Fractured Bond, Truth (8)
Saintess's treatment had begun.
The Saintess, Ariya Seintia—one of the heroines I had never once been able to meet since transmigrating into this world—was radiating the same beauty I had seen in the game, just like the others.
Her pure white hair glowed faintly as if it were self-luminous, framing sharp golden eyes. Flawless, soft-looking skin, not the holy power dispenser like Professor Enut... but rather, her ample bosom.
Hmm, no.
Breasts, chest, boobs?
Hehehehe.
If I just grabbed them once...
Would I get caught?
She'd look at me with eyes full of disgust?
...Sigh.
I hadn't intended to think about that.
The moment I was receiving treatment from her, the Saintess Ariya, was like a dream to me.
More than anything, it was the first and last chance to recruit her—the top-tier healer in the game who was incomparable to anyone else right now.
If Ariya Seintia didn't come to me directly, there was no way for a commoner like me to meet her.
Now, at this moment when I was being treated by her.
Especially when only the two of us remained.
I had to somehow seduce her and make her see me as a close acquaintance that she could "meet" at least.
...Honestly, if I thought with just a lewd mind, I wanted to pounce on her and corrupt her body and mind.
But because of the Saintess's benevolence, I had been comforted a few times, so I managed to suppress that desire.
Ariya, who couldn't know my inner thoughts.
She approached me without hesitation, as if the situation of being alone with me wasn't uncomfortable or scary.
"Um, isn't the outfit uncomfortable?"
Seeing my disheveled state in the blood-stained protective gear, she furrowed her brows delicately.
Hehehehe.
The Saintess looked at me and frowned!
"Hit..."
"Aria-ssi?"
Honestly.
"Ah, ah, s-sorry!"
There was no cute expression at all.
With that benevolent look, even if she furrowed her brows, she didn't look angry or scary; it was more like a child throwing a tantrum.
It was a face that made me want to smile.
"The clothes are fine. If there's no problem with the treatment, you can continue like this. It's troublesome."
Because of that, instead of answering her question, I ended up laughing, and my following response came out in a languid voice as if answering a child.
Ah... I hope I don't get arrested for blasphemy.
"Huhuhu, fortunately, your condition isn't bad. Then, I'll start the treatment right away."
Sigh.
As expected from the Saintess!
She was exactly the benevolent personality I had seen while playing 'Four Crowns'.
Along with Enut, the double-headed chariot of the 'Mom' group.
I also liked the Saintess quite a bit, and meeting her like this made me incredibly happy.
I thought I wouldn't be able to meet her for a long time because I was a commoner, but here we are.
As expected... I must have been born with the fate to gather the heroines and create a yuri harem!
"It won't hurt."
While I was smiling bashfully and lost in my delusions.
The Saintess, instead of scolding me, was busy preparing my treatment.
Then, miraculously, she sat down under my legs where I was lying, extending her two pure white hands.
"W-wait, Saintess?! It's dirty!"
I panicked and tried to refuse.
The Saintess flinched at my desperate plea, but then laughed and replied softly.
"Huhuhu, Aria is really cheerful. Still, you don't need to worry. The only thing I can do is treat you while sitting, so avoiding the injured because they're dirty is a sin."
"...Are you an angel?"
"Oh my. Blasphemy."
"S-sorry!"
Her story was sincere; even while touching my leg covered in blood, she didn't show any discomfort even for a moment.
Rather—
"How did you get such wounds..."
While gently stroking my leg stained with dirty blood, she was only worried about my condition and situation.
...
I couldn't smile calmly at that moment either.
It was close to bursting into tears.
The injuries I was wearing now were 'fake' ones made by asking Peirote, but.
I felt as if the Saintess was comforting me by gently stroking the countless loops and deaths I had experienced, the pain caused by them.
So, with eyes closed, I focused on feeling Ariya's gentle touch.
"Aria is so brave."
A gentle touch as if caressing something precious.
The warm warmth felt from it.
"I have used the instant teleportation launcher several times with the support of the Military State... Honestly, I was scared. It's not a machine with absolute safety. It could go wrong while moving, or after moving."
The warm warmth seeped into various parts of my leg and slowly the wounds began to heal.
Blood vessels, nerves, bones connected, and even the toes that felt no sensation moved slightly.
