When I Maxed Out the Zero-Star Saintess, a Yandere Confinement Life with Overwhelming Love Began - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

“Long time no see, Lyle! I came to pick you up♡”

On top of the rubble from the destroyed main gate. The pink-haired girl turned her sparkling sky-blue eyes toward me. It almost looked like her pupils had physically changed into heart shapes. Was that just my imagination?

Her name was Mimir. She was a playable character, as usual, but I should not have had any real connection with her up to now.

“…Uh, who are you?”

I asked honestly. Then Mimir slapped my shoulder hard over and over while saying, “Oh, come on, you’re such a shy boy!”

“You’re pretending not to remember! That day, in that shop, we made a ‘vow of fate’ together!”

She pulled a tattered piece of paper from her pocket and shoved it right in front of my nose.

“Look! See? Just like I promised, I brought the marriage registration!”

I cautiously looked down at the paper she called a “marriage registration.” It was a point card with a familiar store name written on it and a rough thumbprint stamped on it.

“…Ah.”

My memory came back. About half a year ago, on a day with pouring rain, she had burst in and bought twenty copies of a book called “How to Use Blunt Weapons.” Pressing the stamp twenty times had seemed like too much trouble, so I had dipped my thumb in ink, pressed it on, and handed it over with a casual “Here you go.” She had been a one-time customer.

“Remember now?”

“…You’re that ‘bulk buyer’ from back then!?”

“Yes! On that rainy day, you gave me this, Lyle! So… I immediately understood it was a proposal that meant ‘I’ll devote my entire life to you’!”

“No, that’s wrong!!”

I retorted with all my strength.

“That was just me ‘cutting corners’! I only did it because stamping was too much hassle! Besides, we’ve only met that one time, right!?”

“Yes! It was our ‘one meeting of fate’!”

Mimir refused to listen. She rubbed her cheek against the point card with a dreamy look.

“Normal couples go on many dates to confirm their love… But we’re different. With just one glance, just one conversation, we swore eternity to each other! This is ‘true love’!”

“You’re so positive that we can’t even have a conversation…!”

As I held my head, Mimir said, “So, where’s the venue? Where’s the priest? Should we start with the vow kiss? Oh, there’s the saintess right here!” and puckered her lips as she leaned in.

Sizzle reached for her knife, Vermilia growled low in her throat, and Aira started to nock an arrow. At that moment.

“Oh my. It seems quite lively here.”

A beautiful voice, like the ringing of a bell, cut in. When I turned around, Celesfia stood there with a smile full of compassion. There was no black aura behind her. She acted like the perfect “saintess.”

“Oh dear, a dirty winged insect… No, it seems a rare guest has arrived.”

“Ah, Saintess! Nice to meet you. I’m Mimir, Lyle’s fiancée! He fell in love with me at first sight, so I pushed my way here! Would you be a witness for our marriage?”

Mimir greeted her innocently while twisting the facts. Celesfia did not move a single eyebrow. She walked over gracefully and slowly held out her right hand.

“Fiancée, is it. …Calling a single customer service interaction fate shows you have quite an optimistic mind. How about a handshake as a greeting?”

“Wow! Thank you! Let’s get along!”

Mimir gripped the hand without any suspicion.

Grab.

In that instant, the air in the grand cathedral warped.

Crunch, crunch, crunch…!!

A terrifying sound echoed. Was it the sound of bones creaking, or the space itself screaming? Veins bulged on Celesfia’s arm, and the ground around her cracked with small snaps from the force she was putting into her stance.

(Ugh… That’s Celesfia’s serious ‘grip strength’… )

My face paled. At four awakenings, Celesfia had monstrous strength that could tear monsters apart with her bare hands. If someone normal got gripped like that, their hand would not just shatter—it would turn into mince and disappear… or so it should have.

“…?”

Celesfia’s smile twitched slightly.

“Ehehe, your hand is really warm, Saintess!”

Mimir stayed completely calm. She showed no sign of pain, and not even one finger trembled.

“A handshake really lets feelings come through! I can feel your ‘congratulations’ tingling!”

Mimir started shaking the hand up and down vigorously. The force was so great that Celesfia’s body almost lifted off the ground from the centrifugal force.

Mimir was a “tank” type character specialized in defense. Even without awakenings, her physical defense was considerable.

“Kuh, let go… Let go, you delusional woman…!”

“Eh? Harder? Got it!!”

Mimir’s handshake sped up. Just as Celesfia’s real personality started to show, Sizzle finally stepped in to help.

“…That’s enough. Guest, the saintess will get dizzy.”

“Ah, sorry! I just got too excited!”

Mimir let go with a snap. Celesfia staggered back, rubbed her reddened hand, and glared at Mimir with eyes that said she could not believe it.

“My attack… did not work!?”

A crack formed in the saintess’s pride. But Mimir did not sense the hostile air at all.

“Saintess, look forward to the bouquet toss at the wedding! Oh, first we need to move in, right?”

“M-Move in…? You’re going to live here?”

“Yes! Starting today, I’m living here too! It’s only natural for a married couple♡”

Mimir sent me a huge wink, yelled “I need to plan the new home layout!” and leaped over the pile of rubble before disappearing into the grand cathedral.

What remained was the half-destroyed entrance, the saintess still in shock from losing at a handshake, and Sizzle, Aira, and Vermilia trembling slightly while building up killing intent.

“…Lyle-sama.”

Celesfia spoke to me with a mask-like smile, but her voice was low.

“Starting today, we will strengthen the night watch. I absolutely will not let that pink-head into the bedroom.”

“…I agree. Let’s set deadly traps in the hallway.”

“…Hm. Kill on sight.”

“If I may be so bold… I will help with fire too, Saintess.”

I looked up at the sky. I never imagined that cutting corners once in customer service would create the world’s greatest misunderstanding. I felt like going back in time to punch my past self.