Chapter 5
“Fei’er… do you have any other questions? Feel free to ask me anything.” Qifeng sat next to me on the bed, swinging her legs gently, her body naturally leaning towards me.
“Not for now.” I smiled. I felt that last question was a bit dirty. I’d only dare to ask someone like Qifeng, my childhood friend, such a thing.
“Really, no more?”
“I’ve known you for so many years, I already know you like the back of my hand. I’ve even seen you completely naked.”
That’s right. I was talking about that time at the Magic Academy. Seeing Qifeng’s “about to burst” shy expression, I knew there was no way she’d forgotten.
“That’s true… You’ve already seen all of me…” Qifeng, embarrassed, placed her curved fingers in front of her lips.
I gave an awkward smile. Her tone and actions just now, combined with her dom aura, made me feel a sense of guilt.
“But, I’ve never seen your body, Fei’er.”
“Eh???”
As soon as she said that, my face couldn’t help but turn red.
She added, “I’ve never seen it, not once, since we were little. It’s such a pity.”
“Wh-What’s there to feel pity about?” I said, blushing. “Isn’t everyone the same when they’re naked?”
I’m really shameless. The blush is probably from the embarrassment of lying, right?
“It’s different…” Qifeng said, taking my hand. I froze, thinking for a split second that I’d been exposed.
“Fei’er, you’re… smaller than me…”
“You don’t need to emphasize that kind of thing!”
This silly girl Qifeng really needs to be taught a lesson. If I were a real girl, I’d definitely feel inferior.
Her body leaned toward me a little more. Don’t be fooled by her being a submissive with M-tendencies. When she has an episode, she really will pounce without a second thought… I’ve even been forcibly kissed by her.
Luckily, her reason hasn’t collapsed yet. Her blue eyes gazed at me affectionately as she said softly, “What I mean is, Fei’er, you’re a very special existence to me. All of you… I want to see it all…”
I gave a weak laugh. Just don’t regret it after you see it. (I managed to hold that sentence back.)
“Her? I’ve seen her.”
The half-open door to the boudoir silently swung open. Lian Qi, changed into her pajamas, walked in while drying her dripping hair with a towel.
I immediately turned my face to her and asked in disbelief.
Qifeng looked at Lian Qi, then back at me. Was that a mix of shame and a bit of indignation?
As if protesting—How come you won’t let me see?
…Qifeng is totally misunderstanding! Did I lose my memory?
Why don’t I remember this happening? If Lian Qi had really seen, she wouldn’t say things like wanting me to have her baby!
“Hmph, you forgot? At Fontainebleau Manor, I walked in on you bathing. And after that, I pulled you into the bath with me.”
It dawned on me. I stammered, “I summoned Holy Light to block… you know… so it doesn’t count as you seeing everything…!”
The situation back then scared me to death! My pure, innocent body, hidden away for so many years, was this close to being seen by Lian Qi… Even Qifeng, my childhood friend, has never seen it.
“Hmph, so you can even censor yourself. But I definitely saw your back clearly. You can’t deny that,” Lian Qi said with a half-smile.
Fine…
My “unimportant” back was indeed seen by Lian Qi. She even praised me for having a nice butt or something… Thinking back on it now still feels so shameful.
“Eh? So you only saw Fei’er’s back?” Qifeng said.
“That’s right, just my back,” I emphasized. “So Qifeng, you don’t need to feel unbalanced. Okay, now it’s my turn to take a bath.”
Carrying the shame from that memory, I ran down the spiral staircase, went into the bathroom, and locked the door. Only then did my heart calm down a little.
Thinking about it now, I’m undoubtedly walking a tightrope on a cliff. After experiencing so many accidents, it’s a miracle my identity as a boy hasn’t been exposed yet.
Now I feel like even taking a bath isn’t safe…
I stood under the showerhead, letting the water wash over my body. The steam in the bathroom hadn’t dispersed, carrying the scent of Lian Qi’s bath. Now, steam once again filled the entire room.
Speaking of which, bathing really is comfortable~ The hot water soothes the skin~ That feeling of fulfillment is such bliss—
After a nice, comfortable hot bath, I changed into the pajamas I’d prepared. (Given what happened tonight, I’d better not wear a nightgown.)
When I climbed the spiral staircase and pushed open the bedroom door, I found the lights were already off. Eh? Where did everyone go?
The moment my foot stepped inside, a dark shadow suddenly hugged me from behind. I jumped in fright.
This scent, this feeling… Lian Qi.
“You take way too long to bathe. I was waiting so long I almost fell asleep.”
“Jeez. Stop messing around. You’re not asleep yet?” I remembered what she’d hung on the clothesline… I couldn’t help but feel awkward. I just had to pretend I didn’t see it.
“Of course I was waiting for you to come back and warm the bed for me.” Lian Qi bent down, hooked her arm under my legs, and princess-carried me.
I’m a boy, and I get princess-carried by her every time. It’s really embarrassing, okay?
“Eh? Where’s Qifeng?” I asked.
“I won at rock-paper-scissors, so I’m sleeping with you tonight.”
“Y-You guys actually used me as a bet—!”
“Hmph, after we get married, you won’t have a choice.”
She said this as she placed me on the bed a little roughly.
My face flushed red, but she couldn’t see it in the dark.
“Who said I was going to marry you?”
The next day, it was another bright and beautiful afternoon~
With no Druids making trouble, every day was a sunny day. Holding this thought, I was currently having tea with Tristina in the royal garden.
