Episode 9
“Thank you! Thanks to you, I got the forest wolf’s mane!”
After defeating the forest wolves, I distributed the spoils. I handed over a bunch of manes to Roland and Letty, who needed them, and they reacted like that.
“Don’t mention it, Letty. You saved me, after all.”
Letty scratched her cheek shyly and spoke.
“It was only possible because Abel bought us time. It takes me a while to cast magic… I always make Roland suffer.”
“But the power was definitely impressive.”
I don’t know much about magic, but seeing the giant forest wolf lose its balance and get pushed back after being hit by Letty’s spell was proof enough of its power.
“Hehe, thank you.”
“Roland, are your wounds okay?”
“Thanks to Estelle. Her holy power is incredible.”
It seems the Saint properly healed him. After we successfully defeated the forest wolves, the ranch owner kept thanking us.
“Ah! Thank you so much. I doubted you for no reason, huh.”
“It’s fine, it happens.”
“I’ll leave the reward to the guild, but I’m so grateful I want to give you something.”
“Eh, it’s okay.”
“Don’t be shy. Here, our ranch’s beef is really delicious.”
The ranch owner handed us each some beef. It was enough for a hearty meal.
“Thank you, we’ll enjoy it.”
“I wish I could give you more.”
“Ah, this is already more than enough.”
“Haha, you’re good people.”
After saying goodbye to the ranch owner, we headed back to the guild. When we showed the guild receptionist the wolf fangs and claws, she nodded and said,
“Mission accomplished! I’ll give you your reward!”
Then the Saint spoke up.
“Please convert the spoils into the reward right away.”
“Ah, you want that? What about the other three?”
Letty and Roland shook their heads.
“Ah, we’re fine. We have other uses for them…”
“I’ll convert mine.”
The receptionist converted only mine and the Saint’s spoils into reward money. The spoils sold for 30,000 gold, and the reward was 100,000 gold.
The reward had to be split four ways. Since the Saint and I were together, we could take 50,000 gold, and the other two could have 50,000 gold as well.
The Saint asked Letty and Roland,
“Would 50,000 gold for the two of you be okay?”
“No, we’ll just take the spoils.”
“Huh?”
When the Saint looked puzzled, Letty smiled brightly.
“You two helped us out, after all. And you gave us most of the manes. This is enough for us.”
People refusing money? The world is full of strange folks.
“Still, take it. Things like this should be divided fairly. We gave you the manes because we didn’t need them, but the reward is separate.”
When I said that, the Saint nodded too. We think alike sometimes.
Seeing our stubbornness, Letty and Roland exchanged glances and reluctantly agreed.
“If you insist, we’ll take it.”
“Right, this is fair.”
After handing them 50,000 gold, we parted ways.
Letty and Roland bowed and left the guild building.
‘Comrades.’
This is what it feels like to have comrades. If I get stronger someday, maybe I can find like-minded comrades to team up with.
“Hero.”
“Yes?”
“Shall we take on the next quest right away?”
“…When do we ever rest?”
“You need to get stronger quickly, Hero. You can’t stay a weakling forever~?”
Haha, it feels like finishing one assignment only for another to pop up, forcing me to pull another all-nighter.
…Damn it.
#
Still, the Saint found a simple quest to defeat some kobolds, and we quickly took care of it.
I got a bit hurt because there were so many, but the Saint teased me while healing me carefully, so I was back to normal in no time.
“Where are we staying tonight?”
Usually, we’d camp out. Whether it was the streets or the forest.
What always surprised me was how the Saint, who must have been pampered by the Church, was so used to camping.
Not only did she not complain, but she also slept comfortably on the grass, which shocked me more than once.
But today was different. This wasn’t the streets or the forest—it was a village.
And villages have inns! So I asked with the intention of going to an inn.
“We should go to an inn. Are you seriously asking that, Hero~? You’re such a dummy♡”
“…I was just asking.”
That’s all I wanted to say.
…I already miss Letty and Roland.
The Saint looked around the village as we walked through the streets. Was she looking for the inn?
“Saint.”
“Yes?”
“Are you looking for the inn? I think it’s over there. I see travelers going in and out.”
“…….”
The Saint was silent for a moment. Then she quickly turned her gaze and replied.
“I-I knew that much!”
“Ah, okay…”
You didn’t, though.
Following my lead, we found the inn.
See? This is what observation skills are, you dummy!
“Welcome…oh my.”
The innkeeper, a young woman, was surprised by the Saint’s beauty and let out a natural exclamation.
Even a woman thinks she’s pretty, huh.
“Welcome, big bro, sis.”
It’s obvious who’s older, but why are you calling me that? The Saint, unfazed, spoke smoothly.
“Do you have a room?”
“Of course, plenty.”
“One room, please.”
Huh?
“Why just one?”
“To save money. Do you think money grows on trees, Hero~?”
“No, not really.”
Are we really that strapped for cash? We just earned money from the quest.
The Saint, as if reading my mind, spoke in a mocking tone.
“We need to save. Who knows when we’ll need a lot of money~? You really have no foresight, Hero♡”
“…I shouldn’t have said anything.”
The Saint rented just one room. I hope she’s not misunderstanding something.
