After receiving Celesta's consecration and finally awakening as the Saintess, I clasped my hands together and checked my status window. I saw that my title had changed from "Ethan's Exclusive Maid" to "Prophetic Saintess."

But rather than feeling relieved that I had successfully awakened as the Saintess, the first thought that crossed my mind was confusion about why I had been given the title "Prophetic Saintess."

‘Why did I become the Prophetic Saintess instead of the Saintess of Destiny?’

Based on my memories from clearing 『Luminor Academy』 24 times, the title I should have received after Lilith's consecration, according to the original storyline, was “Saintess of Destiny.”

The Hero summoned from another world, the Saintess of Destiny with the power to change the future.

These two were supposed to form the original 『Luminor Academy』 IF storyline if Lilith hadn't deviated from her path. So, I couldn't understand why I had suddenly been given the same title as the Hero.

‘Well, as long as I’ve awakened as the Saintess, it doesn’t really matter…’

The important thing was that I could now wield divine power, which meant I could defeat McHart. So, it wasn't a major issue, though I couldn’t help but be concerned about this strange anomaly.

If I had awakened as the “Unyielding Saintess,” like in the original game, I would have just accepted it as a continuation of the game's storyline. But the title of Prophetic Saintess didn’t even exist in the game.

‘Seraphine’s ability to see alternate futures changing… I guess the game’s Lilith and I are being treated as different entities.’

Part of me wanted to discuss divine power and the concept of the Saintess with Celesta, but unfortunately, neither of us had the time for such a conversation. Now that I had been consecrated as the Saintess, I needed to hurry and complete the discharge process from the church instead of returning to my room on the third floor.

‘If I head back to the infirmary with my body now filled with divine energy, it’ll be like announcing to the whole world that I’ve become the Saintess.’

Since I didn’t want everyone in the academy and beyond to know about my new status, I had to get as far away from the church as possible while everyone was still asleep. Ideally, I should avoid any encounters with people who could sense divine power until the day of the operation.

Luckily, most of the theology students had already left for summer break, and the few remaining were likely fast asleep. The theological dormitories were run with strict rules, and early rising and curfews were strictly enforced.

Naturally, there would be no theology students attending the upcoming “Unholy Noble Exchange.” Events like that were the kind of things devout students would avoid at all costs.

“I’ll take care of the discharge paperwork now, but I’ll tell the other priests that you left early in the morning. Otherwise, it might raise suspicions if they find out you discharged yourself in the middle of the night.”

“I understand, Saintess Celesta.”

As a high priestess at the academy church, Celesta wielded enough authority to easily handle the discharge process, so it wasn’t difficult to finalize it.

“And please, it’s not ‘Saintess Celesta’ anymore. You’re the Saintess now, Miss Lillis.”

“That may be true, but the Saintess that everyone knows is still you, Saintess Celesta. And I believe you’ll truly become a Saintess soon as well.”

And I’ll make sure that happens.

Celesta responded with a grateful smile, but I was certain of it. Once this is over, she’ll receive the full power of a Saintess from me and become the real deal. And once she’s established as the Saintess, the story’s progress should be much smoother, making most crises more manageable.

The relief I felt knowing that my identity as the Saintess and the game’s end were close to being resolved was significant.

“I need to clean up the items I used for the consecration, so I’m sorry I can’t escort you.”

“No need to apologize. If anything, I should be the one helping since I was the one receiving the consecration.”

“It’s fine. This is part of my duties, after all.”

There was a slight discomfort in the way Celesta spoke, as if she was diminishing her own role. But I didn’t have the time to dwell on that strange feeling.

Pushing aside my unease, I simply looked up at the sky as I made my way back to the Swordsmanship Department’s dormitory. The night sky seemed to shimmer even more brightly on my first night as the Saintess.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Returning to the Swordsmanship Department dormitory after receiving the consecration from Celesta, I managed to sneak past the dormitory matron without being caught and made my way to the double room I shared with Ethan. I knocked three times, hoping the person inside would hear me.

