Kwonseong (Female) (1)
It wasn't entirely unexpected. With Lize at the academy, we were bound to cross paths eventually. But I never dreamed we'd reunite this soon—right here in my living quarters, no less.
I'd figured she'd chat with Lord during class, then head out once it ended. Even someone as free-spirited as Lize had her dignity to uphold, after all.
All my assumptions were dead wrong.
Thinking back, Lize was both Kwonseong and saintess, while Lord was the Sword Saint. In military terms, it was like a top sergeant and a general having a private chat—who'd dare interrupt? She only left when class started because it was official business. No matter how free she was, work came first.
"Ah, so you've met the president and the saintess before?"
"Yes. It was during my pilgrimage at Chaos's urging. He had less beard and no white hair back then."
"That must've been over twenty years ago."
Lord chuckled heartily as he sipped his tea, showing no discomfort at Lize's sudden visit. Hector was a political headache, but Lize was different. She transcended politics entirely. And with Byzantine's strict neutrality, there were no complications.
"And you're hardly one to talk. You seem even stronger now." Lord smiled, glancing pointedly at a certain spot.
His gaze landed on Lize's chest. Not because he was a pervert—it was because he knew her unique constitution and abilities. If they were alone, he'd have stared outright. Of course, she'd have been in her other form then.
"Of course. As long as demons plague the world, I won't vanish."
"Have you encountered demons too, Saintess?"
Luna's question. As someone hunting demonic traces, she couldn't ignore the topic. Plus, Lord had once slain a blue demon himself.
"Naturally. During my pilgrimage, I faced countless demons and wiped them all out."
"Were any blue or higher?"
"Yes. Excellent training partners. No need for mercy made it even better."
She'd softened "beat them to death." Faces around the room soured. Blue demons' strength varied wildly, just like humans. From blue onward, their abilities diversified sharply.
"How'd you take them down with that body? Hard to believe, even seeing it." Kara scanned Lize repeatedly, skeptical.
In a fantasy world with magic and superhumans, there were still limits. Skill mattered, but so did "weight class." Lize looked every bit the nurturing woman—petite bust like Ellie's. Kara was no slouch herself, inheriting Hector's gifts; her limbs felt like woven steel cables. I'd checked personally.
That's all real packed muscle.
She hadn't seen Kwonseong mode yet. What I'd called "packed muscle" in jest applied literally to Lize. Mass conservation law, as the joke went. Her size changed, but mass didn't. She was still insanely strong—could overpower Kara easily.
"The chit-chat's dragged on. Lord filled me in on Sivar—what kind of person he is, his traits."
Down to business. Lize fixed her intense gaze on me. I flinched, then scooted my butt away inch by inch.
Ellie sat beside me, stroking my head reassuringly as I pressed close.
"A man who survived the Chaos Forest—nay, thrived there. Wields red mana, berserk like a monster. A brother fit for Chaos."
"You're not taking Sivar, are you?" Ellie blurted urgently.
She didn't know the details but grasped the gist, hugging me tight in protest. Her warmth soothed me entirely.
"I would have, but Lord says it'd cause headaches if I did."
"Then..."
Backing off so easily? I shot Lize a surprised look.
In Soul World, she'd drag you along, calling you brother or sister. Then she'd Fist of the North Star the game into a new vibe—characters warped under her influence.
"My goal is simple: Help Chaos's chosen make their own choices. Most struggle with identity. Normals call them weirdos for straying from the standard path."
Lize sipped the tea Lord poured—different brew, herbs Ratatosk fetched to purge toxins.
"But weirdos have unique convictions. When they shine, they elevate themselves, their surroundings, even the world. Sadly, more fade unrecognized. I aid them in Chaos's stead."
The world overflowed with geniuses born in the wrong era. People criticized them; without results, even mockery flowed freely. Theories validated post-mortem were common.
"I only open possibilities. Bearing fruit is on them."
"Anyone besides you succeed?"
"Plenty. Santia's founder, a Chaos faithful, pioneered science and engineering there."
Santia fused magic and tech like arcane punk—modern amid medieval elsewhere. Light cast shadows, though; more on that later.
"Theologians proposing evolution, astronomers proving the world round—countless examples."
In-game lore differed; Chaos favored concepts like strength-mages—max strength/agility, minimal mana. Chaos enabled pure magic use, plus Lize's training. Mockery turned to Gandalf-tier power.
"Sivar's... way different, though?"
"True. Few clash reason and instinct like him. But he sees himself as human, right?"
Lize answered Luna, then eyed me. I nodded silently.
