Fun…
Honestly, I’m not sure.
I find learning and mastering things enjoyable, but whether I’ll find the hard work fun is honestly a bit questionable.
“Anyway. That’s how I feel. Of course, if fun is 10, then the lack of fun is 90.”
“Hmm…”
“I should get going. I mean, I came straight here without looking around.”
Angela stood up without cleaning the dishes.
There’s no need to clean.
The handmaidens have already rushed in and taken care of it.
“Oh, and be careful of the other saintesses.”
“?”
“Sure, I might be a bit unique, but the others are quite ‘devout’.”
Devout.
For some reason, those two short syllables filled me with an inexplicable sense of unease.
“You don’t really have to worry about meeting the First Saintess since it’s rare, but Mareniya is a bit different.”
“In what way?”
“Because you’re not a ‘proper’ saintess.”
I flinched.
Even though I came in fully aware, my body instinctively trembled.
I feel like I shouldn’t feel wrong even though nothing is wrong.
“As I said earlier, I’m not that devout, so it doesn’t really matter to me. In fact, it’s somewhat nice. But what about Mareniya? I’ll just leave it at that.”
“Not knowing is more unsettling.”
“Hang in there!”
With a message of encouragement, Angela disappeared.
And it was after another two weeks that I could understand the meaning behind that.
■
A month since entering the Holy Kingdom.
Since Angela returned to the kingdom, a part of my schedule has been taken up by her.
With basic magic lectures and physical training as a foundation, I should have been in the library reading books instead.
“Read this too!”
“…I still don’t get it.”
Angela decided on her own to become my holy magic instructor.
Of course, even after studying hard for two weeks, I didn’t understand a thing.
Honestly, I’m not even sure if there’s any progress.
However, Angela continued her lectures, laughing and saying it was okay.
To her, it seemed like she was more happy to have made a friend of her age than to actually be teaching.
“Oh, and I didn’t mention this.”
“?”
“I have to go on a pilgrimage tomorrow.”
“Pil… grim?”
“Yeah. I haven’t had a chance to go in a while. It’s my turn now.”
Ah~ I have to act compassionate again.
Grumbling as I scattered the books, Angela trudged out of the library.
Books were messily strewn across the desk.
If I leave it like this, the handmaidens or the librarian will clean it up.
I gathered the books in one go and returned them to their place.
“Oh, right! Important… What are you doing?”
“I was putting the books back in their place.”
“Huh? The handmaidens will do that!”
“Well, we read them, so we should put them back.”
With a light clap of my hands, I approached Angela, who peeked out from between the doors.
I lightly brushed my hands off and approached Angela, who peeked out from between the doors.
Even making noise, there was no problem since it was just the two of us in the library.
If it’s Angela, she’d probably say something like, “What’s the big deal if we want to be a little noisy!”
“It’s not heavy at all.”
“…I feel like I’m becoming a bad girl for some reason.”
“It’s just your tendency. No need to think too much about it.”
In modern times, this would be considered a nuisance.
Of course, being a saintess and an apostle of the goddess, it wouldn’t be a bother at all.
“Right. Let’s leave it at that. But don’t take the handmaids’ jobs. If you get busy, you won’t have the time to worry about this kind of stuff!”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Anyway, I didn’t mention that.”
“?”
“Since I’ve been on a pilgrimage, Mareniya will be returning. If anyone bothers you, remember it and tell me for sure! For sure!”
Bothering, huh? That’s a bit scary.
“I got it.”
But I probably won’t do anything to get caught, so there shouldn’t be a big problem, right?
■
“So you’re Lily Elbrite.”
“That’s right.”
Just when I was in the middle of sparring with the commander of knights, a woman with a rather unpleasant expression entered the arena.
She was taller than me, with blue hair that reached her waist.
Her sharply slit blue eyes made her look fierce.
The woman, wearing pure white gloves, extended her hand.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Mareniya.”
“I’m Lily.”
“So, how’s life as a saintess treating you?”
“I’m enjoying it thanks to many people’s help.”
“Enjoying, huh… But what exactly are you doing?”
Mareniya withdrew her hand, taking off her pure white gloves and sending them somewhere odd with a nod.
Just a moment ago, I was sparring.
“I was sparring with the commander of knights.”
“Oh, a magic test?”
“No. A swordsmanship spar…”
“What?”
A hint of disgust appeared on Mareniya’s face.
It felt different from the reaction Angela had earlier, which was more like, “You really are something else.”
It was the look of someone who had seen something they shouldn’t have.
“Lily. What kind of knight are you?”
“I’m not.”
“Or are you a street thug? Why are you fighting with your body?”
“……”
“If you were blessed by the great goddess, it makes sense to fight in a position that suits you. Are you trying to use the goddess’s grace just for brawling?”
“……”
The arena suddenly became tense.
