Chapter 26
After just one day of staying at the Duke Laurel family, Reina was officially set to enter the Grand Shrine.
She would receive training as a Saint at the Grand Shrine in the royal capital, fulfill her duties, and begin attending the academy starting next month.
"Kukuku... So the Saint has finally been found! I'll make full use of her for the prestige of our shrine!"
"Oh my, a Saint from a commoner background is simply unthinkable! I'll use her education as an excuse to bully her!"
"If I can brainwash the Saint and bend her to my will, my rise to power will be guaranteed... I'll be sure to use her to my advantage...!"
At the Grand Shrine, where authoritarianism ran deep, schemes and manipulation were rampant, and many sought to exploit the Saint for their own selfish gain.
However... the moment they actually stood before Saint Reina Laurel, they were rendered speechless.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Reina Laurel. I look forward to working with you."
"............!?"
Arriving in the Duke Laurel family's carriage was a dazzlingly beautiful girl.
She literally glowed with a divine radiance, and several Holy Spirits floated around her as if to protect her.
In an instant, with just one glance, the overwhelming difference in status as a clergyperson was made clear.
She was truly a Saint. Whether she was a commoner or not didn't matter—she was on an entirely different level from them.
(Ggh... N-No, it's actually convenient that she's a Saint. I'll use this woman to gather donations and line my own pockets...!)
A bishop at the Grand Shrine was plotting just that.
However... Reina smiled at that very bishop.
"Bishop, I humbly ask for your guidance."
"Ugh...!"
Being stared at by Reina made one feel as though their very soul was being seen through.
A crushing sense of guilt swelled within, as if they had become the most vile villain of the century.
(N-No good... If I try to use her to make money, I'll definitely be found out! And then I'll be dragged to the depths of hell and tortured for eternity...!)
The bishop, who had until now abused his clerical position to commit embezzlement and sexual assault, suddenly became ashamed of his actions.
"Y-You commoner-born Saint! I'll beat the filth out of your rotten soul, so prepare yourself!"
The elderly sister assigned to educate Reina shouted with a strong tone, as if trying to motivate herself.
"First, try solving this problem! If you get it wrong, it's the whip for you!"
"Okay... I've solved it."
"You solved it already!?"
Having received thorough education from Clael, Reina easily solved the problems given to her.
"Also... about the formula you wrote, these parts here and here were incorrect. Please be more careful."
"U-Uuuu..."
The sister slumped her shoulders in defeat.
Reina's academic knowledge was perfect. She had mastered etiquette, and in terms of Holy Arts, no one could rival her. There was nothing the sister could teach her.
The sister tried to find fault with her to punish her somehow, but each time, the Holy Spirits around Reina would interfere.
On the contrary, the sister kept tripping as she walked, getting drenched from above, and facing all sorts of misfortunes, until she ended up confessing her sins to Reina.
"Kukuku... I never expected a commoner-born Saint to be such a beauty! In that case, I'll just drug her and make her my toy—Ggyah!"
"Meow."
"Woof woof!"
Immediately after Reina entered the Grand Shrine, one priest suffered serious injuries and had to be taken to the hospital.
Illegal drugs were found in the room of the priest who had been attacked.
The priest was excommunicated and subsequently left the Grand Shrine.
Originally, Reina was supposed to be abused and mistreated at the Grand Shrine... but no one was capable of oppressing someone who had already awakened as a Saint.
"Ever since the Saint arrived, it's suddenly become much easier to live here."
"All the nasty priests quit, and now it's peaceful."
"As expected of the Saint! Long live Lady Reina!"
Most of those who tried to use or oppose Reina ended up leaving the Grand Shrine, while the young priests and sisters became devoted to the Saint Reina.
Reina won over the Grand Shrine in the royal capital and steadily expanded her influence.