Saintess Candidate (1)
"...What the hell is this about?"
Abros's pleased expression crumpled in an instant as he shot back at Anies.
Anies had provided tremendous help in shielding his daughter Elenoa from the Vesta Temple's schemes. But now, seeing her with intentions similar to those of Bishop Harkan, he couldn't help suspecting she was trying to recruit Elenoa for the temple. His face naturally soured.
Noticing Abros and Alex's faces harden immediately, Anies gave a wry smile and added an explanation.
"Looks like there's some misunderstanding. There's zero dirty intent to pull Elenoa into the temple's fold. That's not my style at all."
"Then why?"
"It's purely my personal decision. Well, actually, it includes a divine revelation from the goddess, so maybe not purely personal? Either way, it's got nothing to do with the temple. The Goddess Vesta has her eye on Elenoa."
"The goddess has her eye on me... Is that really what she said...?"
"Yeah. More precisely..."
Anies narrowed her eyes briefly toward Eunhyeon before turning back to Elenoa.
"Hm?"
Eunhyeon, puzzled by the glance, tilted his head for a moment but held his tongue, listening quietly without interrupting. This turn of events was beyond even his expectations, so he decided to prioritize hearing her out.
"The goddess wants to make Elenoa the next-generation 'Saintess' after me."
"What?!"
"What do you...?"
Abros and Alex stared at Elenoa in shock. Elenoa herself, chosen by the goddess, was equally stunned, as were Riod and Terezia in the office.
Illyana, meanwhile, looked utterly disinterested, munching on snacks with a bored expression.
"Hmmm..."
Only Eunhyeon stroked his chin thoughtfully, deep in contemplation.
Anies narrowed her eyes at his calm demeanor and asked,
"You're not even fazed."
"Well, no..."
"You look like you had a hunch about this."
"......"
The room fell silent as people sensed the tense atmosphere from Anies's serious, convinced expression.
"You've always been like this. We all knew you had secrets, but since you never wanted to talk about them, we didn't pry. But this? This is different."
Since it involved the Goddess Vesta whom she served—and was tied to Eunhyeon—Anies needed to uncover his secrets.
"Spill it. What's your deal with the Goddess Vesta?"
"No direct connection between me and the Goddess Vesta."
"...Then?"
"You know I died once during the Great War twenty years ago, right?"
"Yeah. We buried your corpse ourselves. So when Illyana came to me saying she was marrying you, I thought she'd finally lost it."
"How do you think I came back to life?"
"...A god revived you?"
"Exactly."
No one could deny Eunhyeon's bitter smile and nod. The three heroes who had slain the empire's emperor and buried him still carried deep guilt over his sacrifice. That's why Riod and Illyana had been the most overjoyed when he returned to Fernin.
"A god, huh..."
Riod mulled over the casual affirmation of a 'transcendent being.'
"Your 'Illusion World' ability, summoning weapons from thin air, not aging... Those are from that god's power?"
"Yeah. There are some restrictions, but roughly."
"I see."
Riod nodded slightly, realizing the bizarre powers weren't magic but fragments of divine might.
"But not Vesta... So one of the seven creation goddesses from the myths?"
"No, not from that lineage either. You wouldn't know the name anyway, so let's skip it."
Back when Earth still existed, there were the Norns including Verdandi, but also countless other gods. Excluding the seven from the creation myths who reshaped this perished world, they were all minor deities lost to memory. Verdandi would have pouted if she knew his thoughts.
"Gods beyond the seven?"
"We've only heard of them in myths or temple tales. Even hearing it directly doesn't make it click..."
Their skepticism was natural. Among the seven, only Vesta actively aided and saved humans, making her faith dominant on Arkena—practically monotheistic. The temple's solid footing explained Harkan's arrogance toward Riod, banking on their backing.
"What exactly was the 'revelation'?"
"...Raise this child, let her grow into her power, and save the world's suffering lambs."
"She's openly backing her. So why do you think I'm involved?"
"At this timing, in this country, she picks someone connected to you. How could it not be linked?"
A god revived Eunhyeon through some causality. In Pernias where he resided, she directly named the priest whose rank he'd forcibly elevated.
Eunhyeon didn't see it as mere fate either.
Just...
"But what the hell is her intent? No clue..."
Even Eunhyeon couldn't read gods' minds fully, leaving him equally puzzled. He glanced behind him, but his ever-watchful goddess was ascended to the divine realm. With no way to ask, he could only sigh.
"Somehow, this feels like a conversation I shouldn't be hearing..."
