"Ugh...!? Ah—aaaaaah! Hah... hah... hah... AAAAAAAAGH!"
Leon’s agonized screams echoed through the training grounds. His left arm had already been completely restored, leaving no trace of his previous injury.
As she listened to the cries, Seraphina found herself reminiscing about her recent conversation with Princess Eliana.
With the conclusion of summer vacation, Seraphina was set to return to the Church. She had visited Eliana’s dormitory room to offer her formal farewell. They had spent a pleasant time chatting over tea prepared by the princess's resident maid, but at the very end of their meeting, Seraphina finally broached the heart of the matter.
"Princess Eliana," Seraphina had asked, "do you believe that Albert von Kronstadt, rather than Lord Leon, will be the one to lead the Demon King Subjugation?"
"I do," Eliana had replied without a moment's hesitation. Her mind was clearly made up.
"In that case, as the Saint, I have a request. Could you grant Hero Leon a little more time? I, Seraphina, will take full responsibility for his guidance."
"I cannot simply brush aside a request from the Saint. Very well, let us proceed that way. Regardless of who leads, Hero Leon’s power remains a necessary resource. The only question is whether or not he stands at the forefront."
Eliana paused for a beat before continuing.
"—But... isn't this hard on Leon? To constantly chase the shadow of someone so clearly superior? I only hope his spirit doesn't break."
"That is impossible," Seraphina had stated flatly. "Lord Leon was chosen by Absolute God Zenos himself. He is not a man who would succumb to such trivial hardships. If he cannot overcome a simple trial like this, then he is no Hero."
"I respect the Saint's words," Eliana responded with a soft smile. "I, too, look forward to the path Hero Leon and Saint Seraphina walk together."
At the very least, Hero Leon had not yet been discarded as a candidate to represent humanity. However, given Princess Eliana’s pragmatic, efficiency-driven nature, she could make a final decision at any moment. Seraphina had to forge Leon into a weapon as quickly as possible—to prove that the divine teachings were correct.
That same Leon was now pushing himself to the brink before her very eyes. Beads of sweat poured from his brow as he swung his sword in grim silence, choked gasps of pain escaping through his gritted teeth.
"AAAAAAAH, GUUUUUUUU!"
He screamed, desperately forcing his sword through the air. At this moment, Leon was enduring a colossal physical burden. Seraphina was maintaining a buff on him far more powerful than the Blessing of the Holy Heaven she had used during his duel with Albert.
Why hadn’t she used this power then? Simply put, she couldn’t. Normally, a Saint’s buffs are calibrated to stay within the limits of what a human body can withstand. To push further is to gamble with the subject’s life.
But now, Seraphina was breaking that taboo, imposing a merciless load upon Leon.
Her reasoning was simple: to make Leon stronger and to prove the truth of God’s word. If the Hero could learn to endure such a buff, she could exercise even greater power on the battlefield.
"Are you adjusting, Lord Leon?"
"Ah... agh... I... somehow... hah... hah..."
"I see. Then let us increase the load by another level."
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!"
Leon’s legs gave out. He collapsed to the floor, howling and thrashing in the throes of agonizing pain.
"Please, do your best, Lord Leon. You reacted the same way to the previous buff at first, but you eventually adapted. Please, show me your pride as the Hero once more."
"Ah... ah... L-leave it to me, Seraphina... ku... UOOOOOOOOOH!"
Seraphina did not wish for Leon to suffer for the sake of cruelty. She truly believed that as the Hero, he would surely overcome these trials. Every ounce of his pain was for his own sake.
Eventually, Leon’s consciousness flickered out, his mind unable to bear the sheer intensity of the enhanced buff.
"Oh, Lord Leon... how tragic."
Seraphina approached the unmoving boy and released the buff.
A buff acted like an external skeleton enveloping the body. It forced the flesh and bone to exert power far beyond their natural capacity. If the subject could not withstand the pressure, their body would simply fall apart. Even as she watched the training, Seraphina had noticed his muscle fibers tearing and his bones fracturing under the strain.
Though the buff was gone, Leon’s entire body was likely still being tormented by phantom pains.
"It is quite alright, Lord Leon. I am the Saint. I will heal you as many times as it takes. Spell: Heavenly Light Healing."
Hero Leon’s body was enveloped in a soft radiance.
Wrapped in light, he was restored. Now, he could stand again. He could train again. He could fight again.
Once the treatment was finished, Seraphina gently stroked the cheek of the unconscious boy.
"Let us do our best, Lord Leon. Together, we will slay the Demon King and prove the righteousness of our God."
She leaned down, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered.
"Regrettably, I must return to the Church for a time. But do not worry. Within our vaults lie many Treasured Holy Relics. I shall use my authority as Saint to select those most suited to you. You have much to look forward to."
Holy Relics allowed one to touch the divine—to wield Divine Authority itself. But such power came with a price: the loss of one's humanity. The very essence of what made a person human would be stripped away.
"Ah... yes. You shall become a true Hero—one who stands at the threshold of godhood. To be the one who facilitates your ascension... it brings me such supreme joy."