The Pure White Saintess

"Miss Perloché, time to get up."

"Auuu..."

What a shame. I was just chatting with the Sun God in my dream when someone woke me up. I'd been planning to throw a little tantrum for the first time in ages, but when I rubbed my eyes, I saw my usual attendant nun looking down at me.

"What time is it now?"

"It's 5 a.m., Saintess."

"Gasp!"

Oh no, already 5 a.m.! I overslept! I should have been up at 4:30... I've gotten so lazy. I need to reflect on this.

"Sorry... I was treating the homeless in the market alleys until late last night..."

"No need to apologize, Saintess. That's your role, after all."

Thank goodness my attendant overlooked my oversleeping! Nuns really are so kind!

"Saintess, but you should refrain from such actions."

"Huh?"

As I was folding my blankets with those thoughts in mind, the nun approached me with a troubled look.

What on earth was I supposed to refrain from?

"You mustn't abuse your powers recklessly. Otherwise, your position as Saintess..."

"But there were so many homeless folks whose lives were in danger if they didn't get treatment right away!"

I tilted my head and cut her off. I couldn't understand what the problem was with healing people who would die without immediate care.

"Well, you see... You have to treat the people designated by the Church to maintain your status as Saintess."

"Hmm...?"

"So please be careful from now on, Saintess."

But she kept saying strange things until the end. What exactly was I supposed to be careful about?

'Disgusting.'

I tilted my head for a while, then smiled and followed after the nun. It was time to pray to the Sun God!

"Good morning, Saintess."

"Good morning~!"

When I arrived at the prayer hall, the nuns and priests greeted me. Getting up so early for prayer—everyone here is so diligent!

"Right on time again today?"

As I waved to them and headed inside, the bishops emerged from within.

"Oh, no, I overslept and was five minutes late!"

"Hoho, no, that's not late at all."

"Your consistent devotion is a joy to behold, Saintess."

The pot-bellied bishops patted my shoulders encouragingly. Yeah, with all this support, I can't afford to feel down!

'Church trash...'

I waved brightly to the bishops as well and headed into the prayer hall.

"Eek, scary..."

"Saintess, why do you always make such a fuss? This is the sacred prayer hall of the Church."

"B-but... it's dark!"

I knew the prayer hall was within the Church grounds and a sacred space, but... darkness still terrified me! It was just too dim!

'I have to go to the dark place. Hurry.'

But I had no choice. I was the Church's Saintess, after all!

"Great Sun God, we thank you today as well and begin our prayers..."

Inside the hall, nuns were already praying.

"You who created heaven and earth long ago and formed the continent, shine upon the Empire today with your power..."

And there was the statue of the benevolent, beautiful woman. Don't be surprised—she's the Empire's one and only god, the Sun God!

'No, the Sun God isn't the only god.'

Gazing at the benevolent Sun God, I began praying fervently.

"Merciful Sun God, please grant me the strength to kill Frey today as well! I beg you!"

'Please give me the strength to protect him.'

After praying like that for a good while, the sun began to rise. Ah, the day was truly beginning now! I'll work hard as Saintess today too!

"Hmm... Is this the place where someone needs my help?"

"Yes, Saintess."

After being dragged around by the nuns to treat jewel-encrusted nobles here and there, we arrived at a rundown hospital. It had been ages since I'd been to a place like this.

"Hello~!"

Inside, patients in poor condition filled the rooms. They all looked like they needed healing too...

"Saintess, this way."

"Ah, okay..."

As I instinctively moved toward a groaning patient, the nuns grabbed my arm and pulled me the other way. Oh no, I wouldn't be able to heal them like this...

"Wait! I need to use the restroom real quick!"

"S-Saintess!"

No choice—I'd have to use my trusty old trick again!

"Ugh... Ah, it hurts..."

"Sis... My body's so hot..."

Shaking off the nuns, I darted to the patients and secretly sent out my divine power orbs. Perloché's special healing beads! Implant one inside, and they'll recover in a few weeks!

"Saintess? Didn't you say you were going to the restroom...?"

"Ah, yep! Gotta go!"

"The restroom is this way..."

"Aha, right! No wonder I couldn't find it!"

If you just heard that exchange, you'd think dumb me had done something stupid again as usual. But you'd be wrong! I deliberately passed the restroom for a reason!

—Shooo...

Heading back to the restroom, I smiled at the nuns and fired off more orbs.

"Just ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠wait a moment~!"

Even I, skilled as I am at controlling divine power, couldn't distribute them all at once, so my time-buying ploy was working!

"Ugh..."

Oh dear, the restroom light wasn't coming on. I hate the dark! It's so scary. Even when I went to the Church ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠basement with that evil, stupid, ugly—no, not ugly, but anyway wicked Frey, my heart pounded so hard!

"Saintess? Didn't you go to the restroom?"

"Ahem, already done!"

"...Please refrain from such crude words."

In the end, I retreated from the restroom and marched forward energetically! Time to meet the one who needed my help!

"I-it's the Saintess! The Saintess is finally here!"

"Thank goodness... She's here at last..."

"Ruby sis! Hang in there just a bit longer! The Saintess will heal you!"

