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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Saten’s lesson progressed more smoothly than I expected.
Thanks to Blackie’s help and Saten’s quick understanding.
“Hmm, so… people feel sad when they lose something? Like Blackie right now.”
“Meow… Meow…”
“That’s correct… but stop teasing Blackie with the treat. It might get angry.”
Saten held a treat in front of Blackie, observing its reaction like she was fishing.
Blackie meowed, seemingly saddened by the lack of treats.
Saten gave it the treat before it got angrier.
“You pig cat. You already ate three today, and you’re still hungry? You’re such a glutton.”
“Meow-! Meow-!!”
Munch- Munch-
Blackie happily devoured the dried meat jerky.
It was definitely chubbier compared to when I first found it.
“Saten, people also feel happy when they eat delicious food, just like Blackie. Food can also be a source of happiness.”
“Hmm, is that so? I disagree.”
Some people didn’t enjoy eating.
But it seemed like Saten had a different reason.
“It’s a waste of time to eat. It’s more efficient to eat for nutrients rather than taste. I wish there were pills that contained all the essential nutrients.”
“…I see.”
That gave me a glimpse into Saten’s mind.
She prioritized efficiency above all else.
It reminded me of the office workers I used to see back in Korea.
As I entertained that ridiculous thought… I decided to get up since the lesson was over.
“Alright, Saten. I’ll be going now.”
“Mister, before you go, can you answer a question?”
A question?
Was it unrelated to the lesson?
I nodded, giving her permission.
Saten asked, her expression blank,
“I’m curious, with your Null Attribute Magic, can you create and maintain a human body?”
“Create… and maintain…?”
Was she talking about the body parts she wanted to send to the Secilia family?
I didn’t know the details, but she was plotting revenge against her family, so that must be what she was referring to.
I answered Saten’s question without hesitation.
“Ordinary Blood Magic doesn’t last long. But if you create something with Null Attribute Magic, you can maintain it for a long time. However, it’s not infinite. Do you understand?”
“…Yes, I understand. Thank you, Mister. It’ll help with my research. I should study emotions more diligently.”
Saten bowed her head in gratitude.
It wasn’t a genuine expression of gratitude, more like an imitation.
But if she kept practicing those actions, she might eventually awaken her emotions.
Hoping that Saten would survive after the Hero’s party defeated the Demon Lords and I was gone…
I left Saten’s room, closing the door behind me.
“…Right, Estia. I wonder if she’s praying properly.”
I almost forgot.
I was supposed to check on her after the lesson.
Remembering that, I quickly opened the door to the next room.
“Estia, are you praying proper-”
“Uwaah-!! Why aren’t you answering my prayers-!! You dirty Goddess-!! Give me divine power-!!”
Loud- Loud-
As soon as I opened the door, Estia screamed at the top of her lungs.
‘Judging by the atmosphere, it seems she failed to obtain divine power…’
For a Saintess to pray and not receive divine power…
It was a baffling situation.
I walked towards Estia, who was throwing a tantrum on her bed.
“…Estia.”
“Divine power-!! Why isn’t it coming out even though I’m praying-!!”
“Estia, calm down. You’re being too loud.”
“B-Brother-!! Why can’t I get divine power even when I pray-!? It worked fine when I prayed at the Church-!! Why-?!”
Did she really not know?
That the Bible she had read contained false doctrines, and that she had been brainwashed by false information.
Did she still not understand?
Estia seemed to be in a state of panic, having failed to obtain divine power after numerous attempts.
Religion held a significant meaning for Estia, so it was a natural reaction.
‘Of course she would be anxious if the Goddess she believed in didn’t answer her prayers.’
After all, it was the only thing Estia had left.
“H-Has the Goddess… abandoned me-?! B-But I’m the Saintess-!! This doesn’t make sense-!!”
“…Calm down, Estia.”
Thwack-
I grabbed her shoulders firmly, trying to calm her down.
“I told you before, you can’t reach the Goddess with the doctrines you know.”
“H-Holy water! The Goddesses spread holy water to bring happiness to the world!! Wh-Why is that wrong!! Y-You’re the one who’s wrong, brother!! The High Priest and the Paladins said-”
“Then why can other religious people obtain divine power outside the Church? That doesn’t make sense, Estia.”
“Huh…? Wh-What do you mean…?”
Estia started making incomprehensible noises.
Had she malfunctioned?
Or was her mind rejecting the information?
