When I Maxed Out the Zero-Star Saintess, a Yandere Confinement Life with Overwhelming Love Began - Chapter 21

Chapter 21

Late at night, in the saintess’s private room on the top floor of the grand cathedral. The room, usually wrapped in serene quiet, was now filled with a heavy, overwhelmingly heavy heat of “love.”

Five girls sat in pajamas, forming a circle. The saintess Celesfia. Her shadow, the head maid Sizzle. The expert sniper Aira. The loyal dragon knight Vermilia. And the uninvited pink typhoon, Mimir.

“Now… let’s talk with Mimir joining us, making five. There are only seven days in a week. We will announce what we like about Lyle-sama, and the top two who get everyone’s agreement can have two days to monopolize Lyle-sama. Mimir, is that okay?”

“Hmm… No choice, I guess. Otherwise, I can’t do anything! Show me everyone’s ‘love’ for Lyle!”

Celesfia nodded with “Yes” and set down her teacup. She looked toward Lyle’s room with a dreamy expression.

“You call ‘a single customer service’ fate… but our love is not that shallow. Our love is a ‘bond’ woven through saving lives.”

Celesfia placed a hand on her chest and began telling how she met Lyle.

“Then, let’s go in order, starting with how we fell in love. Once, I was a bird trapped in the cage called ‘saintess.’ Everyone sought only my power, tried to use me up, and never looked at my own heart… But Lyle-sama freed me from an endless hell… He saved my life!”

A fanatical light shone in Celesfia’s eyes.

“He is my light, my savior… Until this life ends… no, even after it ends, serving him, managing him, and supporting him is my mission.”

It was gratitude and worship heavy enough to create physical gravity.

“…My love also exists with silence.”

Next, Sizzle adjusted her glasses and narrowed her eyes nostalgically.

“Once, I lived days covered in blood and gunpowder as an organization assassin. My body and mind were worn out, and I was about to lose my emotions when… I happened to stop by that used bookstore, ‘Crescent Moon Hall.'”

In Sizzle’s mind, the dusty smell of books and the sight of the owner dozing at the counter came back.

“The stillness in that store, like time had stopped. And Lyle-sama, who did not flinch at my killing intent and yawned while saying ‘If you’re browsing, be quiet’… There, for the first time, I learned to put down my weapons and find peace.”

“Eh… Sizzle, your previous job was an assassin!?”

Celesfia raised a surprised voice. The other three leaned forward with great interest.

“Yes, it was. I avoid that topic now because it shifts my focus. I’ll tell it later. After that, I visited many times to buy books for Celesfia-sama’s pastime. That peace he protected was my everything. I destroyed it… So now, I protect him and take care of him.”

“Eh, but isn’t that atonement? Is that love?”

“Mimir, no denials. Let’s listen to each person’s feelings.”

“Wow, the saintess said something saintess-like.”

Mimir’s free behavior calmed under Celesfia’s single glare.

Next to speak was Aira. She cleared her throat with a cough and sat up straight.

“…Hm. Master is my energy source.”

Aira muttered quietly. She stroked her stomach lovingly.

“Eh… You’re pregnant!?”

Aira grinned without confirming or denying. Seeing that, Mimir let out a scream-like voice.

“Aira-san, stop lying. Celesfia-sama and I monitor twenty-four hours. There’s no chance for seeding, right? Well… unless Lyle-san is too quick, maybe not.”

“…I lied.”

“What the heck! You scared me!”

“Hm… I was born with bad magic ‘fuel efficiency.’ Always hungry, no strength, abandoned by every party. But Master fixed my defect. He filled my empty stomach and magic circuits with delicious food and magic… With Master, I don’t get hungry. So, I am Master’s thing. I draw my bow only for Master.”

“Me too!!”

Vermilia leaned forward.

“Master gave new pride to me when I lost my clan’s pride and wandered the streets! Without him, I would have died on the roadside! For Master, I don’t care if this body turns to ash!”

Four different kinds of life-risking love. Salvation, healing, fulfillment, rebirth. It was close to “faith” that risked one’s entire life, not expressible with the lukewarm word “romance.”

Celesfia smiled satisfied and looked down at Mimir, backed by overwhelming “love history.”

“Do you understand? We were all ‘saved’ by Lyle-sama. That gratitude and bond is stronger than bedrock. …Do you think you, who met him only once, can win against this weight?”

The saintess’s question, certain of victory. The weight of accumulated time, stories of salvation. A newcomer without that should have no chance.

But.

“I see… Everyone was helped by Lyle!”

Mimir’s eyes (heart-shaped) teared up as if moved. Then she smiled brightly.

“Lyle really is wonderful! I totally get why everyone likes him so much!”

“…Yes, I’m glad you understand. Then next, each person’s favorite things about Lyle-sama—”

“But you know!”

Mimir did not back down. Instead, she leaned forward.

“I’m different! I never got helped by Lyle!”

“…Huh?”

Celesfia was stunned. Mimir puffed her chest and declared boldly.

“The moment I saw him in the used bookstore, it hit me like zap! I didn’t like him because he did something for me. I like him because he is ‘Lyle’!”

She took out the tattered point card and rubbed her cheek against it lovingly.

“No reason needed. No gratitude needed. Just the moment I saw those lazy eyes, my soul screamed. ‘I want this person’s sperm!'”

“Wh… Sp-Sperm…!?”

Sizzle was speechless. Mimir’s love skipped the rational process of “gratitude.” It was more primitive, instinctive, unavoidable impulse.

“You all like him ‘because he helped’ or ‘because he gave a place,’ right? So, if he hadn’t helped, you wouldn’t have liked him?”

“Th-That’s…!”

“I know even if Lyle was a demon king destroying the world or just a lazy person, I would still like him! Because this is ‘fate’!”

Boom!!

A huge pink aura exploded behind Mimir. It was a glow that crushed the logic of “gratitude” with the violence of “instinct.”

“Unconditional love… no, baseless love, you say…!?”

Celesfia shuddered. If their love was a “thick history book,” Mimir’s love was “the back of a flyer with only the conclusion scribbled.” But on that flyer back, absolute conviction was scrawled.

“It’s not about reason! Love transcends reason! So I’m number one!”

“Kuh… You don’t listen…!”

“…Hm. I won’t lose in love for Master… but this one, her thinking circuit is bugged.”

Aira showed wariness. Nothing is scarier than someone logic doesn’t reach.

“Ehehe, everyone’s ‘gratitude love’ is nice too, but my ‘instinct love’ doesn’t lose! Nice to meet you, love rivals!”

Mimir waved at the frozen four with a huge smile.

“Now! Tough talk made me sleepy! I’ll sneak into Lyle’s futon! It’s cold tonight, so I’ll be his hot water bottle!”

“W-Wait! That’s not allow—”

Booom!!!

Mimir ignored the stop, destroyed the wall with the window frame, and jumped out. She flew straight to Lyle’s room as a pink shooting star in the night sky.

What remained was the half-destroyed wall and the stunned strongest heroines.

“…Celesfia-sama.”

“…What is it, Sizzle.”

“Mimir… might be ‘purer’ than us in a way… though in the worst direction.”

Celesfia looked at the shattered teacup and let out a deep, deep sigh.

“I admit she is purer than I, a saintess… We bound him with gratitude and worship, but who knew a beast rampaging on ‘instinct’ would mix in… Lyle-sama, tonight I sympathize with you.”

Their “holy war” had only just begun.