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Linne had settled into her new home better than expected.

The academy’s dormitory for four was quite spacious. In fact, the single and double rooms were much too large for just one or two people.

Despite the ample space, there were two bunk beds provided to use the space efficiently.

And the upper bunks were connected by a net. That net became Linne’s space.

After all, what kind of sleep can a ghost have, and hiding inside Yuli makes that space rather pointless, but it was a net bed bought over the weekend for Linne, who desired her own space.

Since it was a net bed, it literally provided just enough space to lie down, but Linne loved that space so much that even though she could float in the air, she always chose to lay or sit on the bed.

It looked hard to find balance, but that was exactly the part she resolved by floating like a ghost.

*

“So, what brings you here today?”

“I’m feeling quite troubled these days. I was hoping you could at least give me some advice.”

I was at the temple in the village where I first met her.

I didn’t know why she was at the temple in the village instead of the one in the academy, but Mariel always made time to come here every weekend.

Most people, like my past self who had no connection with Mariel, were unaware of this fact.

“Hmm. Listening to stories is indeed a saint’s role!”

To be precise, it’s the general nuns who usually offer confessions and various advice… but a saint can do that too.

“Well, it’s not exactly a monumental story…”

Thud!

I was about to start a proper conversation when Mariel suddenly held up her palm to stop me.

It was like trying to halt a misbehaving puppy.

“If you want advice, you have to pay a fee! You’re not a stranger, so I’ll do it for just 10 silver per hour!”

Of course, if you could buy the saint’s time for just a few dozen silver, it would practically be a freebie, but she was still overtly money-driven.

“…Other nuns don’t charge for that, you know?”

“That’s their business. I’m the only representative of Goddess Serena! You can’t think of me like other nuns!”

That not only disrespects the other nuns but also borders on blasphemy.

Ah, Goddess Serena, why did you choose such a girl as a saint? I’m beginning to doubt your judgment.

Oh! Speaking of which, Goddess Serena also chose me as a hero. Hmm. That makes sense.

Looking at how she chose me over Selian, I certainly questioned the goddess’s judgment…

But I decided to stop as I feared I might really get smitten by divine retribution for continuing such thoughts.

By the way…

“It’s odd that a hero pays the saint for counsel.”

I prodded once more, hoping against hope,

“Oh, is there any story about how heroes in the past didn’t pay the saint for advice?”

“Surely that couldn’t be the case, right?”

Of course, it could be. What kind of saint would rob their hero?

But our saint had a very unique mindset.

“Then perhaps past heroes might have paid fees to their saint for counsel.”

“By that logic, they might have not paid it either, right?”

But, logically, that would be the obvious answer.

“Exactly. Nobody knows, so it’s not strange to charge for advice. And as I mentioned earlier, 10 silver an hour is quite cheap!”

“…I understand.”

In the end, since the one seeking advice was at a disadvantage, I declared my surrender first.

After all, when you think of it, 10 silver per hour is really just the cost of a drink and dessert at a café.

“So, what do you want to discuss?”

Mariel, who had stuffed the 10 silver she practically wrested from me into her pocket, asked.

“As I mentioned before, it’s not a big deal, just wanted to vent.”

“Well… Hearing that makes me feel a bit bad for taking 10 silver. But of course, the saint’s dictionary doesn’t allow refunds.”

I held back the urge to ask what kind of dictionary that was and continued.

“I’ll probably have to set out on an adventure to defeat the Demon King soon, right?”

“Well… It is a hero’s destiny. Are you worried?”

“It would be a lie if I said I’m not worried… but it’s not that overwhelming.”

“Don’t be too nervous. The saint will always be by your side, so you won’t be alone.”

While it seemed to be something I should be touched by, my inner translation twisted it to sound like “I’ll just keep following you and keep skimming off your wallet.”

I wanted to blame my lack of faith for this.

“Can we really defeat the Demon King?”

The hero is the only true opponent of the Demon King. However, conversely, the hero could also be defeated by the Demon King.

Even the continent’s strongest Sword Master couldn’t defeat him; how can I, who is weaker than them, imagine killing the Demon King?

“If I can’t defeat the Demon King… if the continent falls into his hands…”

Just not long ago, I had been pondering whether to follow Selian to face the Demon King, valuing my own life too much.

Of course, now that I’m a hero, that consideration has become pointless.

“Honestly, I can’t imagine defeating the Demon King. There are plenty of stronger people than me.”

Can someone who can’t even value their own life truly protect the continent?

“Well… I can understand you saying that as a hero, but as a saint, I wonder if it’s okay for me to say this… don’t stress too much.”

“What?”

“The Goddess Serena probably chose you after careful thought. It’s simply because she thinks you are more suited to being a hero and more capable of defeating the Demon King than anyone else.”

I find it even more puzzling why a goddess, who knows everything, would choose someone like me.

I’m the exact opposite of a self-sacrificing hero.

I was indeed an assassin who survived by killing others.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean you can lose to the Demon King, and the future is unknown, so don’t worry too much.”

“But I can’t help but worry.”

“If worrying and fretting can lead to growth, then it’s necessary. But is your current worrying really that kind?”

“…No.”

“Well, it’s hard to act on what you know. So…”

She suddenly stood up, grabbed my hand, and led me outside.

I followed her obediently, thinking she must have something in mind, and we ended up at a café near the temple.

After ordering in the quiet café with barely anyone around, Mariel returned with two drinks and handed one to me.

“Here, drink up. The drink cost will be covered by the counseling fee.”

For a statement that sounded generous, it was just the cheapest Americano on the menu, but I took it quietly and took a sip.

“What were we talking about…? Ah!”

Sitting across from me at an outdoor table, Mariel continued,

“Instead of worrying like that, wouldn’t it be better to have a little more fun? Like going on a date, for example.”

“A… date?!”

“Oh? Why is your face suddenly red? Don’t tell me our hero is into that…?”

“If anyone hears such a joke suddenly, they’d be flustered!”

Of course, being a guy, she wasn’t wrong, but I certainly couldn’t reveal that.

“Oh my, don’t take it so seriously; it was just a joke.”

From her tone and playful giggle, thankfully she seemed to not have noticed it was anything but a joke.

“Anyway, practice is good, but enjoying yourself when you can is not a bad thing. Solving fundamental issues is hard, but worrying excessively won’t help. You know, there’s a saying that a healthy mind requires a healthy body, right?”

…Isn’t it the other way around? A healthy body is necessary for a healthy mind?

“And as I mentioned earlier, the future is unknown to everyone. So it’s only natural to be afraid of it. But that’s why everyone learns what’s right and wrong through their past and moves forward.”

After saying this, Mariel, still sitting at the café table, clasped her hands together, closed her eyes, and offered a short prayer to the goddess.

“Even the Goddess Serena can’t promise the future.”

Even saying that the goddess can’t assure the future wouldn’t ease my anxiety, yet somehow my heart felt lighter.

“Alright! So that wraps up our counseling! From now on, it’s dating time for the saint and the hero!”

Is she still on about that date?

Yet, thanks to her bright energy, I felt brighter too.

“Feel free to ask for advice again later if you need it! I’ll always listen.”

Standing up and turning back toward me, Mariel was truly a saint in every sense.

“Of course, don’t forget about the counseling fee!”

Except for that last part.