ALL NOVEL Chapter 15
#015 Chapter: Not Aware. Female Talent.
There exists a name that can make even a crying child stop.
And then there’s a name that can make even laughing adults weep.
Rubena Pradereili was undoubtedly in the latter category.
She embodied the archetype of a saintess in the most negative sense.
To begin with, she was arrogant. She was one who understood better than anyone that she was a saintess who could hear the voice of the divine, and she knew how to wield that power.
She squandered her omnipotent power on luxury. In fact, nine-tenths of the budget allocated to her went toward her adornments. Each item of priestly attire, resembling those extravagant banquet dresses, was made from the finest fabrics.
It wasn’t just simple luxury.
What truly terrified people was her characteristic hysterical temperament.
The nickname “grave of the knights” was by no means an exaggeration.
Five elite knights, distinguished by their first-class titles, had crumbled under her pressure.
These were no ordinary knights; they were the elite knight of the highest order, yet they perished because they couldn’t withstand her.
Such a hysterical personality produced endless tales of horror, so what kind of reputation do you think she had within the academy?
Asher, who didn’t like or believe in criticizing others, couldn’t bring himself to speak well of her.
Thus, this situation was evidently a crisis.
The first words were “you bitch.”
Ironically, at this moment, Asher found himself thinking, “But still, the Saintess Bershia seems like a really nice person.”
He swallowed dryly.
Asher composed his expression with effort.
“No, don’t show any emotion…!”
Bershia spoke.
When facing other saintesses, she said it was okay to ignore them if they approached for conversation.
Asher turned his gaze away.
But Rubena wasn’t someone to retreat easily.
“Hey, bitch. Ignoring me again, huh? But your expression seems different than usual? Are you trying to provoke some sort of protective instinct because you’re next to a knight?”
“…….”
“You’re acting like a bitch.”
Asher flinched, his shoulders trembling.
He held back words of rebuttal rising from within.
Ignoring her with difficulty, Rubena continued speaking.
“No? Because of you, I’m in trouble too. If you wanted to play saintess, why didn’t you go do that somewhere far away?”
“……?”
“There are kids everywhere asking for prayers. I can’t even shop in peace now.”
Rubena reached out and grabbed Asher by the collar.
The chill of her slender fingers, touching his collarbone, sent shivers down his spine.
The scent of perfume wafted in, tickling his breath.
Asher shrank away, his lips pressed tightly together.
“Ugh…!”
“Can’t you find a single thing you like about me, you damned girl?”
Rubena smirked wickedly.
“I should be avoiding her…!”
It was the thought that crossed his mind in an instant.
Thud—
“I apologize, Saintess, but could you please stop there?”
Bershia stepped in.
She reached out and gently pulled Asher’s shoulder back, removing him from Rubena’s grip.
Rubena’s expression momentarily froze.
Her gaze flickered between Asher and Bershia.
Instantly, a scoff erupted from her lips.
Her eyes began to gleam with malice.
“Hey, do you even know where you fit in? You’re barking like a dog when the masters are talking? Can’t you do it like the bald man behind me?”
“I’m sorry. It seemed the saintess was uncomfortable.”
“Hey, what do I look like in your eyes? Am I not a saintess? I’m uncomfortable right now too!”
“I’m sorry. To me, there’s only one saintess.”
Bershia placed her hand on her chest and gracefully curtsied.
With a crooked, decadent smile, too.
Asher’s lips were pursed.
His gaze brimmed with turmoil.
He appreciated the assistance, but….
“The stance is a bit….”
For some reason, it felt wrong.
Of course, the situation continued regardless of Asher’s feelings.
“Ah, how rude. And you seem to be mistaken. Do you see this girl as someone needing protection? A girl who wouldn’t bleed even if you stabbed her?”
“To my eyes, she appears very fragile.”
“Wow, this bitch. You’re a great actress! What exactly did you grill to get this good?”
At that moment, the emotion reflected in Rubena’s gaze was loathing.
No, was it resentment?
Her voice grew higher immediately.
“Hey, do what you usually do! Huh?! Look at people like you see a rock!”
“W-well…!”
“Ha! Are you gonna play innocent until the end?!”
I’m not playing innocent!
…was a response he couldn’t vocalize.
Asher’s eyes darted around.
Rubena’s lips twitched unnaturally.
“You crazy…?”
Was the vein on her forehead a mere illusion?
What kind of behavior did Bershia normally exhibit to provoke such a reaction from her?
