No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!?

No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!? – 18

EP.18

Chapter 2

Encounters and Opportunities (5)

Let’s returning to the present.

“Anyway, I’m really not interested at all.”

I placed the broom back in the cleaning supplies cabinet and accepted another broom from Ria, who stood behind me.

“Really? Not even the slightest bit?”

As I put the broom back in, Ria persistently asked from behind me.

“Not even the slightest bit.”

I reiterated my answer clearly.

I liked reading novels. However, there were very few that I truly loved enough to stake my life on. To be honest, many web novel titles tend to be a bit long, so when I read multiple at once, I often get confused about the titles, even if I don’t mix up the contents.

In this case, I couldn’t exactly recall what the title was.

Anyway, I think the abbreviation was something like [Weakest Hunter]. As the title suggests, it was about a hunter who started as the weakest and gradually became the strongest through various fortuitous encounters.

To elaborate further, the story was mixed with a bit of delusion, but I didn’t regret it. It was a typical light novel where the protagonist, initially disregarded, grows stronger as he interacts with the heroines, eventually falling for them.

It was a world that seemed to put some effort into crafting a modern setting with heroines who could be legally involved and incorporating a bit of an academy flavor, including two heroines in nun outfits.

Well, in a modern fantasy setting, if a ‘Saintess’ were to appear, there would have to be an officially recognized state religion; otherwise, the church wouldn’t officially acknowledge anyone as a saintess.

Yet here I was, in the position of that saintess.

My argument that “there’s no reason for South Korea to become a theocratic state” works in a novel, but in this reality, there’s not much I can say to that. I can only blame the entity above…

As I pondered this, I shook my head vigorously.

Atheists don’t just reject one religion’s god; they view all supernatural phenomena, anything outside scientifically proven facts, with skepticism.

So, it wouldn’t make sense for me to ‘resent’ the entity up there. Isn’t it a bit absurd to resent something that isn’t even a god?

…

Hmm, maybe not? Resenting someone who slapped you seems somewhat justified.

“……”

As I got lost in thought, I felt a peculiar gaze upon me.

Ria was looking at me with that expression.

“……What?”

When I asked in disbelief, she shrugged her shoulders and let out a deep sigh.

Why?

Was it that hard to believe what I said?

Ah, of course, although Ria looked like someone who had dated several boys, in reality, she had no experience whatsoever. So it wasn’t at all strange for her to view romance with a teenager’s perspective rather than that of an adult.

Besides, she wasn’t even an adult yet. Her birthday hadn’t passed.

So, I can understand why she thinks any opportunity that arises is a chance for romance. No, I should understand it, as a mature adult.

“Adolescence = puberty = excess hormone secretion” is a biological inevitability, right?

“Ugh!?”

As I shook my head helplessly, Ria’s finger once again poked between my ribs.

“That hurts!”

I hardly had any muscle, so it hurt when she poked me against my bones!

Seeing my reaction, Ria muttered with a look of disbelief before turning away.

What on earth was that about?

I rubbed the tender spot with my hand as I followed behind her.

Could it be that a flag has already been raised?

Well, I wasn’t the saintess, so I was somewhat of an anomaly compared to the original story, but Ria still held the same position as before.

In the original, Ria and the saintess often got into scuffles. While they could be considered close friends, they were also rivals competing for the affections of the same man.

“Phew, phew…”

But there was no need to worry.

After all, I would hardly ever get involved with the protagonist in this world.

Sure, if he came to me for treatment, I’d provide it, but that didn’t mean I would fall for Lee Si-yoon. I’d rather fall for a woman.

Preferably someone with a mature and sophisticated atmosphere… Yes, like the receptionist from the association frequently described in the original. She was just a supporting character in the novel, though.

“……What is it?”

Having heard my chuckle, Ria turned to look at me with a somewhat uneasy expression.

“Nothing you need to know. I just had an amusing thought.”

That’s right.

Ria, I’m sorry, but that flag needs to be deflated.

