No, How Can an Atheist Become a Saintess!? – 105
EP.105 Summer and the Sea (1)
It was only natural that the dwarves reacted far more intensely than the gnomes. For the gnomes, the disaster I had prevented was something that could have become a problem in the near future. But for the dwarves, without me, their entire race might have faced extinction.
That didn’t mean every dwarf welcomed me with open arms. Even if they didn’t openly express it due to public sentiment, there were always people who harbored twisted resentment.
Not that it really mattered to me.
“There are some who’d like to express their gratitude a bit more… passionately. Why not stay and enjoy the banquet a little longer? Or do you have pressing matters to attend to?”
“…No, I don’t have anything urgent…”
I mumbled, evading the question. The princess clearly knew I wasn’t fond of such events, and she was definitely teasing me.
“What about you, Princess? Are you sure about this? You’ll be leaving for a completely different world.”
Yes—this princess who urged me to enjoy the banquet was planning to cross over into our world to research the Gate.
Not just to help save the elven kingdom.
But to prevent a potential second Gate catastrophe.
“…That’s true. For us dwarves, underground spaces like these feel like home…”
The princess murmured, gazing up at her room. Then she turned back to me.
“But if danger is approaching, I have to do my best to stop it. If it means cooperating with you, I’ll gladly help. To a dwarf, a debt of gratitude must be repaid.”
Hearing that, I could only nod.
On the day of our departure, we received the grandest farewell possible from the underground kingdom before heading back to the gnome territories.
We didn’t openly reveal the princess’s presence.
Of course, no gnome would be reckless enough to attack a foreign princess, but it was best not to give anyone any excuses.
“…So this is where the gnomes live.”
The princess murmured as she gazed out the bus window.
There was something in her voice.
Not quite emotionless.
Her own words had made it clear—half of her blood was gnome blood.
She never mentioned whose blood it was.
Maybe she didn’t even know.
And I saw no reason to bring it up.
No need to poke at old wounds.
*
“…Phew.”
Collapsing onto my bed, I let out a deep sigh.
Home, at last.
Psychologically speaking, this was the most stable place for me.
Though technically, my home was the convent attached to the church, so calling it mine wasn’t entirely accurate…
“You did well.”
Ria chuckled, a wry smile on her lips.
“Yeah… This time was really rough…”
I had lived my whole life without much hardship.
Sure, I did throw myself into this willingly—but if I hadn’t, the situation would have spiraled into an even bigger mess later.
Honestly, I never had much of a choice.
Not since I arrived in this world.
“…Hey, Ria.”
“Yeah?”
“Could you brush off the light behind my head?”
Ria let out a small, amused snort before waving her hand behind me. The faint glow that had been creeping into my peripheral vision faded away.
"Should I ask them to let you rest for a while? The church people probably have enough sense not to immediately use a Saintess who has done such a great deed."
“…I’m not a Saintess, just a candidate…”
“Be honest. Who’s even going to believe that anymore?”
I turned my head.
Narrowing my eyes, I shot Ria a look.
“Oh? So you’re not going to believe it either?”
Ria’s eyes widened slightly, as if caught off guard.
Then, she burst into laughter.
Before I could react, she lunged at me, ruffling my hair into a complete mess with both hands.
“Hey! What the hell are you doing?!”
I yelped in protest, and she immediately froze.
But then, instead of pulling away, she gently smoothed my hair, running her fingers through it with slow, careful motions.
“…You did well.”
“…...”
“I mean it.”
Ah.
That’s cheating.
Using that face to pull something like this—it’s totally unfair.
She usually acts all laid-back and cocky, like some delinquent, but then she suddenly throws on a soft smile like that?
How am I even supposed to respond to that?
So instead of answering, I turned my head and buried my face into the bed.
Even though I’d turned away from her, Ria continued to silently stroke my hair for a while.
To be honest… it felt nice.
And maybe that’s why it annoyed me even more.
