Academy Saintess of My Chūni Writing Days

“……”

Even in the moving vehicle, I continued to ignore the gazes of the other kids as I looked out the window.

The problem was that the car I was in was maintained too cleanly. Thanks to the spotless shining inside and out, I could see the translucent reflection of three Saintesses gazing at me through the window I turned my eyes toward. That’s right. No matter which way I turned, I couldn’t escape the watchful eyes of those three.

“Ah, fine! I got it! I was wrong! It’s all my fault for jumping out on my own, okay!”

Finally, overwhelmed by their stares, I shouted out hopelessly, and all three nodded in agreement.

“At least you know that.”

Rina muttered as if my statement was a given.

“Well, next time it’s better to check both front and back before moving.”

Linea made a very sensible remark.

“No matter what, going straight to the highest-ranking person is a bit…”

Aurora replied.

“Even if I know, there might be a need to act, right?! And I was genuinely only going to investigate, so if I started with the lower-ranked people and worked my way up, their hearts would be overwhelmed!”

Hearing the three of them, I finally couldn’t hold it in any longer.

“No, just because you know doesn’t mean you can take action whenever you want! That’s why your school grades are like that!”

That was Rina’s rebuttal.

“You don’t have to do the checking yourself.”

Linea countered my points with very very sensible words.

“From the beginning, the highest-ranking person moved, so it makes sense the highest-ranking person would come to greet us, right…?”

Aurora’s rebuttal was very logical.

“……”

In the end, desperate for an excuse, I fell silent. For a while, only the low, small sound of the engine resonated inside the car.

“But you know?”

After rummaging in my mind for a while, I managed to come up with a piece of logic.

“You guys are in the same position as me now, right? No matter where you go or what you do, the same thing will happen as now! Not just any Saintess, but a Saintess recognized by the Goddess herself!”

“……”

It seemed that the three of them couldn’t argue against my words.

Of course, I couldn’t assume that my situation and those three’s were perfectly equal, but that didn’t mean their status was inferior either. Legally, they were on the same level as me, and they were still at the very top of the Church.

…In some sense, thanks to my existence representing the four of us, the power structure wouldn’t get tangled up; otherwise, there would be no reason for so many Saintesses to exist if it were normal.

“Let’s see if everything goes as you all think. While Aurora and Linea are with me, Rina will immediately feel a huge shift in treatment as soon as she steps into the Cathedral. Feel free to experiment with how much impact each word might carry.”

At my words, Rina went pale.

I mean, I’m not joking around; if the facilities don’t meet expectations, they would overhaul the whole place, right? The concept of the Pope being ‘the highest-ranking person among the congregation’ is different from ‘the one personally chosen by the God.’

…Wait a minute.

If someone is ‘chosen by God,’ then does that mean that if I canonize someone who can’t even perform miracles, they automatically become a saint?

Yes, that’s right. There’s one person in this car who became a saint without performing a single miracle.

I really need to be more careful with my words from now on… but honestly, I can’t trust myself anymore. I’ve already caused numerous accidents with my slip-ups up to now.

““““Hah…””””

That’s how the four Saintesses simultaneously sighed.

*

“Saintesses, we have arrived.”

At Turner’s voice, Rina trembled. It seems she still hasn’t gotten used to that term. That’s not entirely her fault. Aurora and Linea were originally from the Church, so they were familiar with such terms, and I had been hearing ‘Saintess’ for several months already. Now, I might even be recognized as a Goddess, so the time for trembling at such terms is long gone.

“Oh, by the way, where will Seo-A be staying?”

I hadn’t really asked anyone, just thought out loud, yet the response came from an unexpected place.

“Seo-A should’ve returned to the Central Church. They’ve arranged a room for her.”

That was Turner’s answer.

“Eh, do you two know each other?”

In response to my question, Turner smiled vaguely and answered.

“We have a familiarity. We’ve met a few times in relation to work.”

“Really…?”

Well, before Turner became a Miracle Investigator, he might have worked as a general priest. It wouldn’t be surprising if he had been dispatched to the battlefield at some point.

Could there have been some contributions made to the Church in the past? If he is treated as a guest by the Central Church, then he probably has some connection—

I thought about it, and recalled that Seo-A was my homeroom teacher.

That’s right. The Cathedral I’m staying at is designated as a holy site in the Central Church. There’s no reason it wouldn’t be recognized as a holy site. And if it’s people who work in that school, let alone someone who is my homeroom teacher, they must be extremely important figures to the Church.

“If you’ll be meeting her, I could guide you to her room.”

“Oh, then please do that. I’ve resolved the matters I was asked to, so it would be best to inform her in person.”

“Follow me then.”

