Lately, I’ve come to the stark realization that the beginning of a semester is crucial.
If I had fallen behind in the middle rather than at the start, I might have been able to catch up. Right now, though, it feels like I’m just stacking materials haphazardly without even laying the foundation.
This school doesn’t have midterms or finals. It’s practically impossible to cram and get ready for exams. Who knew that having no regular tests would be so terrifying? With multiple chances to take exams, screwing up once or twice wouldn’t necessarily get me a failing grade, but completely bombing the semester’s exams would be a disaster.
At least at the beginning of the semester, there haven’t been any tests yet, but that doesn’t mean I can let my guard down. Everyone else is moving up a grade, and being held back alone would be, well, not great. Even the Cardinals at the Church would be shocked. The only reason I got into the Academy was because they thought I had potential, not just because I’m a Saintess.
…Well, I guess I won’t be completely doomed if I drop out of the Academy, but still.
I can’t live my life hearing, “The Saintess couldn’t even graduate because she failed her exams!” I’ll probably live much longer here than I did back in my original world!
Wait, hold on.
…Should I argue that if my grades are worse than Rina’s, it means that she’s more suited for a higher position than I am?
It’s not like I’m deliberately slacking off. I’m just simply outmatched in talent! How much better would it be for the Church if someone smarter than me became the Pope?
That wouldn’t work, though, would it?
Because at the end of the day, what a clergyman needs to know best isn’t the laws of nature but the governance of divine power. And since I’ve not just obtained that knowledge but am learning it with my whole body, I’m irreplaceable in the Church. There’s no way they’d expel me just because my grades at the Academy are slipping.
“Saintess?”
A robust voice pulled me out of my ponderings. As my dazed mind returned, bzzz—the incessant whir of helicopter blades buzzed in my ears, and from somewhere much louder came bang, bang, intermittent sounds overwhelming everything around me.
Given the earth’s rumbling, it seems like someone is firing some extraordinarily hefty artillery.
“We’ve arrived! …May I assist you?”
It sounded like there was something different in the middle of that sentence, but it was drowned out by the helicopter noise, so I didn’t bother asking. I simply shook my head and followed the soldier as I disembarked from the helicopter.
As I stepped out through the tall helicopter’s open door, I was greeted by a bright blue sky that seemed entirely at odds with the chilling sounds around us. I squinted against the suddenly bright sun, holding my hair down with one hand to keep it from flying everywhere. I couldn’t stop my bangs from fluttering, but at least I could control my back hair, which had been neatly put together into a veil.
“According to schedule, we will prepare for the inspection ceremony first!”
My eyes were squinting, my ears ringing, and just when I was trying to gather my senses, the officer who had been on the helicopter shouted as he approached. The helicopter seemed to have no plans to take off again; the two rotors were gradually slowing down, yet the booming explosions and distant gunfire still kept the area loud and chaotic.
“No.”
“Yes!?”
Perhaps he hadn’t heard my answer clearly, as the officer turned his ear toward me.
“No! We’ll head to the wall first!”
“Yes!?”
This time, it seemed less about not hearing and more about being shocked by my words. At least, I hoped that was the case.
I waited a moment until the propeller noise diminished. Honestly, I really didn’t want to undergo the inspection ceremony. Just like when I visited the battlefield last time, I’d prefer to be treated as just another member of the Church, as that felt much more comfortable. Unfortunately, I had already communicated to the government, “Treat me according to the national protocol.” That’s also why I’m wearing the ceremonial Saint’s Robe instead of combat armor while coming to the battlefield.
While I’d noted that it would remain valid as long as I didn’t refuse, the phrasing had been a bit ambiguous. So if I turned it down, the government might think, “Oh, so we don’t have to follow that from now on?”
Moreover, the battlefield was home not only to government forces but also Church troops. Since I was visiting, I should at least extend a minimal gesture. And for those people, my outfit would likely hold more significance.
Alright, the propeller has nearly stopped. My crazy waving bangs calmed down a bit.
