Chapter 18

“Anyway, I’m not really interested.”

I said this while putting the broom back into the cleaning supplies box and grabbing the broom from Ria behind me.

“Really? Not even a tiny bit?”

As I placed the broom I received from Ria into the box and closed it, Ria kept pestering me from behind.

“Really, truly, not even a tiny bit.”

I confirmed once again, quite firmly.

I like reading novels. However, there aren’t many novels that I really, truly loved. To be honest, the titles of web novels tend to be a bit long, so when I read several at the same time, I often get confused about the titles even if I remember the content.

In this case too, I don’t precisely remember what the title was.

Anyway, I think the abbreviation was [The Weakest Hunter] or something like that. As the title implies, it seemed to be about a hunter who was incredibly weak becoming the strongest after encountering various fortuitous events.

If I dig a little deeper, there was some mix-up in the content, but that doesn’t mean I regret it. It was a typical light novel where the protagonist, initially underestimated, becomes stronger while entangled with heroines.

Set in a modern background, it’s a story that shows traces of trying to weave in heroines that one could legally touch while mixing in some academy vibes, featuring two heroines in nun outfits.

Well, in a modern fantasy, if you’re going to introduce a ‘Saintess,’ there had to be a nationally recognized religion involved. Otherwise, the state wouldn’t formally recognize anyone claiming to be a saintess.

Yet here I am, in that saintess’ position.

My argument that ‘there’s no reason for South Korea to become a theocratic state’ may hold in theory, but in this story, it’s just how it is, so I really have nothing to say. Other than to blame the higher powers…

As I pondered this, I shook my head vigorously.

An atheist doesn’t just reject one religion’s god. They look skeptically at the entire concept of the divine and all supernatural phenomena, anything that can’t be scientifically explained.

So, there’s no way I should be ‘resenting’ that higher power. It feels wrong to resent something that isn’t even a deity in the first place, doesn’t it?

………

Or wait, maybe? I think it’s somewhat reasonable to resent someone who slapped you.

“……”

While I was lost in my thoughts, I felt a strange, prickly gaze on me.

Ria was looking at me with such a gaze.

“……What?”

Surprised by her stare, I asked, and Ria shrugged her shoulders, letting out a big sigh.

No, why?

Even after I said all that, does she still think so?

Ah, of course. Ria might look like someone who’s had a few boyfriends, but in reality, she has no experience at all. So it’s not strange if her view on romance is more adolescent than adult.

Plus, she’s not even an adult since her birthday hasn’t passed yet.

So, it’s understandable if she assumes any opportunity means ‘romance potential,’ right? No, I should understand that. As a mature adult.

‘Teenage years = puberty = excessive hormone secretion’ is just biological reality, after all.

“Yikes!?”

As I shook my head helplessly, Ria’s fingers once again jabbed at the gaps in my hair.

“That hurts!”

There’s hardly any muscle on me, so jabbing my bony parts hurts!

“Seriously…”

Seeing my reaction, Ria muttered in disbelief and turned her back.

No, what’s up with her?

Rubbing the sore spot with my hand, I followed behind Ria.

Could it be that the flags have already been raised?

Well, I’m not the original saintess, so I’m somewhat of an abnormality, but Ria is in the same position as in the original story.

In the original, Ria and the saintess often went head-to-head. They were close friends, but at the same time, they were rivals fighting over the same guy.

“Phew, hehe…”

But, there’s nothing to worry about.

After all, I’m not going to get involved with the protagonist in this world.

Well, I would heal him if he asked for it, but does that mean I have any reason to fall for Lee Si-yoon? I’d rather fall for a girl.

If possible, someone with a richer and more mature vibe… Yeah, if I must be picky, like one of those receptionists often described in the original story.

Although in the story she was just a supporting character.

“……What is it?”

Hearing my laughter, Ria turned back with a somewhat wary expression.

“Well, you don’t really need to know. Just had some fun thoughts on my own.”

That’s right.

