My name was Nina, and I was a newbie Saint.
By simply following the instructions of Lady Iris—who had been reborn as an Alraune—I had somehow managed to make a name for myself as the "Saint of the Yellow Wings."
At that moment, I was staying in the Holy Capital of the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light, the seat of the Selene Church’s headquarters. To reach Myrte Holy Light, one had to travel north from the Royal Capital of the Kingdom of Gardenia and then take a ship from a port at the very edge of the continent.
There, I had been officially recognized as a Saint by the Church headquarters, and I dedicated every spare moment to my training. All of it was for one purpose: to destroy my nemesis, Saint Zelma.
She was the woman who, alongside the Hero, had conspired to eliminate Lady Iris. As a high-ranking official within the Kingdom of Gardenia, Saint Zelma now held absolute power in the palm of her hand.
With the First Prince missing and rumored dead, the Hero—the Second Prince—had taken the reins as the next king. As his wife, Saint Zelma enjoyed the unwavering trust of His Majesty the King and was truly savoring the height of her prosperity.
To cast her down from her position in Gardenia, I needed more strength. As I was then, I was no match for her. In terms of holy power, political influence, and everything in between, I was still beneath her. That was why I was accumulating my strength here, within the Moon Goddess's Tower.
"If only His Highness Prince Leonhardt, the First Prince, were still alive..."
After the Second Prince awakened as the Hero and became the nation's savior, his older brother, the First Prince, had retired to the countryside. However, the Second Prince had changed fundamentally after his marriage to Saint Zelma. Rumors suggested he had abandoned his duties entirely, spending his days in a haze of alcohol and debauchery.
Because of his negligence, the authority that should have belonged to the Second Prince had been usurped by his wife. Saint Zelma’s reckless behavior had thrown the Royal Castle into chaos, to the point where the lords eventually petitioned for the First Prince’s return.
The First Prince did eventually return to the Royal Capital, but his stay was short-lived—he vanished almost immediately. The reason for his disappearance remained a mystery, though the whispers were persistent. Everyone believed that Prince Leonhardt had been assassinated by the Second Prince Faction.
Still, if he had truly been killed, a body surely would have surfaced. Because of that, some believed the First Prince had managed to flee and was hiding somewhere. If he ever returned to the Royal Capital, it might finally be possible to topple Saint Zelma and her husband.
"And yet, here I am, being propped up as an ally by the First Prince Faction..."
As a commoner by birth, I had no natural backing. This lack of status had led to many opportunities to associate with the members of the First Prince Faction. If I stayed on this path, my own life might be at risk. It was dangerous enough that Saint Zelma already viewed me as an eyesore.
"But I won't lose."
Saint Zelma was the person who had betrayed my beloved Lady Saint Iris and sent her to her death. No matter that Lady Iris lived on as an Alraune, I could never let that grudge go. My dream was to reclaim the life that had been stolen from her and see her return to the world as a Saint once more.
Even though she had become an Alraune, I was certain she must still have some lingering attachment to her former life. If she ever wished to return to it, I wanted to be the one to help her. That said, she seemed to have adapted quite well to life as a plant monster. If she preferred to stay in the forest, I had no intention of being meddlesome. My highest priority was her happiness and her will.
Though, regardless of what Lady Iris chose, I still intended to have my revenge on Saint Zelma.
"Well, it's time. I should head over to see that person."
After finishing my independent practice at the Church training ground, I made my way toward the Moon Goddess's Tower. This spire, which towered over the Holy Capital, was the symbol of the Selene Sect and the worship of the Goddess of Light Selene, the protector of humanity.
Built a thousand years ago, the tower was so tall it pierced the clouds. It had been undergoing constant expansion ever since, its height still creeping upward even now in a display of divine mystery. Myth claimed that Lady Selene herself lived on the top floor, though I had no way of knowing if that was true. No one living had ever actually seen the Goddess. The First Saint Nemea was said to have received a revelation from her a millennium ago, but that was ancient history.
I didn't doubt the legend, though. After all, I had awakened to Light Magic, which was a fragment of Goddess Selene's own power.
However, the one living in this tower wasn't Goddess Selene—it was that person.
Upon entering the tower, I used a Teleportation Circle to warp to the upper floors. The existence of these circles was a secret kept from the rest of the world. It had felt strange at first, but I had grown used to the weightless sensation of the transition.
I walked down the familiar corridor and stopped before a specific room. Just as I raised my hand to knock on the heavy, golden door, a voice called out from within.
"Enter."
A shiver ran down my spine at the sound of that dignified voice. She seemed to perceive exactly where I was at all times; I still hadn't grown accustomed to how uncanny it felt.
