Chapter 7: The Saintess Candidate’s Trial
“They say an evil, cannibalistic witch has appeared in the Southern Great Forest.”
“…Are you telling me to go there?”
“If you wish to refuse, that’s fine, Sister. But that might shake your position as a saintess candidate.”
When the High Priest summoned me, I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
A chance to build rapport with the High Priest, second only to His Holiness in power.
If I could solidify a connection with even one of the three High Priests in the theocracy, I’d be one step closer to becoming a saintess.
So, I went with some anticipation.
“You don’t look pleased. Is something troubling you?”
“Wouldn’t it be strange if I were? You’re forcing me to choose between giving up on being a saintess or dying honorably.”
“That’s odd. I don’t recall sending you to your doom.”
This damned snake of a High Priest crushed my fleeting excitement in an instant.
Why?
Why, after all my grueling efforts to become a saintess candidate, is he so eager to see me fail?
Biting my lip and glaring at him, the High Priest opened his closed eyes and spoke slowly.
“Why the aggrieved expression, Sister?”
“…”
“You look like you’re thinking, [Why must I endure such trials?]”
Shaking his head, he let out a lamenting sigh.
“That’s not the face of a saintess.”
His sharp rebuke echoed softly in the empty chapel.
Staring at him dumbly, the High Priest continued in a cold voice.
“One who never yields, no matter the trial, and overcomes it.”
One step.
“One who finds light in the darkest abyss and shares it with the foolish.”
Two steps.
“One who spreads the noble will of the Goddess, always leading the way.”
Three steps.
“That’s what we call a saintess.”
With a bitter smile, the High Priest approached and toyed with the saintess candidate’s emblem around my neck.
Then, he tore it off, scanning me with a disappointed gaze.
“I see none of that in you, Sister.”
Pressing me with holy power, he continued.
“I know how much effort you put in to reach that position.”
“How could I not? I lived just as desperately before becoming a High Priest.”
“But.”
The overwhelming pressure nearly pinned my body and mind to the ground.
Looking down at me, the High Priest lowered himself and whispered softly.
“Effort aside, a saintess’s character matters most, Sister. If someone aiming to be a saintess avoids trials out of fear, how will others see her?”
“Ugh…!”
As soon as he finished, the pressure vanished.
Gasping in the sudden freedom, the High Priest smiled gently and asked again.
“Now, I’ll give you another chance, Sister.”
Returning the emblem he’d taken.
“Will you accept my request?”
With a shadowed face, she gave a benevolent smile.
*
“Ugh!”
Snapping out of the nightmare, I saw the peaceful interior of a house.
Bewildered by the unexpected sight, I started looking around.
…What happened? Wasn’t I crawling on the ground, holy power drained, after being struck by an owlbear’s paw?
My memories went like this:
While searching for the witch, we encountered elves and lost all the paladin brothers. Then, seeking a way to survive, I wandered the Great Forest and met a giant owlbear.
Blocking its relentless attacks with holy magic, I fled until my holy power ran out, allowing a hit.
I was probably waiting to die in that state.
In this hellish forbidden zone, I assumed no one would help a human.
So why am I alive?
“Mm… mph?”
Voicing my confusion, I felt the gag sealing my mouth.
And the sturdy rope tightly binding my body, making me feel the restraints I hadn’t noticed.
“Mmph! Mmph…!!!”
Whoever did this was thorough.
Not only sealing my mouth, the priest’s main weapon, but also binding me so… so…
Provocatively!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Looking at my crudely bound body, I trembled with shame.
The more I moved, the tighter the restraints felt, accentuating my chest.
Worse, the torn parts of my vestments widened, turning them into something a harlot might wear.
To make a servant of the Goddess, a saintess candidate no less, appear so disgraceful…
This must be the work of an evil demon or witch.
If the homeowner were ordinary, they wouldn’t have touched me, seeing my radiant vestments.
Was my guess correct?
After struggling to roll over, I saw a witch sleeping soundly on the floor.
A basket filled with deadly poisonous herbs and mushrooms.
A large cleaver, crusted with blood she hadn’t cleaned off.
Seeing these clues, I was certain this was the “cannibalistic evil witch.”
…So there really was a witch in the Great Forest?
Then the High Priest didn’t send me here to purge me but to test my worth?
Realizing this, the High Priest’s words came flooding back.
[One who never yields, no matter the trial, and overcomes it—that’s a saintess.]
[If someone aiming to be a saintess avoids trials out of fear, how will others see her?]
“…”
I finally understood.
The High Priest wanted to see if my faith would break in a hopeless abyss.
To test if I could uphold my resolve even with death looming.
Regaining my resolve, I steeled my heart.
Right, the High Priest said she rose from a novice nun to High Priest through hardship.
That means she overcame dangers worse than this to reach her position.
She gave me this task because I can overcome it. Because I have potential.
I had no reason to be hated by her, so why would she give me an impossible task?
With newfound courage, I glared at the sleeping witch with murderous intent.
I’ll repay this humiliating tortoise-shell binding tenfold.
And I’ll capture you, take you to the theocracy, and solidify my path to sainthood.
After glaring fiercely for a while, the witch, sensing my stare, yawned and woke from her deep sleep.
“Yaaawn…”
Clutching her basket, she slowly approached, removed my gag, and offered a poisonous mushroom.
“Want some? You look hungry.”
“…?”
“Your stomach’s growling. Eat this to fill up and get some strength, yeah?”
I was speechless with disbelief.
You’re telling me to eat that to fill up? Knowing what it is?
Forgetting my pain, I stared at her, dumbfounded, and she slumped, looking dejected.
“Why that look? Think it’s poisonous?”
“…”
“Guess you do. It’s fine, eat it. Would I give you something poisonous?”
…I don’t know what kind of nonsense I’m hearing.
That’s a poisonous mushroom in your hand! Hello?
A mushroom that could kill with one bite, and you’re confidently telling me to eat it?
Her brazen words nearly drove me mad, but they sparked a good idea.
If I can get her to eat that mushroom, I might find a chance to escape.
Maybe even capture this evil witch and take her to the theocracy!
With that thought, I gave a sly smile and said to her.
“If it’s not poisonous, why don’t you eat it first to prove it?”
“Huh?”
“What, scared because it’s poisonous? Hmph, I knew it. You’re trying to feed me poison, you evil—”
Before I finished, she popped the mushroom in her mouth and started chewing.
Her unhesitating action left me flustered.
Was she right? No… I don’t know much, but that mushroom is definitely dangerous.
Even so, she ate it without hesitation. Who in the world eats poison like it’s cake?
And she’s showing no pain, with the same blank face as before. Is it really safe to eat?
“Now it’s your turn.”
The witch, having swallowed what looked like a poisonous mushroom, offered me one.
“It’s just a bit sharp and tangy. It’ll help you wake up.”
I hesitated.
Should I trust her and eat it? Or hold out until she gives up?
After a brief moment, I nodded, making my decision.
It’s probably fine to trust her once.
That naive, innocent look might not be an act.
Closing my eyes, I ate the mushroom she handed me.
And, as she said, I felt a sharp, tangy taste.
…The fact that it was painfully, deathly intense was a rather big problem.