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[Translator - Tangrine ]
[Proofreader - Seeker ]
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Chapter - 29: All things in the world are suffering
Father, take this cup away from me.
But let it not be as I will.
Let it be as you will.
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Saintess Nova.
The place where she lived was a hospital.
A small, impoverished space where the word ‘clinic’ would be more fitting than ‘hospital.’
The bed she slept in could hardly be called ‘comfortable,’ even out of politeness.
And then—
Bang! Bang!
Someone banged on the door noisily at dawn.
“What is it?”
Wearing a freshly laundered gown, she opened the door—there was no trace of sleepiness on her face.
Thick glasses, worn to make her youthful appearance look a little older.
A small frame that could not be concealed by glasses or a gown.
An awkwardness, as if a child had stolen and dressed in an adult’s clothes.
But—
The middle-aged man who came to the hospital bowed earnestly and respectfully to her.
“Doctor! My daughter… She was bitten by a snake. I told her not to go into the forest—but please, please save her!”
“Calm down. She’ll be alright.”
She examined the snake-bitten girl’s wound.
Two red marks, as if pricked by a needle.
There wasn’t much swelling, but the girl’s body radiated intense heat.
So hot, it was clear she would die if left like this—
No, it was more likely that her brain was already damaged beyond recovery.
The child was already dead.
What remained was merely flesh, burning through the last life force pooled in her heart.
And—
Saving dying children was the divine mission entrusted to her by God.
“Child. Do not be afraid.”
She raised a sharp, pristine blade and cut her own finger.
Drip, drip—the blood began to fall.
Nova fed that blood to the child.
Then, as if it were a lie, the snake bite marks began to close, and the child’s fever started to drop.
Soon, the girl stirred uncomfortably and opened her eyes.
“Leah!”
“Dad…”
“Thank goodness… I’m so relieved…”
The girl’s eyes sparkled, full of life once more.
The child slowly opened her mouth to speak.
"I... in my dream... I saw an angel..."
"Yes. That’s a relief. Truly a relief."
"The angel said... to love each other..."
"I'm glad you're alive..."
A pure white halo shone above the child’s head, but the man did not notice.
He was simply grateful.
The man who had witnessed the miracle bowed deeply to Nova.
"Thank you, Doctor. Truly, thank you..."
“Feed her warm porridge and clean water with salt. Her body must be very exhausted. And do not tell anyone that I saved this child today.”
“Yes!”
The man, expressing thanks many times, carried the child out of the hospital.
Outside, the sun was just beginning to rise.
"……Father, thank you for saving a child's life today."
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Nova is the most respected doctor in the village.
Everyone in the village follows her, relies on her, and loves her.
But this is not simply because she is a doctor.
Most villagers have benefited from her grace... but people are ungrateful beasts.
Receiving grace does not guarantee gratitude.
The reason people respect her is because—
"Doctor! Thank you so much for yesterday—"
“Shh. Be quiet.”
Even after saving lives, she does not treat it as a boast or honor.
“Ah, sorry.”
“Not me, but give thanks to the God who granted me this power. That One loves you all, so offering thanks through prayer to Him is enough.”
“What kind of God is He? One of the six gods of the pantheon?”
“He is Life itself. His name is not to be spoken lightly... um, when you pray, calling Him ‘Father’
is sufficient. We are all reborn within Him.”
“Ah, I understand. God of Life and Father...”
“It is better to pray as ‘Father.’”
“Father. Thank you.”
The concept of ‘God’ is not unfamiliar in this world.
The most famous are the six gods of the pantheon, but it is not strange that other gods exist.
Therefore, the man prayed without hesitation.
“That prayer is truly precious.”
“Haha, somehow... praying makes my heart feel calm. I want to make an offering... Is there a temple for Him?”
“If you spend money for children, the poor, and the sick, that is your devotion to Him.”
“Ah! Understood.”
Since then, she has received the thanks of countless people.
Many came to her with fruit, gold, and gifts.
She attributed all that respect and kindness to God and to those in need.
“Love one another.”
She spread that teaching widely.
Because the teaching was pleasant to hear, it spread far and wide.
“Doctor! That wicked man actually slapped me! Isn’t that just too much?!”
“Oh dear, are you badly hurt?”
“Not seriously hurt, but... It’s humiliating.”
“Your heart is troubled. At times like that, if someone strikes your right cheek, offer your left cheek as well.”
“Huh?”
“People slap others to shame them. When you offer the other cheek, you boldly say, ‘Go ahead and hit me more. That won’t shame me at all.’ That anger belongs to the other person, so you return it to them.”
“Ah!”
“If you are ever hurt from being slapped, come to me anytime. I will treat you.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
After this happened several times, many followers soon began spreading her teachings widely.
“The teacher said to love one another!”
“She said if someone forces you to go five miles, go ten miles with them!”
“The Saintess said—”
The Saintess of the clinic.
That was the nickname she was called by.
Because she was chosen by God and spread God’s teachings widely.
It was harder to imagine any other nickname than Saintess.
“Doctor! Thank you for saving my daughter last time.”
“Now is the treatment time, so please leave. If the hospital welcomes the healthy, there will be no place for the sick to lie down.”
“Oh, sorry. I did come for a treatment. It’s just... I’ve been possessed by a demon lately.”
“Huh?”
“I see hallucinations and hear voices... It’s hard to explain, but a demon-like man scolds and torments me. Even now...”
“Wait a moment. Let me take a look.”
After examining the patient, she tilted her head in doubt.
The man did not appear to have any reason to suffer from a mental illness.
But she had the miracle God had granted her.
She cut her own fingertip with a sharp blade, poured her blood into a cup, and handed it to the man.
“Drink this. You don’t need to be afraid.”
“Yes!”
The moment the man swallowed the blood, the illness he carried transferred to her.
Back pain, arthritis, lethargy, doubt, guilt, painful memories, terrible regrets, vengeance...
The Saintess took upon herself all the afflictions that torment people.
Above the man’s head, a pure white halo shone.
“This is that demon.”
- “I’m not a demon. I’m Gigachad. I am your inner self. Noappy.”
“Hallucination… an interesting symptom. Father, thank you for allowing me to save another life today.”
- “You fucking idiot! Stop your foolish prayers. Bearing another’s suffering is not salvation. It’s self-righteousness. Look at yourself—you’re tormented by terrible pain, unable to sleep properly.”
“How can a doctor truly comfort a patient if they’ve never suffered illness themselves?”
- “You are not a doctor. You’re a mortician who buries others’ suffering in graves. That coffin is yourself.”
The Saintess quietly stared at Gigachad.
Then, she tilted her head in puzzlement.
“It doesn’t disappear. The source of illness is… I see. It is my own heart. A troublesome illness. Overcoming it will take time.”
- “I am your inner self. My Daughter. I will be with you closer than your own heart.”
“...That title is unpleasant.”
For the first time, the Saintess frowned.
Then, Gigachad smiled slyly at her.
- “I told you. I am you. Unless you care for yourself… I have no choice but to care for you. My Little Daughter.”
“...”
And so, the Saint gained a new father.
It must be nice to have two fathers.
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[Translator - Tangrine ]
[Proofreader - Seeker ]
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