The Four Apprentice Saintesses
There are four apprentice saintesses at the Saintess Training Institute. Their names are Lucia, Serena, Aria, and Claudia. I'll skip Lucia for now since I ran into her just yesterday. Serena embodies a bright and cheerful disposition among the saintess virtues. She's positive about everything, persistent, and diligent. She never gives up or quits. She even teases me sometimes. Her vibrant energy lifts my spirits with just a few words.
Aria, on the other hand, has a calm and intellectual air. I can't recall ever seeing her show much emotion beyond a serene smile. Among the virtues, wisdom suits her best.
Finally, Claudia is a bit timid and shy. I don't cross paths with her often. She used to cry a lot when she was younger, but thankfully that's stopped since she became an adult. Still, her selflessness stands out the most. She helps others without regard for her own situation.
"So... the problem is figuring out how to relieve their desires."
It was a refreshing morning. I was manning the infirmary as usual, but my mind was occupied with an unusual dilemma. No matter how much I pondered, I couldn't get a read on what specific desires each apprentice saintess might be harboring.
In fact, yesterday's encounter with Lucia felt like a stroke of extreme luck. I hadn't even asked what exact desires she was holding onto.
Lost in these thoughts, I caught a sound filtering into my ears—the footsteps of apprentice saintesses passing through the corridor in front of the infirmary, along with their conversation.
"Next class is... Sister Angelina's history lesson."
"A-and after that is PE... Teacher Teresa said we're doing a long walk today... Eugh..."
"Hehe, a healthy body and excellent stamina are essential virtues for a saintess, Claudia."
That was Lucia and Claudia. I stepped out to open the infirmary door, thinking at least a quick greeting wouldn't hurt.
Perfect timing—they were just passing by, so I offered my usual salutation.
"Working hard as always, apprentice saintesses. No aches or pains anywhere?"
"Ah, T-Teacher Theo."
She seemed a little startled just by me opening the door, so Claudia greeted me with a slight stutter. Timid as she was, her purple-tinged black hair neatly arranged gave her a rather mature air.
"..."
But Lucia didn't respond with her usual compassionate smile. Her mouth opened and closed soundlessly, her cheeks flushing crimson in an instant—she couldn't even hide it, let alone speak.
"...Lady Lucia?"
"Y-yes, uh, g-good morning... No, thank you for your hard work today too, Teacher Theo..."
Was she embarrassed remembering last night? I could see why—if it were me, facing the guy who'd heard all my moans would fill me with shame too.
"Lucia...?"
Claudia tilted her head, looking puzzled as she glanced at Lucia.
"Oh... It's nothing, Claudia. Thank you for worrying, but I'm fine."
"By the way, Lady Claudia. Please stop by the infirmary sometime when you have a moment."
I rarely ran into Claudia, so I didn't want to miss this chance encounter.
"The... infirmary...? D-do I need a sh-shot or...?"
"No, no shots. Just a simple check-up—nothing to worry about."
Her childhood fear of needles and sharp things was still as strong as ever. I was a bit conscious that Lucia was overhearing this—not that I was doing it on purpose to make Claudia uneasy.
"..."
Lucia, who had been quietly listening, seemed lost in thought. Her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she held back.
"Well then, ladies. Have a peaceful day."
"Yes, Teacher Theo."
They returned the greeting together and continued down the corridor. Should I have called out to Lucia alone and asked when she'd be free next? No, Claudia was right there—she definitely would've heard.
Now that I'd brought it up, Claudia should come by soon... I could probably handle her the same way I did Lucia.
I stood at the infirmary door for a moment, watching the two apprentice saintesses recede into the distance, deep in thought.
Completely oblivious to someone approaching right behind me.
"...What are you thinking about while watching the apprentice saintesses, Teacher Theo?"
My heart nearly stopped. I whipped around to find a familiar face glaring at me.
"G-gasp...! Y-you startled me, Teacher Teresa."
Teresa. The PE teacher at the Saintess Training Institute. She didn't outright hate me, but she'd always seemed a bit wary from the start.
"I hope you're not harboring any impure thoughts."
"Haha, ha... Of course not."
