CH 215.1

The Elven village at the foot of the World Tree.

『The most beautiful city in the Ost continent』

It’s not an exaggeration to call it the Elves’ pride. But now, the expressions on their faces as they talked on the street were not good.

「Why is it not good!」

「This is troubling, what should we do?」

What the elves are looking at is a sign posted on the street.

『Garbage collection will be postponed for the time being』

That’s what it says on it. And what the elves are holding is a garbage bag made of linen.

Golem carriages led by human couples used to visit the village once a week. Now that they have stopped coming, there is a huge pile of garbage at the collection point outside the village.

All of them are waste from households and workshops. Some of the waste began to emit a foul odor, and primary colored liquid seeped out of it.

「The water has also been getting bad lately. What are the High Elves doing?」

A number of people nodded to the elf who frowned.

The people of the village follow what the High Elves say because they can live comfortably under them. If the people are dissatisfied, they will lose support and the respect the people have for them will be superficial.

The High Elves are aware of this. But there was nothing they could do about it.

『Burying or burning the garbage inside the spirit forest is prohibited』

This was the one thing they could not compromise on.

***

The scene shifts from the spirit forest far to the southeast in the Royal Capital.

A guest house was built in the grounds of the royal castle. Currently, guests from the eastern countries are staying here.

「Thank you for your hard work, you worked hard today too, didn’t you? Would you like some cold fruit water?」

A woman places a glass of ice on the table with a cheerful voice.

She is in her early twenties and is dressed in a brand new bishop’s uniform.

「Thank you, Shitanaga-sama. Ah, I’m sorry… I mean, bishop-sama」

The princess cut girl sitting on the sofa hurriedly rephrased her words. Shitanaga-sama smiles at her.

「It’s okay, I’ve just been inaugurated in this position only recently after all」

The two girls are the only ones in this luxurious and spacious guest house. The reason they are here is because of the Archbishop’s order.

A serious and large-scale brainwashing incident occurred in Awoke. In order to save the victims, the kingdom begged the eastern country to send their Saintess.

Which then the eastern country responded in kind to their request.

「It’s good that you’re working so hard, but don’t overdo it. I don’t mean to sound cold, but if you get sick, the number of people you can save will decrease, right?」

Her voice was dry, but full of kindness. In her own way, she was trying to console the Saintess.

Instead of answering her, the Saintess brings up a different topic.

「I know it’s late for asking this but, are you sure it’s okay not to participate in the Divine tournament?」

The Saintess asked as she sipped the sweet lemon water with carbonated water that was foaming bubbles. She looked more like a high school girl than a guest of honor.

While sitting on the sofa in front of her, Shitanaga-sama shrugged her shoulders slightly.

「Let’s see… To tell you the truth, I’m a little disappointed. But I know that this is more important work」

As she said this, she took a sip of the fruit water herself. She couldn’t help but squint her eyes at the refreshing sourness and sweetness.

Shitanaga-sama is ranked in the top double digits in the world. She has the right to participate in the Divine tournament held in the Holy City.

This time, however, she had to give up her right to participate because of her work schedule.

「After all, we’re saving people whose minds have been deceived by the devil」

She put down her glass and continued.

Her job is to accompany the high school girl-like Saintess. She is in charge of everything, from the meetings with the kingdom to personal guard.

High school girl Saintsess, who are new to the world, tend to be good-natured. If she is left alone, she will be taken advantage of.

「……What’s wrong?」

The high school Saintess does not reply and still looks downwards. Seeing her like this, she makes a dubious expression on her face.

The high school girl Saintess who finally raised her face showed that she has a lot on her mind.

「Is my power…. really able to save people? Is it really able to exorcise the demons?」

Shitanaga-sama is almost taken aback by the question to which she knew the answer. But looking at the desperate look of the high school girl Saintess, she concealed her thoughts.

「Of course it is. Why are you so worried?」

D-rank cure status abnormality magic. A powerful brainwash that can only be undone with this magic.

The kingdom has mobilized all of its high-ranking magicians to gather potions. However, the current situation is that they still don’t have enough.

『C-rank cure status abnormality』

In such a situation, a high school girl Saintess who can exercise such a power several times a day. Her presence was too great to be expressed by words.

「I’m worried. What if my holy water is actually just a colored water」

Apparently, she had lost her confidence and was suffering from anxiety.

「Your power is helping everyone. Please try to remember. Remember the faces of those people you healed」

The victims, without exception, return to their sanity as they bathe in holy water. Afterwards, they would utter words of gratitude while receiving it on their faces.

However, the high school girl Saintess does not seem to be convinced. She felt depressed again while clasping her hands on her lap.

(This is troubling. What am I supposed to do in this situation?)

Shitanaga-sama who had been on the path of professionals in the narrow world called church. She had less experience than most people when it comes to having worries.

Moreover, she was not very good at dealing with younger people, since the people around her were all older than her.

(She must’ve felt cornered to dangerous extent right now)

That’s about all she can understand.

She guesses that there is something that the high school girl Saintess wants to forget when she is absorbed in her work. When she has time off like this, she must be reminded of that something.

「Could it be that you didn’t get enough sleep?」

She must have hit the bullseye. Her body tensed for a moment and then she gave a small nod with her head down.

(If it’s like this, her mind and body wouldn’t be able to hold on. At least, I have to make her take a good rest)

If the high school girl Saint collapsed, she who was accompanying the Saintess would be held accountable. But even more than that, the person from the kingdom who’s in charge of them would be blamed.

The highest level of hospitality. It will be too pitiful knowing they received this kind of high quality treatment.

「Come here, it would be bad for your body if you don’t sleep even for a little」

She stood up from her chair and walked the high school girl Saintess to her bedroom. Shitanaga-sama decided to solve the problem by doing what she could do.

(Let’s make her forget it)

It’s something she’s the best at. She sticks out her long, long tongue and pokes her own brow with the tip of her tongue.

After completing her preparations, she laid the Saintess down on the bed and covered her with a blanket. She then crawled into the bed from underneath just like that.

「S-Shitanaga-sama, what are you–! D-Don’t tell me–!」

She has no experience yet, but she knows what Shitanaga-sama is capable of.

She is the highest ranking active player in the easter country. Her weapon of choice is, of course, her long tongue.

Moreover, her range of defense is gender-neutral. In fact, it is said that she even prefers women.

「Ah! No! P-please wait! Aaaahhhhhhh!」

The inexperienced high school girl Saintess instantly falls under the spell of her outstanding skills. And a few dozen minutes later, she falls into a peaceful sleep.

This act was repeated every night during her stay in the kingdom. It managed to gradually heal her heart little by little.

This is how the high school girl Saintess became a captive of a woman without ever knowing a man.