‘I hope Isabelle isn’t asleep yet.’

That way, it would be Isabelle, not Ethan, who opens the door. The last time I’d snuck out with Agnes, the anxiety I felt about returning to the dorm at this hour lingered.

Of course, I hadn’t done anything wrong this time, so I had no reason to feel guilty when facing Ethan… I think.

‘Nothing wrong… right?’

The only thing that might be considered wrong was not telling him I was the Saintess sooner. But that wasn’t something I could just blurt out, so I figured Ethan would understand. Or I could claim that I didn’t know I was the Saintess until recently when Celesta told me.

Ethan did mention that wandering around at night was dangerous, but most students had returned home by now, so it wasn’t really a concern. The most dangerous one, McHart, was in the royal palace.

There was no problem with me being discharged early despite having time left in my hospital stay. My body had already started healing itself with the divine power flowing through me, so the internal injuries were regenerating from the moment I received the consecration.

‘Nope, nothing wrong.’

Convinced that I hadn’t done anything wrong and that Ethan had no reason to be upset with me, I waited for the door to open. After a moment, a black-haired man opened the door and stepped out, looking slightly surprised to see me standing there in the middle of the night.

“…Lillis?”

“Sorry to disturb your sleep, Master Ethan.”

“That’s fine… but why are you back at the dorm at this hour? Weren’t you in the church?”

“I was discharged because my injuries from the evaluation match have healed.”

“In the middle of the night…? And Saintess Celesta allowed that…?”

There was a hint of suspicion in the way Ethan looked at me, as if he was considering the possibility that I wasn’t really Lillis.

Given that I had warned him about this kind of thing, it was a natural reaction. Especially since some demons could take on different forms, it was necessary to be cautious during times like these.

“If you’re unsure whether I’m really your maid, Lillis, you’re welcome to test me.”

“…Sorry, may I ask you a few questions?”

“Of course.”

“What was the biggest crisis we faced together?”

“The biggest crisis between us would be when a young Master Ethan played a prank on me that went too far, and I got genuinely angry.”

“…Can you be more specific?”

“You gave me a wedgie, and I retaliated by choking you with the laundry I was holding.”

“When I lacked table manners as a child, how did you or I get scolded?”

“Do I need to repeat the exact words?”

“…Just something similar.”

“I don’t remember the exact words, but I think it was something like, ‘If you’re going to slobber all over the meat, then shove it in your own mouth.’”

“What did you say when I first asked you about your ideal type?”

“I told you what kind of person I didn’t like instead.”

“Specifically, who?”

“I said the worst type would be a pig who doesn’t take care of himself, who eats with terrible manners, or a pervert who touches butts and gives wedgies. I may not remember it exactly, but I believe I listed all the traits I disliked in you at the time. I’m pretty sure I said I hated you more than anyone back then.”

“…Yeah, you’re definitely the Lillis I know.”

Ethan gave me a rueful smile as he let me into the dorm, muttering quietly to himself that no other maid would have the nerve to act that way.

I had worried that Ethan might scold me for coming back so late, but instead, it was Ethan who seemed a bit dejected, as if he had been the one chastised.

…Of course, back then, Ethan was just a childish brat, and I had judged him harshly based on my bias from the game, so I did feel a bit guilty for my past attitude toward him.

“Master Ethan, there’s no need to be upset about the past. You’re an admirable and impressive person now.”

“It’s okay. And besides, it’s thanks to the Lillis of that time that I am who I am today. There were times when saying the wrong thing could have gotten your head chopped off, yet you still spoke your mind to me. I’m grateful for that, even now.”

“No, I don’t think it was anything worth calling advice…”

Still, I appreciated Ethan’s words, acknowledging that his current self was shaped in part by my past actions.

…It seems I should be honest with Ethan, at least.

I decided then that I would tell him everything: how I had become the Saintess, and how I had known for a long time that it was my destiny.