Hero's Heroine, Saintess (1): Building My Own Harem
The day after I set my goal of building my own harem, I sat at my rickety old desk, poring over a report. It was one my parents had written back when they were still alive. The one and only business this territory had going for it: the Toypus Mine.
This mine held high-quality topaz ore, the kind that's hard to find anywhere else on the continent. The Toypus topaz—clear and a bright yellow that sparkled like it was glowing on its own—was super popular. It was the main thing that paid for my academy tuition, too.
Then monsters moved in, caused a ruckus, and the entrance caved in. My father stepped up to deal with it... and ended up heading to the afterlife.
"Even asked for help, but no dice, huh..."
The report detailed what happened after the collapse. They reached out to the buyers who traded in topaz, but everyone turned them down. It made more sense to source topaz elsewhere than sink manpower into this far-flung desert. Rational choice.
This territory wasn't just at the ass-end of the western continent—it had roads barely wide enough for a cart. Scorching hot by day, freezing cold at night. And good luck with water supply on top of that. Investing personnel in monster extermination here? You'd lose double what you put in.
I'd have made the same call and rejected the request. If the Toypus family hadn't bent over backward for them, that is.
"Trust... is a tough thing to build."
The Toypus family mined the topaz and handled delivery all the way to buyers outside the desert. Everything was on us. From my father's perspective, topaz trading was our one reliable income, so he kissed ass to keep them happy. Our profits stayed low while theirs ballooned. We ate the losses to accommodate them, but when we asked for help? They shut the door cold. Probably saw us as just a convenient supplier that gave them a slight edge.
It stung a bit, but I accepted it as reality. I'd heard worse stories at the academy—this was small potatoes.
"Anyway, gotta figure out how to turn this mine into cash."
What to do? How could I clear the rubble from the entrance and wipe out the monsters inside?
Bam!
I'd been deep in thought, but no good ideas surfaced, so I slammed my fist on the desk in frustration.
"Fuck."
My situation was so damn hopeless that I'd lost my cool for a second. But seeing the desk wobble like it might collapse under my punch, I regretted it instantly.
-Kyuuung.
"Get lost. Shoo."
-......
And that's when it showed up for me. This fire orb thing that's been popping out of me the last few days? My so-called ability.
A small, spherical flame would emerge from my body now and then, staring right at me. No eyes since it was just fire, but I could feel its gaze.
The first time it appeared, I was thrilled.
"Finally! I've got a power too!"
At the academy, I had zero talent for anything, so this magical ability felt incredibly special. And since it showed up right after I recalled my past-life memories, I figured the gods had finally noticed me. Made me happy.
But then...
"What the hell am I supposed to do with this? Hey, what can you even do?"
-Kyuu.
Just a short peep—no real conversation.
"Fry monsters like a flamethrower?"
-Kyuu kyuu.
The orb wiggled side to side, like a head shake. Seemed like a no.
"Oh, right—some mages have elemental mana affinities."
I dredged up the scraps of magic theory from the academy and threw together a basic spell formula. Tried channeling the orb's energy into it...
"......"
Not even a flicker. So, not mana.
"Useless piece of shit."
-Kyuu!
"Parasite."
-Kyuuung...!
It let out a sound full of indignant protest at my insults. Didn't make me feel sorry, though.
"Only halfway useful thing about you is temperature control."
After it appeared a few times, I noticed the days felt less sweltering and nights less brutal. But once it vanished, the heat and cold came roaring back.
"I'm busy. Beat it. Or go play in the corner and stay out of my way."
Now I just saw it as a pint-sized pet bug. Couldn't ditch it even if I wanted—seemed like my unique ability. Calling it an "ability" was embarrassing, though.
-Kyuuut...!
"Hey!"
It got pissy at my words and scorched a bit of the desk before vanishing. The damn thing was already on its last legs, and it burned one of the legs. Infuriating little bastard.
"Sigh... why is everything so goddamn useless?"
I was lamenting my fate when...
Knock knock.
"Is anyone home?"
Someone had business at this crumbling earl's manor. The voice was clear and bell-like, pleasant to the ear.
"Who could that be? Sounds familiar, though."
The sound came from the mansion's front door, naturally. I left my room, headed downstairs, and opened it.
And I was floored.
Standing there was a woman I knew all too well.
"S-Saintess?"
"It's been a while. I hope you've been well? Ah, that wasn't meant poorly... just a habit. My apologies."
Saintess Cecily. The girl chosen by the gods as a child, awakening as a saintess. Distinctive features: eyes always closed. Glossy sky-blue hair. And finally... those lewd, massive sacks of Divine Power that you wouldn't believe belonged to a saintess.
Her saintess robes and the cloak helping her trek through the desert midday couldn't hide those tits.
Gulp.
*Schwing.*
My mouth and my dick reacted in sync.
"Truly, my apologies..."
Cecily was apologizing to me. Apologizing? For what? If those huge Divine Power bags were testing my resolve from yesterday, I'd get it—but that didn't seem to be it.
Thinking back, it was probably her "I hope you've been well?" line.
'Even a saintess figures no one could be 'well' in a dump like this.'
I was reminded yet again how barren my territory was. I opened my mouth.
"No need to apologize. So, what brings you here?"
I was flustered but played it cool.
'Gotta stay Geumtaeyang about it.'
The fluster was because I'd decided not to get tangled with the hero's heroines, and boom—next day, saintess shows up.
'Can't derail the original plot this early...!'
I worried internally that this might screw up the hero's Demon King quest.
"I'm traveling the continent to bestow the gods' grace. This time, your territory was my destination."
"Ah."
Then it clicked—this hero heroine's storyline. She was positioned as one but skipped enrolling at the academy, the main stage of part 1. Instead, she roamed healing the wounded with her god-given powers. She'd pop back to the capital now and then to meet the hero, chat intimately, and build their bond.
Being the pious sort, she'd chosen my territory to spread divine grace this time. So, this event was probably on track with the original—no meddling from me. Phew.
And we weren't total strangers. I'd met her a few times in the capital, if not often.
'Not sure if banmal's right for a saintess, but switching now would be weirder.'
"Gods' grace, huh. So, what exactly are you planning?"
"If there are any sick or suffering here, I'll heal them with my Divine Power. That's the only gift I have."
"Sounds good. There... probably are some sick folks. In a place like this..."
I recalled the residents I'd met so far. All skin and bones. Poor nutrition made it inevitable. Unhealthy bodies meant minor ailments turning major. Folks shambling the streets were bad enough—there had to be bedridden ones too.
I figured if Cecily was here anyway, healing them would be a huge win. Even without past-life memories, I wouldn't have turned down her kindness.
"Then I'll count on you. Shameless ask, but help my people out."
"The gods do not abandon the pitiful."
With that, Cecily turned and left the mansion. I stared blankly at her departing figure, off to spread divine grace.
I was a bit touched as lord by her kindness and empathy.
But the biggest thought in my head?
"That's a saintess?"
It was pure admiration for the saintess's hips from behind.
Prime childbearing material. For real.