Chapter 135

I thought commissioning would cost money, but it seems the association decided not to charge me for this request.

Sure, I’ve helped the association, but it feels like they were considering my position more than anything.

Well, I guess it would be a bit strange to refuse the chance to make a weapon using materials stained with the blood of someone who might become a Saintess just because of a lack of funds.

After that request, Ria seemed to fall into deep thought and firmly shut her mouth.

I didn’t know what to say to Ria, so I kept my mouth shut as well.

Anyway, class was already over, and right afterward, we returned almost directly to the Cathedral.

After showering and preparing to lie down on the bed, it seemed my head had finally cleared a little, and Ria opened her mouth.

“How did you come up with the idea of making a weapon from your blood?”

“Uh, well…”

The meaning of a holy relic can have various interpretations. Objects used by a saint during their lifetime, things they touched, or even their remains themselves.

In the past, some religions would place parts of a saint’s body as holy relics within the cathedral after their death.

Of course, there are no relics in that sense now. There were “holy items” I made, however.

I’m not a Saintess yet, just a Saint Candidate, but any item containing immense ‘Saint Power’ becomes imbued with power itself. In my case, I didn’t even need a stone; I could create a substance that directly touches the Saint Power with my hands.

However, the lump of Saint Power made in such a manner has an incredibly short duration, and it takes a lot of effort to create it, so I didn’t force myself to make it every time.

So, I thought of using a part of my body.

…Not that I planned to slice off any flesh or anything. I did briefly entertain the thought that even if I cut off a finger, it could be healed with the Saint Power, but it seemed painful and visually horrific, so I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

It also felt oddly unsettling to use my hair or nails.

Ultimately, I decided on the idea of using my skin, which I could extract with just a needle.

“There are holy relics, you know.”

I spoke carefully.

“It seems my body is a little different from an ordinary person, after all.”

But that seemed to be quite shocking for Ria.

“Different from an ordinary person?”

Ria asked back.

Now I was pondering what to say again.

If I say I have a body different from an ordinary person, how would Ria accept that?

If someone who uses power incomparably greater than other priests and casually does things others can’t, and that someone is even a being receiving prophecies, says they have a body different from others, most would likely think that’s not a good sign.

…Well, if we’re being honest, my body isn’t exactly ordinary. Whether the original Saintess was like this or if this world originally didn’t have any being like a Saintess, I couldn’t tell.

“I’ve already absorbed way too much power.”

But I wasn’t fully sure about this part either, so I explained it that way for now.

“Even a small pebble can absorb the Saint Power and become a holy item. So how about a human body? I’ve heard that some renowned priests heal from wounds much faster than others.”

I think it makes perfect sense if the blood inside my body itself possesses Saint Power. Even if at first, this body became just like any other ordinary person’s.

“So, you thought about making a weapon from your blood?”

Well, yes, that’s true.

“…Isn’t that taking it too far? Do you really think I would spread this around to others?”

Of course, I would never think that.

“…”

But Ria looked like she was deep in thought about something.

“If you do something like that, you won’t even get a proper burial when you die.”

“I know that. They would probably chop up my body and distribute it everywhere. Or maybe someone would appear wanting to do that while I’m still alive.”

While they might not go as far as to chop off my arms and legs, it’s not impossible that they’d demand to draw blood from me regularly.

In fact, just a little blood can imbue that stone with power. Far more efficiently than me pouring the Saint Power directly into it.

…Thinking about it, drawing a bit of blood every few months wouldn’t be a big deal, would it? It should be useful if it’s available?

“Hey.”

Ria suddenly grabbed my shoulder tightly, pulling her face closer.

She was looking slightly down at me since we were both standing.

With a shadow cast over her face, it was a little frightening.

“How can you say something like that so calmly?”

“…I’m just stating the facts. You can tell from my clothes that I’m not a Saintess, right? Even though I’m not a Saintess, people think I’m in that position.”

“…”

Although she looked a little scary—honestly, it wasn’t really frightening.

I could somewhat understand what Ria was thinking.

She was worried about me.

I didn’t plan on dying, but after all, isn’t it the truth that a person can die in any form, at any time? Especially since I had been jumping into situations I felt could become a significant problem for this world, I was a human who always had a chance of not dying in a pretty way.