Desperate, Asher looked up at Bershia.
Yet she only smiled mischievously.
In the midst, Rubena screamed!
“You filthy, disgusting bitch!!!”
…Oh my, to say such harsh words.
This stark contrast to Bershia’s vulgarity shocked Asher.
“Such words are… not… allowed….”
“Argh! Dammit!!!”
Rubena’s hand reached out.
It seemed poised to slap his cheek.
Of course, to Asher, it felt like the slowest motion in the world, yet he couldn’t help but hesitate.
“Should I block it?”
But if he retaliated, Rubena would get hurt.
No matter what, wasn’t it a bit excessive to be violent toward a lady?
“…Let’s just take it.”
He thought, tightly closing his eyes.
In that moment, thud, Bershia grabbed her wrist.
Rubena froze.
“I-I’m sorry…!”
“I’m sorry; it’s my duty to protect.”
With eyes partially closed, Asher observed.
Rubena, trembling with anger, her face flushed red.
Bershia, who kept saying “I’m sorry” but looked not the least bit apologetic.
Crack, Rubena gritted her teeth.
Moments later.
The whites of her eyes turned red.
Veins began to stand out on her forehead.
She impatiently shook off Bershia’s hand.
Then, in a voice that sounded like it could tear apart, she shouted.
“Why do you have to pick someone like you to cause a ruckus!!!”
With that clattering scream, Asher suddenly remembered Marvin’s words.
– “That girl clearly has anger management issues, you know?”
…How far did Marvin see into this?
“Get lost! Both of you, get out of my sight!!!”
Saying that, Rubena stormed past them with angry strides.
The bald knight, Saturn Heisenberg, Asher’s senior, bowed briefly toward him and then said.
“I apologize. The saintess must not have gotten enough sleep.”
“Uh, no…!”
Then Saturn followed behind Rubena.
The distant conversation between the two faded away.
“Hey! Stay back! I’ve told you several times that the light reflecting off your head is blinding!!!”
“…I’m sorry.”
“Is that all you have to say?! Is your knight duty over?! Huh?! If you’ve been called out, at least make an effort to grow some hair! Argh! Damn bald head!!!”
“…….”
Asher felt a surge of pity.
“Is he going to be okay, Sir Heisenberg?”
Though he didn’t greet him, he was a senior Asher respected greatly.
He suddenly recalled the man who helped him train during his trainee days.
The man, once boasting a lion-like mane, was now just a bald figure, subjected to ridicule.
He hoped he would be alright.
His thoughts wandered like that.
“Good job.”
“Ah! Saintess, thank you! Are you alright?!”
“I’m fine. But knight, you were amazing.”
“Eh?”
“That was incredible. I didn’t think anyone could chew Rubena out like that.”
Asher tilted his head, not quite understanding.
Bershia chuckled languidly as she muttered.
“Oh, you really don’t realize it, do you? Female talent.”
“W-what kind of vulgar…!”
Stammering in confusion, Asher’s mouth fell open in shock.
His cheeks flushed with humiliation.
His eyes widened in alarm.
“Please cancel that! And I don’t have such a talent! My talent is swordsmanship…!”
“That’s dangerous. This guy.”
“Ugh! Don’t interrupt me!”
“I’ll think about it. By the way, knight, is that true? Is it true that bald heads are that strong…?”
“Don’t change the subject! And don’t say vulgar things while changing the subject!!!”
“Eh.”
“Saintess!”
Asher exclaimed, startled, as he pressed Bershia.
Yet he completely forgot about feeling relieved at not facing Rubena.
It was a warm afternoon under the sun.
*
Despite everything, they passed through the crisis.
Asher managed to navigate the unexpected encounter with Saintess Rubena without drawing much suspicion.
About two days had passed since then.
On that day, Asher realized that the real troubles had only just begun.
Thud—
The cookie Asher was holding fell to the ground.
His expression began to loosen in disbelief.
“…Tea time?”
“I’m sorry. I totally forgot about it.”
“So….”
“The saintess meeting. It’s one of the few mandatory events the church requires of us.”
Asher knew this too.
Although it was called tea time, it was more of a deadly affair.
It was an agreement created after blood was shed in the saintess’s faction wars hundreds of years ago, requiring the saintesses to reconcile their conflicts among themselves.
“W-well….”
“Knights can’t attend these events.”
Asher’s balance wavered.
Considering he was already feeling dizzy from being on his period, hearing that made him feel faint.