Chapter 13
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: The Saintess Still Draws the Hero
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I had a dream.
A wonderful dream of saving the world alongside the heroic Hero and being recognized by everyone as the saintess. In the dream, I was the epitome of devotion and kindness to others. The holy energy flowing from my gestures scattered like light upon the pitiful masses.
- Ooh... Saintess...
I responded to their prayers with a smile. A simple, impartial smile without a word was enough to win their admiration.
The moment I thought how much I liked these scenes, the dream began to blend with reality. The countless people praying to me, the knights I healed, and the Hero protecting me—all the things I longed for started to shatter like illusions, like flickering candle flames leaving afterimages.
- ...Seren.
The ground steadily supporting my feet tilted, and the blue, lofty sky churned and sank.
- Seren.
And when a voice completely unrelated to it all rang out, everything crumbled away with a rush.
- Seren Grace!
"Ah...?"
When I opened my eyes, my fantasies vanished, leaving only the bitter reality to envelop me. No, there was one more thing pressing down on me—the not-quite-bullying from the other saintess candidates. The secret ostracism. Envy. Jealousy. Disgust.
Just plain harassment.
I didn't bother thinking about the reasons. People who torment others always find some pathetic excuse if you look for one. First off, maybe it was because I ranked low among the saintess candidates.
I became a saintess candidate at 15. Now 16, it had only been a little over a year. That was late compared to the others. Usually, oracles came down starting at 12, and they stayed at the temple from then on.
Those who had entered the temple at such a young age had formed tight bonds among themselves, leaving no room for me to wedge in.
"Seren Grace. What time is it, and you're still in bed? It's long past time to start working."
The time now... 5 a.m. Not even afternoon—morning 5 a.m., early enough that some might call it dawn. Internally, I let out a massive sigh at being woken like this.
"Sorry. I'll change clothes quickly and head out."
"Hah. Where do you think you have time for that? Get out there and start working as is."
That sour, pinched expression was venomous no matter how many times I saw it. I wondered if she was really a saintess candidate. It was downright wicked.
"Yes."
Without arguing, I grabbed the broom by the door and stepped out. The long corridor was filthy with trash and dust, unbefitting a temple. It was the other candidates' malice, knowing I'd be the one to clean it.
I swept and scrubbed from one end to the other. The beast who had bossed me around headed back to her room to sleep. Soon she'd start snoring like an animal. Yeah, this was definitely a beast den.
A fenced-in world where inhuman creatures played power games. A pack life where you'd be culled if you didn't froth at the mouth and charge. A place where you couldn't go out freely or live as you pleased.
The temple was that kind of place for me.
Hidden behind the temple's sacred light, shadows fell across my face.
Where there's light, shadows form—and thick ones at that.
The cleaning I started at dawn finally ended around breakfast time when the others woke up. Only then did I set down the broom and head to the dining hall later than everyone else.
Luckily, there was some soup and bread left today. Last time, there wasn't even that, and I had to make do with wilted fruit—how heartbreaking.
No, honestly, does it even make sense for food to be scarce in a temple? "We mustn't waste precious food." Crazy old fogeys. That's why the menu was so sparse.
They were definitely feasting luxuriously where we couldn't see.
Today, too, I resolved to become the saintess to purge all those rotten cronies from the temple.
"Seren, you didn't even clean properly, and you're eating well?"
"Ah, yes. It's delicious. The soup's nice and warm."
"What?"
Oh, wrong response. Quick, act sorry and apologetic.
"No, sorry. I said I'd do my best, but I'm still lacking."
"That's why uneducated types are..."
"I feel like I've learned more than that."
"What did you say?"
"Huh? I didn't say anything."
If she heard that, it must've hit a nerve.
"Whatever. Today at the palace, don't act like you know the Hero."
"Uh... sure. Got it."
"Seems like you still don't know your place just because he talked to you once out of pity. That's ending today. Candidate Crusia will be with the Hero."
"Okay, okay. I'll cheer her on."
I brushed it off and finished eating. If it were that easy, why hadn't they done it by now? I swallowed those words inwardly and headed to the palace with the other saintess candidates.
- Seren... This senile old man's bullying me again!
The Hero approached me as soon as he saw me, as if it were the most natural thing. Always with pursed lips, complaining about something the Sword Saint did. Pouring out his grievances to me.
See? I knew he wouldn't ignore me.
"Yes, Hero. The Sword Saint must have a nasty personality."
I naturally took the Hero's side again. Both were good people, but my heart leaned one way inevitably.
- Hey, hey, saintess candidate. If you side with him too, the kid's gonna get spoiled.
"Pfft! This much seems fine to me~ Aren't you bullying the Hero too much?"
- Yeah~ Sio's trash. A thug~
I found myself laughing again by their side. I couldn't hold back the chuckles. Ignoring the whispers of the saintess candidates, I approached at the Hero's beckoning hand.
From that moment, my happiness lay with these people.
People I never wanted to be parted from, no matter what.
From now on.
Forever.
Continuously.
"Ugh... I swore all that, but maybe I should've just bawled my eyes out when the Hero left and gone with him. The world's so peaceful now."
After rambling about the past, I slumped and looked at Karin. That troubled face of hers always made me want to tease her more, draw out the story longer.
"Shall I tell you the next part right away~?"
"Ah, no...! I still have work to finish, so if I could just...!"
"Pfft! Go on~ If you get in trouble, just blame me~"
I waved with a grin as Karin hurriedly left.
To the countless imperial citizens, Seren was nothing but a symbol of boundless compassion, a pure saintess, God's proxy. But before they knew it, she'd been influenced by the Hero and loved teasing people.
Seren, who once ignored others, now showed interest even in her maid. She smiled at her. Offered gentle touches.
Loved ones come to resemble each other.
Then, does a 10-year unrequited love make them resemble each other too?
Seren still drew the Hero.
The Arsius who had saved her, who made her smile.
"Ah, so boring."
I scratched my belly. It didn't even itch; it was just a gesture of boredom, a protest against having nothing to do.
It had been a month since returning to Earth, and the uneventful, smooth days were surprisingly dull. Boring, quiet. Beyond idle—it was lonely.
A new stimulus. Something to pique my interest was sorely needed to alleviate the tedium.
The games and TV I'd been enjoying nonstop had become mere parts of routine. Teasing my sister had its limits too.
Spending a whole month cooped up at home clearly didn't suit me. Sihyun had worried so much, endlessly nagging me to stay put, and I'd unwittingly rolled around the house. But after just 30 days, I was raising the white flag.
"Ah, I can't take it. I need to go out."
Craving company, I summoned Beatrice to chat.
"You think this isn't right too, don't you?"
Hummm-
"My sister's worries matter, but my boredom matters too, right?"
Hummm...
"So, we gotta go outside first, yeah?"
Hum...?
"Knew you'd agree~ Soul companions are different."
Huuummm-
I patted the intensely humming Beatrice before heading out. I wanted to let her sightsee too, but she wailed so much I unsummoned her.
"No matter how excited, if you do that outside, people will misunderstand. I'm going solo today, so stay put."
Even up to the unsummoning, she cried with all her might—she really wanted to come along. Next time, definitely.
Early morning after Sihyun left for work, I headed out with the mindset of going to my own job.
People really need to get out and about, I thought.
I shoved all worries about what might happen into a corner of my mind.