Chapter 1

Episode 1

An ordinary college student you can see anywhere.

A college student who’s swamped with part-time jobs and assignments, dragged out by a senior they don’t really want to meet, forced to drink alcohol they don’t want to drink, and just living like that.

That was me. I had chosen a major with a mountain of assignments, so I barely had time to enjoy daily life. The only way I could relieve stress was by staring at my phone.

It was something I could enjoy in short bursts and glance at even while doing assignments.

I mainly relieved stress by watching short videos, webtoons, or web novels that I could finish in under 5 minutes.

Life was busy. I liked games, but honestly, I didn’t even have time to play them. At most, maybe an hour or two a week?

That’s how tough my life was, but then something changed. Completely out of nowhere.

I clearly remember finishing my assignments at 4 a.m. and passing out on my desk, but when I woke up, I saw an unfamiliar ceiling.

It was my first time experiencing it, but I was familiar with the situation from countless indirect experiences.

“…Damn, if I knew this would happen, I wouldn’t have done the assignments.”

I had been transported into a novel.

#

Understanding the situation wasn’t a problem. It was a scenario I’d seen often in web novels and webtoons.

The only issue was that I had no idea which novel I’d been transported into.

“I don’t remember reading something like this.”

I lived alone in a house, and outside was an incredibly peaceful village. The novel I’d been reading last night was a zombie apocalypse story, but this place was clearly set in medieval times. The buildings and the lack of cars made that obvious.

I’d read a few medieval fantasy stories, but none with such a peaceful atmosphere. The ones I’d read were usually dark and grim.

As I stood at the front door, deep in thought, someone tapped my shoulder and spoke.

“Hey, Abel. What are you so worried about?”

“…Huh?”

The guy who spoke to me had a funny-looking face. How should I describe it? It might sound rude, but he looked like a monkey with a long philtrum.

Anyway, it seems my name is Abel.

Abel, huh? I don’t remember reading a novel with a character named Abel.

The Monkey Man stared at me silently for a while, then suddenly tried to comfort me.

“Ugh, feeling conflicted about leaving the village, huh? I get it. You’ve lived here for 17 years, so it’s natural.”

“…Leaving the village?”

Why would I?

“Yeah, aren’t you leaving today? The Church is coming to pick you up.”

“Why is the Church looking for me?”

“…Did you eat something weird today? Obviously, it’s because you’re going with the Saintess.”

The Monkey Man looked at me like I was crazy. But I was just confused.

I’m supposed to go somewhere with the Saintess?

I don’t remember reading a novel like that.

In the web novel world, where it’s rare for the Saintess to be a woman, I’ve never read a novel with a Saintess.

“Today’s the day?”

“What’s wrong with your sense of time? Yeah, it’s today. Don’t tell me you didn’t prepare at all?”

I just got transported here, when would I have had time to prepare? The Monkey Man sighed and shook his head when he saw my expression.

“You’re really out of it today. I’ll help you, so let’s get ready quickly.”

The Monkey Man opened the front door and walked in. I’m guessing this is my house?

Putting aside the fact that he just committed trespassing, I followed him inside. Then he said,

“What’s this? You’re all prepared?”

“Huh?”

Where he pointed, there was a bundle of luggage and a huge sword that I hadn’t prepared.

The question of why there was something I hadn’t prepared was quickly answered. The original owner of this body must have prepared it.

‘…By the way, if I’ve taken over this body, where did the original owner go?’

No idea. More importantly, I want to know what that huge sword in front of me is.

“What’s that?”

“Your sword.”

“My sword?”

“Are you really okay today? That’s the Holy Sword, the symbol that you were chosen as the Hero.”

When the Monkey Man mentioned the Holy Sword, I froze.

Holy Sword. A term I was all too familiar with. Usually, the one who wields the Holy Sword is the protagonist, and you don’t even need to say what their job is.

“…I’m the Hero?”

“Yeah. Did you have a bad dream or something? You’re acting like an idiot.”

“…No, sorry. I’m just out of it.”

It wouldn’t be good if the Monkey Man kept questioning my behavior. What if he thinks I’m really crazy?

I’ve got a grasp on the situation now. So, I’m the Hero, and today the Church is coming to pick me up to go on an adventure with the Saintess.

From the looks of it, it seems like a typical Hero’s party novel. But I…

I’ve never read anything like this before.

“Why on earth did I get possessed by a novel I don’t even know?”

It’s full of questions. A hero, a saint, a journey, an adventure… No matter how much I think about it, I’ve never read a novel like this.

