CHAPTER 1. The Novitiate

I should have looked into it from the moment I heard that there might be a movement in my birth chart¹Saju (??) refers to the ‘four pillars of destiny,’ a conceptual term in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures. It represents a person’s destiny or fate based on their birth year, month, day, and time. I never thought that move would be to the world of a novel.

My previous life ended unexpectedly in a car accident. And I began a new life as ‘Duna Valorem’.

I discovered my past life memories when I turned fifteen by chance.

It was during the mandatory holy power examination during my teenage years.

The moment I stood on the holy altar, a strange memory hit me like a lightning bolt. Even though I was born in the Holy Kingdom, I was secretly an atheist, and that incident made me wonder if there was actually a god.

I suffered from the aftereffects for five full days, but it led me to a realization.

The place where I was reborn is the setting of the book I read in my previous life. And I am destined to become a rival supporting character to the female protagonist, who will later become a great saint.

Since then, my motto become ‘live in moderation.’

“Big Sis, go make friends with the Holy Knights. Okay? So I can secure a spot.”

“You little brat, you’re fussing about that when you don’t even have holy power!”

“Ah, Mom! Why did you hit me? I might manifest my powers next year!”

My family, who claimed to come to see me off, was more interested in having a feast than in me.²??” translates to ‘rice offered in a ritual’ or ‘ancestral ritual rice’; it refers to the rice or food offered during ancestral rites or ceremonies. I think this sentence is a modified form of the saying “???? ??? ??? ??” (to be interested in the rice offered rather than the ancestral rite) which implies a focus on material benefits rather than the spiritual or ceremonial aspects.

Among them, the only person who seemed genuinely sad about my departure was my father, who kept sobbing uncontrollably after loading my luggage onto the carriage.

“Dad, please stop crying. Everyone, take care of yourselves. Mom, Con, you too.”

A moderately affluent, moderately harmonious family.

As the third son of a viscount, my father was entrusted with a small business instead of a title. And I grew up quite ordinary under the guidance of my mother, who is the daughter of a holy knight.

If there’s anything special about me, it is probably because of the influence of my grandmother, who was a holy knight, as I too have manifested holy powers.

Because of that, I have to serve as a priest in the Holy Kingdom for at least a thousand days.

“Ah, I still smell like alcohol. Anyway, this damn girl.”

“…It’s probably because of the mood.”

I replied, trying to avoid my mother’s harsh gaze and making excuses. I had suffered from a hangover since morning since I drank too much the previous night. Fortunately, I regained my senses before dawn and returned home without revealing the fact that I stayed out all night.

I was really worried about it, but thanks to the mysterious man who gave the inn payment in advance, I was able to just walk out. At first, I thought he was just a heartless person, but now that I think about it, he seemed to have decent manners.

“Go and make a good impression. You know that’ll help you get married when you come back, right?”

“…I’ll try my best.”

My mom, who is always overly concerned about her child’s marriage, kept nagging me. I was so tired of hearing the same thing over and over again.

“Be careful, my daughter! Sob.”

I waved goodbye to my dad, who was still busy wiping away his tears with a handkerchief, and got on the carriage.

To go to the Grand Temple in the capital, I had to use a magic portal. As someone who had never left my birthplace, which was nothing more than a small town, it felt somewhat exciting.

Of course, just the thought of spending more than two years in the temple was already dreadful.

“I might get to see the main characters if I go.”

I couldn’t even remember the title of the book. The only things I could recall were the protagonist’s name and some major events.

Although I had been living a life unrelated to the original story, the idea of possibly meeting them made me feel complicated.

But I was also curious in a way.

I wonder how beautiful and handsome they might be.

* * *

The temple where the magic circle is located wasn’t far from home. It was something to be relieved about for someone like me who gets easily nauseous.

But the real problem wasn’t the distance to the temple.

“I’m really Stella.”

The title for those born with holy powers, ‘Stella’.

In order to travel to the temple through the magic circle, I needed a Stella identification certificate issued by the temple.

The problem was that I had lost my handbag while dragging a bag half the size of my body. Inside, my identification badge and wallet were gone, including that very certificate.

“It’s impossible. If you want to use the magic circle, get a reissued certificate and come back.”

“I have to enter today… Is there no other way?”

The administrative processing at the temple was never fast. If I had bad luck, the mandatory service duty could be postponed to the following year.

But if that happened, it would create a huge setback in my social life plans. I was already late as it is, and if I’m not careful, I might end up growing old and dying alone.

I don’t want to be a spinster, you know!

“Father, I really came here to train as a priest. Could we perhaps confirm my identity after going to the temple, or instantly measure my holy power and issue a temporary certificate… or something like that, it can’t be…”

When I was throwing everything out desperately, as if grasping at straws…

“Excuse me, is your name Duna Valorem by any chance?”