“It’s so nice without the smog. We can enjoy afternoon tea in the garden again.” Tristina lifted her teacup and took an elegant sip. The bright sunlight scattered on her curly golden hair, looking very beautiful.
It gives one the feeling—As expected of the Queen of the Holy Flame, Tristina Merreil. Her aura and looks are both perfect.
“That smog was actually the Rainmaker’s magic. It was faked to deceive us with the illusion that magic pollutes the environment,” I said, sitting across from her with a weak smile.
Please don’t let her next sentence be ‘The tea you make is still the best.’ Because she says that every single time.
Tristina put down her cup, leaned in close to my ear, and said mysteriously, “I heard all about it. At the scene where the truth of the smog was revealed, the Transmigrator kissed you in front of thousands of people, hmm?”
“Eheheh???” My face instantly turned red. “It… It’s already reached your ears?”
“The entire royal capital is in an uproar. What do you think?” She gave me a meaningful smile.
Right, that makes sense. All land under heaven belongs to the king; there’s no way Tristina wouldn’t know.
I could only give an awkward laugh. “I hope…”
When I was kissed, I really wasn’t thinking much. I just felt that Lian Qi’s lips were a bit cold, and… soft. Even my shameful reaction to being kissed in public was half a beat slow.
Only afterward did I realize—I’m the Saintess. The fact that I was kissed is probably enough to cause a national sensation, right?
What’s more, I was kissed by a girl…
“I didn’t expect you and the Transmigrator had already developed to that stage.”
“I-It’s not what you’re imagining—!” I blushed, trying to explain, but found there was no room for explanation.
If it’s not what Tristina is imagining, then what is it?
Could I possibly say—We’ve done some things you really can’t imagine?
Thinking back on all those shameless experiences with Lian Qi, a kiss is practically pure in comparison, isn’t it?
“Fei’er, could it be…”
“Could it be what!?” My whole body tensed up, terrified I would hear the word “boy” or something similar.
“Could it be that you like girls?”
Okay, I can breathe a sigh of relief for now. My identity as a boy wasn’t exposed, but my orientation was?
Still, it’s better for everyone to assume my orientation is lesbian than to suspect my gender, right?
“And you like cool-looking girls? The Transmigrator has short hair, you know. I mistook her for a boy at first, too.”
“Actually, Lian Qi looks really good with long hair, too. I’ve seen a picture,” I replied, embarrassed.
As for whether I like cool-looking girls, I’m not sure myself. I wonder if it’s a compromise between my female psychology and my male psychology.
“No wonder I’ve known you for so long and never heard you say you liked any boy.”
I listened and gave an awkward laugh. Because I’m a boy too, so of course I wouldn’t feel anything.
In the past, I could use “I’m still young, my heart hasn’t awakened” as an excuse, but that’s impossible now. After all, my first kiss…
“Alright.” At this point, I had no choice but to confess: “Actually… I do… I do have more feelings for girls.”
“Me too.”
Tristina gripped my hand.
“…Huh?” I froze, staring at her blankly.
“The marriage candidates my father introduced me to… I don’t like a single one. I find them all too crude. I’ve realized I might like…”
The way she looked at me was a bit… strange.
But Tristina, oh Tristina, you have no idea you’re holding a boy’s hand right now!
“Fei’er, you understand me. My father’s attitude towards my marriage when he was alive made me very resistant. He even announced to the world that whoever could defeat the Demon King could marry me.”
I nodded in deep understanding. It seems that identities like “Saintess” or “Princess” just can’t escape the fate of being a reward for the Hero after defeating the Demon King, hmm?
“But, you’re the Queen of the Holy Flame Kingdom now. If you don’t marry a man, the issue of continuing the royal bloodline… what will you do?”
On the other hand, as the Saintess, I don’t have the task of continuing a bloodline, do I? Wait… what am I thinking?
“That’s right. I still bear such a mission? How heavy.” She looked as if she’d just realized.
“Fei’er, what do you think? Can magic make two girls pregnant?”
“Ah?? This…”
If magic can really make a girl pregnant by another girl, then it could also make a girl get a boy pregnant, right?
Remembering what Lian Qi told me last night about wanting me to have her baby… the implications are truly terrifying.
“Fei’er, you’re a child of the Holy Light, right?”
“Y-Yes, I am.”
“Can the Holy Light also make people pregnant? After all, the Holy Light even gave birth to you.”
Th-Th-This!?
I don’t know if the Holy Light can make someone pregnant, but theoretically, I can make Tristina preg…
And so, I very tactfully told her the first half of that sentence, and swallowed the second half back down.
“I see. It seems you don’t know how you were born either.”
I smiled. “Of course. I was just a baby when I was born.”
Although I’m the Saintess born of Holy Light, I have no idea how I was born either! I just hope I wasn’t born by fission…
I heard some monsters reproduce by splitting. For example—Slimes?
How can I compare myself to a Slime…
“Don’t tell me… I can only look for a cute boy?” Tristina propped her chin on her hand, looking pensive.
I sat next to her, listening to her say this, feeling incredibly guilty.
“It’s still too early to talk about marriage.”
Maybe I shouldn’t have brought up the topic of continuing the royal bloodline?
My one sentence seemed to make Tristina very troubled. It’s still too far off for her.
It would have been better not to mention it. As soon as I did, it led to this weird topic of whether Holy Light or magic can get girls pregnant…
She suddenly gripped my hand tightly—“But… there’s a situation right now that’s already burning my eyebrows!”