Turner guided me with a very polite expression and demeanor, which left Aurora wide-eyed. …What kind of person must he be normally?

Having seen the completely disheveled office just today, it’s not entirely unfathomable. Still, he had treated me quite politely from our first meeting when I wasn’t even a Saintess yet. Therefore, from my perspective, this felt more natural.

It’s not like I lack the tact to pry into it here.

…Still, I am curious, so I should ask Aurora about it later.

*

Upon opening the door to the room where Seo-A was staying, a familiar yet nostalgic scent wafted through. No kidding, it was a smell I had never encountered since coming here. I used to smell it quite often in my previous life. It’s amazing how there hasn’t been a single thought about it until now.

“Oh, you’re here. What happened? I’m sure the government couldn’t have brushed you off so easily.”

Seo-A said that, but my gaze was fixed on the can she was holding.

I didn’t recognize the brand. Even though the past of this world is almost identical to the world I lived in, there’s no guarantee that all brands would match perfectly. Besides, this world isn’t 500 years in the future?

What’s important isn’t that.

What’s important is that the can Seo-A was holding was beer.

Ah, right. As an unintended minor, I had been living life without any alcohol since I came here.

“Huh? Oh, this? There’s a place down there that sells to the clergy. Naturally, there’s alcohol and everything. Looks like it’s hard to survive in this job without some booze.”

“There are a few things in life that those who swore not to do for a lifetime might drink.”

At Seo-A’s words, Turner responded.

“Right, otherwise life would lack enjoyment.”

As he spoke, he lightly shook the can in his hand.

Next to Seo-A were already two opened cans. And there were more unopened cans.

“…Um, now that I see, you don’t seem surprised by the alcohol.”

Seo-A put one hand on her chin and thought for a moment, then stuck the can toward me.

“Want some?”

Ah, I almost reached out my hand without thinking.

In fact, my hand did raise slightly.

Fortunately, I quickly composed myself and raised my hand to my mouth doing an ahem.

“Sorry, but I’m a minor…”

“Well, that’s true.”

Maybe she hadn’t planned to offer it to me anyway; Seo-A brought the can to her mouth and gulped it down.

…Well, it is kind of strange for a teacher to offer alcohol to a student.

“…Is there alcohol in the Temple of Gods?”

“Maybe that’s why I’m reacting like this?”

Seo-A said while I was staring somewhat wistfully at her drinking the can. I tried to ignore her whisper from behind and spoke to Seo-A.

“I took care of what you asked me. Those people seemed to have no intention of executing it from the beginning. If they did, their approval ratings would have crashed.”

“Ah, really? That’s a relief.”

Seo-A said with a smile. Even though she had already drunk a few beer cans, her face didn’t seem flushed. Regardless, she looked quite happy.

“Though I thought so… but what if they left it as is and actually executed it? Being interested in anything is important.”

Seo-A said as she placed the empty can on the table.

“……”

“……”

And there was a brief silence.

Actually, I had only come here to inform her that matters were resolved, so this could count as the end of our conversation. However, I felt a strange urge to continue talking.

…No, it’s not because I want the alcohol.

Of course, I think it’s quite enough for me to join in, but… that’s not it.

Rather, there are still questions lingering in my mind.

I wanted to know why Seo-A found herself in a position where she couldn’t even speak such obvious things to the government. Why the capable hero she once was had given up being a hero, and why she had to part ways with Jian during their childhood.

But those stories pertained entirely to Seo-A’s private life. They might be stories she didn’t want to share. I had heard that Seo-A and Erica had known each other since childhood, and they had even gone out to play together, yet she didn’t share those stories with us. There might be a reason that makes it awkward for her to speak.

When you have questions, you end up wanting answers. That’s how I felt right now.

Touching the empty can on the table, Seo-A seemed to have anticipated my thoughts.

“Curious about what happened?”

“Uh…”

It felt a bit awkward to say yes outright, but I couldn’t deny that I was overly curious.

“Sit down. It’s something you can’t keep hiding anyway. We have a party present here too.”

As Seo-A said that, her gaze briefly rested on Aurora.

“……”

It felt a bit awkward to respond, so I silently sat where Seo-A pointed. The other four naturally settled in as well.

“Before that, do you all know each other well?”

“How well can we know each other?”

When I asked back, Seo-A pondered for a moment, making a sound of “Hmm…”

“So, about each other’s backgrounds. Things like that.”

“Oh, so in that case…”

It must be about Rina being a demon or about Aurora having demon blood flowing through her.

I nodded, but the other three didn’t look particularly in agreement.

…All three of them were looking at me now.

Um, I hadn’t exactly introduced myself properly, had I?

But what else should I say? ‘I might have created this world’? Trying to play the role of a deity for jotting down notes would be funny in itself. Plus, the people of this world would never accept that claim without skepticism.

