Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Saintess Erin's Request
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* * *
Following Stella into the reception room—
"You've arrived, Miss Reina."
The Fire Magic Tower Master—Ian Granfellio, the pinnacle of mages at present—greeted her.
But what captured Reina's attention far more than his greeting was—
'......A woman?'
The figure of a woman seated in the place of honor, her form shrouded in a robe.
Even fully covered, it was obvious she was a woman.
For a simple reason. Her breasts were large.
"Then, if you'll excuse me."
After Stella left—
Reina finally spoke, seated across from Ian.
"What's this about, old man? Research collaborations and all that... in a world where even jokes have lost their fun...."
Ian clicked his tongue, sitting ramrod straight as he eyed Reina's unnecessarily slouched posture.
"Even after so long apart, you're still as gloomy as ever for your age."
Reina wasn't the type to cater to moods unless it was fellow Wood Magic Tower mages or someone of high standing.
Naturally, she let Ian's words slide past unheard and muttered.
"What're you saying...... Outsiders shouldn't care if I'm gloomy or not...... Hmph."
"Of course, I'm not here for you. I merely accompanied this person to bring her to you."
'This person....'
VVIP, they said. Even this haughty Fire Magic Tower Master using honorifics?
"You may reveal yourself now."
"......"
At that moment.
The woman slowly removed her robe's hood.
Reina's eyes turned into dead fish eyes upon seeing her.
Because... she was someone Reina knew well.
"......S-Saintess?!"
"Hello, Lady Reina. I'm Saintess Erin. I've heard so much about your esteemed name, so meeting you like this is truly an honor—I simply had to say that."
"No, no. If anything, I...."
Unknowingly, Reina stood and bowed.
Even for her, holed up in the tower all day with zero social skills wasting away, she knew better than to act out before the Saintess, who commanded continent-wide support second only to the Empress.
Who could've guessed.
'To think the Saintess herself came to see me.'
From her position, it was only natural to be shocked.
The noble Saintess before her was the very one who had sent the Wood Magic Tower plummeting into ruin.
Not intentionally, but the result was the same.
The Wood Magic Tower's primary mission, where Reina belonged—
Was creating various 'war magic tools' using mana.
This included producing potions with effects safe for the human body.
The core of the Wood Magic Tower's research was using mana to bind elements floating in the air to create new substances.
The classic image of a 'mage'—gathering mana in the body to compress air for explosions, or conjuring massive fireballs or ice chunks from the hands to hurl them—was the domain of Fire or Water Magic Tower mages.
The Wood Magic Tower mages, unlike those of other attributes, did work closer to 'mana researchers' than traditional mages.
It wasn't unimportant, but for those who awakened to mana and chose the mage's path, support naturally lagged behind Fire and Water towers—a harsh reality.
However, with Aisha von Ainzberg's sudden death throwing the imperial family into chaos—
Eirene von Ainsberg, ascending the throne, strongly declared, 'We can't forever rely on the Church's white magic for healing people.'
This elevated the Wood Magic Tower's potion research, naturally increasing funding.
Around then, Reina—hailed as a genius prodigy—was appointed Tower Master at an unprecedented young age, granted all honors and authority, leading her to abandon the Fire Magic Tower for this place.
And indeed, they received substantial support.
Then one day—Saintess Erin descended, chosen by God.
The Church, which had charged exorbitantly for white magic, suddenly ramped up free services upon her arrival, dispatching priests to hospitals everywhere to flaunt their secret white magic techniques freely.
Not only that. Empress Eirene, after meeting Saintess Erin, became a devout believer overnight, as if enlightened.
They had pushed the Wood Magic Tower to counter the Church and replace their 'healing magic' advantage with magecraft, only for the Empress herself to join the Church's fold—support inevitably dried up.
Still, with the Saintess's descent, they thought the Wood Magic Tower's tools would shine in the inevitable war against the demons—
But no war came; instead, an unprecedented peace treaty with the demons.
In a situation where mages' utility shrank overall, other towers could pivot to new fields, but the war-supply-focused Wood Magic Tower's importance inevitably plummeted—
Literally turning into a 'superfluous tower'—that was the current reality.
Reina didn't resent Erin. After all, she was making the world better.
She was just curious why she had come here.
"I'm sorry for visiting so suddenly today."
"No...... P-Please come whenever you like. Even bring priests and storm in, it's f-fine...."
Was that too much? Just then, as if reading her thoughts—
Erin smiled with utmost benevolence and said.
"Thank you so much for the warm welcome, Lady Reina."
"Y-Yes...."
Ahh...
She heals me.
Beneath platinum blonde hair, twin sky-blue ponds traced lovely arcs.
From moist lips came a heavenly voice, beautiful beyond words.
Even in a robe, her massive breasts—unconcealable—were the greatest proof of why she became the Igugwoden Church's Saintess, who revered women's breasts.
Pretty girls' smiles are the best.
Stuck researching, I'll never become such a wonderful woman....
'......Gasp!'
Her inner 'professional sensibilities' snapped Reina out of staring at Erin.
Get it together. A slip-up before the Saintess could be disastrous. Not just funding— the whole Wood Magic Tower might vanish...!
