Episode 10
Episode 10
It had been two years since I came to the orphanage.
During my time here, I ran countless simulations.
How I should interact with Ivy when she becomes the Hero.
What would be the best way for me to join the Hero Party.
What methods could I use to further train my shield techniques.
After countless simulations, I realized there was nothing I could do at the orphanage.
Study, worship, meals, sleep, chores - everything from morning onward.
In this place where every schedule was predetermined, all I could do was simple exercises.
Truthfully, even the exercises were mostly for cosmetic purposes.
Perhaps because it was like the medieval era, that kind of atmosphere and mindset was strong.
Swinging a shield around like before was impossible under these circumstances.
'Ivy seems to prefer the current situation more... Well, she did think of training itself as exercise from the beginning.'
Before turning 15, the children at the orphanage were given a choice.
One option was to formally join the Church and live as a priest.
The other was to leave the orphanage.
'Most choose to stay at the orphanage, but I can't do that.'
For children who've only learned doctrine and church management since childhood, suddenly entering society isn't easy.
It's even harder since they've been taught almost like brainwashing about God since they were little.
Only a few children like me who came here later end up leaving.
"Ivy. Next month we have to decide whether to stay at the orphanage or leave."
Ivy, who had been reading a book of doctrine, smiled faintly.
"That's right. You want to leave, don't you Mia?"
"Yes, what about you Ivy? Do you want to stay here and continue as a priest?"
Mia stared intently at the book of doctrine.
Complex emotions were visible on her face.
A desire for the peaceful life of the Church, mixed with not wanting to be separated from me.
I approached her and gave her a tight hug.
"Ivy, it's okay if you want to stay here. Formal priests can freely go outside anyway. We can meet anytime."
"...But I want to spend more time together."
If Ivy weren't destined to be the Hero, I would have stayed with her.
Being in the Church would actually mean no marriage pressure, making it the optimal life for peacefully living with Ivy.
"Even if we're far apart, we'll still be together. It's just us two now anyway."
"Okay, then I'll always wait for you."
"Then I'll go tell Sister Sophia that I'm leaving. I should tell her in advance to make leaving easier."
Ivy nodded with a slightly sad expression.
Leaving the room, I went straight to Sister Sophia's private quarters.
After walking for a while, I knocked on the door.
"Sister Sophia, it's Mia. May I come in?"
"Ah, Mia. Come right in."
Receiving permission, I entered and saw the interior.
A simple space with just a wooden bed, desk, and chair.
It felt like the epitome of a nun's room.
"So... have you decided?"
I approached Sophia who was sitting at her desk and turned to look at me.
Standing before her, I nodded.
"Yes, I still want to leave this place. There's something I really want to do outside."
Sophia slowly nodded.
She seemed disappointed but reacted as if she had expected this.
"I see, you were always looking further ahead, Mia. So is Ivy planning to leave with you?"
"No. Ivy will be staying here."
"Hmm... That's fortunate."
Sophia leisurely placed the book she was holding onto the desk.
"Have you heard the stories circulating among the priests and nuns recently?"
"If you mean rumors... the rumor that Ivy is the next Saintess?"
"Yes, that seems to be true."
Her words left me momentarily stunned.
If Ivy, who should be the Hero, becomes the Saintess, then who becomes the Hero?
My emotions running high, I questioned the sister almost accusingly.
"...Who said that?"
"Instructions came down from the Church headquarters in the imperial capital. They said a pure white angel would descend here, so we should watch for such a child."
"It's an oracle then?"
"It would seem so."
I wanted to deny it, but my confidence in my information had disappeared since the village was destroyed.
Since then, most of what I knew had been wrong.
From minor details to major plot points - everything was wrong.
Only then did it sink in. The Black Nightmare I knew and the Black Nightmare 2 I was reincarnated into were different games.
My mouth felt bitter.
All my efforts, all my knowledge - it all felt meaningless in an instant.
As a final resistance, I asked Sophia.
"Then what about the Hero? Magical beasts have been increasing because of the Demon King lately. And... that's why the Saintess was chosen, so there should be a Hero too."
"According to rumors, they say he's from an outlying village of the empire. We'll have to wait and see."
At her words, I quietly bowed my head.
"If she becomes the Saintess, she'll receive good treatment, and Ivy will be happy."
When I spoke in a slightly sad voice, Sophia approached and stroked my head.
"Yes, then I'll arrange for you to leave the orphanage next week, Mia. I'll apply for all the support funds, so make sure to take everything with you."
"Okay, then... I'll be going."
After saying goodbye to Sophia, I was returning to my room when I saw people.
They were lined up watching something passing through the middle. Among the murmuring voices, I could hear Ivy's name.
I hurriedly ran over, pushing through the crowd.
"Ivy?!"
"Mia!"
Passing through the crowd, I saw Ivy walking among paladins.
Instead of her usual black nun's habit, she was wearing a pure white Saintess robe.
Instinctively, I ran toward her.
"Ivy! What is this..."
But a paladin guarding her side blocked my path with his sword.
