The Saintess's Plan! (2)
"...Citizens of the Reinhardt Kingdom."
Klea's soft voice echoed through the now-quiet square.
"Right now, Essentia faces an unprecedented crisis unlike anything before."
With that, Klea set the paper down on the podium where the microphone sat. At the same moment, the expressions of several archbishops seated behind her shifted oddly, as if something was off.
"Demon beasts defying the goddess's will... Among them, the Hero Eater, whose threat has reached its peak, now endangers Essentia."
The ones whose faces didn't change were the pope and just over half of the archbishops. The rest wore flustered looks, as if they disagreed with her words.
"This isn't some distant tale from remote provinces where the kingdom's protection wanes. The Hero Eater's threat has already reached the royal capital, claiming four lives and injuring thirty-eight others. It dealt massive damage to the kingdom."
The citizens around nodded gravely, listening intently to Klea's words delivered with a sorrowful expression. In truth, it was a tiny loss compared to the vast capital, but the fact that harm had come to the royal capital itself would shock everyone.
"Before becoming the saintess today, I encountered that demon beast defying the natural order—the Hero Eater—twice. Seeing them firsthand convinced me: the emergence of Hero Eaters isn't over. It's only just beginning."
A murmur rippled through the crowd at her words—"only just beginning."
"A tremendous threat approaches. One so immense and terrifying that even the heroes safeguarding the kingdom might struggle to stop it."
The saintess's words, brimming with utter conviction, began to spread fear among the citizens bit by bit.
"In the face of this massive threat, where the goddess's protection is desperately needed... I, Neris Klea, the new saintess of the goddess church, have glimpsed one hope."
Hmm? Hope?
"I am convinced. That hope is the goddess's grace sent to us to combat the Hero Eaters...!"
Klea shouted it out, clenching her fist over her chest after a brief bow of her head, her voice full of certainty.
"You all know, don't you? The tale of the Divine Beast who came to our kingdom in person—Lord Sema."
Who, me?
"Lord Sema personally subjugated the Hero Eater that appeared in Radia... and aided in defeating the one that emerged in the kingdom this time."
Well, yeah, that's true.
"Unlike other Divine Beasts indifferent to the kingdom, Lord Sema came of his own accord, even choosing to become an adventurer. He saved me, protected the people, and hunted down the Hero Eaters threatening them. Seeing that convinced me. He is...! The Divine Beast sent by the goddess to protect the kingdom!"
Me? Nah, the Homeless God sent me here.
"Divine Beasts! Some dismiss them as mere monsters, others call them sacred beings. Some reject them for viewing humans as beneath them, while others wish to worship them. But!"
Klea's voice grew louder. Her tone of absolute conviction seemed to deliver a massive shock to those around her.
"Lord Sema came to the kingdom of his own will! Mingled with the people! Protected them! Hunted and subjugated the Hero Eaters threatening humanity! As saintess, I am convinced: unlike ordinary Divine Beasts, he is the true Divine Beast sent by the goddess to the kingdom!"
Somehow, the people around me are looking at me and nodding...
Ughhh... this is kinda embarrassing...
"I, Neris Klea, the new saintess, dare to declare it here: By the saintess's authority, I name the one who protected me as the goddess church's guardian. Furthermore! I will follow him, who chose the adventurer path, join him in adventurer activities, and pursue the Hero Eaters threatening the kingdom—no, all of Essentia!"
At Klea's declaration, the flustered bishops' faces filled with even greater dismay.
"The saintess is meant to uphold the goddess church from the royal capital. I know that. But if she can't confront the threat herself, the position of saintess means nothing!"
The somewhat bewildered citizens began nodding in agreement, and soon those nods turned to applause, erupting into cheers. Probably because they'd faced the Hero Eater threat themselves recently.
Haha... Klea's putting on quite the entertaining show...
"Additionally, I have something else to announce to you all."
Eh, more?
"Within the goddess church, even as the threat looms, corrupt individuals have defied the goddess's will to pursue their selfish desires. Here and now, by the saintess's authority, I will punish them!"
At those words, knights gathered below the podium as if on cue.
