The Murderer Doctor and the Singing Saint

Chapter 3: Saint Arisa (3)

“Saint Arisa!?”

Startled, I leapt to my feet and rushed toward her.

Arisa lay collapsed on the floor, trembling and groaning.

“Are you alright?”

“Ah… aah…”

Faint gasps spilled from her lips—too weak even to be called screams.

I immediately placed my hands on her to check her condition.

“Ghh…”

Arisa let out another cry of pain. At the same time, the paladins, sensing something was wrong, burst through the reception room doors.

“How dare you harm the Saint!”

“You’re mistaken! I only—!”

“Restrain him!”

At the paladin’s chant, golden rings formed around my wrists and ankles. In the blink of an eye, they constricted, pulling my limbs together and forcing me face-down onto the floor.

“Saint Arisa, are you alright!?”

“Ah… ah…”

She could only tremble and let out short groans.

“Summon the High Saint. She appears to be deeply shaken. Lock that ungrateful wretch in the basement.”

“Wait! Please listen to me!”

“There’s nothing to hear! Take him away!”

Two paladins lifted me from either side. I continued to plead my innocence, but they said nothing, dutifully carrying out their orders.

And so, I was thrown into a basement cell.

“The children of the Pope shall come soon to judge your crimes.”

With that cold remark, the heavy door closed behind me.

There was no light. No sound. Only the sting of tightly bound wrists and ankles, and the dusty air burning my lungs with each breath.

Lying there in the dark, I recalled what had just happened.

The moment Arisa touched me, she collapsed.

She’d once said touching someone lets her hear their deepest thoughts. If that’s true, then whatever she heard from me… must have been unbearable.

‘So I really am a murderer, after all.’

It made me furious.

I’d tried so hard to erase the past and start over. Was it all meaningless?

Soon, the Church would send someone to arrest me. Attempting to harm a Saint was no minor offense.

And during the investigation, my past murders would surely be revealed as well.

‘They should just kill me already and get it over with…’

A tear slid down my cheek in the silence, but with my hands bound, I couldn’t even wipe it away.

***

How long had I waited, not knowing how time passed? Eventually, the basement door creaked open.

After so long in the dark, the incoming light felt blinding.

Has the Church finally arrived?

“Kiru.”

It wasn’t what I expected. The steward’s voice echoed in the room.

I stared at him in confusion as he approached with several paladins.

“Release him.”

At his command, one of the paladins chanted a spell, and the golden restraints around me vanished as quickly as they had appeared.

“Saint Arisa is asking for you.”

The Saint? The very one who had collapsed in agony after touching me?

Still dazed, I stared at the steward.

“Come now. Are you planning to keep Her Holiness waiting?”

Almost entranced, I stood and followed him.

We stopped outside Arisa’s room, and the steward knocked gently.

“Saint Arisa, may we enter?”

“Come in.”

He opened the door and guided me inside.

It was a spacious room, with white walls symbolizing purity and sacred objects placed throughout, radiating a divine atmosphere.

But what caught my eye the most were the instruments decorating the room—each one immaculate, not a speck of dust in sight.

Arisa sat on the bed beside another Saint.

I didn’t recognize her, but the rosary at her neck made her identity clear. This must have been the High Saint they had summoned earlier.

“Are you sure about this, Sister?” the High Saint asked, covering Arisa’s hand with hers.

Even with their hands touching, Arisa looked completely at ease. She truly was a Saint—one whose heart remained gentle even when seeing the deepest truths.

She was nothing like me.

“I’m fine. He’s not a bad person,” Arisa said, smiling warmly.

The High Saint still looked uneasy. She pressed her rosary into Arisa’s hand.

“It carries my divine power. It will protect you if anything happens.”

“Nothing will happen. Don’t worry, Sister.”

Eventually, the High Saint rose to leave. As she passed me, she paused and whispered,

“She’s a delicate soul. Please… be gentle with her.”

It was unfair—I hadn’t done anything. But all I could do was nod.

Once she left, Arisa patted the empty space beside her.

“Come sit.”

She’d collapsed in pain because of me, and yet she didn’t fear me?

Her clear eyes stared calmly as she waited. In the end, I cautiously sat beside her.

“Are you alright now?”

“I’m fine. What about you?”

“I’m alright.”

“I’m glad. I was worried.”

She smiled again.

That smile was baffling. I reached out to her—but, just as expected, she flinched and pulled back instinctively.

Of course.

“I’m sorry! I didn’t mean anything bad by it…”

She looked truly apologetic.

