As a Reward for Saving the World, I Was Reincarnated Into a World Where Girls Are Super Aggressive and Chastity Roles Are Reversed!! …Or So I Thought, Until It Turned Out to Be an Overbearing Yandere Harem of My Former Companions Who Loved Me Too Much - 8

Chapter 8: The Day the Saintess’s Mind Was Scorched (Heroine’s POV)

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That was during the time when the threat of the Demon Lord grew stronger with each passing day. The great cathedral of the royal capital was visited constantly by those who called themselves “Heroes.” They came in many forms—knights from some country, adventurers, people of all races. 

As the Saintess, my duty was to bestow the blessing of God upon them. But in truth, the “blessing” was little more than a charm that slightly improved one’s luck. Yet their purpose in seeking me was not limited to that alone.

“Ah, so you’re the Saintess, huh? I’ll definitely defeat the Demon Lord. My reward should be you.”

“What beauty… To receive your blessing makes me happy indeed. I shall dedicate my sword to you.”

Yes… Because a previous Hero had once married the Saintess, they believed that if they defeated the Demon Lord and were officially recognized as a Hero, they could claim me as their own. Most of them carried arrogance or base desires in their eyes. Some, drunk on the title of “Hero,” saw me as nothing more than spoils of war. Others worshiped me as the Saintess, forcing upon me ideals that I never embodied.

I wore the smile of the Saintess like a mask, and spent my days granting blessings in nothing more than a ritual manner. Honestly, it was exhausting. And little by little, I grew more and more uncomfortable around men.

Then one day, he appeared—Kazuki Homura. Unlike the other Heroes, he did not look brimming with confidence, nor did he seem timid. He looked as though he had been thrown into a place where he did not belong, his expression a mix of unease and tension. When his eyes met mine, the first words he spoke were—

“Whoa… I was wondering what kind of person the Saintess would be, but… You’re seriously cute.”

At those words, disappointment welled up inside me. Even though I had hoped, just a little, because he was a Hero summoned from another world… He was still the same as the others after all.

Thinking that, I stepped forward to bless him as I always did.

“Saintess-sama, there’s something I need to apologize to you for.”

“…And what might that be?”

His words piqued my interest. Because in his eyes, there was none of that appraising gaze like the other men. Instead, he looked straight into mine and—bowed his head deeply.

“Saintess-sama. I may be called a Hero, but I don’t know anything about this world. Honestly, I’m not even confident I can defeat the Demon Lord. But… There are people who believe in me. And just for that, I want to try my best. I’m a pathetic man, but if there’s even the slightest chance I can defeat the Demon Lord… Please lend me your strength. I beg you.”

In his voice, there was no lie, no pretense. There was only the pure, awkward resolve to save this world. Why would someone, in a world not even their own, speak so seriously of defeating the Demon Lord?

It overlapped with my own younger self—chosen as Saintess while still a child, filled with faith but also anxiety. My heart gave a heavy thud. This man was different. Different from any “Hero” I had ever met. Perhaps it was the Saintess’s intuition, but I truly believed it.

And yet… My discomfort with men, and the burden of my role as Saintess, prevented me from saying anything thoughtful in return.

“…May God’s blessing be upon you.”

“Thank you. I’ll repay this debt someday, I swear!!”

“…Yes.”

I spoke briefly and turned my face away. The truth was, I wanted to say more. Something like, “Please do your best,” or, “I’ll help you too.” But I couldn’t take that one step forward. His face was simply too dazzling. His eyes, trying to save the world not out of duty but out of genuine goodwill…

From that day on, a small thorn remained lodged in my heart. That thorn later transformed into a maddening, consuming love.

On my way back from an inspection of a provincial church, I was suddenly attacked by a high-ranking demon leading a horde of monsters. The knights protecting me were cut down one after another, and I was captured without resistance. 

The demon intended to use me as a “sacrifice” in a ritual to increase their power. Inside a decrepit temple filled only with demons and monsters, I could do nothing but despair.

“Somebody… Please… Help me…”

“Ha! What’s wrong, Saintess-sama? Isn’t God supposed to help you? Go on, pray harder, louder!”

Each time I screamed, the demon sneered. At first, knights and adventurers had tried to save me, but they were all slain by the overwhelming might of the demons. Eventually, no one came anymore.

“It looks like you’ve been abandoned! The humans decided protecting themselves was more important than saving you!”

“That can’t be…”

But I couldn’t deny it. In the end, I was just a woman with more magic than most. Those same people who once praised me, who once begged for my blessings, had no intention of risking their lives to save me. Even the rosary I had clutched all this time was now dirty, its shine gone.

“Ahh… What was the point of my life…?”

Following the Church’s orders, I had blessed Heroes endlessly, only to be abandoned and left to die. Tears spilled as I faced that reality. And I remembered the question I had always wondered.

If the Saintess is meant to save people, then who is meant to save the Saintess?

My holy power was sealed. My body trembled under the fear of death. Just as I was about to give up—

A young man leapt between me and the demon.

“Ha! What happened to your bravado? Isn’t God supposed to help you?”

“Yeah, that’s right. So God’s messenger—the Hero—came instead!!”

“Who the hell are you!?”

“Silvia! Now’s the time. Show off that forbidden magic you always brag for no reason about!”

The young man—Kazuki-san—called out behind him, and a beautiful elf girl appeared.

“Who’s bragging for no reason!? I’m a genius, of course I take pride in my power! Spirits of light, burn away the darkness!!”