"Actually, just like all of us, acting with our lives on the line isn't something anyone can do easily. Aria's will is probably beyond what I can guess."
The two legs that had been cold and stiff began to circulate blood, and the tingling sensation that had persisted until the end completely disappeared.
If it were like this, I could probably get up and run right away.
Then, I could immediately join Professor Enut and finish the remaining mission.
Despite the unexpected problem, I thought the first episode could end without any sacrifice.
But.
"So, I'm more worried."
"...Saintess?"
The Saintess Ariya, who had been speaking in a soft voice as if scolding a child until now.
Her voice suddenly became cold, and she showed a stiff, angry expression.
...Huh?
Why had the Saintess become yandere?
"The treatment isn't even finished yet, and you're trying to leave right away?"
"Ah, no, not really?"
I was startled by the sudden change.
Because of that, instead of answering her question, my denial came out in an awkward tone like 'not a butt, though'.
The Saintess noticed my lie in an instant.
"Aria has a lot to talk about with you. So..."
With a flick of her hand surrounded by holy power, the bed vibrated lightly, and something familiar popped out.
—Clank!
"Eh, what?"
"So, please focus on the conversation for a moment."
Like something seen in a closed mental ward, sturdy handcuffs and shackles restraining the patient's limbs.
Because those iron pieces bound my weak wrists and ankles, I couldn't move at all.
This is really bad.
I hadn't seen this kind of thing while playing the game?
Yandere Saintess!
Rather than liking it... or why did this happen?
Especially since auto-save hadn't been done yet, and since the main episode was in progress, bug save wouldn't work.
In the worst case, I might have to go back to the first moment again and wait until Peirote is convinced and Professor Enut successfully arrives at the warehouse.
Ah, no, I can't do that?
Do that again?
No, I can't.
Wouldn't it be better to just kill me?
Just end everything comfortably....
"Aria, your heartbeat is too fast. Calm down. I'm not trying to do anything. I just... I wanted to talk to you because I wanted to help you."
"Ah."
I hadn't realized it had come to this.
After coming to my senses belatedly with the warm embrace, I was really like a crazy person, drooling and shaking my limbs in convulsions.
If it weren't for the Saintess who hugged me, how long would I have continued this shabby act.
In a situation where showing a good side wasn't enough, to be in such a state.
Haa...
How far have I fallen.
"You've calmed down?"
"...Yes."
"Then, can I sit beside you?"
I nodded silently, and after releasing the arms that were holding me, the Saintess sat on the edge of the bed.
"Is this surveillance magic for protection?"
"Yes? What surveillance magic?"
"...Um, if it's a magic I don't know, I need to talk about something important, so I'll cast it."
With her hand again surrounded by holy power, some unknown blue light particles rose from my body and dispersed.
Had those been attached to my body all along?
I didn't know when they started following me, but thinking that the magic was monitoring my every move gave me goosebumps all over my body.
As expected... the Saintess was the Saintess.
The power of the top healer who cleanly treats any wounds, curses, poisons, or diseases.
Only then did I realize that I had been hallucinating because I was drugged, and that I was afraid of the Saintess and this situation.
Ah.
Truly embarrassing.
I couldn't die...
"A bit of an uncomfortable topic might come up. Because as of now, I can't be sure I can understand it."
"It's fine. You're my benefactor, so this much is okay."
What was she trying to talk about?
The Saintess had a vague expression that seemed like she had heard the secret of a childhood friend plotting a rebellion — as if she was about to cry or angry.
Gulp.
Just focusing on the Saintess's lips made my throat feel dry.
"Aria. I'll start with a simple question. Adel, Aderua, Aderuna. Have you heard these names before?"
"Cough! Keh...?! W-what?!"
...How did she know that name?
"From your reaction, it seems you've heard of it."
The fact that people I met for some reason had called me by different names — 'Adel', 'Aderua', 'Aderuna'.
The fact that this was realized through several experiences, and that others hadn't noticed it at all.
It was like this feeling.
—"Who is Aderuna?"
—"What nonsense? Adel is your name."
—"Aderua isn't a shortened name for Adel?"
—"Aderua isn't a shortened name for Adel?"
My name seemed to pass through some 'wall' or 'filter', and people accepted it as only one form.
It was the same for the heroines who were major characters in 'Four Crowns'.
But how did Ariya...
How did she notice this fact?