“There’s no need to apologize.”

“You really do produce a beautiful song, Kiru. That much is true. But when our hands touched… I heard something horrifying, something I’ve never heard before.”

Her face tightened slightly.

Just remembering it seemed painful.

“Maybe that’s because I’m an evil man pretending to be righteous.”

“No. Songs can’t be faked. You can’t just act and change your melody.”

Her voice was firm.

It didn’t seem like I could sway her with words, so I remained quiet and listened.

“If… you’re alright with it, may I try listening to your inner song once more?”

Even after what happened, she still wanted to hear it?

If she collapsed again, I might be executed on the spot. I couldn’t easily say yes.

“Don’t worry. I was just surprised before. I promise I’ll be okay this time.”

If she said that much…

I reached out to her.

After a brief moment of hesitation, she gripped my hand tightly.

“Ah…”

Her hand flinched.

Feeling guilty, I tried to pull away—but she held on firmly.

Her breath grew ragged as if she were suppressing pain. Her eyes were tightly shut, her hand damp with sweat.

She listened to my song for a long time, then finally released me and steadied her breathing.

“I’m sorry… for showing you that.”

She was apologizing… to me?

I was the one who forced that awful noise on her. Why was she the one saying sorry?

“The sound I heard inside you… it wasn’t just noise. It was still music. But the strings meant to play melodies were broken and weeping, and the drums that should’ve kept rhythm were torn and screaming.”

I didn’t fully understand what she meant, but it clearly wasn’t a pleasant sound.

So even my “song” was in complete ruin.

“That was your song, Kiru. Not twisted or artificial—your pure, unaltered melody.”

Her words struck like a nail driven into me.

I hadn’t changed. I hadn’t erased my nature as a killer.

No matter how hard I struggled, I could never become the person Kiru had dreamed of being.

Seeing my darkening expression, Arisa quickly continued.

“Broken strings can be replaced. Torn drums can be repaired. Don’t be so hard on yourself. There must be a way…”

“No. You don’t need to console me anymore.”

I had accepted it. It was over. All that remained was to pay for my sins.

But Arisa wasn’t ready to give up. She placed a small orb in my hand.

“It contains calming music. It will help you.”

“Why…? Why would you help a murderer with such a horrible sound inside him?”

“If you were a malicious killer, your song would’ve sounded very different. You didn’t kill out of malice. There must be another reason.”

“…”

“Just promise me one thing. Promise that you’ll keep helping others. I’ll do whatever I can to uncover the reason.”

“…Alright.”

Even at the very end, Arisa cheered me on.

I forced a small smile before leaving the room.

***

High Saint Lena’s heart had yet to calm.

Saint Arisa had always been afraid to meet others because of her ability to hear their inner songs.

So when she heard Arisa had collapsed, she feared the worst.

But upon waking, Arisa had only smiled and said,

“I’m fine, Sister Lena. But… Could you help me meet Kiru again?”

“That man may be dangerous. The Pope’s agents should examine him first—”

“He didn’t harm me. Please turn them away, and let me speak with Kiru alone.”

“If you insist…”

Lena had done as asked and sent the inquisitors back. But even so, she couldn’t help but worry.

That’s why she’d even entrusted Arisa with her rosary—and why she’d been waiting anxiously for the meeting to end.

The door opened, and the man stepped out with a bitter expression.

Most people smiled with peace after meeting a Saint. Why did he look so troubled?

Concerned, Lena knocked on the door.

“Arisa? May I come in?”

“Yes, come in.”

Inside, Arisa too wore a heavy expression.

Lena sat beside her and gently took her hand.

“Are you alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for worrying, Sister Lena.”

“That man… he didn’t do anything to you, did he?”

“No. Oh, and here—your rosary.”

Lena accepted it and checked for any changes in its divine power.

There were none. It seemed nothing had happened. And yet, her unease didn’t fade.

“Do you still not trust Kiru?”

“How can I trust someone who nearly harmed you?”

“Would you like to hear his song? Once you hear it, I’m sure you’ll feel reassured.”

Arisa picked up the instrument by her bedside and began to play.

It was a melody Lena had never heard before—but it was undeniably beautiful.

“It really is a lovely song. But… why do I still feel uneasy?”

A sense of dread lingered in her heart.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that Arisa would never truly be at peace around that man.

As if sensing Lena’s thoughts, Arisa set the instrument down and held her hand.

“May the grace of the gods be with you, Sister Lena.”

“And with you, Sister Arisa.”

Clutching her rosary tightly, Lena offered a heartfelt prayer.