A voice as melodious as an angel’s came from the side.

When I turned my head towards the unfamiliar person who guessed my name right away, I had to doubt whether the voice I just heard was actually the angel’s.

That’s because the man standing in front of me was strikingly similar to the incarnation of Archangel Gabriel.

Straight shoulders and a tall stature. Silver hair with a touch of blue. And perfectly symmetrical facial features. It was undoubtedly the first time that I had seen such a handsome man in this small town.

“Uh… Yes.”

“Then this bag must be yours, Sister. I found it lying next to the pillar by the entrance.”

He put the identification certificate he was holding into the bag and handed it to me. I stared at the familiar bag in front of me with wide eyes.

Wow, he’s really an angel³I assume the author made a typo. It was written ?? while angel is ??. He even found my bag.

But before I could express my gratitude, the priest in front of me suddenly stood up and started panicking.

“Who is this! Are you Sir Peidos!”

“Oh, long time no see, Deacon Alraks.”

“You remember me! What brings you to Liche?”

The priest asked with a face full of excitement, gripping his hands tightly together. It was embarrassing enough to make me feel uncomfortable, as if he were a celebrity he had dreamt of meeting.

I wondered who this handsome young man was.

Suddenly, I noticed the sword at his waist. It wasn’t the sword itself that caught my eye, but the patterns decorating the scabbard.

A holy knight.

Although I wasn’t officially ordained yet, I felt strangely familiar with him since we both belonged to the temple.

“Thank you so much for sending the expeditionary force⁴“???” is a unit or detachment assigned the mission of punitive action or suppression last time!”

The priest’s eyes continued to sparkle, still busy talking to the knight. Awkwardly scratching my cheek, I glanced back for a moment.

The people who were waiting in line to use the magic circle were staring inside. Some of them grumbled loudly, seeming annoyed by why they were being pushed around.

I wasn’t the only one feeling burdened. The knight interrupted the priest and spoke, cutting off their conversation.

“Deacon, I think I should go now. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes, yes, of course! You’re busy, so you should go. It was an honor to see you again!”

The priest saluted enthusiastically, bending down halfway to his waist.

This time, the man’s gaze fell on me. I was about to bring up the gratitude I hadn’t expressed earlier.

“From what I heard earlier, you’re entering priesthood as a novitiate, is that correct?”

“Huh? Oh, yes. That’s right.”

“I’m also going to the temple, so let me guide you to the private entrance. Please come this way.”

Amazing! It is much better to follow an extremely handsome man than a random Priest 1. Excitedly, without any hesitation, I happily followed him while carrying my luggage.

I wonder if the priest’s exclusive magic circle was in a different building; that’s why he left the annex where the regular circle was located and started heading further inside. It was an unusually hot day, and I was already sweating just from walking outside.

Besides, walking swiftly while dragging heavy luggage requires a lot of stamina. His strides were incredibly fast, maybe because he was a tall person who had long legs.

Perhaps noticing that I was struggling to follow, he suddenly stopped his steps.

“I’m sorry. I’m used to being alone.”

“It’s okay!”

He was the benefactor who saved me from being late. I should walk a bit faster to repay him.

I responded cheerfully, but the sunlight was still scorching. I wiped the sweat streaming down my neck with the back of my hand, and he took out a small cloth from his pocket.

“Use this.”

“Ah… Thank you.”

Mom, I think I found your future son-in-law.

Unlike regular priests, Stellas was free from the rule of celibacy. They had to give birth in order to pass on their powers.

Just like the Stellas, holy knights were also allowed to marry since they were born with holy powers. Using just a handkerchief, I proudly concealed my wicked intentions behind a smile as I named my second child.

“Please.”

As a bonus, he even offered to carry my luggage for me so I wouldn’t fall behind. Whether I was pulling the suitcase or the suitcase was pulling me, the weight that seemed uncertain now felt as light as a feather in his hands.

Ah, I fell in love once again. Mom, I’ll really find a son-in-law for you this time.

• 1
  Saju (??) refers to the ‘four pillars of destiny,’ a conceptual term in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean cultures. It represents a person’s destiny or fate based on their birth year, month, day, and time
• 2
  ??” translates to ‘rice offered in a ritual’ or ‘ancestral ritual rice’; it refers to the rice or food offered during ancestral rites or ceremonies. I think this sentence is a modified form of the saying “???? ??? ??? ??” (to be interested in the rice offered rather than the ancestral rite) which implies a focus on material benefits rather than the spiritual or ceremonial aspects.
• 3
  I assume the author made a typo. It was written ?? while angel is ??
• 4
  “???” is a unit or detachment assigned the mission of punitive action or suppression