The Goddess's Words
The mornings at the Saintess Training Institute are always serene and tranquil. Even after spending several years here, I never tire of the scenery.
This is a place where innocent girls voluntarily walk the path to become saintesses devoted to the Goddess of Love. They can leave anytime they wish, but no outsiders are ever allowed in—it's a completely isolated sanctuary of learning. Only those who pass the trials after long years of training and receive the Goddess's blessing earn the right to be called saintesses.
"What a wonderful place."
As I stepped out of the staff dormitory to start my day, I murmured to myself while gazing up at the massive cathedral. I'm one of the teachers here at the institute, instructing these girls. Well, if I had to be precise, it's more like assisting them than outright teaching. After all, my official role is health teacher.
My job is to ensure the apprentice saintesses can focus on their studies without any disruptions to their physical or mental well-being. And I rather like that role.
It was about five years ago that the announcement came for new apprentice saintesses, along with the selection of a teacher to care for them. I was a fresh young doctor working at a small clinic in a quiet rural village when someone recommended me. Thanks to good luck and passing various screenings, I was hired as the health teacher here.
Gazing at the stained glass sparkling in the morning sunlight brought all sorts of thoughts to mind. Enough of the idle musings—time to attend to the day's duties for the Goddess and the apprentice saintesses.
"Today, as always, I give thanks for your grace."
I offered a brief prayer to the Goddess while looking at the sky, then headed toward the cathedral—utterly unaware of the immense trial she would send my way that very night.
"Good morning, Teacher Theo."
As soon as I entered the cathedral, a warm voice greeted me by name. There stood a girl—no, perhaps not quite a girl anymore—clutching a rather large book and looking my way.
"Lady Lucia. Good morning. Any pain or discomfort anywhere?"
Asking if they're hurting anywhere has become my standard greeting. It suits my role of constantly checking on the apprentice saintesses' conditions, so I never bothered to change it.
"Yes, of course. Ever since I started drinking the tea you gave me, Teacher, I've been waking up refreshed every day. After a good night's sleep, it feels like everything will go smoothly."
"I'm glad to hear that. It makes me happy to be of help."
Ah, that kind and merciful smile of hers. Just seeing it warms my heart. Lucia is the sort of person who could be chosen as a saintess by the Goddess right this instant, and no one would bat an eye.
"Talking with you is always a pleasure, Teacher, but I'm actually cutting it a bit close right now... Shall we chat again next time?"
Judging by the book in her hands, she must be heading to morning saintess lessons. The reason she's alone... well, maybe she overslept a little after sleeping so soundly? Even a seemingly perfect apprentice saintess has these human moments now and then.
"Of course. Then..."
I gave a light bow in farewell and watched Lucia's retreating figure along the cathedral's wide corridor. For a moment, I found myself mesmerized by her platinum blonde hair swaying in time with her steps, then finally turned toward the infirmary.
The infirmary is fairly spacious, but two neatly made beds take up most of the room. No one had come looking for me today, either. Not that I felt slighted in the least. It meant the institute was at peace, after all—no need for me to step in.
"This is... almost gone. Better order more ahead of time. And while I'm at it, a bit of this too..."
The cabinets lining one wall are stocked full of herbs. Second drawer from the left on the bottom row: dried leaves for Aria, who sometimes gets headaches. One drawer to the right in the middle: fruits for brewing the tea Lucia loves. I've memorized which drawer holds what herb and for whom.
To avoid any delays when medicine is needed, I always keep things prepared.
Ding—dong—
"Oh, time already..."
The clear bell tolls from outside the window, signaling the end of classes for the apprentice saintesses—and the end of the workday for teachers. Time for me to head back to the dormitory. Besides, if there were an emergency bad enough to require me, my location wouldn't matter much.
"Maybe I'll just say a prayer before heading back."
After tidying up the infirmary, I made my usual visit to the statue of the Goddess—not the large one in the cathedral's central hall, but the one in the inner prayer room. It felt more relaxed there, and I could see Her up close, which I preferred. Given the institute's structure and lack of visitors, the room was always empty. Today was no exception.
"Goddess."
I knelt habitually before the statue, clasped my hands, and closed my eyes.
"Today, as always, under your grace, I give thanks that no one here was harmed..."
"Theo."
"...Hm? Lady Lucia? Or maybe Lady Serena..?"
Someone had clearly called my name. I opened my eyes and looked around, but the only things nearby were the gently flickering candles. The door was closed, too. No way an apprentice saintess was hiding to prank me...
"Must have misheard."
