69. The Saint (4)
69. The Saint (4)
How long had I been waiting for this.
I couldn't hold back my smile as I looked at Viviant sitting in front of me.
Status Window.
No matter how much I wanted to explore this world on foot and go on adventures myself, there were just too many things I didn't know.
I couldn't read the writing, I didn't know much about magic, and I had no idea where each kingdom was or what their situations were like.
I was just clueless about everything.
I'd woken up in this massive world knowing absolutely nothing about it.
Of course I wouldn't know.
'Wait, if that's the case, doesn't that mean she can see info on me too?'
I snuck a glance at Viviant.
There wasn't a shred of hostility toward me in her demeanor.
If anything, her favorability toward me seemed sky-high.
My current appearance was so stunningly beautiful that even I'd fall for myself if I looked in the mirror.
Even though I knew as the Queen of Creatures—not human—that I basically had zero sex drive, I'd still caught myself groping my own boobs without thinking.
But Viviant wasn't crushing on me or anything like that.
If she were, I'd have sensed it.
My senses were pretty sharp, so I could pick up on humans' gazes pretty well.
Viviant just had a natural fondness for my existence, that's all.
'Is it because of the Holy Power?'
But what about the Status Window?
Could the Status Window not reveal info on its target?
Viviant knew about Gwen and Stacey.
And the only way she could've known about Gwen and Stacey was through the Status Window—nothing else made sense.
"Is there anything I can help you with by any chance?"
I nearly blurted out, "Just hand over that brain of yours right now," in response to Viviant's words.
Gotta be careful.
That brain was more precious than any other brain out there.
It couldn't take a single ounce of stress.
Brains were the most delicate and precious things in humans—well, the ones I needed, anyway.
And this wasn't just any human; she was a Saint Candidate who'd received the most power from the Goddess.
No telling what kind of abilities she had.
If I tried to kidnap her rashly, who knew what could go wrong.
Right now, her Holy Knights were in the city too, so I had to nab her without causing any problems.
Sadly, the Centipede Creatures that erode human brains and spines had zero combat ability.
They'd really invested everything into erosion alone.
If I forced it and some unexpected magic killed the Centipede Creature, it'd be a huge blow.
So I had to approach super slowly and without her noticing.
"There's not much you can help with, really. For now, we're just trying to run the Orphanage here as quietly as possible for the kids."
"You're amazing. Um, Lea-nim, do you have any plans to go to the Holy Kingdom?"
I did have plans to go.
Except it wasn't just me going solo—I was planning to bring a ton of kids with me.
"Not yet, but why do you ask?"
"If it's okay with you, once my business here is done, I'd love to invite you to the Holy Kingdom."
"To the Holy Kingdom? Why me?"
"Honestly, I came here to become the Saint, but I think Lea-nim is the one who should be the Saint."
"...Pardon?"
"Lea-nim is the real Saint...!!!"
I got a little flustered when Viviant suddenly lit up with sparkling eyes, stood up, and shoved her face right into mine.
"This skin, these eyes, nose, mouth, face shape, looks, boobs, figure! And this warm Holy Power on top! She's the Saint incarnate!"
"Uh, uh... R-right."
"I'm sure the Goddess guided me here to meet Lea-nim!"
She's out of her mind.
Totally nuts, no doubt.
But honestly? That worked in my favor.
Viviant's favorability toward me was through the roof right now.
"So, once I defeat that Ners monster making this city miserable, let's go to the Holy Kingdom together!"
I nodded at Viviant's declaration.
Anyway, once Medherun City and the new Colony forming beneath it stabilized, I was planning to head to Besares in the Holy Kingdom.
"Sounds good."
"Really!? Just trust in me!"
Viviant wasn't just some high-ranking human in the Holy Kingdom.
In a nation that worshipped the Goddess, she was a Saint Candidate—chosen by the Goddess herself.
Her status there had to be top-tier.
If I went to the Holy Kingdom with Viviant, I'd get tons of info.
And naturally, I could scatter kids all over the Holy Kingdom to be my eyes and ears.
==
Viviant returned to her lodgings more excited than ever after her meeting with Lea.
'She was so pretty and comforting.'
She gave a quick greeting to her Holy Knights and headed to her room, flopping onto the bed as she thought of Lea.
