episode_0087

A week before Stay became the landlord, at the time when he was checking his status window to confirm his status manipulation ability.

“Sigh… Stay is really too much. How can someone be like that? Saying and doing all sorts of things to me, without a care in the world, just leaving like that. Does that make any sense? No. It doesn’t. This is ignoring me, insulting me. Not just anyone, but me, Saint Meiruina!”

Having been discharged from the hospital after receiving a clean bill of health, Meiruina was riding in the Saint’s exclusive sacred carriage on her way to the Papal Palace.

“…We were fine, weren’t we? You said I was kind, beautiful, cute, whispered so warmly and affectionately to me. You even stroked my head, hugged me tightly, let me bury my face in your strong chest…”

Not wanting to admit the fact that she had been discarded by Stay without any lingering attachment, Meiruina’s forced anger had turned into genuine resentment.

To Meiruina, Stay was initially just an emotional trash can to relieve her pent-up emotions.

With the ability to snap at any time due to the difference in status, unable to escape from that position due to personal circumstances, and with exceptional patience and entertaining responses, Stay was truly the optimal candidate as an emotional trash can.

As a saint, Meiruina had to maintain a facade for everyone, but Stay was the only person she could show her true colors to. That was because Meiruina had decided to use him as an emotional trash can, not because Stay was a special person to her.

Their relationship was a perfect master-servant one where Meiruina could discard him whenever she wanted.

But that relationship had completely reversed just one month ago, and now Stay had become a very special person to Meiruina.

“How could Stay do this to me…? He made promises to me. He said he would receive treatment fees from me, but if he receives money from someone else, is that the end of it…?”

Even in this moment when she had finally escaped from the plant-human status she had longed for and regained her original power, wealth, and honor as a saint, her mind was still filled with thoughts of him.

“Ugh… I can’t stand it that much…”

As her resentment crossed its limits and her forced anger subsided, Meiruina, who had realized the reality of being discarded by Stay, was about to acknowledge it.

“Saint, we have arrived.”

“Huh?! Oh, um, right. Thank you.”

Just as she was about to call out to Stay and cry, the timing of the servant’s voice announcing their arrival interrupted Meiruina’s realization of reality.

“…Yes. I am Saint Meiruina. It’s not like me at all to be so pathetic because of someone like Stay!

If the servant’s call had been delayed by just 3 seconds, Meiruina, who would have cried out and wept for Stay, covered the reality she faced with the reality she had created after realizing she was a saint.

“Yes. I am the greatest hero with all the power, wealth, and honor. I am the hero who saved the world, so why should I be fretting over one man like this? It doesn’t make sense! Pull yourself together, Meiruina! Get a grip and face reality!”

With pride as a saint, Meiruina brushed off Stay’s presence from her mind and confidently opened the door of the carriage.

After sacrificing herself to save the world, Meiruina had achieved a status where she would be praised as the greatest hero, regardless of the sacrifices made.

Click. Squeak-.

Waaaaah-!!!!

As she opened the door, what unfolded before her eyes was the cheers and welcomes of countless people.

“Look.”

Meiruina, receiving the envious gazes of many people waiting for her, whispered softly to herself, a voice that no one else could hear.

“If there is anyone to regret, it’s not me, but Mr. Stay.”

As the most popular hero in the world, Saint Meiruina smiled brightly, waving her hand politely and gracefully towards the welcoming crowd.

“Saint! Saint! Saint! Saint!”

Simply waving her hand with a gentle smile, Meiruina received cheers and praises from the crowd, who joyfully shouted her name.

For any hero seeking honor, this situation, where everyone dreams of, was a natural reality for Meiruina. Therefore, she could take each step with a heart as ecstatic as if she were living in a dream.

“…”

It was only two months ago from now.

“Saint! Thank you for saving the world!”

“Hahaha, as a hero bearing the title of Saint, it is my duty to do so.”

“Saint! Thanks to you, we can live like this with both legs! Thank you so much!”

“Hahaha… Seeing all of you with such happy faces brings me an incomparable joy.”

“Saint! Thank you for coming back in such good health!!!”

“Haha, thanks to everyone’s prayers and support…”

Saint! Saint! Saint! Saint!

The citizens’ cheers were filled with only praise and gratitude, without any negative emotions.

Surely, if it had been two months ago, before becoming a plant-human, Meiruina would have felt nothing but immense joy in this situation. However, for some reason, she couldn’t feel completely happy now.