And as I expected, the innkeeper’s imagination was already running wild.
After handing the key to the Saint, she grabbed me as I tried to follow and said,
“Hey, big bro, need a condom? Contraception is super important these days. Want one cheap?”
“…No, thanks.”
“What, are you impotent? Or gay?”
“No, I’m not!”
Wait, isn’t this the medieval era? How do you even know the word “gay”?
The inn girl tilted her head and said, “Then why aren’t you hitting on her?”
“Damn it, can you keep it down? We’re not like that.”
“Really? Hmm.”
Why are there so many crazy women here?
Grumbling as I walked past, I heard the inn girl mutter something.
“The girl looks like she’s dripping honey from her eyes.”
I think she said something, but I couldn’t hear it well. Must be nothing important.
#
“Saint, are we really sleeping together here?”
“Well, there’s only one bed. What do you expect? Think a little, Hero~.”
“No, no, I *am* thinking, that’s why I’m questioning this!”
The room was smaller than I thought. It’s not like it’s a fancy hotel, just a village inn. How good could it be?
The problem was there was only one bed. At this rate, I might end up sleeping in the same bed as the Saint.
Think about it. A grown man and woman sleeping in the same bed? Does that even make sense?
A grown man and woman sleeping together in the same bed with nothing happening? Don’t talk nonsense.
“Sigh, Hero.”
“Yes?”
“I have no intention of doing anything with a Hero who looks like a goblin, so don’t worry~♡ Unless you’re some horny monkey who can’t control your urges~?”
The Saint’s sharp words left me speechless.
“…Damn.”
“Bad language.”
You swear like crazy too, you b*tch.
“I’ll go wash up first. I don’t want to use the bathroom after you~♡.”
“…Sure, go ahead.”
After the Saint went to wash up, I plopped down on the bed.
It feels good to sit on such a soft bed after so long, but I’m hit with a wave of reality.
“…I want to go home.”
Not the home in this novel. I want to go back to my precious little apartment.
“Why am I suffering like this…?”
I got stuck in a novel I never even read, and the Saint next to me keeps saying the most annoying things.
If she’s going to be like that, she should at least act completely evil, but no, she does nice things too, making it impossible to hate her.
“Sigh.”
My life sucks~.
Just then, the Saint came out of the bathroom. I was stunned for a moment.
She came out with a towel wrapped around her, drying her hair, and I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Her pure white skin was steaming, making her irresistibly alluring.
Not to mention the slight cleavage and her defined collarbone peeking out from the towel, which made my head spin.
The Saint looked at me and her eyes curved like crescent moons.
“Hero, what are you looking at~? You pervert♡ Your gaze is so lewd♡.”
“Ah, no. I’m… sorry.”
Damn, if this were Korea, I’d be getting sued right now. I quickly apologized, and the Saint giggled.
“So you *are* interested in my body~♥.”
“Don’t say weird things, Saint.”
“Can I call you Pervert Hero♡ from now on?”
“Please don’t.”
I should hurry and wash up. I grabbed a towel and some clothes and headed to the bathroom, but the Saint stopped me.
“Hero~.”
“What?”
“You’re going into the bath I just used?”
“…So what?”
“Don’t get any weird ideas, okay♡?”
“I won’t!”
I slammed the bathroom door shut.
#
‘Cute.’
Abel was really cute. With his looks and his adorable reactions, I couldn’t stop teasing him.
Even though I always tease him for looking like a goblin, he was actually more of a handsome boy. The kind of looks that perfectly matched Estelle’s taste.
His hair had a fine texture, and it was white, which is rarer than black hair. He even had that rarity factor.
Honestly, I had been looking forward to meeting him ever since I saw his portrait at the church.
When I actually met Abel in the village, I silently thanked the Goddess Solaria over and over.
‘How could she have chosen someone so perfectly suited to my tastes as the Hero?’
I was even grateful to the Holy Sword of Order.
Estelle had intentionally not brought her clothes in. She thought it would be fun to tease the innocent Abel.
As she expected, when she came out with just a towel, his face turned bright red, and he didn’t know what to do.
Abel probably thought she didn’t notice, but Estelle could feel exactly where his gaze was lingering. He seemed particularly interested in her chest and collarbone.
“Aww♥ You’re so cute, I can’t help but tease you♥.”
Estelle put down the towel and got dressed. The Saint’s nun outfit was always kept clean by holy power, so it didn’t need washing.
After dressing and fixing her hair, she waited for Abel to come out. Eventually, the bathroom door opened, and Abel walked out.
He was fully dressed, but his damp hair and skin showed a different kind of charm.
“Done washing?”
“…Yes.”
“You took a while. Were you imagining me doing something~?”
“I didn’t….”
Abel looked annoyed. Seeing his expression, Estelle decided to stop for the day.
“Hero, you’ve worked hard today♥.”
“…Huh?”
“You’ve worked hard. Didn’t you hear?”
“Ah… yes, you too, Saint.”
“Then let’s sleep. You must be tired.”
“…Yes.”
Abel looked at her with a slightly strange expression. Estelle chuckled inwardly, feeling pleased as she lay down to sleep.
‘My cute Hero. I’ll look forward to the day you become cool♥.’
