No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!?

No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!? – 25

EP.25

Chapter 2

Encounters and Opportunities (12)

I was someone who denied the status of the Saintess in the original story, so strictly speaking, I was a different person from the Saintess Anna in that story. However, it seems that the higher power above wants me to take on the same role as her. Like the Saintess, I can wield divine power on a scale that’s hard to even compare to others.

And if they expect me to play the same role, doesn’t that mean I could use that divine power in the same way it was used in the original story?

Even after coming to this world, I still don’t have the best impression of that higher power, but there is one thing I know for sure: this entity, at the very least, has no intention of abandoning people. Though they’ve placed me in this role for reasons I can’t fully grasp, it’s not solely to make my life difficult. When I sat beside someone injured and asked for help, they allowed me to use the divine power.

…Right, if I’ve been reincarnated in a different world, shouldn’t I at least embrace a few clichés from reincarnation stories?

Kneeling before the injured, I placed my hands together, then raised them as if receiving something from above. Toward the white light descending onto my face, I reached out cautiously. The wounds on the bodies of those gathered around me were already beginning to disappear. Some of the injured were looking at their hands in bewilderment, while others were sitting up.

Some gazes were directed at me, but now wasn’t the time to worry about that.

Each time the divine power reflected on my face, I brushed it off with my hand. Although it appeared merely as light, when scattered by my hand, it dispersed like smoke. The meaning is simple: divine power isn’t just a force but more like a natural phenomenon. Light appears as a mere phenomenon, but it actually has both particle and wave characteristics, and it can bend under strong magnetism. Air molecules may be too faint to see, but waving a hand through the air proves they exist. If divine power also exists as a phenomenon in this world, then that’s likely how it should be understood—just like the Saintess in the original story could.

I felt a bit dazed. It was as though I’d sprinted several kilometers without stopping, and now my legs lacked strength, my shoulders felt sore, and my clasped hands were trembling. What began as light was now flowing over my hands like water. Like dry ice turning surrounding moisture into smoke, the divine power spilling from my hands also drifted down to the ground like smoke.

People were starting to stand up. Many still looked confused, struggling to grasp what had just happened, but their expressions showed they could resume fighting at any moment, gripping their weapons tightly.

“Anna.”

Ria called out to me with a dazed look.

Boom.

The ground shook. Though the creature hadn’t fully emerged from the gate, the monstrous beast with a tiger’s skin draped over its body was letting out a shriek as it tried to break free. Blood splattered from beyond the gate, and maybe the high-ranking hunters inside were still holding the creature at bay.

I staggered to my feet and lowered my hands. In my cupped palms, a glimmering light gathered, like a cluster of polished gemstones.

Divine power affects all living beings equally. If the opponent isn’t a creature animated specifically by magic, attempting to “attack” with divine power is pointless.

That thing beyond the gate… it’s unsettling how different it is from Earth’s creatures.

So, should I focus solely on treating the injured from behind? Perhaps, that could be my only choice.

But I didn’t want to just sit back.

“Anna!”

As I stumbled forward, Ria reached out to steady me, gripping my arm.

“Ria.”

I extended my hands toward her. In my palm sparkled a small, jewel-like crystal. It was transparent, with an uneven shape, as if fused together in intense flames, like molten iron. Yet it shone brighter than any gemstone.

Seeing me hold out my hand, Ria instinctively placed her own hand atop mine. I gently wrapped her hand in mine, then closed my eyes, as if in prayer.

How could I save more people? I wondered. Though Ria would eventually become a hero, for now, she was only a candidate. I couldn’t let her risk her life. Not because she was a significant character in the story or essential to its progression, but because she was my friend standing right in front of me.

Even if she weren’t my friend, as long as she was before me, I’d want to protect her.

I pulled our clasped hands closer to me, and slowly, warmth seeped into our hands. The pure crystal of divine power in my hand dissolved, spreading evenly through both our bodies.

Yes. If the divine power I wielded could affect the enemies we faced, then I needed to internalize that power instead.

When I opened my eyes, Ria was staring at me with her mouth slightly open in awe. It was the most dazed expression I’d ever seen on her face.

