* * *
''By the way, Priest. I was wondering if you could tell me how many of those outing permits you handed me the other day you have left?''
I was in the middle of changing into my spare priestly robes after removing my perfume-scented clothes, when Sister's calm voice drifted in from beyond the dressing room door.
''You're not trying to take it away from ----, are you?''
''What are you looking at me for----.''
My boss at work, back and forth.
In recent years, I've gotten the impression that he's not completely inconsiderate, but I've also gotten the impression that he has a bigger chest than he looks.
But it's still the same old ''uptight, big-chested, occasionally inappropriate boss''.
It didn't change much.
''Let's see----. I've got about five chapters left.''
''That's more than I thought. I thought you'd used it up long ago.''
''I don't really have any use for them since my eating problems have improved, and I feel like it's a bit of a waste to waste them on something that's not really important.''
There's always one of those people around. Someone like me, who saves and saves bombs in shooters, only to die before they can be put to good use.
They say there's no one more miserable than someone who makes indecision a habit, but as someone who has survived in this harsh world thanks to this indecision, I couldn't agree more with the saying that indecision and prudence are two different pieces of paper.
''So you don't have any plans to go out again today, then?
''Well, unless something special comes up, I guess so.''
''----''
◈◈◈◈
''Ms. Saintess.''
No knock, just her voice, and with as much caution as she would use to call out to a stray sheep on the street.
After countless trials and errors, this was the only way she was allowed to address saintess. It was our only means of communication.
I cleared my throat with the care and deliberation of threading a needle through the eye of a needle.
Kiiii.
Then, the great door in front of them cautiously opened its mouth.
It was a threadbare passageway, so small that not even a mouse could pass through it, barely enough for a sound or a smell to come and go.
At least, the door was open.
That alone, the fact that something that could be called a response came back from the saintess, was enough to make all the careful crafting of the words worthwhile.
''Are you angry----?''
''I'm not angry.''
It was obvious that the timid voice that peeked through the crack in the door was laced with pathetic anxiety.
Ever since that day when I scolded Saintess so fiercely that I stuck a knife in my hand.
Apparently, Saintess had never been scolded before in her life, and she had never seen me so assertive before.
That I was angry with myself. I was angry at myself for being so one-dimensional.
At this point, if I didn't admit in advance that I wasn't angry, I wouldn't even show my face.
''Is this ----?''
''Really.''
''@---- @---- @----?''
''Really, really.''
It was not acceptable to sigh or show any sign of embarrassment at the endless repetition of this dodo-like question.
He waited and waited and waited for the saintess's alertness to subside with the mindset of a mindless, unconcerned, and masterful instructor, and watched her emotional state through the cracks of the dusty door, just as Kang Tae-gong watches the hook on the end of a fishing rod.
It was then.
A crack.
The moment the massive door groaned once more, and she caught a pair of rubellite-colored eyes peering through the narrow gap.
My instincts warned me that now was the time to reel in my cast.
"Sister.
"I know.
From that moment on, as our gazes met and our words materialized into action, there was no mistaking the perfection of our union.
My arms are wide open, ready to embrace something fiercely at any moment. The nun on the other side, mirroring my posture.
Then, like two perfectly matched blocks coming together, I and the nun, who were slowly closing the distance, began to recite the lines we had prepared in advance one after the other.
''Ha. The saintess won't meet me. ''Then I can't help it. I'll have to find someone else.''
''Kaaaaa.''
Unlike me, who could be considered a passing grade, the nun's performance of the Korean language book was so terrible that I couldn't watch it with my eyes open, but fortunately, the quality of the actor wasn't that important on this stage since it was the saintess herself.
''Oh, no-!!!''
''Ouch!''
The end of that small leap, reminiscent of an agile flying squirrel, was my own.
I was honored to be dropped off by a distinguished guest at the most prominent and recognizable of human spots, except for the head.
The polite upper half of his body leaned forward in an attempt to pay his respects to the guest of honor who was visiting his humble abode, but the ugly groan that leaked out of his mouth like smoke from an unconscious pain was ruining all of the noble atmosphere.
''Ughhh----.''
Legitimate doubts floated in my mind like buoys, wondering how such a small body could burst through that huge door like a bullet.
Knowing all too well from experience that it's better to ignore problems that don't matter, Izzy pushed the question back down to the surface of her consciousness.
''It's mine! It's mine! It's mine! It's mine!!!''
Like a child deprived of a favorite toy, clutching my robe tightly, the saintess's insistence on making it clear that my body belonged to her was brutal, but my mind, still reeling from the physical impact on my mind, was not yet able to fully experience the emotional ripples it was causing.
''Are you all right, Priest? If you don't mind me saying so, you shouldn't abuse your miracles to ease your pain. Your miracles are only for the saintess, and you should never use them on yourself, or anyone else, unless it's a serious injury, like a broken body or a piercing in one place.''
''Thank you tearfully for reminding me of the precautions I almost forgot----.''
''You're welcome.''
With that, I gently soothed the saintess who was busy whimpering like a cicada stuck to a dead tree, clinging to my body.
''It's mine----. Don't give it to me----. It's mine----. It's mine----.''
''No, of course, it's yours.''
''Ji, are you sure----?''
''Yes. But you can only have me if you finish your meal for the day, and if you leave anything behind, or look away during the meal again, I'll confiscate it, do you understand?''
''----''
''saintess?''
''Uhhh----.''
After receiving the tiny affirmation, which I would have missed if it hadn't rung in my ears and been swept away by the breeze, I breathed a sigh of relief, gradually easing the burden on my heart.
The nun spoke to me casually.
''Just a few weeks ago, you were fretting over the saintess's every move, but now you've completely relaxed----. Did you have a change of heart or something?''
''Ah-----. I can't stay in the same place forever----. Besides, as you know, I've gotten tired of being on the receiving end of someone's bad temper before----.''
''Oh, I see----.''
Actually, she had changed her favorite book.
''Cat Talking Manual! 101 Reasons Why Your Cat Doesn't Follow You!''
If it weren't for my chance encounter with this book, I would still be fretting over Saintess's every move and idling endlessly with no gain.
To be honest, I'm a little dismayed that a change of book has made such a noticeable difference.
When I realized that the behavioral habits of a cat craving its owner's affection were eerily similar to the behaviors that Saintess had shown me over the years, a chill ran down my spine and I sank to the floor.
''Looks like you're the only one who can fulfill the role of the Saintess's guardian priest after all.''
''Haha----.''
There was no way I could come up with a strong retort while hugging Saintess, so I could only reply with an awkward smile.
With that, she held onto the saintess with one hand and supported the saintess's meal with the other, then slowly walked back inside the realm.
''Saintess.''
Sister suddenly came up to her.
''Oh, I'm not giving it to you----.''
''It's okay, I won't take it away.''
It was like watching a cat puff up its own fur after meeting its natural enemy.
Holding me by the throat, the saintess suddenly appeared in the foreground of my vision, and I shot back at her with words and actions that were quite unpleasant, even at a glance.
On the other hand, as if the saintess's behavior was merely cute, the saintess spat out words with a gentle smile that was clearly visible even through her mask.
''Sister Saintess, the priest is going to spend the night here with Sister Saintess today!''
''Eh?''
''Huh?''
The words, which contained such shocking content that I could feel my brain refusing to accept the full text of the words, slammed into my peaceful head, just in time for my slowed thinking to interfere with the process of sending command signals to my body.
''I'm sorry, sir. Priest.''
With the force of someone's hand on my back, my body was jerked further into the realm of the unknown than before.