Chapter 16: The Old Man Gets Hugged by the Saint

Apparently, the members of ‘Celesties’ haven’t noticed me yet.

Maybe that’s why they’re bad-mouthing me even more viciously than yesterday.

And I can’t help but feel their language is getting filthier, too.

So this, it seems, is what they’re truly like.

They seemed so much more modest when I first met them at the guild…

They must have just been putting on an act.

Oh, well… this is reality, I guess.

Sigh… I should just make a quick exit.

Confronting them now isn’t going to solve anything.

It would only make me feel worse.

That’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way over my many years of life.

In times like these, the best thing to do is ‘flee’…

I keep my head down and quietly scurry past them.

But… they notice me.

And for a moment, they look surprised.

But their expressions quickly return to normal.

I can’t help but steal a glance.

‘Got a problem?’

That’s the kind of look they were giving me.

Even I had a few things I wanted to say.

But… it can’t be helped.

This is real life.

No matter what a forever F-rank old man like me says, no one’s going to take my side.

Especially when I’m up against a group of up-and-coming young female adventurers.

Even if I make a valid point, everyone will just turn on me like they did yesterday.

Letting out a deep sigh in my heart, I ‘flee’ from the guild.

Just then, another woman hurriedly enters through the entrance.

“Ah… excuse me…”

I say reflexively, unable to get out of the way in time.

“Oh! My deepest apologies.”

The woman apologizes politely and gives a small bow.

Even her casual movements had an air of profound elegance.

From the looks of her clothes, she seems to be a sister from the Holy Church, but…

…with her aura, she strikes me as a young lady from a very distinguished family.

Still, what’s a sister doing in the guild?

As I’m wondering this,

“Huh…? Could that be… the, the Saint-sama…?”

“Wha… n-no way… why is the Saint-sama here?!”

“Still… she really is… so beautiful…”

The members of ‘Celesties’ are staring wide-eyed at the sister in astonishment.

Mira-san at the reception desk is also leaning forward, looking toward the entrance.

Drawn in, I too take another look at the sister.

The sister looks to be in her early twenties.

And yet, she has a very calm demeanor.

And she is… incredibly beautiful.

With looks like that, anyone, man or woman, would be captivated.

Then, the Saint, paying no mind to the stares around her, casually touches her waist-length blonde hair with a slender hand.

Even that simple posture feels incredibly refined.

It’s probably due to the aura she gives off.

Her blond hair, glittering in the sunlight, made her features all the more brilliant.

Her almost divine presence truly befits the name of Saint… or so I thought.

So this is… the rumored ‘Saint.’

Yeah… I can see why everyone makes such a fuss about her. She’s a magnificent woman.

But… I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before—

And so, I found myself staring intently at the Saint’s face.

The Saint glances over at me.

And then, for some reason, she continues to stare right at me.

And that’s how I found myself locked in a gaze with the Saint’s blue eyes.

The Saint’s eyes go wide, and then she furrows her brow deeply.

…Crap… I stared too hard.

Now she… the Saint… must think I’m some kind of creep.

I quickly avert my eyes.

I look down at the ground and try to ‘flee’ the scene, but—

“…Please wait!”

the Saint suddenly calls out in a loud voice.

Then, spreading her arms wide, the Saint blocks my path as if to say, ‘You’re not getting away.’

It was an act completely at odds with the demure and divine image of the Saint from moments before.

“U-um… i-is there—”

My voice cracks, caught off guard by the unexpected situation.

Next, the Saint inches closer to me as if to confirm something, and says,

“…That voice… that face… there’s no mistake.”

The Saint’s behavior is like… someone who’s finally found the culprit they’ve held a grudge against for years…

Did I… do something rude to the Saint in the past…?

No, that’s impossible… There’s no way I’d have any connection to a Saint.

But… looking at her now, I’ve got a really bad feeling about this.

As these thoughts run through my mind, I instinctively twist my body to back away, but…

There’s only a wall behind me.

The Saint is blocking the way forward.

I’ve been cornered, with no way to ‘flee.’

The Saint brings her face right up to mine, staring intently into my eyes.

‘I will not let you escape’… I could feel that strong resolve from her beautiful eyes.

Then, the Saint gets closer and closer, until she’s just inches from my face—

Hey… i-isn’t that a little too close…?

W-what is she planning to do—

“Ahh… I’ve missed you… I’ve missed you so much…”

the Saint says, and then, what do you know… she suddenly lunges at me…

The next thing I knew, my body was completely restrained by the Saint’s arms—

No, that’s not right… In other words…

Yes… for some reason, I was being hugged by the Saint.