“In a few days, the palace is holding a banquet. Many royals and nobles from other countries will be attending. I’m worried I’ll be besieged over marriage matters. Fei’er, you must attend too, and help me block them!”
“…Okay… I promise.”
I realized that Tristina has always come to me for help whenever she runs into trouble with marriage interviews…
Plus, she confessed to liking “yuri” today… Am I overthinking this?
Chapter 6
If I’m attending the banquet, should I wear a formal dress with high heels? Or should I be more low-key, hide my identity, and wear a maid outfit?
Even though I sprained my ankle the first time I tried wearing high heels, I can’t help but want to try again.
And although I’m a boy, I’m not tall, so it won’t look that strange if I wear high heels.
“Then it’s settled, okay? You must attend. If there are any suitors, you block them for me.”
“Okay, okay…” I thought, I really can’t say no to her.
Speaking of which, Tristina’s suitors are chased away by me every time. What exactly is my position in all this…
It gives a real feeling of “As long as I’m here, no one can marry you,” doesn’t it?
Tristina, are you… really not bothered by this?
Immediately after, she spread a piece of paper on the table and pushed it to me. My first reaction was—“Is this… another list of suitors?”
Last time it was arranged in order: Prince No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, No. 4. Have Nos. 5, 6, 7, and 8 now appeared?
Come to think of it, her suitors are all pretty strong, aren’t they? So~ being the Queen’s “flower-protector” isn’t that easy.
“No, this is the file on the Rainmaker from his time in prison, the one you asked me to find.”
She added with a smile—“If it were a suitor list, how could it possibly be only one page?”
“Oh, my mistake.”
I felt a little embarrassed and picked up the paper titled “File” to hide my face. I glanced at it—
What caught my eye was a silver-haired, green-eyed boy wearing a black leather mask. Eheh? Just a child?
I asked in surprise, “The Rainmaker is actually that young?”
What’s worth noting is, why would such a delicate-featured boy wear a leather mask?
“Don’t just see him as a child. He already had a bounty of one hundred million when he was nine,” Tristina replied.
“One hundred million!?”
Remember that dragon-beast my adventurer team with Sister Mouyue defeated?
The bounty was only twelve million, and that was already an astronomical figure.
But the Rainmaker had a bounty of one hundred million four years ago, when he was just a child.
“Yes. He’s said to be extremely dangerous. Back then, it was thanks to the Demon King that he was sent to the Magic-Forbidden Prison.”
A while ago (during the time we were hunting the rebel assassination group “Seven-Leaf Tree”), when Qifeng, Lian Qi, and I talked about the Magic-Forbidden Prison, we mentioned that that person had sent many criminals to prison, including the Rainmaker.
“How could a child get a one-hundred-million bounty? What terrible things did the Rainmaker do?”
As I spoke, my gaze moved past the Rainmaker’s portrait to continue reading his file. Under ‘Crimes,’ it was clearly written—Murder of multiple adventurers.
Just those few words made me connect the Rainmaker’s actions with that person.
“The file also says the reason the Rainmaker hates adventurers is because his family was killed by adventurers,” Tristina said.
I was surprised. “That happened? It seems there are some scumbags among the adventurers, too.”
“But he shouldn’t transfer his hatred onto all adventurers. That’s too extreme.”
I continued browsing the file and saw something incredible—he was already a Tier 5 Magician at the age of nine?
Truly a genius. Also, like Lian Qi, he’s an Enchantment school magician?
Wait—. Enchantment school?
The codename “Rainmaker” and the magic to create smog… it’s hard to connect those with the Enchantment school.
I remember a popular saying at the Magic Academy: “The Enchantment school doesn’t produce magicians.”
This is because the vast majority of Enchantment students have a narrow understanding of their school and are too lazy, only thinking of using magic to strengthen their bodies and weapons, which leads to the Enchantment school being more like close-combat warriors or something.
Someone like Lian Qi, who uses Enchantment to achieve explosion magic, is extremely rare.
This also reflects that the Rainmaker is not simple.
“Fei’er, I can’t understand why the Demon King broke him out of prison a year ago.”
“They must be colluding. As far as I know, the Rainmaker is now the leader of the ‘Animal Protection’ branch of the Druid organization, working for the Demon King.”
Tristina looked at me uneasily. “If even the Rainmaker has joined forces with the Demon King, that’s too terrifying…”
“I don’t know what the Rainmaker’s true strength is, either. I only know he used magic to cover the entire royal capital in smog.”
“Fei’er, to be cautious, you should tell Aijieliya about this. Likewise, I’ll send a raven to General Phylicia.”
I smiled. “Isn’t that a bit of an overreaction? Sister Phylicia is on the northern front fighting rebels. Let’s not distract her.”
“Fei’er, I’m worried about you…”
Ah…?
I stared at her blankly, blinking.
Although Tristina is the Queen, we’ve known each other since she was a princess. You could call us childhood friends, right?
It’s normal for her to say she’s worried about me. But… is it my imagination?
The way she’s looking at me doesn’t seem like she’s looking at a “best girl friend.” Something just feels off…
“Back then, I asked you to dress as a maid and stay by the Transmigrator’s side, hoping you could urge her not to forget her mission to defeat the Demon King.”
“But, looking at it now, it seems you’ve also thrown yourself into defeating the Demon King as your own career.”
I paused, then scratched my cheek, a little embarrassed.
