I Will Not Fall For the Villain’s Flirtations - Chapter 90

It’s already been a month since I decided, in a moment of impulse, to challenge the original plot.

“Huff, huff.”

When I boldly declared that I would compete, I had no idea what kind of hell awaited me.

“How much longer… do we have to endure this…”

“Shut up and just do it…”

Prim’s condition wasn’t great either. Both of us were panting heavily, getting closer to the ground.

Waking up at sunrise every day was bearable. Priests start their day earlier than others. Even though I was naturally a night owl, I quickly adapted as I had been forced to wake up early consistently.

The problem was what came after. Prim and I had to enter the training room every day and push our holy power to the limit.

It felt like becoming a machine. It was hard enough to sit still for hours, but maintaining a barrier continuously and reinforcing it on the priest’s command was maddening. On the first day, I even fainted from overexertion.

This training, under the pretext of unlocking potential, only ended at noon. By the end of the month, I developed a knack for using large amounts of holy power multiple times, but still, until lunch, I had to walk around like a sick chicken.

“Meals are still just greens.”

And the temple’s staple food was still vegetables. Trying to squeeze out so much energy while eating such food left me with nothing.

However, I soon realized that training in the familiar Grand Temple was actually the happiest time.

“Cleanse a black lake?”

One ordinary midday, a bolt struck out of the blue.

“What do you mean, all of a sudden…”

“You haven’t received all the stars yet.”

Sister Elexi added the words ‘unfortunately’ with her characteristic expressionless face.

Here, ‘stars’ meant the consent of the cardinals to endorse the candidate as the future Great Saint. Without receiving stars from the remaining cardinals, excluding those who recommended the candidate, one couldn’t become the Great Saint even if they won the competition.

“Has Prim received all the stars?”

“……”

From her indifferent look, I knew I had asked a pointless question. Of course, she had received them all. Given all the commotion she caused, it was only natural.

“Primis Starring has cleansed several high-risk areas. Sir Peidos reported that you cleansed a black lake, but no one witnessed you doing it according to the later confirmation by the search party.”

“……”

“Cleansing a black lake is difficult even for several high-ranking priests working together. So, everyone wants more definitive proof. That’s why you’re being sent.”

I looked at the priest in front of me, who continued speaking in a calm tone. I didn’t need to ask to know what the cardinals’ atmosphere was like.

Prim, who had achieved undeniable feats and acted as if she would dedicate her life to the temple, was the obvious choice. They must have thought it absurd to recommend someone else. If Sister Elexi hadn’t recommended me, Prim would have immediately succeeded Chelin Sniter.

Moreover, I heard there was a late correction in my holy power measurement results. Previously, it was top-grade, but now it was said to surpass Prim’s, which must have raised questions about fairness.

Feeling sorry, I bowed my head deeply. Although it was Sister Elexi’s will to recommend me, I couldn’t shake the feeling of receiving undeserved trust.

“You can do it. You have to do it.”

“……”

“According to the prophecy, the signs of destruction have begun to appear. The next Great Saint must be someone who can wisely overcome the upcoming crisis, as well as a black lake.”

Sister Elexi, who had paused for a moment, turned her gaze back to me. For the first time since our meeting, her hand touched me lightly.

“Take care of yourself.”

“…….”

Tap. Her light touch patted my shoulder once more. The sudden warmth made me clench my fists unconsciously.

And the next day, at Yetvan, I encountered a truly unexpected person.

“Sister! Long time no see!”

“……Young Duke McBeth?”

The young man, who had been waving his hand cheerfully at my bewildered question, pouted and lowered his hand.

“Ah, sister, how could you get my name wrong? It’s McBennan, not Macbeth.”

“Ah.”

Whether it was Macbeth or McBennan, the name wasn’t really important. What mattered was why he was here.

“Why are you here…?”

“I came with my uncle. They said a black lake appeared here, right? It’s not often you get to see something like that.”

“…….”

Come to think of it, he was the nephew of a cardinal.

[Sister, which division are you in? Should I put in a good word for you with my uncle?]

[……S-Sister?]

[Oh, maybe you don’t know because you’re old? Nowadays, no one calls people ‘Miss So-and-So’ anymore. It’s not like you’re a fossil.]

I awkwardly smiled at the man who had given me a dizzying shock when we met at the ball. Does he think a black lake is some kind of plaything?

