that I wish to succeed her; it is that Yella has sent down an oracle, commanding me to replace Irene and prevent a future catastrophe.”

Sophie quickly remembered that he had indeed said this on the high platform in the square that day.

“No, I just forgot...”

“Then does that mean you believe me?”

“...”

The little nun began picking at her fingers, looking everywhere but at him.

Eric smiled, not pressing the issue. After all, her opinion was not as important as the Chief Nun’s.

Thinking of the Chief Nun, he glanced at the tent not far away and brought up the matter he had temporarily shelved.

“Miss Sophie, could you interpret the Holy Scripture for me? Although I studied it thoroughly as a child, it has been too long, and I have forgotten much of the content. After hearing your interpretation earlier, I feel I have gained much.”

Sophie looked at him. “Really?”

“Of course.”

*My faith increased by 1, so how could it be a lie?*

“My interpretation of the scripture also comes from listening to the lecturing nuns at the convent... I don’t remember it all that well either,” the little nun said.

Eric did not mind. “It doesn’t matter; remember what you can. Even learning a little bit is a gain.”

Sophie was touched by his trust, but chose to refuse. “But I cannot interpret the Holy Scripture for Mr. Eric.”

“Hmm... hmm?”

Confirming he hadn't heard wrong, Eric was stunned. He thought for a moment and gestured toward the nearby tent. “Is this the will of Chief Nun Alana?”

“Ah? No, no.”

Sophie quickly shook her head. “It is just that I am not qualified to interpret the scripture for Mr. Eric... if Mr. Eric really can become the Saintess’s successor in the future.”

Eric felt that things were not going well. “Then who is qualified to do so?”

“The Saintess.”

“...”

That eighty-year-old woman didn't have many years left; did she really have the energy to lecture him?

“If the Saintess is too busy, or dies... or returns to the Divine Kingdom, a lecturing nun will be assigned to the successor from the convent’s divinity school,” Sophie added.

Eric sighed, feeling helpless. It seemed the matter of interpreting the Holy Scripture would have to wait.