The Fake Saintess Celista (2)

“Y-you’re asking if… the Hero-nim has… ever mentioned anything about me, Lillith-yang…?”

“Yes, Saintess Celista-nim.”

Lillith’s sudden question immediately threw Celista into a whirlwind of confused emotions.

What could be Lillith’s true intention behind asking whether the Hero had any interest in her?

And of all times, now-when Celista was agonizing over whether to reveal the truth about Lillith being the real Saintess.

To Celista, Lillith, who approached her with words that felt like a test, seemed terrifying.

Had she already been found out as a fake Saintess?

Moreover, perhaps…

‘Does Lillith-yang already have some inkling about the power hidden within her…?’

Was that why she naturally asked such a question to her, the Saintess?

She couldn’t be certain, but the possibility was more than plausible.

The Saintess’s qualities were a power that even the dullest person would naturally sense.

She must have used it in some way at least a few times in her life.

Since Lillith hadn’t received priestly ordination, she couldn’t wield full divine power-instead, that divine power must have manifested as her explosive magical talent.

Perhaps she had realized that her power wasn’t ordinary and was now warning Celista with these words.

…Or, if not that, maybe she was simply drawn to the Hero, Gyeotmwa Josyegigot-nim.

Because he was the Hero, and she was the Saintess.

The Hero was Gyeotmwa Josyegigot-nim, and the Saintess was Lillith-yang.

It was only natural for them to be drawn to each other-the Hero and the Saintess.

And she… was just an interloper standing between them.

Having spent days agonizing over their swapped fates and imagining every possible scenario, Celista couldn’t help but panic at Lillith’s simple question about the Hero’s feelings.

Even though she, of all people, knew best that it was impossible for Lillith to realize her own identity as the Saintess.

“……”

“……?”

Thus, when Lillith saw Celista floundering without answering her simple question, she could only feel puzzled.

Celista avoided answering, averted her gaze, and trembled as if afraid.

Sensing something amiss in the atmosphere, Lillith hastily backtracked.

“If it’s an uncomfortable question, you don’t have to answer, Saintess Celista-nim. It really was just a meaningless question.”

“…R-really, just a meaningless question?”

“Yes, that’s right. …If I had to explain, Hero-nim indirectly saved my life, so I wondered if I could thank him directly if he held favorable feelings toward me.”

“……”

“So please don’t mind my earlier question, Saintess Celista-nim. I’ll just ask you to convey my gratitude for saving my life to Hero-nim instead.”

Seeing Celista hesitate and falter, Lillith withdrew her question-almost as if she were yielding the position of Saintess to her.

Was it just Celista’s imagination, or was Lillith pretending not to know while fully aware of everything?

Celista couldn’t help but feel that Lillith was showing her a kindness by feigning ignorance.

‘Compared to her, I…’

I’m just turning away from duty and destiny because I don’t want to part with Hero-nim.

The place beside Hero-nim should rightfully belong to the real Saintess.

Even though I know it’s what Hero-nim, the Saintess, and all of humanity need, I can’t bring myself to give up.

In this moment, I feel all the more wretched.

This position should rightfully be returned to the true Saintess.

But I want to stay with Hero-nim just a little longer.

Even if it’s just a few more years.

At least until graduation from the Academy.

“My apologies, Saintess-nim. Please continue to study hard alongside Hero-nim in the futu-“

“…Ah, I’ll return it to you when I graduate from the Academy.”

“……Huh?”

Watching Lillith hastily retreat, Celista answered with a sorrowful expression.

Lillith looked utterly baffled by her response, but Celista, as if steeling herself, continued with newfound resolve.

“Don’t worry. I won’t take your future away from you.”

“…What do you mean, Saintess Celista-nim?”

“…I can’t answer that. The moment I do, I’ll no longer have the right to be here.”

“……Huh??”

“So please, could you let me enjoy this life just a little longer, Lillith-nim?”

Honestly, Lillith had no idea what Celista meant by “enjoy this life” or what she was even asking permission for.

But Celista’s grave expression and firm refusal to answer made Lillith nod involuntarily.

Somehow, she sensed that pressing for an explanation would lead to an unpleasant future.

“…Ah, alright. If that’s what you wish, Saintess-nim…”

“Thank you for your mercy, Lillith-nim.”

“Th-then I’ll take my leave now, Saintess-nim.”

“Farewell, Lillith-nim.”

“Yes, yes… You too, Saintess-nim…”

In the end, Lillith walked away, thinking their conversation had been pointless.

…She didn’t even notice that Celista had begun addressing her as “Lillith-nim” at some point.

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“Th-then I’ll take my leave now, Saintess-nim.”

