The Saintess Who Tanks with Holy Water and Makgeolli

They say it's a happy dilemma when you have too many good choices.

That was me right now.

"Whoa!"

"Ooh...!"

Exclamations slipped out involuntarily.

All of them defense roles.

"The System must really be backing you up, Master!"

"Not sure if that's true, but either way, we can pick any without worry."

Using my subculture savvy, I tried guessing from the planet names.

"Paladin, rock golem, hacker."

"Monk, giant, cyborg!"

Me and Carmina.

Our guesses lined up pretty well.

But those were just mental images.

The keywords were what mattered.

1. Recovery/Support-Type Tank

2. Combat/Charge-Type Tank

3. Disruption/Analysis-Type Tank

"Game terms? Healer tank, DPS tank, utility tank. What do you think, Carmina?"

"Hmm, number 3 doesn't click for me. Gotta be 1 or 2! You, Master?"

"Instinct says 1 for me."

Even analyzing rationally, 1 made sense.

Towers turned into attrition wars the higher you went.

Plus, Carmina's got our DPS covered.

The issue was just monsters stealing aggro and cutting into our damage windows.

After a brief but intense deliberation.

"Let's go with 1."

"Master's always right!"

A figure materialized in a swirl of light.

A platinum blonde woman seated gracefully.

White holy robes embroidered with golden threads.

Serene smile with half-lidded eyes.

Hands demurely folded on her lap.

What... what was this surging holiness...?

Thud!

"I-I'm sorry! I once lied to my teacher, saying I accidentally shredded the entire English workbook in the office shredder."

"I-I secretly ate two cookies a day when I was only allowed one, without telling Dad."

Me and Carmina couldn't resist the cosmic pull—we confessed.

Her hands touched our heads.

"I absolve you both of your sins."

Aah...! ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠So holy...!

After that brief absolution.

The platinum blonde knelt on one knee before me and said,

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am Yulia, Captain of the First Battle Priest Squadron of the Holy Kingdom on the continent."

Long story short.

Lumentia, a planet where days far outlasted nights.

A standard fantasy world with kingdoms and races galore.

Yulia had been the Holy Kingdom's saintess and battle priest—the strongest faction.

"The Holy Kingdom led the charge, pushing back the Demon King and his monsters invading the continent."

But then the Towers and System appeared.

The Tower absorbed the Demon King's army, unleashing absurd trials that swiftly doomed Lumentia.

So enemies could get folded into Towers too.

Made sense—not all planets were identical.

As I pondered that.

"Your Majesty, if it's not too rude, might I examine those beverages behind you?"

I glanced back.

A stack of leftover makgeolli from Nosferatu.

What was this déjà vu?

"No problem at all, Your Majesty?"

"The Holy Kingdom revolves around His Holiness the Pope. As the Traveler I must serve henceforth, calling you Your Majesty is only fitting."

Yulia smiled.

Carmina shot me a jealous look, her character overlapping.

—Master...! The title...! I was using it first...!

Hey, no patents on that.

"Since you're drinking, go for something refreshing."

Yulia eyed the makgeolli's label and ingredients from the fridge intently.

"According to the injected knowledge, fermented from grains and nuruk... Never tried booze like this."

Carmina whispered beside me.

"Master...! Asking for makgeolli on first sight? Shameless woman...!"

Who was it that drooled over pizza on arrival again?

Anyway.

Slurp slurp—

Yulia delicately sipped from the brass bowl she'd filled.

Started with a sip, then.

Gulp! Gulp!

Her eyes lit up.

Emptied in no time.

Wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"Hah, delicious."

Her face beamed with genuine bliss.

Was that real happiness?

But could a saintess who served god drink like that?

"Drinking alcohol..."

"Oh, I never get drunk no matter how much, so no worries."

That wasn't my point.

"The planet description said ascetic lifestyle—"

"The thrill of indulgence amid austerity is the best, right? I hear Earth has casinos. I'd love to visit if Your Majesty permits someday."

"Honing faith as seekers—"

"That fucking goddess bitch—"

"Whoa whoa whoa!"

Blasphemy at full throttle.

Turns out, the goddess ditched her followers mid-war against the Tower-absorbed Demon King army.

"To be precise, she tried selling the whole Holy Kingdom to the Tower and failed. Memories are fuzzy, but that's crystal clear."

No gods in her future.

Summary of her profile.

Saintess and battle priest.

Usually serene smile.

But goddess talk is her berserk button.

Heavy drinker—had a secret booze stash back on Lumentia.

Already loved indulgences; Earth arrival unlocked her limiter.

"Oh, and I'd check out Earth's racetracks if I get the chance."

This is a saintess...? Worldview crumbling.

But I've been desensitized.

Training via non-bloodsucking vampire had toughened my inner discomfort sensor.

If anything.

"Dopamine addict, huh? Yulia, you're hired. Start today."

"I shall serve with all I have, Your Majesty."

Perfect ally fit?

After the handshake, questions continued.

"Yulia, how's your defense? Keywords mentioned tank."

"Indeed. Frontline vanguard type."

Current outfit was ceremonial robes. Normally armored up at the forefront.

She rolled up her sleeve.

