This story is told from the perspective of the newbie Apprentice Saint.
My name was Nina.
I was an Apprentice Saint stationed in Tower City.
Even now, I could hardly believe that the true identity of the Forest Alraune was Saint Iris herself, but I had finally come to accept that reality. After many twists and turns, fighting alongside her against the Spirit Princess Vergissmeinnicht—one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s Army—was an experience I would never forget for as long as I lived.
It had always been a secret dream of mine to one day fight beside my idol, Lady Iris. After she passed away, I thought that wish was lost forever, yet somehow, it had come true. She might have been an Alraune now, but she was still Lady Iris on the inside, not some monster. That meant there wasn't a problem... right?
However, it seemed I was the only person who knew her secret.
I didn't understand why she was so stubborn about hiding the fact that she was human—especially since she was the very Saint whom everyone in the kingdom revered. Even if she had become a plant monster, so many people would have been overjoyed to know that Saint Iris was still alive.
The Hero, her former fiancé, would have been delighted, as would the Saint of the Lamp, who had succeeded Lady Iris. Since those two had been present at the very moment of her death, they were said to have grieved more than anyone else. That was exactly why I wanted to pull them aside and whisper the truth.
And yet, I knew I would never tell them.
I had promised Lady Iris that I wouldn't say a word to anyone. This was a secret shared only between her and me. Whenever I thought about that, my heart fluttered, making me want to keep it just between the two of us for a little while longer.
While I was busy deepening my bond with her, an order for my return arrived from the Royal Capital. It seemed I was required to report everything that had transpired in Tower City. There were mountains of information to relay, from the Priest who had become a pawn of the Demon King’s Army to the appearance of the Four Heavenly Kings. I hated the thought of leaving Lady Iris, but I had no choice.
When I told her I was leaving, she made one request of me. She wanted me to investigate how the Hero and the current Saint were doing. Even as a monster, she was still concerned about her former fiancé. She even worried about her junior, whom she had once doted on like a little sister. Lady Iris truly was a kind person.
But four years had passed since her death, and I couldn't bring myself to tell her the truth: that the Hero and the Saint of the Lamp were now married. I knew that knowing this would only break her heart.
Still, the truth would surely reach her ears eventually. Just thinking about how I would eventually have to confess it to her gave me a headache.
That wasn't my only worry, either. Once I arrived at the Royal Capital, I had to report the events of Tower City to the church's upper management. I was incredibly anxious about how much I could say while still keeping Lady Iris’s secret.
"Haa..."
I let out a heavy sigh as the carriage rattled and swayed along the road.
"Is something the matter?" the merchant traveling with me asked.
At first glance, she looked like nothing but a man, but she was actually a female merchant in men's clothes. I had asked for a ride from Tower City to the Royal Capital, and I remembered feeling both surprised and relieved when I realized my long-distance traveling companion was actually a woman.
"I'm just a little depressed about something..."
"And here I am, so excited to reach the capital that I feel like dancing," she replied. "You seem quite anxious about returning, Nina-sama."
"Now that you mention it, you have been smirking for a while now. Do you have a big deal waiting for you?"
"Actually, I'm opening my own shop in the capital! I’ve been saving for years, and I’m so happy to see my dream finally coming true."
"That’s wonderful. Congratulations."
"Thank you. I hope I can count on your patronage, Nina-sama."
I could only imagine how difficult it was to open a shop in the Royal Capital. She must have worked incredibly hard, but she was surely blessed by the goddess of luck as well. I wished I had that kind of divine guidance.
Eventually, our long journey from Tower City came to an end, and we arrived at the Royal Capital. Huge walls protected the city, and the Royal Castle loomed over the center of the metropolis. Even from outside the gates, I could see the Saint Cathedral, the headquarters of the church in the Kingdom of Gardenia.
As we passed through the gates and entered the capital for the first time in months, I felt a strange sense of displacement. So much had happened in such a short time that I felt as though I had been living in Tower City for years.
I stepped down from the carriage, bid the merchant farewell, and headed toward the Saint Cathedral alone. The city hadn't changed much, aside from a slight increase in soldiers and the presence of several men who looked like mercenaries.
As I walked along, taking in the sights, a small child running in a hurry crashed into me.
"Kyaa!"
"Sorry!"
The boy didn't even stop; he just bolted back into the crowd. It was nice that he was energetic, but he really should have looked where he was going. Then again, I wasn't really one to talk, since I had been wandering around aimlessly while staring at the scenery.