“Farewell, Lillith-nim.”

“Yes, yes… You too, Saintess-nim…”

During my conversation with Celista, I sensed the atmosphere turning strange, so I quickly wrapped it up and distanced myself from her.

I didn’t know the exact reason, but I could clearly tell Celista’s mood had become erratic right after I asked my question.

‘She’s already emotionally volatile as it is-better not poke the bear.’

If I accidentally provoked her and she suddenly declared she’d quit being the Saintess, that would be a real problem.

If that happened, I’d have no choice but to join the Hero’s party-no other future would remain.

A healer who awakens as the “True Saintess” during the final battle against the Demon King was non-negotiable.

Whether it was the disqualified Saintess Lillith or the fake Saintess Celista didn’t matter.

In the game, neither Saintess fully met the criteria anyway. The game constantly hinted that one of them needed to be awakened.

Of course, I currently meet all the requirements of a perfect Saintess, but if this world is truly based on 『Luminor Academy』, then awakening Celista shouldn’t be impossible.

In other words, to avoid suffering through years of Demon King subjugation after graduation, I had to make sure Celista stuck to the Hero like glue.

If she lost motivation and left his side, the only one who could fill that void would be me.

‘Four years at the Academy won’t be bad for my future, so that’s fine…’

But the years-long journey to defeat the Demon King after graduation? No way.

It was practically asking me to sacrifice my entire twenties for humanity-who in their right mind would agree to that?

Maybe the Hero, who sought revenge against the Demon King that killed his parents under the goddess’s will.

Or the Saintess, who loved the Hero and wanted to stay by his side forever.

Or the mage, who aimed to become the head of the Crimson Tower and rightful heir of the Elizabeth family.

Or the stubborn elf, who felt compelled to repay any kindness she received.

The Demon King Subjugation Squad was a role suited for characters with such grand purposes-it had nothing to do with me.

I just wanted to enjoy my isekai life, freely using magic to my heart’s content.

‘If I end up with a bothersome position like the Demon King Subjugation Squad, I’ll naturally grow distant from Ethan too.’

Whether I joined the squad or not, Ethan was practically destined to return to the Blackwood Ducal family.

As the only son of Duke Blackwood, there was no way he’d join a squad that would keep him away from home for years.

Even if he wanted to, Harold would never allow him to spend his mid-to-late twenties-the time he should be establishing himself as a noble-wandering the world.

‘Wait, no, no, no.’

What does it matter whether I join the Demon King Subjugation Squad or not?

The exclusive maid contract and temporary lover arrangement were only for the duration of our time at the Academy.

Maybe because of the possibility of joining the squad, I reflexively imagined Ethan coming along.

…I need to be careful. If I develop weird feelings for Ethan, things will only get more troublesome later.

Ethan was the sole heir of a ducal family-he was destined for a political marriage with royalty or other powerful nobles.

Even if his feelings for me never changed, at best, my position would only ever be that of a concubine.

If maintaining our relationship meant becoming a concubine, I’d rather be the one to end it.

Even if 『Luminor Academy』 was a harem game in my past life, becoming part of that harem was an entirely different matter.

I didn’t want to see Ethan rolling around with other women right in front of me either.

“Anyway…”

In the end, I didn’t find out what Gyeotmwa Josyegigot thinks about me or Ethan.

I didn’t expect Celista to break into a cold sweat and panic like that.

I still don’t know what she’s hiding from me to react that way.

Something must have happened while I was at the church… but how am I supposed to know what Celista is thinking? I’m not psychic.

The chance to indirectly talk to the Hero is gone, but I’ll just have to find another way.

There’s still over a year until Ethan’s duel with the Hero-surely, an opportunity will arise before then.

So I can only hope that Gyeotmwa Josyegigot isn’t one of those toxic Agnes faction members who used to manipulate trending posts on Lua Gallery.

Stealing the Kraken subjugation event is the only reason he’d have to hold a grudge against me.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

ㅇㅇ(39.7): What’s with the downvotes on the guide? No wonder it’s not trending.

└ TrulyAGodGame: Probably because Lilgirlchang pissed off the Agnes faction by exposing their fake trending posts.

└└ ㅇㅇ(222.39): Lmao what the hell

Guwon Sunae: Couldn’t find it because it wasn’t trending;;

AnywayAgnesIsTheTrueWife: (Agnes going “Rubung-kun!”)

└Lilgirlchang: Fuck off

└ㅇㅇ(175.223): Surprise worship

└└ㅇㅇ(106.102): Habitual worship

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

…Still makes me mad thinking about it. Those damn Chihuahua faction bastards.