Chapter 74

Chapter 74 – The Great Existence (4)

That day, life changed. The priests from the continent’s foremost church came to visit Melissa, the daughter of an innkeeper.

“Behold. This is proof that you are the prospective saintess!”

Having arrived through a method left by the former saintess, they mixed her blood with holy water, showing how it glowed and enhanced healing powers, proving that she was indeed born with the qualities of a saintess.

“Finally! I can escape this damned rural town!”

Her adoptive parents, who had abused her whenever they got the chance, were also pleased with the considerable reward offered by the church, but of course, the one who was happiest was Melissa herself.

To leave this filthy, cramped, smelly place and go to a glamorous city where she could live a prosperous life.

A saintess is a precious existence that other forces, beyond the church, cannot recklessly harm. When her power is needed, whether by a lord or royalty, they will humbly seek her strength.

The wealthy of the city, adorned with jewels, as well as the noble ladies of aristocratic families and the princesses of the royal court, would kneel before her, and Melissa could hardly contain her joy and excitement.

“This is Ian, born under the star of the hero. Since you both are of similar age, if you train together, no one will dare challenge you.”

That wasn’t all. Before coming to her, they had already brought along a boy.

This boy, from humble peasant origins like her own, was said to be a descendant of the hero, and Melissa naturally picked up on his scent.

Her ‘lover’, who would enhance her authority as a saintess. The priests were also eager to foster a close relationship between the two to secure both the hero and the saintess.

“Honestly, I still don’t understand. I can’t do anything except dig with a shovel or use a pick… I can’t even read.”

“You need to get yourself together, Ian. You can learn those things. We’re still young, and even in ten years, we’ll only be in our mid-twenties. If we play our cards right, this world can be ours.”

“But the priests said the world is currently facing a crisis of erosion. How can we take our time…?”

“How vast is the world? There’s no way it’ll collapse that quickly. Don’t have a weak heart. Enjoy everything you can.”

Inside the carriage they rode together, whenever she was with the other priests, Melissa would smile brightly and act maturely, but when she was alone with Ian, her eyes would change like a beast, and she would cling to him, starting to instill her dreams in him.

Ian, too innocent to catch on properly, wouldn’t understand, but as long as she stayed close and manipulated him, he would ultimately move according to her desires.

Though once Ian fully awakened as the hero, she wouldn’t be able to pinch or scratch him secretly, she was destined to become the saintess. No matter how much Ian might resist, he wouldn’t be able to do anything against her.

“Do you really dislike it? I don’t think it’s such a difficult task.”

“Of course, I feel sorry for that kid’s situation…”

In the meantime, Melissa encountered someone who was obstructing their march. A trivial existence that no longer dared to look at her.

When she turned her head to show only to Ian, she smiled wickedly, but she instantly changed her expression and shed tears at the priest’s words.

What does it matter if the father of some lowly girl she didn’t even know died? Melissa herself had been doing fine without her father since the moment she was born.

She didn’t care if some unknown person died. She hated the pricking from having her blood drawn, and she hated wasting time like this. She just wanted to hurry and become the saintess.

“As the priests mentioned, we’re still in an unawakened state, and I’m worried that if I rush it, there might be problems. If I can’t properly awaken, many won’t be able to receive help…”

“That’s true. You’re still in an unawakened state, so there’s no need to force your powers now. It’s unfortunate, but think of the greater good.”

Whether her acting worked or not, the priests were merely trying to use this situation.

Since she expressed her rejection, there was no need or reason to force her.

“Ah, no! Please, save me! Saintess!”

“Unfortunately, it can’t be helped. That person must save many more in the future.”

Thus, the girl’s cries were drowned out by the noise of their march as they resumed. Even though the holy knight let go of the hand pressing down on her, the girl, still trembling, was unable to rise from the dust-covered floor.

—

“Is that so? A girl who reacts to the artifact has appeared?”

“I didn’t hear the details. Ethan just told me to quickly take the jump point to Rotas…”

“That’s enough.”

It had been at least five days since I had been idling in the city. Now, having nothing to do in this small town, I lay on the bed in a daze when Rina, Patrick, and Lila visited.

They brought news that Ethan had received a report. They had found the person we were searching for and were currently protecting her.

“We should leave right away.”

With a grin, I immediately got up from the bed, donned my outerwear, and pulled down my hood. I intended to hear the full details once we got there.

“What if the person we’re looking for isn’t her? I heard that the church has already found both the hero and the saintess and is holding a grand return ceremony.”

“There’s nothing we can do about that.”

Lila still looked doubtful.

The saintess and the hero. Of course, I had heard that rumor too. Thanks to the jump points, news and gossip in this world spread just as quickly as the internet.

However, the saintess they claimed to have found didn’t seem to match the real saintess I had in mind.

Everything was focused on her healing abilities… The image was different from the saintess I had seen smashing the heads of enemies armed only with a hefty mace, all alone while cleverly purifying them.

“There’s still a good chance. Don’t despair unnecessarily; we can go and confirm it.”

“That’s right.”

With that, I set off with my companions, taking the jump point to the city.

With just an adventurer’s certificate, we could go wherever any force reigned, so I was glad I had prepared it in advance.

“You’ve arrived. This way.”

An operative from Ethan’s organization was waiting for us, leaning against the wall with arms crossed, striking a pose. Hearing mutterings that he was an adventurer who typically hangs out with many women, I began to understand how he recognized us.

Patrick sighed as he said he would start wearing a hood too.

“According to the orders from above, we were to hand you the girl and leave her disposal to you.”

“What state is she in right now?”

“We haven’t touched her much, but we’ve kept her locked up in the basement, so she seems scared. In the meantime, she won’t let go of the bag of gold coins we provided her. Even though we told her to wash up since she’s dirty, she keeps insisting that she needs to go to the priest with this money.”

He replied calmly to Patrick’s query.

As a low-level operative, he didn’t even know why he was doing what he was and simply obeyed. So it was only natural he felt at ease.

“That’s the place. Well then, I must be off. If you need anything, just call.”

He pointed out the door leading to the basement disguised as an ordinary media office. The ones with exposed faces led the way down, and Arisa and I followed behind them.

“—!”

“Really?”

The spirits were the first to start fussing. Though nothing was certain yet, it didn’t seem like it was a bust.

“Wow, this is something. We should at least light a few more candles. This is obviously a kidnapping.”

In the basement office, used like a warehouse, things were piled up, and there was only one lamp made of glowing stone.

Patrick, who had gone ahead, clicked his tongue upon seeing someone curled up in a corner. I also frowned upon seeing her.

It was clear that whatever she had been through, both her body and mind were considerably depleted. Her red hair was disheveled, and her face was barely visible. With tattered clothes that looked like they had rolled around on the street, covered in dust, she still clutched a bag of gold coins tightly to her chest.

“—, —!”

But now, up close, I understood. The strange familiarity faintly emanating from her, just like how the spirits were stirred up, was the one I had left behind ten thousand years ago.

She is the saintess. The real saintess we referred to as such. That girl had stubbornly survived, and the bloodline that had continued over the long years presented itself in this moment through her body.

“What should we do? It seems like no words will get through to her.”

“You two go get some water. That girl is the real deal. I’ll take care of talking to her. It seems she doesn’t even know who she is right now.”

I planned to have Lila and Rina help establish some basic communication.

If that connection refused to work, then I would have no choice but to give her a shock that would wake her up. I had met quite a few people up to now, but there had been no one I couldn’t reveal my identity to and persuade.