The paladin's cold gaze warned me not to come any closer.
Ivy tightly grabbed the paladin's hand.
"The paladin says... I'm the Saintess. So I have to go live at the Church headquarters from today."
"Then can we still contact each other?"
"Yes, of course. Who would stop me when I'm the Saintess?"
She already seemed trapped.
Surrounded by paladins, she didn't seem able to make any proper decisions.
The only comfort was that Ivy didn't look too sad.
"...Okay, then take care."
There was nothing I could do in that situation.
Except quietly accept it.
The next day, I left the orphanage immediately.
*
"Hey there. Did you hear about that?"
"How would I know what you're talking about? Spit it out properly."
"Well, they say this Saintess is the reincarnation of the first Saintess. They say she single-handedly healed all the patients in a city damaged by the recent magical beast attack?"
"That's just a rumor... How could one person heal so many people?"
The bustling first floor of the tavern.
I glanced over at the men chatting while drinking their alcohol.
"But didn't we occasionally see her in the capital until recently?"
"I saw her silhouette during that procession the Church held before. People lucky enough to see her face said a real angel had descended."
"Exactly! That's what I'm saying! The exact same appearance as the first Saintess. Doesn't that suggest something different from the start?"
"Hmm, I suppose..."
I fell into thought listening to the men's conversation.
It had already been nine years since I left the orphanage.
The original story had already begun, and the Hero Party had been on their journey to subjugate the Demon King for five years now.
'Joining the Hero Party is completely out of the question now.'
Truthfully, when rumors about Hero Party recruitment surfaced, I considered it but held back.
First, my skills were ambiguous.
I'd rank within the top 30 in the empire, but that would be insufficient when including other races.
Second, I learned the truth about Ivy.
The empire and representatives of other races had already sent their delegates.
Apparently it was to ensure each race secured their interests, and to prevent power from shifting regardless of which race produced the Hero.
Ultimately, the party was formed with those individuals.
The party recruitment was merely promotional for announcing that the Hero Party was embarking on their journey.
"Sigh..."
I let out a deep sigh and set down the beer mug I was holding.
I had become an adult without realizing it, but my stature remained the same.
Just barely showing signs of adulthood.
At least thanks to my muscles, I had a healthy, adult-like physique.
A man who had been watching me from afar strode over noisily, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
"A little girl drinking alcohol here?"
The bastard sitting in front of me picked up my beer mug and gulped it down.
"Gulp~ Drinking something pretty strong? You'll only get into trouble pretending to be an adult."
I looked at the bastard who started talking with a sinister glint in his eyes.
Much taller and larger than me.
The size difference was so great that from a distance we'd look like an adult and a child.
I let out a deep sigh and waved my hand dismissively.
"Just go. I'm not in a good mood, so if you leave quietly I'll forgive you."
"What?"
At my dismissive response, the bastard sitting in front slammed the table and stood up.
Bam!
His face turned red with rage as he shouted.
"This bitch! I was trying to nicely educate you since it seems like your first time..."
People's attention focused on the sudden commotion.
I calmly stood up from my seat.
"I'll educate you. Next time, check which mercenary group someone belongs to before picking a fight."
"A whore from some small-time mercenary group at best!"
The man threw the table aside and took a step forward.
Crash! With the commotion, the table rolled aside as people moved away. My gaze followed it briefly before returning to the man standing before me.
A raised fist came toward me.
'Is this what he calls throwing a punch?'
The surprised people, fellow mercenaries drinking nearby, and even the punch itself.
Everything looked so slow.
I lightly stepped back as the fist brushed past my front.
"You got lucky dodging that, but it's over now!"
He spat out words like a third-rate villain as a second fist swung.
Whoosh! This time too, I lightly tilted my head to avoid it.
The man's face contorted with confusion and anger.
Another fist flying toward me in succession.
"Sigh..."
Getting tired of dodging, I caught the incoming punch with my hand.
Thump!
With the sound of flesh impacting, the massive fist was caught in my small hand.
"Huh, huh?"
The man looked at his fist in confusion.
No matter how much he strained to pull his fist free, the fist caught in my small hand didn't move at all.
"Vice Captain! Vice Captain, are you here?!"
"Hey, she's over there!"
Just then, unit members entered the establishment.
Ignoring the man in front of me, the unit members approached me.
"The captain's throwing a fit asking where the vice captain is. Hurry up. The members can't stop the captain."
"Why should I stop him... Am I some kind of puppet?"
"Ah~ What can we do when he says he won't listen to anyone but the vice captain. As for the one in front..."
The unit member glanced at the man in front and let out a deep sigh.
"Stop bothering that worthless bastard and come back quickly. Hey. You too, apologize quickly and beg for forgiveness."
The man finally noticed the mercenary badges on the unit members' chests.
A flame mixing red and blue.
It was the mercenary badge worn by the Harmony Flame Mercenary Group, currently called one of the Three Great Mercenary Groups in the empire.
Only then did the man realize.
"Th-then... this woman is the Black Cliff..."
Thump!
"Not Cliff, it's Iron Wall, you bastard."