“Uh… now that you mention it, that really is the case, isn’t it? I really have thrown myself into defeating the Demon King as a career.”
But is there anything wrong with me doing that? After all, the Demon King isn’t just some stranger to me.
I am doing this with resolve, having cast aside the past and everything that happened with her, determined to stop her no matter what scheme she has.
“You are the Saintess. You shouldn’t be charging into the fray.”
“But I don’t feel at ease letting Lian Qi face the Demon King alone,” I said frankly.
Back then, Tristina was the one who tricked and cajoled me, packing me up and sending me over.
As a result, Lian Qi and I developed to this extent… It’s something not even Tristina could have imagined, and not even I could have imagined.
“You don’t need to worry about me. If I were the kind of Saintess who couldn’t even truss a chicken, I would obediently stay in the rear and not cause trouble for anyone,” I told her.
“Fei’er, I’ve discovered you’re very brave, you know?”
I smiled. “You’ve run away from home so many times. You’re pretty brave too.”
After speaking, I folded up the Rainmaker’s file. The image of that silver-haired boy in the black leather mask was now etched in my mind.
It’s good to have confirmed the enemy. It’s better than finding out at the last minute that Professor Einstein was the mastermind behind the “Environmental Protection” branch.
The “Environmental Protection” branch, one of the two major branches of the Druid organization, has already been overturned by me.
The remaining “Animal Protection” branch, and the Rainmaker, are the enemies I will face next.
Chapter 7
After bidding farewell to Tristina, I walked out of the castle and stood beneath the crenelated city wall. The bright afternoon sun scattered on my silver-white hair, reflecting a colorful light.
I took a deep breath. The weather is so good, I’d be embarrassed not to be full of energy.
Next stop, the Church!
…
Half an hour later, I quietly pushed open the great doors of the Holy Light Church’s Papal Hall.
The several elderly bishops were not present. I only saw a young figure with gray hair in a white robe—Bal, standing before me, silhouetted against the stained-glass window.
“Ah, Saintess, you’ve arrived.”
What’s with that? Why the expression like he’s welcoming a rare guest?
I asked him directly, “Have you seen Qifeng?”
“Qifeng is your Holy Knight. Shouldn’t she be by your side?”
“I went to the palace to see the Queen. I just got back.”
He spread his hands—“But I haven’t seen her.”
“Alright then.”
I thought, I wonder where that silly girl ran off to again.
Is she still concurrently serving as the Holy Light Church’s Inspector?
“If it’s official business, you can tell me, and I will help you handle it.”
Of course I wouldn’t seek him out for personal matters.
I always keep the bishops of the Holy Light Church at a respectful distance. Only Bal isn’t like the others, pulling rank.
Besides Qifeng, he’s probably the only one I can rely on, right?
I sighed softly. “Fine, telling you is okay too.”
And so, I handed him the folded Rainmaker file.
“Add this person to the Church’s wanted list, please. He’s a subordinate of the Demon King, and also the leader of the ‘Animal Protection’ branch of the Druid organization.”
“The Rainmaker?”
“You’ve heard of him?”
“This child’s only relative was accidentally killed by an adventurer. It was the Church that took him in, until he ran away and disappeared for a long time.”
“Later, when we heard news of him again, he had already become a wicked criminal.”
“Wait, did you just say his relative was accidentally killed?”
“It’s not that we didn’t investigate. The arrow that adventurer originally shot at a Goblin hit his mother instead.”
“Hatred can change a person. You’ve seen it. The rest of his life was as if he lived only for revenge.”
Yes, I understand the principle that hatred can change a person.
But compared to the Rainmaker, that person has no quarrel with adventurers. So why kill them?
And what was it that changed her?
“You said he is the leader of the Druids?” Bal asked me.
I nodded with certainty. “Mhm, there’s no mistake.”
He pointed to the file—“This person, and the ‘Misteltein’ you previously asked us to put on the wanted list, the Church will handle according to your decree. But… if you order the arrest of all members of the ‘Animal Protection’ branch, it will be very difficult.”
“Eh? Why? The ‘Animal Protection’ branch is an organization that serves the Demon King.”
“I understand. You are the Saintess; we all trust your judgment. But in the eyes of the common people, they are just a group of people who are very caring towards animals.”
I couldn’t help but retort: “The ‘Environmental Protection’ branch also looked like a group of people who loved protecting the environment to the common people. But in reality?”
“I understand. But please listen to me. We did arrest a few animal protectionists, but they all claimed to be innocent. If we arrest them without any evidence, before they’ve done anything, the public will steer the narrative towards religious persecution.”
“Religious persecution?”
I shook my head.
“I’m not persecuting them.”
“Of course you aren’t. But don’t forget, you are the Saintess. A single decision from you can influence the entire nation. So, how the believers below carry out your decree is a problem. I just worry that the number of people arrested will end up being far greater than the actual number of members in the ‘Animal Protection’ branch.”
I froze. “You mean… innocent people will be dragged into this?”
“‘Follower of the Demon King’ is a very sensitive accusation. It could escalate into a massive hunt. I trust you don’t wish to see the situation develop that way, do you?”
…I pressed my lips together. What Bal said seemed to make a lot of sense.
But I can’t just wait until the ‘Animal Protection’ branch actually causes some trouble before I act. That would be far too passive.
“Fine, hmph. Then I’ll just find a way to deal with them myself.”
I snatched the Rainmaker file from Bal’s hand.
I turned back and found he hadn’t moved, his hand still in the posture of holding the paper, staring at me intently.
