Episode 5. Erin (2)

* * *

God exists, and he is called ‘Igogodon’――

Erin had never once forgotten that moment.

The very first time, when the sky was torn apart and the spear of judgment literally slaughtered the band of thieves.

‘God exists…!’

She no longer doubts the existence of God.

After all, she heard the voice of God. In this situation, doubting that fact would be nothing short of blasphemy, wouldn’t it?

Even when she heard sentences that couldn’t be interpreted in any way, like ‘Thank you for the ten thousand won donation’ – how could a mere human, a creature, fully interpret the will of God?

Erin recalled the words of the nun who used to take care of the village children when she was young.

“The Saintess is the only one on the continent who can hear the voice of God. No, to be precise, she became a Saintess because she heard the voice of God.”

When Erin was young, during the relatively peaceful times of the village, she was a girl with more curiosity than she has now. A very ordinary girl who showed curiosity about meaningless things, as is common at that age.

“What happens if you hear the voice but don’t become a Saintess?”

To her thoughtless question, the nun gently patted her head with a very kind expression.

Was it because that touch was so warm, or because the next words she said left such an impression on her?

That moment was the most memorable piece of the peaceful times that Erin could never forget.

“The moment you hear the voice, everyone realizes it. The destiny to become a Saintess. And, humans cannot defy that destiny. You come to know it very naturally.”

Just as water flows from high to low.

When morning comes, noon follows, and soon it becomes night with the silent darkness, and when the moon hides, morning comes again…

You accept that fate very naturally―― she said.

I see.

I think I understand.

Now, I think I understand what the nun meant.

The infinitely great grace of Igogodon that fills her once empty heart.

What it means to become an apostle of God—you just ‘come to know’ it naturally.

Let’s become a Saintess.

Go to the Pope and tell him that you heard the voice of God.

Doing nothing despite hearing the voice of God would be a disservice to myself, to the great God, and to all the people of the continent.

A village devastated by the plague.

Leaving behind my hometown where all my family and friends had died… Erin took the first step of her long journey.

* * *

The journey, to a third party, would have seemed nothing short of bizarre.

There were only two things she did throughout her journey.

Walking in the direction of the Vatican and praying.

If you have trouble, ask God.

If God takes pity on you, everything will be accomplished—

From the moment she heard God’s voice, that sentence felt like an absolute truth in her mind.

“Our only God, Igogodon. I humbly ask you, Igogodon, please take pity on this lamb once more. Grant me the opportunity to overcome trials and deliver your words, Igogodon…!!”

When she prayed and slowly opened her eyes… all problems were resolved.

Continuous miracles!

Erin always prayed when she needed water and food, or when she needed to find a place to sleep.

After closing her eyes and praying sincerely, when she slowly opened them—hot food and clean water appeared before her eyes.

When she needed a safe place to sleep, a cave suddenly appeared where there was nothing.

Food and a place to sleep. These two things were essential for the journey to become a saint, so she didn’t hesitate to pray for them.

The problem was elsewhere. —She wanted to bathe.

‘It’s uncomfortable…’

Although she could get clean clothes through prayer, her body wasn’t in a clean state since she had fled from the village.

She washed her face and hands and feet whenever she encountered a river on the way, but… as long as she had a human body, the desire to bathe couldn’t be suppressed.

Even so, how could she pray to God, who was already taking care of her, saying ‘I want to bathe’!

She could ask without hesitation for food and a place to sleep because her life could be at risk without them, but she wanted to solve other things with her own strength, that was her honest feeling.

However… she was still just a young maiden who had just turned twenty.

A common woman who had almost been killed by bandits not long ago.

Even though she declared that she would walk the path of asceticism, enduring desires after receiving divine revelation, she couldn’t easily shake off the very basic desire to be clean.

‘As someone who serves the only God, Igogodon, keeping oneself clean is important… wouldn’t Igogodon understand this much of a request…?’

So she closed her eyes tightly and prayed for the first time with a personal request.

“Igogodon. I hope you grant me the opportunity to bathe. I will serve you with an even cleaner body. Please…!”

And as a result… hot spring water gushed out before her eyes.

‘Igogodon…! You granted my request…!!’

The first bath she took after returning from the village.

She undressed without hesitation and entered the hot spring. She didn’t worry about anyone coming. Igodon wouldn’t allow such a situation.

As she thought, the bath time was very peaceful and quiet.

Soaking her body and relieving her fatigue after a long time, Erin naturally had such thoughts.

From noble mtl dot com

‘Could it be that the Lord Igwogwo finds me cute…?’

But she immediately regretted that thought.

No matter how you look at it, thinking that the Lord would find her cute was an incredibly blasphemous thought.

The reason He granted her childish request was because she was destined to become a saint. As she thought that and tried to immerse herself in the hot water again—

<<<The Lord spoke.>>>

‘This is…!!!’

Suddenly, a voice echoed in her head.

Was this the voice of the Lord…?

‘No.’

She could naturally tell that it was not the voice of the Lord Igwogwo, but someone who represented Him.

As if she had known from the beginning.

<<<The Lord Igwogwo is very fond of you.>>>

‘…!!!’

Fond of me…?

For some reason, that word was of a completely different kind than a simple ‘revelation.’

<<<Even after becoming a saint, do not forget that you are still a ‘woman’ to the Lord Igwogwo. Conduct yourself with even more grace so that you do not bring shame to Him.>>>

“Wa-wait a minute!”

She spoke without realizing it, but of course, there was no response.

The voice that had been echoing in her head had already disappeared.

Wait a minute.

What exactly does it mean that He is fond of me?

Wasn’t it simply because I was destined to become a saint that He answered my prayers?

The sentence that bothered her more was the latter one.

‘What does it mean to not forget that I am still a woman even after becoming a saint…?’

Thump, thump.

Erin, as if pushed by the sound of her heartbeat, submerged herself deeply in the bath.

It was only after she submerged herself up to her neck that she realized her face was burning.

Moreover, this pounding of her heart… was slightly different from the feeling she had when she first received the miracle of the Lord Igwogwo.

It was not the sacred determination she felt when facing the Lord who had saved her… but literally, the feelings of a woman.

Since deciding to become a saint, she had never harbored such blasphemous feelings.

‘Calm down, Erin… Calm down…’

Maybe I misheard… No, that can’t be.

Let’s not deny it now.

From the moment my life was saved, this life was no longer mine, but belonged to the god who saved me—Igogodon.

Walking the path of a saint was not only due to a sense of duty, but also because I wanted to dedicate the rest of my life to Igogodon without hesitation.

Yes. It was foolish to argue about Igogodon’s words in the first place.

‘If Igogodon wants me to be a woman, then I will comply. There’s no difference. My body and mind are already entirely Igogodon’s.’

Serving with all my body and heart, sincerely.

That is what it means to devote oneself to a god.

Thus, Erin’s empty heart was slowly but surely being painted with the colors of the existence called ‘Igogodon.’

* * *

Tap the screen to use advanced tools Tip: You can use left and right keyboard keys to browse between chapters.

You'll Also Like