True Saintess (4)

Ethan radiated a killing intent towards Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot, as if he would draw his sword and attack at any moment. From the moment that guy, the Hero, started spouting nonsense, I had a vague feeling it would come to this.

From the start, Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot’s attitude was too lukewarm.

When he and I talked alone, he’d clearly finalized the discussion about making Celista the Saintess, but now he was saying something completely different.

‘Surely this bastard isn’t actually getting turned on by me, is he….’

I could only desperately pray that it wasn’t that. Things would get complicated if Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot, that bastard, also came at me when I was already on the verge of crossing the line with Ethan.

From the perspective of a former unicorn, my theory was that the number of men a woman could embrace in her lifetime could not exceed one. The moment she experienced intimacy with different men more than once, that woman was no different from a non-virgin slut.

Even granting a hundred steps, it was acceptable that I possessed Lilith, the Lilith destined to become that non-virgin slut I mentioned. Anyway, I managed to change that fate with my own power and prevent that future, and thanks to that, I was able to escape a miserable fate of gang rape, drug training, and even being fucked by a dog.

In that process, I somehow ended up doing a lot of ‘this and that’ with Ethan, but even so, by my own standards, I could still consider myself a virgin.

I hadn’t done anything strange with any man other than Ethan, and even with Ethan, I hadn’t crossed the final line.

But what if, in this state, I were to be assaulted by Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot this time? Like the Lilith who was saved by the original Hero?

…I absolutely had to prevent that. If I were to become a true ‘Lilgirlchang’ even in this world, I might just end my own life out of self-loathing.

“I’m not finished speaking yet, Prince Ethan. So, listen without misunderstanding.”

“I don’t know what part of what you just blabbered about isn’t open to misunderstanding. Anyone could see you were about to say you’d put *my* Lilith into *your* party, weren’t you? And into that party full of women who are all fawning over you.”

“…Wait, I’ve never fawning over that guy. Don’t link me to him in a strange way.”

Agnes flared up and denied Ethan’s words, while Seraphine and Celista remained silent, quietly averting their gazes.

Having roughly grasped Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot’s heroine capture progress, which I didn’t particularly want to know, the Hero guy’s rebuttal immediately came back.

“What I said was merely that we need to clearly establish who is truly more suitable as the Saintess. I never specifically said Lilith *must* be the Saintess, nor am I saying she’s absolutely necessary for the Hero Party.”

“…Explain yourself properly. If your reason isn’t convincing, then we’ll have to converse with swords, not words.”

“The qualification of a Saintess is a power bestowed by a god, not by humans. Do you think humans can just arbitrarily transfer it around? If the enraged Goddess Aurelia-nim were to completely revoke the Saintess qualification she bestowed upon Lilith for such an act? If both of them cease to be Saintesses, how will we deal with the approaching threat of the Demon King?”

“…Just as Lilith wasn’t born a Saintess, someone with the Saintess qualification will probably appear somewhere else in the world. Perhaps that young lady you always keep by your side might truly receive a new revelation and become the true Saintess.”

“If Celista becomes the Saintess that way, I’d be fine with it too. I’d prefer to keep the priestess I’ve worked with for so long as my partner. But what if a girl with the Saintess qualification appears in a remote rural village without even a church? Or what if the Saintess qualification itself disappears entirely? What will you do then?”

“So, in your mind, Goddess Aurelia-nim was such an irresponsible being, was she? Do you think the Goddess-nim would derail a matter concerning the world’s very existence with a mere whim?”

“…I’m an atheist from another world, so saying that means nothing to me. And even if there is some meaning behind a god’s actions, how could humans possibly understand it? What I’m saying is, since a god exists and the Saintess was chosen by that god, if you’re going to change that destiny, you need to show proof that Celista *should* be the Saintess, to an extent that even the god would acknowledge.”

“…What?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

At the absurd words coming from Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot’s mouth, Ethan, Agnes, and I simultaneously voiced our confusion.

And amidst that, there were two people who seemed to understand his words: Celista and Seraphine, who were likely the most devout individuals present in this place.

“Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot-yongsa-nim’s argument isn’t entirely wrong, Prince Ethan.”

“What do you mean, Princess Seraphine-nim?”