“What’s so interesting to look at?”
“I’ve discovered that… you’ve grown up a lot since your fifteenth birthday.”
…I was a bit baffled. I hadn’t noticed any changes in myself. Aren’t I still the same? So, this is his reason for staring at me?
“And… it seems you’ve reached the age for romance.”
“..Huh?”
Reached the age for romance? Is there some kind of strict standard for that?
Wait, I get it now. This person’s words have a hidden meaning. Could it be referring to the fact that I was kissed by Lian Qi in front of so many people…
At the same time, two coughs suddenly sounded from behind me. I didn’t even need to turn around to guess who it was. That annoying, meddlesome old man—Bishop Schneider.
He walked over and said, “Saintess, we were just about to speak with you regarding this matter. You being kissed by a girl in public… the impact is extremely poor.”
“Extremely poor impact?”
I turned my head and shot him a glance. I really don’t like this opening.
“You are the Saintess, a symbol of holiness and purity. This concerns your reputation,” Schneider said.
“You think I’m no longer pure and holy just because I was kissed, is that right? Do you really care about my reputation?”
I really wanted to snort coldly to express my disdain—“I think you care about the Church’s reputation, don’t you?”
“N-How can you say such a thing?”
“I get kissed once and it’s this big a deal?”
I thought, Just because I’m the Saintess, am I destined to be unable to be like a normal person?
“What Bishop Schneider means is, you’re already fifteen this year, aren’t you? Before this, we hadn’t had a chance to discuss how to handle the problems you might face at this age… and then it happened,” Bal quickly interjected with a smile.
“The Edicts of the Holy Light don’t say the Saintess has no right to fall in love, do they?” I said coldly.
“Stay out of my affairs. I don’t want to hear what you have to say. I’m leaving.”
I turned, left them, and walked away without looking back.
Just as I said. There’s nothing in the Edicts of the Holy Light specifying that the Saintess must be celibate or maintain her purity or anything.
Do they really think I’m a three-year-old?
Perhaps someone else would be more conventional, more in line with their image of a “Saintess.” But I refuse.
“Wait, where are you going?”
“On a date.”
Chapter 8
Although I am the Saintess, I have never considered myself high and mighty. I feel that I am the same as everyone else.
That “As the Saintess, you must…” tone is becoming more and more repulsive to me.
Hmph. Sorry that my behavior doesn’t conform to their image of a “Saintess.”
Let them say what they want. I just need to be myself.
I walked out of the Church, still fuming. As luck would have it, Lian Qi was standing at the bottom of the steps looking up at me. I stood on the steps, frozen. We actually met just like this.
“I got a bit stuffy training magic for so long, so I came out for some air. I was thinking of picking you up to go home, but I didn’t expect to run right into you.”
“Pick me up?” I smiled shyly, and walked towards her. My steps felt a little lighter as I descended the stairs.
“You’re just in time. Let’s go. We’re going on a date,” I said, grabbing her hand.
“Huh—a date!?”
No wonder Lian Qi had such an incredulous expression.
Because only romantic couples use the word “date,” right?
Just now, I coldly threw out the words “On a date” before walking out of the Papal Hall. I wasn’t just saying it.
Since those bishops love to meddle so much, what’s wrong with me testing your limits?
But…
Although I was the one who suggested the date… as someone who has never been on a date… where exactly should we go?
“Where do you want to go on a date?” she asked me.
I gave a weak laugh, turned to face her, and awkwardly scratched my cheek with one finger.
“Lian Qi, where do you want to go?”
“Asking me? I’ve only been transmigrated for a few days. I’m not familiar with this world.” fix few months maybe?
“…In your original world, where would people usually go on a date?”
“I’ve never been on a date either.” Lian Qi put one hand on her hip and glanced at me. “But generally speaking, people go to the movies on a date, right?”
“The movies?”
“It’s normal that you don’t understand.”
I’ve just inadvertently learned that Lian Qi has no dating experience either, hmm?
Looks like she was telling the truth last time when she admitted it was her first kiss. For some reason, my mood improved a little.
“…How about… you walk with me in the park?” I suggested hesitantly.
There is indeed a park nearby. I used to go there often.
“The park. Alright, sure.” She said with a half-smile, “Going on a date with you is really cheap, huh?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Listening to her words, which I didn’t fully understand, I walked into the park.
At this time, there were very few people in the park.
Lian Qi and I strolled side-by-side… actually, we were just walking aimlessly!
It’s all because it was labeled a “date,” so I feel a little awkward.
I couldn’t just keep staring at my shoes because I felt awkward, that wouldn’t be good. So I had to look around.
This place is still the same as I remember. I haven’t been here in so long…
My gaze fixed on the swings in the distance. There were two swings, side-by-side.
The last time I sat on one… it feels like it happened yesterday, still so vivid.
“You want to sit?” Lian Qi asked me.
“No, I just…”
“If you want to sit, then sit. I know you’re still a child at heart.” Her smile made it seem like she was treating me as a kid.
She put her hands on my shoulders and pushed me toward the swings.
“What ‘child at heart’? I’m not!”
I half-heartedly resisted but sat down on the swing. I gripped the swing’s long ropes, feeling a little… shy. I’m fifteen years old and still playing on a swing… is it a bit unfitting?
And Lian Qi sat in the spot where Xubai1 once sat.
This is the reason I have such a deep impression of the swings here.
