Chapter 59

I can’t help but be aware of Ria, thinking about it.

First of all, even though I pushed my childhood friend, the heroine Han Yu-ri, to the side, I didn’t dislike the other heroines.

The illustrations drawn by the author were pretty. Each of them had their own stories and their own struggles.

The setting of being childhood friends is sacred in itself, but ironically, that’s why it doesn’t suit me. I mean, they are ‘childhood friends’ after all.

No matter how handsome I was reincarnated as a man in this world, naturally, there’s no way I’d squeeze in there. I mean, come on, a male character trying to wedge himself between a pure love couple? They deserve to die. Every time I see such a character, I feel like my internal injuries from wearing my disguise are being poked at.

So, what about the heroines left after that pure love ending?

Hmm, well…

In web novels, having a harem often just means that the protagonist accepts those harem heroines. In reality, it may look like an octopus’s limbs, but within a novel, isn’t it fine to live such a dream?

Even if it doesn’t connect with other heroines, it’s a sort of unwritten rule that we don’t show scenes of those heroines dating other male characters or getting married.

That’s… right, it’s a kind of courtesy. Just like how we don’t describe every meal the protagonist eats in the story, or how we don’t bother to describe him going to the bathroom, there’s no need to ‘specifically’ show those beautiful, fit, and capable girls moving on from a heartbreak to date other guys, even if it’s realistic.

Why not just leave it unnailed and within the realm of imagination?

Isn’t it a bit much to call that ‘nothing special’ or say ‘live in reality’?

“…Ugh.”

But the problem with my head having such thoughts was precisely that.

No matter how much someone raised a claim for just one heroine in a harem story, no one wants to see that heroine dating another guy, as I said before.

It’s the same for me; I’m generally resistant to NTR, BSS, and hardcore humiliation genres, so it goes without saying.

So logically speaking, imagining about Ria is a bit problematic for me.

Get out of my head!

…Though I’d love to scream that out loud, unfortunately, Ria shares the same room as me. Even if she’s currently in the shower and I can hear water, Ria has extraordinary fighting power as a martial arts heroine.

If I accidentally let out a weird sound, she’d definitely hear it over the water noise.

“Ugh.”

Bringing up the shower made me remember that Ria, who shares the same room, is currently showering.

This was a web novel serialized on Novelpia and a harem story, so perhaps Ria’s IF story would also be published later. There may have even been nude illustrations released, but I have never seen that.

However, somehow, I could imagine it. They do say that the best graphics card in the world is the human brain.

…Am I going through puberty?

I thought I had already passed that phase in this world.

No, well, still, I know it’s a ridiculously unrealistic story.

The chances of Ria and me ending up together are almost zero. Rather, since I retain most of my memories from my previous life, it’s understandable that I’d feel sexual attraction to women, but Ria just… how should I put it, didn’t seem to like men.

It was a harem, after all.

She fought with the Saintess every single time.

…No, I hadn’t been this aware of it until just a moment ago. Why is this suddenly happening?

Perhaps it’s a side effect of the flower-viewing outing I had with Ria not long ago.

No matter how rational and logical a person is, they are still human. It’s impossible to block or erase all the thoughts that pop into our heads instinctively. Just like how, after watching a horror movie, there are lingering imaginations, it’s impossible to easily stop the ‘imagination’ in other categories.

“Hoo.”

But no matter what, I didn’t want to think such thoughts about a heroine.

I got up from my spot and sat cross-legged on the bed.

I placed my hands on my knees and took a deep breath, exhaling.

Alright.

Let’s think peaceful thoughts.

Just as I was about to meditate while focusing on my breathing, the shower room door swung open.

“!?”

Startled, I opened my eyes and quickly shut them again as I saw Ria come out, her wet hair being squeezed with a towel while she had a bath towel wrapped around her body.

Well, most of her body was covered, but still… isn’t that a bit much?

Sure, I had shared a short room with other girls before, but none of them acted like that.

“Huh? What?”

Ria said nonchalantly as if nothing were wrong.

“If you’ve finished showering, you should have dried yourself off before coming out!”

