You Can Just Hold It In, Right?

Estelle tilted her head, her amber eyes sparkling with mischief. "You don't have to hold back, you know."

"Knight-type?"

"That means... a monster that fights like a human knight, even though it looks like one of those monsters. Among the high-risk ones..."

Celine let out a tense sigh, her emerald eyes narrowing slightly.

"...It's the most difficult class for the heroes."

Did I poke the wrong button?

"It said Leviathan-rank. But it shouldn't be impossible, right?"

Even Amon-class monsters could be beaten.

"...Don't get too cocky, Hero. My blessing and Her Holiness Estelle's blessing are quite different. I generally lag far behind in both the quantity and quality of divine power."

"...I see."

"But in reality, it's doable. The Hero can even catch Drakan without blessings. The problem is the monster horde that will come following that one."

Hmm... that makes sense.

"So then."

Whirling arrows of wind shot into existence in rapid succession.

"Let's finish them as quickly as possible."

"...Arrogant... human...!"

The monster moved first this time. A knight-type, after all. It planted its feet and charged forward like a human warrior. But its speed was so blinding that I missed the motion entirely.

What the hell is that speed!?

"Hero, right side."

I swung my sword to the right on instinct. There was a sharp clang as it collided with the monster that had suddenly appeared, sending it tumbling backward. Celine's arrows then stabbed into its body with a series of thunks, threatening it.

"...Knight-type monsters are defined more by agility than raw power. In terms of speed alone, the Hero could be faster than the Amon-class one I faced last time."

Then I should rename it to 'Agility-type Monster', right?

"But how did you know the direction, Celine?"

"I've seen a lot."

"Ah... I see."

I had missed it at first, too, chasing it with my eyes at the beginning. Celine, who had faced high-risk monsters alongside Revius for a long time, had simply grown used to reading them.

"The Hero probably lacks experience, so you can get away with it. I'll read its movements for you. Listen closely and act accordingly."

"...Yes, I understand."

Alright, this time I would set aside my own thoughts and move with Celine's support. I gripped my sword tightly and stared down the monster. It barreled forward with six glowing eyes.

Even though I tried to track its movement without looking away, it was far too fast.

Ugh, missed it again.

"Hero, coming from the left below."

"Yes!"

Left-below attack, huh?

I drew my sword upward and swung it diagonally down in a single fluid motion.

Clang!!!

"...It doesn't break."

I had swung with deliberate force, yet the monster's sword remained unharmed.

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Right flank."

I stepped sideways as instructed, and the monster's claw swept past my body harmlessly.

...Barely missed a gutting.

Still, an opening appeared. The monster had committed to a large movement. I twisted my sword sideways and sliced, carving deep into its chest.

"Kyu... human...!"

I straightened my grip on the sword and spoke.

"Celine, thank you."

"...Hero, we shouldn't prolong this. Once we deal with the monster, we should fill the water skins and flee."

"...Huh?"

"The Queen of the North seems to have noticed us."

Celine pointed at the sky. Something large flapped overhead, weaving through the air like a lizard with massive bat-like wings.

"...Wyvern?"

"Yes, a flock of them. If they catch us, we'll be cooked like the snow boar we ate yesterday. We need to finish this quickly and escape."

"...Understood."

Celine glared at the monster.

"One second. I'll open a gap. Get ready."

...One second?

"Now."

I pushed off the ground without a second thought, dashing straight at the monster. It reacted instantly and lunged toward me as well.

Damn it, I still can't see it clearly.

"Run right quickly."

Following Celine's order, I exploded with every ounce of muscle in my body, sprinting to the right at blinding speed.

Chrrring! Clang! Clang!

"!"

The monster's movements froze for an instant. A whirlwind chain appeared in mid-air, momentarily halting its progress.

I finally understood why one second felt so long. In battle, a single second was entirely different from the normal kind.

It was only a moment, just long enough for the clock hand to move once. But that brief pause captured the monster's image in my eyes, creating a massive opening.

