The World I Was Supporting Was Real

Episode 22. Appointment of the Holy Knight (3)

Erin looked down at Ophelia with a very satisfied smile and performed a simple ceremony to appoint her as a holy knight.

She gently touched her head and shoulders with her hand, then took out the Bible she always carried and placed it on her forehead.

“This body, solely for Lord Guodong.”

“God’s will is my will. It is the path I must follow.”

“I will honorably accept the position of a holy knight, even if it is the lowest seat.”

After Ophelia recited the abbreviated version of the ‘Oath of the Holy Knight,’ the ceremony concluded.

Erin, with a smile as bright as the sun, said,

“Since you will probably have to leave this place, please come to the square in front of the cathedral as soon as you are ready.”

“I have seen the cathedral in passing. You mean the building with the tallest spire, right?”

“Yes, that’s correct. Although, it is in the past tense now…”

“…?”

Grinning!

With a fresh smile on her face that seemed like it would burst if touched-

“It collapsed.”

“It collapsed…?”

“Yes. By the will of God.”

Erin said this as she bowed her head in prayer.

“Everything is by God’s will.”

For the cathedral to collapse by the will of God.

Even though it was a situation that warranted enough doubt, Ophelia, instead of being surprised or asking again, bowed her head and showed her respect.

She had lived her life without thinking deeply in front of ‘God’s will.’

If God thought so, then it must be so—that was her motto.

“I understand. I will head to escort the Saintess as soon as possible. Take care.”

“Yes. Let’s meet again, Ophelia. Then.”

After Saintess Erin left.

“Miss!!”

The maids, who had been standing behind Ophelia and usually attended to her, approached her.

“Miss Ophelia! You have finally become the Holy Knight you always dreamed of! Congratulations!”

“Yes, thank you.”

“You even refused the offer from the Erdurf family a while ago. I was so worried that you might have to quit being a knight.”

“Oh, come on. Our lady has turned down offers from the Imperial Knights and the Knight’s Guard of the Neithardt family, so why would she go to the Erdurf family?”

“It’s really fortunate that the Saintess appeared…”

After such light conversation, one of the maids asked with a worried expression,

“You won’t be coming back to the mansion for a while, right?”

“Probably not. A long outing… No, not an outing, but leaving the house entirely… training…?”

“Miss, are you talking about leaving?”

“Yes. Leaving. It seems it will be a long departure.”

Usually, the length of a departure wasn’t discussed, but the maids seemed accustomed to such conversations and didn’t object.

“I feel a bit sad. It will be very noticeable when you’re not here. The empty space will be much more apparent…”

“But it can’t be helped.”

Ophelia said this, clasped her hands together, and offered a respectful prayer—

“I have dedicated my life to serving God.”

With these words, she shone with a golden light full of devotion.

The maids, who took in Ophelia’s appearance, felt a sense of awe.

Ophelia Transrente.

Born as the only daughter of the prestigious Transrente family, she stood out as a ‘genius knight’ from a young age.

Despite being only 23 years old, she succeeded in reaching a certain ‘level’ and received numerous scouting offers from nobles and even the Imperial Knights.

However, Ophelia rejected all offers, including those from the royal family, saying, “Give me more time.”

The reason for her refusal was simple—“I want to live a life serving God.” Of course, serving God ultimately meant becoming a holy knight.

She wanted to become a holy knight when the saint appeared someday.

If she couldn’t become a holy knight, she would wait for God’s word as long as possible in her youth, with her firm character and devotion.

It was only natural that countless knights admired her.

The same was true for the employees.

Employer and employee. There was a certain degree of status difference.

Nevertheless, Ophelia mingled freely with the maids.

They all deeply respected and followed Ophelia, who treated them with courtesy beyond their status.

Even if there were places with higher pay, they didn’t change jobs, and most of the Transrente family’s employees had a minimum of three years of service.

At least in her view, all humans were equal under God.

Reputation.

Among the three ‘holy knight candidates,’ Ophelia had the most reputation.