Ria, I’m sorry, but that flag has to be cut down.

The heroine I loved the most in the original was none other than my childhood friend.

Indeed. With a childhood friend heroine in play, other female leads can’t really be considered heroines. If I had to argue, they’d be significant supporting characters. In movie terms, they’re in the category to receive supporting actress awards, not leading roles.

That doesn’t mean I want to pursue my childhood friend heroine. At least in this world, those two should get together.

Well, since I took over the saintess’s position that threatened the real wife’s status in the original, the biggest issue has already been resolved.

“Hehe… wait, wait, what’s this? Why are your fingers suddenly pointing at me? D-Don’t come closer! Don’t point those fingers at me!”

As I struggled to hold back my laughter, for some reason Ria advanced towards me with both her index fingers raised, quickly defending her body with both hands and shouting.

Fortunately, I could protect myself by crossing my arms over my sides, but—

Come on, are you seriously getting jealous over just meeting twice?

Isn’t that a bit too easy?

*

Chae-eun was there that day, even when Anna was holding Lee Si-yoon’s face in her hands.

With both hands wrapping around the face of that man still lying in bed, Anna was making serious eye contact with him.

“Ah, uh…”

Chae-eun stared intently at Lee Si-yoon, who introduced himself as a level 7 Hunter.

He did have a kind-looking face. Just because he was handsome didn’t mean he looked fierce or sinister. At the very least, he didn’t give off a ‘delinquent’ vibe.

He also had a good physique. I wasn’t just judging based on the thin hospital gown. After all, Chae-eun had been alongside Anna while she treated him that day.

“……”

Watching Anna’s reaction, Chae-eun contemplated seriously.

Was this the kind of reaction Anna often showed?

Chae-eun didn’t know Anna for a long time. It’s only been about a month since they met.

However, she had a decent grasp on Anna’s personality. Anna was not someone who was hard to figure out in the first place.

She was excessively honest in everything. She would just lay her feelings bare without hiding anything, so there was no need to dig for more.

She knew a lot about various things. Although Anna had claimed to reject learning about the Scriptures, it was a fact that her grades at the convent’s school were not bad.

However, despite being knowledgeable, Anna seemed excessively naïve. It’s as if she believed everyone else would be as open as she was.

Even if Anna herself would hate such an evaluation, the impression people have about saintesses surprisingly matched up well with this behavior.

However, that didn’t mean she had no wariness towards others.

Is it fortunate or unfortunate, but Anna at least recognized that some people could get excited upon seeing her body.

So, when she returned to check on the patient, she must have been hiding behind the nuns.

“……Huh.”

But the fact that she came forward like this meant…

“……Excuse me, Sister?”

The level 7 Hunter Lee Si-yoon cautiously opened his mouth while glancing around.

He wasn’t the only one staring at him; everyone in the patient room, including the priest, sister warden, nuns, and even the woman patient next to him, was looking at him intently.

Chae-eun was once again convinced by the situation.

This was the first time Anna had ever acted like this.

“……Brother Lee Si-yoon.”

Finally, Anna, who had been staring at him intently, released her grip and spoke up.

“You’re called Brother Lee Si-yoon, right?”

As if confirming, she repeated his name once more, as if committed to remembering it.

“Ah, yes, that’s my name, yes, haha…”

Was that awkward demeanor due to genuine embarrassment? Or was it just a façade?

“Understood.”

Anna nodded and replied.

“You don’t have any other hurting places, right?”

Then, once again, she showed a side she had never revealed to the other patients.

Some of the nuns had already covered their mouths with both hands, and the sister warden appeared utterly bewildered about how to accept this situation.

Among them, only the priest had a serious expression as he moved his gaze around to grasp the situation.

Chae-eun held a similarly serious expression.

This was the first time the innocent, saint-like candidate, who had only been familiar with the small space within the convent’s walls, had taken an interest in a man.

……Chae-eun was someone who possessed enough common sense and consideration not to leave that ‘naive saint candidate’ around that man without any protection.