Chapter 43
Chapter 43
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 43
Chapter Title: Academy Visit (3)
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"Kuhuk... My next month's allowance..."
"Lady Sister, your loss ends with next month's allowance!! But the suffering I have to endure..."
After the dopamine flood from the gambling issue finally subsided, the priests and saintesses of the Holy City cheered.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ A new Saintess has been born!!! "The presumed location!?"
"Observed at the church north of the Human Empire's capital!"
"Verify!!"
"Handover! Someone find the handover manual!"
"Where did I put it after using it last time..."
And once the excitement cooled, the cold, hard facts began to surface.
"But... is that really it?"
"Why are you talking like that about our junior? There are precedents like the 57th and 201st cases, where people were chosen while protecting someone threatened by rape!"
"...They were all women up until now, though."
"What are you saying? Are you discriminating by gender? Are you against women in the priesthood?"
"When did I ever say that! Don't gang up on me!!"
"You bastard! Bring out the ideological verification squad!!"
"Uryaaah!!!"
Today, too, the Holy City of Vittkana was sacred.
Probably.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ With the birth of a new Saintess, the academy tour had to be put on hold for now.
'I didn't expect this.'
Really... didn't expect it at all.
But they say even if you take the wrong road, as long as you end up in Seoul. Anyway, I had succeeded in awakening Cynthia.
📜 QUEST PROGRESS 📜 Make the Protagonist's Party into Usable Talents (1/4)
'Whoa! Finally!
Huh? Why is it still 1/4? Administrator, there's a bug in the quest progress here!'
'...No. Let's think step by step.'
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, as they say. No idea why proverbs from my hometown keep popping into my head today.
Anyway, I had succeeded in awakening Cynthia as a Saintess.
Cynthia grabbed my arm.
"Teacher... this, I..."
"Congratulations, Saintess Cynthia."
Realizing what my words meant, Cynthia's eyes widened.
"I'm... a Saintess..."
"Yes."
I extended a hand to the dazed Cynthia, to help her stand.
"So... what happens to me now?"
"From now on..."
The next event for Cynthia, who had awakened as a Saintess, was immediate.
"You'll be taken to the nearest church and receive training on various matters."
How to handle the new powers gained as a Saintess, the privileges and status that come with it, and the duties imposed in exchange.
In the original story, it was glossed over with a few lines like "such and such happened," but in reality, with no narrative skips, she'd have to go through it all firsthand.
But I wasn't worried.
It was the proper position she would have reached much sooner without me, and besides, Cynthia was a woman who carried immense courage in her heart, no matter what.
"Don't worry. You'll do just fine, Saintess Cynthia."
As far as Cynthia was concerned, my role could now be considered complete.
I was just a supporting character in this world from the start—a home tutor meant to give a push to one key figure.
"...You already knew everything, didn't you, Teacher. That I would become a Saintess."
Tears welled up in Cynthia's eyes.
"That's why you kept your distance from me. That's why you never used informal speech with me."
"...That's."
No point in lying now that it was out in the open; it'd only backfire.
"That's true."
"...Arthur."
After standing with my hand, Cynthia cupped my cheek with her own hand.
From Tiona, Lea, and Diana in order came gasps: "Hic!?" "Uh..." "Eut...!"
But even they didn't interfere with Cynthia right now.
They wouldn't dare.
From Cynthia, who had just been chosen by the Heavenly God, emanated a sacred halo so intense it was hard to even approach.
That was exactly why the first day of being born as a Saintess, chosen by the Heavenly God, was called the "Radiant Day."
"They say a Saintess holds status equal to nobility."
"Yes, Saintess."
"Then... this is an order."
I had no idea why the one giving the order had redder eyes.
"Say something informal to me, even just one word."
"...What would you like me to say?"
"Anything at all."
"..."
I pondered briefly and chose a safe blessing.
"May your path be filled with joy."
Cynthia trembled slightly.
Then, people from the church arrived in a carriage, apparently having rushed over.
