At this moment, Mia was kneeling on a cushion with her back to the door. Her emerald-green hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Bathed in the light filtered through the stained glass, she seemed to be radiating a soft, gentle halo.
Her hands were clasped together against her chest, eyes closed, her profile serene and pious. Her entire being exuded a holy aura that seemed untainted by the mortal world.
Mahina stopped and let her gaze linger on the painting-like scene for a moment. Then, she tilted her head slightly and teased Lucia, who was beside her, in a voice only the two of them could hear.
“For both being candidate saintesses, there is quite a difference in temperament, isn’t there?”
“I was never cut out for that role anyway. Besides, she has been at the Church in the Holy Kingdom the entire time, while I only go there for required classes.”
Lucia did not show any weakness, casting a glance at the girl.
“Besides, I’ve been able to spot phony people at a single glance for many years now, and Mia is no exception.”
“Mm… Hmph.”
Mahina ignored her from that point on.
Just as the two hesitated about whether to approach Mia, she seemed to sense the presence of others behind her and slowly opened her eyes while kneeling before the statue. She stood up with grace and turned to face them.
At that instant, the air seemed to solidify.
As Mia turned, the holy and saintly atmosphere was shattered into pieces.
She was indeed wearing a black and white nun’s habit, but the design had absolutely nothing to do with asceticism.
The skirt, which should have reached her ankles, was ruthlessly slit high at the tops of her thighs. As she turned and walked, her fair, delicate legs peeked through the black fabric.
But what was even more suffocating was the upper portion.
Mia’s proud assets were revealed without reservation. The chest of the habit featured a bold cutout design, leaving the massive, heavy mounds wrapped in tight fabric looking especially conspicuous as they lost the support of the cloth. As Mia walked toward them, the two heavy mounds wobbled and squeezed against each other uncontrollably, as if they might pop out of the cutout window at any moment.
Mahina watched this scene, dumbfounded, and subconsciously swallowed a lump in her throat.
You call this a saintess? This is clearly something out of some strange, illicit book.
She silently retracted her previous thought. At the very least, based on appearance and temperament, Lucia looked more like a proper saintess—provided you ignored her terrible personality.
Mia seemed completely unaware. She walked up to them, her expression remaining dignified and solemn as she offered a polite bow. She then pulled a scroll of parchment from a gap in her oversized, heavy chest piece.
“Mage chosen by fate, noble knight. According to the divine revelation, darkness is awakening. It is time for us to embark on a journey to crusade against the Demon King.”
Mahina lowered her head and scanned the content on the scroll. The text glowed with golden light, and at the same time, an irresistible force of the rules flooded into her mind.
“If we do not defeat the Demon King, we cannot leave this dungeon.”
Mahina tightened her grip on her mage staff; she had no choice but to accept this setting. She looked up, gazing at the precarious saintess before her with complex eyes.
“Then, Miss Saintess, since this is the will of the gods… shall we depart now?”
Mia nodded slightly, her headpiece swaying gently.
“Yes. However, our party is not yet complete.”
Lucia glared at her step-sister who was putting on such an act, the hilt of the sword in her hand creaking as she squeezed it. She resisted the urge to mock the outfit and raised an eyebrow. “Hmph, then tell us, who is missing?”
Mia lowered her head again, clasping her hands together in prayer. The heavy mounds deformed further due to the pressure of her arms, creating a visual that was highly impactful.
“Before we set out on our journey, we still need the power of a hero. Only the hero’s holy sword can pierce the heart of the Demon King. This is also a revelation from the Goddess.”
Lucia ignored her.
“Oh? And who is this hero?”
Mia slowly raised her head.
“It is Merlinlia.”
“Where is she?”
Mia pointed to a map on the scroll.
“She is right here in this ‘small mansion’.”
Mahina turned immediately, heading in the direction of little Merlin.
“Then let’s go.”
She had already faintly suspected that little Merlin might have also been dragged into the dungeon. However, judging by the current situation, little Merlin should not have any safety issues.
Mahina and Lucia walked out of the church, which was filled with the illusion of sunlight, and returned to the sea of flowers under the high full moon.
Behind them, there was the sound of fabric rustling.
Lucia stopped, turned to the side, and glared at the figure who was following them like a shadow.
Mia was lifting the high-slit skirt, taking dainty steps to keep up. Because of the movement, her chest swayed in a dizzying series of waves.
Lucia’s brow twitched, and the disdain in her eyes was nearly overflowing.
“Why are you following us?”
Mia seemed completely oblivious. She maintained her perfect saintess smile and responded as if it were only natural. “I am also a member of our team.”
“Who is on the same team as you?”
Mia blinked innocently and held up the scroll again.
“But… according to the will of the gods, I am also a member of the team. We must gather enough members to defeat the Demon King.”
Although Lucia wanted to toss this pretentious woman back into the church right then and there, it was not a wise move to force a reduction in team size before knowing the clearance conditions.
“Sigh, do whatever makes you happy.”
But that did not mean Lucia would let her off the hook. She glanced at Mia’s enormous chest.
“Hmph, even if you follow us, what use are you?”
Mia did not show a hint of cowardice. She folded her hands in front of her; even while walking, her posture remained incredibly elegant. She smiled serenely, her voice as soft as water, as she looked at Lucia and Mahina. “My light magic can provide healing for you.”
“You are just a candidate saintess; I can do that too.”
Mia continued to smile, her expression carrying a trace of concern.
“Your constitution, which causes you pain whenever you use magic power—if you forcefully take on the task of healing, will it not only increase the burden on your body? Therefore—”
She patted her chest, which was practically bursting at the seams.
“I will be responsible for the healing, and you will be responsible for the combat. In professional matters, each has their own specialty. Isn’t a clear division of labor better?”
“Hmph, just make sure you don’t hold us back.”
“Rest assured, I have long been studying the opponents in the Demon King’s castle.”
“You better be.”
“Please feel at ease, I have also frequently defeated the Demon King solo in my meditation training.”
Lucia simply smiled.
“I laughed. Just don’t spend all your time studying instead of actually going.”
Mahina ignored the dispute between the two sisters. She kept her focus on moving toward little Merlin, her footsteps in her high heels growing more determined.