Fallen Chronicles

Feeling a persistent grip on his clothes from behind, not too strong but strangely determined, Renji was forced to stop and turn around.

In truth, he had a hundred reasons to ignore it and simply walk away.

But unfortunately, the other party had managed to hit upon the one reason that compelled him to stop.

After all, he had once seen a homeless wandering nun himself, and she had said similar words to him back then.

However, Renji vividly remembered that the young nun at that time had been much worse off than the current figure before him. She had been practically naked, emaciated, and starving, using her abilities to heal others while depriving herself of food on the run from monstrous creatures during the apocalypse. In the end, after giving away all her food to others, she had collapsed at the doorstep of a newly established makeshift refuge in the middle of the evacuation route.

A bit of longing struck him.

Renji brought his thoughts back to the present.

Instead of immediately refusing or providing an answer, he took a closer look at the nun huddled by the trash bin.

Though her nun's clothes were dirty and wet, it was at least intact, and there were no visible patches. Her face appeared pitiful and helpless, but in truth, her complexion wasn't bad at all. If the dust and mud clinging to her were properly cleaned off, Renji believed she would reveal fair and beautiful skin.

Life had indeed improved over the past five hundred years, but it hadn't improved to the point where someone in this condition was commonplace.

Renji's assessment was that even Eileen, who had come over to play this role, looked more like a scavenging homeless person than the current nun.

"What's your name?"

"Maria," the nun weakly replied.

"If you really are a nun, why have you ended up like this? Why not go to the church In the Blackhole Plains—no, in the entire Holy Kingdom—nuns should be among the professions with the best treatment, right?"

Faced with Renji's barrage of questions, Maria seemed a bit frightened, shrinking her neck pitifully. Unfortunately, this act didn't seem to have any effect on Renji.

Seeing that if she didn't speak up, the young man would turn and leave, Maria anxiously explained,

"It's because I... I have a different faith from the church."

"I... I don't believe in the so-called Goddess "

Maria bit her lip, gaze lowered, but the defiant and resolute expression on her face did not waver.

It was as if she were a lone warrior swimming against the tide, persistently refusing to compromise with the dogmatic church, refusing to believe in that "hypocritical" Goddess.

She believed that Renji, after uncovering so much "inside information," must feel the same way.

In response to this, Renji nodded, indicating that he understood very well. Then he spoke:

"Sorry, I can't take you in."

"I can do many things! Washing dishes, cooking, ironing clothes, cleaning, and even if there's something I don't know, I can learn it! Whatever you need, I... I can do it. I have a small appetite! Just a little food is enough for me. I don't need a bed, just clear a bit of floor space for me, and I..."

Seemingly expecting that it wouldn't be easy to convince Renji to take her in, Maria began to plead desperately.

However, to her dismay, the young man's next words completely caught her off guard. She was left stunned, unable to even speak the numerous rehearsed lines she had prepared, becoming mute for a moment.

All she heard was,

"No, it's not about that. It's a more fundamental issue."

"Simply put..."

"You don't believe in the Goddess, but I do, and I am the most loyal and devout follower of Suthia."

Saying this, Renji even took a silver cross from his pocket and flaunted it in front of Maria's eyes as proof.

In the night's rain curtain, the faint silver glow emitted from the cross became more pronounced, something that couldn't be achieved with imitation inferior crosses. Only genuine crosses, bestowed by the church and imbued with the holy power of the Goddess, could achieve this effect.

After all, if it were a fake cross, the people in Callewa wouldn't have used it and distributed it to the members of the factory as "protective gear" just a few hours ago.

Yes, it was the result of when he and Eileen had posed as gang members and infiltrated the Tianted Miasma Factory a few hours earlier.

But no matter how it came about.

You can say that it's a genuine cross!

"You have a different faith than I do, and out of respect for religious freedom, I can refrain from antagonizing you. But when you say you want me to take you in..."

Renji shook his head resolutely.

Then, with an unwavering tone, he stated, "I won't be friends with someone who doesn't believe in the Goddess"

With those words, Renji unceremoniously pulled his clothes away from Maria's grip, turned around, and walked away, leaving behind only a nun standing there, still in a daze.

Maria who seemed a bit dazed, as if she has not recovered her energy yet.

Just in time, as the young man was about to vanish from sight, Maria quickly slapped her cheeks and then rubbed them vigorously, smoothing the uncontrollable grin off her face.

A rapid, splashing run with the sound of rainwater came from behind. Renji knew who it was without even turning around.

Just as he was starting to furrow his brows, growing a bit impatient.

"Sir! Actually, I'm asking you to take me in for another reason. Whether you accept me or not, I earnestly request that you listen to what I have to say!"

"In truth, I'm an Eclipse, and my awakened ability is Fortune telling. To a certain extent, I can glimpse the future paths of others. It's precisely because of this that I want to stay with you."

Maria took a deep breath and looked at the young man who had stopped again due to her words. She spoke each word seriously:

"I have seen an unfortunate future for you!"

"An unfortunate future?"

"Yes, I apologize for intruding without permission, but if my ability is correct, you should be going to save someone right now, right?"

"Hmm."

'Interesting'

Renji nodded openly in response to Maria and gestured for her to continue.

"Because it was a bit rushed, I didn't see the specifics, but what I can confirm is that the person you're going to save is currently safe. However, if you act recklessly, it will only backfire and harm HER!"

Maria emphasized the last sentence and used "her" instead of "him."

"So, you're asking me to take you in, actually to prevent me from rescuing someone and to change this unfortunate future?"

"Yes, yes, yes," Maria nodded like a little chick pecking at grains.

Then, she looked a bit embarrassed and lowered her head, like a child who had told a lie to steal candy, with her fingers twisted together as she spoke sweetly:

"Also, the real reason I can't go to the church is because I'm an Eclipse, not because of the Goddess. In fact, I admire Goddess Suthia very much, and I'm a fan of Her too"

In the ongoing rain, Renji, in the late night, found this unexpected.

After much hesitation, he finally asked, "How can I trust you?"

"I used my ability hastily just now. If you don't mind, you can take me to your place! Give me some things related to the person you want to save, like everyday items, clothes, pants, shoes, and so on. It doesn't have to be the person themselves; relatives with a blood connection will also work! But the closer the relationship, the better, so I can use them to activate my ability and deduce more results!"

"When you hear it then... I believe you will know that I am not deceiving you!"

The need for a medium in Fortune telling is indeed a common trope.

And the place with the most mediums undoubtedly was Eileen's home. Plus, it just so happened that he had sent the girl to Brian's place earlier, so Eileen's house was currently empty.

Renji made up his mind.

"Give me the umbrella."

Taking the umbrella from the nun's hand, Renji opened it again.

He changed direction, no longer heading toward the church but toward the location of the slums. Fortunately, he had been taken to Eileen's home once before, so he opened the map and didn't have to worry about getting lost.

"Let's go, stay close."

The young man shifted the umbrella to the side, making room for Maria underneath it. She naturally slipped under Renji's umbrella, as if she had rehearsed this action countless times in her mind.

After a few subtle tries, the nun managed to control herself from taking Renji's hand. Instead, she compromised by holding onto the hem of the young man's clothes.

Strangely enough.

The two people walked away with umbrellas in the nighty rain. Not long after they left, the rain in this area suddenly began to lighten, and it stopped completely without even taking a few breaths.

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