Solid, toned muscles.

Carmina was delicate; this was honed athlete vibes.

"Lost my god, but ally shift means holy magic's fine. Defensively? Objectively top-tier."

"Comparisons?"

She pondered.

"Current level: Could tank 20 space squids' all-out assault for an hour."

"20?! Master, she's amazing!"

Space squids? Your galaxy too?

Carmina's reaction confirmed: Tank skills solid.

And.

"Lumentia was Q-1502 galaxy. Nosferatu too?"

"Yep! Same galaxy! Never dreamed I'd meet Earth neighbors!"

They bonded instantly.

More like Yulia adopted the cute Carmina.

No fights there.

Combat synergy checked out too.

While they chatted.

Bought Yulia's full gear from the coin shop, matching Carmina's +10.

Pulled one item from inventory.

Rip! Used it.

Bonus from floor 19.

My motto? Hoard and lose. Snowball rolling—

"...?"

Yulia was fully geared already.

Beside her, a pile of crushed makgeolli bottles.

Ugh.

"Ahh, carbonated fuel-up. Ready to go?"

What, refueling?

Tower entry complete.

Far off: towering walls swarming top to bottom with kobold soldiers.

Simple objective.

Just kill the Kobold Lord.

That oversized armored one on the wall.

"Eww, ugly!"

"Heavens, hideous. Ruins the booze vibe."

Instant taunt spam ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠on entry.

The lord glaring? Probably imagination.

Not easy, though.

Infamous for soldiers swarming on start, blocking wall access.

Of course.

"Master! On start, I shadow-sneak and slice it quick!"

For normie awakeners.

Not me.

Got an assassin crit vampire.

Issue was.

"Sniping the lord skips bonus points. Kills scale with minions slain."

Not infinite.

Cha Minhyuk's data: Max at 300.

Better rewards than speedrun.

"Got it! Max efficiency!"

"Yulia, on start, charge and pull aggro?"

"Naturally."

Quick strategy huddle.

Then.

Rumble—!

Hundreds of kobolds charging: Terrifying even for the stout-hearted.

But.

"Blessing of light!"

Platinum barrier around us—solid reassurance.

Missile-proof, per Yulia.

Slice!

Carmina nicked her finger, prepping hundreds of blood spears.

Bang—!

Yulia rocketed forward like a bullet.

Massive hammer bigger than her.

Full plate armor.

Yet feather-light moves—impressive.

Hit the kobold front.

Boom—!

Slammed hammer down.

Vibrations hit here.

Frontline kobolds crumpled.

"Kyrk?"

"Kyrrrk!"

Formation chaos. Stabbing, biting, clawing each other.

Raging kobolds charged Yulia.

Stragglers joined.

Overwhelming numbers.

Circular siege.

Inside.

Wham! Wham! Wham!

Yulia swung wildly.

Light-wrapped hammer sent 2-3 flying each hit.

Kobold blades? Spears? Barely grazed.

Wall arrows?

Snap! Crack!

Bounced off plate.

Better than expected?

Ally Yulia.

Human like me—not special race like Carmina's vampire.

Honestly worried.

Overthinking.

She was otherworldly.

Unflinching amid hundreds—awesome.

What was her battle mindset?

Sense-shared to check.

Whoosh!

"Fucking goddess bitch! If I catch her! I'll snap her legs—!"

Never mind.

This ally's broken too.

Then.

"Kyrk!"

"Kyrrrk!"

Dozens of furious kobolds reached the barrier.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Sorry, but bulletproof shield.

Too many for Yulia solo aggro.

No issue.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

"How dare you show your faces near Master! Casting done! Just launch!"

Carmina finished her prep.

Hundreds of blood spears rained.

Shield let us ignore rushers—pure firepower.

Barrage!

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Tens spiking.

Clean gains.

Can't just watch.

Slice!

Blood bow and arrow.

First direct monster shot.

Copied from Carmina bond perk.

Streeetch—!

Aimed at barrier-banging kobold.

Thwack! Kyrk! Thud!

One-shot. Pierced armor.

This easy? Nice.

Copycat skill? Original's OP anyway.

My busted stats helped.

"Ooh! Master, amazing!"

Praise juices my dopamine.

Endorphins surging.

Kept shooting.

Thwack! Kyak!

Thwaack! Kyrk!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Carmina, Yulia, me.

7:2:1 ratio?

S-rank level, so useful.

"Carmina, prep to deploy."

"Yes, Master!"

Telepathy incoming.

—Ready to snag that booze-ruining monster?

[Yeah, but walls too high for Yulia to climb.]

—Need to climb?

Yulia switched to berserk charge.

"Kyrk!"

"Kyaak!"

"Krak! Krrk!"

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Kobolds bouncing like car wrecks.

Instantly at wall.

BOOM—!

Full swing into the wall.

Crash—!

It crumbled...?

Dazed Kobold Lord tumbling down.

You shocked? Me too.

Yulia spun gracefully.

Ding!

"Lord? No two kings under heaven!"

WHAM—!

Smacked the falling lord skyward—like a star.

Homerun.

But this a healer tank?

Looks DPS tank.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Bonus quests?

Skill first.

"Acquire skill."