“Miss… we will miss you a lot.”

“Even while serving the saint, I will have plenty of opportunities to visit here, so don’t be too sad. I will gladly make time to come back and see you all.”

At that moment.

One of the maids approached and spoke.

“Miss. I’m worried, so I must tell you…”

“Hmm?”

“I don’t really know much about the knight named Luka Hebnician, but Princess Linnea von Einsberg doesn’t have a very good reputation. You are a kind-hearted lady, but not everyone is as good as you, so please-“

“Belluna.”

Ophelia cut off the maid who was advising her.

“Sorry to interrupt, but I don’t want to hear gossip about the comrades who will become fellow Holy Knights with us. How can we brand comrades we’ve never even met based on rumors?”

“…I apologize.”

With that, the maids all withdrew.

Finally left alone, Ophelia prayed once again.

Talking to God through prayer and organizing her thoughts when alone had been her habit since childhood.

‘Dear Lord. Thank you for the grace as vast as the sea in appointing me as a Holy Knight. Please grant me Your…’

God’s… what was it?

‘Grace…?’

She couldn’t remember the word that followed.

Despite having memorized it diligently several times, it still didn’t stay in her mind.

‘I lack discipline.’

Ophelia sighed briefly.

However, just because she couldn’t remember didn’t mean she should avoid God.

‘I pray that You bestow upon me Your profound ‘grace’. I will gladly accept it with my whole being and fill myself with it.’

After offering a short, heartfelt prayer, she was about to move.

―Crash!

With a loud clatter, the circlet hit the floor, and Ophelia, who had tripped, fell down.

Her ears turned bright red for a moment… but fortunately, there was no one around.

Ophelia quickly stood up and brushed off the dust with her hands.

‘Falling because I couldn’t properly tread the path I must take. This too is a trial from God. I will surely overcome this trial.’

What does it matter if she falls?

She just needs to brush off the dust and move forward.

Isn’t it joyful to think of this as part of her training?

Thinking this way… Ophelia slowly took steps to become a Holy Knight.

* * *

What it means to be a Holy Knight—three Holy Knights.

Another female knight was listening to Saint Erin’s message.

However, this time, the reaction was slightly different from Ophelia’s.

If Ophelia’s reaction could be summarized with the word reverence for the divine, this time, it was clearly a different emotion—bewilderment.

“Did you say a plate of holy knights…?”

“Yes. Three holy knights gathered to form one plate of holy knights… that is the will of the divine.”

“Then, are you saying there are two more holy knights besides me?”

“That is correct.”

The female knight, with long blonde hair reminiscent of sunflowers and deep blue eyes symbolizing the royal family, raised her eyebrows in disbelief and then cautiously asked.

“Then, all three candidates are…?”

“Yes. Based on the divine words and the contents written in the scriptures, a new plate of holy knights has been chosen.”

The royal candidate for the holy knight, Linnea von Einsberg, pondered for a moment and then nodded.

There was no option to refuse anyway, so there was no need to think long.

“…Understood. I will accept the position of a plate of holy knights.”

After a brief oath with Erin, the meeting with the saint ended with the instructions to visit the rebuilding cathedral in Igogodon as soon as preparations were complete.

After Erin left, Linnea fell into cautious contemplation.

‘How should I take this…?’

The reason why the royal family wanted to secure the position of the holy knight.

To quickly establish a connection with the royal family before the saint appeared, strengthened the church’s power, and elevated the Pope’s authority.

But that was only possible if there was one holy knight, and that too, a member from the royal side.

If there were three holy knights, it would be impossible for the royal family to use the holy knight as leverage.

Now, they chose three based on the scriptures, but if they were displeased, they could easily expel one under the pretext of divine will, couldn’t they?

In that case, it was obvious that Linnea, who had the least faith, would be the most at risk.

‘I should consult with my mother.’

Linnea quickly made her way to the audience chamber of the royal palace in Igogodon.

* * *