Swoosh—!

The monster's head flew into the sky. Its body, now headless, collapsed limply to the ground.

"...Hah."

...If Celine hadn't been here, I would have been done for.

"Hero, no time to rest. Grab only the water skins and go."

"Ah, right. Yes!"

I quickly drew out the water skin and filled it with stream water. Then I grabbed Celine's waist with my free hand, slung her over my shoulder, and carried her like a sack.

"Kyaa, Hero!?"

Wait... it feels like kidnapping someone for a moment.

But above us, the situation was urgent—the wyverns were roaring in frustration, unable to resist the urge to find us. At that moment, I had no room to care about propriety.

"...Just hold it in for a bit and run! We have to escape!"

"I-If you just... hug me, it would be fine!"

Ah, I don't get it! Just go!

#

"Hah... hah..."

I raced down the valley and discovered a small cave. It wasn't deep enough to qualify as a proper cave, but it provided enough cover.

After a moment, I looked up at the sky.

Was I being followed? No trace of the wyverns remained visible.

"Phew..."

"...Put me down now, Hero."

I glanced sideways. Celine's backside was right in front of my eyes.

"...Her hips have been talking lately."

"...What kind of nonsense is that? That's sexual harassment."

"I'm kidding."

Don't be so serious. Carefully setting her down, Celine fixed her clothes and spoke.

"...I told you I was in danger."

"...I thought since I beat the Amon-class monster, we'd be fine."

"That's because Her Holiness Estelle's blessing is overwhelmingly strong. It's called the Goddess's 'Grace,' right? It's incomparable to the blessings I offered."

"Ahh..."

Even the other Saint, the difference is that massive?

"But Celine is also a Saint, so I didn't think there would be such a huge gap."

"...The Hero doesn't seem very familiar with the realities of Saints."

"Eh?"

Celine let out ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a small sigh.

"Do you even know what being a Saint is supposed to mean?"

"...Isn't it just a sacred woman revered by the church?"

"That's part of it, but what exactly is being revered for?"

...Hmm.

"...I'm not sure."

"That's because a Saint is a special being chosen by the Goddess herself—a direct proxy appointed by the deity."

"Umm."

"Therefore, the church venerates her and people revere her. But, Hero, unlike the Holy Sword, the Goddess doesn't appoint a new proxy for every generation."

"...Eh? Then what happens to the Heroes of every generation? Wasn't it supposed to be that a Saint accompanies the Hero?"

"...That's why the custom of selecting a Saint exists."

"They select a Saint?"

Earlier you said the Goddess directly chooses the proxy.

"Because a Saint is necessary even if the Goddess doesn't choose. So the church personally selects people and elevates them to Saint status. For the Hero's company and to bolster the church's influence, they sometimes pick a fake one."

"...I see."

So Celine was one of those selected Saints, then?

"Of course, there are 'true Saints' among them. But the last one was from the Luraria Goddess fifty-odd years ago..."

"Was?"

Her tone suggested there was still more to the story. Celine looked at me and continued.

"There is a true Saint by your side."

"...Eh?"

"You saw it, right? Her Holiness Estelle's hair turning red."

"I have seen it."

It happened when I purified Cloe too, didn't it? That was drawing on divine power, the Goddess's strength, right?

"...Ah."

Now I understand what she's talking about. So the other Saints can't use that power? I thought they could all do it.

"That's why the difference is so vast. Of course, there are also differences in innate divine power, but being chosen by the Goddess surely has some influence."

"So Estelle is the Goddess-chosen Saint, and Celine isn't, which is why the gap exists?"

"You're quick on the uptake."

"...Hmm."

So this fact had been hidden all along.

...Everyone else hid it, but I just never noticed.

"So be careful from now on. I'm not as strong as Estelle the Saint, and I can't offer powerful blessings."

Be careful, of course. But even if it were true, Celine's statement felt like she was deliberately undermining her own self-worth.

