The Saintess Elia Joins the Party
"Jinwoo, go establish some discipline."
"...If we fight, it feels like I'd lose, though?"
"Nonsense! A real man should be able to grab a woman by the hair and take charge!"
Jinwoo broke out in a cold sweat as he stared at the girl before him. No matter how fragile she looked, the sheer aura radiating from that body was impossible to dismiss.
"Now, introduce yourself like a proper man!"
Thud.
"Whoa?!"
However, I mercilessly shoved him forward from behind.
"Hmm?"
"Eek?!"
At the movement, the incarnation of destruction turned her eyes toward Jinwoo.
Hwee... My eyes are spinning...
Plop!
The saintess casually hurled the fairy she was holding—who was now dizzy and staggering—onto the floor and began walking toward us.
Boom!
Thud!!
Boom!
"Is this for real?"
Was it just my imagination? Every time the slender girl took a step, it sounded less like graceful footsteps and more like a dinosaur stomping across the ground.
"You claim you will make me submit?"
"Gasp?!"
The saintess began sniffing the air as she searched for me. Despite her lovely appearance and refreshing scent, her voice carried the growl of a predator.
"Then try receiving this attack."
Whoooosh!!
However, the saintess made an unpleasant face and threw a punch without hesitation.
A savage strike that seemed to tear the very air apart. Getting hit directly would turn someone into paste in an instant.
"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah?!"
When he saw death rushing straight at him, he let out a shrill scream and recoiled in terror...
Grab.
"How dare a wench lay her filthy hands on my husband, who is to become my companion?"
In the blink of an eye I appeared, wearing an icy expression as I seized the saintess's arm in a vice grip.
"?!"
"This is exactly why I always say women need to be put in their place once every three days."
I spoke in a tone of genuine anger rather than my usual mischievous attitude.
To me, Jinwoo was the very hope that would deliver prime real estate in the inner circle. The saintess had just pressed my berserk button.
"What incredible power..."
Elia, completely unaware of any of this, shuddered at the overwhelming strength of the seemingly delicate girl who had so easily stopped her.
"Shia?"
"Please stay out of this, Jinwoo. I'll handle her bride training myself."
"...Huh?"
Jinwoo was simply bewildered by what I said next.
Even that violent saintess was one thing, but my attitude of trying to tie him to such a woman felt downright cruel.
"You heretical wench!!"
"A woman talking back?!"
Soon, convinced she had been disrespected, the saintess charged at me with a battle cry, burning with rage.
"First, I suppose I need to establish the hierarchy."
I calmly clenched my fist.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaang!!!!
"Urk?!"
Like a bolt of lightning, a fist wrapped in moonlight slammed into the saintess's abdomen.
Saintess Elia
Released in the early days, her tier was lower than mine, but as a close-combat character her damage output and tankiness were outstanding.
She had no bad matchups and delivered consistent damage in every battle. For newbies, Elia—who fought with nothing but her fists—was used far more often than me, who required more precise control.
Although her usage rate has dropped significantly now due to the wave of stronger characters released after her.
In the early days of the game she was a reliable staple character.
A so-called character with "impact."
One part was her solid performance. The second was her world-top-tier enormous breasts. Or so the players claimed.
Kuuuuuuuuuuuung!!!!!
"Ryushia!!"
While I was briefly lost in thought, the saintess swung a fist powerful enough to collapse a building wall and smashed it into my face.
"Repent!!"
She must have decided to strike even more mercilessly because I had disrespected a great warrior like herself by treating her as nothing more than a mere female.
Kwaang!!
Kwadudududuk!!!
Puuuuck!!!
Then she began slamming blows into me like a madwoman.
An uppercut to the jaw followed instantly by a straight to the gut—she attacked with the clear intent to kill.
She grabbed me by the collar and slammed me into the stone wall.
Gududududuk!!!!
"How dare you claim you will make me, a servant of God, submit!"
She gripped my throat with both hands and radiated a chilling killing intent.
"D-Damn it! Shia!"
As the situation grew serious, Lee Jinwoo swallowed hard, terrified his precious friend might actually die, and drew his sword...
Just let her enjoy it.
"...?! What are you saying, Labi?! This is seriously dangerous right now!"
The tiny fairy, now fully recovered, sat on his shoulder and murmured quietly.
Crack!
The moment she spoke, I—still embedded in the wall—grabbed both of Elia's wrists.
Uddddddddduk!!!!
"Kyaaaaagh?!"
I twisted them viciously. Elia let out a pained groan. Just as Labi had said, I was thoroughly enjoying myself.
"Hehe, what's wrong? Is the show of strength already over?"
"...!!"
Covered in stone dust, I still flashed a relaxed smile at the greatly shaken saintess.
"Hngh..."
Elia was struck with tremendous shock as the realization hit her.
I was... a monster even greater than she was.
— Waaaah!!! Waaaah!!! —
— Ohhh!! A heroine has been born to our northern wolf tribe!! —
She hailed from the frozen northern continent of Iceland, from the Barbaroi tribes.
