"L-Lilith, you mean... Has the hero ever talked about you...?"

"Yes, Saint Seriste."

Seriste was immediately engulfed in confusion by Lilith's sudden question.

She was unsure of Lilith's true intentions when asking whether the hero had any interest in her.

Especially now, when she was debating whether to reveal the truth about Lilith being the real saint.

Lilith’s words felt like a test, and Seriste couldn't help but feel terrified of her approach.

Seriste naturally wondered if her identity as a fake saint had already been discovered.

Moreover, perhaps...

'Could Lilith also be aware of the power she possesses inside her…?'

Could it be that she was asking such questions because she sensed something?

Seriste wasn’t sure, but the possibility was there.

After all, the power she held as a saint was something that even someone as dull as herself couldn’t help but notice.

Lilith must have used it several times throughout her life, even if unintentionally.

Since Lilith wasn’t formally blessed as a priestess, she wouldn't be able to fully use her holy powers. Instead, that divine energy would have manifested as her explosive talent for magic.

Perhaps Lilith had realized that her power wasn’t ordinary and was now warning her.

Or maybe she was simply drawn to the hero, Gyeongmwajogyegigwat.

He was the hero, and she was the saint.

Heroes and saints are naturally drawn to each other.

But she... she was an intruder between them.

Seriste had spent days worrying about her and Lilith’s changed destinies, envisioning every possible scenario. Thus, she couldn’t help but be flustered by Lilith's seemingly innocent question about how the hero viewed her.

Even though she knew that it was impossible for Lilith to discover her status as the real saint, Seriste was still unnerved.

"......"

"......?"

Lilith was puzzled by Seriste’s reaction. Why was she trembling and avoiding eye contact?

Seriste’s inability to respond to such a simple question seemed strange to Lilith.

Noticing Seriste’s discomfort, Lilith quickly retracted her question.

"If it was an uncomfortable question, you don’t have to answer it, Saint Seriste. It really was just a meaningless question."

"...Was it really just a meaningless question?"

"Yes, it was. ...To be honest, the hero indirectly saved my life, so I just thought that if the hero didn’t have any bad feelings towards me, I could thank him personally."

"......"

"So, please don’t worry about my question, Saint Seriste. I would be grateful if you could pass on my gratitude to the hero."

Seeing Seriste flustered and unable to answer, Lilith retracted her question immediately.

To Seriste, it felt like Lilith was willing to give up her place as the saint.

Was it just her imagination, or was the real saint showing her mercy?

Somehow, the fake saint realized what was going on.

Even though Lilith was fully aware of everything, she was pretending to know nothing. This was her way of recognizing and respecting Seriste’s situation.

'Compared to her, I...'

I am just ignoring the greater cause and the necessary destiny because I don’t want to part with the hero.

I know that the seat next to the hero should belong to the true saint, not me.

Even though I am aware that this is what is needed for the hero, the saint, and all of humanity, I can’t let go. It makes me feel even more pitiful.

Yes, this seat should go back to the real saint.

But I want to be with the hero for a little longer.

Even if it’s just for a few more years, it would be enough.

At least until I graduate from the academy.

"I apologize, Saint. Please continue to support the hero with your studies..."

"...When I graduate from the academy, I’ll definitely give it back."

"...Pardon?"

As Lilith hurriedly walked away from her, Seriste responded with a sad expression.

Lilith didn’t understand what Seriste meant, but Seriste seemed determined as if she had made up her mind about something.

"Please don’t worry. I won’t take away your future, Lilith."

"...What do you mean, Saint Seriste?"

"...I can’t answer that. If I were to answer your question, I would lose my right to be here."

"......What??"

"So please, could you let me enjoy this life a little longer, Lilith?"

Lilith didn't fully understand what Seriste meant by enjoying life or what she had permitted.

Yet, looking at Seriste’s serious expression and firm refusal to elaborate, she couldn’t help but nod.

She instinctively felt that pressing the matter further could lead to an undesirable future.

"...Alright. If that’s what you want, Saint..."

"Thank you for your kindness, Lilith."

"Well, I’ll be leaving now, Saint."

"Farewell, Lilith."

"Yes... You too, Saint."

Lilith left, thinking she had a fruitless conversation with the pink-haired fake saint.

…Without realizing that at some point, Seriste had started addressing her as "Miss Lilith."

Another Encounter

"I’ll be leaving now, Saint."