A gentle impression that perfectly matched her beautiful face.
Boobs that seemed like they could embrace anything.
Every action exuded such elegance that it melted away all tension and made you want to act spoiled.
She was the Saint herself.
'Have I been lonely...?'
A lot of time had passed since coming to this world.
But it wasn't as much time as back on Earth.
Her family, friends, everything from Earth—it all still felt vivid.
At least she'd had her bestie Jenny, but after their big fight last time, they hadn't spoken.
Lea was definitely too young to be called someone's mom.
But the vibe she gave off was like the mother of all creation.
Like Earth's Goddess Gaia.
'I almost asked her for a hug without thinking.'
She just wanted to spill everything and get some comfort.
'I thought I was fine, but apparently not...'
Viviant lay there, covering her eyes with her hand.
Suddenly transferred to this world with Jenny, barely surviving multiple near-death crises, she'd thought she'd adapted.
Or so she'd believed.
But the moment she saw Lea, every tough moment she'd endured in this world came flooding back.
All those things she'd thought she'd overcome—they'd been piling up inside her without her realizing.
"Haa..."
Tears started flowing.
"Get it together."
Why had she come here?
To take down Ners.
'If I defeat Ners, Lea-nim will praise me, right?'
==
Forbidden Forest.
Even history books warned that no living being should enter the Forbidden Forest—it was that legendary.
The tales weren't just from Padix Kingdom; they spread to the Holy Kingdom and neighboring nations too.
Because the Forbidden Forest was in Ardenia, but it was so massive it bordered other continents.
And now, Saint Candidate Viviant from the Holy Kingdom and her Holy Knights had entered that Forbidden Forest.
Lots of people were worried.
Ners had started appearing in the Forbidden Forest, and tons of humans had died.
Two entire knight orders had been wiped out, and they'd even invaded the city.
To completely exterminate the Ners, Padix Kingdom had summoned all their scattered S-rank Adventurers.
They couldn't risk half-assed forces triggering another disaster.
And that's when Viviant showed up, while Padix was gathering its strength.
Determined to become the Saint, Viviant entered the Forbidden Forest with her Holy Knights.
"Let's take a short break here."
The Captain spotted a spot with good visibility and called a halt.
The Holy Knights sat to rest.
They didn't drop their guard, of course.
"Viviant-nim, you can drop the barrier now. We've checked the ground thoroughly."
"Is that so? Got it."
Viviant closed her eyes and briefly released the protective barrier she'd cast on her Holy Knights' feet.
One of her specialties was barriers.
By harmonizing Holy Power and Mana, she created divine barriers safer than any magic ones.
The downside? They drained a ton of mental energy.
Maintaining them constantly was nearly impossible.
"Whew... Holding it at this level is still tough."
Even without any fighting yet, the slight headache made Viviant pop one of the chocolates she'd brought.
"But now that we're in the Forbidden Forest, we can't let our guards down."
"Right. It's weird, though—reports said they got ambushed right after entering the Forbidden Forest..."
The Captain scanned the surroundings.
It was an ordinary forest.
So normal and peaceful, you wouldn't think it was the Forbidden Forest.
Clear skies, fresh breeze, crisp, cool air from the woods.
It just looked like a beautiful forest.
"To think monsters like that live in a place like this."
"I've sent a few subordinates out to scout. Charging ahead blindly would waste Viviant-nim's Holy Power and Mana."
"But won't those Holy Knights be in danger like that?"
"No need to worry. Those guys are tough enough to win in any situation."
"I see. Still, it would've been better if they'd received my blessing first."
While Viviant and the Captain talked, one of the scouting Holy Knights rushed back.
"Captain!"
"What'd you find?"
"A v-village! There's a village!"
"Huh? What'd you say? A village?"
"Yes! There's a village with people living in it!"
Everyone around was stunned by the knight's words.
A village in the Forbidden Forest?
"And there were Ners in that village too...!"
"Huh? You mean the Ners are attacking the village right now?"
"No. They were coexisting."
"What? Is that even possible?"
"But I saw it with my own eyes!"
At those words, Viviant thought of Gwen and Stacey.
Creatures could impregnate humans.
"Let's head to the village fast."
"Got it. Everyone, up!"
""Yes!""