In that situation, if I were to die—and if my remains got taken by the church, and if they were chopped up and scattered to deify me across the world—

What would my friend Ria think watching that?

“Well then, let’s do this, Ria.”

I said to Ria with a calm expression.

The reason Ria was showing such a face was that it scared her. Like a frightened puppy barking louder, Ria was expressing her feelings this way.

“If anything happens to me, my remains should belong to you.”

Ria’s face went blank at my words.

“You know I have no family in this world, right? If I die, I’ll be considered a loner.”

It would probably get somewhat complicated. Being part of the church means they would likely claim my remains, but—

“But if I don’t want that to happen, I want you to take me with you.”

“…”

But Ria didn’t look okay at all at my words.

She just stared at me with an expression that seemed drained of any spirit.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Ria muttered in a daze.

“…Ria?”

“What do you mean by that!?”

Ria’s grip on my shoulder tightened.

“Did you see something? Did you hear some prophecy about how you’re going to turn out in the future or something?”

“Huh? No, not at all.”

“Then why are you saying that…!”

“Well, because it’s the truth.”

Ria stared at me intently.

“I have no family. I’m all alone in this world, so if something were to happen to me, my remains would quite literally end up in the hands of the church. Or maybe the government would want to take them? Perhaps some research facility would covet them. And to prevent that, someone who is just like family to me needs to take care of that.”

And I thought that could be Ria.

Wait, would it be too heavy a burden?

“…”

Ria’s expression turned strange. Although she still looked angry, worried, and incredulous, at the same time, her face was slowly reddening as if she felt somewhat embarrassed.

“And, Ria.”

I gently lifted my hand to Ria’s cheek and said.

“That’s assuming the very worst-case scenario. I’m confident that you will keep me safe. Nothing like that will happen as long as I’m with you.”

This was genuine.

In any situation, there’s no such thing as a 100% guarantee. Even in the worst-case scenarios, it can’t be completely ruled out that I could die with Ria by my side.

But even so, I felt that the chances of that happening would be incredibly low as long as Ria was there.

It’s not really a logical thought. It’s just that I want to trust Ria that much.

“And I want to help you fight. I’ll provide you with whatever I can.”

“…You think I’d be happy about that?”

Looking up at Ria, who seemed to be sulking, I squinted.

“Who would be happy knowing someone is dying in their place? When fighting, you have to use everything you have to win.”

“…That doesn’t mean you have to bleed yourself.”

“In battle, bleeding is unavoidable. Unless there’s a vast difference in skill, we aren’t fighting in such a safe environment, right?”

“…”

As I calmly stated my opinion bit by bit, Ria’s expression slowly returned to normal.

“Well, fine.”

I took my hand off Ria’s face and said.

“Then, from now on, if there’s something I need to do, I’ll get your permission first. Since I’m in a position where I rely on you, it makes sense to tell you if I’m going to hurt myself. Sorry for proceeding without a word this time.”

“Uh, sure.”

At my words, Ria dropped her hands.

She took a few awkward steps back, scratching her head, and then said.

“But is it really okay with that?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, if everything I do requires your permission, it feels a bit….”

“It feels like I’m restricting you?”

“No, I didn’t think it was that serious.”

I thought about it for a moment.

If someone else had said that to me, I would definitely have been angry and annoyed. In this case, I brought it up first, so it was okay.

But why is that?

If it were anyone other than Ria, I wouldn’t have said such a thing.

“…”

Lost in thought, I suddenly recalled when Ria grabbed my shoulders tightly.

Her face was close, our bodies were close.

My face flushed. I was oddly enjoying that situation.

There was no need to ask why. Because it was Ria.

“I don’t know.”

I sulked and quickly flopped down onto the bed.

“Hey….”

Ria seemed a bit flustered as she lightly placed her hand on my shoulder and mumbled a few excuses.

I knew it would be a bit uncomfortable just to leave it like this.

…But there was no way I could let my flushed face show.

Ultimately, after shaking my shoulder a bit as though trying to soothe me, Ria realized the situation felt a little strange and decided to finish it all by tickling my waist.

Well, as long as it ended with smiles at the end, I thought that was good enough.