"Farewell, Miss Lilith."

"Yes... You too, Saint."

During the conversation with Seriste, I sensed something was off, so I hurriedly concluded the chat and distanced myself from her.

Even though I didn’t know why, it was clear that Seriste’s mood had shifted during and after our conversation.

'She's already a volatile person; it's better not to provoke her.'

If I inadvertently pushed her too far and she decided to quit being a saint, I would be in a bind.

In such a scenario, my only option would be to join the hero's party.

In the final battle against the Demon King, having an awakened healer in the form of the "true saint" was essential.

Whether that would be Lilith, the fallen saint, or Seriste, the fake saint.

In the game, neither saint fully matched the ideal standards of a saint. It was always implied that one of them needed to awaken.

Although I might meet all the criteria for a perfect saint now, if this world is truly based on Luminor Academy, then awakening Seriste wouldn’t be impossible.

In short, to avoid spending years fighting against the Demon King after graduation, I needed to ensure Seriste remained firmly by the hero's side.

If she lost her resolve and parted ways with the hero, the only one who could fill that void would be me.

'Spending four years at the academy wouldn’t be so bad, but...'

Joining the Demon King Subjugation Party, which could last several years post-graduation, was daunting.

Basically, it would mean sacrificing my twenties for the sake of humanity. How many people would willingly accept that?

The hero, driven by the goddess's will and vengeance for his parents killed by the Demon King.

The saint, who loves the hero and wants to stay with him forever.

The magician who aspires to become the master of the Red Tower and the rightful heir of the Elizabeth family.

The stubborn elf with a strong sense of gratitude who always repays favors.

These characters are fitting for the roles in the Demon King Subjugation Party. I just want to enjoy my life in this world, using magic freely.

'If I join the Demon King Subjugation Party, I would naturally be distanced from Ethan.'

Regardless of whether I joined the Demon King Subjugation Party or not, Ethan had to return to the Blackwood Duchy.

As the only son of the Blackwood Ducal family, it was unlikely he would join a Demon King Subjugation Party that would require him to be away for years.

Even if Ethan wanted to join, Harold would never allow it during Ethan's crucial years for establishing his position as a noble in his mid-to-late twenties.

'No, no, no.'

Why am I associating Ethan with my potential involvement in the Demon King Subjugation Party?

The exclusive maid contract and our temporary relationship were meant to last only during our academy days.

I had inadvertently imagined joining the Demon King Subjugation Party with Ethan because of the looming possibility.

...I need to be careful. Developing unnecessary feelings for Ethan would only complicate things later.

After all, Ethan is the only son of a ducal family, and he’s expected to enter a political marriage with another noble or royal family.

Even if Ethan’s feelings for me remain unchanged, the best I could hope for would be to become his concubine.

If maintaining my relationship with Ethan meant becoming his concubine, I would rather end it myself.

Despite Luminor Academy being a harem game, becoming a part of that harem is a completely different story.

I also have no desire to see Ethan being intimate with other women.

"Anyway..."

In the end, I didn't find out what Gyeongmwajogyegigwat thought about me and Ethan.

I didn’t expect Seriste to react so nervously, sweating like that.

I still don’t know what she was hiding from me.

It seemed something must have happened while I was staying at the church. Still, how could I possibly know what Seriste was thinking?

Although I lost an opportunity to communicate indirectly with the hero, I’ll have to try another method.

There’s still over a year before Ethan’s confrontation with the hero, so I’ll have to find a chance to interact somehow.

I just hope Gyeongmwajogyegigwat isn’t one of those nasty Agnes supporters who constantly manipulate forum posts.

After all, the only reason he might hold a grudge over me taking the Kraken event is because of something like that.

Online Conversations

Anonymous (39.7): What's with all the downvotes on the guide? I wondered why it wasn't trending.

ReallyAGreatGame: Some time ago, the "Lilith the Slut" girl was pissed off after some Agnes supporters rigged the trending posts and started a downvote attack.

Anonymous (222.39): Seriously, lol

PureLoveOnly: I couldn’t find it because it wasn't trending for a while;;

TheTrueLoveIsAgnes: (A GIF of Agnes saying "Love, you!")

LilithTheSlut: Oh, f*ck off.

Anonymous (175.223): Sudden Worship

Anonymous (106.102): Frequent Worship

Annoyed at Online Antics

...The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Damn those Chihuahua supporters.