When I finally responded to her comment, Ria laughed as if she found it absurd.

“What’s the big deal? We’re both girls.”

“No, that’s not how it works at the convent!”

In truth, I’m not too sure how it goes elsewhere. Don’t you think most people at least maintain a basic level of decorum with the same sex? I mean, even if I sleep in my underwear, I wear clothes when living day-to-day, right?

“I’m wearing underwear, though.”

“Is the issue that you’re wearing underwear? It’s the fact that you’re only wearing underwear!”

“But I have a towel around me.”

“We don’t call a towel clothing!”

“Come on, don’t be so sensitive! It’s not a big deal—”

“…Hey, Ria. Have you ever lived in a dorm? Or have you ever lived with a friend?”

“…No, I haven’t.”

I slapped my forehead.

Of course, my eyes were still shut tight.

“Uh, was that a no-no?”

“No, it’s just that it’s a bit strange to say that it’s fine. But wouldn’t that be a little embarrassing?”

Well, they do say that some people go to the bathhouse together, but I’ve never been to a women’s bathhouse, so I’m not sure. At the very least, I have a sense of decency.

Originally, the chance to go out there in this world was unlikely, to begin with.

Speaking of dorm life, Ria probably hasn’t even been to a public bath. Isn’t it natural? Home baths would be much larger and more convenient.

“But I’ve seen you before.”

“I’ve never come out covered with just a towel!?”

Even though I look like this, I’m still quite conscious! There might be the occasional mishap, but—

Flustered and wide-eyed, I finally faced Ria and saw her appearance up close.

As much as I’d said her face was pretty, her body was, of course, beautiful. Even though the towel was hiding her waist, that only stimulated the imagination even more.

I ultimately flopped back down onto the bed.

With my face buried, I couldn’t help but struggle in embarrassment while Ria laughed.

I will get my revenge.

One day, I will get my revenge.

How exactly would I make Ria feel embarrassed? Well, anyway, I will get my revenge.

…But if there’s a silver lining to this, it’s that a bit of my anxiety has somehow dwindled.

Not that I’m particularly grateful for it.

*

Even though I’m a Saint Candidate and not yet a Saintess, if someone has power within the church, it’s only natural to assist the Hunters.

No matter how competent the Hunters are, that doesn’t mean the government or the church doesn’t interfere at all. The government collects taxes for various reasons, and the church needs other sources of income other than the donations and offerings from believers.

I’m not too sure how much tax the government collects and how those funds are used, but it’s actually true that the church has a hard time just running on the donations from believers alone.

Tithing and that kind of concept hasn’t disappeared in modern times, but it’s always at the discretion of the person giving. Since there are no records of them directly speaking to ‘God,’ this weakens their legitimacy for collecting money somewhat.

It’s understandable that they’d resort to selling holy water or treating patients instead of hospitals to receive generous donations.

“So, are you okay?”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Ria suddenly asked me while I was sitting blankly at my desk with my textbook in front of me, and I tilted my head in confusion.

“It’s your power, right? If you use your power, the church just takes the money.”

Well, that’s true.

Up until now, the treatments I’ve provided weren’t entirely for free either. They likely had a regular contribution akin to a subscription model, so I could get rushed over to the church without any inquiries or hesitations.

“……”

I couldn’t answer that question.

In the past, if I quit being a nun, it was over, but now things are different.

I merely opened my textbook on the desk.

Lecture time.

Although it’s not an academy, since we’ll be moving around with Hunters, we also take classes to have at least the basic knowledge. The atmosphere of the classes is surprisingly similar to a university lecture, except for the content related to what the Hunters do.

Right now, we’re temporarily taking classes in this association building, which isn’t too far away, but once a proper curriculum for me and Ria is established, they will send a proper instructor.

It was the same in the original story. Separate lectures were held specifically for the protagonist’s party.

That’s why the protagonist, Lee Si-yoon, could roam freely in and out of the church.

…

Uh, but wait, isn’t Lee Si-yoon still unable to awaken his powers here?

What’s going to happen going forward?