episode_0174

“Excuse me, hero… have you ever talked about Miss Lelis…?”

“Yes, Saint Cerista.”

At Lily’s sudden question, Cerista immediately fell into a state of confusion.

What was Lily’s true intention in asking whether the hero was interested in her or not?

And why now, when she was contemplating whether to reveal the truth about the real saint, Lily.

As Lily approached with a question that seemed like a test, Cerista felt a sense of fear.

Was it possible that she had already been exposed as a fake saint?

In addition, perhaps…

“Could it be that Lily also realizes to some extent the power she holds within her…?”

That’s why she naturally asked such a question to a saint like herself.

She couldn’t be sure, but the possibility was there.

Even if she was insensitive, the saintly qualities she possessed were a force that she couldn’t help but feel.

Perhaps she had used her saintly powers a few times in her life.

As Lily had not undergone priestly training, she couldn’t fully utilize her divine power, but instead, that power manifested in her explosive magical talent.

Maybe she was hinting to herself that her power was not ordinary and was a warning.

…Or maybe, she was just attracted to the hero, as he was a hero and she was a saint.

Naturally drawn to each other. The hero and the saint.

And she was… the interfering third party.

Cerista, who had been pondering over the changed fate between herself and Lily for days, couldn’t help but show her confusion at Lily’s short question about what the hero thought of her.

Even though she knew that Lily would never figure out on her own that she was a saint.

“….”

“….?”

Therefore, Lily, sensing something amiss from Cerista’s hesitant and trembling appearance, decided to quickly retract her question.

“If it was an awkward question, you don’t have to answer, Saint Cerista. It was truly a meaningless question.”

“Is it really… just a meaningless question?”

“Yes, it is. …If I were to be precise, I thought that since the hero indirectly saved my life, if he had any positive feelings towards me, I could thank him directly.”

“….”

“So please don’t worry about the question I just asked, Saint Cerista. I would appreciate it if you could convey my gratitude for saving my life.”

Seeing Cerista unable to answer and flustered, Lily, on the contrary, took back her question.

Her actions seemed to Cerista as if she was offering her the position of the saint.

For some reason, the fake saint could now confirm the real saint’s behavior.

Lily, who pretended not to know everything while actually knowing, her behavior of pretending not to know was her way of showing consideration for Cerista’s situation.

‘Compared to her, I…’

She was just turning a blind eye to her duty and necessary fate because she didn’t want to part with the hero.

The seat next to the hero should rightfully belong to the true saint.

Even though she knew that it was something necessary for the hero, the saint, and all of humanity, the moment she couldn’t bring herself to give up felt even more pathetic.

Indeed, this seat should go back to the real saint.

However, she wanted to be with the hero just a little bit longer.

Even just a little bit, even for a few more years.

At the very least, until graduation from the academy.

“Excuse me, Saint. Please continue to study with the hero in the future…”

“…Ah, when you graduate from the academy, I will definitely return it.”

“…Pardon?”

Watching Lilyss quickly move away from her with a sad expression, Serista responded with a resolute expression, as if she had prepared herself for something.

“You don’t have to worry. I won’t take away your future, Lilyss.”

“What do you mean, Saint Serista?”

“I can’t answer that. The moment I answer Lilyss’s question, I no longer have the right to be here.”

“…What?”

“So please, let Lilyss enjoy this life a little longer.”

Lilyss, who didn’t understand what she meant by letting her enjoy, or what she had agreed to, was completely puzzled by her strong expression and her firm refusal to answer.

In the end, she just nodded her head, sensing that demanding an explanation from her might lead to an unpleasant future.

“…Alright. If that’s what you want, Saint.”

“Thank you for your mercy, Lilyss.”

“Then, I’ll take my leave, Saint.”

“Goodbye, Lilyss.”

“Yes, yes… to you too, Saint…”

In the end, Lilyss parted ways with the fake saint with pink hair, thinking that they had a conversation with little gain.

…At some point, she had failed to realize that Serista had been calling her ‘Lady Lilyss’.

***

“Then, I’ll take my leave, Saint.”

“Goodbye, Lilyss.”

“Yes, yes… to you too, Saint…”

Sensing that something was amiss during the conversation with Serista, I quickly ended the conversation with her and hurriedly walked away from her.

I didn’t know the exact reason, but I could tell that Serista’s mood had changed strangely right after our conversation.