“Hey, you. You wait until it’s almost dusk to suggest a date. What, you just want our date to be as short as possible? It’ll be dark soon, and the temperature in your world will drop sharply. We won’t be able to go anywhere but home.”
I met Lian Qi’s complaining gaze and quickly explained, “Please don’t misunderstand! It’s not what you’re thinking—!”
“What made you suddenly decide to go on a date with me? Are you in a bad mood?”
Uwaa… How did she guess so easily?
“N-No, I’m not in a bad mood,” I said weakly.
“Go ahead and hide it from me, if your knees are itchy,” she said, glancing at me coldly.
“Knees… itchy?”
“It means you want to kneel on a washboard.” She said it in a light, breezy tone, but it was a terrifying thing. She has no idea how much kneeling on a washboard hurts…
“Don’t be like that! I’ll tell you the truth, okay?”
I told her about the conversation I just had with Bal at the Church.
Lian Qi sighed.
“In my original world, there were witch hunts back in the Middle Ages. That bishop named Bal is worried about that, right? To think there’s someone so considerate. The Holy Light Church is really a breath of fresh air in the world of churches.”
“What do you mean? Hmph, how could the Church that has me as its Saintess be bad?”
“You’re a breath of fresh air, too.”
What ‘breath of fresh air’? As a boy, am I not actually a mudslide in the world of Saintesses?
“I know what Bal said makes sense, but I can’t just wait until the ‘Animal Protection’ branch actually does something to act. That’s too passive,” I said, gripping the swing’s ropes, looking down dejectedly.
“If the Church can’t help, then just think of other channels. You still have so many ‘sisters,’ anyway. And I’ll be with you.”
“…”
“However, I don’t think this is why you’re in a bad mood. And this has no direct connection to you suddenly asking me on a date.”
Lian Qi stared at me coolly with half-lidded eyes, as if she could see right through me.
“Th-This is…”
I weakly scratched my cheek with a finger. How come I can’t seem to hide anything from her?
“Fine. Actually, it’s… they found out about us… kissing!”
“They?”
“The bishops at the Holy Light Church! Who else, my family?” I couldn’t help but press my hands between my knees, saying this with a red face.
Lian Qi was silent for a moment.
“Feels like we got caught doing something bad by our parents, huh?”
“They’re not my parents. At most, they’re just my elders.”
“So it was because of this? Looks like I broke a taboo? Don’t tell me the Saintess in your world has to be… celibate?”
“It’s not like that… otherwise, I would have resisted the first time you… bullied me,” I said, embarrassed.
“You don’t need to worry. I just find them long-winded.”
“So you only asked me on a date because you were sulking.”
The change in Lian Qi’s expression clearly showed me she was disappointed. For some reason, this made me feel at a loss.
“Th-Then if I was just sulking, why wouldn’t I ask someone else on a date?”
“Hmph. When other people go on dates, they date for the whole day. If you really intended to date me, you should have started in the morning, right?”
“I… I get it, okay? Just… just say I owe you one, alright…?” I stammered to her.
Chapter 9
The sun is still above my head, but it’ll be sunset soon. Suggesting a date at this time really does seem insincere.
No wonder Lian Qi would complain—“You just want our date to be as short as possible?”
So~ the result is that the date is now an IOU.
“Sure. On the day of our date, you have to dress up all pretty, okay?” Lian Qi said to me.
“Pretty? What? You want me to wear makeup?”
“Or… you’ve seen my wardrobe. It’s mostly nun outfits. The rest are just very plain clothes-”
She cut me off—“Don’t you have a little Lolita-style dress?”
“Eh!?”
Isn’t she talking about the birthday present Tristina gave me?
I only wore it once on my birthday when I couldn’t resist trying it on. Although it looked very cute… but… but…
“You want me to wear it outside?”
“What, you’d feel embarrassed?”
“O-Of course! Just thinking about wearing that outside feels so shy, okay?”
“What’s there to be shy about?”
…I couldn’t answer right away. I can’t just say it’s because I’m a boy, so I’d be shy wearing a Lolita dress, can I? It gives… a very, very real feeling of playing the role of a girl.
I could only answer her hesitantly from a girl’s perspective, “It’s just… I’d worry about attracting attention, I guess?”
“It’s fine. I’ve seen you wear it; you can definitely pull it off.”
“…W-Wearing it for others to see and wearing it at home for myself are completely different feelings, okay—?”
“Then it’s happily decided.”
“You can’t just decide for m—” I glanced at Lian Qi and protested quietly. She actually pretended not to hear.
She held the swing’s ropes with both hands, looking up at the sky.
“Since the date is postponed, what should we do next?” she asked.
“This…”
“Want me to push you really high?”
“No—! Don’t you dare! I like to swing by myself.”
I gripped the ropes uneasily and said in a small voice, “Didn’t you say you’d help me think of a solution?”
I was referring to the “Animal Protection” branch of the Druids. Since the Church can’t easily make a move, I have to think of other channels.
Lian Qi thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s go to the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“The Adventurers’ Guild?”
“Weren’t those animal protectionists protesting in front of the Adventurers’ Guild with banners, against adventurers indiscriminately killing wild animals?”
“Since they’re targeting adventurers, maybe the Adventurers’ Guild will have some news about them.”
Lian Qi said this as she hopped off the swing and dusted off her skirt.
“Let’s head out now!”
…
Half an hour later, I was standing in front of the imposing Adventurers’ Guild building.
“This is the place.”
Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve brought Lian Qi to visit the Adventurers’ Guild, isn’t it?
