Chapter 11
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 11
Chapter Title: Proof (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
S Rank
- Lete Heresia (S)
- Evan Lane (S)
A Rank
- Eliya Ruben (A)
- Kazan Kashimir (A)
- Emma Citri (A)
D Rank
- Dorothy Cabensier (D)
- Yoner Clark (D)
"Hm."
Whenever a quarter's evaluation test wrapped up, they always posted the results on the first floor of headquarters.
And they made the rankings public for all to see... which was pretty rough on anyone who landed in the bottom ranks.
I'd been there myself once, back when I hit a slump and tanked my scores.
A few people around me had gone pale just now, and it didn't feel like it was someone else's problem.
Of course, I felt bad for them, but there wasn't anything I could do.
Anyway, thanks to this test, I'd finally escaped my precarious position.
Just like Lete, I'd overcome my old weakness completely and aced the exam.
When I showed off by manipulating the Holy Stones in my own way—different from hers—the looks from everyone around were something else.
They'd probably guessed it from the Saintess Candidates' test earlier.
After all, in the Sun Church, Evan Lane was the only young man who could provide Divine Power on Lete's level.
By the same logic, no one was surprised I could wield the Holy Stones so freely.
I took the subtle stares in stride and thought to myself.
'The Saint position... Honestly, I never seriously aimed for it.'
A few years ago, maybe, but after my Divine Power slump, I'd mostly given up.
Unlike Lete, who'd consistently scored high despite knowing her limits, I'd long since abandoned my spot as top candidate.
I raised my hand silently, summoning a red glow of Divine Power that felt hot to the touch.
Things were different now.
Before, it was just brute force with massive power. Now, I could handle it much more smoothly.
Yeah, if I really set my mind to it, I could seriously go for the Saint spot.
"......"
I frowned for a moment, pondering, then dispersed the Divine Power.
I wasn't uninterested in the grand title of Son of the Goddess, but it wasn't a position that only brought gains.
It came with a ton of responsibilities and restrictions.
You get a lot, but you give a lot too. Anyway, no need to decide right now.
I cleared my thoughts and turned at the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Why the serious face? Standing there all intense?"
"Hm."
Her peach-colored hair was neatly tied up, just like last time, but her blue eyes seemed even frostier now.
Lete Heresia—the only other one who'd aced the test with me—glared at me, arms crossed defiantly.
"A dummy looking serious just looks twice as dumb."
"...What?"
"Don't make me repeat it. Your voice is pissing me off already."
I scowled on reflex. What the hell did she eat to be like this? She came over first, and now she's picking a fight out of nowhere.
"Fine, want a flick on the forehead? I can give you a nice lump."
"Hey! Try it. I won't just sit there."
"You started this shit, don't play the victim, you bitch."
I lunged to jab her forehead with my middle finger, and she grabbed my wrist with both hands, grunting.
"Ow!?"
In the end, I won the strength contest and landed one on her smooth forehead.
Lete pouted, clearly annoyed at losing.
"You brute... How can someone be so barbaric? Is that how you treat a girl?"
"Barbaric my ass."
It might sound reasonable to some, but I snorted unimpressed.
"If anyone's barbaric, it's you—getting wasted, barging into a guy's room without knowing what's what, you litt—?!"
"...Oh? Evan, what's wrong? Screaming like that—are you hurt?"
Lete closed in under my chin, twisting my wrist hard—enough to break it if she wanted.
And she lightly lifted her foot, grinding it into my instep.
Knowing normal strength wouldn't cut it, she channeled Divine Power too.
A smile played on her lips... but her eyes burned with a glare.
"...Don't you see all the people around? Are you trying to make me snap by running your mouth so carelessly?"
She whispered in my ear through gritted teeth, her tone threatening but eyes flicking nervously to check my reaction.
I winced at the pain and shot her a sharp look down.
"......"
"......"
Our brief staring contest ended. Lete raised the white flag first.
"...Evan. It's kinda noisy here. How about we find somewhere quiet to talk? Lunch is on me."
Her tone softened noticeably, coaxing me like she was desperate for me to agree. That upward gaze of hers—I couldn't resist.
"Fine... Let's go."
"...!"
I sighed and nodded. She finally smiled brightly, releasing my wrist and foot.
"Evan, anything you wanna eat? I can splurge today."
She skipped ahead, excited. I gave a short reply.
"Red Dragon Tomahawk."
Lete froze mid-step. I let the silence hang indifferently.
She kept her head down for a while, then muttered softly.
"...Again."
"......"
"Something else."
"You said whatever I wanted..."
"Reasonable prices."
"Aw."
At Lete's insistence, lunch was simple noodles.
I hadn't really meant the dragon dish anyway, so no big deal.
Stuff like that wasn't just about money.
"Here."
"...Ah, thanks."
In the First Parish, on a bench in the central plaza. I handed her coffee from a nearby shop, and she took the cup politely.
