Chapter 10: The Swordsmanship Prodigy Saintess

Saintess (1)

1.

“Mm-mm!”

I nodded to myself repeatedly.

How could someone look this pretty?

I slowly admired the reflection of myself in the full-length mirror.

My once flat body now had curves.

A smooth line followed my cinched waist down to my soft, rounded hips.

When I turned around, I saw my plump buttocks, beautifully shaped like ripe peaches.

Below my delicate, slender shoulders — the kind that awakened protective instincts — hung a pair of breasts.

Overflowing in size.

Even with both hands, it wasn’t enough to hold them completely.

When I scooped them up from beneath, they were heavy, my hands sinking into the underside.

A beautiful feminine body.

Even just standing still, it exuded an air of allure.

A physique overflowing with womanly charm.

I had turned 19.

From a frail little girl, I’d grown into a stunning woman—

The kind of body even I could fall in love with.

However…

It wasn’t all good.

Loving how I looked was fine, but…

As a swordsman, this body was far from practical.

If I tilt my head down, I can’t even see past my chest.

Every time I move, my breasts jiggle.

And don’t even get me started on how absurdly huge my butt is.

Even compared to girls my age, my development was off the charts.

It’s probably… because of that growth elixir I drank long ago.

I had hoped for an increase in mana or physical strength, but what actually grew to absurd proportions were my chest and hips.

They started swelling when I was 14, and by 19, I ended up like this.

Fortunately, I had trained myself for years to adjust to a woman’s body, so even with this motherly figure, I could wield a sword with total freedom.

After showering, I stood naked in front of the mirror.

Then I put on my nun’s habit, something I’d gotten completely used to by now.

Honestly, not wearing it felt stranger at this point.

I neatly brushed my radiant golden hair, which sparkled as it caught the sunlight, and put a veil over my head.

Some might call it blasphemy to think this…

But with breasts this large, butt this full, and beauty this polished—

I looked like a saintess.

I made my way to the chapel.

“Good morning, sisters.”

I greeted my fellow nuns with a smile and took my seat.

The front row. That is my seat.

I didn’t intend to become a priest, but I was diligently cultivating my faith.

More accurately, I was cultivating my divine power.

I’m not dumb enough to let such a gift go to waste.

If I could wield divine power, I’d gladly use it.

Thanks to that, I’d reached the point where I could perform basic healing without even needing to pray.

Bit by bit, I was walking the path of a berserker.

Just imagining myself rampaging across the battlefield made my heart pound.

No matter the injuries I suffer, I’ll just heal them and keep cutting down those demon bastards.

I can’t wait.

And it’s not far off now.

Just two more months.

When spring comes, I’ll be legally an adult.

And once I’m of age, I can finally enlist in the Imperial Army.

The Empire is currently in a ceasefire.

They’d entered it even before I regained consciousness as Elia.

The frontlines have been pushed all the way to the gates of the Demon Realm, and now the Demon King’s army only guard the entrance with full force.

Once that balance breaks, it will be the start of another war.

I heard rumors that they’re forming a Hero’s Party — a small elite unit meant to take down the Demon King.

Honestly? I think it’s a reckless plan, but...

The current Hero can’t possibly still be the snot-nosed kid I used to know.

Just hearing the occasional heroic tales of his exploits is enough to know that he’s grown.

Stories of him subduing monsters or resolving incidents involving demons come up from time to time.

Come to think of it, the Hero candidate was selected recently, weren’t they?

Time really flies.

It feels like just yesterday that Louis was named a hero candidate and began learning the sword from me,

And now he’s grown enough that other Hero candidates are already following in his footsteps.

Just wait a little longer.

I’ll come see for myself just how much you’ve grown.

Morning prayer ended.

I was walking to attend a theology class, bible in hand, when—

“Elia.”

Sister Bertina called out to me.

“Yes, Sister.”

“Could you run an errand in the village?”

“Of course.”

I didn’t even ask what kind of errand it was.

I’d gotten used to this by now.

Nine times out of ten, it’s that old potato farmer who threw out his back again.

Still, just in case, I asked.

“Is it the old man at the potato farm again?”

Sister Bertina sighed deeply and nodded.

This was already the third time this week.

“I swear, he’s twisting his back on purpose. I heal him, and then he twists it. I heal him, and he did it again.”