My fiery red eyes triggered berserk; red mana screamed monster. Many treated me as such. But I had reason and intellect. Berserk only flared in crises—avoid those, live normally. The crises were the problem.
"I can help. Control your instincts freely."
"Really?"
Unexpected. I widened my eyes at her. Berserk was Ex-rank passive; flipping to active was near-impossible. I'd endured via grit, half-resigned. This tempted hugely.
"Yes. Easterners call it heart-mind-body imbalance. Yours is the 'heart' misaligned. Similar to me."
"Were you like Sivar?"
"My 'body' was off-kilter. Caused plenty of angst."
"How? Looking at you..." Kara muttered dubiously.
Not just her—everyone agreed. Lize's figure screamed fertility, not rock-hard. Even Ellie tilted her head, staring.
She knew the "body" woes intimately.
"I get the skepticism from your faces. This form doesn't sell it."
"Isn't it... uncomfortable? Mine's big; I know the hassle." Ellie touched her chest gingerly, empathetic.
Lize smiled, stood slowly. She met Lord's eyes; he waved off concerns.
"Not the type to chat elsewhere. Nothing persuades like the real deal."
Only Lord, knowing her true face, could say that. Lize thanked him and stepped to the table's side. Eyes followed.
"I once pondered true support. Is it just aiding the physically or mentally wounded?"
Clerics bolstered reliably. But Lize questioned it, agonized.
"Chaos chose me. After decades of pilgrimage, I realized: Treating symptoms means nothing without root causes. Healing's virtuous, but preventing harm first is key."
BOOM!
A sudden explosion from Lize—not huge, more like a pop.
"Guh!"
"Kyaa?!"
Lord and I anticipated; others didn't. Luna gasped, Ellie screamed, Kara jolted. Ellie's fierce hug calmed my racing heart instantly.
Time freezing would've been nice, but no.
Smoke billowed; a massive silhouette emerged, defying perspective.
Lize's saint form was average. This shadow dwarfed even Hector.
"I learned: Cure after plague peaks? Better prevent. Requires immense power."
Her voice deepened—not illusion, real bass. Still feminine tone, like refined lady to battle-hardened knightess.
"...Huh?"
"Wha...?"
"...?"
Smoke cleared; Lize revealed gradually. Eyes widened to disbelief. Lord sipped tea leisurely.
"Thus, Chaos granted me the 'body' priests lacked, to lead by example."
Her prior aura evoked vast earth and forest bounty. Now? Raging seas, towering mountains—raw ferocity.
"This is Chaos's true blessing."
"Hup...!"
She turned slowly; Luna yelped.
Nun habit stretched like rubber; bust swapped for pecs. Limbs thickened like carved stone. That pot-lid fist? One hit, face Yama.
Kara's muscles were woven wire. This? Indescribable. Blades wouldn't scratch. Lize likely had "Steel King" trait—higher rank than mine.
Crunch!
She posed like a bodybuilder. Muscles rippled dynamically. Muscle monster incarnate.
"This is true power!"
Flex—bulge— Pecs twitched like boulders, not breasts.
I'd said it before: Saint and Kwonseong Lize shared bust size. Compress Kwonseong vertically for saint form. Fantasy physics.
"Brother Sivar can do this too! Pure reason, savage instinct—perfect for Chaos! I'll guide you!"
Shit. Fist of the North Star vibes incoming. Or Baki? Her style clashed wildly—thick lines solo.
"...Yeah, she's Kwonseong alright." Even skeptical Kara conceded instantly. Overwhelming aura.
Lize squared her shoulders, extended a hand—face-sized, damn.
"Well? Join me? Master your nature like I have."
Nature my ass. Saint mode's your real self. Still, it fit.
"...President? You okayed this?"
Luna whispered amid chaos, like morning. Lord shrugged casually.
"Sivar's call. But Lize? I'd trust her with anyone."
"Why?"
"Stronger than me. That's enough."
"..."
Irrefutable. Luna yielded choice to me. But Lord tacitly approved—or he'd vetoed already. Lize backed off when needed.
Do I really get dragged off?
Freely wielding berserk? Massive merit. Events blocked it otherwise. Tough call.
Trembling in Ellie's arms, debating—then an unexpected voice.
"N-No!"
"Huh?"
"Ellie?"
Ellie. She hugged tighter, shouting.
Then buried my face in her chest.
"Look how scared Sivar is. And it's 'invitation' in name only—practically forced!"
No argument there.
"Who'd follow properly? Get close to Sivar first, then invite him."
Right then, Ellie was the saintess.