“…Do you feel better now?”

“Yes, completely!”

The Saintess replied with a much brighter expression and cheerful voice, and I nodded with a wry smile.

I had intended to talk for just a moment before leaving, but over two hours had already passed. This was the punishment for underestimating a woman’s chatter. As I stood up, sweating profusely, the Saintess also rose.

“I hope I didn’t take up too much of your time.”

“…No, it’s fine. I didn’t have anything to do anyway.”

It was true that I had nothing to do, but it wasn’t really fine. However, having said it was okay out of politeness, I blinked slowly at the Saintess’s bright smile.

“Then may I visit you again next time?”

“…Of course.”

The thought of listening to the Saintess’s chatter again made my head ache a little, but what could I do?

When she said I was the only one she could talk to openly, my conscience wouldn’t let me refuse.

The fortunate thing was that, according to the Saintess, she would be very busy from now on, officially helping Ashillya with her work.

“Well then, I’ll look forward to the day we meet again.”

As the Saintess spoke with a gentle smile, I awkwardly nodded, and she nodded back, seemingly pleased.

“May the Goddess’s blessing be with you.”

“May the Goddess’s blessing be with you as well.”

After exchanging greetings, I left the academy’s reception room, leaving the Saintess behind. Feeling somewhat drained, I let out a small sigh when I heard someone running from behind.

“…Huh?”

Turning around at the sound, I saw the Saintess running towards me, out of breath.

“Is something wrong?”

The Saintess, who had rushed to me in one breath for some urgent reason, caught her breath in front of me. Her black hair was sticking to her skin with sweat.

Unable to answer my question immediately, she took a moment to catch her breath, then straightened her back, looked at me, and held out her hand.

“Mr. Shin-woo Lee. Let’s meet again next time for sure.”

“…”

Shin-woo Lee.

The moment I heard that name, somehow familiar yet strangely unfamiliar, coming from her lips, I felt my heart sink.

Unaware of my feelings, the Saintess just smiled brightly and continued to hold out her hand.

“…Thank you.”

I mindlessly grasped her hand, quietly mulling over the name she had uttered.

Shin-woo Lee.

That was… my name from my original world.

***

…Why had I forgotten?

Returning to my room, I sat on the bed and ran my hand through my red hair.

I wasn’t Felix; I was originally Shin-woo Lee, an ordinary young man from South Korea. A discharged army veteran, I lived a hard life crushed by day-to-day company work.

Holding my throbbing head, I bowed and exhaled, calmly continuing my thoughts.

Name, age, nationality.
Shin-woo Lee, 27 years old, Korean.

I liked reading web novels, was just an average employee at work, and had no family left. I got a job right after finishing my military service, and I was just working to survive in a field I didn’t particularly want.

I remember the general information, but trivial, unimportant memories are hazy as if covered in fog. It felt easier for me now to recall Felix’s memories than my own.

‘Since when?’

When did it become like this?

At first, Felix’s memories were hazier to me. Back then, I could recall memories from my original world without even trying.

His memories only came to me bit by bit when I consciously tried to remember them, but now I could recall them as easily as breathing.

But it wasn’t the same for my original memories, Shin-woo Lee’s memories. It felt like they were gradually being forgotten.

‘…This is driving me crazy.’

I ran my hand through my bright red hair again and exhaled. It felt like my fears were becoming reality.

What would happen if I stopped being myself? I was Shin-woo Lee, and now I have Felix’s body. At the same time, I also had Felix’s memories.

If I, being this way, forget Shin-woo Lee’s memories, am I still Shin-woo Lee?

Complex emotions swirled, consuming my mind.

Could this possibly be what the person who sent me here wanted? For me to stop being Shin-woo Lee and eventually become Felix?

If so, what could they possibly gain from this? Various thoughts came to mind, but no suitable answers emerged.

I bit my lower lip, running my hand over my mouth.

I couldn’t find the answer by thinking alone. Therefore, what I needed to do was clear.

‘I need to find Duke Geyrus as soon as possible’

Because he would have the answers.

***

In the carriage returning to the imperial palace, the Saintess sat quietly with her eyes closed.

With her hands neatly folded and eyes closed, she looked as if she was praying, so no one dared to speak to her casually.

In fact, she was in the middle of offering a prayer.

But before that, there’s one thing people misunderstand that needs to be clarified: the conversation between the Saintess and the Goddess is not one-way.

Until the previous Saintesss, they only received oracles unilaterally from the Goddess, but this generation’s Saintess, Misa, was different.

[How was your conversation with him?]

As it was the first time the Goddess had directly dwelled in the Saintess’s body, they could converse directly with each other.

‘It was enjoyable.’

Misa herself didn’t know exactly why she had such an ability… and why other Saintess couldn’t do the same.

She had been able to do so since becoming a Saintess, and since the Goddess often spoke to her, she simply accepted it and conversed.

[Did you tell him the name?]

Originally, the Goddess should have been able to observe this world through the Saintess’ eyes when she wished, but due to the aftereffects of dwelling in her body, she lacked the strength to do so for now.

At the Goddess’s question, the Saintess unconsciously nodded slightly and answered.

‘Yes, I told him. I almost forgot though!’

[Hoho, did you enjoy it that much?]

‘Well, it’s the first time in my life I’ve found someone I can talk to openly.’

The Saintess is lonely.

As the representative carrying out the Goddess’s will, she couldn’t tell anyone that she communicated directly with the Goddess. Not even to people of the Holy Country.

If that fact became known to the world, it was obvious it would cause enormous ripples throughout the world.

That’s why the Saintess deliberately confined herself. If she became close to someone, if she opened her heart, she might unconsciously reveal the truth.

It was fortunate for such a Saintess to meet someone she could open her heart to and talk with.

He was someone from another world, where there were no gods or saints.

[I’m glad you liked him.]

‘…That’s not what I meant.’

The Saintess pouted at the Goddess’s mischievous words. Of course, on the outside, she still appeared calm and benevolent.

[I’m just teasing.]

‘Anyway, after sharing my hardships with someone else for the first time, I feel much lighter.’

[That’s why humans go to confession.]

People often find comfort just by sharing the stories piled up in their hearts with someone. The current Saintess must be feeling the same way.

She nodded slightly again at the Goddess’ words, unconsciously smiling before erasing it and asked.

‘But, will it be alright?’

[What do you mean?]

‘From what I saw…’

[The balance has been disrupted?]
The Goddess must have seen what the Saintess saw. Therefore, the Goddess answered, understanding the intent behind the Saintess’s words.

‘Yes. Severely so.’

[That too must be what the one who sent that child here wants.]

‘Then…’

Originally, one soul dwells in a human body. But in Felix’s body, two swirled.

When Duke Geyrus had looked at him before, the two coexisted, fully shining their own colors, but now the balance had collapsed.

So severe that even someone who didn’t know about how it functions would find it serious.

The Goddess let out a small laugh at the Saintess’s worried voice and continued speaking to ease her concerns.

[However.]

‘…Yes?’

[We’ll have to wait and see if the balance has truly been disrupted.]

The Saintess calmly mulled over the Goddess’ words. After pondering for a while, she finally understood what they meant and let out a small sigh.

‘If that’s the case, then it’s fortunate.’

[Hoho, you seem overly interested in a child you’ve just met. Perhaps…]

‘It’s not like that!!’

The Saintess bickered with the Goddess for a while, but eventually realizing it was futile, she took a deep breath and opened her eyes.

She gazed at the scenery outside the carriage and quietly murmured.

“It’s just that I’ll lose someone to talk to, that’s all.”

That was all. Really.