Chapter 41
Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Saintess Karin
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"...So why were you hiding?"
"You were concealing your presence, so I waited on purpose until you came out..!"
The saintess, wearing an aggrieved expression, wrapped her head with both hands.
Watching her look so harmless, I felt a mix of exasperation and a slight chill.
'Since when had she noticed me?'
No matter how off my condition was, there was no way I wouldn't sense someone this close.
The girl right in front of me hadn't just slipped my sight—she'd already detected my hidden presence long ago.
"Then you could've just called me down."
"How could I do that to someone who couldn't even rest properly because they were worried about who might show up!"
"That's... got it. I was short-sighted."
Smoothly,
Seeing her expression, I realized she had no intention of harming me and sheathed my sword.
...I felt a little sorry now.
Hearing my words, the saintess went beyond looking aggrieved to seeming utterly shocked, as if she'd been betrayed.
Well, she is a saintess, after all. It didn't make sense for her to even think of hurting someone.
If she'd planned to attack from the start, I wouldn't have had a chance to notice.
"Sorry, but as you can see, my situation isn't great right now."
"That's why I was waiting here for youuu...!"
"That's... appreciated, but why me specifically? There are plenty of other people."
True to her title, the saintess freely bestowed her holy power on the injured without asking for anything in return.
Normally, she'd be waiting to heal students wounded in the upcoming Forest Keeper subjugation.
For some reason, though, she'd been waiting here to treat me.
'And how did she even know I was injured to come find me?'
Unless she'd been following me since the exam started, there was no way she'd know...
"H-how can you say it like that..."
"...Huh?"
"Do you have any idea how hard it was for me waiting here...? I crouched in this tiny bush for hours just so you could rest a little more...!"
"No, that's—"
"My legs went numb, the leaves were prickly! How could you point a sword at me after all thatuu...?"
"...Sorry."
Like pent-up frustration bursting out, she made the world's saddest face and poured out her grievances.
Listening to her, I started feeling genuinely sorry bit by bit.
...I had no idea it was like that.
Honestly, objectively speaking, someone hiding their presence and waiting for me to come down was highly suspicious.
Anyone would think it looked more like an ambush than help.
Still, seeing her so upset made the guilt linger.
"Hmph! I'm already mad now, you know? Whether you're hurting or not is none of my business!"
"Ahaha, forgive me just this once. I had no idea there'd be such a kind and pretty saintess like you."
"Urgh...!"
I was trying to soothe the pouting saintess somehow.
'Whatever the case, I can't miss this chance.'
If you named the top supporter at Avillon Academy, she was a lock.
Unlike healing magic with its side effects, holy power had none.
A near-miraculous force that borrowed the Heavenly God's power to heal wounds themselves through sacred energy.
And among them, this saintess—who received the Heavenly God's power most strongly—displayed overwhelming healing.
"D-do you think I'd fall for flattery like thaaat...!"
Pout,
The saintess seemed to be desperately holding back a smile.
"Flattery? I'm serious. Who else would wait hours in that uncomfortable bush for a total stranger?"
"Heehee, uhehehe..."
Riding the momentum, I gave her the kind of praise she liked, and it looked like the smile she'd been suppressing was leaking out.
'Saintesses always crave praise, after all.'
To the people of the Holy Kingdom, she was an untouchable sacred being.
The Pope and cardinals who raised her always demanded perfection with stern attitudes.
Loved by all, yet somehow distant.
It must've been an unfamiliar time for her, who once spent happy days as a child.
Her mother, who raised her alone but always cherished and loved her.
After becoming a saintess, she couldn't visit as often—naturally leaving her starved for praise.
"Hah! I can't give in...!"
"..."
It felt like watching a small, harmless animal.
She truly deserved the title of cutest heroine.
"Ahem, ahem! Just this once. It was a situation ripe for misunderstanding, so I'll forgive you."
"Ahaha, it's an honor, Saintess."
"Ahem! So you've finally realized my greatness! Praise me a little—a little more...!"
Her shoulders puffed up proudly.
