The Heretic Saintess, The Forbidden Nun (5) - 11

It had been a while since we'd left the scene, but it seemed Level 9 experience didn't just vanish. Sestia had quietly followed my instructions ever ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠since, and despite her vastly higher level, status, and age, she didn't dismiss Kaya and Shae's opinions—she listened attentively.

"Oh? Curious about my age?"

"No. Ah, no, not really."

Sestia looked mid-to-late twenties at face value, but factoring in her position, strength, and the aura she exuded, she seemed mid-thirties. I shrugged it off and moved on.

"Sister Sestia."

"Yes, Sister Kaya."

"If it's you, Sister Sestia... could you perhaps restore those who've fallen back to normal...?"

"It's possible."

"As expected!"

"But wouldn't it be difficult right now?"

"Pardon?"

During our brief rest break—after sprinting nonstop from the entrance—the voices of Kaya and Sestia drifted over.

"We're only four strong. I'm not belittling the hero party, but if I step away, won't the safety Shae the Crusader mentioned drop?"

"Does it take that long?"

"Of course. It's not easy. It depends on how far they've strayed from the goddess's path, but even minimally, it takes days—and sometimes it's impossible to reverse entirely. That's why we requested other orders assign dedicated repentance staff."

"So, the forces from each order reaching the central zone will be roughly equal?"

"More than us, but yes. Assuming no other variables."

"...Understood. Sorry for bringing it up during rest."

"Not at all."

Sestia's heart couldn't be at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠ease saying that. As one of the two convent heads at the Raella Temple Seilroom Branch, some of her nuns had been kidnapped, her dispatched combat unit was radio silent, and horror worshippers were plotting something big enough to require her personal intervention... If I were her, anxiety and stress would've drilled a hole in my gut. But she showed no sign of it, even comforting Kaya instead. The picture of a 'big sister'...

No way. I can't handle a masochistic temptress...

I smacked my lips bitterly once more, dusted off my butt, and stood.

"From here on, it's uncharted. Reforming the formation."

I shifted from my lead position to Shae-Kaya-me-Sestia.

Shae's grip tightened on her claymore, Kaya's on her mace. Tension was already building.

"Captain. Room 4."

"Got it. Open it."

Shae shoved the door open with one arm. It swung easily, like all the previous ones—but what emerged inside was a world apart.

"Really, how far will you go to interfere... right?"

"Indeed."

"No way..."

"A fallen priest too?"

Kaya and Shae, who'd already faced Terror Nuns three times, recoiled again. Sestia showed no change in expression, but her eyes twitched faintly.

"Falling the moment we see them—such ruthless zealotry, huh? Haha."

"Do you even know what you're doing?"

"We're not so stupid as to act without knowing."

This wasn't simple 1+1. These foes spoke far more coherently than prior nuns—no macro-like scripted responses. The fallen priest had properly countered Kaya's question, laced with mockery.

"We can't let you pass, but your resolve seems firm just reaching here."

"Pitiful unbelievers."

"Shall we offer noble sacrifice?"

Everyone but me clocked similar speeds. I checked specs just in case: the nun matched previous ones; the priest had slightly higher HP and attack, but nothing special. The shock was that not just nuns had fallen—and their taunts needled the hero party's mentality. But with first turn secured, I wasn't rattled. Whether one fallen nun, two, or a priest instead... just one more enemy to smash.

Others entering via different paths will handle theirs somehow. But as Sestia told Kaya, we lack that luxury here.

Then grant them rest, same as before. Plus, test Sestia's skills before the central zone.

I pondered which to axe first, then targeted the faster one: the nun.

"Kyaaaaak!"

"Nooo!!"

"Aghhh... It hurts, it hurts!!"

As always, the fallen nun shrieked, spewing blood. But this time, she wasn't alone—the front priest wailed as if he were struck.

Fuck. Not my first rodeo, but it still soured my mouth.

Their gut-wrenching cries made Kaya and Shae grit their teeth. I couldn't comfort them right now. Focus on winning the rolls—they did.

Sestia, face stern, looked to me.

"Sestia."

"Yes."

"Eternal Rest."

"...Yes. Understood."

A combo for the healing nun class—scarce on offense even late-game. Ignoring acquisition/usage penalties, its attack potential was top-tier. Eternal Rest. I'd been stunned when she said she had it.

At my command, Sestia knelt, clutching her rosary, intoning solemn prayer. Faint green radiance enveloped her. Even with an elite monster before us, for a fleeting moment, it felt like Raella herself had descended—majestic, holy.

She rose slowly, eyes opening, finishing the incantation. The green glow shot toward the bleeding fallen nun...

"Ah, aahh... Aaaaah...!"

Base damage once, rest damage matching current HP once, sleep CC for follow-up extra. Excluding base (guaranteed), the other two had failure chances—but theoretically, halving a boss's HP could one-shot it... A monstrous 'killer move' we shouldn't see at this stage unfolded before us.

Min acquisition Level 7. Unseen in Seilroom, ultra-rare from dungeon shops/secret rooms...

Sestia sis. You were a top-tier healing nun. How'd you hold back with this beastly skill itching? A party of her caliber would've cleared the dungeon ages ago. Highest difficulty? Maybe not guaranteed. But anyway, our win odds were near 100% from the start—her overwhelming performance just crushed their will.

"Kaya."

"..."

"Kaya!"

"Y-yes! Captain!"

Kaya had been staring blankly at Sestia; I directed her to finish the fallen nun. She died before her turn; the priest, stunned by roll-winning Shae, soon followed.

"Haa... Ah."

"Sestia!"

"Ah... Thank you, Hendrick."

The anticlimactic end—compared to initial shock—left Sestia collapsing from Eternal Rest's backlash. I caught her. She trembled, sweating like a brutal flu.

"Kaya, Shae. Water and towel."

"I'm fine. Not my first time—rest and it'll pass. Really."

"Sorry for testing it."

"Pardon? Ah. Hehe. No need. I promised to follow orders."

Her aftereffects were worse than expected. I'd been shocked she had a skill I'd rarely seen even in long terror runs—but testing her obedience weighed more. Would she use a backlash skill on my command? On non-boss foes? She hesitated faintly but obeyed without question. So I apologized post-battle. Better clear any resentment early.

"Whew, been ages—hits harder."

"Rest more. Fight ended quick."

"Thank you. But I suggested coming along—can't lag too long. Even slowly, push inward. Ah, not ignoring your view, Hendrick."

"Then I'll support you, Sister Sestia."

"Ah, no need."

"I'll support you. Please don't refuse."

"Mm, alright."

Sestia glanced at me wistfully; Kaya stared firmly.

Why me too!

Shae, who'd just watched, subtly swapped spots ahead with Kaya—sandwiching me from Sestia. Like deliberately separating us. Suddenly, I was in front.

Act that blatant and Sestia'll notice, girls!

I'd just caught her near-fall, given water, wiped her face...

"Um... Sister Kaya. Crusader Shae. I'm really fine now—back to positions? Hendrick seems troubled."

Glare—

Haha...