“You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“I can understand getting hurt often due to age. But what I don’t get is why I’m the only one he keeps asking for, not other sisters.”

If it’s anyone else, he throws a fit.

That lecherous old geezer.

Every time I went to treat him, he kept bringing up his son.

He went on about how good-looking and capable his son is, subtly trying to get me interested.

Hah.

Give me a break.

Just because I’ve become a woman physically doesn’t mean my heart turned woman too.

“Understanding even that sort of thing is part of what makes a true nun. You’ll be taking the sisterhood exam soon, won’t you? Wouldn’t it be nice to get a high evaluation and be accepted into a cathedral in the capital?”

…It’s about time I tell her.

That once I become an adult, I’ll be enlisting in the Imperial Army.

She’ll definitely oppose it if I do.

After all, everyone here has high expectations of me.

Because of my divine power.

Around the time the other girls started showing signs of divine power, I began using mine openly and confidently.

And that… was the problem.

I only used basic healing magic to help injured adventurers from dungeon exploration.

That’s it—just the basics.

Yet it ended up more effective than most advanced healing spells.

Seriously, I didn’t expect even the head nun’s advanced magic to be outdone by my own.

I tried to hold back… really, I did.

But that day, everyone made such a huge fuss.

They went on about how a saintess had been born in our convent.

Do they think just anyone can be a saintess?

A saintess is someone chosen by God.

The Papal State receives a revelation.

A divine oracle declaring the birth of a girl destined to become a saintess.

If I were destined to be one, do they really think the church would have left me alone for 19 years?

In any case—

Ever since then, everyone’s expectations for me have skyrocketed.

“Or how about the Academy? If Elia is willing to go, we’d be happy to write you a recommendation. What do you think?”

No way.

To hell with the academy.

I refuse to spend 4 years studying theology there.

Even if it were the swordsmanship department, the answer would be the same.

Let me say it plainly:

I have nothing left to learn when it comes to swordsmanship.

I’ve already memorized every style that exists in this world.

I’ve cherry-picked the useful ones, restructured and refined them, then made them my own.

If someone stronger than me ever shows up, I’ll gladly bow my head and learn.

But tell me, who could possibly defeat me?

…Well, maybe after 20 years of progress following my death, someone might.

That in itself would be fun to see.

“No, thank you. I just want to live a quiet, ordinary life.”

A peaceful life as a rank-and-file soldier in the Imperial Army, that is.

Anyway, I guess I should get this errand over with.

Here comes another few hours of hearing some geezer brag about his son.

I left my scripture in my room and headed out into the village.

“Wonder if any monsters will show up?”

This area is just too peaceful.

Even when beasts appear, they’re too weak—not even good enough for a warm-up.

Wouldn’t it be nice if a big monster showed up again, like the old days?

Ah, but of course, without harming civilians, ideally.

…Wishful thinking?

Or hey, maybe I’ll get mugged on the road while passing through the forest like this.

Hopefully by someone very strong.

This body gets stiff if I don’t move it around often.

It’s been ages since I’ve swung a sword properly.

Now and then I manage to get my hands on a wooden sword, but it always breaks after just a few swings.

These days, the only time I get real combat experience is during the annual martial arts tournament.

But even that’s been taken from me.

After winning three times in a row, they banned me from entering.

No matter how I think about it, I still don't understand.

Shouldn’t they find other stronger opponents, instead of blocking me for simply being too strong?

I was grumbling to myself as I strolled through the forest when something caught my eye.

A person was collapsed on the forest path.

I rushed over immediately to check their condition.

His shirt was soaked in blood.

He was bleeding from the back.

Had he been attacked by someone?

But there were no signs of a struggle around.

No visible traces of magic either.

Whatever happened, I couldn’t figure out right now.

So first, I focused on treating him.

I placed my hand on the man's back and unleashed my divine power.

A light as bright as the midday sun spread into his wound.

The injury closed quickly.

The bleeding had stopped.

He should be out of danger now.

“Hey. Hello?”

I gently shook the man by the shoulder.

And that’s when it happened—

As if they’d been waiting for it, multiple presences suddenly surrounded me.

Five… No, nine.

Nine people forming a ring around me.

No way out.

I slowly rose to my feet.

Thump, thump.

My heart pounded with excitement.

Finally… It’s been a while since I got to move my body.

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