Chapter 111
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Jeanne
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Jeanne
The Saint of the Holy Empire. Jeanne was absolutely thrilled.
'Finally... out of the capital!'
She couldn't even remember her childhood. After losing her parents and wandering the back alleys, she had coincidentally manifested the 'stigmata'—proof of divine selection—and awakened the pure white holy power symbolic of a saint. From that moment on, Jeanne had lived confined to the Holy Empire's capital, Yukra.
In Yukra, she memorized scriptures, learned to control her saintly powers, and offered daily prayers to Eukrasia, who had chosen her. Day after day, without fail.
'It is solely by the grace of God that we can live like this...'
'This power to heal the sick is proof that God cherishes us...'
The priests she met at the capital's main temple drilled these teachings into her until her ears rang. And since escaping the back alleys to live without starving filled Jeanne with devout faith, she eagerly absorbed the church's doctrines, her eyes sparkling.
"Um... Eukrasia no longer speaks to me. Have I sinned...?"
"Hoho... No, no. After bestowing the grace of the holy relics upon us, God has rarely spoken directly to mortals, having poured so much power into the earthly realm."
Even revered as one who could hear God's voice, Jeanne had only experienced it a handful of times in her life as a saint.
She had vaguely realized that the warm, benevolent voice calling her name at the moment of her selection as saint was the very voice of the God they all invoked.
"No need to worry. Even the previous saints heard God's voice only a few times in their lifetimes."
"Hee... okay."
She sometimes wondered if something was wrong, but her stigmata always glowed faintly, granting her the authority to perform 'miracles.'
"Heavens...! So many sick people?"
While learning to control her powers, the moment came when she first used a 'miracle' before the faithful. Beyond just healing the patient before her, she cured every single sick person gathered there to witness the event.
Opening the eyes of the blind, raising the lame to walk—miracles unmatched even among past saints.
They proclaimed it all as God's grace, and Jeanne's status soared higher still. And with that...
'I never imagined I'd be stuck in the capital even after becoming an adult...!'
Now in her twenties, fully an adult, Jeanne's elevated status and importance meant she was under such heavy protection that she couldn't leave the capital.
Saints were always treated as vital figures, but not usually caged in the capital like birds in a gilded enclosure.
Previous saints manifested stigmata in childhood, trained in the capital to cultivate a saintly mindset and master their powers, then ventured across the continent upon adulthood—spreading blessings and aiding heroes battling demons.
After all, they believed God had granted saints their powers for exactly that purpose.
But the continent now enjoyed an unprecedented peace under the previous emperor's policies. Combined with Jeanne's abilities surpassing any saint before her, the temple wrapped her in layers of protection, refusing to let her step outside the capital.
'I can fight too...'
Jeanne chafed at this, yearning to join the front lines herself. She soothed her regrets by reading books stored in the temple.
Among them, her greatest comfort during her cloistered days as a saint had been the chronicles of past saints and heroes.
Heroes chosen by holy relics, bravely vanquishing wicked demons. Saints chosen by God, bestowing blessings to support them. And in the end, uniting with the hero as a pair...
"Kyaaa~♡"
"S-Saint?"
"...Ahem. S-Suddenly, a bug on the ground..."
"Oh dear. Please be careful. Avoid the tall grass and stick to the paths we've cleared."
"Yes. Thank you."
Her dignified saintly facade nearly cracked for a moment, but Jeanne smoothly deflected with poised speech.
Her bold declaration to Lumen about meeting the emperor, or her current graceful smile—they were all imitations of saints from the chronicles she adored.
'I've waited so long for this!'
Not just performing miracles from the capital, but standing on the front lines, scattering blessings shoulder-to-shoulder with heroes—a majestic, heroic saint. Longing to embody that, Jeanne refined her speech and conduct, biding her time for a chance to leave the capital.
And finally... the opportunity arrived. In the form of an 'oracle.'
'But why suddenly...?'
She had no idea why the silent God suddenly commanded her to 'follow the Radiance'... but Jeanne, unwilling to miss this chance, swiftly convinced the emperor with astonishing resolve and persuaded the high priests trying to stop her with a 5,800-character appeal. Now, she marched to the front lines with the heroes.