*
Just like that, July slipped away, and August arrived in full summer heat.
The church might have been strict and rigid about many things, but even they wouldn’t force young sisters to labor under the scorching sun.
If anything, summer meant a reduction in outdoor activities and a shift toward a more relaxed, almost vacation-like atmosphere.
After all, the sisters weren’t trained professionals.
If the outdoor AC unit broke down, we called a specialist. If the computers malfunctioned, we called an expert. Even things like weeding the gardens were outsourced.
As for sweeping and cleaning? We still did that, but only in the early morning or after sunset. Even then, the hours were reduced.
Naturally, the entire church settled into a slower, lazier rhythm.
And I was just another part of it.
Having lived here for 15 years, I had long since adapted to this cycle.
…A full-fledged nun.
Normally, around this time, I would be hearing more about my future from my seniors. Because choosing to remain in the church as an adult meant committing to the life of a professional clergy member.
Young novices mostly assisted with rituals and cleaning, but fully ordained nuns were treated as quasi-medical professionals. That meant learning complicated medical terms and procedures, along with a whole new set of responsibilities.
"......Do you think the presence of a Saintess candidate might actually be undermining the abilities of our clergy?"
“That’s certainly a thought worth considering.”
I once overheard a priest and the Mother Superior discussing this.
It was after I had saved a few people—people who should have died.
Divine power was never meant to be a miraculous force that instantly revived those on the brink of death. Healing in this world was supposed to be a slow, methodical process, carefully identifying and repairing each failing part of the body over time. But I was fixing everything in a single moment and sending patients on their way. Naturally, this meant that ordinary clergy had fewer opportunities to refine their skills. And so, from that point on, the patients I was called to heal were mostly severe cases.
…Well.
Not that I had much to teach anyway.
Besides, I’d already accepted the fact that I was a Saintess Candidate.
There had been a time when people found amusement in teasing me, but those days were long gone.
Now that I had built friendships with princesses from other races, there was no one left in the church who would dare mock or belittle me.
“…Is it really okay for me to just lie around like this…?”
“Of course not.”
I hadn’t expected an answer.
Honestly, I was half-hoping I could just keep lazing around.
But my roommate clearly didn’t agree.
“You promised, remember? We’re going to the beach.”
“……”
Hmm.
Right.
I did say that.
For a brief moment, I actually found myself having a religious crisis—something I’d never seriously considered before.
The swimsuit I bought for the trip.
No, the swimsuit Ria had gifted me.
In the end, it was a bikini.
We never returned them.
They remained neatly folded in the corner of our wardrobe, hidden away from the Mother Superior’s sight.
So… Ria was determined to wear that swimsuit.
I had expected as much, but still…
“…Do you not want to?”
Ria asked, her voice hesitant.
I sat up in bed.
She usually carried herself with such confidence, and yet now, she looked like a puppy caught in the rain.
She wasn’t exactly on the verge of tears, but she had her hands slightly clasped, her head tilted downward, and her eyes peeking up at me.
I’d seen that look before.
That day when we bought the swimsuits.
And later, when she took me to that ridiculously expensive restaurant.
When I sat there, unsure of what to say, she fidgeted as if she had done something wrong.
Even though she hadn’t done anything wrong at all.
“…Of course we’re going.”
At my answer, Ria beamed.
Seeing the way her expression shifted so quickly, I narrowed my eyes.
“…Wait. Don’t tell me you did that on purpose. Was that acting?”
“Well, if you really want something, you have to do whatever it takes to get it, right?”
“…You’d go that far just to go to the beach with me?”
I scoffed, amused.
Ria grinned at me, bright and open.
“Yeah.”
That one simple word somehow hit harder than any of her long-winded arguments ever had.
“…Let’s just make sure no one catches us wearing those swimsuits. Otherwise, that might actually cause a religious scandal.”
I said this with a serious expression.
Ria chuckled softly.