We sat side by side, sipping quietly, passing time peacefully.
No words, but it wasn't awkward. We'd spent enough time together that silence felt natural.
'Come to think of it, it felt like this back then too.'
A memory surfaced. Years ago, the first serious talk I'd had with Lete Heresia.
-Listen up, just once. Evan Lane.
We were probably on a bench like this nearby. Just the two of us, side by side.
Before that, I'd never thought deeply about her.
Light chats, petty bickering over nothing, ending in laughs. That was our deal—bad friends, nothing more.
This was back when I easily held a top candidate spot.
"......"
At nineteen, fall, after the third quarter test—I'd dropped to mid-tier.
The sudden Divine Power slump wasn't something I could control.
People who'd grumbled about a commoner like me becoming a Saint Candidate pounced right away.
But who cared what trash talked.
My worry was one thing. Their attitude shift made vague assumptions multiply.
Aside from Israfeel, she was my only real connection. Worries about Lete.
We always butted heads, but I'd always seen her as close.
Would she look down on me now that my growth stalled? Like the nobles, with contempt?
I feared she'd turn pragmatic about our bond.
I didn't want to see her change.
So I avoided her for a while. Looking back, pathetic and embarrassing.
-Gotcha.
In the end, she dragged me to this plaza bench.
She just looked at me with clear disgust.
-Listen, Evan. Honestly, whether you avoid me or cut ties... I don't care.
-But one misconception needs correcting.
-I don't treat people based on your assumptions.
-If I was gonna despise you over a slump, I'd have done it ages ago. Hell, I wanna ask you something.
-What kind of woman do you think I am?
True to her word, her speech left me stunned—such a foolish worry on my part.
'And she slapped me too. Probably.'
I remember it stung, to snap me out of it. I'd been pretty pathetic.
But it helped me regain confidence and climb back to the top.
I rubbed my cheek absentmindedly and glanced at her sideways.
The cute girl sucking coffee through a straw with those small lips.
She noticed and shot me a glare.
"...What? Why stare all creepy?"
"......"
Her grossed-out tone made my brow twitch.
Impossible to see her as cute sometimes.
I clicked my tongue and spoke.
"Just checking if you forgot, but you."
"What."
"Thought about what I said last time?"
Lete's snappy retort froze her lips. Seemed like silence, but...
Her lashes trembled, throat bobbed nervously.
She was tense.
I stared, then drove it home.
"About sticking with me from now on."
"...Hic, ugh!?"
She jolted hard—nearly dropped her coffee.
She whipped around, face red as a persimmon, lips parting then clamping shut.
Couldn't speak.
I kept staring blankly. She finally dropped her flushed face.
"Ah, uh, ugh..."
"......"
"I mean, like."
Choppy words, no full sentence. I waited patiently.
Couldn't force it. Her choice.
How long in that silence?
Lost in thought, eyes spinning, she finally peeked at me.
"...So, my answer is."
Fussing with her peach bangs needlessly.
Won't finish today at this rate. I sighed low.
Her shoulders flinched, but I turned to face her fully.
"Eh...?"
Face to face. She sounded flustered. I held her chin lightly.
"Accept, stay still. Reject, push away. Got it?"
"...Y-Yeah?"
It was instant. I leaned in toward her dazed self—our lips met.
"—!"
World froze for a moment.
At least between us. Her eyes twitched, hand on my chest.
"...Fwah."
She never pushed. Just blinked hazily up at me till the end.
I pulled back. She stared blankly for ages, then mumbled.
"K-Kiss..."
"......"
"Kisses are for couples... Not partner stuff, right? Evan."
Fair point. Sun Church standards were weird—purity from kisses over sex.
Bluntly, no kissing during Divine Power sex.
But.
I chuckled back.
"You kissed first, that night—on my bed?"
"...Ugh! Th-That was...!"
Lete flailed pale-faced. I laughed, standing.
"Kidding. So, your answer? Yes in the end?"
"...Ugh."
I'd finished my drink already. Tossed the cup in the bin, looked at her leisurely.
Like I said... We'd been through enough.
I could read her thoughts from expressions, eyes, gestures now.
And my gut said Lete Heresia's answer was—
"......"
Yes. She nodded faintly. I smirked at her blushing cheek.
"Alright then. No more surprise kisses? Might bite your tongue off."
"Wh-Who're you telling...!"
She shot up, yelling. Her bursting-red face was perfect.
"Don't kiss me without asking...! I might sleep with you, but I'm not dating!"
"Yeah, yeah. Same here. So don't go feral on me."
"Eek, you...!"
She tried to retort, but I spun away.
A frustrated shout from behind.
"Hey...! Where you going? I wasn't done!"
"Yeah. See ya tomorrow."
I waved lazily. She looked murderous but didn't follow.
Rooted like a nail, arms trembling.
Glanced back from a distance—
"...Damn it..."
"......"
Her faint mutter trailed off as she rubbed her lips gingerly with her sleeve.