Is This the Saintess?
The Combat Priest Corps. They lived in the lowest places, never asking for thanks from anyone.
They existed solely to fight demonic beasts and monsters, their only purpose in life.
They were the shadows of the church, the ones who feared having their work known beyond the walls.
While other church members offered prayers to the gods in sunlit courtyards, holding hands with believers and spreading their faith.
The Combat Priest Corps stained themselves in blood amid the darkest, dampest battlefields.
Church officials and major figures of the empire knew this truth well.
They rarely showed themselves in public, yet their importance was immense.
To the common people, however, the truth was often twisted and distorted.
In a way, it was unavoidable. A natural consequence.
The priests they saw were always dressed in pure white robes, offering quiet, elegant prayers to the gods.
But the Combat Priest Corps fought demonic beasts every single day, so their clothing could never stay clean.
They had no idea whether the blood on their garments came from monsters or humans.
With an eerie atmosphere that only added to the mystery, strange rumors were inevitable.
‘Slaughtering those who mocked the church, or killing followers of other religions whose beliefs didn’t match… There were so many absurd rumors that my heart still ached just thinking about them.’
Blon the priest felt that ache even now.
It wasn’t true. They simply looked fierce on the surface.
The church had drawn a firm line early on, calling such rumors absurd.
The empire had warned them against spreading them as well.
Yet the perception remained poor, and there was nothing anyone could do about it.
When people heard the words “Combat Priest Corps,” they often gave uneasy glances.
That was why Blon had introduced himself and apologized.
If it had surprised them, he was sorry. As always, when meeting people.
“Is there any reason I should make you uncomfortable?”
Yet the man walking beside him, Rion, seemed completely unfazed.
Although he was a foreigner who had come from across the sea, he must have heard at least some rumors.
He must have heard the bizarre stories about the Combat Priest Corps at least once.
The casual way he dismissed them was refreshingly novel.
‘Could it be that he was involved in similar matters across the sea?’
It was not impossible. He had mentioned suggesting the Mana Cultivation Technique.
His skill sounded solid, and he had been a high-level expert in his own world.
Given that he had crossed such a vast distance to reach this remote place, there must have been a reason.
Those with reasons were usually the ones who had rolled through rough terrains.
‘No need to investigate that far. Still, he seems like a good person. That’s fortunate.’
If Rion had heard those words, he would have laughed in disbelief.
They were all wrong. He wasn’t “good,” and he was even less “a person.”
The one standing at the peak of the demonic beasts—that was Rion.
“Blon Priest, I presume?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“I apologize for the late introduction. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Rion had stopped in place and subtly extended his hand for a handshake.
“More importantly, I didn’t know the Saintess had come to the Academy.”
Blon the priest, who had been waving his hand, let out an “Ah” of surprise.
From the perspective of someone who knew nothing, this was a very shocking matter.
“There’s no point in moving around so openly.”
“From what I’ve heard, the Saintess or Saint is said to be one of the church’s two wings alongside His Holiness the Pope. If that’s the case, isn’t this person a very important figure representing the church? Yet, it’s surprising that no rumors about their movements have circulated at all.”
“There are several reasons… First of all, that person is from the Combat Priest Corps.”
That was right. Thinking about it, it had been the first time a Saintess had appeared from the Combat Priest Corps.
But what did that have to do with being from the Combat Priest Corps…?
‘Ah.’
Rion let out a sigh as if something had clicked.
The actions and words of Blon the priest just moments ago had been telling.
Seeing it this way, it seemed the Combat Priest Corps was not greatly welcomed.
So even as a Saintess, her external activities didn’t stand out.
The reason was obvious. They fought fiercely in places that weren’t too exposed.
Because when one thought of a priest, the image that came to mind first was them in pure white clothes offering prayers to the gods.
Rion immediately pictured that scene.
‘That’s why they have to use their heads carefully when fighting. If they act recklessly, they go through all the hardships but end up not receiving the attention, and they get treated worse than those who didn’t fight at all.’
