The Saintess

Several days after I started various experiments with Rin.

The deputy village chief, who also served as the tavern master, came to visit me.

"Kehma-san, an adventurer who accepted the subjugation request has arrived. Could you give a greeting as the village chief?"

"… That's a pain. You give the greeting instead as the deputy village chief. I'm just a figurehead after all."

When I said that, the deputy village chief shook his head regretfully.

"That's not possible, you see. The other party is, well, the Saintess-sama of the Holy Kingdom… If we don't respond properly, various problems will arise and it will become even more troublesome. Besides, she apparently has something she wants to discuss…"

"… I see. I don't know what this Holy Kingdom thing is, but it certainly sounds troublesome. So, what's the Holy Kingdom?"

The deputy village chief prefaced with "You don't know?" before explaining.

The Holy Kingdom is essentially a religious nation. And it's apparently a neighboring country to the Empire.

The Saintess is one of the Holy Kingdom's symbols, a woman who possesses powerful holy power.

When I secretly checked the map, there was an existence worth 250 DP per day at the Adventurer Guild.

… I see, so that's the Saintess. Wait, didn't I go through something like this when the hero showed up too?

"That's the situation… For Saintess-sama to come here… this village might get turned upside down from its foundations."

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"The Holy Kingdom's religion is the Church of the Light God… The Church of the Light God thoroughly denies the existence of dungeons. They say they're things created by demons… If Saintess-sama conquers this dungeon, the very foundation of this village will crumble."

That's bad.

Not to mention Rokuko—I can't let them meet her. What should I do?

"This dungeon is also the Empire's property, wouldn't it become an international incident?"

"It would, but don't you think Saintess-sama might ignore that and follow through on her faith?"

… So she's a fanatic, huh. That's possible. Religion is scary.

However, at 250 DP, there's an overwhelming gap between her and Rin. But since her attribute is an obvious weakness against it, they might unexpectedly be evenly matched… Mutual destruction would be ideal.

"… Understood. So I just need to greet her for now, right?"

"Yes. Please, Village Chief."

And so, it was decided that I would handle the discussion as the village chief. Seriously, what do they think a figurehead village chief is for? Don't make me work. Are they going to say greetings are a figurehead's job or something?

I just want to sleep.

 

＊ ＊ ＊

 

"Nice to meet you, Saintess-sama. My name is Kehma."

"Nice to meet you, Village Chief-sama. I am Alka Lu Nike Hydride. Please feel free to call me Alka."

The saintess with the ridiculously long name and I faced each other in the reception room of the village chief's residence.

Alka smiled, her long green hair flowing with gentle waves.

She looked like a rather glamorous nun. I feel like this is the first time I've seen green hair, even in this world.

"No, no, it would be presumptuous of me to call Saintess-sama by her name. Besides, we're grateful that you've accepted our request…"

"Yes. Let me get straight to the point—may we negotiate the reward?"

That was sudden. Is she unexpectedly worldly, or is she just experienced as an adventurer?

While staying alert against the saintess's jabs, I answered, "Of course."

"Then, about the reward… once the threatening monster has been subjugated, I would like to receive the right to destroy the Dungeon Core. I need nothing else."

Yeah, no.

That's immediately unacceptable.

"That's impossible. It's the same as telling the people of this village to die. As the village chief, I absolutely cannot accept that."

"Isn't it the same if you let the monster do as it pleases? The only difference is when the monster will kill everyone… Of course, the Holy Kingdom will provide support for evacuating from the village."

So she'd not only work for free but even pay money to destroy the Dungeon Core. But I refuse—I'd die too.

"This village doesn't even have a name yet. Isn't now the only chance to evacuate?"

"…"

Come to think of it, it still doesn't have a name. Even though I told Gozoh to come up with one.

Should I just make it Gozoh-Roppu Love-Love Village as I declared, shortened to GoRo Love Village (tentative)?

While I was thinking about such things, the saintess must have taken it as me being troubled by the offer, because she pressed on.

"Now then, of course we'll provide financial compensation, and those who wish can migrate to the Holy Kingdom. You're the village chief, so shall I prepare a second-class district for you?"

"A second-class district?"

Not even first-class, how stingy. Well, I guess that's already exceptional treatment for a nameless village chief.

"Yes, a place you normally couldn't live in without 300 gold coins. You can go there because I, the Saintess, am mediating for you. Be grateful."

"Heh, is that so."

I don't really get it, but whatever. Also, I kind of dislike this type of saintess.

"Well then, now that our discussion is settled…"

"Ah, no. If you can't accept this for the normal request fee, then I'm afraid we simply weren't meant to be…"

"Wha—?! Y-you know it's the Holy Kingdom's second-class district, right?! Are you saying you want more than that?!"

"No, I just don't need it."

"Y-you don't need it?! You're saying you don't need a second-class district in the Holy Kingdom?!"

When I said that firmly, the saintess's eyes went wide with surprise. The look on her face said she genuinely couldn't believe what she was seeing.

Even so, it's not worth trading my life for.

"P-please excuse me. Hmm… I see, you don't need it. Hmm…"

Taking a deep breath, the composed saintess seemed to be thinking about something.

"Well, if you can't accept it for the normal request fee, there's nothing we can do here… I absolutely cannot hand over the right to destroy the Dungeon Core."

"… I understand. Then if you'll excuse me."

Saying that, the saintess stood up. And she headed to leave the room just like that.

… Along the way, she kept glancing back at me, so I decided I absolutely wouldn't stop her.

Was she waiting for me to call out "Wait, I'll accept those conditions after all!"? She might have thought she was being clever with her negotiation tactics, but it was way too obvious.

"…(glance)"

"Is something the matter? Did you forget something?"

"No…"

In the end, it took another three minutes for the saintess to leave the reception room, seven minutes of waiting outside the room for me to chase after her, and then another ten minutes for her to finally leave the village chief's residence.

I wanted to shout at her to just hurry up and leave already.