novelraw Chapter 7 : Chapter 7
Chapter 7 : Chapter 7
Chapter 7. What Is the Lord
“Children, thank you for waiting.”
Priest Marshall still wore his somewhat old clerical robe, but his expression, though kindly, carried a certain solemnity.
So this was what prayer looked like?
Secretly making that guess, Leticia stepped out from the shadows and stood with the other children before Priest Marshall.
All the while, she observed his every movement and expression.
She saw the trace of fatigue on his face when he first came out; the faint twitch in his facial muscles when he saw the noisy children; and now, the unnatural calm forced onto his expression.
Still, she was relieved that Laila had listened to her. Though she had played a little with the others, she had not gone too far.
Reborn, stripped of her old companions, not even blessed as a rich beauty, Heaven had at least granted her one gift—her eyes.
Leticia realized her eyesight was unnaturally sharp, so much so she dared not show it openly.
And she had to admit, standing in shadow did make it easier to observe things in the light.
If not for this gift, she would have reported Heaven for deliberately targeting her with a “Super Hell Nightmare 18+ HARD Difficulty.”
“Priest.”
The children greeted him one after another. Their voices blended together, and Leticia’s mixed in—neither too distinct nor too faint—enough for Priest Marshall to hear.
“There’s no need.”
The old Priest’s face softened with a warm smile. He was like a spring breeze walking among them, stirring peace from within.
“Children, the reason I called you here today is not for anything else.”
As though untouched by their earlier noise, Priest Marshall smiled gently. “Some of you may have already heard a little from your parents. What I am about to say is about that.”
“On May 21st, Year 426 of the Lord’s Calendar—three days ago—I received a message from the Kingdom’s Grand Cathedral.”
He paused just enough, watching the children’s silence, then continued. “This year, the Church, in obedience to the Lord’s will, will open the ‘Path of Sanctity.’”
Path of Sanctity? What was that? Did this world really have a hidden, magical side?
“And this time, I received two recommendation slots from the Cathedral.”
Priest Marshall looked kindly at each child before him. “Children, I think you know what this means.”
Hmm...... Recalling what Laila had chattered about on the road, Leticia now understood.
It was like guaranteed university admission slots. Those favored and nominated by their teacher—the Priest—could receive the qualification to be sent directly to that holy place. And this time, there were two spots.
By logic, that should have reduced competition. So why did these kids look even more fired up?
Grumbling inwardly, Leticia chose to keep listening.
If NPCs were delivering quest information, how could she not pay attention?
“Priest, we all understand the meaning of this. Please, make your decision.”
The speaker was one of the children who had been playing earlier—a boy whose looks were so average he would vanish in a crowd. But the pretty words he spoke were perfect: “We all grow under the Lord’s love. Even if we cannot take another step upon the path to behold His radiance, we will hold no resentment.”
Even Leticia felt like clapping. Judging from Priest Marshall’s expression, this flattery had hit home.
“Mm, well said.”
Priest Marshall nodded. “As believers, this is the faith we must carry. And I will be direct with you. You are the children I see as the most hopeful in all my years, capable of walking the ‘Path of Sanctity.’”
So it really was like an entrance exam? Could she quit now?
Touching her chin, Leticia decided it was wiser to keep her head down for now. As a newbie in this world, flaunting herself would only draw dangerous attention.
She was no chessmaster, no genius manipulator—just an ordinary person with a bit of wit.
Faced with something this terrifying, what normal person wouldn’t first think of how to survive?
“But children, as you can see, the number here far exceeds the two available slots. So, a trial is necessary.”
Priest Marshall said slowly, “Don’t worry. The trial is simple—only one question. Whoever stands out will take the next step upon the path to the Lord’s light. I look forward to it.”
One question?
Leticia felt her head ache. Open-ended questions like this were the hardest to answer.
Answer too perfectly, and she risked exposing herself. Say something with a spark, and she might stand out too much. Answer poorly, and it would contradict the image she had already built before Priest Marshall......
Especially when she caught the Priest casting a not-so-subtle glance her way as he said “question.” She wanted to slap herself.
Why had she run her mouth before? Now she had brought trouble to herself!
The only option was to give a bland, reasonable answer. Hopefully the other children would surprise her with their responses......
That was Leticia’s wish. It was also Priest Marshall’s.
As a man who had dedicated his life to the sacred and to the Church, Jemray Marshall’s faith was firm. He longed to see the Lord’s glory spread wider across the world.
He might remain just an ordinary Priest all his life, but his years gave him knowledge few others possessed.
Such as the reality of divine power.
It was this power that had carried him into the Lord’s light in his youth, baptizing and elevating him. As Priest, he had once seen with his own eyes the Church’s knight-guards bathed in holy radiance, swords blazing with pure white fire as they led the charge.
He did not deny he had once yearned for such power and rank. But his heart was steady. He knew contentment.
So time passed, until he thought his faith had reached its summit.
Then, from the lips of a simple village girl came words more genuine and pure than the scriptures themselves. They had shaken his soul, as though he had been reborn anew.
Ah, this was the Lord’s grace. He had not abandoned His faithful!
Longing for more “divine words,” Priest Marshall reported the phrase “the Lord is in the heart” to the Church. He was rewarded and honored.
Of course, he did not reveal it had come from a yet-uneducated little girl.
Faith remained, but in unseen corners, fine grey threads had already begun to weave.
Now, he longed once more to hear words that would bring him joy.
“Alright, children, let us not delay.”
He clapped his hands, drawing the children back from their thoughts. Smiling, he asked, “My question is very simple. In your hearts, what is the Lord?”
The question was unexpectedly simple. Yet Leticia cursed inwardly.
This was...... the worst-case scenario.
What is the Lord?
A question straddling philosophy and theology, one with no fixed answer. A flower, a world. A leaf, a universe. Each child would have their own truth.
Even philosophy’s “Who am I? Where do I come from? Where am I going?” had kept thinkers debating for centuries. And here, in a world where gods might truly exist......
If the scope were narrower, she might manage. But this? Even after speaking with that old woman earlier and gaining some insight, the pitfalls were endless.
This was the worst possible draw.
So Leticia resolved to delay, to listen first to the other children’s answers.
Out of the mouths of babes—surely they couldn’t all offend the Lord?
“I, I think......”
The first to speak was a chubby boy named Lamb. His family was relatively well-off, and he had received some basic education. But he was timid—every time someone spoke to him, he startled, froze, then stammered a reply.
No one expected him to speak first today.
“I think...... The Lord is light. He is the brightness that guides us......”
Afterward, he glanced nervously around, then looked up at Priest Marshall.
“Mm, not bad.”
The Priest nodded. Lamb let out a sigh of relief, as though a great stone had dropped from his heart.
Marshall was not truly satisfied—the answer was too ordinary, too textbook, lacking any originality. But he understood Lamb’s background and access to books. Such an answer was no surprise.
The other children gave varied answers before Leticia’s turn. One said the Lord was bread, endless food. Laila said the Lord was a jewel—likely influenced by living near the mines, more attuned to stones and gems.
The smooth-talking boy from before gave a bold answer: the Lord was the sky. A grand, sweeping answer. Even though the Priest had read something similar in the scriptures, it still made his eyes gleam.
Finally, it was Leticia’s turn.
“Leticia, your answer?”
All eyes turned to her. Looking at Priest Marshall’s encouraging gaze, Leticia lowered her head, thought briefly, then said slowly:
“I think...... the Lord is......”
“Air.”