Chapter 23
Chapter 23
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: 6-4. Misunderstanding and Understanding Differ by One Letter.
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According to Sharutineth, the place where she first met Nex was the inner garden of a social event a few years ago.
"It's so boring. Even if it's for the Church of Light..."
She had attended a gathering of nobles on the recommendation of Archbishop Beatrice but left early because she didn't fit in with the atmosphere.
"No one will even talk to me because I'm a vampire. All that's here is Mr. Meow."
"Meow."
She sank into a gloomy mood while petting a stray cat that had wandered up to her side.
'This is the new Saintess chosen by the Church of Light!'
Even after introducing herself like that to those around her, all she got back were looks of contempt or strange stares. She felt like crying.
For the person after the First Saintess to be a vampire. Some nobles even whispered that it was a blasphemy against the divine.
"It's so unfair. I haven't done anything wrong..."
While she was chatting with the cat as her companion,
a woman's shout rang out.
"You trash who can't even use spirits!"
— Crash.
The sound of shattering glass rang out like fate.
The cream-colored cat in Sharutineth's arms leaped away in fright.
"Meeooow!!"
"Eek! Mr. Meow, don't run away!"
She chased after the startled cat due to the glass thrown by someone. Her long nun's habit made it hard to move.
"Ow!"
In her haste, she tripped over a stone and fell. A hot sensation spread from her face.
"Ugh... it hurts..."
"What's going on here? Girl."
She looked up at the sky absentmindedly.
There stood a man with purple hair and the emblem of a phoenix.
"...Count Nex Aureus?"
One of the Ten Heroes. Nex, the son of Asha Aureus.
The descendant of a legendary figure in the spirit world called the Living Sun. She'd heard he was attending this social event, but it was true.
Thud. The sound echoed in the grass.
"Hmph, wipe your nosebleed."
"Th-thank you."
He had noticed the blood from her nose after she'd fallen face-first and handed her his handkerchief.
At that moment, Sharutineth thought that the man was different from the rumors.
"Meow."
"You've even picked up something annoying."
As he gently petted the cat that had come to his feet and healed it, she felt a strange sensation.
"To think a human like this is the Second Saintess. The Archbishop must be mad."
"..."
A strong whiff of alcohol emanated from the man.
'He looks more sad than unpleasant.'
His gloomy expression contrasted with his scolding words, and she saw through his true feelings. A bad person wouldn't heal an animal, she thought.
"Why aren't you getting angry, vampire."
"...Because it's true. That I'm not welcome among people."
"So that's why you're out here in the garden."
"Yes."
Nex just pressed his forehead and chuckled at her words. Did he sense she was different from the noble ladies at the ball?
"...Do I look like trash to you too?"
"Pardon? Why?"
"Because you're a vampire. I thought you might feel a sense of kinship. Girl."
His attitude seemed deliberately pushy.
The purple-haired man twisted his face again, donning a mask as if to intimidate.
"I don't know."
"Hah, then why don't you leave?"
"Because you don't seem like someone who says mean things with bad intentions."
"...Ridiculous."
To her, who had endured countless daggers from noble ladies moments ago, this felt different. Her intuition told her this was another lie.
"I'm called the bastard of my family. Do you find me pathetic too, girl?"
"Pardon...? No, I don't."
"..."
His purple eyes stared piercingly into her red ones for a few seconds before he spoke.
"Your expression tells me it's true. You really are a Saintess."
"...Is something wrong?"
"Hm."
Hearing her answer, he suddenly calmed down. As if the drunken haze had lifted in an instant, a significant shock registered on his face. Clarity entered Nex's previously dazed eyes.
"...Saintess, do you hear confessions too?"
"Pardon? Well... you healed a cat, so probably?"
'This person is the scoundrel the Archbishop warned me not to get involved with.'
Nex asked for counseling in a now calm voice. She desperately wanted to refuse, but he looked like a broken man, and it tugged at her heart.
Ruffling his purple hair with one hand, the man began his story.
"This is already the 23rd marriage proposal I've received. When things don't go their way, they even throw glasses."
"Ah... so that's why..."
"As the eldest son of a ducal house, they know nothing will happen even if they mess with me. Everyone just stands by."
The man sighed and gave a wry smile, as if the sharp buzz still lingered.
"The ladies' families are powerful too, but... don't you think this is wrong, Saintess?"
"Yes. It feels like only bad people gathered at this ball."
"You might be right. Since I'm here too."
She noticed a small scratch on Nex's cheek. It looked like it had been grazed by glass shards.
'...Huh?'
Was that the cause of the earlier commotion? Even so, to throw a glass at the son of one of the Ten Heroes and expect no consequences?
"Aren't you going to heal it?"
"Doesn't matter if I do or don't. This is better."
He seemed just like her, the vampire Saintess, and she felt pity.
"From their expressions, some were saying, 'Serves you right, you bastard!'"
"That sounds like overthinking it..."
"You're too naive, Saintmarriage."
His purple eyes curved like a crescent moon.
His fox-like face. She noticed his eyes were a bit red, as if he'd been holding back tears.
"This world is full of deceivers and the deceived. Fools. They must be relieved now that I'm gone from the hall."
Spreading his arms as if relieved, the man shouted loudly.
"Ah, that guy won't even get protected by his family if you touch him! Since no spirit appears for him!"
"I don't think that way..."
