Two weeks… has it been two weeks?
The days I haven’t gone to school are increasing, and I tried to cut back somehow in the second semester, but the scale of the incidents keeps getting bigger, and now on top of that, all the unresolved matters from the first semester are piling up like a boom.
Looking back, the church sent someone like me to the academy because they thought I was talented, not because they knew I was the Saintess. They hoped to nurture a child with outstanding holy power into a future talent for the church, not to send me because they received a divine revelation asking me to become a Saintess.
If they had known I was connected to the god in the first place, they probably would have had me work at the church from the start instead of sending me to the academy.
Most likely, the only ones seriously contemplating whether I would be held back are me and my friends; the government and the church probably couldn’t care less if I graduated from the academy or not. In fact, they might be happier if my student status were lifted. I could work for the church and government even more consistently! At least under the assumption that I would agree to such a deal…
If I quit school, as a Saintess still holding the status of a Nun, I would be integrated into the cathedral’s education system, making it much easier for them to back me up. Unlike the academy, where promotion is strictly determined by attendance and grades, the cathedral’s educational hours just need to be overlooked by the cathedral itself.
As long as I have basic common sense and am open to receiving outside information at any time, that’s all that matters.
But I really don’t want to do that.
“Saintess?”
As I was slouched in my chair with my eyes half-closed, someone cautiously called my name from the side. It was a neatly dressed gentleman in a dark navy suit. No, he was different from the person I met last time. All the officials coming to see me lately seemed to be different people.
Whether they were writing reports on welfare policies in collaboration with the Central Church, people sent from research institutes under the defense ministry, or representatives dispatched from local governments for holy water. There were so many others, but I definitely don’t have the memory to remember each of their names and faces.
Fortunately, Aurora, who follows me around, seems to have written everything down on a list.
…Look at me, I really feel like I’ve become the Church’s leader. Well, technically I am one. If you want to get nitty-gritty about it, that leader has two heads, and all the slightly complicated matters get passed over to the Pope.
After staying in the 1st District for a week due to issues regarding the Elven Region, the way people looked at me changed. Of course, that didn’t include Linnea and Aurora, who both already understood why I was staying here.
What I mean is, the people within the church.
“Finally, the Saintess has made up her mind!”
I don’t particularly want to know what that ‘mind’ actually means, but anyway, recently the looks directed at me have taken on that flavor. That said, I can’t just yell back, “That’s not it!” because the information regarding the Elven Region is still quite secret.
However, it’s not like no one has noticed.
Even if only a tiny fraction of people know the whole story, it seems quite a few have picked up on the fact that I’m planning something on the side.
In three days, there will be a second trial regarding the Saintess’s assassination charges against the Elder of the Elven Region, Krah.
Naturally, it is a high-priority case, and it will be held at the Central Church in the 1st District.
In contrast to the shocking nature of the case, its attention is relatively low, and the reason is simple. Most people understood it was an accident. The holy power of the Saintess participating in Remihar was more outstanding than even the Elves had anticipated, leading to what happened that day, so the Inquisition stepped in to investigate.
The Saintess returned unharmed and didn’t attend the first trial. So, it was only natural that the incident would be wrapped up shortly and treated as just a little mishap. Everyone thought so.
However, strangely enough, the case has been dragging on and on without resolution. In fact, the court of the Central Church outright froze the case and indefinitely postponed the second trial.
And Krah’s attorney was periodically meeting with the Saintess for unofficial talks.
As the incident progressed, the Saintess captured the Witch of Resentment—the only ‘Elf’ among all the witches—and suddenly the second trial date was set after being silent for months. Although the Saintess hasn’t confirmed her participation, she proclaimed her stay in the 1st District would end in four days.
The day after the trial, the Saintess would return to the 21st District.
Those with sharp senses naturally can’t help but discern what that implies. That’s precisely why I publicly announced my stay duration.
“Huh?”
When I responded a beat late, the official exhaled a small sigh of relief, as if assured.
“W-Well, we request that you visit our region at least once. You haven’t been there yet…”
If we get technical, I haven’t visited most regions either. Sure, I’ve roamed about here and there. Most battlefields were in other regions, not the 21st, and I’ve visited Gnome, Beastman, and Elven regions as well. Judging by how many areas I’ve darted around in a short time, I could confidently say I’ve been busier than most businesspeople.
This kind of request has come my way countless times. Officials visiting from other regions during my stay in the 1st District have been coming to ask me.
