Episode 21
“When I was a kid, it was terrifying. The first time I was kicked out of the village, I swear I peed myself!”
“Ugh, that must have been scary. I would have fainted and become monster food.”
“I was huddled up, scared out of my wits, then I threw a punch, and bam! They all went flying!”
“Wow, that’s amazing. You’re like a fiery bull from… uh, never mind. Ahem, ahem!”
“Fiery bull? Is that some kind of strong saying?”
I came to Master’s room, despite knowing it might be an intrusion, but…
“Master?”
“Oh? Dustin? Is class over already?”
“Ooh! Dustin! You’re here! I’ve been waiting for you!”
I wish Master had welcomed me like that.
Instead, she’s indifferent, while Basilia greets me with a bright smile.
“Yes, all my classes are finished. Miss Basilia, is there a problem?”
“Problem? No way! I was just waiting because I wanted to see you! Wahaha!”
“Woah~ Lia, you’re so forward~”
Li…a?
“Oh my, but Dustin being here already means we’ve been chatting for over two hours. Hey, Lia! Time to focus, focus!”
“Wahahaha! Has it really been that long?!”
Lia…
When did they become close enough to use nicknames?
She was still “Basilia” when we were at the cafeteria earlier today.
She’s using a nickname she’s never used for me…
Well, Basilia is a girl.
They might be closer because they’re both girls, but she doesn’t act that way towards that purple-haired girl…
“A nickname… is it?”
“Huh? What is?”
“You just called her Lia…”
“Ah, yeah. Her name is long.”
It seems like there’s no special meaning behind the nickname, but I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.
Would she have given me a nickname too if my name was longer?
“Master, can you call me Tin…?”
“No, go back.”
“Then how about Cel for me…?”
“You too, go back.”
Defeated by Master’s firm words, I take a step back.
She’s a tough nut to crack.
“So, this is read as ‘giyeok(ㄱ),’ and if you add ‘a'(ㅏ) to it, it becomes ‘ga(가).'”
“Oh! What a fascinating combination! It’s completely different from the Marsian language!”
“But it’s not that difficult. Once you memorize the consonants and vowels, you can create any letter.”
“Oooh! You’re a much better teacher than my parents when they tried teaching me Marsian! As expected of Master Yuri, you’re truly talented!”
“Nah, I’m not talented. It’s just this.”
“You say that, but I can see your pride swelling! Wahaha! Master Yuri has a playful side too!”
I initially brought Basilia along to ensure Master’s safety.
But if I had known they would get along so well…
No, no.
This jealousy is unbecoming.
And besides introducing them, it was my decision to save Basilia from that situation.
“Hey, Dustin.”
“Yes?”
The girl who usually only responded with short answers is initiating a conversation.
“Could you take that annoying girl with you?”
“I didn’t bring her here.”
“She’s clinging to she because of you.”
“Because of me…? What do you mean?”
Celia looks at me with an exasperated expression, but offers no further explanation.
I don’t understand why she’s so hostile towards me.
I’m probably more jealous of Master and Basilia’s sudden friendship than she is.
“Hey, hey. If you two are going to fight, get out of my room.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Absolutely not.”
“Wahahaha! Master Yuri, you’re so popular!”
I wish she would keep everyone else away and only have me by her side.
How did things end up like this?
I have no idea.
***
I couldn’t get any proper studying done yesterday.
Those two, usually quiet and reserved, turn into squawking chickens whenever they’re together.
Maybe I should call Basilia alone today.
“No way. I’m staying too.”
Ugh, my face must have betrayed my thoughts again.
“But didn’t you say you have mountains of research to do?”
“I finished it all. I have nothing to do for a while.”
I heard it was a month’s worth of work, but she finished it in less than a week?
“That’s impossible.”
“It’s true. Want me to show you?”
“Uh, no… it’s fine. I wouldn’t understand it anyway.”
I’m not a genius like Celia, and I have no interest in plants or herbal medicine.
So even if she showed me, I wouldn’t get it.
It was just a bunch of gibberish that looked like English.
“Anyway, please try not to fight with Dustin today.”
“You were the one chatting with her for two hours straight.”
Well, about that… hmm.
I have nothing to say.
But I can’t help it if we click.
Even if you have a lot of friends, there’s always that one person you connect with the most, leading to endless conversations and tangents.
Lia is that person for me.
We just get each other, and our conversations often go off the rails.
“Alright, everyone, enjoy your lunch, and I’ll see you in the afternoon. We have physical education class, so please be on time!”
Ugh, I hate PE.
“PE will be a joint class with Class B!”
Lia is in Class B.
If we end up playing dodgeball against each other, I’m going to get crushed.
That girl is super strong.