"Hey, Reina. The Saintess came for you, not me. Do you grasp what that means?"
"......Huh?"
"It means a chance to serve God has been granted to you."
"Uh...... Yeah? Sure."
"Damn it, a chance to aid God given to a lazy slob like you...... I'm so jealous, really...!"
Ian said that, trembling in frustration for a moment.
Come to think of it, Ian had suddenly changed one day, opening the tower's knowledge for free to all who sought learning—a massive move.
Rumors said he became a fervent Igugwoden Church believer... and seeing it firsthand confirmed it wasn't gossip.
After openly envying for a while, Ian stood, bowing 90 degrees to Erin.
"Then, Saintess. I'll wait outside with the sisters. Please take your time."
With Ian gone.
Finally, only the two remained in the reception room.
......Gulp.
Overly tense, Reina sat primly with legs together, sweating coldly, glancing at Erin's face—
'S-Say something......! If even the Saintess sees me as a gloomy witch, i-it's really over...!'
Reina plastered on an awkward smile and blurted anything.
"Th-The weather's nice today...... Saintess...!"
"Yes, it is."
"Ahaha...... D-Did you have a hard time getting here? It's in the forest, must be tricky to find."
"Ian guided me, so it was easy."
"That's a relief! N-Next time, send a letter ahead...... I'll send someone—no, I'll come myself."
"A letter, you say?"
"I-I mean, I'm not saying you must send one or can't come unannounced! What I mean is...!"
Only after fumbling to 'what I mean' did Reina realize her blunder.
'I'm done for...!!!'
Her mouth smiled, but tears welled in her eyes.
She'd always been bad with people, thriving as a results-only mage.
But unlike flustered Reina—
Erin smiled brightly, unperturbed.
"Lady Reina. You don't have to force yourself to please me! I'm truly fine. Feeling your sincerity is thanks enough."
"Saintess...!"
What is this?
Is she an angel?
Yes. Chosen by God, she might as well be.
"And today, I should be the one pleasing you, Lady Reina?"
"Pardon? My mood?"
"Yes. I've come to ask you a favor."
"A favor...?"
Erin said confidently, eyes sparkling earnestly.
"Lady Reina. Won't you join me in feeding the people?"
"......Pardon?"
* * *
"Using mana and air...... to create a revolutionary fertilizer that boosts soil fertility?"
"Yes!"
"And it only needs mana and air?"
Nod nod.
"That's right! Of course, we'll need the Wood Magic Tower Master's knowledge too, Lady Reina!"
"......Uh...."
Even with the Saintess's high praise, it was absurd.
Like making bread from air?
"I-I'm sorry, but what you've proposed far exceeds what the Wood Magic Tower can achieve...."
"But aren't you already making war magic tools on similar principles?"
"True...... We do mix things with mana to create various items, but even if something in the air truly boosts 'soil fertility' as you say, I have no idea how to capture and solidify it into fertilizer form."
Reina bowed sincerely apologetic.
Better to cleanly admit impossibility than insist otherwise.
"If we could make such a Miracle Fertilizer, it'd be far more meaningful than war tools...... But I'm sorry I can't help. Especially since you came all this way...."
Now she'll say 'I see' and leave.
Or should I boldly ask, 'Since we're at it, could you increase our research funding to try?'
Just then.
"Lady Reina, I'm sorry."
"Pardon?"
"I left something out."
"......?"
At that moment.
Erin grasped Reina's small, pale hands firmly with both of hers.
"S-S-S-Saintess...?!"
Facing Reina's eyes spinning in panic from the sudden touch—
Erin spoke in her most serious tone yet.
"......Plain Fact."
"......Pardon?"
Plain Fact?
Why bring that up...?
"With air and mana...... and Plain Fact, it's no dream. And...... I can provide you—the knowledgeable Lady Reina—with the one thing you're missing: 'Plain Fact.'"
"How about it? Not war consumables, but a 'miraculous magic tool' to save lives...... Won't you make it with your own hands, Lady Reina?"
"Au, uuuu, awawawawa...!!"
She looked utterly flustered—
But Reina knew to some extent.
Those who met privately with the Saintess soon became fervent Igugwoden Church believers!
She wanted no part of that enlightenment.
Believing in the Igugwoden Church itself was fine. It was the devout follower role that was...... a hassle!
'Stay calm...!'
They said light emanated from pressing the Holy Scripture to the forehead.
Reina quickly scanned Erin. Ready to shake her off and flee if needed.
The Holy Scripture...... hung at her waist.
No light leaked. Just holding hands.
At that moment.
"Lady Reina."
"Y-Yes?"
"How is it? Do you feel it?"
"Feel...... what?"
"Air and the mana floating in it!"
Wondering why, Reina nonetheless sensed around as instructed, hands clasped.
Air. Present. Mana. Mixed in.
Any mage could sense mana. Nothing special.
"I do. But why......?"
"Is that all?"
"......?"
"Sense again. Air and mana...... is that truly everything?"
Erin's eyes so earnest, Reina obeyed, sensing once more.
And—
'......Huh?'
—She realized.
Between air and mana......
A massive energy unlike this world's.
And simultaneously—something.
Something incomprehensible to a created being's mind...... began to stir.