As she cried out, magic circles spread across the ground, filling the area with light. I could tell instantly—this was a spell of purification. But its power was unlike anything I had ever seen.

“What are you…!?”

“No way! He’s still standing after Silvia’s magic!?”

Before my eyes stood the demon, battered and smoking from the spell, and Kazuki-san, completely unscathed. The monsters were already wiped out. He seized the chance while the demon clutched its wounds, pulled me into his arms, and retreated to regroup with the elf girl.

“Silvia, you’re probably drained from using all that mana, but please give her emergency treatment! Leave the rest to me!!”

“Yeah, yeah, I weakened him plenty. Don’t you dare lose!”

I used the last of my strength to interrupt them.

“No… This isn’t just any demon. He is one of the Four Great Demons—Glasya-Labolas!! No human can win…”

“Is that so? Even so… It’s a Hero’s job to save the girl who’s crying for help!!”

“But I am the Saintess…”

“Before you’re a Saintess, you’re just a girl!!”

“I am just a girl…?”

Tears overflowed. Those were the words I had always wanted to hear. Words that acknowledged me not as the Saintess, but as myself.

“Done with your little play-acting?”

“Yeah, you’re awfully kind to give us time to talk. Want to let us go while you’re at it?”

The demon sneered at Kazuki-san’s words, a grin like the devil itself twisting his face.

“My name is Glasya-Labolas! I love slaughter and I destroy all! It’s more fun to give you humans hope and then crush it!!”

“Bad hobby. Don’t people ever call you an edgelord? Bet your underlings hate you too.”

“Mock me all you want! I know you’re bluffing. That elf used all her mana already, and the Saintess’s power is sealed. You have no support left. I’ll kill you slowly in front of them, then take my time with the women!”

“Then all the more reason I can’t lose. Because I’m a Hero!!”

The battle that followed was brutal. Kazuki-san’s body was cut again and again. Blood spilled, bones groaned. Yet he never stayed down. Over and over, he stood, protecting us.

“Who… Who are you!? Why won’t you die!?”

“Haha… God gave me a cheat skill, see? Amazing regeneration, right? Though… Yeah, it still hurts, and if I push it too far, I’ll die.”

I could tell—he was telling the truth. It was only enhanced regeneration. He still felt the pain, and it had limits. But even so, he never faltered.

“Why…? Why go this far for someone like me…?”

“Don’t. You’d just drag him down if you join in, you know that.”

“But…”

“That guy… He can’t walk away when someone’s in trouble. That’s just who he is. A hopeless fool.”

The elf girl stopped me with a shrug. Yet her eyes carried unshakable trust. She believed he would win.

“Why… Why would you risk your life for someone you’ve only met once!?”

In despair, I cried out. Kazuki-san, bloodied, turned back and smiled reassuringly.

“Because I swore to become a Hero. And besides—you gave me your blessing, didn’t you? My benefactor is calling for help. Of course I’ll fight.”

“Kazuki…-san…”

That image overlapped with the Hero of the old tales I once admired. I remembered the fluttering excitement of wondering, as a child chosen as Saintess, what kind of person my Hero would be.

“Wasn’t that line cool just now? You can totally fall for me, you know.”

“Ugh, show-off… You’d better not lose!!”

The elf girl smiled despite her words. Seeing them, warmth flooded my chest. His wounded back looked larger and more precious than anything in this world.

Ah… It’s him. The true Hero I have been waiting for all this time.

After barely defeating the demon, Kazuki-sama collapsed in exhaustion. Crying, I rushed to him and poured healing magic into his body. With the demon gone, the seal on my power had been lifted. It was the first time I had touched a man’s body, but there was no disgust—only the desperate wish not to lose his warmth.

“Please don’t die… I beg you… Kazuki-san…”

“I’m fine. If nothing else, I’m sturdy. So stop crying, Saintess-sama.”

“I’m not the Saintess… I’m Celestia. Please, call me Celestia.”

I didn’t want him to call me Saintess. I wanted him to know my name. To know me.

“Ah, I see… Celestia. Man, calling such a cute girl by her name feels kind of nerve-wracking.”

“Kazuki…-san…”

“You called me by my name from the start, though…”

Silvia-san quipped at his joke, but I barely heard her. It was the first time being called cute had ever made me happy. And at that moment, I swore to myself. Supporting this Hero would be my life mission.

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“…Kazuki-sama.”

Gripping the cold railing of the balcony, I returned to the present. The vow I made that day still burned within me.

If Kazuki-sama wished for a harem, then I would grant it. I could never bear to see him sad. But those in his harem must be pure, devoted maidens who loved only him, and who were worthy of him.

“I must be the one to choose… Whether they are fit to serve in Kazuki-sama’s harem.”

Yes, I must also speak with Shinon-san. She too was saved by Kazuki-sama and gave him her heart. Perhaps we could work together… No. She was my greatest rival in love. We might cooperate, but I would never yield the seat of the legal wife.

“Fufu… Fufufufu…”

A smile spilled forth on its own.

Kazuki-sama… I will never let you go. You will remain forever protected, forever loved, inside this birdcage we have made—this cage called “love.”

“A harem for you… I will build it in the perfect form. But the legal wife… Will be me!!”

Her eyes burned not with the Saintess’s compassion, but with a dark and endless fire of possessiveness. Bathed in the moonlight, the Saintess’s profile twisted with ecstasy, shining with a dangerous beauty.

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