I organized my bangs with my hand and said, “During the inspection ceremony—”
BOOM!
With a tremendous sound, the ground shook beneath me. It felt like a mini-earthquake, reminiscent of the one experience I’d had as a child.
“If I stop talking, it’ll be awkward. Besides, those who haven’t had proper rest due to constant attacks from demons and beasts need at least a minimal break.”
“But—”
“Is that alright?”
I turned to look back, and Rina, fiddling with her windswept hair without a veil, nodded. Aurora and Linea also nodded with determined expressions.
“Jian, can you take care of the demons or beasts clinging to the wall?”
Jian gazed upward as if judging something. Maybe he was recalling the time he sliced through incoming artillery.
“I think it’s possible.”
The soldiers’ eyes widened in disbelief at this.
“But, Saintess—”
BOOM!
The officer’s voice was again drowned out by the booming artillery fire. Just how big of a cannon were they using that the sound was this overwhelming? I looked toward the origin of the noise and saw a pair of cannons placed atop a quite tall concrete hill, resembling those of World War II battleships.
I’m not sure what their caliber is, but they’re probably as massive as those guns from that era. The long-barreled twin turrets were spaced fairly apart. I didn’t know if this was the only spot, but there were at least three of such cannons here. There likely were plenty of towed and self-propelled artillery scattered all across this battlefield too.
…I wonder how many artillery enthusiasts the Defense Ministry here has.
“First, let’s head toward the battlefield. We need to assess the situation.”
Having somewhat organized my bangs and clothes, I proclaimed this while looking directly into the officer’s eyes. He gulped.
Did I scare him too much?
…No, I didn’t intend to intimidate him.
“H-hold on, it’s a bit far from here. If a helicopter recklessly flies in close to the artillery, it could be catastrophic if something goes wrong.”
“I understand. It’s not my first time coming to a battlefield.”
What would a fifteen-year-old who says something like this even look like? It must seem ridiculous to those actually rolling around in the battlefield, but at least I had ventured outside the walls once. I should be better off than the fresh recruits arriving today, right?
“…Understood. I will prepare immediately.”
Upon hearing my words, the officer hurriedly started to run.
As I gazed at his hurrying back, I turned around only to find Rina and Jian staring at me with baffled expressions.
What’s with those looks? It’s not like it’s their first time here.
*
Wherever people gather to work, there are always tales so bizarre that it’s hard to determine what’s true and what’s not.
This is just as true in the military, and among soldiers, many infamous tales circulate. For example, a specific beast hates garlic, so eating garlic-laden food results in fewer attacks; flying beasts might react to shiny objects, so dog tags must be hidden inside clothes; or you can distract the pig-like beast by throwing out food waste.
Some of these bizarre tales surprisingly proved useful in practice, while others were complete fabrications. Some superstitions were believed even by high-ranking officers and generals, while others were merely made-up nonsense to tease newly assigned soldiers that somehow became widespread.
However, among all these tales and superstitions, there existed a class of stories that terrified soldiers to their core.
Sadly, these stories were often rooted in fact, amplifying the fear even more.
For instance, there was the tale of a commander visiting a unit who pointed to a mountain beyond the wall, claiming it obstructed the field of vision, and thus a whole division was dispatched to eliminate it.
Or when news of a congressional member’s visit came, the soldiers cleared away debris only within reach of the wall but ended up removing everything seen in satellite images, even to the extent of making the area perfectly clean three kilometers away for the trucks.
Of course, these tales were mostly exaggerated over time.
It’s true that the division commander did ask for the mountain to be removed, but the soldiers didn’t dig it up with shovels. Instead, they packed the area with lots of explosives before flattening it through bombings and shelling. The once loblolly pine, which has gradually been eroded by heavy rains over the years, has become a diminutive hill instead.
As for the story involving the congressional member? It wasn’t three kilometers but one kilometer.
Of course, even that was enough to instill severe terror into the soldiers.