‘Ande’s emotions are already intense, so it’s better not to provoke her for no reason.’

If by any chance I accidentally offended her and she suddenly decided to stop being a saint, I would be in serious trouble.

In the final battle with the Demon Lord, a healer who awakened as a ‘true saint’ was essential.

Whether it was the disqualified saint Lilyss or the fake saint Serista, it didn’t matter.

Neither of the two saints met the criteria of a perfect saint in the game. It was constantly hinted that one of them needed to awaken.

Of course, I currently met the criteria of a perfect saint, but if this world was truly based on the ‘Luminor Academy,’ then it wouldn’t be impossible to awaken Serista.

In other words, in order to avoid struggling with demon lord subjugation for a few years after graduating from the academy, I had to somehow make Serista stick to the hero like glue.

If she were to lose her enthusiasm and fall away from the hero, I was the only one who could fill that void.

“Four years at the academy shouldn’t be too bad for the rest of my life, even if…”

I couldn’t bring myself to participate in the demon king subjugation journey that could last for years after graduation.

In reality, sacrificing one’s entire twenties for the sake of humanity is almost like being asked to sacrifice oneself, so who would actually be okay with that?

A warrior seeking revenge on the demon king who killed her parents.

A saint who loves that warrior and wants to be with her forever.

A magician with the goal of becoming the master of the Red Tower and the rightful successor of the Elizabeth family.

An elf with a stubborn personality who is determined to repay any favor she receives.

The demon king subjugation team was made up of characters suited to achieve such a noble cause, and it had nothing to do with me.

I just wanted to enjoy a life in this world where I could freely use magic.

“If I end up with a troublesome duty like the demon king subjugation team, I’ll definitely drift further away from Edan.”

Whether I join the demon king subjugation team or not, it was practically confirmed that Edan would have to return to the Blackwood Duke family.

As the illegitimate son of the Blackwood Duke family, he would have no chance of joining the demon king subjugation team for years.

Even if Edan were to consider it, at the age of mid-to-late twenties when he should establish himself as a noble, Harold would never allow him to travel the world.

“No, no, no.”

What does it matter to Edan whether I join the demon king subjugation team or not?

Whether it’s a full-time maid contract or a temporary lover, it’s only for the duration of my time at the academy.

Due to the situation where I might have to join the demon king subjugation team, I found myself habitually imagining going to the demon king subjugation team with Edan.

…I have to be careful. If I develop strange feelings for Edan, things will only get more complicated later on.

From the beginning, Edan was in a position where he had to engage in strategic marriages with nobles or other influential families.

Even if Edan truly had feelings for me, no matter how well things went, my position would only be that of a concubine at best.

If I had to enter as a concubine and still maintain my relationship with Edan, I would rather end things from my side.

Although the Luminaire Academy, which I enjoyed in my past life, was said to be a harem game, becoming a part of that harem was a completely different story.

I didn’t want to see Edan with another woman in front of me.

“By the way….”

In the end, I couldn’t figure out what Gyetmyejoshegi thought of me and Edan.

I didn’t even know that Cerista would be so flustered and sweaty.

I still don’t know why she showed such a reaction to me hiding something.

There seemed to have been something going on while I was at the church…. How could I possibly know what Cerista was thinking when I’m not even a psychic?

Although the opportunity to indirectly talk to the hero disappeared again, I had to find another way.

There was still a year left until Edan and the hero’s showdown, so there would be some kind of connection between us during that time.

So please, I just hoped that Gyetmyejoshegi wasn’t one of the wicked Agnesdan who used to write concept posts on Lugal.

There shouldn’t be any reason for her to hold a grudge against me for winning the Kraken subjugation event.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

ㅇㅇ(39.7): What’s up with the walkthrough post? I was wondering why it wasn’t posted on the notice board.

– This is a really awesome game: Recently, that Lilgeolchang guy seems to be pissed off because of the fake posts from the Agnes faction, and it feels like he’s bombing it with negative reviews.

– Yeah, what the hell haha

– Guwonsuna: I couldn’t find the post for a while because it didn’t show up;;

– Anyway, Jeongsil is Agnes: (Agnes shouts ‘Roobungkun!’)

– Lilgeolchang: Ah, f*** off

– Yeah (175.223): Surprise worship

– Yeah (106.102): Habitual worship

***

…Thinking about it again, it’s so annoying. Those Chiwawa faction bastards, seriously.