— Awoooooooooo!!! —
It was said that when Elia was born, the guardian divine beast Fenrir howled.
— Kwaaaaaaaaaaang!!!! —
— Too weak... —
— Whoa?! She already defeated ten adult warriors! This must be the daughter of the war god! —
At the age of five, she fought and triumphed over ten veteran warriors who had undergone the coming-of-age ceremony.
— Awoooooooooo!!! —
— Hehe, I'm the chief now! —
She naturally blended into a pack of wolves, killed the alpha, and became the leader of the pack.
— Kuwooooo... —
— Heehee, so warm... —
She fought an ice yeti she encountered on the mountain, skinned it, and wore its pelt everywhere she went.
— Hmm, this girl shall lead our holy nation with her radiance. —
— Pardon? —
At the age of thirteen, she caught the eye of the pope while he was passing through Barbaroi territory for a political marriage. She was chosen as a saintess.
— Oh my!! Saintess! Your skin is absolutely divine~ —
— Mmm... She's a true beauty! —
— If only her personality were a little gentler, she'd make a wonderful bride... —
— Ugh... —
Of course, she ended up surrounded by nuns who were very interested in her and was helplessly dressed up like a girl.
Regardless of her outward appearance, she had always prided herself on being the strongest.
But at this particular moment...
"You're being noisy. A woman should conduct herself with more modesty."
Crack!!
"Cough?!"
"Savage behavior, violent nature, and pathetic endurance... Those are your weaknesses."
I couldn't even be seen.
The arm she had pulled back connected with her jaw as if the frames had been cut, landing with perfect precision.
Pabababababak!!!
Unlike her wild, reckless violence, my strikes were meticulously calculated and executed with clean, efficient movements.
"S-So strong... Haha..."
The saintess had finally found it—the strongest warrior who could guide her.
Whoooong!!
Upon witnessing a superior, the saintess swung both arms in ecstatic joy, attempting a grab. But—
"Not a chance."
Even in the middle of her attack, I swiftly retreated, making her reach for empty air.
"If you don't know, you get hit."
Paaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaak!!!
"...?!"
A devastating counter sank into her now-exposed torso as she committed to the technique.
Crack!!
I drove an elbow into her temple, then grabbed her arm and slammed her into the ground.
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaang!!!!
With her brain ringing from the dizzying punches, the saintess could no longer even recognize the enemy in front of her.
Pak!!
Puck!!
Thud!!
If she looked down thinking it was a low kick, a fist would bury itself in her face. The moment she raised both hands to guard against consecutive jabs, a knee strike would slam into her solar plexus.
When she swung her fists wildly in extreme excitement, every single blow—targeting her legs, solar plexus, forehead, and countless other spots—landed perfectly.
Every move was read. Every action was countered.
This was complete defeat for a warrior.
Thump.
Finally, the knees that had never bent for anyone knelt before me.
"This is my defeat... Sister."
"Hehe. Your skills are garbage, but you showed quite the strong spirit. At this level, you'll be more than enough to support Mr. Jinwoo."
Drip, drop.
The saintess, now a bloody mess with her entire body tenderized, submitted to me. I gave a relaxed smile and casually shook the blood from my hands.
"...I'm fine, though?"
"Jinwoo, Elia is Genesis's top-tier in the breast department, you know? You'll be truly happy if you date her."
Gulp...
Jinwoo swallowed hard, tense from my relentless forced matchmaking, and imagined it.
If he dated that monster of a woman and then married her...
After one night together, wouldn't he be found as a corpse crushed to death?
"Haha, I actually have other heroines I like..."
"Really?! Just say the word! I'll teach you the strategy to max out affinity! When affinity level hits maximum, the stat buffs are absolutely insane~"
"..."
My evasive answer caused her expression to brighten, and all sorts of information began pouring out of her.
"Even though I'm not a heroine, forming a vow with other performance characters will greatly help with story progression."
Jinwoo had plenty he wanted to say in response, but he kept quiet.
Earlier, when I bent at the waist during the fight and when I threw those kicks...
Her butt was... Ahem. A little...
He had been completely distracted admiring the firm, beautifully shaped view from behind.
Yeah... Ryushia definitely possessed a level of womanly charm on a completely different dimension from that monster.
"Jinwoo, are you listening?"
"Ah! Y-yes..."
Lost in recollection of that scene, I flinched when I called his name and he answered in surprise.
"Ta-da! We've gained a new comrade!"
Saintess Elia has joined the party.
Her versatile kit allows her to both heal and tank. A reliable asset for the road ahead.
"I will follow your commands..."
Having lost to me in combat, Elia remained on her knees, placed her right hand over her heart, and bowed her head.
Squeeze.
The way her enormous chest compressed under her hand looked rather lewd, but I wasn't fooled anymore. After witnessing that raw power, it sent a chill down my spine.
"Elia is a versatile asset capable of both healing and tanking. I'll be counting on you from now on."
"Yes! Sister!"
Grip.
The two of us then shook hands in reconciliation.