She eyed me with arms crossed. Rumor had it she was once a renowned inquisitor. Even after answering the Goddess's call to join us here, she remained the strictest of all.
"S-so, what brings you here? Are you feeling unwell...?"
As if she would ever get sick.
"We have PE this afternoon. I'm here to tell you to prepare for any possible injuries in advance. Sterilized cotton and bandages. Oh, it's hot out, so cold water for dehydration too. Grind up some herbal roots—it'd be good. Especially for Lady Aria; she's weak to the heat, so please prepare something for that."
Her rapid-fire nagging poured out. Of course, she wasn't meddling or being nosy. Teresa cherished the apprentice saintesses like little sisters. If anything, she might be too protective.
"Yes, yes. Of course."
This wasn't my first day on the job—I had that stuff ready, some of it already done.
"And."
What, not done yet? She usually stopped there.
"Lady Lucia came back to the dorm late last night."
"..."
Busted? No, if she knew, she'd have grilled me from the start. She was just staring at me like I was highly suspicious.
And who could blame her?
"When I asked why, she said she'd been to the infirmary. Is that true?"
"Of course. You know she has mild insomnia, so I prepared some tea for her."
I answered as calmly as possible. Come to think of it, Teresa doubled as the dorm supervisor for the apprentices' residence. She'd volunteered for it, unprompted.
"Right... that was it. Understood."
Her gaze felt like a warning: No next time—watch yourself. As if I'd done anything wrong. I was just fulfilling the Goddess's command.
"Well then."
With a curt nod, Teresa turned and left.
The tension drained from me all at once. We were around the same age, but her aura was intimidating. Still, I'd learned one thing: I couldn't keep the apprentices too late, or I'd arouse Teresa's suspicions.
Anyway... time to prep those herbs and cold water first.
The sun was dipping low, the evening drawing near. I'd spent the whole day racking my brain for ways to act on the Goddess's oracle, but nothing concrete came to mind.
Was there a way to get them to open up first? Or maybe find some evidence of pent-up desire...
"I never thought I'd be pondering stuff like this..."
Obviously, just days ago, I couldn't have imagined this scenario. Even entertaining lewd thoughts would've been blasphemy. Divine punishment awaited.
Now, here I was, forced to scheme meticulously.
Knock, knock.
"Come in."
The knock interrupted my fretting. I snapped to attention, straightened up, and replied. The infirmary door eased open.
"Teacher Theo!"
"Hello, Lady Serena. Anywhere hurting?"
Serena greeted me with her usual bright, sunny smile. Saintesses didn't have to be prim and proper. Spreading cheer like this was a form of service in itself.
"Well, this afternoon during the walk with Teacher Teresa, I think I twisted my ankle a bit."
"Oh dear. Why didn't you come right away? Have a seat here."
"It doesn't hurt much, but Aria kept insisting I get it treated."
She gave an awkward grin as she hopped onto the bed and hiked up her skirt a little. As she said, it wasn't serious—just a slight swelling around the ankle.
"Even a paper cut means a trip here, Lady Serena."
No matter how minor, treating wounds was my job. I wrapped her ankle with an elastic bandage, then filled a soft cloth pouch with ice.
"Ice it until the swelling goes down. Come back if it keeps hurting, got it?"
"Yessir~"
With that beaming smile, what was there to worry about?
...No, I had other duties.
"Lady Serena. Any worries on your mind lately?"
I started with a safe, ordinary question.
"Worries? Hmm... nothing really..."
She pondered with the ice pack against her ankle, but I didn't get the answer I wanted.
Her next words, though, were an unexpected windfall.
"Oh! Aria seems to have something bothering her. She's been spacing out lately, and she jumps when you talk to her. Won't say what she's thinking about!"
"Lady Aria...? I see, noted."
Aria always seemed so composed and capable. Whatever was on her mind, asking her next time might open a door.
"Take the ice pack with you. Apply it intermittently before it melts—it'll help."
"Got it! Thanks, Teacher Theo."
She hopped down from the bed without a hint of a limp. I saw her off and closed the infirmary door.
So, Aria next? I hadn't even heard her troubles yet, but it already smelled promising. Was the Goddess lending a hand? Or maybe it was a situation that needed no help at all.