The heroine I liked most in the original was none other than the childhood friend.

That’s right. As long as the childhood friend heroine exists, the other heroines can’t truly be considered heroines. If I had to clarify, they would be supporting characters with significant roles. In film terms, they would be characters deserving of a Best Supporting Actress award rather than a Best Actress award.

That said, I’m not saying I would try to woo the childhood friend heroine. At least in this world, those two should end up together.

After all, since I’ve already taken the position that threatened the saintess’s place in the original, the biggest problem has already been solved.

“Phew… Ah, wait a second! What’s with that? Why are you suddenly raising your fingers? D-Don’t come any closer! Keep your fingers away from me!”

As I was unable to contain my laughter, for some reason, Ria approached me with both her index fingers raised, causing me to quickly defend myself with both hands and shout.

Fortunately, I was able to cross my arms and shield my sides from her attack—

But seriously, is she getting jealous over just seeing him twice?

*

Chae-eun had been by Anna’s side that day, even at the moment when Anna cupped Lee Si-yoon’s face in her hands.

With her hands gently holding the face of the man still lying in the hospital bed, Anna gazed seriously into his eyes.

“Ah, ugh…”

Chae-eun stared intently at Lee Si-yoon, who had introduced himself as a 7th-grade hunter. He had a kind-looking face. Although he was handsome, he didn’t seem fierce or cruel. At the very least, he didn’t have the ‘thug look’.

His physique was good, too. This wasn’t a judgment based solely on the thin hospital gown that barely concealed his frame; Chae-eun had been there the whole time Anna was treating him.

“……”

Watching Anna’s reaction, Chae-eun seriously contemplated.

Was this how Anna normally reacted?

Chae-eun hadn’t known Anna for long; it had only been a little over a month since they met.

However, she had managed to grasp Anna’s personality fairly well. Anna was not the kind of person who was hard to understand.

She was excessively straightforward in everything. She laid bare her thoughts without hiding anything, so there was no need to pry into her feelings.

Anna possessed a wealth of knowledge. Although she claimed to reject learning about the scriptures, it was a fact that her grades at the school in the convent were not bad.

Yet, despite her vast knowledge, Anna often appeared excessively naive. It was as if she believed that because she was honest, everyone else would be too.

While Anna would likely dislike being judged this way, it was odd how closely her impression matched what people generally thought of a saintess.

That didn’t mean she was without caution regarding others.

If anything, it was fortunate that Anna at least recognized there were people who could get excited over seeing her body.

That was probably why she had been hiding behind the other nuns when she returned to check on the patient.

“……Huh.”

But now that she had stepped forward…

“……Um, Sister?”

Lee Si-yoon, the 7th-grade hunter, cautiously opened his mouth, glancing around at the others.

Chae-eun wasn’t the only one staring at his face; everyone in the patient room—the Father, the Mother Superior, the other nuns, and even the female patient in the next bed—was all watching him intently.

Seeing this, Chae-eun became even more certain.

This was the first time Anna had shown such a reaction.

“……Brother Si-yoon.”

Finally breaking the gaze she had been holding, Anna released her grip on his face and spoke.

“Brother Si-yoon, that’s your name.”

She muttered his name again, as if to affirm it, almost as if to ensure she would remember it.

“Ah, yes, um… that’s my name, yes, haha…”

Was that clumsy demeanor a sign of genuine embarrassment? Or was it merely a facade?

“Understood.”

Anna nodded in response.

“Is there anywhere else that hurts?”

And once again, she revealed a side of herself that she had never shown to any other patient.

Some of the nuns were already covering their mouths with both hands, while the Mother Superior looked around, unsure how to process the situation.

Among them, only Father seemed to analyze the situation with a serious expression.

Chae-eun’s expression was also quite serious.

The saintess candidate, who was unfamiliar with the world and had only been accustomed to the small space within the convent walls, was now showing interest in a man for the first time.

…Chae-eun had enough common sense and consideration not to leave that ‘clueless saintess candidate’ near the man.