“If Goddess Aurelia-nim had a reason for designating Lilith-seongnyeo-nim as the Saintess, it would likely be for a similar reason that Celista-yang ceased to be the Saintess. At the very least, at the time Lilith-seongnyeo-nim gained the Saintess qualification, she must have been closer to being a Saintess than Celista-yang. However, more than seven years have passed since the day of the first revelation when the Saintess qualification was bestowed. Whether Lilith-seongnyeo-nim still possesses superior qualifications as a Saintess after seven years, or if Celista-yang, who has diligently worked for seven years, has become more suitable for the Saintess qualification, is something we won’t know unless we show it directly to the gods, won’t we?”

“…….”

“First, since it’s the most common tradition for the Saintess to be the Hero’s partner, Lilith-seongnyeo-nim needs to act as Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot-yongsa-nim’s partner at least once. And by comparing her performance then with Celista-yang’s performance as a partner so far, we can prove who is more suitable as the Saintess. If we can at least prove that Celista-yang’s Saintess qualification is not lacking, then we won’t incur the wrath of Goddess Aurelia-nim.”

Ethan had been getting angry and trying to refute Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot’s words one by one, but he listened to Seraphine’s words with a comparatively calmer demeanor.

Though he still clearly disliked the idea of me acting as the Hero’s partner, even if only for a short time.

“Lilith… as that Hero guy’s partner….”

“Once is enough, Prince Ethan. From the start, Celista-yang has achieved countless feats by Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot-yongsa-nim’s side, even without possessing the Saintess qualification. Just because Lilith-seongnyeo-nim participates once, the Goddess-nim won’t discard the value of all the effort Celista-yang has put in by the Hero-nim’s side until now.”

“…….”

“…Prince Ethan?”

Ethan continued to ponder for quite a while, faced with a difficult decision, and before making his final choice, he turned his gaze towards Celista.

“Celista-yang, before I make a judgment, I’d like to ask you one question, if that’s alright?”

“Ah, yes, yes…”

“Setting aside sacrilege and matters of faith entirely, Celista-yang, have you ever truly wished to become the Saintess to assist that Hero?”

“I, I…”

“I’d appreciate it if you answered honestly, Celista-yang. Only then can I make a calm judgment.”

Celista trembled slightly at the thought that her words might influence the final outcome, but fortunately, the words that came from her mouth were a clear articulation of her honest desires.

“I, not for a single moment…”

“…….”

“Not for a single moment have I forgotten my desire to become the true Saintess…”

“…Is that so.”

“Always, by the Hero-nim’s side. I’ve earnestly wished for a little more power. When the Hero-nim was injured, I thought that if I were truly the Saintess, he wouldn’t have been hurt, and when the Hero-nim was in danger, I constantly thought that if I had the Saint’s Authority, I could save him.”

“…….”

“I, I know it’s an impious mindset for one who serves the gods, but th-this is my true feeling, Prince Ethan.”

“…Very well, I understand. Thanks to Celista-yang’s courageous statement, I can now make my decision.”

Ethan nodded, seemingly having made up his mind due to Celista’s resolute attitude, and then held up three fingers before the others in the meeting room.

“I will permit Lilith to accompany you as your partner. However, three conditions that I state must be added.”

“…What conditions?”

“First, the accompaniment shall be for one time only. I will not permit you to change your words after the task is done, especially after I’ve graciously allowed her to accompany you as a partner once. If you blabber that Lilith should also meet the same conditions as Celista, with whom you’ve had many accompaniments, then know that I will cut out the tongue that spouts such nonsense.”

“…Fine. I thought once would be enough anyway.”

“Second, I will permit your Hero Party activities as partners, but absolutely no physical contact will be allowed between you and Lilith. If you disregard my warning and even try to hold Lilith’s hand, then I will cut off your hand.”

“Under any circumstances?”

“…If it’s a situation necessary to save Lilith’s life, then that will be an exception.”

“Alright. I was just about to ask that. What’s the last one?”

“The last is…”

Ethan roughly scanned the faces of Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot’s party members in the meeting room. Then, as if having made up his mind, he added the final condition for attaching me as Gyeotmwa Jyosyegigot’s one-time partner.

“Naturally, I will also participate in the Hero Party that you and Lilith accompany. I cannot trust that harem party of yours, which consists only of you and women.”

“…….”

“If you refuse this, I will assume you harbor other intentions towards Lilith, and I will cut off your neck right here and now.”

…Why was even a single temporary partner accompaniment, meant to transfer the Saintess qualification, so chaotic?

One thing was certain: this accompaniment wouldn’t end so easily.