The Hero's Whim
Under the clear sky, a carriage raced along the paved road. Inside, Aria leaned against the hard backrest and stared at the self-proclaimed hero.
“……Did you really kidnap me just for that reason?”
“What other reasonable reason could there be?”
Aria gave the hero an incredulous look. He remained unfazed even under the Saintess's astonished gaze. Quite the self-centered fellow.
She recalled the question she had asked the hero earlier.
‘Why did you kidnap me, Hero?’
It was a natural question, all things considered. Whether she liked it or not, they would be traveling together from now on. Yet he had gone out of his way to kidnap her?
Deep, pitch-black eyes gazed at Aria. It was a different kind of chill from the stares of the cult members. Lethal like a beast's fangs, yet carrying a dangerous aura. It was the instinctive sense of shrinking back, like a herbivore facing a carnivore.
Eventually, the hero waved his hand dismissively.
‘Because it was the fastest way.’
‘……Pardon?’
‘It's obvious they're going to drag things out with formalities and departure ceremonies. I have no obligation to play along.’
He must really dislike formalities. Aria also found being bound by formalities tiresome, so she could somewhat empathize.
……Though she empathized, she would never go so far as to overturn the entire situation like this. Such thoughtless and unreasonable behavior was beyond her.
By now, the cult was probably in an uproar over her sudden disappearance. Thinking that far, Aria felt a headache coming on.
‘How do you plan to handle the aftermath……’
‘That's not my problem to handle. It's the kingdom's job.’
Thinking that the hero had terribly poor social skills, she closed her mouth.
This is the hero? As expected, rumors can't be trusted. How is this the perfect hero?
‘……Poor Makarof.’
The target of that pure child's admiration. How shocked he would be if he learned what kind of person the hero really was. His disappointment would be immeasurable.
Aria made a decision. She would not reveal the hero's true nature to Makarof. There are truths better left unknown. For example, that the cult's Saintess was actually a cheap woman who spread her legs to receive men's seed…….
“Why do you look like that?”
“Pardon?”
“Your expression doesn't look good.”
Her emotional turmoil must have shown on her face. Aria quickly composed her expression.
“……No, it's nothing.”
“Is that so?”
The hero shrugged and turned his gaze to the window. He didn't seem particularly concerned. Aria also shifted her gaze to the opposite window. From the scenery rushing by, the carriage seemed to be moving quite fast.
An awkward silence lingered in the carriage for a while. The one who spoke first was the hero.
“Do you know where we're going now?”
She didn't. She wasn't a priest who received oracles, so how would she know?
“……No.”
“We're heading to the largest mountain in this area.”
“……Why?”
“Because there are many monsters there.”
Monsters. A general term for beasts imbued with demonic energy.
……Heading to a mountain full of monsters. It wasn't like they were going sightseeing to look at monsters.
The hero grinned savagely, as if threatening her.
“So if you're scared, go back now.”
“……What did you say?”
“I said if you're scared, go back.”
He was the one who brought her, and now he was telling her to go back? Aria felt dizzy at his shameless attitude.
“……Wasn't it you, the hero, who requested help?”
He replied nonchalantly.
“I've said multiple times that I don't need a Saintess. The ones who didn't listen were the kingdom's side.”
A Saintess was unnecessary? Was he trying to provoke her anger?
She examined the hero's face, but it was expressionless. He really thought she was unnecessary.
“I see.”
Aria didn't particularly refute his words. It was something she agreed with, after all. He was a hero who had already proven his abilities alone. What help could she possibly be by interfering? It would be fortunate if she didn't get in the way.
“Hmm?”
Her compliant answer must have been somewhat unexpected. The hero rested his chin on his hand and turned his gaze from the window to Aria.
“Usually, the others would get all worked up here.”
“……Were there other Saintesses from different cults?”
“No, that one was a mage. But aren't you angry?”
“Hero, you're quite rude. Still…….”
“……Still?”
Aria replied bitterly.
“Because I thought it was true. That's why I didn't refute it.”
She was someone with no self-esteem to begin with. Someone's disregard and contempt felt as familiar as meeting an old classmate after a long time.
Of course, if this had been a public setting, she would have pretended to be angry for the sake of the cult's prestige. But inside this carriage, there was only Aria and the hero. There was no reason to cause a scene.
Faced with Aria's compliant reaction, the hero scratched his cheek.
“You've got no backbone.”
“Still, I won't go back.”
“Why?”
At the hero's question, Aria thought. Why indeed?
Traveling with the hero might lead to death. Dangerous moments would come frequently. If he told her to go back, she could just do so. At least the cult would protect her comfortably from external threats.
