The Lich and the Moon Saintess
“But Principal, is it really okay for this lich guy to be hanging around with the saintess?”
A lich was practically the pinnacle that black mages could aspire to.
A mage who had reached the realm of grand mage and deliberately fallen into depravity for even greater power.
In other words, their very existence was treated as a calamity.
“It should be fine.”
The moment a lich was discovered, the surrounding area was sealed off, and priests of cardinal rank or higher, along with 6-circle mages and high knights or above, would mobilize.
Yet here stood a lich right next to the saintess.
Normally, wouldn't people immediately shout, “Die, you demon!” and blast them with purification?
But Ashy didn't seem to find it strange at all.
“From what I know, the lich holds the rank of cardinal.”
“Man, the world really is going to hell in a handbasket.”
A target that required cardinals or higher to subjugate... was itself a cardinal. What an irony.
I waved lazily at the principal, who had approached without me noticing.
“Hey there?”
-You gotta stop trash-talking when the person shows up! What if they overhear and think you're badmouthing them to their face?
“Nah, it just means I see you as close enough to joke around with, Principal.”
Of course, I had done it on purpose.
Why? He still hadn't given me my reward!
‘Sneaky bastard, saying he'll pay later and just dragging it out?’
This is why you can't trust the undead!
The lich, realizing why I was acting this way, reacted with bewilderment.
-...Don't tell me this is about me saying I'd pay the reward later last time?
“You know it?”
I pretended to sob dramatically.
“My tender young heart was deeply wounded by trusting you back then, Principal!”
-?
-?
“??”
Everyone nearby stared at me like I was insane.
Whatever.
What's the big deal?
The lich spoke in a voice that couldn't hide his astonishment.
-That's why I brought the saintess this time!
“...?”
-Do you have any idea how hard it was to bring the saintess here?
“That doesn't benefit me at all.”
-....
“Don't tease him... too much...”
Professor Nipella Aoman walked up from behind the lich.
I freaked out when I saw him.
“Professor Nipella?!”
“Hello...”
Dark circles under his eyes, a trembling hand clutching a coffee mug.
He looked like he hadn't slept for days—no, years.
I rushed over to check on him.
He was on the verge of death from overwork!
“You're still alive, right?!”
“Yes. Probably...”
I could sense faint divine power on him. He'd already received one blessing.
And he was still in this state...?
How many nights had he pulled?
“About ten days without sleep, I think. Checking exam scores, processing documents, assigning homework, escorting the saintess...”
“...”
I guess I can't complain about being tired in front of Professor Nipella anymore.
“You don't have to stay up like this, you know?”
“I'll sleep once the saintess's escort is over. Probably tonight.”
You're gonna collapse before then!
Still, I gave him a light blessing to cheer him on.
“Thank you.”
“Oh, right. And I have something to tell you.”
“...?”
I recounted the incident at the auction house. The principal and Ashy, who had drawn near, listened in as well.
His brow furrowed after hearing it all.
“A black mage was there?”
“Yeah. They even had a base. I rounded them all up and beat the crap out of them. Thought about calling the cops.”
“No cops in the black market, remember? Good call wiping them out. But... it's strange.”
Professor Nipella's dark-circled eyes narrowed again.
“If they were as you described, they were definitely black mages who had crossed the 'line.' We conduct periodic purifications and inspections... How did they slip through?”
“Probably their boss got bribed to look the other way, or the purification priest half-assed it.”
That's the only thing that comes to mind.
Other possibilities? Sure, but then it'd mean they're so incompetent even low-level black mages could evade detection.
Better if they're corrupt. At least that means they're competent enough to bribe.
‘Just kill all the corrupt ones.’
Brutal, sure, but better that way.
If their standards are low and enemies come seriously? Humanity's done before we react.
Corrupt ones can be killed on sight. And we can kill them. Call me barbaric, but my god is the War God—what can ya do?
-Trying to pin this on me?
‘Yup.’
Felt like Arcana was talking from the sky, but probably just my imagination.
...Maybe.
“I'll hold onto the bodies without selling them. Safety verification was lacking anyway.”
“Smart move.”
“Principal?”
-I'll store them in my subsapce.
“...In your subsapce, Principal?”
-What's with that irreverent look?
I don't trust it, though?
-Want a mana contract or something?
“Sure, why not.”
-....
The lich looked up at the sky. Muttering something about the futility of life.
Not my problem, though.
“Anyway, just give me my reward already.”
-You little punk who deserves divine punishment...
“Who dishes out divine punishment? Gods do. But mine won't smite me unless I badmouth her first.”
-....
The lich went silent.
Oops, did I tease too hard?
Started feeling a bit guilty.
Then, light approached.
“...?”
Literal light. It was so bright I squinted, then opened my eyes.
Sometime in that instant, the saintess—who had clearly been in the plaza moments ago—stood before me.
Tall, over 170cm, shrouded in thick black priest robes and a hood.
Only her eyes and hands were visible, but that alone, and the aura she exuded, changed the very air around us.
‘This is the saintess?’
I'm a saint too, sort of—why's it feel different?
What's up with that?
Did I get shortchanged on blessings?
-Keep talking like that?
No, don't pop up out of nowhere!
“...”
“...”
Her head turned, and our eyes met.
Silver irises. I'd thought blue or gold, but this was unexpected.
She removed her hood. Long silver hair cascaded down.
“...”
“...”
“...”
Everyone who saw her sudden entrance fell silent for a moment.
Whoa, even Ashy shut up?
‘...Looks like she's holding back.’
