The Sword Saintess (1)
Right after one constellation and his devotee hurriedly left due to the sudden appearance of a 'girl.'
"A star fell on the constellation's temple!"
From a spot quite a distance away, one of the citizens who had witnessed the anomaly shouted.
"In broad daylight like this?"
"You heard it too! Something flashed from the sky and crashed down!"
Human curiosity is a terrifying thing. At first, they scattered in fear from the massive roar, but when nothing else happened, they started heading toward the site one by one.
And among the crowd, Lisia—her robe pulled low over her face—was making her way along with them.
Our Father God.
The destination the crowd was heading toward was a temple dedicated to a certain constellation. Which meant the falling star was likely someone’s doing.
"...How dare they."
Lisia felt a deep disgust as she headed to the temple.
A massive boulder emitting white smoke of unknown origin, billowing up gently.
"Eek...! I hate ugly old men...! I wanna be with a handsome big bro!!"
As Lisia turned at the noisy commotion, she saw a blue-haired child being dragged away by the guards.
"Whoa, this kid's got some strength...!"
"Hey! Hold her tight! She's thrashing around!"
Was this subduing or kidnapping?
"Aaaah! Nooo, I hate it...!!"
In the chaotic scene, Lisia turned back to observe the fallen meteor.
Good thing.
Fortunately, the mysterious rock had landed outside the temple grounds. This was surely the protection of the constellation she served.
Convinced of that, Lisia focused her mind briefly to check for any other anomalies.
"....?"
But then, a sinister energy leaking from the rock made her body tremble faintly.
A constellation's energy.
Lisia, who had fought countless battles under her Father God's command, knew it well. It was a familiar aura—and one of the dangerous ones at that.
A holy relic. An object infused with a constellation's power.
For such an ominous item to fall right into the domain of the constellation she served...
It was proof her suspicions were spot on.
How dare they, against Our Father God.
The one who dropped that relic knew this temple belonged to her Lord God. It was deliberate, meant to imprint their presence.
First things first.
Following her original purpose, she set out to find the temple knights stationed here.
Managing to carve a path through the gathered crowd and step outside, Lisia let out a deep sigh.
And then, sensing a sinister feeling creeping in from somewhere, she instinctively turned her head.
"....?"
Right there. Not far away stood a figure cloaked entirely in a robe.
Similar build to hers, and from the exposed skin... clearly a woman.
"Do you have business with me?"
Lisia asked warily, and the hooded woman spoke.
"It seems a holy relic fell here."
"....."
"That's why I wanted to see it."
Holy power. A priestess?
Feeling the unfamiliar, eerie aura for the first time, Lisia guessed at her identity.
"I am the Sword Saintess, Herien."
"....!"
Saintess. Devotees of a violent, hideous constellation, known for their cruel dispositions. Even Lisia had never seen them in person—only heard the rumors.
"I received a revelation that a hero would be born nearby."
"....I see."
"And even the emergence of the holy sword—"
The Sword Saintess Herien had a special ability. Granted by her formless constellation, the power to distinguish good from evil.
"I felt it at the same time. Today is surely a blessed day."
The meeting of hero and holy sword doesn't happen easily. The Sword Saintess existed to aid in that ordeal.
But this revelation said both had manifested in one place simultaneously.
Herien didn't show it outwardly, but inwardly, she hid her joy.
"Nothing makes my heart race like the birth of a new hero."
With those words, Herien quietly gazed at Lisia.
"....?"
Lisia was briefly flustered by the sudden stare, but then Herien elaborated on her impressions.
"You are loved by your constellation."
Sensing the aura swirling around Lisia, she couldn't help but smile.
"Ah...."
"Such holy power without direct contact... Impossible unless you're a favored devotee."
"Our Father God..."
Moved by the words, Lisia offered another prayer of thanks to her Lord God. A process she performed formally five times a day or more—but it was never enough. If possible, she wanted to stay connected to Him 24 hours a day.
"If it's not too rude, may I feel your constellation's love directly?"
"His love, you say."
"It's simple. Just touch my hand to yours."
Lisia pondered whether to allow it or not. But to repay the Sword Saintess's kindness in praising her existence and her Lord God so precisely, she decided to grant the request. Curiosity about the exact description and results played a part too.
"Then... please, just for a moment."
"I'm the one who's grateful."
Herien nodded politely in courtesy, then took Lisia's outstretched hand.
Aah...
In that instant, a warm, ecstatic symphony of holy power. Herien's consciousness settled into the embrace of a gentle constellation.
This is...
She had touched countless constellation auras before, but never one so filled with love.
A twinge of envy pierced Herien's heart. She had never shared such communion with her own constellation.
It must make every day blissful.
The ideal every devotee dreamed of—that was Lisia's inner world.
"....."
After feeling the holy power briefly, Herien tried to end the connection.
"....?"
But.
Deep within the warm, bright holy power... something coiled, detected.
Deep in the profound warmth and light of the holy power, something coiled was sensed.
She hadn't wanted to know, but that sinister energy grabbed her wrist.
This is...
Herien saw what was hidden there.
And that foul darkness stared back at her.
"....!"