The idea of being a Goddess who came down to save people from the world of gods is already overwhelming enough; adding the role of the creator god would be unmanageable.

I was sweating cold and avoiding their gazes when Seo-A let out a small laugh, “Hehe.”

Crack, the sound of a beer can opening echoed.

“Really, you don’t want any? Your face looks like you know the taste.”

When I silently shook my head, Seo-A said, “Really?” and took a sip of beer.

“This story involves quite a few people. During the telling, your pasts might intertwine. Are you okay with that?”

But when Seo-A said that, her eyes were solely focused on Aurora. Well, to be honest, the only one who would get involved in this story is Aurora. I’ve been in this world for less than a year; Rina came from beyond the wall and probably shares a similar situation to mine. Linea… hmm, she’s spent most of her life in the Inquisition, so there might be some connection, but she didn’t seem to care much.

“It’s fine.”

Aurora nodded determinedly.

“Okay.”

It seemed I was right about addressing this to Aurora. Seo-A nodded and placed the can back on the table. There was a slight slosh from inside, indicating there was still some left.

“Then, I’ll start.”

*

When Seo-A was still attending the Academy, and Jian and Erica were completely children.

In families of heroes, it often happens that the children lose their parents early. Those children cannot forget their parents and become heroes again, going to battlefields, only to die yet again. Of course, not all heroes die. Whether the battlefield is fierce or not, and if the evildoers they face in the cities overpower them is all a matter of luck.

If one is lucky, they survive. If not, they die. That was the unspoken truth in this field.

And Seo-A’s parents were among those unlucky ones.

Of course, the state tries to treat most heroes well. They are the foundation of the nation after all. Yes, while there were also police and soldiers in this world, they couldn’t handle everything on their own. Moreover, the children of heroes often inherit the abilities of their parents. Leaving such precious potential untapped would be a huge loss.

Letting them fade into the Church would be an even greater loss.

Therefore, typically, rather than sending those orphans to convents or monasteries, the state prefers to place them with other families. Naturally, many heroes are positive about this idea. They are children of their comrades. For heroic figures fighting for their sense of justice, it’s generally unacceptable to abandon the children of comrades with whom they fought side by side.

Thus, Seo-A was able to grow up with the support of Erica’s parents.

Though it was still her childhood, Seo-A had a memory of seeing newborn Erica. She also vividly remembered Jian’s childhood, when they lived close to each other.

The faces of her deceased parents were also vividly remembered.

It would be a lie to say she bore no thoughts of revenge, but the targets for that revenge had already died when her parents passed away. For Seo-A, revenge meant becoming a hero like her parents and killing as many demons and beasts as possible.

So it wasn’t surprising that she enrolled at the Academy at the age of fifteen.

“And… Erica’s parents died.”

Seo-A said with a bitter tone.

The two who cared for her like real parents suddenly died in a car accident one day.

No, they died in an incident that was ‘reported’ as a car accident.

“If it wasn’t an accident, could it be because someone…?”

At my question, Seo-A nodded.

“Yeah.”

The funeral for the two deceased was conducted shockingly swiftly. Not even an autopsy was done, and it was unbelievably fast.

“It was suspicious enough for anyone to see. Erica wouldn’t remember it since she was so young at the time.”

“……”

Everyone present couldn’t say a word.

“What could I do, though?”

Seo-A asked as she lifted her can.

“…Did you go looking for them?”

“Well, of course. I went searching. I used all my skills. Even like this, I was considered a genius at the time. You know? I was even told I’d graduate early.”

“I had no idea.”

“Of course you didn’t. Because I never said anything.”

Seo-A shrugged. Then she placed the can she had raised back down.

Fidgeting with the top of the can with her fingers, Seo-A continued her story.

“And from the bodies of those two, I found clear signs of wounds that weren’t from an accident. Ah, yes, the car flipped over, and a big accident occurred. But if that were the case, would there be such large, repetitive linear marks on the bodies?”

“……”

“I rushed straight to the association and demanded answers. And they told me I was mistaken. They said the autopsy was complete and the experts had concluded. Isn’t it laughable? They were the ones who started the funeral process without an autopsy.”

“…So, what did you do?”

“I chose to graduate early.”

“What?”

Startled by that sudden statement, I asked back, and Seo-A gave a bitter smile.

“I was burning with the desire for revenge at the time. The one who killed my first parents is already dead with them, but the one who caused my second parents’ death is still alive. And for the absurd reason that ‘the government is hiding it.’ Naturally, I thought I had to do everything in my power to find that person.”

Seo-A finally took a sip from the can she had lifted again.

“I thought I must find them and kill them.”

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