While Talulah was still pondering what kind of expression she should wear, the Pope had already led her into the interior of the lounge.
As soon as she entered, Talulah saw a group of Sankta surrounding Jeanne, clamoring for autographs, a scene as lively as an idol's fan-signing event. Lemuen, who had entered a step ahead of her, looked quite pitiful; she was surrounded by four or five familiar Sankta who were whispering to her, inquiring about various matters.
Talulah quietly leaned in, wanting to eavesdrop on what they were saying. With her sharp hearing, she quickly caught the content of the conversation, though the subject matter was a bit...
"Little Lem, you haven't caused any trouble during your time by the Saint's side, have you? Be careful when playing with explosives; tinker with them by yourself far away from others. Don't go corrupting the children over there."
"Ansel, how many years ago was that little incident? I haven't touched those things in years. Besides, the one who plays with bombs is Lemure, not me! Can you please not get us mixed up?"
Lemuen spoke quite honestly to the Sankta in front of her. Talulah noticed that when Lemuen spoke to this "Ansel," she was like an obedient child, not daring to show even a hint of rebelliousness.
"Is that so? Ah, right! The one who blew up the school was Lemuel, not you. It's been a while since I've seen you, so I got the sisters' misdeeds mixed up. You were the one who painted your halo with black oil paint and ended up in the hospital for a week..."
Much like her sister Exusiai, Lemuen had been a legendary figure whose reputation echoed through the school during her student days. It was just that her exploits had gradually been overshadowed by Lemure's.
However, in front of this person, Lemuen could only act like a well-behaved baby, sitting there and listening to this Bishop whisper about her embarrassing childhood history. The surrounding Sankta acted as the "hype men," occasionally chiming in with their own knowledge of the events...
The main reason was that her parents might ask these people about her situation. It was better to let them think she was doing well and hadn't run into trouble, so her two large-hearted parents could continue being large-hearted. The key was that Lemuen couldn't say anything while they discussed these things, because everyone here had once been a teacher to her and her sister; the one in the middle was even the Dean of Students.
Because her family had produced two generations of legendary students, Lemuen's relationship with these teachers was excellent—so much so that her parents had nearly turned these teachers into relatives.
At this moment, Talulah was introduced to the people present by the Pope. No one showed any negative reaction to Talulah being an Infected; on the contrary, they began to converse with her. This kind of scene was normal enough; even as Jeanne's friend, Talulah wouldn't be discriminated against by these people for her status as an Infected. Moreover, these Sankta didn't seem to reject the Infected at all; none of them made any subconscious movements to distance themselves.
As for Jeanne, she was taken aside by the Pope and several Bishops to discuss something unknown. It appeared to be related to the trade Jeanne had mentioned earlier.
"If you aren't that repelled by the Infected, then why do you forbid your own kin from staying? Why make them leave the land of Laterano and forbid them from ever returning?"
Having realized that most Sankta were not as terrified of the Infected as other nations—even holding the view that it was simply a disease—Talulah asked the question burning in her heart. She had asked Lemuen before, but Lemuen only said she didn't know why Laterano made that choice; she wasn't clergy and didn't understand those things.
The surrounding Sankta looked at each other before one, clearly a member of the clergy, explained to Talulah:
"We have only heard it from the previous generation. It is a way to protect the purity within the borders of Laterano. It is also a covenant established by the disciples at the dawn of Laterano's founding."
"Protecting Laterano's purity?" Talulah was quite curious about this phrasing. Did the Sankta believe that a Sankta infected with Oripathy had been tainted by something "unclean," thus requiring exile?
"Yes. The land of Laterano is blessed by God, so we have a responsibility to protect its purity and not let it be tainted by the power of Originium... or so the doctrine says."
Talulah couldn't entirely accept this, nor did she understand the connection between Originium and polluting the land. To her, Originium was a disaster, a severe infectious disease...
"It is not without reason. I remember internal Church records stating that the fading of God's radiance was inseparable from the former capital, Judas, and the Infected... but more than that, only the Pope knows."
Talulah found the clergyman's words quite confusing, but she managed to grasp the gist of it. As for the rest, she planned to go back and ask Jeanne. If anyone had an understanding of that "God," Jeanne was definitely the professional. If Laterano's attitude was because of God, it was better to ask the all-knowing Jeanne.
"Finally... I've finally escaped! No more of those sleep-inducing lectures! I, Lemuen, am finally revived!"
After meeting with the Laterano group, Jeanne and the others left by vehicle. Jeanne needed to make some preparations for the cooperation in Lungmen and didn't plan to travel with them. Lemuen, upon leaving that place, was like an archer with low health being sent back to the fountain; she was instantly filled with vitality, a full-health revival.
"Is it really that bad? They weren't going to eat you. Are you really that repelled by such occasions?"
Talulah looked at Lemuen, who was excited enough to eat a whole apple pie in three bites, and didn't quite understand what she was so repelled by.
"You don't understand! I chose not to become a member of the clergy precisely because I dislike those occasions! Otherwise, I'd be a Bishop by now... What's with that look? Back in the day, I was a genius, the kind who could be recommended for admission without exams!"
Seeing Talulah's "Really? I don't believe you" expression, Lemuen asserted her long-hidden "straight-A student" persona. However, this meant nothing to Talulah or Jeanne. Talulah knew nothing about the Laterano Bible and didn't understand the significance of being a top student in that context.
As for Jeanne, she could confidently say that famous line etched into her DNA: No one knows God better than me!
"Waaah, is that how you two see a top graduate? In your eyes, what kind of person am I—someone who greets the Pope as casually as a next-door neighbor..."
Lemuen helplessly voiced her grievance at their disbelief. At this moment, she thought of her troublesome little sister again. If she were here, Lemuen would only need to bully her a bit to feel much happier...
"Lemuen, stop for a second. I need to go buy some things."
Jeanne saw a shopping mall not far away and remembered her previous plan... she decided she would take action tonight...
"Buy what? Do you want me to go with you?"
Sensing something, Talulah looked at Jeanne and asked. She felt a bit panicked, sensing that Jeanne was planning to do something to her...
"No need. Just stay in the car," Jeanne said, her gaze lingering on Talulah for a moment as she spoke gently.