Lian Qi looked up and exclaimed, “It’s built so impressively.”
“Mhm. Because the Adventurers’ Guild has a very long history. You know most of our world is covered in permafrost, so the area humans live in is actually just a small part.”
“Because of this, adventurers played the role of pioneers in history. Even many kingdoms were established by those pioneers.”
Lian Qi nodded. “No wonder. It’s because the stage left for adventurers is huge.”
“Especially recently, with the permafrost gradually melting, exploring the de-iced areas has become very popular, right?”
“Oh? Hearing you say that makes me want to go explore, too.”
Lian Qi and I chatted as we stepped into the Adventurers’ Guild hall.
Even though it was getting late, a large group of adventurers was still gathered here, lively and noisy.
I remember the last time I came, because I was wearing a maid outfit, a bunch of guys stared at me. It was so embarrassing…
I looked around—“Looks like Sister Mouyue and Sister Livi aren’t here. Oh well, let’s go to the reception desk.”
I pulled Lian Qi’s hand and wove through the gaps in the crowd.
I happened to overhear a conversation between an adventurer with a bandaged arm and his companion—
“You have no idea how dangerous it was! I was fighting a Zhang Mastiff1 one-on-one, and suddenly someone in a green robe jumped out of the bushes and attacked me with the Zhang Mastiff!”
“Huh? Could it be one of those ‘Animal Protectionist’ Druids? You’d better be careful.”
“Especially watch out for those who shoot you in the back…”
I pulled Lian Qi’s hand, moving through the gaps in the crowd, and walked to the reception desk.
I happened to know the female receptionist behind the desk. It was her last time, too.
“Hello, have you seen ‘Starmoon’ Mouyue, or the ‘Sword Saint’ Livi?”
“They are both Platinum-rank adventurers. Do you have business with them?” She looked up, adjusted her glasses, and her face immediately showed surprise—
“Sa-Saintess!?”
She shot up from her chair. I quickly made a “shh” gesture at her. Low-key, low-key!
She understood and nodded, lowering her voice, “Are you looking for them? Apologies, I haven’t seen them today either.”
“Don’t tell me they went to slay another dragon…”
“Lady Saintess, you must understand, for Platinum-rank adventurers like them, only slaying a dragon is challenging enough. Or fighting on the front lines of the de-iced permafrost,” the receptionist told me with a smile.
“…Oh, right. I’m actually here to submit a request.”
I said this as I handed the Rainmaker’s file to the receptionist. “This person is a subordinate of the Demon King. Please post him on the Adventurers’ Guild’s bounty board.”
“A subordinate of the Demon King!?” The receptionist took the file with both hands, first sucking in a cold breath, then glancing at the file and exclaiming again—“The Rainmaker!?”
It seems the combination of “Demon King’s subordinate” and “Rainmaker” is… very terrifying.
Honestly, even Professor Einstein was a subordinate of the Demon King. The Rainmaker is nothing to be so shocked about.
“As for the bounty… it was one hundred million before? Let’s keep it at one hundred million.”
“Huh? Where are you going to get one hundred million? I’ve seen your bankbook; you don’t have that much,” Lian Qi looked at me in surprise.
“Of course I’m not paying it myself. The Church can allocate the funds. If that doesn’t work, I’ll ask Tristina,” I said with a smile.
Lian Qi muttered, “…The Saintess really can do whatever she wants.”
I glared back at her reproachfully. “Hmph, and you’re any different?”
Who was it that used “part of the plan to defeat the Demon King” as an excuse to get Tristina to seize that restaurant’s land and slap that rich kid in the face?
“If Lady Saintess requests it, then of course it’s no problem… I’ll go find someone to draw up the bounty poster for the Rainmaker right away,” the receptionist said with a beaming smile.
“Oh, right. I just heard that an adventurer was attacked by an animal protectionist while fighting a Zhang Mastiff?”
“What’s going on with that…?” I asked.
Chapter 10
If what that adventurer just said is true, doesn’t that mean animals and animal protectionists are attacking humans together?
“Wait, what’s a Zhang Mastiff? A type of dog?” Lian Qi asked.
“Yes, its fur is very warm,” the receptionist replied.
“What’s wrong, Lian Qi?”
“Nothing.” She smiled at me. “It just sounds like an adventurer was fighting a Tibetan Mastiff, and then the dog’s owner jumped out and bit him.”
“A… cold joke?” I was completely bewildered.
The receptionist sighed, looking very troubled.
“Lady Saintess, you may not know this, but those members of the ‘Animal Protection’ branch of the Druids call themselves guardians of animals and see us adventurers as mortal enemies.”
“No, I do know. I saw them holding banners and protesting when I passed by the guild entrance before. Protesting adventurers indiscriminately killing animals?”
“Um—something about ‘no trade, no slaughter’?”
“It’s okay to kill people, but not animals?” the receptionist said indignantly.
I froze. “What did you say?”
“They’re not just protesting anymore. They’re out in the wild, hunting adventurers.”
“Hunting humans… for the sake of animals?”
Both Lian Qi and I found this incredible.
But thinking about the actions of the “Environmental Protection” branch that I took down, I was somewhat mentally prepared.
“It’s said they also have a bounty board. Just like we post bounties on monsters, they’re posting bounties on adventurers.”
“Nowadays, adventurers in the wild not only have to deal with monsters, but also be on guard against animal protectionists. So, it’s very tricky…”
“Do you know where their base is?” Lian Qi asked.