But even as I muttered to myself, my instincts told me the atmosphere had shifted. A tickle of rose scent in my nose, the air around me subtly warming. And then the voice came again.
"Theo. Look ahead."
My head turned involuntarily toward the familiar yet unplaceable voice. And there, I met her gaze.
The statue gazed down at me clearly, suffused with a soft glow. Even without her lips moving, the voice of the Goddess of Love rang out more vividly than anything.
"Wha... wh-what? G-G-Goddess?"
"It's been a long time since I last spoke to you directly. You've done wonderfully well all this time, my dear."
The first and last time I'd heard the Goddess's voice was during the entrance exam. That day, I'd been forced to believe in her existence despite my doubts—a memory I could never forget. This was no different. I just gaped up at the glowing statue.
"Theo. There's a new task for you."
"I-I'm ready to do a-anything..."
"Good. It's something only you can do."
Something only I could do? Curiosity stirred, but before I could ask, her voice continued.
"As you know, the girls all completed their coming-of-age rites last year."
"Pardon? Oh... y-yes, that's right."
By "the girls," she meant the four apprentice saintesses here: Lucia, Serena, Aria, and Claudia. I clearly remembered the sacred yet festive little ceremony prepared by the cathedral staff.
But why bring it up now?
"For ordinary humans, it's the age when they naturally release their pent-up desires... but my girls can't do that."
A talk about abstinence? I'd never thought it was my concern before.
"And this bunch worries me especially. If left as is, those accumulated desires will surely harm them."
Desires build up. That's obvious. But for saintesses? Don't saintesses overcome desires with faith or something?
"So, Theo. Help them step into the world as proper saintesses without faltering."
"Pardon? H-How could I, a mere health teacher, possibly..."
To my dumbfounded question, the Goddess replied as if it were the most natural thing.
"You already know the answer. Teach them love so their desires don't become a burden on their hearts—perhaps something even deeper than love, but ensure they don't lose themselves to it. So that when they go out into the world as saintesses, they won't be led astray by desire."
Her words were, as always, simple on the surface but hard to grasp fully. Still, the core was clear: handle their pent-up frustrations before it becomes a problem.
"G-Goddess... How could a mere health teacher like me dare to... do s-such things..."
"Ah... unavoidable, then. Those poor girls will wither like abandoned flowers. Trapped in twisted desires, beyond the reach of salvation..."
Looking back, her words seemed designed to prod me. But I didn't think and blurted out my response.
"I-I understand. I'll do it."
I couldn't let such tragedies befall them, after all. My impulsive answer, without any plan, seemed to satisfy her.
"I knew you'd say that. Then, good luck."
"Pardon? W-Wait, Goddess. Goddess?"
Wait. You can't just leave like this. At least give me a blessing or a helpful artifact or something.
"..."
But the glow had already faded from the statue. Her voice was gone.
And so, I began the homework the Goddess herself had assigned. Due date: before the apprentice saintesses became full saintesses and ventured into the world to spread her will.
So, how? What? Who first? Nothing clicked except the deadline.
One thing was certain: if the other teachers found out, I'd be arrested for blasphemy and executed. Even claiming it was a divine oracle would just add the charge of exploiting the Goddess's name for lust.
"This is... seriously maddening."
I let out a light sigh and slowly rose from before the statue. I left the prayer room, but sleep was the last thing on my mind back at the dormitory. No brilliant ideas came; just a blank wall. Sighing heavily, I decided to take a stroll in the garden for some cool evening air.
"Teacher Theo?"
A familiar voice called from behind. I whipped around to see Lucia, the apprentice saintess I'd met earlier that day.
"Ah, Lady Lucia."
"Is something wrong? I saw you from afar, and your expression looked so troubled."
As expected of an apprentice saintess... Reading others' worries is basic for them. But spilling the truth now felt premature.
...Or was it?
"Hm... I've run into a bit of a complicated issue."
"Really? Could I perhaps help?"
She stepped closer, her voice laced with concern.
"If I could ease the burden in your heart, Teacher, that would be my joy."
Her kind words overlapped with the Goddess's: 'So their desires don't become a burden on their hearts.' This was my chance. The perfect opportunity to start the mission.
"Then... there's something I'd like to confide. Shall we talk in the infirmary? It's getting a bit chilly outside."
"Sounds good, Teacher."
Even as we walked to the infirmary with Lucia smiling brightly behind me, certainty eluded me. I had no idea. Really, no clue. For now, to the infirmary... maybe talking it out would give me a sense of direction.