Chapter 1. Candidate and Candidate (2)

To explain why Lee Chae-eun ended up at the convent, I also need to explain her position as a ‘Hero Candidate.’

And to explain that position of Hero Candidate, I also need to explain the difference between Heroes and Hunters.

There seem to be various legal interpretations and professional classifications, but naturally, I don’t have knowledge of such professional domains. I only vaguely remember what I read in the novel. Trying to explain with that limited knowledge,

‘Hunters’ are beings who ‘hunt’ monsters that emerge from gates. This is a common setting in novels like this. Hunters have licenses with graded levels, and in this world, they are treated as a type of professional.

‘Heroes’ are beings who are a step above that.

Rather than becoming a Hero by achieving some heroic feat- yes, like ‘superheroes’ in American comics.

However, in the world of the work- that is, in this world- there seem to be many discussions about this title of Hero.

The main controversy was whether it made sense for someone who hadn’t proven their qualifications just by having talent to rank higher than someone who held a Level 1 Hunter license.

In reality, a Level 1 Hunter seems to be quite comparable to Heroes. It’s just a matter of whether you climb up step by step from a lower rank or are recognized for great talent and placed in that position from the start.

Although the number of Hunters is greater, their classification is more systematic, and they hold many positions, giving them considerable influence, there’s a reason why those Hunters cannot completely abolish the Hero system.

First, ‘Hero’ is a concept that predates Hunters. When gates suddenly appeared and monsters started pouring out into a normal world, what would the beings who protected people with their awakened abilities have been called? The term ‘Hero’ became established for that reason.

Second, as the word used to refer to those who worked hard in the very early days, they also have close ties with the religious figures who were active at that time. Some saints produced by the church were also ‘Heroes.’ Most Heroes are also quite devout believers.

In such a situation, Lee Chae-eun was born between a ‘Hero’ father and a ‘Hunter’ mother.

Her relationship with her parents was generally smooth, but when Lee Chae-eun’s mother died when she was young, her father clung even more to faith to somehow endure that memory.

Although she inherited her father’s talent and rose to become a Hero Candidate, Lee Chae-eun was not pleased with her father. In the novel, he was depicted as a very, very nagging father.

Around the time she became an adult, Lee Chae-eun finally exploded and had a severe argument with her father.

“If that thing called God existed, Mom wouldn’t have died!”

She said something that was, well, problematic in many ways.

And her father, so enraged, put Lee Chae-eun into a convent.

“……Huh?”

As I walked, organizing the situation I had read in the novel in my head, I tilted my head slightly.

Wasn’t Lee Chae-eun the same age as the Saint?

In other words, she’s the same age as me. She’s an adult starting this year. But is it possible for a father to put his daughter into a convent?

“Ah, right.”

Yes, her birthday was in June. So, before June, she was still legally a minor. She was still 19 years old by international reckoning.

As for me, my birthday is in February. Well, even if I wasn’t a legal adult, getting kicked out of the convent would have been the same.

Having organized my thoughts, I walked towards where Lee Chae-eun was waiting.

The place was the counseling room where I had my meeting with the Nun Superior last time.

Well, the circumstances that led me here were such that a ‘counseling’ was necessary in many ways, so I understood. It must be unpleasant to be shoved into a convent right on the cusp of becoming an adult.

[Aaack!]

As if to prove my thoughts, I heard a scream from beyond the door.

[Just wait until June! The moment I take off this nun’s habit, I’m going to start dating a guy! Just you wait! Just you wait!]]

Hmm.

I knew she wasn’t exactly the type with a good personality, but hearing it in audio directly was quite different from reading it in text.

[Now, Sister Lee Chae-eun, please calm down. Soon, the Sister I told you about will be here.]

[Ughhh…]]

Realizing belatedly that she wasn’t alone in the room-or perhaps she had forgotten?-Lee Chae-eun ground her teeth.

Standing at the door of the counseling room, with my hand on the doorknob, I fell into thought for a moment.

As someone who quite liked the original novel, I was very interested in meeting one of the characters, especially one of the heroines.

After all, isn’t it common to immerse oneself in the protagonist when reading a novel?

Even though she was a bit prickly and fought a lot with the protagonist, you grow fond of her as you read. Moreover, characters like that are cute when they blush and slowly fall for the protagonist later on.

The problem is, Lee Chae-eun and I are originally rival heroines.

