Chapter 422 Holy Figure and Saint
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Amelia, would you mind looking up?”
”Y-yes…” Amelia stammered.
The final event of the ceremony had arrived. Facing Sister Amelia, Her Eminence Loire-Rose¹ waited for the girl to lift her head, then slowly knelt before her.
”Y-Your Eminence…!”
”Heh. Is that really a title you should be using for me anymore?”
”Oh, please! I couldn’t possibly-!”
”It is quite alright. Now, stand up,” Loire-Rose said gently.
Ah, that is the Amelia I know. She tries so hard to be a faithful student of the teachings. Just when you think she is too rigid, she shows how flexible she can be; she seems painfully shy, yet she has a spine of steel. Also, she is incredibly sensitive. Her back is a weak spot. Well, her ears and chest are, too.
I felt a sense of relief even as I let my mind wander to such impure thoughts. I watched her stand beside Her Eminence. The shimmering particles of light that had danced around them as they rose gathered once more, bathing them in a soft glow.
”For a long, long time… the Church has seen no one like you,” Loire-Rose began.
Amelia remained silent.
”The supreme light that banishes evil, fueled by a noble wish… You are the very image of the Saints² of old. Of that, there is no doubt.”
Amelia gasped.
Unlike her earlier conversation with Mother Marian, Her Eminence spoke with a finality that brooked no argument. A collective sound-somewhere between a cheer and a breathless sigh-rose from the spectators.
”Ohh…!”
They were witnessing the birth of a Saint. They were living in the same era as a figure straight out of a fairy tale. For the people of this world, the moment was clearly one of profound emotion.
”What was your prayer? What wish allowed you to achieve such a feat, Sister Amelia?”
”I… I don’t know,” Amelia replied. “In that moment, I was desperate. I just… I couldn’t let my precious friends, my mentors, and my comrades die.”
As far as being a Saint went, it was a perfect answer. She looked toward Satsuki, the court mage kneeling nearby, then toward Mother Marian and the rest of the subjugation unit who had fought by her side.
I remembered General Oromanso’s description of the dragon Zil Meina’s final moments. When that heat ray was unleashed, everyone had prepared for the end. Amelia had protected them all, only to be claimed by the “Holy Sleep”³.
She said later that she woke up because she heard her friends calling to her… but really, I am just glad she is safe. If she had never woken up, I don’t know what I would have done.
I felt like our eyes met for a fleeting second. Amelia shifted her hands to her chest, squeezing them tight. I wondered if my presence had helped her, even a little. I hoped so.
”That is the very essence of the ‘Teachings of Demon Downfall.’ Throughout history, many Saints have offered that same prayer and reached that same state of mind. Pure, selfless devotion to others,” Loire-Rose said.
”It wasn’t… it wasn’t anything that grand!” Amelia protested. “I just did what I had to do!”
Amelia seemed overwhelmed, but the more she tried to downplay it, the more convinced the crowd became. Well, if she really hates the attention, I will have to find a way to help her stay out of the spotlight.
Or, if the politicians try to sink their teeth into her, I am not above playing dirty to protect her. It all depends on what Amelia wants. If there is a path she wants to take, I am sure there is something I can do to help her walk it.
”Even that humility is a virtue,” Loire-Rose continued. “Now, Sister Amelia. A great deed deserves a fitting reward. As the head of the Church, I will grant you whatever you desire.”
”What…?” Amelia blinked.
Her Eminence’s offer took her completely by surprise. I wasn’t told about this-typical Church business-but it looked like Amelia was just as much in the dark.
It was a difficult question to answer. After just being praised for her selflessness, being asked what she wanted put her in a corner. The standard move would be to say, “I desire nothing,” and I could tell the crowd was waiting for her to say exactly that. I assumed she would, too.
But she didn’t.
Her eyes darted around like an ordinary girl’s, her mouth working as she struggled to find the right words. Even Her Eminence’s poised expression seemed to flicker. This clearly wasn’t going according to the script.
Was this going to be okay? The floating lights were starting to feel like a visual gag as the crowd began to whisper. Finally, Amelia found her voice.
”Um…”
”Yes? What is it?”
”Can it… can it be anything?” Amelia asked.
”I said as much. Whatever you desire. Provided, of course, it is within my power as a mere mortal,” Loire-Rose replied.
”Oh, no, nothing like that. It’s just… well, I actually have a few requests.”
”Very well. This is for the Saint Amelia, after all.”
Yep, we have officially entered the comedy segment. Loire-Rose’s tone had an edge to it now. If I had to provide the subtitles, they would read: “Don’t ask for world peace, kid, I can’t do that,” and “I called you a Saint! Don’t you dare ask for a pile of gold!”
I could swear Her Eminence’s smile was twitching. Personally, I would have loved to hear Amelia scream “GIVE ME THE LOOT!” but she wasn’t that kind of girl.