"Don't sweat it. Overthinking just complicates things. Just keep your mouth shut outside."
"Sis, you're way too chill about this..."
Even if her husband and his friends were world-saving heroes, tales of true 'gods'—vague concepts until now—left Terezia uneasy. As a mere noblewoman, it was too much to process.
"Well, your face says you really didn't know. Thanks anyway for sharing part of your secret."
"Eh, I can talk now because the old restrictions binding me have loosened. Twenty years ago? No way I'd have answered. Duke, Alex, my lady, and Anies—please keep this 'god' talk secret. Hardly anyone would believe it anyway... but it won't end well if it spreads."
"...Understood."
"Got it."
The two nodded gravely. Without Elenoa's involvement, the ducal pair wouldn't have bought tales of resurrection or divine inheritance. But with her story, Eunhyeon's otherworldly powers, and Anies compelling a bishop's holy power withdrawal via divine plea, denial was impossible.
Anies, satisfied, turned from Eunhyeon back to Abros.
"Duke, let me clarify since there's misunderstanding. This proposal isn't from the temple or high ranks like the pope. I'll make your daughter my successor saintess, but we'll keep it secret publicly—no controversies or dangers. No forcing or burdening Elenoa either. That comes naturally from doing what she believes is right."
"...Hmm."
"Father."
Alex cautiously called to the pondering Abros, gesturing to Elenoa.
"Elenoa, what do you want?"
"I..."
Caught off-guard, Elenoa hesitated. Suddenly offered the role succeeding the current Saintess of Vesta? She was just an inadequate priest amid far superior, higher-ranked paragons. Why her?
Then she recalled Anies's words and cautiously eyed Eunhyeon.
In the quiet office awaiting her reply, Eunhyeon tilted his head at her gaze.
— At this timing, in this country, she picks someone connected to you. How could it not be linked?
'Thinking about it, this whole situation is because of him.'
Their first meeting was rocky.
Yet he'd saved her from black mage Elvin—arguably her lifesaver. Despite her reluctance, he'd honored her plea, joining her in Arkys Great Labyrinth to rescue brother Alex.
He'd embedded a holy relic in her chest, forcibly elevating her holy power rank.
Taking 'responsibility,' he'd nullified her hated engagement.
Now Anies—his connection—had appeared at his request, making this offer.
Weighing the many favors and tangled emotions from him, Elenoa pondered.
'Maybe the Goddess Vesta...?'
She guessed the goddess's revelation to Anies aimed to groom her as next Saintess for growth.
'Did she choose me to help him?'
It wasn't unreasonable. Convinced that was the divine will, Elenoa steeled herself and faced Abros.
"I'll do it. I will."
"...You sure?"
"Elenoa, you don't have to—"
"No, brother. The goddess is showing me my path forward. I need to accept this."
"...If that's what you think, I won't stop you."
Seeing her resolve, Abros nodded bitterly, knowing persuasion was futile.
"You're so stubborn, just like your mother."
"Heh, thank you for approving."
With their permission, Elenoa smiled in relief. Turning tensely to Anies,
"So... what do I do now?"
"Huh?"
"I mean, to succeed you... I need to get as strong as you, right? Learn to fight or...?"
"Elenoa. No."
"Father's right. That's not it."
Recalling via Eunhyeon's Illusion World how Anies had brutally pummeled Bishop Harkan, Abros and Alex paled and denied hastily—terrified of Elenoa becoming like that.
"Ugh, misunderstanding again. You can't be like me."
"Pardon?"
"My fighting style came from my holy-altered physique—plus this guy's fault."
Anies jabbed a finger at Eunhyeon, souring Elenoa's face.
"...This guy again?"
"What? That blatant disgust hurts."
"From the moment I became a priest with holy power, my body stopped growing—immune to illness, wounds, protected by divinity. Physically? I'm way above Riod."
"R-Really?"
"But zero attack power. Short limbs from halted growth, no weapon skills. Finally snapped, threw a tantrum on the front lines begging to fight—so he trained me. Voilà, current me. And now I'm hooked; I still do it often."
"...What kind of training?"
Knowing how he'd drilled Erin and Eira, Elenoa stiffened.
"100 straight punches, one prayer. 50 push-ups, one prayer. 50 sit-ups, one prayer. Sets like that to hit ten prayers. Finish in three hours daily. Got used to it."
"......"
Alex scowled at the now-nostalgic, smirking Anies and muttered at Eunhyeon,
"Psycho."