'Someday, I too...!'
Like that story's saint, she'd repel demons heroically and end up with a handsome hero... handsome... hero...
'...N-No way my future partner is Sir Lumen...?'
Recalling the oracle to 'follow the Radiance,' Jeanne broke into a sweat. Objectively, Sir Lumen was strikingly handsome, stirring the hearts of women everywhere, with impeccable character and status as one of the continent's rare six 5-star heroes.
And she was the strongest saint in history. A perfect match straight out of a fairy-tale chronicle... but...
'He's a grandfather!'
Knowing that handsome hero was over sixty, Jeanne inwardly screamed.
Finally leaving the capital to slay wicked demons matched her fantasies perfectly. Except for the hero at her side...
"Is something wrong, Saint?"
"Do you feel unwell...?"
All handpicked by the Radiance hero himself. To ensure the dungeon that felled him was utterly cleared, Lumen had rallied his prime-era connections—the strongest forces and dungeon-conquering veterans.
...Yes. Dungeon veterans. And it had been nearly 40-50 years since humanity began tackling dungeons. What did that mean?
'They're all grandpas...'
Some maintained youthful appearances thanks to holy relics, but all were old enough to be her grandfather.
She'd dreamed of stepping beyond the capital to aid in the demon wars, a handsome, dashing hero at her side... but...
'Hng... W-Well, you can't fill up on the first sip! Right!'
A bit crestfallen, Jeanne rallied her spirits.
Unfazed by heading to battle demons—no trace of worry for her safety or the foe—she pressed on. And there was a reason for her demeanor.
"Halt. Several monsters detected ahead."
"Goblins...? Make it quick."
A pack of goblins blocked the advancing heroes' path. None showed fear; to minimize traces, they stowed their holy relics and drew ordinary weapons.
That alone sufficed against goblins.
"Saint, please stay back..."
-Thud thud thud!!
"S-Saint?!"
As the goblins appeared, Jeanne's eyes lit up. Ignoring the hero trying to stop her, she shot forward.
"P-Protect the Saint!"
"Sh-She's fast...?"
With agility surpassing the heroes' expectations, she slipped through the startled group. Spotting her late, a goblin called to its comrades—only for Jeanne to deliver a clean trajectory kick.
-Splorch!!
"...Huh?"
The impact from her slender leg was impossibly massive. The ferocious goblin exploded outright, spraying chunks everywhere.
"Hoo...! No need to worry about me so much. As basic training for a saint, I've battled monsters several times..."
Seizing the chance to vent stress right as it arose, Jeanne dispatched a goblin cleanly. Beaming with utter refreshment, she resumed her persona.
...Yes. The saint she admired was benevolent and elegant in daily life—but violently combative in battle...!
'To this end, I had the paladins capture so many monsters for me to fight...!'
Far from fearing her first real combat thrill, battle lust surged. Jeanne grinned ear to ear.
"...Ahem. Impressive, reliable."
"......Yeah. Scarier than my wife..."
The heroes' gazes chilled upon witnessing this. Nothing to be done.
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'This is it! This!'
Venting her slight stress from being surrounded by grandpas by exploding goblins, Jeanne wore a refreshed expression.
And in her first real battle, she exuded confidence.
'No different from back at the temple.'
During her temple days, unable to venture out yet craving combat experience, she'd nagged the paladins to bring captured monsters. Fighting them felt just the same; confidence brimmed as she puffed out her chest.
-Rustle!!
"Hah...!"
All goblins cleared, nearby bushes rustled. Jeanne's eyes gleamed toward the noise.
"A rat in hiding."
-Slash!!
A step ahead, Lumen sensed the hidden presence and whipped his sword like lightning. Bushes parted, revealing the lurker.
It was...
"Sp-Spare me...!!"
"...Huh?"
Face etched with deep wrinkles. Emaciated from starvation. Hair snow-white.
Nothing but a starving old man...
Except for the pair of horns sprouting from his head.
"...A demon?"
Even unflinching before bloodthirsty monsters, Jeanne's gaze wavered slightly.