Not just officials either.
I’ve heard many local churches have sent letters through the church. If I visited their region, it would be a point of pride for them, and they said they’d never forget that moment for a lifetime.
I get their feelings. Every time I visit, I create a lot of holy water, care for patients, and do all sorts of beneficial things for the region, whether I mean to or not. Whether they genuinely respect and like me or are just interested in what I can do—either way, I can understand.
However, the problem is that I don’t have much time.
I managed to hold on during the first semester, but the second semester is truly precarious. Putting aside grades, my number of absences from the first semester alone is astronomical. I’m guessing it’s going to be pushing a month at least!
While the area occupied by Human Society may seem vastly smaller compared to before the dimensional gates opened, it’s still not a small country. No matter how skewed the 1st District is toward the west, other districts aren’t exactly nearby.
Unless it’s the region next door, it takes at least three or four hours by plane to get anywhere. Roaming around those regions, of course, I need to plan for a longer time.
Even with the break, can I find time for that? Supplementary classes will almost definitely be scheduled!
“…Have my assistant coordinate a meeting. However, due to my schedule, I won’t be able to do it soon. I will find time to visit sometime. I apologize.”
“Oh no! We’re the ones asking for your time! Just being able to think positively like that is more than enough for us!”
I’ve already had this conversation several times. This is just among the regions that have approached me, so am I genuinely in danger of planning a nationwide tour on behalf of the church? Of course, it’s no longer a situation where they can command me to do something as they did before.
“Is this the end of today’s meeting?”
I watched the official as he turned and left the room, and as soon as the door closed, I asked Aurora.
She slammed shut the thick, diary-like notebook she’d been holding, which had lots of notes stuffed between the pages.
“Yes, that was the last one for today.”
I sighed lightly and slouched back in my chair.
“…I feel like I’m making you go through so much.”
“No, I used to handle schedules and chores even back when I was an assistant for a Miracle Investigator.”
…I feel like that gentleman probably wouldn’t enjoy working with Aurora.
“Oh, it’s not that I was made to do this! It just makes me uncomfortable seeing a pile of work build up, so I did it myself!”
Seeing my expression, Aurora waved her hand dismissively. I can tell she was trying to defend herself, but it honestly seems a bit lazy.
Well, considering how many tasks are piling up for Aurora at this very moment, I definitely can’t criticize her for that.
*
The busier I got, the faster time flew by.
And I was busy enough to feel that sense of time zooming past.
Though Krah’s trial has been put on hold for nearly months now, the actual time I had to prepare for the trial was only about two weeks. On top of that, I was reeling from the after-effects of what had happened in the Gnome region and preparing for the victory ceremony and parade, making that time even shorter.
In those two weeks, I had to uncover almost everything the Elves had done in the past. In truth, it’s impossible to uncover every little detail. The accumulated history spans 500 years, and the time when Elves were sacrificing people to raise Arlil goes back even further.
Even if there were a witness from 500 years ago, there would be far too many things that could not be revealed without relying on historical documents.
Still, I managed to uncover enough of what I really needed.
“You don’t have to be too tense.”
As I was catching my breath, Remir, who was sitting next to me, smiled and said that.
“You’re not the perpetrator. Just attend as a witness and tell them what happened that day. I’ll take care of the rest.”
“That’s true, but…”
Remir was a lawyer, not a prosecutor. Of course, Andrea would be the one appearing for the prosecution, and since she had already hinted at what we’d be doing today, I highly doubted she’d troll us outright, but the future is always uncertain.
Think about it. How many times have I been caught off guard when I relaxed?
Honestly, I’m not sure if I’m just unlucky or what, but as someone who gets swept up in accidents and incidents everywhere, I can’t help but be worried.
Still, there shouldn’t be a witch popping out right in the middle of the courtroom.
…Well, I guess the witness being a witch does set up for something unexpected.
“…Are you going to be okay?”
I mirrored my question back at Remir.
“Yes.”
And without a moment’s hesitation, she answered affirmatively.
“Ultimately, I might have to deal with Arlil.”
As I asked her that, Remir smiled and looked at me.
“Which doesn’t imply any malice toward the Elves.”
Then she turned her gaze back to the door.
“For hundreds of years, the Elves have been clinging to the past. Though most of them claim to know nothing of the world outside the Elven Village, and nothing of the truth of Arlil, they still have been fixated on their history. They may not know about the Elven Empire, and they may not know about what it has wrought, but they still longed to return to where they once lived and reclaim a land only for Elves. They wished to exist without mixing with others, to reject hybrids… Even if they knew nothing, they had their own conservative side.”
