The Saint's Radiant Encounter
Beatrice gripped the hilt of her sword tightly. With each deepening step, a chill crept up her spine. It was too quiet. She could see Seraphina's shoulder trembling ever so slightly. Seraphina was always like this. Beatrice had always noticed those hidden fears no one else could see—from their days in the knight order as children right up to now, not missing a single quiver.
She's tense after all.
Beatrice's hand naturally reached out to Seraphina's shoulder. Seraphina offered a soft smile. That smile warmed a corner of Beatrice's heart.
"Bea," Seraphina whispered quietly. "Doesn't it feel strange? The monsters..."
Beatrice nodded. In a labyrinth like this, it should be swarming with monsters. But this place was different. They'd only seen three so far—and those had fled the moment they spotted the pair. Was it connected to Frostia's awakening? Or... had Sia Kalt always been like this?
Our intel is woefully lacking.
She thought as they passed a massive ice pillar. It made sense, given how few adventurers had ever returned alive from Sia Kalt. Sharp icicles hung from the ceiling, and the walls sprouted ice crystals that gleamed like silver. Their footsteps echoed through the ice cave.
Seraphina's short staff emitted a gentle glow. A holy relic passed down in the Church of Light, the Crystal of Oath. It was the staff she'd received the day she became a saint. Legend said it was formed from the tears of the first saint, crystallized centuries ago.
That day... Seraphina had to abandon her dream of becoming a knight. The day Beatrice could no longer stand by her side.
This time... I won't let that happen. Never.
The staff's light illuminated Seraphina's pink hair. In that moment, she looked so divine it ached Beatrice's heart. Their steps were cautious, but Seraphina's eyes burned with conviction.
"This is the lower level." It took two days, but they finally reached it. The passages widened, and the ceiling soared higher. That's when it happened.
Shhkk—!
Something long shot out along the ice wall. An ice-snow centipede. Known as a C-rank monster... but
This is...!
Beatrice sensed an aura far beyond A-rank. Instinctively, she drew her sword. The primal urge to protect Seraphina from any threat.
"No!" Seraphina grabbed her arm. Her eyes pleaded desperately. "This monster... it's probably under that flower's control."
Beatrice snapped back to her senses. What had she been about to do? They hadn't come here to fight. Especially not after Michael's revelation...
"Sorry, Sera."
An apology she wouldn't normally give slipped out naturally. In front of Seraphina, she never needed to pretend to be strong. She'd been like that since childhood.
Turning her head, the centipede was already gone. But this was a good sign. Seeing bug monsters meant the flower was close.
"Let's head to the depths," Seraphina said. Her voice carried an odd excitement, like she'd found something long sought after.
They proceeded slowly toward the core. Forked paths appeared everywhere. At one junction, a sweet fragrance wafted from somewhere.
Over there.
They exchanged glances and nodded. No words needed. Since childhood, a look was enough.
They followed the scent cautiously. Strangely, the sweet aroma eased their tension—but that only sharpened their focus. Beatrice had to protect Seraphina.
A vast cavern opened up. Hundreds of bug monsters. Rationally, they should be on guard, but fear didn't come. Each one radiated an A-rank or higher aura, yet there was no hostility.
And...
That's it...
In the cavern's center bloomed a single flower. For an instant, it felt like their gazes met. Then light began emanating from the flower.
What is this...?
The flower grew brighter, lethally beautiful. Ruby-red petals, a pitch-black stem, violet stamens writhing like a serpent's tongue... Beatrice lost herself staring, then shook it off. An aura as strong as hers—no, perhaps stronger. For the Silver Warrior to feel such pressure.
She glanced at Seraphina. Tears streamed from her eyes. A smile of pure joy lit her face as her staff blazed with intense light. The glow exploded briefly, then faded.
"Lady Michael..."
Her prayer echoed softly through the ice cave. So sacred, Beatrice held her breath without realizing.
Sera...
The girl who'd given up their shared dream of knighthood to become a saint. But in this moment, Beatrice knew her choice was right.
And Beatrice... vowed once more in her heart to protect her forever.
