Chapter 116
Chapter 116
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: The Saintess is Smiling
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Olga! I was so overjoyed by the unexpected arrival of this person that I hugged her without thinking.
Olga Virtus, the saintess of this era who appeared in the Northern Church after fifty years—the only one who could directly hear the goddess's revelations, a being said to be even closer to the goddess than the Pope himself.
At the same time, in the original story, she was one of the main heroines for the protagonist Kaiyen Silversword... and during the 3rd regression, she was my close friend and one of the best allies who had fervently supported me.
"Hehe... Husband, if you hug me like this outside, you might get arrested for blasphemy, you know?"
"Ah! S-Sorry! I was so happy I did it without realizing..."
Oh no, after getting tortured over a single letter in the 3rd regression, I let my guard down without thinking.
"But don't tense up right away—don't be so nervous. It's just the two of us right now, isn't it?"
As I startled and released the hug with a tense face, Olga smiled at me instead, saying she was fine, then sat on the sofa opposite me.
Still dressed in her modest priestess robes, her silky black hair swayed like beautiful jewels.
"And I was so happy that I secretly hugged you from behind~ So by your expression, it's a 1:1 tie, right? Hehe."
"Haha, you even remember that phrasing? I was really shocked—I had no idea I'd run into you here."
Her affectionate speech, considerate of me, and the playful nickname "Husband" she used when it was just the two of us.
'I had a hunch, but this really is the Olga from the 3rd regression...'
I let out a deep sigh of relief. If the others remembered me but my close friend Olga didn't recognize me, it would've been heartbreaking.
"Oh my, since Husband didn't come to find me, wasn't it only natural for me to come looking myself?"
"Well... it must've reached the church too, but I've been pretty busy here. Haha."
Her words somehow carried a hint of hurt that I hadn't sought her out, leaving me to smile awkwardly.
In truth, Olga had helped me tremendously, much like Lin Shaomei in the 1st regression or Marianne de Lectour's teacher in the 4th.
Back when I was assisting Kaiyen Silversword, she would gently persuade nobles and priests in my stead whenever I needed to convince them, flipping their attitudes overnight.
In the 2nd regression, while I traveled with Unicor the unicorn, she secretly taught me my makeshift holy arts every night away from prying eyes. Even after I learned black magic and made a pact with a demon, it was Olga who helped me evade the strict inquisitors. Honestly, if I listed it all out, the favors she did me seem endless.
What's more, unlike Lin Shaomei, whom I'd been close to since possession, or Marianne de Lectour's teacher, whom I'd befriended through Jorba Pelkas's help, Olga was one of the rare friends I'd sought out and grown close to on my own.
'...Huh? But Olga hasn't even met me yet—how did she recall my memories?'
As I made a puzzled face, Olga smiled warmly and overlaid her hand on the back of mine before I could even speak.
"I was shocked too. I never imagined Husband would block a Demon King's Army executive's ritual right from the first month of the semester and save so many people. When I heard the news from the Papal Court, memories of you started flooding back."
"Ah, so it was the Rose Pavilion incident that jogged your memory of me? Everyone else I've met so far only remembered after seeing me in person! It's so fascinating!"
"Oh my, besides me, others who regained their memories... As expected, the hero Kaiyen Silversword, or Mr. Jorba, Miss Lin Shaomei?"
"Ah~ Not Jorba, just Kaiyen Silversword and Lin Shaomei. Besides them, Agnes Ermengarde, Violet Purplecrow, and the unicorn Unicor?"
Olga covered her mouth, her face full of shock at the revelation that others besides her had regained their memories. Perhaps her pure nature meant she hadn't even considered it yet.
"Ah, want to go say hi right now? You were pretty close with Violet Purplecrow and Agnes Ermengarde, right?"
"Oh my, I'd love that... but it might be a bit difficult."
"Huh? Why? Is something wrong?"
Olga let out a deep sigh, fiddling with my hand as if lost in thought, her expression hesitant.
...Does she have some circumstances that are hard to talk about? Just as I thought that, Olga seemed to steel herself, opening her eyes with a resolute expression and meeting my gaze.
"No, I think I can tell you, Husband. But please keep it secret from everyone else?"
