Isolating the Saintess (Goddess)
“Grrrrr…!”
Red eyes gleamed in the darkness. The beasts drooled black saliva from their maws, poised to tear into the holy knights' necks at any moment.
“Everyone, battle stations! Protect the Saintess!” Lucian shouted, drawing his sword. But the situation was grim. The knights were exhausted from the day's march and the sudden ambush. The monsters had cunningly struck at their weakest moment.
Good timing.
I watched the scene from atop a tree. Lumina was only casting buff spells. As a goddess, using her full power might reveal her true nature to Lucian, so she stuck to buffs.
“Graaah!”
The monsters charged all at once. Clang! Kaang! Lucian swung his sword from the front line, a holy light flashing as he cleaved two beasts in half. But others exploited the gap, flanking from the sides.
“Gaaah!”
One knight's shoulder was bitten. The formation crumbled in an instant.
“No…!”
Lucian panicked, trying to rescue his comrade, but a massive alpha beast blocked his path. It was a desperate crisis. I felt Lumina's aura surging from inside the tent—she was about to break her seal and emerge.
Now.
I kicked off the tree and leaped down, enveloping my body in golden aura. I plummeted like a meteor.
Booom—!
I landed between Lucian and the alpha, the shockwave blasting nearby monsters away.
“Wh-who are you?!”
Lucian stared at me in shock. Instead of answering, I yanked Holy Sword Gram from the ground.
“We meet again? I was trying to sleep, but you were so damn loud.”
“Grrr…!”
The alpha bared its fangs at me. I smirked and swung my sword lightly.
Slash—!
One strike. The alpha's head tumbled to the ground—instant death, not even a scream.
“……!”
Silence. Lucian and the knights were speechless. I'd killed with a casual swing the monster that had them on the ropes.
“Well then, shall we clean up?”
I unleashed my Golden Lion's Fighting Spirit. A golden lion roared behind me. The sheer presence made the monsters tuck tail and retreat.
It was a massacre. Limbs flew with every swing of my sword. Blood sprayed and flesh scattered, but my fighting spirit barrier kept my clothes spotless.
Moments later, the campsite was littered with monster corpses.
“Whew…”
I sheathed my sword and turned. Lucian stared blankly.
“Thank you for saving us.”
He snapped out of it, approaching with a bow.
“Incredible skill. I'm Lucian, captain of the Lumina Church's holy knights. May I have your name…?”
“Siegurd.”
I replied curtly, glancing at the tent. The flap opened, and pale-faced Lumina stepped out. She scowled the moment she saw me.
“You… that guy from earlier…”
“Nice to see you again, Saintess.”
I greeted her with a sly grin. But her response was icy.
“Don't come near me.”
She covered her nose with a handkerchief and backed away.
“You reek of blood… and disgusting beast stench.”
Her blatant disgust wasn't fitting for her savior. The knights murmured awkwardly.
“Saintess, he saved us, though…”
“Yeah, we'd have been in trouble without him.”
The knights defended me. Lucian looked troubled, trying to persuade her.
“Saintess, he's our benefactor. We should show respect…”
“No, Lucian. He's dangerous. Look at his eyes—they gleam with greed.”
She was spot on. I was only thinking of conquering her. But her attitude was my opportunity.
Keep being prickly like that. That's how I find an opening.
I feigned hurt, stepping back.
“Haha… Looks like the Saintess doesn't like me. I'll be on my way then.”
As I turned, Lucian grabbed me urgently.
“W-wait! The forest is dangerous at night. And we haven't repaid you properly…”
“It's fine. No point staying where I'm not welcome—it'd just make everyone uncomfortable.”
I gave a bitter smile. Remorse filled Lucian's face. Naive guy. No clue it was all an act.
“Not at all! Sir Siegurd is our benefactor. Please… travel with us to the village.”
Lucian pleaded politely. The other knights nodded in agreement. An overwhelming ally in this perilous forest—who wouldn't want me as insurance?
“Lucian! No!”
Lumina shouted. But Lucian stood firm this time.
“Forgive me, Saintess. But many knights are injured. If we're ambushed again like this… We need Sir Siegurd's strength.”
Practical reasons. And above all, concern for his own safety. Lumina bit her lip. She couldn't risk her beloved Lucian over her stubbornness.
“…Do as you like. Just keep him out of my sight.”
She spat coldly and retreated into the tent. Permission granted.
“Sorry. The Saintess isn't feeling well…”
“I understand. She's the Saintess, after all.”
I played the magnanimous one. Inside, I was cheering. I'd infiltrated the group. Now for internal erosion. The more she pushed me away, the deeper I'd worm into the knights and Lucian. Until she was isolated.
The next day, our journey together began. I wielded my meticulously planned 'affability.'
“Let me check that wound.”
I approached an injured knight during the march, pulling modern medicine and bandages from my Inventory.
“What's this?”
“Medicine from my homeland. It'll heal right up.”
Sizzle—! The antiseptic bubbled on the wound. It stung, but as it knit closed, the knight's eyes widened.
“Ooh! The pain's gone! Amazing stuff!”
“No big deal. I've got plenty—let me know if you need more.”
I healed wounds and shared supplies lavishly. Premium jerky, clean water, even tasty booze. To knights weary of harsh expedition life, I was a walking treasure trove.
And fighting monsters alongside them built rapport fast.
“Sir Siegurd! This meat is delicious!”
“Sir Siegurd, teach me that sword technique!”
In just three days, the knights flocked to me. Skilled, straightforward, generous—who wouldn't like that?
“Haha, plenty more—take your time.”
I sat by the campfire, mingling. Far off, I felt a glare from the ornate carriage. Lumina, peeking through the curtain. Men were bad enough; now me too.
Her face twisted in agony.
Then Lucian approached.
“Sir Siegurd.”
“Ah, Captain. Have a seat.”
I made room and offered booze. He hesitated, then sat.
“Thanks to you, morale's way up. Appreciate it.”
“No thanks needed. Comrades help each other.”
I slipped in 'comrades' naturally. Lucian smiled faintly.
“Comrades… Nice word.”
He sipped, glancing at the carriage. A lonely look.
“Something bothering you?”
I prodded. He sighed.
“The Saintess… she's been on edge lately. Feels like it's because of me…”
“Nah, no way. She treasures you.”
“That's the problem. Someone like me… doesn't deserve to be by her side.”
Classic low self-esteem protagonist line. He was a lucky commoner risen high; she, the noble Saintess. Trapped in that frame, fumbling despite mutual feelings.
“Captain, sometimes a man needs to be bold.”
I pretended to advise, sowing poison.
“Worship too much, and a woman gets lonely. Approach her as a man sometimes.”
“A-as a man? How dare I with the Saintess…”
“Saintess before woman? Look at her—locked away alone. Happy?”
Lucian's gaze lingered on the sealed carriage. Lumina inside, solitary. His eyes wavered.
Yes, waver.
The more you approach, the more she'll suffer—pushing you away for her secret. That rejection wounds you, creates cracks. Perfect.
That night, I plied the knights with strong whiskey.
“Cheers!”
The camp turned into a boozy party. Knights flushed, shouting, arm-in-arm singing.
Then the carriage door flew open. Lumina emerged, face frozen cold.
“What is this disgrace?!”
Her shout doused the revelry in silence. Knights scrambled up.
“S-Saintess…”
“Drinking on a sacred mission! And booze from that… rootless scum!”
She glared at me. Disgust. Her once-pure knights tainted by filth like me.
“That's too much, Saintess.”
I stepped up.
“Knights are human too. After dodging death for days, a drink's fine, right?”
“Butt out! This is our church's affair!”
“Sir Siegurd's right!”
A drunk knight yelled. Words he'd never dare sober.
Frustration mixed with booze and fatigue erupted.
“We're exhausted too! He was comforting us!”
“Yeah! Too harsh on our lifesaver!”
Knights rallied behind me one by one. Lumina's face filled with horror. Her absolute obedience shattered—for a man she'd known three days.
“You all… mad? Bewitched by him?”
“Enough, Saintess.”
Lucian intervened, staggering forward.
“Sir Siegurd… is a good man. Why keep rejecting him?”
“Lucian… even you…”
Hurt flickered in her eyes. Despair that her beloved wouldn't understand her.
“I'm disappointed.”
She left those words and stormed back. Slam! The door echoed loudly.
The mood chilled. Lucian hung his head. Knights glanced around. But I bit my lip to stifle laughter.
Perfect.
She'd dug her own grave. Her authority in the knights crumbled. A rift with Lucian too. And slipping into that gap? Me, Siegurd.
I patted dejected Lucian's shoulder.
“Don't take it to heart. She'll understand.”
“…I have no face.”
He apologized to me. That remorse would turn to resentment later.
Time for the next phase.
Deepen her mental isolation. When she has nowhere to lean… that's when I appear as her 'sole savior.'
Out of their sight, I turned and smirked.
Deeper into the knights' fold for me. Lumina pushed further out.
Goddess?
In the end, just a woman. I'll conquer her thoroughly.
#Lumina