"Excuse me," I said, stepping inside.
"Nina, I have been waiting for you."
Beyond majestic pillars etched with intricate carvings, a throne-like chair had been positioned. That person, who usually sat upon it, was standing by the edge of the room today, which was unusual.
"Nina, come here."
"As you wish."
A girl wearing a radiant miter and golden liturgical vestments stood looking out the window. This was the Lady Shrine Maiden of the Goddess. She was the true supreme leader, outranking even His Holiness the Pope. Her existence was a closely guarded secret, known to almost no one.
She was the successor to the First Saint Nemea—the first human to receive power from the Goddess of Light Selene a thousand years ago. The Lady Shrine Maiden had explained to me that the position was passed down through a specific hereditary line.
Even after all this time, her mana capacity was breathtaking. I possessed the Goddess's Holy Eye, a special sight that allowed me to perceive an Aura of Light Magic. It let me gauge the strength of a Light Magic user at a glance. My first impression of the Lady Shrine Maiden had been one of unfathomable, blinding radiance.
I hadn't seen an Aura of Light like that since Lady Iris. In other words, this girl possessed power that was either equal to or dangerously close to that of Lady Iris, who had been hailed as the second coming of Saint Nemea. It was staggering to realize that another person of such caliber existed. At times, the Lady Shrine Maiden didn't even feel entirely human; she exuded an atmosphere that was eerily mystical.
"...Um, Lady Shrine Maiden... what have you been doing?"
"Do not mind me. Now then, Nina, tell me: how much of the tale of the Crimson Flower Princess Alraune have you shared so far?"
"Up to the point where she defeated the Witch Queen."
The reason I had been summoned was to speak about the Alraune. This had all started when it was discovered that the Alraune’s Saint Nectar possessed the same properties as the Elixir created by Goddess Selene. That discovery had piqued the Lady Shrine Maiden’s interest. While she didn't know the Alraune was actually Lady Iris, the situation still made me uneasy.
"Naturally, I shall assist you with your training once our talk is finished, so do not fret. I shall teach you the proper mastery of those eyes."
"I... I look forward to it. Please go easy on me..."
On the condition that I shared stories of the Alraune, I was being personally trained by her. Since I couldn't exactly refuse her offer, I had decided to make the most of it. I continued my story, carefully omitting details that might bring trouble to Lady Iris.
Throughout our conversation, the Lady Shrine Maiden never turned away from the window. This was the first time she had spoken to me without looking me in the face.
"Lady Shrine Maiden, you’ve been staring outside this whole time. Is there something there?"
"I am merely observing the lower world for a moment."
"The lower world?"
I followed her lead and peered out the window. From this height, perched near the clouds, the entire Holy Capital was spread out below like a map.
"The view really is spectacular from here."
"Indeed. It allows one to see quite far."
"I saw the horizon for the first time from this room."
"We are very high up compared to the world below. From here, one can see things that are normally hidden from sight."
"It’s amazing. I can see the sea over there! Is the Kingdom of Gardenia past that?"
Gardenia was my birthplace. I never could have imagined that a commoner like me would become a Saint and leave my homeland behind.
"But... I suppose even from here, you can't see as far as the Royal Capital."
"You likely cannot see it yet, Nina."
"Please don't tease me. You're talking like you can actually see it, but that's just too far away."
The Lady Shrine Maiden gave a thin, knowing smile. I thought she was joking, but I wondered if she truly possessed vision that transcended human limits.
"...Um, can you really see the Royal Capital?"
"Nina, be still for a moment."
The atmosphere around her shifted instantly. Her gaze became sharp and focused, as if she were intent on not missing a single detail in the distance. A long silence followed before she finally spoke again.
"Well, that was a most intriguing sight indeed."
"...What happened?"
"There was a battle to the south. I was curious, so I decided to spectate... and I witnessed something unexpected."
She reached into her robes and produced a small bottle. I recognized it immediately; it was a bottle of the Alraune-branded liquid.
"The ability to produce this Saint Nectar, which rivals the Elixir, combined with such extraordinary, monstrous power... If left unchecked, this creature may very well strip the Church of its influence."
"...What?"
"To think that even if its roots are incinerated, it can regenerate instantly from another location... I am impressed. And to defeat and consume a Fire Spirit so easily is almost beyond belief. That power... at this rate, it poses a risk of rivalling the gods themselves."
Regenerating from roots—there was no mistake. She was talking about the Alraune. We had been talking about the scenery, so why was she suddenly discussing Lady Iris?