Isekai Milf Chronicles: Saintess Arc (2)
"Before beginning this brief address, allow me to express my deepest gratitude to Bishop Thalia for the overwhelmingly warm welcome she extended upon my arrival here yesterday."
At those words, every eye in the chapel turned to the mature woman with short orange hair seated in the front row. As the saintess offered her thanks, Bishop Thalia seemed at a loss for how to react to the honor, her cheeks flushing as she humbly clasped her hands in prayer.
"It's heartening to see so many of you here today. I've heard that around thirty couldn't make it, and I pray that the Goddess's blessings accompany those dedicated souls as they carry out their arduous duties."
The speech flowed on without a script. Had her decades as a saintess—well past her thirtieth year—honed her to this level of mastery? Her voice was steady, smooth, brimming with confidence, captivating the entire congregation in the chapel.
"……In these troubled times, with monsters and demonic beasts rampant in the Var Kingdom, countless heroes—and of course, adventurers—are selflessly risking their lives to purge these evils. We of the Pure White Faithful Society shall never turn a blind eye, appealing to the sublime faith in our hearts and the conscience of every individual……."
"……Regrettably, injustice has taken root in our community, but I'm heartened to know that many of the faithful have stepped forward publicly to aid the locals. To my great honor, Goddess Maribi herself visited me recently with a message to redouble our acts of charity…. Your sacred service will never go unrewarded."
Hmm. Priests might deliver official oracles in formal settings, but it seemed goddesses visited saintesses more personally. She must be quite favored. More than that, though, her voice was so pleasant to listen to. It still carried that intellectual allure from the first moment I'd heard it. You might expect someone at the whirlwind's center of the church to be rigid and narrow-minded, but this Serena struck me as refined and remarkably flexible.
But who was that guy? As I listened to her speech, my eyes drifted to the man standing calmly behind the podium. His blond hair had a slight wave but was neatly groomed overall, and his face had a gentle impression. A bit under 180cm tall, probably around the saintess's age. Like the other priests, he wore white clerical robes, but there was a subtle difference at the shoulders.
Two badges on his shoulder. One was blue, which immediately reminded me of the convent's rank distinctions. Senior nuns wore blue badges, so applying that here…. He had to be a high priest. From wide-area healing to stacking every blessing imaginable and dealing heavy damage to demonic beasts—it all matched the standard fantasy tropes.
The other badge gleamed faintly silver, metallic, with some kind of emblem etched inside. Hard to make out from this distance…. There were three high priests at Tierin Cathedral, and a quick glance confirmed they lacked the silver badge. So, probably the saintess's personal attendant or something like that. He wasn't far from her side, either.
His kind eyes sparkled with focus, tinged with tension, as if ready to throw up a barrier at the first sign of trouble to protect her.
"Finally, to Goddess Maribi who ever watches over us, and to Ilisia who governs all upon this land, we offer these humble……."
As she scanned the crowd during her speech, Serena suddenly faltered mid-sentence. I'd been observing the man while savoring her melodic voice, but when it cut off, I snapped my gaze back to her.
And my heart nearly stopped.
Amid hundreds of people, her eyes locked precisely on where I sat. Our gazes met.
It was just an instant, but enough to acknowledge each other's presence. My chest pounded wildly, but I kept my cool, feigning wide-eyed innocence like everyone else, tilting my head in curiosity as if wondering what was wrong.
"My apologies for the pause. To continue, finally……."
She swiftly regained her composure and wrapped up the speech. As thunderous applause erupted and she exited the stage, she glanced my way once more—but by then, I wasn't letting my guard down.
Right. Even blended into the crowd from this distance, she sensed my divine power. Instinct told me hypnosis wouldn't work on the saintess.
………………………
………………………
"Another splendid speech today, Saintess."
"Hehe, flattery won't get you anywhere, Ivan. You worked hard too."
Inside Tierin Cathedral, a temporary office had been set up for the saintess. Fresh from her address, she and High Priest Ivan rested alone in the room.
As Serena settled gracefully into her chair, Ivan stood calmly in the corner, just as always.