Despite the joy of being praised by so many people in this situation, Meiruina couldn’t feel the happiness deep in her heart. The exhilaration from the praises of the multitude that fulfilled her self-esteem couldn’t fill her now.

“Ah, ha.”

Meiruina, in the situation she had longed for, was simply empty.

For some reason she couldn’t understand… No, a situation she couldn’t ignore. She unconsciously blamed this uncomfortable situation on someone else, slightly biting her lower lip to hide it from others.

“…It’s all because of Mr. Stay, it’s your fault.”

An empty blame filled with forced emotions, directed at no one.

※

The improvement of Saint Meiruina, the hero who saved the world, had ended successfully.

Countless crowds gathered around the Papal Palace, and the saint’s march, with elegant steps, had already spread across the world through various media.

Thus, Meiruina, who had become the most popular hero among the three heroes who sacrificed themselves for the world, sat in her office in the Papal Palace, staring blankly at the ceiling.

Before she became a plant-human, she would have mobilized all resources available to her to schedule and contact the media in a way that would benefit her the most, spending a busy day without a moment to spare. But now, she did not do so.

“Sigh…”

She just let out a deep sigh, watching the empty space with unfocused eyes.

Ring-

Without any intention or purpose, the ‘Heavenly Notification’ artifact, which only the highest-ranking clergy of the Papal Office could use, rang in Mei Luina’s ear as she was lost in thought.

The mana-infused vibration produced by the ‘Heavenly Notification’ contained a meaning that could be understood by the listener.

“A tournament… I suppose I have to attend. After all, I have returned…”

The meaning contained in this notification was an order to attend the tournament.

The tournament was the highest-level meeting of the Papal Office, which could only be held when the Pope and the majority of the cardinals agreed.

As a saint, Mei Luina held an absolute authority that could not be ignored, and knowing that the purpose of this tournament was her return, she got up from her seat with a lackluster gesture and walked towards the conference room like a zombie.

“Ha?! S-Saintess! Congratulations on your return!”

“…”

“W-Wow! It’s the Saintess! Thank you so much, Saintess!”

“…”

“You really came back…! Thank you, Saintess!”

“…”

Ignoring the voices of the clergy members of the Papal Office for the sake of image management, Mei Luina walked past them without saying a word and arrived at the conference room.

Click. Creak-

Mei Luina opened the pure white door of the conference room as if entering her own room without a second thought.

The gazes of the Pope and many other high-ranking clergy members who were already seated focused on her.

“Ha ha, it’s been a while, everyone.”

Although she didn’t feel like speaking, they were the highest-ranking clergy of the Papal Office.

Mei Luina forced a smile and greeted them, raising the corners of her mouth as she looked at them.

“Ha ha, welcome, Saintess. Seeing you safe and sound… This old man is so moved, tears are about to fall.”

The only person who responded to her greeting was the Pope, who was seated in the highest position in the conference room, across from the pure white door.

The elderly man, who seemed amiable, had tears in his eyes and greeted her warmly, a situation where being moved was natural, but Mei Luina only maintained her artificial smile, as she knew the Pope to be the most dangerous and cunning person she knew.

Even the slightest vulnerability could be used against her by the Pope, who was like a master manipulator, and showing emotions to him was like committing suicide.

But the situation has changed a lot now. No matter how powerful the Pope is, he won’t be able to pressure me like before, now that I’m a hero who saved the world. Today’s meeting is probably just a formal one praising my achievements. I don’t want to fight with those dirty old men today, so I’ll just stay quiet.

Maintaining a suitable level of tension, she simply remained silent.

This was the posture that Mei Luina had decided to adopt today, and she walked towards her designated seat across from the Pope, controlling her emotions to maintain it.

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.

Her seat was just four steps away from the pure white door.

As Mei Luina took that final step to sit in her seat, the Pope’s voice pierced her ears.

“No one could find a cure, everyone said the princess had no hope of recovery. But seeing you standing healthy and walking, it seems like the Lady is truly being looked after by the gods.”

“…”

Normally, it would have been a casual greeting, just something she heard with one ear and let pass with the other, responding with a simple “I see.”

But for some reason, those words sounded so grating to Mei Luina now, turning into a thanksgiving towards the gods.

“Ha.”

It’s not your imaginary god, but thanks to Lady Stay.