The more I praised, the happier she got, her face beaming.
Watching her was entertaining enough, but with the demon about to move soon, I got back to business.
"So, why'd you come find me?"
"Um... The Heavenly God told me. That the one who grasps fate is in danger, so I have to help."
"The Heavenly God...?"
There was no way the Heavenly God would act this soon...
Not that it meant the Heavenly God was actually the villain or anything.
It was just that right now was the time to gather power for the hero's awakening.
For some reason, though, it had broken that unspoken rule to deliver a message to the saintess.
"The Heavenly God! What kind of way is that to talk about the Heavenly God...!"
"Ahaha, got it."
"Ugh... Why does the Heavenly God cherish someone like you so much? Hah! Not that I hate you or anythinguu..."
For a moment, she looked apologetic and shrank back.
Um, it really had nothing to do with me.
Honestly, I had no idea why the Heavenly God was interested in me either.
Seeing my nonchalant expression, she seemed relieved and continued.
"Anyway, I haven't introduced myself yet. My name's Karin. Karin."
"Nice to meet you, Karin. I'm Rowen."
"Hm... Rowen. Pretty name."
She savored the name slowly, like she was committing it to memory.
No, from now on, should I call her Karin?
And so, Karin and I finished our brief introductions.
"You managed to keep going in that state somehow. Your joints are all stretched out, muscles torn up, and why are your meridians wrecked like that?"
"Haha..."
"Not funny. This is serious injury territory. Did some aura explode inside you or something?"
!
Eek!
The cuteness from before was gone—now in her element, her demeanor had completely shifted.
Karin examined my body slowly, her face grave.
'A saintess is a saintess, huh...'
She'd figured out it was internal damage from aura just by looking.
Of course, I had no intention of admitting I'd forced a slash.
With her personality, if she found out I'd done something so reckless, she'd chew me out to death.
"The fact you didn't pass out is impressive... You'd be justified in dropping the exam at this point."
"...There's things I have to do."
"Sigh... Figures. From what I've heard from other injured folks, it's always 'I had no choice.' Wonder how you all give the exact same answer."
Taking a brief moment, Karin finished her nagging, clasped her hands, and began to pray.
Shaaaa...
A warm energy seeped out with a bright light.
At the same time, it flowed toward me and absorbed into my body.
"Phew... There, all done. If it hurts from now on, come find me. Don't go getting healing magic at the infirmary for no reason."
"...Thanks, Karin."
"Letting pain fester until it becomes an illness is way harder to treat, so don't get prideful about it. No clue why, but you strike me as the type."
Unlike healing magic, Karin's holy spell hurt not at all and wasn't slow.
She looked a bit dizzy from using holy power but quickly regained her usual expression.
"Now go on. Didn't you have stuff to do? I'm heading to the Forest Keeper too, so if you get hurt, come that way."
"Got it, Karin."
Boom! Crash!
Roar! Boom!
"Oh, looks like it's already started. See you later, Rowen!"
Soon after, various magics erupted in the distance, signaling the start of the Forest Keeper subjugation.
'It's beginning now.'
After a quick goodbye with Karin, I dashed off to find the demon's lair.
The Forest Keeper subjugation—and simultaneously, another one beginning.
The Deception Demon subjugation had started.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the exam forest.
"Keeheeheeheehee!"
"...Disgusting."
In a space isolated by an unknown energy.
A brilliantly shining girl and a demon in bizarre attire faced off.
A hulking frame at least three meters tall, clad in pitch-black formal wear.
Here and there, various toys dangled from it, and atop its head sat a hat like a magician might wear.
"You're the gross one! Keehee! Spewing that filthy aura!"
Its snow-white face was smeared with clownish makeup, and a huge red smile stretched across its mouth like a tattoo.
"Trash like you should vanish from this world! Keehee! Don't worry! I'll torment you as painfully as possible before killing you!"
"...You're the one dying."
Rooooar!
Thus, the demon's dark energy clashed with Estelle's radiant magic.
With a fierce explosion, anomalies began stirring in the once-quiet forest.