Herien knew what that energy was. She had faced the malice in countless devotees before.
"You."
"What's wrong?"
Suddenly gripped at the wrist and breaking out in cold sweat, Lisia grew flustered in turn.
"Are you a priest of those Black Sun bastards...?"
"...! No! How could you say something so horrific!"
"Then what is this hidden energy?"
The Black Sun. Their forbidden deeds were so infamous that any human in this world not knowing them would be the odd one out.
An immature hero's presence, and a Black Sun devotee.
They're targeting the hero...!
Sensing the crisis, Herien unleashed her holy power immediately.
Massive holy power surges from the ground!
A massive surge of holy power rose from the ground at her feet, leaving Lisia feeling wronged and forced to counter.
"What in the...!"
That it was a petty misunderstanding from someone's community... was a matter beyond a mere human's grasp, a lofty affair of the exalted constellations.
Warning! A Holy War is in progress.
"...Huh?"
Right after seeing off Belladys, who was preparing to leave with some reluctance, another message popped up at this ridiculous timing. I reflexively opened the system window to check the situation.
Focusing on the screen that captured the scene like a hologram monitor, I spotted familiar red hair.
My dutiful daughter Lisia. According to the warning, she had just been caught in a Holy War as a devotee.
No way, my girl isn't the type to pick fights with anyone.
She's got the gentlest personality normally. She wouldn't start trouble; she'd only respond if provoked.
And.
Why is she there?
The map showed the location name boldly marked as Regarium.
It was so natural it threw me off.
How did she find her way here?
I thought she was returning to the cult's main base or something. Yet somehow, my dutiful daughter had reached where I was.
Is she here to see me? If so, I'd pat her head plenty for being such a good girl.
Anyway, praise could wait. I focused on the screen to grasp the truth.
But.
"Ugh, urk."
I was stunned to see Lisia with a flustered expression, looking at a woman collapsed on the dusty ground.
"...Huh?"
Anyone could tell it was right after a fight—and it was already over.
...Already done?
I got here right away?
No time for blessings or direct help.
It just went wham and ended.
Feels kinda anticlimactic.
But thinking properly, it wasn't that strange. This was Lisia at her peak, with her holy power restored. One-on-one against multiple foes? No way my devotee loses to another constellation's in that matchup.
Good job for now.
Praising her inwardly, I saw Vera approaching from afar.
"Our Father God."
"Yeah?"
"I just felt a massive holy power. Similar to ours..."
"...I'm checking it out, so don't worry."
It had wrapped up in an instant anyway. I calmed the worried Vera and sent her off to finish her duties.
"As expected...! You know everything."
Watching her leave with a face full of trust, it was time to look into whoever attacked Lisia.
Sword Saintess. Special priests selected to assist and protect heroes.
Here she comes.
I didn't know the exact circumstances of the fight with my Lisia, but she must be here for that girl with hero potential I saw earlier. Aiding immature heroes is their job, after all.
The blue hair visible under the removed robe confirmed my guess.
Hero trait: blue hair. And those associated with them share similar features.
Good that nothing bad happened.
"...Hmph."
Still, it was infuriating. Daring to touch my devotee?
On the screen, Lisia looked flustered from winning too easily, surrounded by guards. Circumstances made it look like Lisia was bullying the Sword Saintess.
Evande.
I couldn't just watch her get falsely accused. I headed straight to the king.
That's what connections are for, right?
"We'll see you immediately!"
"Heh heh heh."
As I smiled amiably, King Edmund beamed back even wider.
This is the power of influence.
Soon, Lisia and the Sword Saintess's safety would be secured.
What remained was.
"...I really don't wanna see these guys."
Both constellations reacted with the same ominous disgust.
The constellation handling heroes—Heir of the Lost Star. A plausible name, but ruthless methods.
Their devotees are heroes, and heroes inherently despise other constellations. Designed from the start as anti-high-constellation weapons.
Pure combat power lags far behind my devotees.
But their terror is the curse penalty. Kill a hero or take holy sword damage? High chance of penalty.
What a childish mechanic.
You grind progress, then lose it to hero curse? Infuriating.
Even at Absolute rank progress, picking a fight with self-destruct bots isn't easy.
At this point.
I had a rough idea who this suspiciously ominous message was from.
Constellation, 'Heir of the Lost Star' has recognized your existence.
Constellation, 'Heir of the Lost Star' requests conversation with you.
Accept the request?
"Hmm..."
Accepting will transfer you to the constellation's space.
A conversation request from the constellation at just the right time.
"Why not."
Still, gotta talk, right? I haven't done anything wrong this round. Just focused on progress.
Let's try it.
"If it goes south, just flip the table."
Penalties. Annoying in-game, but different now. Lost progress? Fill with other resources. Devotee impact? I can heal it quick.
Gotta do what needs doing.
Not grinding for nothing. This is what the progress was for.
Request accepted!
Loading... 68%
So, I figured I'd at least see the face. Who knows.
Conversation might go well. Especially building rapport with the hero side could be handy later.
And so.
Loading complete!
My vision went dark, and the world began to crumble.
-...This holy sword wants you. No, I don't need it, that's...