She had already lost a lot of self-esteem living beside Revius; she didn't need to drag it down further in front of me.

"...But you still have your own strengths, Celine."

"Eh?"

"You read the monster's movements and warned me. Honestly, without that, I might have died already."

"That's... all I could do. My saint methods can't even scratch a Leviathan-rank monster..."

"What nonsense. Because of what you told me, I was able to win. Thanks to you, we got to fill these water skins. You're the unsung hero, Celine!"

I gave her a thumbs-up. Thumbs-up was the best gesture in times like these.

One might not be enough. I'll give you double.

"...Fuhaha."

Celine let out a soft laugh. She clutched her stomach and laughed cutely. Her mood seemed to have lifted; I was glad.

"Ahahaha, the Hero is really... cute."

"...Why do you have to be so weird about it."

"I'm serious."

"Eh?"

Celine smiled sweetly.

"The Hero seems unaware of how attractive a man he is."

"...Eh?"

"I heard from the other Saint that there was a woman who liked you before, right?"

...Is she talking about Cloe?

"But why...?"

"That spot and the Saint's spot... two spots taken, huh?"

"...Eh?"

Celine smiled gently and beautifully.

...Wow, she really was beautiful just now. I almost slipped and fell...

"Are you willing to give me one more spot?"

...Yes?

Celine approached with her hands clasped behind her back, looking up at me.

Why... why is this happening? I was holding back too, so... let's not cross that line...? The timing is terrible.

I stepped back. Celine followed with another step. When I retreated again, she advanced once more. We were pushed all the way to the wall of the cave.

"Hah... I'm sorry to you, Her Holiness Estelle."

"...W-What, Celine? Let's not do this. I have Estelle!"

"It's polygamy anyway, what's the difference?"

"Eek!? I have my limits too!"

"You don't have to hold it in."

What...?

Celine, who had pinned me against the wall, released her grip and placed a hand on my shoulder, whispering.

"It was your fault, Hero. You didn't realize and seduced me, so this happened. So go apologize to Her Holiness Estelle together."

"What are you saying!?"

"Stop acting like a virgin. You have experience now—what are you playing innocent for?"

"No, we're not even in that kind of relationship...!"

Celine's eyes narrowed slightly. She let out a long-suffering sigh, then rose on her tiptoes.

And in a quiet whisper, as if only I could hear, even though no one else was listening.

"I like you, you idiot."

...Huh.

"When... did this start? Honestly, I don't get it."

"You've been taking care of me, looking out for me... making a woman's heart flutter."

...When was I?

Of course I took care of her, but that was simply because she had suffered beside Revius and I felt sorry for her.

Eh...? Was that the cause?

Thinking about it differently, if a woman who takes care of and treats a guy like this appears, I'd probably fall for her too.

...I've dug my own grave again.

Celine stared straight into my eyes, her hand still on my shoulder.

"For now... let's treat it as an established fact so even Her Holiness Estelle can't do anything about it?"

"...Eh?"

"That way the jealous Saint won't kill me. I don't want to die."

"No, but..."

If I don't want to die, then I just shouldn't do this with you?

"Anyway, including Cloe... there are already two. Two or three, what's the big difference?"

......Is that so?

Celine's eyes softened. Her attractive red irises sparkled as they reflected me.

Her coral-pink lips formed a beautiful curve and parted, releasing a sweet, irresistible voice.

"Aren't you curious? What would the Saint of the Ludria Church taste like... ♥"

...Insane.

In the end, Celine crossed the line first. For a while I had been trying hard to hold back while staying close to her... but I couldn't anymore.

I wrapped both hands around her shoulders.

"...Celine."

"Yes, Hero."

"...This ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠is my final chance. I'll give you the opportunity to choose. If you don't want to cross it, turn back."

"Your consideration is overflowing, Hero. But..."

"!"

Celine instead hugged me tightly and said.

"Right now, this is unnecessary consideration, isn't it?"

"......"

I pulled her waist in with both arms.