The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 62: Failed the initial interview
When the class continued in the afternoon, Eric clearly felt that Sophie's attention was all on him.

Although the ancient language he was studying was obscure and difficult, and it was difficult for him to stay focused, he was sure that it was not a problem with the course.

Because she looked a little sad.

After the drowsy ancient language class was over and before the etiquette class began, Eric asked directly.

"Because Sister Alena said that she is now following His Highness Eric and living with him." Sophie did not hide it and told him directly when he asked.

So that's what it is.

"Is it because Alena has nowhere to go now?" Eric said. "Or does Sophie want me to kick her out?"

"no!"

Sophie immediately shook her head. "...I mean, I also want to follow His Highness Eric."

"Follow me?"

Eric looked at her and was about to refuse directly, but then he thought again and felt that this little girl would probably not give up easily, so he had to convince her.

"Then please introduce yourself first. Your education, abilities, strengths, etc., and why you want to join our...our group of quasi-saints."

"Huh?" Sophie was stunned.

"Can't you tell? Then let me analyze it for you."

Eric raised his thumb and nodded with his other hand. "Let's talk about his education first. From what I've learned recently, he didn't finish private tutoring and studied abroad at the monastery for three years. That's quite a gap from our average education level."

Sophie glared, "Your Highness, I don't understand..."

"Just listen to me."

Eric then raised his index finger and nodded twice. "Let's talk about your abilities. What are you capable of? Or do you have any unique advantages?"

Sophie rolled her eyes and held a finger out in front of him.

"What..." Eric was staring in a daze when her fingertips suddenly lit up.

"...Oh, it's low-level lighting."

Eric held his forehead with his hand. "Okay, then even if you know a little bit about soothing children, I'm sorry! We already have two masters of illumination magic on our team."

"I can do other things!" Sophie said immediately. "I've learned several magical arts!"

Eric ignored it and held up a third finger. "Next question, and the most important one: Why are you following me?"

This was the question he wanted her to answer seriously.

"Because Your Highness is the future saint, I was supposed to follow Your Highness," Sophie replied.

"If that's the extent of your following, then it's up to you," said Eric.

"No..." Sophie quickly denied it, looking at him and saying, "I want to follow His Highness like Sister Alena did."

"Don't say it so casually." Eric returned her gaze. "Alaina carries the burden of her teacher's remaining life on her shoulders. She chose to follow me because she was desperate. Before that, she personally sought out the Saint and abandoned her loyalty to her—she left herself no room for retreat."

Sophie still learned these secrets about Alena from him. For a moment, her lips were slightly open and she was speechless.

"That's her business. Now let's get back to yourself," Eric continued. "You said this morning that you wanted to remain in the monastery for life. You probably haven't grasped the weight of that statement. It means you'll have to repeat your daily routine of waking up to recite the mantras and praying before bed tens of thousands of times before you join me in class. Until you die."

Sophie could only remain silent, and her eyes dropped.

Eric didn't continue to attack her, and changed his angle and asked: "Do you want to be separated from your parents forever?"

Sophie shook her head slowly.

"That's it," Eric said.

Sophie took a breath and let it out, her face showing a bit of life again. "But I don't want to go back and get married..."

"Then you can leave the family and do what you want."

"Father will definitely not agree."

"Do you think the resistance to deciding to stay in a monastery and practice for life will be less than the resistance to not getting married and doing something else?" Eric asked.

Sophie took a while to understand what he said, and glanced to the side, "I haven't thought about it..." "Then think about it carefully," said Eric.

Sophie couldn't think of anything else to say to keep herself by his side, so she could only respond muffledly.

"Go back and wait for notification... That's not right."

Eric quickly realized that there was no room for ambiguity here. "You didn't make it through the initial interview. This is final notice. Don't even think about it anymore."

“…I understand.”

The two chatted for a long time, and the nun who taught Vatican etiquette also came over.

After the class was over, the two separated. Eric returned to the side house and told Alena about this incident.

Alena was silent for a moment after hearing this, then looked at Eric. "What Sophie meant by following His Highness might not just mean practicing with His Highness."

"I know, but I'm a quasi-saint now. Can I still respond to her?"

Seeing that he really understood Sophie's true feelings, Alena felt a little relieved at first, but then she felt an indescribable feeling in her heart.

"But the idea of ​​lifelong cultivation is probably just a child's momentary impulse and won't last long," Eric said.

Alena nodded first, then looked at him.

The tone he used, treating Sophie like a child, was so casual and natural... They were obviously the same age.

Is it because I have a younger sister who always needs care?
"Any more questions?" Eric noticed her gaze.

"No..." Alena paused, thought for a moment, and then said, "I was just thinking about some things I heard at the Saint's House today."

"What's going on? Tell me."

In name, she is now Eric's assistant who is familiar with the affairs of the Holy Maiden House. One of her duties is to report to him about the affairs of the Holy Maiden House and convey various developments every day.

Eric also had another request, asking her to pay more attention to the intelligence collected by the Holy Maiden Academy from all over the continent, and then tell him the key points.

So Alena told Eric one by one the few things she had specifically remembered, and Eric listened. There was basically nothing that required special attention.

"Also, in the afternoon, High Priest Xinmagu arrived in the outer city."

Eric was startled and sat up straight, "Xinma Gu is here?"

Alena was also stunned for a moment. She thought this matter was not very important, so she put it at the end.

"Yes, I arrived this afternoon. I'm currently staying in the outer city, in the same residence that His Highness previously lived in."

Eric was a little surprised. "The high priest has to wait outside for a whole day before returning to the Vatican?"

"That seems to be what the cardinals mean," Alena said, explaining what she had heard from the Convent. "And His Holiness the Pope hasn't expressed his opinion either."

Is it possible that His Holiness the Pope would be like the Saint, sneaking out of the city after dark to meet his students? Eric thought to himself.

Just as he was thinking of the saint, the old man also thought of him and called him over.

"You should go to the Apostolic Palace to meet His Holiness the Pope and the College of Cardinals tomorrow," the Saint thought thoughtfully. "Don't rush over. Come with me."

Eric certainly had no objection, "Yes."

"Xin Ma Gu has arrived at the outer city. Your Majesty will see him first tomorrow morning." The Saint continued, "After he leaves, we will go to see Your Majesty."

Eric looked up. "Are we going to avoid the High Priest?"

"Hmm." The Saint made no secret of her dislike for the High Priest. "He wouldn't dare disrespect me in front of His Majesty, but I don't want to give him face. It would only make His Majesty sad. It's better not to meet him."

The high priest Xinmagu turned evil in the later period and even defected to the demon clan. All the cardinals of the Holy See cannot escape responsibility... Eric complained in his heart.

"Are you sympathizing with him?" The Saint seemed to see through his thoughts. "If there are a few more people like Simmagu in the Holy See, not only me, the Saint, but the entire Church will be doomed."

Sinmagu does have that kind of destructive power. As someone who has experienced it, Eric has a deep understanding of this, but he cannot put all the blame on him.

"I always stand on your highness's side," Eric said.

Added more chapters by the book friend [呆呆一点呆] who is the leader of the alliance.

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(End of this chapter)