She wants to say something but can't, so her mouth's just flapping.
Hold it in.
‘...Sure.’
But why are you here?
Before I could ask, the saintess spoke.
“Nice to meet you. I'm Saintess Christina La Seibint.”
She extended her hand. A handshake? I took it without thinking.
Then weird noises erupted nearby.
“!”
“!!”
“Th-the saintess's hand?!”
“Y-you bastard! Get your hands off the saintess!!”
“??”
What the hell?
I finally looked around. Students had surrounded us.
Like they'd spotted their dream celebrity, their eyes were bulging.
Spit flying from their mouths, they yelled at me.
“Let go now!”
“Uwoooo!”
“Drop that hand!!!”
What're they on about?
“You lot gonna scram or what? Wanna go wild like during exams again?”
“Ha! Try it! Eugene, no matter how much of a thug you act like, what can you do in front of the sai—!”
Whack!
“Argh!”
I punted a rolling pebble.
It nailed the student who mouthed off right in the forehead!
Blood spurted from his nose as he toppled backward. Ashy rushed to him, looking flustered.
“Ah. Eugene. You... can't... do that.”
“...?”
“It's here... the saintess passive...”
What?
The hand gripping mine tightened.
I pulled away and turned. The saintess gazed at me with a benevolent smile.
“Even if it wasn't what you wanted, it's good to appreciate the other person's goodwill with thanks. And no matter what, violence isn't right.”
Oh, saintess mode activated?
I listened with interest.
“Even if they started it?”
“The strong should show consideration to the weak first. No matter how insolently they speak, resorting to violence right away isn't good...”
She stopped mid-advice. Ripples stirred in her eyes as she looked at me.
“...?!”
“...?”
What're you staring at... or why?
What's that emotion in those rippling eyes? Can't read it—she's stronger than me.
“...Red eyes, around 17 years old, this peculiar aura, the priest robes... No way?”
“???”
She muttered to herself, then suddenly shifted stance.
“Could be.”
“Right?”
“Saintess?!”
-Saintess?!
Stance change like Udyr.
The lich and students called out urgently, but she casually averted her gaze.
She cleared her throat softly and extended her hand again.
“Ahem. Sorry. Could I have a word with my brother?”
What? Grab it?
“Uwooo! Don't grab it!”
“Uwoooo!”
“Y-you sneaky saint-fan bastard...!”
-This damn punk! What did you do to the saintess!
Nothing!
She changed her tune herself!
Annoyed by the kids, I grabbed her hand firmly.
“...That wasn't what I meant by 'grab.' Whatever. It's fine. Easier for me anyway.”
“...?”
Flash.
Light burst from our joined hands. My vision flipped in an instant.
Where's this?
Grasslands? Between buildings? No clue. Like a distortion spell—zero sense of location.
In this unknown space, the saintess still held my hand, gazing at me with calm—no, subtly excited—silver eyes.
“Are we siblings, or brother and sister?”
“...?”
Whoosh—
Wings sprouted from her back. Massive, covering the entire Sky Island. Each flap sent golden feathers swirling.
Golden light enveloped her body. It mingled with her silver hair and eyes, and the divine power touching me wrapped me warmly.
Like the moon bathed in sunlight.
‘...This her true form?’
Not her public persona, but the real power of the ‘God's Proxy’, the saintess.
Focusing divine power solely on herself, without radiating it outward. Beautiful and comforting.
‘Why don't I get a transformation like that?’
Why not me!
-Stop whining. You're strong enough as is. Ah, still weak for now.
But how are you talking to me!
I shook my head faintly at what sounded like Arcana's voice.
She stepped closer, meeting my eyes with a pretty smile.
“Let me introduce myself properly. I am Christina La Seibint, servant of the God of Light, known as the ‘Moon Saintess’. Pleased to meet you: Eugene Arcana, priest, saint, and apostle of the War God Arcana.”
‘La’ in the name. That's why she specified “properly”?
I didn't ask how she knew mine.
Saintess intel network, probably. Easy to find. Instead, I asked what bugged me.
“But aren't you embarrassed saying lines like that?”
“...Pardon?”
“Servant of light up close, Moon Saintess... I'd blush saying that.”
“That's just standard...”
“Arcana says stuff like that feels awkward and never taught me.”
“...”
She looked thoroughly flustered. Her wings tucked slightly.
Her face screamed, How do I respond?
“Well, gods can be capricious.”
“But how'd you know?”
A flash of Why ask now? crossed her face.
I can ask whenever.
She quickly composed herself.
“I've memorized all academy students' names. No uniforms make it hard, but... your appearance is so distinctive, Eugene Arcana.”
“Just Eugene. Arcana's a mouthful.”
“It's basic courtesy...”
“Then do I call you Christina La Seibint in full?”
“...No. Just Eugene it is. You call me Christina too.”
“Aren't you older? Drop the honorific. Just Eugene. How old are you this year?”
Her composure cracked at my innocent question.
What? Did I mess up?
‘She looks about 20. Not rude, right...?’
She dodged, asking something else.
Come on, just tell me your age...
“But don't I seem distant or friendly?”
“Huh? No idea. More importantly, why ask if we're siblings or brother-sister?”
“Ah, that...”
“And how'd you know I'm a priest? Can priests of other gods instantly tell?”
“...”
Her rapid-fire questions left her reeling.
Did I talk too fast? She feels sisterly, so I got excited?
‘...Can't keep up with my energy?’
Nah.
She's the saintess. She can handle it!
One who even transforms!
-Not a Transformer...
Where'd you even— No, stop appearing!