Chapter 178

Chapter 17: Humility and Refusal

Two weeks had passed since then. In other words, a little time had gone by since the New Year.

After that, Ria continued to treat me well. However, the atmosphere was slightly different than usual.

The wall that had been briefly set up when we first met had long since crumbled, and since the weather had gotten truly cold, we were sharing the same bed every day.

So, it’s safe to say that we were definitely not distant from each other.

But lately, a few new things had been added to Ria’s behavior. Up until a little while ago, she hardly clung to me in front of others, but now she held my hand or linked arms with me wherever I went. Even couples in other worlds, who unabashedly kiss in public, kept a respectable distance around others, yet Ria did not.

I didn’t refuse it. Honestly, I didn’t mind it at all.

Additionally, when we had to sit somewhere, Ria would often pull me onto her lap. Well, she still seemed somewhat conscious of others; she wouldn’t do that if there were a few nuns around our age nearby.

Especially in front of the Sister Warden and the priests. No matter how daring Ria was, maybe she feared being excommunicated?

…Though now I was beginning to question if they would really excommunicate her over something like this.

Well, it was nice. It was bewildering, but still, I liked Ria. Why would I ruin the chance to sit on Ria’s lap with my own hands? After all, I was the one who had allowed it.

Besides, it was a bit difficult to call that act outright lewd. After all, high school girls sometimes sit like this, right?

…

Honestly, I didn’t know much about it. I’ve never been a high school girl. I only received high school-level education as a nun.

I didn’t have any friends to begin with.

Anyway.

So, I simply thought it was nice regarding those two behaviors. It wasn’t that I had no shame, but it was still nice.

However, what I’m about to describe next is a different story.

For some reason, Ria kept kissing me. Not on the lips, but on the cheek.

*Chirp.*

Well, it wasn’t something she did very often. She didn’t do it in front of anyone. It was just a random peck whenever I said something nice or complimented Ria, or really, anytime Ria was particularly in a good mood.

What on earth was this about?

I mean, I knew the reason. That kiss I had given Ria must have been the issue. After that, it felt like a limit had been lifted.

At first, I thought she was just teasing me. Every time Ria kissed my cheek, I was so startled that I looked at her in surprise.

Maybe it was her way of telling me how ridiculous my action was.

But after two weeks of this, I started thinking differently.

Could she possibly have another motive?

Seeing the bright smile that bloomed on her face every time I jumped in surprise made me think that might be the case, yet I couldn’t bring myself to ask for further clarification.

I just grew more and more disappointed, wondering if there was something else behind this.

…

No matter how I thought about it, I didn’t feel like I was suited to be a Saintess.

“Haah.”

When I sighed deeply, Ria tilted her head.

I couldn’t even ask directly, and I was too scared to take a step forward. I simply collapsed into Ria’s embrace and just let it be.

For the first time in a while, I felt a little annoyed.

*

Despite everything, daily life continued on.

News of my having saved another world reached me for the fourth time now. Though, two of those times involved Gnomes and Dwarves, and if we’re being precise, those two worlds were technically one world, so I suppose I should count it as one time, but it seemed that people didn’t think so.

Moreover, the last world—the one with Anna and Mari—was, to be honest, somewhat questionable to call a ‘rescue’.

I had been unilaterally kidnapped and then escaped, and now that world… um, well, it’s now completely empty.

“You don’t need to feel guilty just for helping others.”

I don’t know how it came to this, but anyway, Mari reacted that way when she heard what I said.

“There’s no way you could have been at fault for not knowing beforehand. You probably didn’t even know such a world existed. In fact, it’s you who rescued us when we didn’t even need saving.”

“…”

Hearing that made me feel a bit embarrassed.

I didn’t feel bad. I’m not the type who hates receiving compliments. As long as they weren’t trying to put me on the Saintess pedestal, it was fine.

“Moreover—”

Mari was about to say something when my waist was suddenly gripped tightly. It wasn’t like she was pulling at my clothes; a hand had slipped around my slim waist and pulled me toward herself.

It was Ria.

When I turned to look at Ria, she was staring intently at me.

…Why?

Mari was smirking as she looked at the two of us. She had a look that seemed to say she understood how things were going. That was somewhat of a mystery too.

Could it be that Anna had told her the story she had in mind? Because that seemed like a pretty severe misunderstanding.

“—Besides, if you pile all the blame on yourself like that, what will happen to those who helped rescue you?”

I had nothing to say to that.

“Even if you pretend to discount your contributions, lifting up everyone else’s achievements is not quite a favorable habit. Your close ones may support you, but there will always be those who want to take advantage of that.”

It felt like some piercingly insightful advice, and I was grateful, but—

Somehow, the more I talked to Mari, the stronger Ria’s hold around my waist seemed to get.

Looking up at Ria as if to say “Really?” she only smiled back at me.

It was a smile I liked.

Did she know that I liked it? If she did, and she had no intention of returning those feelings, then Ria would likely distance herself from me. She was quite perceptive after all.

So, this was probably just her being clueless and taking pleasure from teasing a close friend.

I probably never had a friend like this before.

Put simply, a friend of an equal standing, perhaps?

In fact, I could even say I was in the higher position, so that made it even more comfortable for me. There was no reason for me to treat Ria strategically.

Forget it, I just leaned my face entirely on Ria’s shoulder, and only then did she loosen her grip around my waist a little.

Now I felt like I was slowly grasping how to respond. Ria wasn’t as bulldozer-like as I thought, and oddly enough, when I charged in like this, she pulled back just a little.

While this was happening, Mari was looking at us with a somewhat bemused smile.

*

Mari said that if I didn’t take the initiative, there would definitely be someone trying to take my spot.

The reason I hesitated was simple: I had no intention of becoming a Saintess. I was stubborn enough to still hold my ground even in this situation.

The Church stepping back now felt beneficial. As long as the Church was satisfied with me donning the white nun’s habit, it seemed they were content.

However, amidst this chaotic environment, there was one organization I hadn’t been paying attention to.

The organization governing this country was not solely the Church. In terms of power, the Church was not even at the top. They held a decent position of support and were responsible for some of the nation’s health and welfare, but because they were too tied up in that stuff, their range of influence was quite limited.

So, if we’re talking about where the rest of the power resided, it was naturally the government.

“Uh… so, um.”

I mumbled as I looked at Kim Hyun-gang sitting in front of me.

He was the president of the Hunter Association where I took classes, and the person Ria calls Uncle. He had a swimming pool and a shooting range at home… Ah, that’s not relevant right now.

“The government people have requested collaboration?”

Once again, I slowly repeated what I had heard, almost as if to confirm it.

“They didn’t mention anything about wanting to meet directly.”

He probably figured I’d refuse outright, so he decided to start with that bit of information. At least that was a relief.

After all, I was a ‘nun’. There had been a small incident around Christmas when a reporter mistook me for a ‘Saintess’, but in reality, I wasn’t in a position to face the president or people of that stature.

Not that they could do anything to me, but if we were to rank positions, I was just an ordinary citizen.

Generally, the government and the Church didn’t interfere with each other.

“Considering the people living here are politically in high positions…”

“…”

Well, that was true.

I wiped my face with my hand.

I thought the topic would come up eventually.

Of course, it was never something I hoped would come up.