“…Ah.”

Suddenly, something came to mind.

I didn’t read it. I didn’t read it, but I enjoyed the author’s previous work so much that I pre-ordered the new one as soon as it came out.

The author’s previous work was a novel that perfectly matched my taste and was so entertaining that I clicked on every chapter, left comments, and followed along. I even supported it quite a bit.

So, when the new work came out, I pre-ordered it first. I remember the title was something like ‘The Hero Traveling with Some Saintess.’ I can’t remember the exact words at the beginning.

So, does that mean I got possessed by a novel that only had a few chapters and I hadn’t even read? That fact was just absurd.

“Abel, the people from the Church are outside. Let’s go out quickly. Pack your things and come out!”

The Monkey Man told me to hurry up and come out, then went outside first.

…But what’s his name?

Through the window, I could see several people dressed in white. The silver crosses on their pure white clothes made it clear to anyone that they were from the Church.

And among them was a woman in a white nun’s habit. Her eyes sparkled dazzlingly in the sunlight, and her face looked as pure as snow.

‘…Is she the Saintess?’

Even I, who am not from this world, could tell at a glance. It was like her face had ‘Saintess’ written all over it.

I guess I should follow the Monkey Man’s advice and pack my things to go out. I picked up the belongings prepared by the owner of this body and took the Holy Sword.

“…It’s lighter than I thought.”

The weight was not burdensome at all. Seeing such a massive sword so light, it must be the real Holy Sword.

Otherwise, the weight wouldn’t make sense. It’s impossible for a sword that reaches my chest to be this light.

As I stepped outside with the Holy Sword and my belongings, many villagers had gathered. The Monkey Man, who was among them, shouted.

“Abel, hurry up and come out!”

“…Yeah, sorry.”

Unable to resist his urging, I approached, and a man who seemed to be from the Church spoke.

“Hero Abel, please greet her. This is the benevolent Saintess of our Solaria Church, Estelle.”

She really suited the word ‘benevolent.’ She looked at me with a gentle smile. I guess I should bow first.

“…Hello.”

“Hello, Hero. I am Estelle, a faithful servant of the Solaria Goddess.”

“…I’m Abel.”

I only introduced my name. It didn’t seem like I would have a surname living alone in this rural village.

But since the Saintess also only gave her name, she must be from a commoner background as well.

“Then, Saintess, I wish you a safe journey.”

“Yes, thank you, everyone.”

The people from the Church who had brought the Saintess all bowed their heads in unison. It seems she is highly revered in the Church.

After the Church people left, the Saintess, now alone, quietly looked at me.

“I would like to talk with the Hero, could everyone please give us some space?”

“Ah, yes, of course.”

At the Saintess’s words, the villagers began to leave one by one. As they did, the Monkey Man tapped me and said.

“Good luck, Abel! I’ll be cheering for you! Make sure to visit the village sometime!”

“…Yeah, thanks.”

After the still-nameless Monkey Man left, I was left alone with the Saintess. Her dazzling amber eyes met mine, and the corners of her eyes curved into a smile.

I felt as if she was scrutinizing me from head to toe. After looking me over, she finally spoke.

And the words that flowed from her lips left me wide-eyed.

“…To think I have to travel with such a mediocre hero, I wonder what will become of me.”

“Huh?”

Her attitude suddenly changed. Her voice wasn’t cold, but it felt like she was belittling me while also seeming amused.

“Hero, have you ever been in a battle?”

“No.”

“Then have you ever wielded a sword?”

“…No?”

What college student would have fought in battles or wielded a sword? When I answered honestly, the Saintess chuckled lightly.

“Ahaha, I see. So you really are a mediocre hero~? A hero who doesn’t even know how to fight, pfft.”

“……”

“What should I do? I might have to fight hard in place of such a mediocre hero~.”

What’s wrong with this girl?

The expression and demeanor she had just moments ago, saying ‘I am the Saintess,’ had completely vanished, and her sudden change in attitude left me stunned. I was startled by her expression.

“Mediocre hero, I’ll fight hard, so you can just relax and watch from the back~♡”

The corners of her eyes curved, and she wore a uniquely arrogant smile. I know that expression all too well from reading web novels.

And then I remembered. The title of that novel I had only pre-ordered.

‘F***.’

The part I couldn’t remember from the title ‘○○○○ Saintess and the Hero Traveling Together,’

The word that filled that blank was ‘Mesugaki.’