Chapter 146: 'What if the Saintess Isn't Pretty When She Takes Off Her Veil?'
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 146: 'What if the Saintess Isn't Pretty When She Takes Off Her Veil?'
"Now, we will begin the joint training between Victory Academy and the Holy Kingdom of Rubenia."
Time flew by, and the day of the joint training arrived.
A massive crowd was lined up inside Victory Academy’s main athletic field.
Using the center of the field as a dividing line, the Victory cadets took up one half while the Holy Kingdom’s forces took up the other, facing each other.
I had wondered why they built this place so large, but I guess it finally had a use.
‘Their numbers are similar to our academy’s.’
The difference was that while the academy had cadets who weren't ready for immediate deployment, everyone from the Holy Kingdom was capable of being armed and mobilized instantly.
Just looking at them—with maces that looked like they could crush a person in one go, shields large enough to hide a man behind, and full suits of plate armor—they were practically radiating the sentiment of ‘We are high-level.’
‘But our third and fourth-years are definitely strong, too.’
The top 1% of the 1%.
The cream of the crop.
The reason for the rumor that 'graduating from Victory Academy makes you a 1st-Grade Hunter by default' was right before my eyes.
Even though they weren't specially armed and were just wearing their usual school uniforms, the moment their expressions turned serious, their momentum became terrifying.
Perhaps trying to win a battle of nerves, the expressions of the fourth-year cadets in the front row and the Holy Kingdom’s knights were incredibly fierce.
This was supposed to be joint training, not joint combat, so I didn't know what they were trying to achieve by acting like this already.
Since I’d seen enough of the field, it was time to look around the surroundings.
‘That man is Perkus.’
It was a cloudless day.
The Pope was reflecting the brilliant sunlight off his head, radiating a literal glow.
He looked exactly like the image of a devout Pope.
They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but if a man like that turned out to be corrupt, there would be no one left in the world to trust.
‘And next to him is the Saintess...’
The Saintess was sitting demurely in a chair, wearing her veil just like before.
Min-su’s fourth heroine and a woman who gave off a strange vibe, like she was one of my own kind.
I’d have to get to know her better to be sure, but she was a truly ambiguous heroine.
And finally, on the opposite side, was the Chairman, looking around leisurely with a hollow laugh.
‘The confrontation lines are perfectly drawn.’
Excluding the presence of the Saintess and the Hero, it was a perfect mirror image.
I couldn't tell if it was an intentional setup to incite competition or just a coincidence.
Maybe it was just easier to set it up that way.
"We will now have the opening remarks from Pope Perkus and Chairman Cheon Hae-il."
Regardless of my idle thoughts, the joint training schedule proceeded naturally.
Two opening remarks?
A double-header of 'principal's speeches' was far too cruel.
"Ah, I shall go first. My beloved Victory Academy cadets, and the people of the Holy Kingdom who have graciously traveled from afar. This annual joint training between Victory Academy and the Holy Kingdom of Rubenia feels a bit different this time. With the daily increase in Gates and Dungeons, and even Hunters who use their power for the wrong reasons... we have always fought. However, I have a feeling we must pay even more attention this time. As the old saying goes..."
The speech went on and on.
The worst possible combination: starting with "As the old saying goes," using "One last thing" as a bridge, and tying it all together with "Welcome!"
Even the knights of the Holy Kingdom in their full plate armor looked like they were suffering.
The weather was nice, but unless those suits of armor had built-in coolers, it was obvious they were having a hard time.
"Listening to Chairman Cheon Hae-il’s truly moving speech has given me much to think about as well. Since our Holy Kingdom and Victory Academy have been training together for a very long time, I thought perhaps we had fallen into a state of complacency. The same training, the same repetitions, and the same duels. I do not think that is bad or wrong. It is because we have silently performed the tasks we must do and have always proven the results. However, this time, between the divine revelations and the overflow of ill omens! I believe we must be more vigilant. In that spirit, I will conclude my opening remarks by reciting a prayer I always keep in my heart. Upon this holy land..."
There was an even bigger boss.
Cheon Hae-il’s triple combo of 'Old saying, One last thing, Welcome!' was cute compared to this.
A prayer recitation?
By the time Pope Perkus finished his prayer, I glanced at the time and saw that an hour had passed.
I had wondered why they blocked out an hour for the opening remarks, and this was why.
‘Cheon Hae-il took twenty minutes, and the Pope took forty.’