It seemed like both.
I decided to stop talking to Estia.
Estia’s defense mechanism against her trauma was stronger than I thought.
‘She’s refusing to understand… I need to be more careful next time…’
It was my mistake this time, I was too direct.
Next time, I should take a more roundabout approach.
To help the Saintess fulfill her role…
She needed to overcome her trauma.
“Estia.”
“Huh…? Wh-What did you say, brother?”
“…I didn’t say anything. Anyway, I’m not giving you any holy water since you failed to create divine power.”
“N-No way! What are you talking about! I-I made so much holy water-!!”
Ptooey-
Estia spat as proof of her divine power.
…Well, there was a faint trace of holy water’s effect in it, but that wasn’t what the world called holy water.
“Estia, I wouldn’t buy your spit even if you paid me. That’s not holy water.”
“Y-Yes it is~! There are plenty of people who would buy it~! W-Wait!! Don’t go!! Give me holy water-!!”
Slam-
She was too noisy.
I closed the door, leaving behind Estia who was demanding holy water.
I should give her some holy water later, along with a valid reason.
‘The reason… she was breathing properly? She didn’t run away?’
Well, any reason would do.
It was better to give it to her along with some praise.
I made a promise to give Estia some holy water later and left her room.
And that evening, after I gave Estia the holy water…
“D-Don’t go… St-Stay with me…”
“…Damn it.”
I couldn’t leave Estia alone like this, expressing her loneliness while intoxicated by holy water.
I didn’t understand why the Goddesses, except for Minerva, were turning a blind eye to this issue.
“He, hehe… I’m… happy… H-Holy water is good… We’re… together…”
“…Does holy water really make you feel that good?”
I could tell that holy water had a powerful effect.
It brought back happy memories and kept you trapped in that moment.
Thinking about the children suffering in the Church’s basement…
I patted Estia’s head.
“…I hope I can transfer your friends to a better place someday.”
‘If that happened, you could finally let them go. And you could maintain your sanity without relying on holy water in the future.’
“He, hehe…”
“Next time, I’ll give you a smaller dose so you can stay conscious.”
I had reduced the amount this time, but it wasn’t enough.
If she could stay conscious, she wouldn’t be clinging to me like a cicada.
As I looked at Estia, who was drooling while clinging to me like a baby…
I noticed the slightly open door.
Black eyes were staring at me.
“…Saten, what are you looking at?”
“Observation. You want me to awaken my emotions, right?”
“That’s true, but…”
‘Your gaze is too blatant.’
Saten’s intense, emotionless stare…
Listening to Luna’s screams from downstairs as she trained…
“He, he… Hehe…”
I could only wait for Estia to fall asleep.
It had been a while since I started living with the children…
‘But it’s still not easy…’
This was my first time raising children, it was still difficult to adjust.
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Morning.
As if nothing had happened the day before, bright sunlight streamed through the window illuminating the dust that had accumulated, welcoming me to a new day.
“It’s time.”
It had been a while since the last time I cleaned with Null Attribute Magic…
It was about time to clean again.
Thinking that, I got out of bed and repeated the same routine.
Prepare breakfast, wake up the children.
“We’re having breakfast in the dining room today, so go wake up the children, Hare.”
“Y-Yes…!”
Scamper-
Hare helped me, as always.
Only Hare, who remembered my wake-up time and got up even earlier than me, helped me with my chores.
After gathering all the children in the dining room…
I addressed them, their eyes still half-closed, struggling to hold their spoons.
“I’m sure you’ve all been comfortable in your rooms since coming here.”
“It’s fine to swing my wooden sword in the room! Mister!”
“T-That’s right…! It was sad being away from you, Mister… but… I-I like the spacious room…!”
“Yes, it’s nice to have a bigger room.”
“Haaa… Hmm…”
Only Estia, who was still half-asleep, didn’t respond.
Since Estia’s forced participation was guaranteed… I declared to the children,
“Normally, I would use Null Attribute Magic and the cleaning would be done instantly. But I want you to experience… how difficult cleaning can be.”
Therefore…
“Today is a deep cleaning day. Everyone will clean this mansion after breakfast.”
“…That’s a bit bothersome.”
‘You have to do it even if it’s bothersome. It’s part of your mental training.’
The Hero’s party needed to learn how to clean up after themselves.
‘So they could live well in the world even without me.’
I couldn’t allow myself to become indispensable to the Hero’s party.
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