"...Of course. What's going on?"
Olga never opens her eyes. As the saintess, she knows better than anyone that merely looking directly at someone could make them a target of jealousy for receiving her gaze.
For her to open her eyes and wear such a resolute face meant it was undoubtedly a grave matter. I swallowed hard without realizing it and listened to her story.
"Actually..."
**
Once the story wrapped up, Arthin nodded in understanding of Olga's situation. With his promise never to breathe a word of their meeting to outsiders secured, the encounter had gone exactly as Olga wished.
"Sorry, Husband. I want to greet the others happily too... but asking your friends around me to lie for me..."
"Don't worry! For something like that, I have to help however I can. Come find me anytime you need anything from now on!"
"As expected, Husband is far too kind."
Ding-a-ling-a-ling~♪
"Oh my, has it gotten this late already...? We should end our meeting here for today, Husband."
Hehe. Just as the atmosphere had nicely warmed up, the academy bell signaling preparations for first period rang out, leaving Olga and Arthin exchanging regretful looks.
"Can't we chat a little longer? There's still some time before first period..."
"No. My identity might get exposed... but if you're late to class and penalized, that'd be awful, right?"
Despite her gentle smile, Olga's firm tone made Arthin feign regret as he rose from his seat.
"Then, let's meet again next time. Next time, we'll rent out a salon for a leisurely tea time!"
"Hehe, I'll look forward to it. See you next time, Arthin."
Clunk!
...The door closed.
"...Not 'Princess Agnes Ermengarde,' but just 'Agnes.'"
Olga wore a venomous smile as she reminisced about her happy time with Arthin. But the gentleness that had filled her expression moments ago was nowhere to be seen.
"As expected, while I was purging the church's rats, that one woman must've been fawning over Husband with all her might."
But for it to be Princess Agnes Ermengarde... Was she trying to act cute in repayment for saving the empire and elevating her to crown princess in her past life?
...Or perhaps there was a new life she knew nothing about. No, it was certain.
"If the unicorn Unicor isn't just a mere contract beast but has regained its memories... I never saw him contract with that nag during our time together, which means at least two regressions or more..."
Tok, tok. As she tapped her arm with her index finger, Olga suddenly glanced down at her chest.
...Arthin was, of course, noble and kind—the unparalleled, one-and-only savior, unlike other vulgar, filthy, repulsive men. But sometimes, with that cute expression, he'd steal glances at her chest.
He'd sometimes feign ignorance during skinship, or flinch every time her breasts brushed against him in a hug—possessing such innocence. But...
'...There was no reaction this time, not even during the back hug or when he hugged me tightly in return.'
Crunch!
The swarming of bitches was expected, and she'd already confirmed Arthin's surrounding bitches in advance through her eyes and ears within the academy.
But regardless, the idea of some other female tainting Arthin was something Olga could scarcely endure.
'...Calm down. From Arthin's reaction, his fondness for me is still solid... No, he's even more excited from reuniting after so long.'
Long time—a single month hardly qualified, so either he'd lived a new life after that one ended... or restarted from infancy. Either way, the emotion of longing was her advantage.
Knowing this full well, Olga had avoided prolonging their time together. Instead, she'd quickly explained her fabricated reason for coming to the academy, timed it perfectly for the bell, and sent him off the instant it rang.
Her prepared excuse was simple: After regaining her senses, Olga had reported the heretics infesting the church, but some had fled beyond its walls—likely toward the academy.
Priest Thomas, herself, and Sir Sergei were on a secret mission pursuing them; they couldn't be seen... A suitably contrived reason. At first glance, it seemed flimsy.
Would the church really send its saintess after such vermin? Anyone else saying it, and even Arthin would've doubted. But...
The trust Olga had cultivated—and which Arthin harbored—made even that shaky alibi convincing. And that was her unique strength, distinct from Arthin's pack of bitches.
'...Well, it wasn't entirely a lie.'
In truth, their leader, Archbishop Boris, and several subordinates had abandoned the church. They'd crossed the barrier, so they might be dead... but they could also have become the Demon King's minions, targeting this academy.
"If that's the case... I must protect Arthin... No, letting him protect me wouldn't be so bad..."