"There she is!"
"Saintess! We've come to escort you!"
A familiar face appeared—not just to me, but to Cynthia as well.
"Bishop Melti Luther..."
The academy was just north of the capital, so the nearest church was the one in the capital's north.
In other words, Melti's church. It was only natural for her, the bishop in charge, to come.
Melti immediately bowed deeply, fawning.
"Hehe, it's an honor to serve you, Saintess! Come anytime!"
"...Bishop Melti."
"Augh, don't call me bishop, that's too much. Just treat me norma—Gasp! Arthur!? And the Saintess is that Cynthia girl from before!?"
Melti's shock was very brief.
"As expected, I believed in you!"
"Uh, yes...?"
"Kya~ They say those destined to be Saintesses are different from the start! I, Melti, believed right away that you would become one!"
"Bishop Melti, please treat me normally."
"Yep. My apologies."
That waist, shifting angles so deftly—it was impressive. You couldn't imitate it even if you tried.
She had achievements and skills, but it wasn't for nothing she became a bishop at that age.
"...Teacher. Arthur."
Cynthia said to me.
"You said I have to go to the church now and receive teachings."
"Yes."
Cynthia took both my hands.
"Even while we're apart, I won't forget you. So... don't forget me until we meet again."
"How could I?"
"The rest... I'll say next time."
Cynthia let go with a poignant smile and gave a slight bow to Tiona as well.
"Tiona, it was a pleasure spending time with you."
"M-me too... I mean, yes, it was for me too!"
And to Lea and Diana.
"Lea, Diana. Thank you for keeping me company."
"...I enjoyed it too."
"M-me too."
Then she straightened and left me with her final goodbye.
"Arthur. Stay healthy."
A temporary farewell.
Until it ended.
"...Cynthia."
I closed my eyes.
"Don't do that. You'll only hurt yourself."
Cynthia shook her head.
"That won't happen."
"You'll regret—"
"I won't regret it."
"Saintess. That's not—"
"I'll await the day we reunite after this brief parting, Arthur."
And Cynthia boarded the carriage.
Clack, clack.
The luxurious carriage dropped Cynthia off at the church in the capital's north, and Melti—bowing a bit less obsequiously now—guided her to a room.
"This is...?"
"The Saintess's chamber in every church. You'll stay here, Saintess."
The church interior had high ceilings, adorned with religious paintings, statues, and stained glass.
This space had such decorations too, but being living quarters, it was far plainer.
"E-every church has one of these? Do Saintesses visit that often?"
"Every church does, but normally it's used to store worship items."
"Aha..."
Cynthia bowed to Melti as well.
"Thank you for the guidance. So, when do I depart from here?"
"Pardon?"
"Pardon?"
"...Depart where?"
"...Don't I have to go to Vittkana?"
The world's one and only Holy City, heart of the Heavenly God Church.
"Ah! If the Saintess wishes to go, you can anytime. You wanted to visit?"
"Pardon? No... that's not..."
She thought training as a Saintess would naturally be there, right?
"Wait..."
Cynthia's complexion worsened.
"D-do I just train here?"
"Gasp...!"
Melti prostrated on the floor.
"I'm sorry! Have I done something wrong to you, Saintess!?"
"No, that's not the issue! Don't all Saintesses go to Vittkana for training!?"
Melti looked up.
"...No?"
"...Really?"
"Yes. You can do it at the local church... Unless it's some remote backwater, then maybe a larger nearby one... Or anywhere the church's reach extends if you prefer!"
But, Melti added.
"Usually, they just do it near home? Some even commute from home to stay with their parents."
"..."
"Ah, does Saintess Cynthia want that too? I heard you were living with Arthur—"
"No! I'll stay here!!"
Despite Cynthia's efforts, three days later.
She ran into Arthur and Tiona, who were out for a walk, and nearly died of embarrassment on the spot.
But that was three days later.
Today.
"Now that the Saintess has gone, let's continue the academy tour."