What these fearsome stories had in common was that a towering figure would show up, dragging the soldiers into potential hardship.
“Damn it.”
So, it’s only natural for a veteran soldier, who has been through two years on the battlefield, to mutter such a thing.
“Is something wrong?”
How dull-witted! Right next to me, a private asked without noticing. He had recently enlisted, overflowing with patriotism to the point it was seeping from his clothes! He was overly excited at the fact that a Saintess was arriving for inspection rather than heading straight to the wall.
Ah right, he was an enthusiastic believer since childhood. The soldier sighed heavily, recalling this.
“See? Whenever high-ranking folks show up, it’s always us who end up suffering.”
“Well, it’s only natural to dress appropriately since the Saintess is here.”
Oh please, you’re dressed like that all the time anyway!
I almost blurted that out, but I held myself back. There was nothing to gain from talking to him, and confronting him might prompt the soldiers guarding the wall to load their guns. I’d hate to get shot and fall over the wall, unable to be found as a corpse.
And by the way, this too was one of those true stories.
“Look down there.”
The soldier pointed to the view beyond the bulletproof glass using his thumb. The private leaned forward to glimpse outside. There, legions of demons and beasts were swarming together, attempting to breach the wall. The climbing demons and beasts would get electrocuted by the systemic power flowing through the wall and fall back down.
It’s not serious yet, but once the bodies start piling up, it’ll create a hill on its own. If the accumulation of demons and beasts prevents even the electricity from flowing, it becomes a genuine threat.
Of course, even a military unit can’t just sit idly by watching things escalate to that level.
In summary, demons and beasts are a headache when they’re alive, and still an issue when they’re dead.
That’s why usually, every effort is made to murder everything charging toward us before they can pile up—
“The illustrious Saintess said gunfire and cannon fire are too noisy! So, until she’s come and gone, they plan to avoid firing any weapons at all.”
Once the bodies start to stack, cleaning up after that becomes the soldiers’ job. It was bound to be a dangerous and exhausting task since an invasion was underway.
It happens sometimes. Those who emphasize their own words over the soldiers’ burdens.
“Hey, the Saintess must have something planned; surely she wouldn’t mean any harm. After all, she’s visited the battlefield before.”
“What did she do there?”
“Before she was canonized, she…”
Just as the overly pious private was about to brag about the Saintess’ accomplishments,
[Everyone, out of the post!]
The loudspeaker crackled to life. That was the captain’s voice. Likely, the same thing was happening with one company after another, all the way from the distance of the wall.
“Crazy.”
What on earth is happening now that we’re facing the enemy? I grumbled as I picked up my rifle. A command is a command, after all.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
No sooner had he finished than the private snapped back into action, each grabbing their respective rifles and moving to the front post like soldiers on guard duty. I stole a glance at the soldiers beside us, and they stood in the same posture.
“The Saintess is coming!”
Someone shouted from the distance.
“Just hurry up and pass by.”
The soldier muttered under his breath.
Not long after standing like that,
“Salute! Saintess!”
A voice rang from afar. Click—the sound of rifles being readied as per regulation followed.
As that repetition went on, the salute grew louder and seemed to reach the neighboring post. Footsteps stopped for a moment, and I could hear some short exchanges. Then came another salute.
Even a veteran soldier can’t help but feel the tension when the Saintess passes by. She wouldn’t be alone, that much was for certain. The one accompanying her would likely be someone high-ranking as well.
The footsteps came closer—
“Salute! Saintess!”
Fortunately, the private and I managed to salute at the same time without a hitch. In the periphery of the soldier’s sight, a white figure flickered.
“You’re all doing a great job.”
A pleasant voice resonated.
It was a youthful voice, too immature to label as fully mature, yet certainly not unpleasant. I could only assume that it would become even more beautiful with age.
“I-I’m not!”
The private stammered slightly.
“Thank you! Thanks to you all, the people inside the walls are living their peaceful lives; myself included.”