Sharutineth thought this Nex was someone who piled on lies because he didn't want to seem weak.
Like an animal that bites the moment you reach out, afraid of getting hurt.
"Then what do you think, Second Saintess?"
"...You seem like a cute fox."
"What...?"
At the time, Sharutineth looked up at his face carefully.
"...Aren't I monstrous?"
"No. You're just handsome."
"Uh, um... really? Not a lie?"
Purple and red eyes that didn't see each other as strange. Nex's expression was filled with bewilderment.
"Then am I a monster too? Because I'm a vampire."
"...Probably not."
"Good, then. Count."
She placed her hand on his cheek to heal it, and the cut from the glass healed.
"People aren't just what they appear on the surface."
"Wh-what? Saintess... why?"
Nex's face looked a bit flushed, perhaps from the alcohol.
"It would ruin your handsome face."
"..."
Later, according to him, she was the first person to talk about him purely, without mentioning spirits.
And from that day, Nex changed completely, starting his affectionate pursuit.
A fresh, first-love-like charge. She said she actually liked that part.
"Count Aureus...?"
"I came for morning prayer, Saintess. It's been a while."
"The church doors don't open for another three hours."
"...No way."
He seemed so innocent, like someone with no history with women. It was cute.
"Um, Second Saintess Sharutineth. This is a donation from the Aureus family to the Church of Light."
"Thank you, Count Aureus."
"Are you free for dinner by any chance, Second Saintess?"
"No."
"Ah... sorry about that. I'll be going then."
She started seeing the purple-haired man frequently, donating small amounts daily and coming to pray.
"Why are you suddenly volunteering?"
"Ah... um! I got punished by my family, so I'm cleaning the church. Don't mind me, Saintess."
"Even so, it doesn't seem like something a noble should do..."
"Y-yeah. You wouldn't know, Saintess."
A few days later, she found Nex removing graffiti and signs insulting her near the church where she worked.
The traces of magic on his hidden hand suggested it wasn't really punishment.
"Should I move this here, Saintess?"
"Eek!! Don't lift the organ that moves with holy power like that!!"
"Ah, sorry, Saintess."
Such awkward interactions continued for months. She tried pushing him away and ignoring him, but he was likable, and her heart gradually opened.
"Look at this, Saintess! It's a spirit!"
"Oh, Count Aureus. Congratulations!"
"...Could you stop with the formal speech around me, Saintess?"
"If you do too?"
Thanks to his ardent courtship, his spirit awakened soon after.
"Tweet!"
A purple phoenix like a sparrow.
"And that's how... we're lovers now."
"Nex likes me so much, that's what happened. Junior."
A soft smile played on Sharutineth's lips as she said it.
They seem like the type who feel good just thinking of each other.
'Nex was definitely different here. Probably because of this Saintess Sharutineth.'
A bad guy to others, but endlessly gentle to me. Who wouldn't fall for that, especially a lover who can understand similar wounds?
'It's similar to my case.'
I nodded slightly, knowing the feeling.
I recalled the expression the cold white wolf showed only to me. Her smiling face was cute.
Sharutineth enduring steadfastly in her position as Saintess. Did she hear bad things because of her animal ears too?
For a moment, my heart felt heavy.
"Junior Licht. So why did you ask about this?"
"Just... you looked enviable."
I gave a small smile at the nostalgic feeling.
It's been five years already since I last saw her. How can I find and protect her? There must be some brutal routes here too. If possible, I'd like to help.
"...What?"
At that moment, Mardol looked at me.
"This tickly feeling in your chest. Love stories, I mean."
I quickly came up with an excuse in my head. I couldn't afford to raise more flags with the crown prince.
"I... wouldn't know."
Why, what? I wasn't thinking of you. Look elsewhere.
Sharp reactions only at times like this.
Is his eyesight that good, or his senses? Even with the helmet, it feels like he sees right through me. I turned my head to show indifference.
"Hehe. You two seem close."
"N-not... true..."
Even as I gritted my teeth, the black-haired nun smiled at me without restraint.
Like Nex, this one is hard to deal with too. Who knew I'd feel that lovers resemble each other after possessing the game? It was quite fascinating.
She, who had been grinning at Mardol and me, suddenly glanced at the clock tower and said,
"...Oh, it's gotten this late already. Sorry for holding you up, junior."
"Thank you for the wonderful story today."
"Take care on your way."
Because it was so dark, Sharutineth stood up.
The glass knight and I bid her farewell,
"Junior Licht!! Get along well with our Mardol!"
The Second Saintess burdened me unreasonably right up to the end.
The reason was this pink wave overflowing in front of my eyes.
The status window now even had a 'Good Job!' sticker.
Not real-time sync after all. It didn't appear until I found it, like with Kainel and Ariel.
Black Heart developer. Are you messing with people? Where'd you hide our precious Blue Rose?
This useless status window can't even be sold.
My head hurt. As expected from a game company obsessed with Easter eggs, digging traps like this.
That's why I want to find the Saintess and make her happy. This game world is too harsh.
"The Purple Fox and... the vampire Saintess."
I need to protect these people too.
I muttered briefly. I know a few of Nex's routes. The variable is Sharutineth.
I don't know her攻略 since she's new. Something big is probably coming soon.
"Yeah. Right."
I ignored the glass knight responding to my mutter from the side for now.
To ride our Saintess route, I can't have you around. Go away.