Chapter 2. Encounters and Opportunities (5)

Returning to the present.

“Anyway, I’m not particularly interested.”

I put the broom back in the cleaning supply closet and said, taking the broom back from Ria, who was standing behind me.

“Really? Truly? Not even a tiny bit?”

As I put the broom Ria gave me back and closed the cleaning supply closet, Ria persistently asked from behind.

“Really, truly, not even a tiny bit.”

I answered once more, definitively.

I like reading novels. However, there aren’t many novels I’ve truly loved with my life. To be honest, web novel titles tend to be a bit long, so when I read many of them simultaneously, I often get confused about the titles, even if I don’t remember the content.

In this case too, I don’t remember exactly what the title was.

Anyway, the abbreviation was something like [Weakest Hunter]. As the title suggests, it was about a hunter who was the weakest but became the strongest through various fortunate encounters.

To be a bit more precise, it was a story with a bit of misunderstanding mixed in, but it’s not a regret-filled story. Initially, the protagonist, who was lightly ignored, grew stronger by getting involved with the heroines and falling in love anew, a typical light novel type of story.

It was a novel that seemed to have made some effort to create a world setting with a modern background, heroines that could be legally pursued, and the appearance of two heroines in nun outfits, with a touch of academy life.

Well, if you’re going to include a ‘Saint’ in modern fantasy, there must have been a state-recognized religion in the first place. Otherwise, even if the church called someone a Saint, the state would never officially recognize it.

And yet, I am in the position of that Saint.

My argument that ‘There’s no reason for the Republic of Korea to become a theocracy’ only holds true because it’s a novel; in this world, it’s actually happening, so I have nothing to say. Other than blaming the being above…

Thinking that far, I shook my head vigorously.

An atheist doesn’t simply reject the god of one religion. They are someone who views not only the concept of God but all supernatural phenomena in the world, that is, anything other than scientifically proven facts, with skepticism.

Therefore, it’s wrong for me to ‘resent’ the being above. Isn’t it a bit much to resent something that isn’t even a god in the first place?

……

Hmm, or not? Resenting someone who slapped you seems plausible, though.

“……”

As I was lost in thought, I felt a subtle, lingering gaze.

Ria was looking at me with that kind of gaze.

“…What?”

I asked, bewildered by the gaze, but Ria shrugged and let out a big sigh.

No, why?

Even after I said that, does she still think so?

Ah, of course, even though Ria looks like she’s dated several boyfriends, she actually has no experience. So, it’s not strange at all if she has the perspective of a teenager rather than an adult when it comes to romance.

Besides, she’s not an adult yet. Her birthday hasn’t passed.

So, it’s understandable that she thinks of any opportunity as a ‘chance for romance.’ No, I should understand it. As a mature adult.

Isn’t it biologically unavoidable that ‘adolescence = puberty = excessive hormone secretion’?

“Kkik!?”

As I was shaking my head as if it couldn’t be helped, Ria’s fingers dug into my ribs again.

“That hurts!”

There’s not much muscle, so it hurts when you poke me!

“Honestly…”

Seeing my reaction, Ria muttered incredulously and turned away.

No, why is she acting like that?

I rubbed the throbbing spot and followed Ria.

Could it be that a flag has already been set?

Well, I’m not a Saint, so I’m a deviation from the original work, but Ria’s position is the same as in the original work.

In the original work, Ria and the Saint often bickered and fought. Although they could be called best friends, they were also rivals for the same man.

“Hoo, hoo…”

But there’s no need to worry.

After all, in this world, I have almost no chance of getting involved with the protagonist.

Well, if they come asking for healing, I’ll heal them, but is there any reason for me to fall for Lee Si-yoon? I’d rather fall for a woman.

If possible, someone with a rich and mature aura… Yes, if I had to say, like the association receptionist frequently described in the original work.

Well, she was just a supporting character in the novel.

“…What?”

Ria looked back at me with a slightly uncomfortable expression, perhaps having heard my laughter.

“Well, you don’t need to know. I just had a funny thought.”

That’s right.

Ria, I’m sorry to you, but I have to break that flag.