Unfortunately, his uncle was Cardinal Hameron, whom I had to impress no matter what. During this fieldwork, he would scrutinize every aspect of me to see if I was truly worthy of receiving the star.

There were eight cardinals, including the temporarily appointed Chelin Sniter, but among them, three held relatively greater influence. One of them was Chelin Sniter, the previous Great Saint, and Sister Elexi, who had long led talent cultivation, also had significant influence.

And the last person to be mindful of was Cardinal Hameron. As a peer of the Pope, he was a giant in diplomacy and wielded undeniable influence within the Grand Temple.

Lindsey hadn’t told me to meet his nephew for no reason. If I could get into his good graces, earning stars from the other cardinals would be almost guaranteed.

“I’ll guide you.”

The young man, who seemed similar in age and behavior to Con, escorted me to the castle like a gentleman. The old castle, where the lord of Yetvan had once resided, was weathered on the outside but had been renovated inside, making it quite comfortable.

“Isn’t it dangerous? Did Cardinal Hameron allow this?”

“My uncle is very fond of me.”

“……I see.”

Fortunately, Young Duke McBennan wasn’t an adversary, but he was an unpredictable joker card. Hopefully, he wouldn’t become a hindrance.

“By the way, sister, I heard you’re a candidate for Great Saint.”

“Ah, yes.”

“Are you still considering marriage? You were at the royal ball, weren’t you?”

“Well…”

Thinking of my fiancé, who was struggling at the border with the Saint Raphael Purification Squad, I let out a deep sigh. Of all places, why did he have to be with Prim?

It wasn’t jealousy. Rather, it was the absurdity of him being dragged into the same space as Prim right after proposing to me that left me feeling empty.

Isn’t it clear that they’re the true protagonists? Is there any point in me struggling to become the Great Saint?

“I don’t think you’re bad, sister. You’re pretty too.”

“Uh… what?”

Lost in thought, I responded a beat late. What’s not bad?

“Think about it. Meeting like this might be a sign disguised as a coincidence! I really didn’t know, but how did we meet like this?”

“…….”

“Nowadays, people prefer natural encounters.”

He winked at me as he said that. I answered his enthusiasm with a sigh.

* * *

I met Cardinal Hameron in the evening. Dragged out because the sun hadn’t set yet, I had to face a black lake before I could even digest my meal.

“I heard you purified a black lake in Liche.”

I could feel it from his piercing eyes and stern tone. He already had a strong preconception.

“Let’s see that skill.”

“…….”

“My nephew says you weren’t intimidated even in front of the Magic Tower Master. I have high expectations.”

I thought perhaps his beloved family member chattering away to me during the meal might have played a part. Even if it wasn’t courtship, that conversation filled with apparent affection for me must have heightened his wariness.

Avoiding his hawk-like eyes, which seemed to pierce even the dark night, I swallowed a sigh. This was really going to be tough.

The black lake that appeared in Yetvan was fortunately small for a lake. To be precise, it was a pond located in the middle of a hunting ground. It wasn’t much different in size from the site I purified at the ruins.

However, attempting purification under his lethal gaze made it hard to concentrate. The miracle at the ruins might not have been my true ability, but a stroke of luck when my life was on the line, causing my confidence to waver.

“What’s wrong? Can’t do it?”

“Well…”

I withdrew my hand from the black water, hesitating. Even if I managed to purify it, it was only temporary. Soon, a black whirlpool would engulf the purified water. The amount of holy power I used to purify was less than what was being consumed.

“I’ll try again tomorrow.”

“Ha.”

He snorted as if he had expected this.

“Didn’t you recently undergo intensive training?”

“…….”

“Elexi thinks that if you just improve your operational skills, you’ll be quite useful. But I wonder when that potential of yours will finally wake up.”

After spitting out those insulting words, he swirled his cloak and left the scene. I stood there, slumped and powerless, staring at the dirt ground as dusk settled. With a sigh, I collapsed to the ground.

The surrounding trees had already withered significantly due to the influence of the black lake. The black lake absorbed all the life force, growing in size, and if left unchecked, the entire forest would surely dry up.

“It worked last time.”

Was it merely superhuman strength that miraculously arose in a life-threatening situation? Normally, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t release that much holy power.

“Having trouble?”

Just then, a gentle voice drifted in with the breeze. Seeing a handsome face I hadn’t seen in a while, the tension in my body relaxed, and the tightness melted away. My reaction was so bewildering that even I was taken aback.