Everyone was at a loss, and the commander of knights approached us, armor clinking.
“Uh, Mareniya Saintess, Lily Saintess insisted that her sparring was necessary. After all, self-defense is essential in emergencies…”
“In other words, you’re saying you’ve put some strange ideas into her head?”
Glance.
The fierce eyes glare at the Commander of Knights.
“Shouldn’t we be getting even one step closer to the great goddess’s grace? And yet, all we’re doing is brawling?!”
“…That is.”
“What else could it be? Did you think just wandering around the training ground like a complete idiot would somehow grant you the goddess’s grace?”
“……..”
“Don’t get carried away. The goddess’s grace cannot be measured by anything.”
Swoosh.
“There exists only one true path.”
White light bursts forth from Mareniya’s hand.
In response, the priests who had been standing there drop to one knee.
Even the Holy Knights flinch.
I am.
“What are you doing?”
Swoosh.
“I’m just sparring.”
I brandished my sword.
“Commander, let’s finish this up.”
“Eh? Oh, right.”
“Lily, what are you doing?!”
“It’s sparring time now. So I’m just sparring.”
“Did you not hear me?! Are you a street thug or something?”
Mareniya grabs my shoulder and turns me around.
I ponder as I look back.
‘Why is this woman acting so ferociously?’
This is our first meeting, and she’s belittling me to the point of making everyone uncomfortable.
Angela said she’s not a personality disaster.
So surely, there’s some kind of reason behind this behavior.
‘Faithful Mareniya.’
Since I’m not an official saintess, my very presence must irk her quite a bit.
The problem is, it only irks her. There’s no reason for her to take it out on me.
The Pope and the Cardinals have already acknowledged me, and since Mareniya isn’t the first saintess, her position is awkward.
She’s at least acting as a face in place of the first saintess, who rarely comes back to the Holy Palace, but still, she can’t just say whatever she wants.
“Why does a saintess have to use magic?”
“…What?”
“Isn’t it strange if you think about it? My physical ability is outstanding, and I’ve only just started a month ago, yet I’m quite skilled with weapons. Meanwhile, I’m honestly not that talented in magic.”
‘Magic’ as a whole may require talent, but ‘Holy Magic’ is absolutely hopeless for me.
“To save people and bring salvation, it seems like such abilities would be necessary, don’t you think?”
“…You’re overstepping.”
“Thank you.”
I brushed off the hand on my shoulder and bowed my head.
Mareniya’s expression crumples.
As I turn my back completely, I hear muttering.
“…I shouldn’t have taken in such a hybrid carelessly.”
“What do you mean by that…”
“Saintess!”
“Why? Did I say something wrong? Everyone knows that…”
“Hybrid?”
Suddenly, I felt a rush of anger.
Something deep within me burst out, causing Mareniya to step back in surprise.
A wave of something spread across the arena.
“…?”
What was that just now?
“Y-yeah! Hybrid! Everyone here knows you became a Saintess without any revelation! Since you’re a hybrid, you probably can’t use magic and have to rely on your body!”
“How about we test that?”
“Huh?”
“Let’s see who’s stronger: your so-called magic or physical abilities.”
■
“…Are you really okay with this?”
“Yes.”
I nodded at the Commander’s question.
…Honestly, I’m nervous.
I’m still scared of fighting people, and facing the Commander while wielding a sword is a significant challenge.
It would be even tougher to attack after aiming.
But.
“I was just curious. I wanted to see if this is really how it is.”
Why can’t I use Holy Magic?
Why do I have such superior physical abilities compared to other Saintesses?
What exactly is the difference between me, blessed by ‘Lily’ and the Goddess, and the Saintesses of Revelatio?
“We’ll find out once we fight.”
“…Alright. First, choose a weapon. You’re used to swords, but there are many weapons suitable for fighting a Mage.”
In the weapons rental room, countless weapons hang on the walls.
From the familiar sword, spear, and mace to daggers, staffs, bows, and crossbows.
After looking around, the Commander handed me a neatly crafted spear.
“This is probably the easiest to handle. You’ve used it a few times, right?”
“Ah, yes.”
“It has a basic reach, and the Saintess Mareniya won’t use excessive strength, so you should be able to land some hits.”
I accepted the spear.
It feels good for sure, but…
What about that?
SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1YkU5K2Zzb2pjcGdEU3o1ZEJZRy94YkJ2bWdQNFpvdS9DSW5raGM0V1R4Vg
“There’s still 30 minutes until the duel, so let’s have an additional lecture… Saintess?”
“What about this one?”
Clang!!
“…Huh? That’s obviously impossible… Oh.”
It’s heavy. But at the same time, I felt a strange pull towards it.
As if the weapon was meant to fit perfectly in my hand from the very beginning.
“A hammer?”
I guess it’s a hammer.
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