Then a sudden flash of light emanated.
“May the blessings of the gods always be with you.”
A voice echoed softly.
How pitiful.
I promised myself I’d say something smart once the Saintess passed—only to be interrupted by someone suddenly stepping into my line of sight.
The figure of the Saintess, donning a lovely white veil, looked nothing short of a true Saintess. The awkwardly beautiful face was so striking it made me question if someone—a divine being made flesh—was standing before me.
Her white and red robe complemented her appearance remarkably. It wasn’t like she glowed with a halo behind her as seen on the news, but it hardly mattered. She radiated a light all on her own.
The moment she gazed up at the soldier with a bright smile, she said, “I apologize for the trouble I’ve caused.”
For a split second, I wondered if she could read my thoughts. But I didn’t flinch, most likely thanks to my long adaptation to military life.
“However, I wanted to express my gratitude to all of you working so hard. Thank you!”
Having said that, the Saintess clasped her hands together and took a prayerful stance.
“May the blessings of the gods always be with you.”
A warm and beautiful light engulfed my vision. It was precisely the kind of Holy Power one could describe as such.
The Saintess bowed her head once more and began to walk away.
“……”
How much time passed?
[Everyone, back to your positions.]
The loudspeaker chimed in again. Finally looking at the private’s face, I noticed he appeared as if he were about to burst into tears, likely due to his devout faith. I said nothing.
Even so, beneath the walls, the demons and beasts continued writhing, ever trying to scale up. No, in fact, the heaps of corpses had already begun to form.
But still.
Having witnessed that scene, I wondered if it was okay to let it slide just this once?
As those thoughts floated through my head,
Suddenly, something sped by outside the window.
“No!?”
Before I could even identify what it was, it passed over the hillside of demons and beasts like a swift blade, slicing everything in its wake.
Crimson blood splattered across the wall.
“Look, over there!”
The private shouted, pointing towards the far distant window. A pillar of light mingled with red and black swept over the demons far off. Boom!—the part of contact exploded, disintegrating the demons on contact.
And there, towards the middle of the wall, a golden radiance reminiscent of Goddess Ariel appeared, gliding down slow enough to form a dome shape.
The light, falling softly over the beasts and demons, incinerated them before they could even react. The hillside of corpses leaning up against the wall melted away like snow on a summer day.
More and more, it continued, creating a path of light that swept through, vaporizing countless demons and beasts.
“This can’t be….”
“The Saintess….”
The private clasped his hands together, praying fervently. The soldier hesitated a moment, but would ultimately follow suit, awkwardly mimicking the gesture.
For reasons unknown, it felt like it was simply the right thing to do.
*
“Hmm.”
I gazed down from beyond the wall at the army of demons burning away.
“It seems that the more I use Holy Power or perform miracles, the better I get at it.”
A bit of blood trickled from my hands, but it didn’t seem like the wounds had widened any further. It stung, but it wasn’t nearly as painful as when I had first sustained the injuries.
Much like mastering a sword, using it repeatedly steadies the output; it felt like it was becoming more and more effortless to channel Holy Power, allowing me to produce even larger amounts. I didn’t simply open the miraculous energy without care anymore; I slowly began to understand how to distribute my Holy Power and miraculous energy properly.
The sheer quantity of magical energy hadn’t necessarily increased, but my methods of usage gradually changed. And this was happening without my notice, almost instinctively.
I wasn’t merely spouting miraculous energy to erase the beasts anymore; I was starting to acquire the capacity for nuanced application.
“Shouldn’t we not have needed to be here?”
“……”
As Rina, who was leaning against a wall with her head in her hands, asked, I couldn’t bring myself to respond with a clear “True.”
…No, well. It’s better to be over-prepared than underprepared.
As I diverted my gaze from Rina’s intense stare, I justified my actions to myself.
Support me by donating at least $10, and you'll have the right to request any novel from Novelpia (excluding 19+ content) using a newly developed tool.