“Let’s go eat.”
We join Lia and Dustin, who are waiting for us outside the classroom, and head towards the cafeteria.
“Now that I think about it, I didn’t get to ask yesterday. Can you tell me what skills you have?”
She has divine power, so she’s definitely a holy type character.
But I’m curious about the specifics and her strength level.
I have a feeling her strength stat is higher than her divine power stat, though.
“Oh, sure!”
She waves her hand in the air and then slowly writes letters in front of me, one by one.
To Lia, who hasn’t acquired System Language yet, it must look like I’m drawing random symbols.
“Hmm, Divine Power, Goddess’ Blessing, and… Saint…?”
Wait, did she just write “Saint”?
Am I seeing things?
“Lia, hold on a second.”
“Hmm?”
“Could you write that last one again?”
“The last one? Okay.”
She writes in the air again, and it’s definitely “Saint.”
Even if I did a somersault, I’m sure it would still say “Saint.”
“Wait, wait a minute. Saint? How is that even a skill?”
I know this place is filled with overpowered characters, but a “Saint” skill is a bit much, isn’t it?
And why the hell is it a skill?
Is that how Saints are chosen?!
It’s not even remotely holy!
“Huh? Saint? You mean I’m a Saint?”
“Hey, hey! Keep your voice down!”
I can only imagine the commotion if this gets out.
I don’t really care if Lia is a Saint or not, but it’ll drag me into the spotlight and spark more ridiculous rumors.
But it’s lunchtime.
And we’re on our way to the cafeteria, surrounded by dozens of students.
“What? Saint?”
“The student representative is a Saint?!”
Well, the cat’s out of the bag. Hehehe…
“What’s that? A woman who destroys castles? That sounds like me! Wahaha!”
The person in question seems clueless about its meaning…
Wait, how can someone born in the Holy Kingdom not know what a Saint is?
“The Saint is the most powerful figure in the Holy Kingdom. They possess immense divine power and bless countless people.”
Even in the Marcia Empire, where people believe in the one true god, Gaia, the Saint, Gaia’s representative, holds a higher position than the Emperor.
And the Saint’s successor is… standing right before me…
“Hmm, is that so? Interesting, interesting!”
Now that I think about it, it makes sense.
She looks like a walking, talking “I’m a Saint” advertisement.
If she just kept her mouth shut and stayed still, anyone would question if she’s a Saint.
“Can you tell me the skill description below that?”
“Okay! It’s a bit long!”
I diligently follow her hand movements as she writes in the air.
But the content…
“Uh…”
“What’s wrong?”
“… It doubles the divine power you possess. However, it also maximizes monsters’ hostility towards you.”
This clearly explains why she’s been chased by monsters since childhood.
“Oh, so that’s why monsters are always after me? Wahaha! As expected, great power comes with limitations!”
I feel a bitter taste in my mouth as she laughs it off, despite the pain she must have endured.
“Well, there’s a saying, ‘Heavy is the head that wears the crown,’ right?”
“What a cool saying! Master is truly different!”
“Please just call me Yuri within the academy.”
“That’s impossible! A master is a master!”
These guys are doing this on purpose.
To torture me. Ugh.
***
“Lady Greenton, did you hear? There’s a rumor that the strange girl who was the student representative is the next Saint.”
There’s only one “strange girl” who was the student representative.
That annoying brat Dustin brought back from his mission.
“The next Saint, you say. Is that a confirmed fact?”
The first semester curriculum for first-year students doesn’t include any practical exams.
I recall this fact and speak with a hint of annoyance, silencing the chattering noblewoman before me.
“To think you would believe such unsubstantiated rumors. It speaks volumes about your intelligence.”
I smirk.
I don’t care if the noblewoman’s face turns red.
As the youngest daughter of the Dukedom, I’ve always gotten what I wanted.
I wheedled my way into the academy, and the student council as well.
My life was supposed to continue this smooth sailing, and any man I desired should naturally come to me.
“Yurius de Elliot. And Basilia Lupin.”
Those two girls are constant thorns in my side.
Not only are they acting chummy with Dustin, but there are even rumors circulating about them.
Specifically, rumors about Yurius de Elliot being close to Student Council President Dustin.
“Lady Klia.”
“Y-yes, Lady Greenton.”
“Gather all the first-year noblewomen. All of them, except for those two.”
“Understood, Lady Greenton.”
I scoff as I watch the pathetic girl scurry away.
Those two will crumble with a little bullying and beg me to spare them, vowing never to approach Dustin again.
If bullying within the academy doesn’t work, I can always ask my father to use our family’s influence to crush them.
But I’m not that cruel.
I simply hope those two don’t test my patience any further.