‘But why did I say I wouldn't go back?’
She realized the answer immediately.
He was the first. The first to look at her with eyes free of any ulterior motives. No admiration, no reverence, no lust. The hero had treated Aria as just an ordinary person.
That obvious fact. That ordinary behavior. It was what had allowed her to breathe freely.
Although there was Makarof, the cult was still an isolated space for her. Ordinary believers expressed their admiration and respect as they pleased, while high-ranking clergy used Aria to satisfy their lust. The cult itself was already a suffocating shackle to Aria. If it weren't for the innocent Makarof, she would have hanged herself long ago.
“Why?”
The hero asked again.
Aria had realized her feelings, but explaining them directly was another matter. How could she say that being by his side was comfortable, so she wanted to stay with him? It was somewhat embarrassing.
“I-I don't have any obligation to tell you, do I?”
“……That's true too.”
He merely clicked his tongue as if it was trivial and didn't press further. He really had a straightforward personality.
The hero changed the subject.
“……Then let me ask something else. Since I brought you along, what can you do?”
‘What can you do?’
He probably didn't mean it as an interrogation, but Aria suddenly felt her breath catch. Those words were a kind of PTSD for her. It was the question she had asked herself every time she was raped by Cardinal Mavlof, Bishop Ronin, and other clergy.
‘What can you do? You're an ugly, worthless person. It'd be nice if you realized that soon. You know why I keep asking, right? Because you acknowledge this fact? That's why you're not resisting those bastards and just offering your body to make it easier. Or were you enjoying moaning under a man's belly? Ugh, disgusting. You've got some nerve.’
As if hearing hallucinations, ‘his’ voice echoed in her ears, making her head throb. Her breathing quickened as if she were in a high-altitude area with thin oxygen. Her hands trembled as if she had tremors.
“………I-I, I, I……”
The hero waited without urging or scolding the stuttering Aria. Thanks to his calm demeanor, Aria, whose mind and body had somewhat settled, recalled what she could do.
First, she could use ‘Holy Spells’. Holy Spells were a general term for sacred powers, including abilities like healing wounds, resistance to status ailments, or activating physical abilities. As befitting a Saintess, Aria had exceptional talent for Holy Spells. In just one year, she had distinguished herself by demonstrating Holy Spells superior to most archbishops.
……However, if asked whether it would help in combat, well. She could confidently say her combat skills were as poor as those of a neighborhood housewife. Strangely, Aria was not good at handling techniques that harmed others. This was entirely due to the setting the author of the Seed-Receiving Saintess had established.
-The Saintess cannot use techniques that harm others.
There was no more malicious statement for Aria, who had become the Saintess. In other words, no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't improve her personal martial prowess. If she were a game character, Aria was just a walking medical kit.
She chewed over her miserable feelings anew and said to the hero.
“……I'm a walking medical kit.”
Aria was stunned by her own words. She had never intended to give such a ridiculous explanation, even swearing by the goddess. It had just slipped out of her mouth without her realizing.
A walking medical kit? Wasn't that too strange an explanation?
Looking at the hero, he had an expression of not understanding, as expected. If Aria were in his position, she would have been the same.
“……What do you mean?”
“Ah, well, I…… I can resolve status ailments, heal serious wounds, things like that! Usually, medical kits serve that kind of role, right?”
As Aria rambled on, the hero burst into laughter. It was a mean-spirited laugh.
“You're the first priest I've met who introduces themselves as a walking medical kit.”
Of course. No matter how she thought about it, it was a crazy explanation. Aria felt like she wanted to crawl into a mouse hole.
The hero, on the other hand, seemed to like her novel self-introduction and gave her a generous smile.
“A walking medical kit, huh. Not bad.”
What was so good about it? Aria stared at the hero, who was grinning mischievously, with displeasure.
“Why do you look so dissatisfied…… Ah, is it because we haven't exchanged names yet?”
It wasn't because of that, but Aria decided to stay silent. If you stay still, half the battle is won.
The hero took off his leather gloves and extended his hand.
“Ashtain. No surname.”
It was a name thrown out casually. Ashtain, Ashtain. Aria repeated his relatively easy-to-remember name in her mind and took his hand.
“Aria Lameld.”
“Easy name to remember.”
“Hero……”
“We exchanged names, so call me Ashtain.”
“Mr. Ashtain……”
Ashtain cut her off again.
“Ashtain.”
Repeated coercion. Aria smiled faintly at him.
“Mr. Ashtain.”
“Ashtain.”
“Mr. Ashtain.”
It was a pointless battle of nerves.