Chapter 1
Translator: True Detective
[Prologue]
If someone were to ask me why I took on the responsibility of educating that Saintess.
I would answer that it was because the Pope ordered me to.
Well, if that accounted for about 60% of the reason, the remaining 40% was a slight fear that if the Saintess was left alone, she might suddenly awaken somewhere and become an absolute evil final boss.
That was how empty the Saintess was when I first met her, completely lacking any perception of 'others.'
She didn't take pleasure in violence, but if it meant reducing troublesome matters, she was someone who could use violence as much as she pleased.
Because of that, I educated her diligently.
Since what cannot be changed cannot be changed, I sought to change what could be.
If her roots couldn't be changed no matter how hard I tried, I thought I should at least do my best to change the stem, change the branches, and change the petals.
In my own way, I considered it enjoyable.
What I had promised was to be in charge of her education until she came of age, and once she became an adult and headed to the Academy, the contract was scheduled to end at that point.
However.
"You can't quit."
"……."
The Saintess sat at the desk and smiled leisurely.
It wasn't as if I hadn't expected this attitude at all, so I simply looked at the Saintess.
"My ever-so-kind teacher, I will specially create a rational excuse for you that anyone can accept, so just stay quietly by my side."
"Shall I hear it first?"
"I want you. Someone who caters to me as much as you do, someone I can be honest with……. Why should I let go of someone who is even this competent? You have to marry me."
"I am from a fallen family, so……."
"What era are you talking about? Besides, you are a hero who played an active role in the war against monsters. Someone might say you are somewhat lacking, but I can just push through that by saying, 'It's my preference.'"
"The age difference is……."
"You have a tiny bit of elf blood flowing in you, so you maintain your youth for a long time and your lifespan is slightly longer than a human's, right? If anything, I might die before you do."
It wasn't that kind of problem, but simply a matter of the age gap.
"And just say that I was being stubborn. There are many other excuses and justifications, but there is one biggest reason."
"What is it?"
I looked at the Saintess while breaking into a cold sweat.
Her past childlike aspects had disappeared, and there was an inexplicable queen-like aura about her.
Not only that, but her figure had also developed wonderfully, making the term peerless beauty suit her perfectly.
Such a Saintess looked at me as if she were going to devour me and spoke.
"Why should I pretend to be good if you aren't here?"
"Pardon?"
"I think I did pretty well while receiving your education. I worked very hard at my duties as a Saintess while pretending to be a good person. Because of that, my current reputation is truly that of a beautiful, kind, and gentle, perfect Saintess."
It was a little bit questionable for her to say that about herself, but she wasn't wrong.
"But without you, I'm going to live however I want."
"……."
"Do I care about the pain of others? Honestly, there is almost no one who can beat me now, so if I say that doing bad things is easier and I'm going to go down that path, who can stop me? I don't care if I go down that path either."
"Saintess."
"There is no other reason why I pretend to be a good person. I merely do so because you educate me with the hope that I act that way. ……Even so, if you are going to leave me, should I start by blowing up the Academy? It’ll be your fault, you know. Everyone there—the students, the teachers—they'll all die because you abandoned me."
'She is smiling, but her eyes aren't smiling. Yeah, she's serious. As always.'
Honestly, since she could now take on an entire nation by herself, it didn't sound like a joke in the slightest.
And above all, it probably wasn't a joke.
I'm scared.
"……."
I kept silent and blankly stared out the window for a moment.
'Where exactly did it go wrong?'
Although things were a bit shaky at first, she definitely followed my lead quite well.
Since when did it become like this?
"Well, it's half a joke."
What about the other half?
"Give up. You seduced me, and now you're trying to go somewhere else? You should just live in luxury by my side for the rest of your life."
"I have never seduced you, though."
"That makes it even worse. Then, Ed, let's slowly get ready to depart. To that place called the Academy, I mean."
I let out a small sigh and spoke.
"Yes, let's go."
Seriously.
I couldn't figure out where I had made the wrong choice.