In a harem story, catfights between heroines are inevitable. It’s like how in a romance novel, male protagonists fight over one female protagonist.

Perhaps that’s a kind of fantasy. In reality, if such a thing happened, it would be a headache, but well, it was a novel.

“……”

No, but should I be worrying about that?

The reason Lee Chae-eun and the Saint clash is solely because of the protagonist, who belongs to the same party.

Whether Lee Chae-eun ends up with that protagonist or fights with other heroines is none of my business. It’s unlikely I’ll ever fall for the protagonist.

Having made that quick judgment, I opened the door.

“Sister Anna.”

The Nun Superior, whose eyes met mine, quickly stood up and said.

According to the Nun Superior, my position as a Saint Candidate hasn’t completely disappeared, but since all my ‘rights’ have been revoked, within this place, I am nothing more than an ordinary nun.

In other words, the Nun Superior standing up quickly to greet me wasn’t showing respect to me as a Saint Candidate, but rather to quickly pawn off a troublesome existence onto me.

Yes, that’s right.

I am currently a Saint Candidate in name only, but the other party is a true Hero Candidate, with all her rights intact.

The red-haired woman, who had been holding her head with her elbows on the table, turned her head towards me.

Her expression was such that it could kill me with a glance.

It’s a bit uncomfortable that her anger is directed at me. It’s not my fault that Lee Chae-eun is here.

“This is Sister Lee Chae-eun, who will be living with us starting today. Sister Lee Chae-eun, the Sister who just entered is Sister Anna, who will be sharing a room with you at the convent from now on.”

“……”

Lee Chae-eun stood up and looked back and forth between me and the Nun Superior.

The murderous intent instantly left her face, and instead, bewilderment filled the void.

Well, it’s only natural.

Among all the other nuns living in this convent, I boast a unique fashion sense.

To put it precisely, I’m the only one who dresses like this.

Even Lee Chae-eun, who is right in front of me now, was wearing her veil in a very standard way, to the point where it’s hard to tell what her original hairstyle was. If I hadn’t read the original novel, I wouldn’t have known Lee Chae-eun had short red hair.

On the other hand, I openly put streaks in my hair and just casually placed the veil on top of my head, exposing the hairstyle underneath. And I even have earrings, so…

“V.”

I made a V-sign with my fingers in front of Lee Chae-eun.

Look, this is what a Saint Candidate in this world looks like.

Completely fallen… Ah, maybe those kinds of lines are a bit much.

Actually, I had considered dyeing my hair completely red, but the Nun Superior gave me a look that suggested she might shave my head if I did, so I settled for streaks.

When I told the Nun Superior about it later, she was truly shocked and shouted, “I don’t do things like that!”

“Uh…”

Lee Chae-eun pointed at me with her finger and looked back at the Nun Superior.

“…Please don’t dye it too much.”

Why, honestly, you put me with her because she has a strong aversion to the convent, right?

Isn’t it a kind of mirror therapy?

Considering the Nun Superior’s personality, she must have judged that she could simultaneously pawn off a troublesome person and make me realize something.

Well, fine.

For me, as long as I can buy some time, that’s good. Even if it’s not a year, I just need to hold out until the end of this year and come up with a plan.

“So, can I go to the room?”

Saying that, I grabbed the handle of the suitcase next to the door.

“Ah.”

Whether she was still speechless, or perhaps temporarily lost her language abilities due to shock.

Lee Chae-eun, who had been complaining about her father just before I opened the door, only made that sound and looked at the Nun Superior.

“May the Lord be with you.”

“Then, have a good night.”

I responded to the prayer-like greeting with a very secular one, gave a slight bow, and opened the counseling room door to step outside.

“Uh, excuse me.”

Lee Chae-eun followed me out, looking a bit flustered.

“I can carry the suitcase.”

“We can’t ask the Sister who will be living with you for a long time to do work from the very beginning.”

That’s right.

The Nun Superior, or perhaps Lee Chae-eun’s father who shoved his daughter into this convent, must have thought that by persuading Lee Chae-eun somehow, she would develop a fondness for the church.

And I can do that excellently.

Because there have already been several sisters who became my roommates, got fed up, found God, and ran away.

In this highly devout society, in a society where the existence of God has become common sense, living with me is almost like a person who believes the Earth is flat living with someone who knows the Earth is round.

…….

No, that doesn’t mean I’m on the same level as those who believe in the flat Earth theory.