Unlike Blon the priest, who evaluated Rion very positively, Rion tsk-tsked inwardly and expressed his regret.
The place where the Saintess was waiting was even more remote than expected.
They had assumed it would be at least a reception room provided by the Academy side.
But the direction they passed was a remote patronage, the very end of it.
It was strange. The Saintess was a character that only one person emerged from the church.
Whether Saint or Saintess, since only one existed, they received very precious treatment.
The church tried to make them solidify the church’s position.
Whether it was fervent welcome or sincere appearances wanting to meet once, at least they had thought that church knights would guard with wide eyes.
‘…At this level, it’s not even believable that the Saintess has come.’
What they encountered on the path to the patronage was only a few priests.
Although their momentum was not ordinary, they were not knights.
They didn’t even embroider church patterns or flags. They didn’t even show any sign.
Perhaps because the person designated as Saintess didn’t like that?
Even if that were the case, this was too much for one of the highest important figures of the church.
The church side should have at least persuaded them that this was not allowed.
Perhaps because they were a Saintess from the Combat Priest Corps, their treatment was harsh?
It was not impossible, but at least the church didn’t neglect them.
No matter what reason, they couldn’t even imagine the situation.
“The Saintess is over there.”
Blon the priest who had been guiding until now pointed to the side.
Rion, nodding his head, was about to move his steps toward there—
“Ah, wait. Instructor Rion. Before meeting the Saintess.”
Blon the priest continued, saying he had a note of caution.
‘I knew this would happen. Anyway, it’s the Saintess.’
Obvious. Like, maintain etiquette, answer without questions.
I thought they would fill the notes of caution with things heard a lot from somewhere…
“Perhaps when you directly see the Saintess, you might be surprised and find her appearance strange. But I hope you treat her as if nothing is wrong, comfortably.”
“…?”
It wasn’t things heard a lot from somewhere. It was words I couldn’t even imagine.
Surprised, strange. That came from a priest who served the Saintess?
This made it even more surprising. It made me think it was even stranger.
Rion blinked a few times, then headed to the side anyway.
Since they would meet anyway, it would be better to see it directly rather than ask Blon the priest.
Swaaah—
As they approached the side, a light breeze brushed past.
And in it, the approximate level of the one waiting up there was mixed.
The mana in her was quite refined. A well-restrained aura was felt.
Without directly seeing, one could tell her skill was good.
It seemed much better than the Academy students, even though she was said to be from the Combat Priest Corps.
If the candidates were blank white canvases or barely outlined, the woman about to meet had everything already in place, roughly complete.
“Welcome.”
As they climbed the stairs, the woman called the Saintess greeted Rion.
And the moment she took in her appearance—
“…Eh?”
Rion involuntarily let out a sigh.
And only then did he understand why Blon the priest had said those words.
Why he had said “you might be surprised and find her appearance strange.”
‘Is this really… the Saintess?’
Could it be that she wasn’t a woman? No way. Her name was Saintess.
Was her appearance strange? No. Rather, the woman in front was an incredible beauty.
Her sparkling blonde hair and blue eyes caught the gaze.
The moment one saw her, even a man would blush.
On top of that, her body with great volume and fair skin was a perfect addition.
That was right. This was the problem. The reason Rion was surprised was this.
If it was a church person, everyone wore wide, fluffy priest robes.
From deacon to priest, bishop, to pope, all the same.
The Saintess was no different. Rather, since it was a woman’s clothing, it was even more appropriate to pay attention.
But the clothing the Saintess was wearing now was the complete opposite.
It was just a thin gauze dress that exposed the whole body.
Moreover, it wasn’t the end. She was half-lying in that clothing.
Whether her new white thighs and part of her buttocks were visible or not, she didn’t care.
Rather, she said “Come closer.” very calmly.
“…”
Was this the Saintess? Or was it not the Saintess but another meaning of Saintess?
Then suddenly, the words Blon the priest had said earlier came to mind.
“She doesn’t care about her appearance at all.”
It was a perfectly correct fact, with no wrong parts.