* * *

The saint of the Erdian Temple was a living testament to the god’s continued grace upon the world, a symbol of divine blessing.

No one dared to impose study or work upon him.

Yet the saint was a diligent learner, not one to relish long rests.

He actively sought knowledge and even personally requested opportunities to observe and learn when he deemed it necessary.

This enthusiasm left the high priest, Sihero, perpetually grateful.

The god Erdian, who cherished the saint so dearly that even the touch of another’s lips on his hand could ignite divine wrath, now witnessed him taking such a vested interest in the Temple.

Sihero could only feel immense gratitude and a deep sense of duty to serve the saint with all his heart.

But after returning from his travels, the saint’s behavior had changed.

The first to voice concern was Raullet Vipel, captain of the temple knights.

“The saint’s condition is… concerning.”

“What do you mean, Raullet?” Sihero asked, puzzled by the knight’s sudden remark.

During their journey, Raullet had been hard on himself for failing to ensure the saint’s safety at all times.

Though the Imperial Prince, who had briefly stayed with them, was no longer around to attract assassins, Raullet had tightened security around the palace.

His worries, therefore, were not to be taken lightly.

“Since Malrang left, the saint has been living almost in seclusion.”

“Didn’t he seem quite exhausted while taking care of the child? Perhaps he simply wishes to rest now that he’s alone.”

“That was my initial thought as well. But he hasn’t left his chambers—not even once—for over a week.”

“Not even once?”

“Not a single step.”

“…”

Sihero fell silent for a moment before cautiously responding.

“Perhaps we should wait a little longer.”

“High Priest.”

“I understand and share your concerns, Captain. But if we press the saint, it might come across as forcing him to act against his wishes when he simply needs time to rest.”

“…”

“We cannot compel the beloved of the god Erdian to act as we see fit.”

“Even so…”

“Let’s observe a bit longer. I’ll check on him regularly to ensure his well-being.”

Sihero wanted to avoid jumping to conclusions.

He, too, had noticed Seo Woohyun wilting like a flower deprived of sunlight since Malrang left.

Yet, recalling their first meeting, he knew the saint to be reserved and introverted.

Perhaps he just needed time alone to recover.

But as his meals grew smaller and his seclusion continued, Sihero couldn’t ignore the severity of the situation.

“Raullet might be right. At this rate, the saint’s behavior is akin to confinement.”

Although he reviewed the Temple’s efforts to care for the saint, there were no apparent faults.

Everyone respected him, the food was tailored to his tastes, and the climate remained comfortable year-round thanks to Erdian’s blessing.

The only change seemed to be Malrang’s absence after their journey together.

Sihero considered inviting the child back, recalling the contact information Cecily had left.

However, it had only been a month since she’d taken him, and reaching out felt presumptuous.

Even if they brought Malrang back, there was no guarantee it would restore Seo Woohyun’s vitality.

Playing with a child drained both physical and mental strength.

Seo Woohyun was always by the side of the lively hatchling as it darted energetically through the Great Temple, including the Silent Palace.

Recalling the testimony that even Raullet, who stayed close to him, often volunteered to play with the child because the Saint frequently showed signs of exhaustion, bringing the child into his care might not have been the wisest decision.

“What should I do?”

Even when Sihero subtly brought up the topic during meals, he never received a satisfying response.

Worried, he eventually decided to approach the Saint directly for a straightforward conversation.

When Seo Woohyun finally emerged from the bedroom into the reception room after Sihero’s request for a meeting, he looked paler than usual.

“It feels a bit empty without Malrang around, doesn’t it?”

Sihero began with a smile, meeting the faint, composed smile of the Saint. Sihero recognized that it was a practiced smile.

He didn’t know everything about the Saint’s past—only that he had lived in a place where the norms of this world didn’t apply.

Seo Woohyun avoided speaking about his past, and Sihero didn’t pry.

Still, seeing that learned smile stirred an improper curiosity about the Saint’s history.

Why did he smile even when there was no reason to?

“It does feel a bit quieter without the little one buzzing around,” Seo Woohyun replied, casually lifting a teacup.

He was no longer drinking the tea he used to favor and had gradually stopped enjoying other beverages as well.

“You once mentioned that the tea you used to drink was a gift from Lady Cecily, right?”

“Ah, the coffee mix… That’s right. I ran out, so I miss it a little.”

“Should I reach out to her to see if we can get more?”

“No, it’s fine. I heard it’s not easy to find. Thank you for thinking of it, though.”

Even from this brief exchange, Sihero could tell—Seo Woohyun was completely devoid of motivation.

He appeared like an empty shell, spending most of his time sleeping, with minimal appetite or any other desire.

“I don’t think I can bring this up to him like this. It might seem like I’m pressuring him.”

As Sihero fidgeted with the stack of documents in his hands, looking grave, Seo Woohyun quietly asked, “Is what you’re holding something I need to see?”

“Ah, I put together a list of activities you might enjoy during your rest. I thought you might like some options.”

Seo Woohyun accepted the papers Sihero handed over and glanced at them slowly.

Though he was now accustomed to the paperwork of this world, his gaze showed no interest.

“Sihero… feels strangely more cautious than usual today….”

While there wasn’t any cringe-worthy formal speech, Seo Woohyun could sense an unusual hesitancy in Sihero’s attitude and tone.

“Maybe it’s because I look off to him?”

Lately, he had been holed up in his bedroom, doing nothing but sleeping.

He had slept so much that his sense of time and dates had dulled.

He barely ate, felt entirely listless, and let time slip by without meaning.

Occasionally, he felt self-critical about his lethargy, but that was the extent of it.

Using Eridian’s advice—”Do what you want when you feel like it”—as a shield, he lazily rolled around on his bed before falling asleep again.

“Still, I can’t keep going on like this….”

Forcing himself to muster some motivation, Seo Woohyun skimmed the documents Sihero had brought.

They reflected Sihero’s thoughtfulness—ranging from light activities like visiting the night market at the Holy City Square to officiating the Temple’s regular prayer service as the Saint.

The list was structured to allow gradual engagement, and Seo Woohyun couldn’t help but be impressed by the effort.

However, none of the activities appealed to his exhausted, unmotivated self.

All he wanted was to do nothing, to rest without thinking.

Still, he couldn’t disregard Sihero’s sincerity, so his answer was predictable.

“There are a lot of options here. I’ll take my time looking through them and let you know. Thank you for taking the trouble.”

“Of course. If you decide on anything, please feel free to tell me.”

“I will.”

Seo Woohyun personally saw Sihero off, relieved to see a slightly reassured expression on him.

It seemed that Sihero had been concerned about the Saint’s recent lethargy.

Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to pick one or two of the least demanding activities from the list once he felt more motivated.

However, a month passed since Sihero handed over the list, and Seo Woohyun still hadn’t left his bedroom.

Everything looked like a faded painting, dull and lifeless.

He stopped praying to Eridian, something he used to do regularly, and let time flow meaninglessly.

“Eridian never responds anyway…. What happened to when I said his answers were my only joy?”

Consumed by lethargy and despair, Seo Woohyun began to wish he could simply die in his sleep.

“Woohyun.”

“…What?”

In a dream, Eridian appeared—just as he had during those days at Pyogang Industries.

* * *