But everything up to that point fell within Olga's predictions. Now, under the pretext of a secret mission, she could steadily arrange late-night rendezvous with Arthin alone. Olga was twisting every variable and constant to serve her love for Arthin.
"...Well, those wretched bitches may have gotten their paws on him first, but they'll have to wait their turn. As long as he returns to my side in the end, I can cleanse him of all that filth..."
Olga twisted her face into an evil expression no one who knew her could imagine. For the sake of her sole desire, she was prepared to burn the world to ash.
——But Olga didn't know.
That beyond Lin Shaomei, Violet Purplecrow, Agnes Ermengarde, and Unicor the unicorn—whom she'd accounted for—far more women surrounded Arthin.
It was only natural. Her eyes and ears consisted of deeply embedded church students and staff; their intel was inherently limited.
Much less the covert bodyguards like Sion Idris, Violet Purplecrow's familiar Al'Miraz, or even the dream demon Sirka—who had fought Arthin during the Rose Pavilion incident and been tamed by him. No one could know of them.
"Hehehehe, shall I lend a bit more power to Kaiyen Silversword so he can stick to Husband and keep watch? Gloomy and repulsive as that homosexual creep is, he's reliable in that regard."
The cheetah was laughing. She brimmed with confidence in her assured victory.
But she didn't know. While she crouched, poised to sprint, someone had already crossed the finish line.
"Wait for me... Husband, for our happiness alone..."
But perhaps it didn't matter. She was more adept at dark machinations than any in the harem, utterly convinced she could wash away the world's every stain.
As she said, so long as Arthin ended up by her side, she could endure anything.
***
Boom!
And from hell, watching that scene, Mephisto ground her teeth.
"That bitch who's corrupting him... up to her tricks again!"
——Just before Mephisto departed Violet Purplecrow's body, she'd infused her magic into Arthin, allowing her to monitor his private life around the clock without needing Al'Miraz.
And soon, all of Mephisto's time was devoted to observing Arthin's daily life. Watching her beloved was a joy worth every moment poured into it.
——Of course, she'd witnessed his dream experiences too, even watched Al'Miraz become Arthin's bitch in real time.
Thus, when one finally overtook her and nestled into Arthin's arms first, Mephisto... didn't rage.
Lust was one of hell's foremost virtues, after all, and for a handsome, charismatic man like Arthin, a few flies buzzing around was only natural—even Mephisto thought so herself.
But Olga... Olga was different.
"Thinking of how that brilliant, dashing Arthin grew more ruined with every touch from that woman's hand...!"
Olga Virtus had always played the saintess who embraced all. And Arthin, duped by that compassionate facade, visibly grew more reliant on her with every prolonged stay by her side.
Of course, Mephisto knew it was all Olga's scheming—she'd even warned Violet Purplecrow and Arthin directly...
But Arthin turned a deaf ear to Mephisto's words, scoffing no matter how many times she pleaded.
It was inevitable, in a way. Mephisto's habitually malicious pranks made her counsel sound like nothing more than a demon's whisper sowing discord between him and the saintess.
And so, to the typically impassive, emotionless Mephisto, Saintess Olga Virtus was her sole rival—the one figure who drew open hostility.
That woman, whom he trusted with near-blind faith, something Mephisto lacked. And yet, black-hearted enough to make even a demon click her tongue in dismay.
"Who's outside."
At Mephisto's small but commanding voice brimming with presence, a demon waiting in attendance immediately appeared.
"You called! Superior Imp Roters stands ready!"
"Go inform them that I have summoned Al'Miraz. Make haste."
"...!"
Make haste—from her normally languid, aimless, cloud-like lord, motivation at last.
The superior imp, overhearing his lord's uncharacteristically emotional voice from beyond the door, realized the gravity of his task.
"I'll summon her at once!"
As Roters hurriedly unfurled his wings and fled the audience chamber, Mephisto finally eased somewhat—though her face remained etched with worry—as she gazed into the crystal orb displaying Arthin.
"Since I cannot aid you directly... Violet Purplecrow and Al'Miraz will have to suffice."
——This marked the beginning of the covert war between hell's grand duke and the Northern Church's saintess over a single man.