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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Mod7
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The students’ cheers were short-lived, quickly replaced by a wave of apprehension.
“B… But how…?”
“Can we really defeat that monster?”
“I… I’m out…”
“We could just… hide…”
The idea of avoiding the monster and simply hiding until the evaluation ended gained traction.
A few nobles, clinging to their sense of honor, protested, but most students were already backing away.
As the students argued amongst themselves, the princess, Hildegarde, and Isabella, still catching up, looked confused.
“…What’s going on? Aren’t we just hunting Low-Rank monsters?”
“That’s what I thought… but there are so many injured…”
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“W… What?! A Mid-Rank monster?”
The princess, shocked, stepped forward, forgetting her usual distance.
“I… I can’t believe it…”
Isabella muttered, her head bowed, deep in thought.
Hildegarde, however, seemed more concerned with the injured students than the monster itself.
The other students had finished their debate. Two-thirds of them were preparing to leave.
Even so, I thought quite a few had chosen to stay. Defeating a Mid-Rank monster was a daunting task, even for stronger students.
It was a testament to Albert’s leadership and the influence of his family name.
I was still marveling at his charisma when he approached us. Or rather, he approached the princess, Hildegarde, and Isabella, who were standing behind me.
The princess and Isabella watched him intently, while Hildegarde, having finished healing the injured students, prayed, clutching her rosary.
Albert stopped before them and spoke, his words taking everyone by surprise.
“Your Highness, would you assist us?”
The princess frowned slightly. I’m sure I did, too, though for a different reason. She was annoyed by his request, while I was dismayed by his decision.
Asking for their help was an admission of weakness, a sign that they couldn’t handle the monster on their own.
And the other students had noticed. They were whispering amongst themselves. The more perceptive ones would use the princess’s refusal as an excuse to leave.
Their numbers would dwindle, and Albert’s ambitions would crumble.
I sighed, mentally criticizing his foolish decision, and started planning my own escape, when he spoke again.
“Your Highness, why are you with the Saint and Lady Isabella?”
“We’re on the same team, obviously—”
“But your original team was different.”
“…Why should I explain myself to you?”
How did he know about her original team? And why was he even asking?
Before I could ponder his motives, he turned to Hildegarde, who was still praying.
“Saint Hildegarde, would you assist us?”
“…I…”
“If you don’t, there will be more casualties.”
“…”
“Please, Saint Hildegarde. Help us.”
“Wait a minute, you!”
The princess tried to intervene, but Hildegarde was already deep in thought.
“What are you doing, Your Highness?”
“You… you knew, didn’t you?”
“I’m not sure what you mean.”
What did she know? And why was the princess trying to stop Hildegarde? And why were the three of them together in the first place? The princess had her own team, and Isabella preferred to be alone.
Hildegarde, the Saint, the messenger of God, revered by the church, bestowed blessings and miracles. Her influence within the church was second only to the Pope. Her words carried weight.
Then it hit me.
The church and the imperial family had always been at odds. The church, with its belief in a divine creator, and the imperial family, who believed in human sovereignty, were bound to clash.
The church, with its divine authority, was a threat to the imperial family’s power.
But what if they formed an alliance? It would strengthen both their positions.
The church would gain easier access to the imperial family, and the imperial family would gain access to the church’s healing abilities.
The current emperor must have proposed the alliance. I didn’t know if the Pope had agreed, but…
What if something happened to the Saint? What if she was injured during the evaluation? The church would be furious, and the alliance would crumble.
That’s why the princess had been assigned to protect her. And with the princess, a skilled mage, by her side, the Saint would be safe. At least, that’s what they’d thought.
And to further ensure her safety, they’d included Isabella, another powerful mage.
But they hadn’t anticipated this. A Mid-Rank monster. Even the princess and Isabella couldn’t guarantee the Saint’s safety.
And if she was injured, even unintentionally, it would cause a scandal.
That’s why they wanted to leave.
But Albert had seen through their plan. He’d appealed to Hildegarde’s compassion, emphasizing the potential casualties.
The princess couldn’t openly object, because Hildegarde wasn’t aware of the political implications. It would be insensitive to reveal that she was being used as a pawn.
So the decision rested solely on Hildegarde. And her decision had been predetermined the moment Albert spoke those words.
“…I’ll help you, Brother Albert.”
“Thank you, Saint Hildegarde!”
Of course she would. She was the Saint. She wouldn’t abandon the injured students, not even for the sake of the evaluation.
And if the Saint participated, the princess, her protector, would have no choice but to join as well.
Albert smiled triumphantly, while the princess, her plans foiled, facepalmed and sat down, defeated.
Albert then turned to Isabella, who, after a moment of hesitation, also agreed to help.
With Isabella’s participation confirmed, the princess had no choice but to protect the Saint.
“Ha… do you even have a plan? Can you even defeat it?”
“Of course we do.”
“…You’d better not fail.”
Their negotiation concluded, and someone tugged on my sleeve.
“Um… Jenison…”
“What is it, Lianna?”
Lianna had been watching silently, and she looked anxious, her hand gripping my sleeve tightly.
“Are… are we going to fight it, too…?”
“Ah.”
That was the problem. She didn’t need to worry.
I had no intention of fighting that monster. It was too risky. I needed a good grade.
“Don’t worry, Lianna.”
“Uh… hmm…”
“We’re not going to fight it.”
I stroked her hair reassuringly, but her face continued to flush, as if she had a fever.
I reached out to check her temperature, when I heard footsteps approaching. I turned and saw…
“You should join us.”
“…Saint?”
It was Hildegarde.
Why was she talking to me?
Albert, the princess, Lianna, and most of the surrounding students turned to look at us.
“…Why?”
“I think you’ll be helpful.”
“…You know I’m weak, right?”
“I don’t know about that, but He said you’d be necessary.”
She pointed at me, and I almost threw a dagger at her.
“…Repeat that.”
“I said, He—Why are you looking at me like that…?”
“Repeat… that.”
The “He” she was referring to…
There was only one person she’d refer to that way, besides the emperor.
“…Just to be sure, Saint…”
“…Yes?”
“…Is the ‘He’ you’re referring to… God?”
God. That bastard.
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