Chapter 26
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Saintess Kim Sohee
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Even though women overwhelmingly outnumbered men and the Earth teemed with dungeons threatening humanity...
This world still had the concept of religion.
No, in a hellish world like this, people might have clung even harder to the idea of gods.
The key difference from my original world was that there was only one religion.
A faith tracing back to the wild legend that primordial humanity began when Eve pleasured herself without a man, her droplets scattering to birth the human race.
True to a world ruled utterly by women, people called their one true god the "Goddess," and the religion was naturally the Goddess Church.
And in that Goddess Church existed miracle-workers known as Saintesses.
Women who didn't just heal—they could "create anew" severed arms or eyes with their creation regeneration powers.
Even among Hunters, these were abilities no S-Rank could dream of replicating.
Saintesses, born once every century or so, were the "living icons" the Goddess Church revered across generations, wielding religious and political influence unmatched anywhere on Earth.
Of course, in modern times, debates raged: "Is it ethical to force a job on a newborn just because they manifest one ability?"
But the Goddess Church's response was always the same.
"We don't force anything. We simply offer a choice."
...Even though everyone knew that choice was effectively singular.
And the simple reason I knew about this Goddess Church?
Exactly two years ago.
The newly enthroned Saintess was none other than a Korean.
Her name: Kim Sohee.
The first in the 21st century to be officially recognized with the Saintess title—a true icon of the era.
From the moment I first saw her on TV, she was seared into my memory.
Dazzling golden hair like sunlight, clear blue eyes like the sea.
A breathtakingly beautiful face.
But what truly stopped me in my tracks wasn't her face.
The clerical robes she wore as a Saintess emphasized sensuality over sanctity.
The fabric pretended at holiness, but squeezed her breasts upward until they seemed ready to burst, while clinging tightly to her waist and hips below, exposing every curve in raw detail.
A vulgar, carnal allure so potent that the title "Saintess" felt utterly mismatched—no man could tear his eyes away.
...And ironically, right now, as I faced assault from a robed assailant...
Why was I thinking of Saintess Kim Sohee?
The reason was simple.
The figure standing before me, cloaked head to toe in robes...
Was none other than that very Saintess I'd only seen on TV.
"Shall I get you some tea? Coffee? A drink?"
"Ah, anything's fine."
My first patient: an S-Rank Hunter.
My second: the granddaughter of the Hunter Association branch chief.
Even accounting for my uniqueness as a male counselor fresh out of college, landing such heavyweights right away was unreal luck.
Thanks to that, I'd gotten plenty of hands-on practice, and I was confident nothing could faze me now.
...Or so I thought. What an arrogantly naive delusion.
The "counseling applicant" sitting on my living room sofa right now probably outstripped the previous two in global influence.
"This tea is delicious... It's my first time having a man pour it for me."
"Oh, really?"
"Yes. One of our Goddess Church doctrines forbids Saintesses from casually contacting men. Any blemish on our 'purity' would shatter our qualifications instantly."
Hearing that, I briefly thought it was unexpected.
This world was dominated by women, where pioneering, war, and salvation all hinged on them.
In such a setup, I hadn't expected any notion of "chastity" to survive.
From treating Hunter patients firsthand, I'd seen they all just vented stress through sex.
For a Saintess to uphold purity in this world? It was almost touching.
But that sentiment shattered in three seconds flat.
"In the past, there were quite a few Saintesses who lost control to instinct after contact with male followers... right there on the spot, crying 'Hurry and stand up! Thrust it in now!' and forfeiting their purity. That's why the ban was enacted."
...Goddamn it, give me back my touched heart.
Why did I even hope otherwise?
High-and-mighty S-Rank Hunters, pampered association heiresses—peel back the layers, and they were all the same.
No reason a Saintess would be any different.
I sighed and sipped my tea.
But Saintess Sohee set her cup down and fixed me with a suddenly serious gaze.
"Counselor Kim Seungbin. As I mentioned earlier... I've come to you seeking 'treatment.'"
Her voice, which had sounded playful before, rang with utter sincerity now.