"Corrupt priests who colluded with outsiders trying to manipulate the goddess church, accepting bribes to sate their greed... Archbishop Astus and his faction!"
Klea turned and pointed. Knights ascended the stage, binding Archbishop Astus and several priests. Astus shouted something, but the pope shook his head firmly, glaring coldly.
Hmm... Was Klea so busy preparing for sainthood because she was plotting this...?
"And furthermore... Bishop Baul!"
What? Baul?
"He too sought personal gain in the saintess selection. He must be punished! We will expose these corrupt individuals' sins alongside the kingdom and deliver justice!"
In the distance, Baul's utterly panicked face came into view.
"...Lea! Klea! What are you saying!? No! That's not true! I...!"
Baul screamed at Klea as knights dragged him away, but Klea's gaze upon him was ice-cold. No, that expression was more like... a smile?
"I tell you all here: Prolonged peace allowed such corruption to fester in the goddess church. I sincerely apologize."
Klea bowed to the citizens as she watched Baul being hauled off.
"We will purge these corrupt elements and, in line with the goddess's will, stand as the kingdom's shield against the coming threat—protecting you all."
The stunned citizens, watching the priests dragged away, turned their ears back to Klea.
"The royal capital's goddess church branch will be upheld by the pope and the others. As I said, I, Saintess Klea, will follow the Divine Beast Lord Sema, join his guild, and ensure the Hero Eaters' fangs never reach you."
The saintess stepping up personally to subjugate the Hero Eaters that had threatened them just recently—it seemed a huge shock to citizens used to saintesses lounging safely in church.
"As saintess... I will surely sweep away the darkness threatening Essentia. That concludes my words. Thank you."
And that shock transformed into faith in the new saintess, erupting in cheers.
A goddess church saintess hunting demon beasts alongside a Divine Beast. That was Klea's birth.
"...Klea!!!"
After the saintess speech ended, Clarice approached Klea as she entered the waiting room, shouting her name.
"Oh? Sister Clarice. You vanished for a while, and now you show up?"
"Don't play dumb! A saintess wandering around subjugating demon beasts!?"
"Yes. There's the Hero Eater threat, after all. It's only natural."
"It's all your guesses! Do you even know what a saintess's role is!?"
Clarice screamed at Klea, her usual calm demeanor gone.
Klea replied to her with closed eyes and a smile.
"Oh? What does it matter to you, Sister Clarice? You're just a regular nun, even if you're a senior one."
"Step down from saintess immediately! Such reckless behavior is unforgivable!"
"I got the pope's permission. What if you can't accept it, Sister Clarice?"
"Kuh...!!!"
Clarice trembled, face flushed with rage... but it was true. Her backers, including Astus, had just been purged because of Klea.
But even if they'd been bought with money, they were still priests. No matter how complacent the goddess church had grown in peace, archbishop wasn't a position anyone could climb to.
To purge them all like that, without even major crimes...
"......What happened to... Bivora...!"
At a loss for words and shaking, Clarice asked about her lover in a trembling voice.
Bivora. The fool who'd once been entangled in various affairs but eventually gazed only at her. From the moment she declared she'd become saintess, he'd silently helped make it happen.
After telling her to trust only him, Bivora seemed to interfere with Klea at times... but then, suddenly, all contact cut off.
She'd heard he was wanted... but with his abilities, for communication to vanish completely? What on earth had happened to him...?
"...Hehe. Didn't I say I didn't know that guy?"
"......You know everything. Stop pretending."
"Ahaha. You hid the evidence so well. Even as they were all dragged away, there was nothing we could do about you, Sister Clarice."
"Enough! What happened to Bivora!?"
"Kukukuku...♡ Let me tell you now, Sister Clarice."
"...!? W-What!?"
Klea approached Clarice, embracing her tightly. Then she whispered softly into her ear.
"It's all over, so quit the act and stay quiet as a mouse from now on."
The chilling tone in Klea's voice burrowed into Clarice's ear.
"Unless you want to end up like your stud."
Stunned by the saintess's whisper, Clarice turned. Slit-pupiled black beast eyes stared back at her, smiling.
And soon after, word spread that a nun named Clarice had left the goddess church.