In a sense, the time distribution was perfect.
"Those were truly moving opening remarks. Finally, we will have the oath from the student representatives. Student representatives, please step forward."
Just as the tedious time was coming to an end.
At the mention of student representatives, the Saintess and I walked toward the podium.
‘Why the hell am I doing this?’
Before the opening ceremony.
I couldn't understand why a first-year like me was being made the student representative, so I even asked.
With fourth-years, third-years, and second-years available, why me?
‘How does it make sense that everyone refused?’
The fourth-year rep refused because they didn't want to stand in front of people.
The third-year rep refused, saying the position didn't suit them.
The second-year rep flat-out refused, saying, "Don't we have Baek Tae-yang?"
I suggested Kim Min-su should do it since the image of the Hero and the Saintess would look good together, but that guy was absent.
I had been thoroughly stuck with the hot potato.
As I stood side-by-side with the Saintess.
She leaned in slightly and spoke in a quiet, refined voice.
"I have heard much about you. I heard you have performed many good deeds."
"You flatter me. It’s nothing compared to you, Saintess."
"Is there a connection between Cadet Kim Min-su’s absence today and your 'good deeds'?"
"Pardon?"
What was this woman talking about?
I tried to turn my head to look at her face, but I couldn't because the oath began immediately.
Then again, even if I had looked, I wouldn't have been able to see much through the veil.
‘Is she taking Min-su’s side, or is she testing me?’
Did she hear somewhere that I bullied the Hero and decided to call me out on it immediately?
"Oath. We swear that in receiving this training together, we will remain fair, equal, and never forget a heart of justice. Furthermore..."
No, before that, how did she know I bullied Kim Min-su, and why was she telling me that right now?
I’d felt it from the start, but there were more than a few suspicious things about the Saintess.
As the oath was nearing its end, I pretended to turn my head and looked directly at her.
[Deep Eyes activated! Identifying the target's information!]
Ting.
‘Ting?’
[Failed! Unable to identify the target's information.]
‘What?’
A message popped up along with a bouncing sound.
‘Deep Eyes didn't work?’
I needed to at least know her basic info to figure out what kind of woman she was.
Since even that wasn't working, I was already feeling at a loss.
I predicted the joint training was going to be quite a rough ride.
*
"Huff... huff..."
Despite the good ventilation, the room was filled with lingering heat.
In that room, Min-su was working hard to build his muscles.
"Since the Pure Love Diary Writer isn't contacting me anymore, I have no choice but to do this on my own."
Usually, a reply would come within thirty minutes.
The fact that there had been no response for three days was incredibly strange.
Several variables crossed his mind, but only one stood out.
"Perhaps they are telling me it's time for me to stand on my own two feet."
They must believe that I, having realized the Truth and Reason of the Universe, will solve things myself from here on out.
That was why Min-su made the bold decision to skip the academy.
He had lost Yu-min.
‘Actually, I didn't even like her that much.’
He had lost Hye-mi Noona, too.
‘Actually... I didn't love her that much either... it felt more like an obligation... and the fact that I always considered the Saintess as my main wife played a big part.’
He had lost to Baek Tae-yang, but...
‘If my awakening had been complete, I would have finished him in one hit. That cowardly bastard must have used some kind of trick... and anyway... that guy is the weird one for using his full power against a fellow cadet.’
Min-su stood up again.
Because that’s what an Indomitable Hero does.
The reason he skipped the day of the joint training?
It was because he had found a way to get stronger faster during that time.
Training, and nothing but training.
Once people saw his perfectly transformed self during the joint training, they would realize once again who the true first-year representative was.
"Besides, the first half of the joint training is being broadcast live anyway."
Min-su turned on the TV and tuned into the channel broadcasting the joint training between Victory Academy and the Holy Kingdom.
While the actual training processes, Gates, or Dungeon practices were private.
The opening ceremony and group training were shown briefly as a teaser to boost morale.
"Why is that guy there again!"
What was the fourth-year representative doing, and why was that bastard Baek Tae-yang standing with the Saintess?
How could a white-haired thug like him be next to her while she radiated holy energy in her white veil?
That spot should have been mine!
He was only retreating for tactical reasons.
It was a spot he could reclaim soon, but he couldn't help but feel angry.
‘Wait a minute, though.’
As he continued his training, an ominous thought struck Min-su, making his body freeze.
‘What if the Saintess isn't pretty when she takes off her veil?’
It was the dilemma of a lifetime.