The receptionist shook her head. “Not at the moment.”
Lian Qi turned her face to me and scared me with her first words—“Fei’er, how do you register as an adventurer?”
“…Lian Qi, you plan to become an adventurer? Are you serious?”
“Mhm.” She put her hands on her hips, full of confidence. “They’re hunting adventurers, right?”
“Then we’ll join too. Maybe we can bait them into taking the hook.”
“That’s right! Maybe we can follow the vine to find the melon,1 find their base, and wipe them all out!”
Lian Qi and I hit it off immediately. We were just short of high-fiving.
“Th-Then, M-Lady… is your friend planning to register as an adventurer?” the receptionist asked quietly.
“Of course,” we said in unison.
“O-Okay! Please fill out the adventurer registration form. Or I can fill it out for you.”
I felt she was being a bit too polite.
“I’ll fill it out myself.”
I peeked over with my hands behind my back. It was mostly things like Name, Gender, Age, Magic School, Magic Tier…
The ‘Gender’ column… if it were me, would I have the thick skin to write “Female”?
While I was agonizing over this, Lian Qi had already finished.
The receptionist took the form with both hands and adjusted her glasses. “Name—un—Lian Qi, is it? Magic… Tier 4!?”
Seeing her shocked reaction, it seems she’s never seen a newcomer who’s a Tier 4 Magician?
“Lady Saintess, about the ranking…”
I understood what she meant. I remember that adventurers are divided into Brass, Silver, Gold, and Platinum, right? Newbies all start from Brass. But with Lian Qi’s magic tier, plus her connection to me… that’s why she was asking for my direction.
“Just follow your rules,” I said with a smile.
“Let’s start from the very lowest rank. Maybe the ‘Animal Protection’ people like to pick on soft persimmons,”2 Lian Qi said, one hand on her hip, full of confidence. Is she planning to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing?
“Okay! Please wait just a moment.”
The receptionist used a special pen to engrave Lian Qi’s name onto a bronze tag and then handed it to her. A string was threaded through a corner of the tag, so you could wear it.
“Congratulations, as of today, you are an adventurer,” the receptionist said with her trademark smile.
“If I die, can this be used to identify my body?” Lian Qi said thoughtfully, dangling the bronze tag.
“You’re joking… You’re a Tier 4 Magician, how could you possibly die,” the receptionist said with an awkward laugh.
But I also think engraving the name on the tag really is for identifying you in case something happens…
“Can I accept a quest now?” Lian Qi asked.
“Of course. I’ll take you to the bounty board to…”
As expected of the royal capital’s Adventurers’ Guild bounty board…
With one glance, the bounty posters covered almost the entire wall. It was dazzling.
But—looking at this wall gives a real “the world is full of crises” feeling.
I tugged the corner of Lian Qi’s clothes to remind her, “Lian Qi, if you want to take a quest, pick one that’s close by. We still have to attend Tristina’s banquet in a few days. I’m afraid we won’t make it back.”
“The Queen’s banquet?” Lian Qi looked at me sideways. “Are you getting eager to try wearing high heels again?”
“That’s not the point,” I said, blushing.
Even though I sprained my ankle the first time I wore them, which was super lame… it doesn’t mean I can’t handle them this time.
“If you want something close and not time-consuming, you could choose Goblin subjugation,” the receptionist suggested.
“Goblins?”
“Mhm. The Goblin subjugation request comes from Riverwood Village.3 It’s only half a day’s journey from the capital. Any closer, and you wouldn’t find wild Goblins.”
“Why is the challenge-level gap between ‘Subjugate Goblins’ and ‘Subjugate Bandits’ so big?” Lian Qi asked, pointing at the board.
“No, not just Goblins. A lot of seemingly ferocious beasts aren’t as high-level as ‘Subjugate Bandits.’ Is this group of bandits very strong?”
“Because bandits can use magic, but Goblins can’t,” the receptionist answered with a smile.
“Monsters on the level of Goblins pose almost no threat to a human who can use magic. Their crude weapons can’t even penetrate a human’s ‘Mana Shroud’.”
Just as the receptionist said, that’s the logic. Because humans have mana protecting their bodies, even if they wear nothing, it’s like wearing a layer of armor. Only stronger magic can shake magic. Plus, almost everyone in our world knows a little magic. Goblins are just one of the “four pests.”
“Only humans can use magic?” Lian Qi asked.
“…”
It’s all my fault. I didn’t even tell Lian Qi such a common-sense thing.
“But you have an elf ‘sister’ who can also use magic.”
“That’s because Sister Mouyue also believes in the Holy Light,” I said, as if it were obvious.
After all, magic originates from the Holy Light.
“Okay, I understand…”
“So, Lian Qi, do you want to take the bandit quest? It’s certainly more challenging than Goblins.”
“No, Goblins, of course. Bandits aren’t ‘animals’ in the eyes of the ‘Animal Protection’ branch. Don’t forget our purpose. Aren’t we just trying to fish?”
And so, Goblin subjugation was happily decided.
Footnotes
-
Xubai is another name or epithet for the Demon King, as mentioned in the translator notes for Aijieliya. ↩ ↩2 ↩3
-
挑软柿子捏 (tiāo ruǎn shìzi niē), “to pinch a soft persimmon,” an idiom for picking on the weakest target. ↩
-
溪木村 (Xīmù Cūn), literally “Stream Wood Village.” This is the standard Chinese translation for “Riverwood” from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. ↩