"Really, Ivan…. Loosen up and sit down. With hundreds of faithful out there, no demon's breaking in here, right?"
"You know this is my role—to attend you. That's why I'm standing."
Ivan offered a wry smile, politely deflecting her suggestion.
"Is that so? Back in the day, I'd have thought you were just stubborn…. But now it makes me uncomfortable. Sit in that plush chair beside me. That's an order."
"……Sigh. Very well. Don't look at me like that."
When Serena's eyes signaled a staring contest, Ivan folded instantly and took the seat. Naturally, it didn't bother him; a quiet warmth bloomed in his chest.
With him obediently following her command, Serena smiled softly and leaned back into her own chair with a contented squish.
Silence filled the room, turning the air a touch awkward. After a moment, she glanced sideways at him, then casually gazed at the ceiling as if struck by a thought.
"Come to think of it, how long have you been by my side, Ivan?"
"……Nearly seven years now."
"Seven years…. We've been through plenty of hardships, but thanks to your tireless efforts, High Priest Ivan, I've always felt at ease. Truly."
"…………………."
Serena, who had been staring into space, met his eyes with a gentle gaze. Ivan started to speak but closed his mouth and bowed his head slightly instead.
A faint blush colored his cheeks. He shyly turned away, enough to stir an intimate, ambiguous tension between them.
Sensing it too, Serena's own cheeks tinted pink—but unlike him, she didn't look away.
Always so composed, yet…. Hehe.
Through her busy days as saintess, High Priest Ivan Phillips had steadfastly remained at her side. Similar in age, and with Serena now fully matured as a woman, it was only natural that feelings had blossomed between them over time.
Of course, seven years without progress stemmed from their unique positions…. But she couldn't hold the saintess role forever. Historically, most saintesses stepped down before thirty to marry—not just for successors, but to escape the profound loneliness of a mere woman.
Observing Ivan closely, she'd realized he was a rare gem. In her mind, the words it's about time…… surfaced.
And the sweet probing continued.
"Are you truly content, Ivan? Staying by my side like this…. Someone of your caliber could easily take a major role in the church."
"I…. This is enough for me. Just guarding you."
"……Why? Why is being by my side enough?"
"Ah……."
As Serena fixed him with expectant, sparkling eyes, he flushed deeper and mumbled, "Because it's the greatest honor……."
"Hmm."
At his reticence, she narrowed her eyes in a piercing stare, then turned back to the ceiling. A subtle smile played on her lips.
So easy to read, every time.
Lately, she'd been testing him like this—taking the lead, gauging his heart—and it fulfilled her as a woman. To outsiders, it might seem like innocent young love, but with no one else in the picture, what did it matter?
"Would you call me Serena?"
"S-Saintess!"
Ivan wasn't dense, just shy; he knew exactly what she meant. He felt the same as she did.
"I…. Well…. Um."
Seeing the handsome blond before her fumbling in embarrassment, Serena smiled inwardly. Perhaps familiarity from their time together made change slow.
"Ah, never mind. It doesn't have to be now…. But someday, will you call me by name? Promise me that."
"……Understood. And forgive me. My position…."
"Enough, enough. Let's drop it. More importantly, Ivan—did you sense anything odd in the chapel during the speech?"
"Odd? Nothing that seemed problematic. Is something bothering you?"
"Bothering me…. Yes. It's probably nothing bad, but I should confirm. I'll explain once I know more. For now, could you do me a small favor?"
"Of course, Saintess."
"Nothing grand. She's likely back at the nunnery, but…. Could you fetch Abbess Olivia for me?"
As she spoke, Serena recalled the divine power she'd sensed earlier—from that one boy. No need for a private meeting right away, but…. It was too strange. A child with such substantial divine power? A first in her life.
She'd even wildly imagined a polymorphed dragon, but which dragon would attend a church service for fun? Shaking her head, she dismissed the absurd thoughts as Ivan left.
Better to tread carefully with something like this.
Serena pressed her ample hips deeper into the chair, lost in thought.