After a short walk, the Saint Cathedral came into view. This was the place where I had been raised as an Apprentice Saint—a place of bitter memories of my training, but also the joyful place where I first met Saint Iris.
Once inside, a fellow Apprentice Saint acting as a guide urged me to head into the inner chambers. Just as I suspected, I was being called for an audience with the Holy Mother.
The Holy Mother oversaw every Saint and Apprentice Saint in the Kingdom of Gardenia. Though she was retired from active duty, I had heard stories of how she fought on the front lines against the Demon King’s Army in her youth.
I climbed the grand staircase of the cathedral to reach her quarters. A particularly large portrait hung on the wall of the landing, depicting a beautiful woman with hair like spun gold. She was the First Queen of Gardenia, the First Saint known simply as "The First." Legend said she was the first human to ever manifest Light Magic, and her power was said to be incomparably stronger than any Saint living today. The painting was a tribute to her legendary achievements.
Even now, I often saw Apprentice Saints stopping to pray before her image. I had done so myself with my friends many times.
Saint Iris was the only person in history said to have ever rivaled the power of The First. For that reason, I believed Lady Iris's portrait should have been displayed in the cathedral as well, but for some reason, the Holy Mother and the high officials always turned cold and silent whenever her name was mentioned. I still didn't understand why.
Wait, this was a perfect opportunity. Since I was meeting the Holy Mother anyway, maybe I should petition her to hang a portrait of Lady Iris!
Then again, the Holy Mother was terrifying. During my training, she had scolded and reprimanded me more times than I could count. I had lost track of how many times she'd made me cry.
But for Lady Iris’s sake, I could stand up to anyone... even the Holy Mother!
As I braced myself, I arrived at the room where she was waiting.
"Nina, it has been a long time."
As I stepped inside, my eyes met the Holy Mother’s. She looked as though she had been waiting impatiently for my arrival.
H-Her gaze was so intense!
She was nearly fifty years old, but she still exuded a powerful, commanding aura. Facing her was just as scary as I remembered. Maybe I would save that petition about the painting for another day...
"Nina, word of your exploits has reached my ears. I hear you defeated one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King’s Army."
"Y-Yes..."
In reality, it had been Iris in her Alraune form who did it. I had only taken the credit because Lady Iris asked me to, but my heart ached with guilt. What if she found out? I wanted to turn around and run away right then and there.
"Many doubt that an Apprentice Saint like you could truly fell one of the Four Heavenly Kings, but I am not among them. I have always known you possessed a special potential. Even the previous Saint, Iris, used to praise the power she saw in your eyes."
"Lady Iris said that!?"
"N-Nina, do not lung at me. Sit down and behave yourself."
At the mention of Lady Iris, I had accidentally rushed toward the Holy Mother. As I reluctantly sat back down, I remembered the item Lady Iris had given me.
"Holy Mother, if anyone still doubts that I subdued a member of the Four Heavenly Kings, perhaps this will change their minds?"
I reached into my bag and pulled out a feather that glowed with a golden light. It was a feather from the Golden Birdman Garuda-Hraesvelgr. Lady Iris had given it to me, saying it would be useful for gathering information on the Hero and the Saint. If the news that I had defeated a King spread through the capital, the Hero and his wife would surely hear of it, making it easier for me to approach them.
"This is..."
The Holy Mother, who had just claimed to believe me, looked genuinely shocked as she took the golden feather into her hand.
Wait... Holy Mother. Did you not actually believe me until just now?
"If this is real," she muttered, "I might finally have someone to replace that girl who married into the royal family and does whatever she pleases..."
"Holy Mother? That feather is real, I assure you."
"Yes, I can see that... Nina, come back here tomorrow. We have much to discuss."
With that promise made, I was dismissed from the room.
What should I do? I had to meet her again tomorrow. What if she intended to interrogate me about the battle? If she pressed too hard, she might realize I was lying!
I was supposed to stay in the Apprentice Saint's Dormitory tonight, but I suddenly felt like fleeing the city entirely. This was bad. I needed to calm down. I decided to have a sip of Saint Nectar to soothe my nerves.
"...Huh? My wallet. Where is it?"
I searched my bag, but my wallet was gone. Had I dropped it somewhere? No, I could worry about the money later; I needed that nectar first.
"..................Wait."
My canteen! The one filled with Saint Nectar was gone too!
How!? Why!? I knew I had put it securely in my bag! I had even tied it to my wallet to make sure I wouldn't lose something so precious.
So why? Where did my Saint Nectar goooo!?