”First, if possible, I ask for continued support for the regions affected by the Stampede⁴. We have made progress in the Kudoah Count’s lands, but the scars are still there.”
”I see. A reasonable request,” Loire-Rose said. “In my name, I shall mandate that the local churches continue their aid efforts.”
”Thank you. Also, I would like to see deeper cooperation between nations regarding monster countermeasures. And, if possible, I want to see the ‘Holy Labor Units’ turned into a permanent, structured system. Relying solely on volunteer spirit is a recipe for failure in the long run.”
”I… yes. I see. Thank you for your… insight.”
Ah, yeah. That is our Amelia. I could practically hear Loire-Rose screaming internally: “I said anything, but I didn’t mean a lecture on my administrative failings! If I could have fixed the system, I would have done it already!”
”Is… is that the extent of your wishes?” Loire-Rose asked.
”Oh, no. Um, those were the official things. I have a personal request, as well.”
”I see. Very well. A Holy Figure does not go back on her word.”
She was definitely thinking, “There is more?!” I know I was. The crowd was probably thinking it, too. Loire-Rose was doing her best to maintain her composure.
”Then… please allow me to continue working as a sister at the Canarias Monastery, just as I have been.”
”You mean… you don’t wish to be summoned to the Holy City or transferred to a more prestigious cathedral? You could go anywhere you like. I was even planning to write the recommendation myself.”
”You’re too kind,” Amelia replied. “But this incident was a fluke. I am still immature, still in training. I am not ready for a position of great responsibility.”
”How humble. Very well. Neither I nor anyone else has the right to tell you how to live your manner of being.”
”You have my thanks, Your Eminence.”
The crowd erupted. Amelia was officially the “Hometown Saint” now. Loire-Rose probably wanted her as a right-hand woman, but she seemed satisfied enough having a promise that Amelia wouldn’t be snatched up by a rival faction.
That seemed like a solid ending. Her Eminence would offer a final prayer and wrap things up. Everyone moved to head home, but Amelia looked like she still had something on her mind.
Loire-Rose looked at her with an expression that said, “Seriously? Still?”
”…Is there something else?”
”Ah… yes. Um…”
”Fine. Just say it. Get it all out,” Loire-Rose sighed.
”Y-yes. Thank you. It is just… well…”
”Don’t be tedious. You are the most blessed woman on earth right now. No one is going to judge you. Just say it.”
”In that case…”
What a greedy Saint she turned out to be. Loire-Rose had clearly reached the “to hell with it” stage and waved her on. Amelia fidgeted, her face turning bright red, her voice dropping to a tiny whisper.
”…I want to stay a sister of the Church. But… I want to be allowed… to love someone.”
”…Huh?”
—
Summary:
During a grand ceremony, Amelia is officially recognized as an ancient-style ‘Saint’ by the Church’s leader, Loire-Rose. After making several selfless requests for regional aid and systemic reform, Amelia shocks everyone with a personal plea. She asks for the unprecedented permission to remain a nun while being allowed to love someone romantically.
—
Trivia:
- Amelia has specific physical sensitivities mentioned by the protagonist.
- The ‘Holy Sleep’ was a condition Amelia fell into after protecting her comrades from a dragon.
- Loire-Rose was internally critiquing her own administrative failures during Amelia’s speech.
- The term ‘Saint’ here refers to a specific legendary status, distinct from the ‘Holy Figure’ title
—
Character Insight:
Amelia shows significant growth by leveraging her new ‘Saint’ status not for power, but for the freedom to pursue her personal feelings, subverting the expectations of a selfless religious icon.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The author uses a ‘sub-audio’ narrative technique to show the gap between the Holy Figure’s regal outward appearance and her frustrated inner thoughts.
—
TL Notes:
Notes:
• Amelia – The Sister of the Church of Demon-Subjugating, who usually buys from Kento, has light blue hair.
• Loire-Rose – The current Saintess, possessing a divine appearance yet a modern, playful, and irreverent attitude that clashes with Church tradition. She has white hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and wears clergy robes.
• Marian – A ‘Mother’ and supervisor from the Church of Demon-Subjugation. Her appearance and demeanor defy the Church’s purported ‘chastity,’ instead she has wavy purple long hair, busty, black nun, tear mole under eye, and monroe walk. She has arrived with a clear purpose: to confront Kento about the ‘Devil’s Stick.
• Satsuki – A talented Court Mage who was forced to analyze the shop’s adult magic tools. Miranda’s granddaughter. Now she’s the new worker at Harvest, a development she finds both humiliating and surprisingly fulfilling due to the rapid progress in her research under Kento’s guidance. Has long black hair, palace mage robe, and staff.
• Oromanso – A General serving as the assistant to Duke Roost. Bear beastman.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply