The World I Sponsored Is Real

The day I left for the academy.

It was the memorial of my father's death.

My father was an old man who couldn't even read or write, a true illiterate.

To make ends meet, the only jobs he could do were chopping down trees in the vicinity for sale or carrying heavy loads for others.

With the meager wages, whenever he bought potatoes, he would always give me one more than he took for himself.

It wasn't just potatoes. Whether it was carrots, turnips, or eggs, he always bought three and gave two to me when he came home from work.

It was only later that I realized he was managing to get three for the price of two.

"Father, you should eat two potatoes. I'm not hungry."

"No, Luka. When you're young, you need to eat a lot. This old man has already eaten while working outside."

If I had been more considerate, I would have refused, but at that time, I was only seven years old.

Believing 'Father ate while working' was easier and simpler than giving up food for him.

He was always kind to me, except for one time when he scolded me so fiercely, it seemed like the sky would fall.

That was the day I stole bread because I was hungry, as he hadn't brought any food home.

Father hit me a few times, then sat down and cried like a child.

After wiping his tears, he held my hand tightly and took me to the docks where the sunset was beautifully setting, and said:

—"They are always watching from above."

"Who?" —"God."

My father, who didn't even know the name of God, spoke with such conviction, repeating it several times.

"They watch everything. Always, at all times. Whether it's night or day, they keep an eye on us. So, there's no such thing as a misdeed that goes unnoticed. And there's no good deed that goes unrewarded. Understand, Luka?"

The one who watches everything from above, God.

Then, was it because God was watching from above that Father didn't receive wages when he worked at the orphanage?

I wanted to ask that, but as a child, I was overwhelmed by the look in my father's eyes before I could even ask.

Those clear, transparent eyes. Like a cat's, so clean they looked like they might burst at a touch.

After that day, I never stole or did anything bad again.

I even avoided minor acts that anyone might do, because God was always watching from above. Because God sees everything in the end.

While Father worked, I would often go to the orphanage where he sometimes volunteered, helping with chores in exchange for education from the nuns.

Initially, it was studying letters, but for a normal child, it wasn't easy.

I managed to learn to read, but my body naturally wanted to run around.

One day, after I had intervened in a fight among the boys at the orphanage, the nun spoke to me in a serious tone:

"Luka, why don't you learn to use weapons?"

Whether it was swords or something else, learning to use weapons seemed like a way to earn a living.

However, I couldn't decide easily. Even though there hadn't been war for a long time, becoming a soldier was still an unimaginable decision back then.

I wanted to be a mage if anything, one who would be respected and make a lot of money, so I could buy lots of potatoes, eggs, and share them with Father.

But then, Father got seriously injured.

It happened when I was thirteen.

It was an accident, possibly a landslide. He got hurt while cutting down trees.

People consoled me, saying it was just misfortune, but I couldn't understand. —Weren't they watching from above?

My father, who always gave me his share of food.

Who volunteered at the orphanage for free. So why?

Father was taken to the hospital attached to the church that ran the orphanage, where several priests also attended to him, but... they told me that due to the severity of his wounds, it would be difficult, and I should prepare myself.

In the room where I was told to say my final goodbyes, Father was barely breathing, looking ghastly.

"Father. It's me, Luka. Can you hear me?"

I asked several times, but there was no response.

The only time I heard an answer was when, exhausted from crying, I fell asleep by his side.

"Luka. The truth is, I'm not your real father."

Was it a dream, or did we talk after I woke up?

Anyway, in that dream, Father said something quite shocking to me.

"You were left in front of the orphanage, and that day, I had a strange feeling, so I took you in. I tried to ignore it, but I couldn't. Because God is always watching over us... Sometimes, you do things just because they're right..."

"I thought raising you was the right thing to do. So, don't worry and pursue your dreams. You didn't inherit my blood, so you can become much greater than me."

Even while crying, I instinctively realized this was my last chance to talk to him.

"Father. No matter what anyone says, you are my father."

I tightly held Father's hand in the dream.

It was warm, even in a dream.

"I..."

I might not have your blood flowing through me.

But I have your noble soul. The soul you've lived with honor, even without anyone recognizing it.

Father, I will never forget. That your spirit is engraved in me.

I will never forget that God is always watching...

I should have said those words.

But as a child, I wasn't mature enough to think of such words.

"I will definitely become a wonderful person like Father."

When I said that as my last words—

—Never forget that they are always watching.

Even in times of injustice or when trials overwhelm you... God will always, always watch over your decisions.

'...!'

When I woke up from the dream, what I saw was— a hand.

Father's hand.

His finger was pointing to the sky, eyes closed.

And not long after... with a 'thud', his outstretched hand fell limply onto the bed.

Even at this moment, never forget that God is watching—

That was the last will Father whispered, not to my ears but to my heart.

After learning to read, Luka finally learned the name of the orphanage she often visited.

Heavenesian Adelia.

After making Father's grave and finding herself alone, Luka was adopted by the compassionate director of the orphanage and given the name 'Luka Heavenesian.'

This surname was given to all the children in the orphanage.

"Sister, I want to learn swordsmanship."

Fortunately, Luka showed considerable talent for the sword.

Being five years older than most of the orphanage kids, she naturally took on the role of an older sister, eventually taking charge of disciplining the children.

It wasn't too hard. Not only because they were like family, but also because everything was being watched from above.

She naturally started teaching the orphans the lessons she learned from her father.

"No stealing. God is always watching from above."

"God? Was it... Iggokden?"

"Yes. So, you must always live righteously. Understand?"

"How can you forget God's name? Lepiton said it was a 'simple fact'?"

"What's a simple fact? I prefer bread I can eat!"

The children listened well to Luka, and her swordsmanship improved day by day.

Then, one day when she was eighteen, she heard some excellent news.

"A free admission...?"

"I told the academy about you, and if you have the talent to pass their test, they want to nurture you. Isn't that good news, Luka?"

It wasn't a prestigious academy, but it was well-known for swordsmanship. A letter had come from there.

Even if it was a lesser-known place, free admission was still a big deal.

'Really... they were watching over me!'

Yes.

God was always watching over me. Even in these circumstances, I didn't give up on my dreams and kept working hard!

"Luka, sister! You have to come back safe! Here's a gift!"

"This is..."

A pure white ribbon.

It looked a bit rustic, but it seemed sturdy.

Something in my heart twinged. What was this feeling?

Family?

The now much-grown kids, wiping their noses, said:

"You can't have your hair in your eyes when you use a sword!"

"It's not stolen, big sis! We bought it with our pocket money. Hehe."

"Thank you, Amon, Freya. I'll cherish it."

With the ribbon tightly tied in her hair, Luka visited her father's grave and said:

Father, it seems you were right about God watching over us.

Because I lived righteously, an opportunity came my way.

I won't become arrogant. I'll never forget that God is watching, just like in my childhood, chattering away to Father.

And today was the day she left for the academy.

That day was also the memorial of her father's death.

Ruflantia Academy.

Luka managed to pass the entrance exam of this academy, known for producing renowned knights.

There, she met her roommate, Irina.

"Luka! Let's get along well from now on!"

Irina was very different from Luka in many ways.

A beautiful blonde girl from a well-off family, she often whispered about her dream of becoming the captain of the Royal Knight Corps with unwavering confidence.

Luka thought having Irina as a roommate was a stroke of luck. Irina knew much about the world that Luka, who had only lived in a rural orphanage, didn't.

According to Irina, joining the Royal Knight Corps would bring both money and honor, and with enough talent, one could even become a royal guard, regardless of social class, which would mean achieving all that a knight could dream of in terms of wealth and prestige.

Money.

It wasn't just about making a living; I wanted to give something back to the orphanage that raised me...

"Then, should we both join the Royal Knight Corps?"

"Sounds good!"

Everything Irina talked about was a learning experience for Luka. Because to live a life without shame before the heavens, you must know a lot.

Because God is always watching me from above.

Time flew by so quickly.

What Luka realized over those three years was that she had been living a very unfortunate life, and it was still ongoing.

This realization came after her perspective broadened upon entering the academy.

Almost nothing went according to her wishes during those three years... From the trivial to the significant.

But Luka didn't despair.

Because in the end, everything is under God's watchful eye. From one to ten.

Was that why? Before she knew it, Luka had overcome her misfortunes to become a promising talent and the top student of her year at the academy.

If nothing else, Luka's talent for swordsmanship was undeniable. Which was a moment that validated the nun's judgment in encouraging her to learn swordsmanship.

Irina, her roommate, also rose to prominence alongside Luka, becoming known as an outstanding talent and the second-ranked student in their year, both shining as promising knights within the academy.

It was no surprise that news of these two female knights spread throughout the academy.

As they were on such a successful path, one day...

When they were twenty, in their third year, at the age of graduation:

"Is that really true...?"

Even with a life of misfortune continuing, as if to reaffirm that God was indeed watching over her—

A timely message came from the state.