Because the heroine I liked the most in the original novel was none other than the childhood friend.

That’s right. As long as there’s a childhood friend heroine, other heroines can’t even be called heroines. If anything, they are important supporting characters. In terms of a movie, they are characters in the position to receive a supporting actress award, not a lead actress award.

That doesn’t mean I’m going to try to seduce the childhood friend heroine. At least in this world, they should end up together.

Well, since I’ve taken the position of the Saint, who threatened the main wife’s seat in the original work, the biggest problem has already been solved.

“Hoo hoo… Ah, wait, wait, what is it? Why are you suddenly holding up your fingers? D-don’t come closer! Don’t point your fingers at me!”

As I couldn’t hold back my laughter again, for some reason, Ria approached me with both index fingers raised, and I quickly defended myself with both hands and shouted.

Fortunately, I was able to avoid the attack by crossing my arms and covering my sides with my hands-

No, even if it’s only been twice, is she jealous?

Isn’t it too easy?

*

Chae-eun was also there that day, at the moment Anna held Lee Si-yoon’s face.

With both hands covering the face of the man still lying in bed, Anna was making eye contact with him with a very serious expression.

“Ah, ugh…”

Chae-eun stared intently at Lee Si-yoon, who introduced himself as a Rank 7 Hunter.

He did have a gentle-looking face. Even though he was handsome, he didn’t look strong-willed or malicious. At least he didn’t look like a ‘delinquent type.’

He also had a good physique. It’s not just based on his physique visible through the thin patient gown. Chae-eun was also there when Anna treated this man that day.

“……”

Watching Anna’s reaction, Chae-eun seriously considered.

Is this the reaction Anna usually shows?

Chae-eun hadn’t known Anna for a long time. It had only been about a month since they met.

However, she had a decent grasp of Anna’s personality. Anna wasn’t the type of person who was difficult to figure out in the first place.

She was excessively honest in everything. She just revealed her inner thoughts without hiding anything, so there was no need to pry into anything.

She knew a lot of things. Although Anna herself refused to learn about the Bible, as she claimed, it was true that her grades weren’t bad at the convent’s school.

However, despite knowing so much, Anna seemed excessively naive. It was as if she believed that others would be as honest as she was.

Although Anna herself disliked that assessment, it strangely matched the impression people had of the existence of a Saint.

But even so, she wasn’t without caution towards people.

Whether it should be considered fortunate or not, Anna at least recognized that there were people who could get excited by looking at her body.

That’s probably why she was hiding behind the nuns when she came to see the patient again.

“……Hah.”

But for her to come forward like this.

“…Excuse me, Sister?”

Rank 7 Hunter Lee Si-yoon cautiously opened his mouth, glancing around.

It wasn’t just Lee Chae-eun who was staring intently at his face. Everyone in this patient room, that is, the Priest, the Nun Superior, the nuns, and even the female patient next to him, were all staring intently at Lee Si-yoon.

Seeing the situation, Chae-eun was once again convinced.

This was the first time Anna had shown such a reaction.

“…Brother Lee Si-yoon.”

Anna, who had been staring intently at his face, finally let go of his face and said,

“Lee Si-yoon, you said.”

As if to confirm, she mumbled his name once more. As if she was determined to remember it.

“Ah, yes, well, that’s my name, yes, haha…”

Is that clumsy attitude due to genuine embarrassment? Or is it just a pretense?

“I understand.”

Anna nodded and replied.

“Besides that, are there any other places that hurt?”

And, once again, she showed a demeanor she had never shown to any other patient.

Some of the nuns were already covering their mouths with both hands, and the Nun Superior was looking around, unable to figure out how to interpret the situation.

Among them, only the Priest was moving his gaze as if assessing the situation with a serious expression.

And Lee Chae-eun was also doing the same, with a rather serious expression.

The Saint candidate, who knew nothing of the world and was only familiar with the small space within the convent walls, was showing interest in a man for the first time…

…Lee Chae-eun possessed enough common sense and consideration not to leave that ‘ignorant Saint candidate’ near that man.