Hearing that made me think of Satsuki. Her family was all exiled; she would never be able to get entrusted with a proper job inside the village.
…Speaking of which, when I had gone to deliver the message I had asked of Rina, she unexpectedly came up with an idea that included Satsuki.
While I’m not completely confident about it yet, if it ultimately seems impossible, I might have to ask Jian for help. At least Rina clearly made that fact known.
But seeing that her voice was bright indicates she’s indeed optimistic about it. I trust Rina.
…Except, of course, when it comes to struggles within the church.
“To move forward, one must break free from the shackles of the past.”
“Is that about eliminating Arlil?”
When I asked that, Remir made a wry smile.
“While that can be one method, I’d prefer that the Elves step out a bit and live amongst others.”
She then quietly gazed at her hands.
“One of the reasons I joined the church was that I saw a future there. Unlike us, who trudge along connected to just one tree, Humans use their holy powers and dwell together as individuals. I envied that. Rather than being bound to a single great tree, I wished for a society where many ordinary people could work together.”
Then she looked back at me.
“The Elves have a mistake in their thinking. If you want to cling to holy power and attach only to that single tree from which that power emanates, nothing will change. If they come out into the world, oh how many people are there who use that holy power. If they cooperate with all those people and undertake the jobs they are good at, the Elves can reach much farther.”
“…”
Staring at Remir, who spoke so seriously, I couldn’t find the words to respond.
So, I simply chose to smile back.
*
As I walked into the trial room, it had genuinely been a long time since I wore Nun’s robes.
The courtroom is a place of gravitas and fairness. Of course, since it’s run by people, it’s impossible for everything to be completely mechanically precise. However, even when standing here as a Cardinal or a Pope, you must speak only as an individual parishioner and tell only the truth.
Though I wouldn’t be surprised if, during the 500 years of history, there were people who attempted to intimidate the judge using their status, the formality is set that way.
It’s naturally not as simple as it sounds.
…Just as Remir had mentioned previously, my portrait hung in the lobby of this courtroom. A grandiose one at that. There was even a glimmering halo painted behind my head. The light beams in the painting seemed as if the artist poured their soul into each stroke.
Since what I heard from Remir was a few months ago, it means the painting was done shortly after I became a Saintess. I have no idea how they managed to produce such a large painting in such a short time; paint doesn’t dry that quickly. In a sense, that painting can only be described as miraculous.
And now the protagonist of that painting—me—is here to testify in court.
…Of course, even if I’m wearing Nun’s robes instead of Saint’s, the weight of my words can never be the same as others. If I want, I can easily talk to the god and even make them relay only the truth with the divine power. Who would dare to question my words here?
This Nun’s robe too. Just how often is a canonized Saint supposed to wear a regular Nun’s outfit? It’s not like they had my size on hand; they must have prepared it right away. One can only admire the church’s preparedness.
“Then, witness, please state your name.”
The judges sitting way over there were maintaining serious expressions, but the way they looked at me differed greatly from how they gazed at Krah in the defendant’s seat.
It’s as if the look I received was akin to that of a overly fond grandparent doting on their well-behaved granddaughter, drooling with affection. The restrained smile on their tightly sealed lips is definitely not just my imagination.
“Clara Anderson.”
“Please state your affiliation, residence, and age.”
“I reside at the convent in the 21st District. I am 15 years old.”
“…”
The judge seemed to gaze at me blankly for a few seconds before finally giving a slight smile and nodding.
Did they expect me to state my position as a Saintess? The fact that I didn’t mention that must have been immensely beneficial to me. I felt their favor deepen even more.
…But surely, they won’t just outright declare Krah guilty, right?
“Confirmed.”
His tone sounded oddly theatrical, almost resembling something that has been carried on since the church’s judicial processes long ago. Thankfully, I had already heard about it from Remir beforehand. Otherwise, I would have been utterly bewildered.
I recall seeing judges in old British films donning white wigs atop their heads, which might be somewhat similar.
As my thoughts wandered, the older judge smiled gently and said to me,
“Then, witness, would you please share your testimony?”
This didn’t seem merely procedural but rather the judge’s true tone.
I lowered my head slightly and began to speak slowly.
“First, I want to clarify that Elder Krah of the Elven Region did not intend to kill me.”
And thus, my testimony began.
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