The exhaustion I’d felt earlier had almost completely faded. I wasn’t sure what would happen if I exhausted all my divine power, but for now, I felt ready.

I bent down and picked up a shield.

“Let’s go.”

My words seemed to snap Ria back to her senses, her eyes blinking as she refocused.

I glanced around. In the distance, some people were still lying on the ground, groaning in pain. Though the monster hadn’t yet escaped the gate, it was reaching out toward them. Clearly, it viewed them as prey.

The hunters were doing their best to pull everyone back, but it looked far too close for comfort. If we made one wrong move, there would be more casualties.

If I recklessly spread divine power near that monster, any injuries it sustained might start to heal. Given that we were still at the beginning of the main story, I didn’t think we were equipped to take down something like that.

Better to leave the creature to the hunters and focus on supporting them from behind. At least that way, we might save one more life.

*

In this world, there were hardly any who denied the existence of God.

When gates started appearing everywhere, and enemies that couldn’t be killed with bullets and bombs emerged, if God hadn’t revealed His existence, everything would have ended.

Maybe, eventually, humanity could have found a solution, but no one knows how many lives would have been sacrificed by then.

That’s why almost everyone in this world believed in that God. The more they acknowledged His existence and had faith, the more they could do with His power.

But then, what did that light mean?

“…Ah.”

Someone murmured quietly.

There were those who had seen the light descending from the sky, and others who had witnessed it bringing someone back from the brink of death. But none among them had seen a crystal formed from that light—not a single hunter, priest, or even a candidate for the role of Saintess.

Perhaps some felt compelled to pray. Some may have instinctively wanted to kneel, bowing to the light above. But that light soon dissolved, absorbed into the bodies of two people: one, a Saintess candidate well-known for many reasons, and the other, her knightly protector.

The light faded quickly. Even under the bright midday sun, the light that had been almost blinding vanished in an instant. For a brief moment, wisps of residual divine power drifted down, like smoke before disappearing into the ground. Yet the impression it left behind lingered.

“Let’s go.”

The one who had picked up her shield said these words. People couldn’t quite decide what to call her.

It wasn’t until the two started running that others, realizing what was happening, began to follow.

“———!”

The monster roared at the sight of the two running.

Boom.

Finally, the creature’s arm burst out of the gate. Blood splattered behind it, and the massive ape-like beast raised one hand high over its head.

“No!”

Someone shouted in desperation.

With the creature’s upper body now fully outside the gate, its reach extended. Its arm came down, directly over the two, who had approached a person lying on the ground nearby.

The sound of the earth shaking followed. Someone groaned, certain no one beneath that arm could have survived—or if they did, they would surely be gravely injured.

But then… blood spurted from the beast’s arm. A sharp wound opened, spilling blood, and the creature recoiled in shock.

Underneath its raised arm stood a nun, her shield raised high above her head. Though the shield had bent under the impact, it had protected the people beneath it.

And beside her, a knight had stepped forward, sword in hand, flicking the creature’s blood from her blade.

For a moment, people were at a loss as to what to call the nun who had healed the dying and risen with her shield once more. Perhaps there was only one word that could describe her—though she herself might not be pleased to hear it.

*

Divine power is essentially a force of healing. It also repels beings with powers contrary to its nature.

Then, was it truly limited to “healing” alone? In the original story, the Saintess had used her powers for more than that.

If the ability to infinitely heal could be transferred to others, it might even serve as a form of physical enhancement. Additionally, the power to relieve fatigue could ease pain, keeping the recipient in peak condition at all times.

“…You went way ahead.”

Ria said, looking both shocked and a bit exasperated.

“And no one got hurt, did they?”

I replied, holding up my shield as I took my position.

The person lying on the ground was still staring at us in a daze, clearly unable to process what had just happened.

“————!”

A scream of pain was heard. It was the monster, wounded by Ria’s sword.

“…Next time, stay behind me. Don’t step in front of the one protecting you.”

“Got it.”

Well, sure.

Right. It wouldn’t be right to interfere with Ria’s role as a knight. And… I glanced down at my completely warped shield.

…No matter how high the healing power, if it gets completely crushed, there won’t be any chance to heal it.

Let’s be careful, okay?