After walking with the nuns for a while, a group in the distance spotted me and broke into bright smiles! Looked like they were the ones I was here to treat today!

But... did that boy just say 'Ruby'?

"...Hello, Miss Perloché?"

"Ah, it's you!"

As I pondered that, glancing at the room, I saw a familiar face lying in bed. It was Ruby, the orphanage staffer I'd volunteered with alongside that jerk Frey! Such a kind, angelic person—not just the orphanage's little saintess, but truly saintly!

"Fancy meeting you here again, you hypocritical Ruby!"

"...Pardon?"

So I greeted her joyfully, but her face paled.

".........."

And the others, who had been looking at me warmly, froze too. What was going on?

"Saintess, if I may ask, why on earth would you say something so rude...?"

"Huh? I was just complimenting her?"

Perplexed, I asked back, and the nun whispered in my ear.

"Hypocritical means pretending with false words or actions. You've just insulted her greatly, Saintess."

"Gasp!"

Oh no, dumb me messed up again. I hurriedly bowed to Ruby.

"S-sorry for being so stupid!"

"N-no, it's fine... Haha. Easy to misunderstand."

I apologized quickly, and Ruby, looking troubled, helped me up. Still so hypocritical... no, so kind!

"Then, let's begin the treatment."

"W-wait, Saintess! I have a request!"

"Huh?"

As I raised my arm to heal her after bowing, Ruby suddenly whispered to me.

"Give me just a tiny bit of divine power."

"Huh? Why?"

"Shh... Quiet."

What she said next was quite strange. A tiny bit of divine power? What did that mean?

"You have many more to treat. Don't waste it on me. I'm almost better—a small amount will suffice."

"B-but..."

"Please, Saintess?"

Wow, such a kind person. Frey could learn from her.

"Alright, here goes?"

"Yes, please."

With that thought, I began infusing her with divine power.

—Shooo...

"Aaaack!!"

Ruby, who had closed her eyes to accept it, suddenly screamed with eyes wide open. See? I was right.

"S-Saintess?"

"Stay still, Ruby. If you can't handle the divine power... your condition is grave."

I said gravely, and everyone behind darkened their expressions. Ruby too.

"Saintess... I said just a tiny bit..."

"I can't skimp on someone as kind as you. Bear it a little longer, even if it hurts."

"No, wait... Aaaaaah!"

I poured divine power into her without restraint! Kind fools like her need a good scolding!

"Tsk tsk, suffering that much and pretending not to hurt until now... How did she end up like this?"

"Still, we're lucky. With the Saintess's divine power, she'll recover fully now."

The others worried over Ruby too. Yes, I needed to shove divine power into every corner of her body.

"Saintess, are you using too much divine power?"

"Just a bit more..."

"Saintess?"

"Ah, uh."

Only after the nun stopped me did I snap out of it. Hmm, a little short maybe... but satisfactory?

"Urgh..."

Yes! Her whole body trembling—she seemed quite satisfied!

"Well, see you next time, kind Ruby!"

I smiled at her, offered blessings, and slipped out. I wanted to chat about recent events or volunteering, but many more awaited treatment.

"Um, excuse me."

"Yes?"

"Do you perhaps..."

In the hallway, a little kid blocked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠my path. What now?

"Do you know Ruby's true identity?"

"Ruby's true identity?"

The child, wearing a shiny ring on her left hand, asked with a serious face.

"Of course I do!"

"Really?"

"Yes, she's a very, very kind person!"

I told her directly, but the girl looked disappointed. Why?

"...You wouldn't believe me anyway. Not other people, not even Master."

She muttered dejectedly, and I stepped forward unthinkingly.

"I don't know what it is, but cheer up! Never give up!"

"Ah, okay..."

"...Please."

"Huh?"

I smiled and walked off with the nun. For some reason, the smile wouldn't leave my face!

"Huaaah..."

Time passed, and night fell again. Tomorrow, back to the academy? Sad to have less time for the sick, but I can't skip it. Otherwise, I won't see Frey!

"Gugu!"

"Hmm?"

A pigeon's coo from the window.

"Gugu! Hi!"

"Gugu?"

It was my pet and the Church's messenger, Gugu! At this hour, tapping the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠window—maybe a letter for me?

"Oh, it really came?"

Yup! Who from?

"Eek."

Quite welcome yet annoying news. Partner with Frey... If it weren't me, I'd have clung to the professor crying.

"Sigh..."

I set the letter on the desk, glanced around cautiously, and pulled out my diary.

I began writing today's entry. Ever since Clana gave me this diary, organizing my day through writing has become my joy and routine! Writing is fun! Reflecting on the day feels just like praying, my favorite thing! Plus, Clana's diary has auto-grammar correction magic—it's amazing watching my words wriggle like worms in real-time!

And. And... And...

'If I don't leave it like this, who knows when I'll forget.'

Perloché, who had been writing excitedly, suddenly hardened her expression coldly and began revising the first line.

"Sigh..."

After revising, Perloché flipped to the very end of the diary and spoke.

"I'm reaching my limit, but... I have to remember somehow..."

She added another "Remember" to the endless list, sighed, closed the diary, and muttered.

"...That hope still exists."

Twilight starlight shone upon her.