Right—whatever past Saintesses had done, the woman before me had braved every taboo to seek out a male counselor.
She was a patient.
"What gave me the resolve was hearing about your reputation by chance."
"...My reputation?"
"Yes! You're successfully treating S-Rank Hunter Cheok Yunhwa and the next-gen S-Rank prospect Yoo Narae. Even if you hide it, the Goddess Church's intelligence network surpasses even the Association's."
I sighed inwardly.
Goddess Church... As the Earth's sole religion, their organizational power was terrifying.
A newbie male counselor under the Association, and they had my full records and patient list?
But at the same time, I wondered:
'Isn't this overhyping me a bit?'
Honestly, I was a rookie barely holding on with two patients—hardly worth a Saintess's personal visit.
Well, if she was here as a patient, I wanted to help.
But there was a procedural snag.
"Still... as you said, Saintess, I'm an Association doctor."
"......!"
"Of course I'd counsel you if you wish. But I'm a 'Hunters-only' counselor. You'd have to wait your turn. Prioritizing outside patients would harm Association clients who truly need treatment."
My stance was clear.
Saintess or not, I couldn't bypass protocol.
Then she dropped another bombshell.
"You're already aware... of the faction trying to use you to extract info on Korea's A-Rank+ Hunters, right? Must be tough dealing with that."
"...?! H-How do you know about that?"
A chill ran down my spine.
I'd just learned of their background check on me... but they knew that too?
The Association treated it as top secret, yet they had it like CCTV footage.
Ah, fuck.
The Goddess Church wasn't just a religion.
This was a nation-state intelligence agency—no, more like the "Church of Eavesdropping."
"And... Branch Chief Yoo Geumhui is tracking that faction, but even she struggles with one figure."
"Ah, yes. Right. She hasn't burdened me directly out of guilt... but I could tell from the hints."
"No choice. Because that figure... is me."
"...Pardon?"
My jaw literally dropped.
"The one the branch chief mentioned—the person who could pursue the unknown faction... That's me, Saintess Kim Sohee."
"What?"
Saintess Sohee set her cup down calmly and continued.
"Everything I told you about your background? None of it came from Goddess Church intel. I gathered it all myself... with another skill I possess, unique to Saintess Kim Sohee beyond 'Creation Regeneration.'"
My mind went blank.
Worshipped as a Saintess for her scam-level Creation Regeneration alone, and she had another hidden skill?
This was top-tier ultra-secret, known to maybe a handful in the Goddess Church.
And I'd just stumbled into it as some random counselor.
"Why tell me this?"
"Simple."
She smiled, meeting my eyes.
"Accept me as your primary patient, and in return, I'll lend my abilities to aid the Association."
"...Figures."
Honestly, no downside for me.
Having been attacked once, her help would be huge for the Association too.
Just get the branch chief's okay, and I could take her on officially.
Eat the pheasant and the egg.
Perfect.
"Alright. We'll formalize it tomorrow in front of the branch chief. But..."
I asked seriously.
"As your counselor: What exactly is the issue you want to address, Saintess?"
"Y-Yes...?!"
"I know I'm handling Cheok Yunhwa and Yoo Narae. But I'm still a green rookie with barely any experience."
There was no reason for someone like her to seek me out.
A heavyweight like her would have queues of famous, proven counselors.
And... why a male counselor specifically?
She hesitated at my question, then slowly spoke.
"...Dungeons house humanoid monsters like goblins and orcs."
"Yes, I'm aware."
"Our Goddess Church enters dungeons to preserve humanity per doctrine. As Saintess, I join the Holy Knights, treating them after battles. But then... I saw it."
At that moment, Saintess Sohee's pure blue eyes gleamed.
Just like... the strange glint Yunhwa showed putting on a diaper, or Narae with her collar.
"The horde of goblins charging at me... They were all male bodies, completely naked!"
"...Pardon?"
"Males! All buck-naked!"
"...And?"
"They were flopping side to side... dangling as they ran!"
"......???"
Fuck, what am I supposed to do about that...?