'Come on! Do it! Mega-evolve already!'
Unlike my desperate pleas, Cecilia didn't budge. Is it because she's a pupa...? But she definitely trembled at the deepest core! Show some sign of evolution at least!
Is waiting like this really the right move?
Maybe it needs something more. Warmer temperature? More mana?
That's when it happened. Wiggle wiggle!
One ice-snow centipede came crawling at tremendous speed. No, scurrying. I'd never seen buggies move so frantically.
Wiggle wiggle!!! The centipede wriggled as if explaining urgently. Like it had seen something and fled...
It's dangerous?
Nod nod!
Phew... Finally, a job for the manager. Intruders in me and Master's love nest...?
'Butterflies!'
The girl butterflies flew up first.
'Tell all the labyrinth buggies to gather by my side!'
The butterflies scattered swiftly through the labyrinth. They usually flew lazily, whining about being annoyed, but they move when it counts.
I focused my detection radar to the max to find the intruders. But nothing showed on my radar yet.
They haven't reached this far? Still, no slacking!
'Wider... farther...!'
I kept watching the radar's edge, concentrating.
Detection LV10 skill level has increased.
Detection LV10 and Territory Domination LV1 have evolved.
Territory Domination — Dominate the surrounding territory.
'Ooooh!' Detection, which only leveled early on, finally evolved! The radar expanded massively. Almost double? Now I could see half of this vast core.
It said "dominate," so expanding isn't all.
As I tried testing other functions, two figures appeared at the expanded radar's edge.
'Eek!' If I had a heart, it'd be pounding! Seraphina and Beatrice! The saint and the empire's knight order ace! Heroes I raised in the game!
Actual characters appearing for real—my first familiar faces! I was thrilled.
Seraphina looked just like in the game: beautiful pink hair cascading over her pure white nun's habit. Pink hair roots for the win! Terrifyingly gorgeous design, true to my fave.
But Beatrice had the same face, different gear. Not the imperial knight uniform but shining silver armor, and not a longsword but a mysteriously glowing one-handed sword.
What's this? Parallel world?
If not for the status, I'd mistake her for Beatrice's sister. And their levels were insanely high. I only got them to around 80 in-game... Living people in this world are different!
You guys! Let's be friends for sure!
Hmm... But something more important. In this situation, if they're coming here...
In the game, heroes conquer labyrinths for rewards. No way... are they here to exterminate me...?
No, I don't wanna fight!
I've lived so nicely! Hunting monsters diligently, saving humans for Master! Wait, Master?
Did Master kill a lot of humans...?
Yeah, probably... But Master's not here... And even if she was, you two couldn't touch her!
They're not idiots, so why come?
Really here to catch me? Do they know Master left? I'd win anyway... Agh, what to do?
For now, hide the buggies... No. That'd look more suspicious. Act normal, even more peaceful.
Okay, how to greet them. Sweet honey scent like usual?
Plan set, I observed the two. They walked slowly through the core passages. Seraphina sniffed the scent first, paused, looked around. Beatrice gripped her sword warily, but Seraphina followed the fragrance like drawn by it.
Good...
The buggies sensed the mood, moving naturally as always. Hundreds of bug monsters in peaceful motion looked wondrous.
Finally, they entered the cavern and spotted me.
Um... hi there...?
Then the status chimed.
Radiance LV1
Radiance — Emits light.
'Ack!' A random skill out of nowhere. Like it's telling me to use it now. Okay, activate!
Wishing for light in my mind, my body began to glow.
'Ooooh!'
I'm... I'm shining!
Suddenly, tears flowed from Seraphina's eyes. Her lips quivered, she raised her staff and began praying.
Gasp! Didn't mean to make her cry!
Panicking, but her tears seemed joyful. A face of ecstasy, like finding what she'd sought forever. Seeing that moved me to tears too.
Radiance moving a saint... This skill's from Lady Michael too... Thank you...
As the saint's prayer echoed through the cave, I offered a quiet prayer of thanks too.
Seraphina, Beatrice. My first familiar faces in this world. We're gonna be friends for sure!