Intrulde 2
My name is Lili. I was an ordinary village girl.
There’s a boy I love dearly.
His name is Rudy, a neighbor. He’s such a cute boy.
Really, he’s so beautiful and adorable!
His skin is fairer than mine… and his eyes are so clear.
Honestly, being childhood friends with Rudy makes me feel so lucky.
If he’d been born in a bigger village with lots of girls, he’d be insanely popular.
That’s why I’m always by his side. If I don’t, some other girl might steal him!
Even in our tiny village, I have a few rivals. But since they’re a bit older, I have the advantage.
Lately, though, Rudy hasn’t been himself.
We’ve gotten so close, and I’m practically his girlfriend, but he always seems so lonely.
He’s always kind to me, and he seems happy when we’re together. Yet, sometimes, he looks so sad.
When we turned twelve, I brought up the idea of getting married.
For some reason, he hesitated, but in the end, he agreed to our engagement.
Now Rudy is mine. Phew, what a relief.
We continued to spend happy times together.
But somehow, Rudy started looking even sadder than before.
Even with me by his side, he has this lonely expression.
Maybe it’s my weakness for him, but… I can’t help but be captivated by that fragile profile.
Time passed, and we both turned fourteen.
Tomorrow is the coming-of-age ceremony. We’ll become adults.
And our engagement will turn into a real marriage.
I can’t wait!
After tomorrow, we can get married anytime.
Knowing shy Rudy, he won’t propose.
So, I’ll do it!
Once we get our jobs, I’ll propose. It’s decided.
What job will I get? I’d love to be a seamstress. Rudy’s always tearing his clothes. He says he wants to be a hunter. To protect me, maybe?
And then, the fateful day arrived.
As hoped, Rudy’s job was hunter.
“Congratulations, Rudy! You got the job you wanted!”
But why do you look so sad? Why do you look like you’re about to cry?
“Yeah, thanks…”
“You don’t seem happy, Rudy. Oh, maybe you secretly wanted to be a knight or an adventurer?”
“Yeah, the job doesn’t really matter… as long as I can be with you, Lili.”
Oh no, my face is burning. That was a sneak attack, Rudy!
“Really? That’s kind of embarrassing… Thank you!”
Now it was my turn.
Like Rudy, I lined up with five other girls from nearby villages.
We received a piece of paper from the priest and prayed in sync with his staff.
Then, an angel descended… and came straight for me.
I knew what this meant. This happens when someone gets the Saintess or Hero job.
No… Don’t come… I don’t want to leave Rudy!
The angel reached out and embraced me.
After a moment, it left.
I stood there, stunned.
Why? Why me…?!
◆◆◆
“What a miracle! Lili—nay, Lili-sama’s job is Saintess!”
“Saintess!?”
I was surrounded by the priest and others, bewildered.
Being a Saintess is something to be proud of… I forced a smile, holding back my tears.
Everyone congratulated me, but when I got home, I cried my heart out.
Sobbing, I asked my parents to tell Rudy that our engagement was off.
They knew there was no other choice…
“Why did our daughter have to be the Saintess?”
I overheard my father’s words. My mother sounded sad too.
“Dear…”
With sorrowful faces, they agreed to do it.
For the next week, I pathetically watched Rudy from afar.
I didn’t have the courage to talk to him.
Then, Hero Kain came to fetch me.
From now on, I’d have to spend my life with this man… Would I have to abandon my life as a woman and my feelings for Rudy?
But I was wrong.
Hero Kain had someone he loved too.
“But I’m a hero, so I have to give her up! If I can defeat the Demon King quickly… and if she’s still single, I’ll propose to her!”
I told Kain about Rudy. He always listened quietly.
And then, I asked Kain for a favor.
In front of Rudy, I kissed Kain.
Rudy ran off, looking like he was about to cry.
“Was that really okay?”
“Yes. I want Rudy to be happy… If I didn’t do this, he’s so loyal he’d probably stay single forever.”
“Isn’t that what would make you happy?”
“He’s so popular! Without me, he’ll find someone else and be happy… That’s why.”
“I see. We’re both in tough spots, huh?”
I realized Kain and I were the same.
As our parting drew near, Rudy changed suddenly.
He became desperate to keep me from leaving.
I was overjoyed… If I could, I’d hug him tight. But I couldn’t.
To think that Rudy wanted me this much—it made me so happy.
But I’m a Saintess now. If Kain and I don’t fight, the world will end.
“I don’t care if you don’t love me… Just don’t go!”
(You’re that worried about me… If I could stay, I’d love you. If I can’t love you, there’s no point in being here.)
“You’re pathetic, Rudy. I’m disappointed in you. I don’t even know why I ever liked you. Get out of my sight!”
Saying words that went against my heart was painful.
“I’ll do anything, please, don’t go!”
I was happy, but I couldn’t respond. I’m a Saintess now.
Then Kain appeared.
He played the villain for me, insulting and hitting Rudy.
“You brought this on yourself, acting like that when you’re just a hunter. Don’t talk to me again. I don’t want to see you!”
“Truly, you’re the worst kind of man… Pathetic.”
Now you really hate me, right? Forget me and be happy.
“Lili… don’t go…”
I’m sorry for worrying you until the end.
Kain and I decided to leave immediately.
“Was that really okay?”
“I had no choice… If I saw Rudy’s face, I wouldn’t be able to stop crying.”
“Yeah… He looked like he was about to cry too.”
“Right.”
“Let me tell you, as a guy: He’s devoted to you. He’ll probably wait for you until he dies.”
“Really?”
“Then let’s defeat the Demon King quickly and return to the ones we love!”
“Yeah!”
That’s why I wanted to grow stronger as fast as I could.
I pushed myself beyond my limits.
Thanks to that, I could soon defeat regular demons with ease.
Then, a call for aid came through the Zamal Kingdom’s knights.
Honestly, I wanted to kill the lord of that small castle.
The lord of Ludor’s city hid who was attacking, fearing no one would come if they knew.
At the center of the ruined city stood Iron-Armed Mammon.
Since we’d encountered it, we had no choice but to fight… Other jobs might escape without being pursued, but demons never let Heroes or Saintesses go.
An immature Hero and an immature Saintess—we stood no chance.
Kain’s holy sword broke easily. His swordsmanship and magic were meaningless.
My barriers shattered instantly, and my healing magic couldn’t keep up with the onslaught.
Kain was no match for Mammon and was killed mercilessly.
Now it was my turn…
“Woman, I don’t enjoy tormenting females.”
I was stripped naked.
“As a Saintess, you’ve bared your skin before others. You’ve lost. Flee wherever you like.”
I’d given up on the one I loved, the Hero I accompanied was dead, and even if I escaped, my life was over. Even if I survived, I’d be violated by goblins or orcs, or captured and assaulted by bandits… And even if I escaped that, what kind of life awaits a Saintess who fled?
So…
“Mammon, I challenge you to a fight.”
“Then die.”
Mammon sees humans as insects. It kills cruelly but doesn’t defile.
To it, humans are bugs. In the past, a beautiful princess tried to seduce it to spare her life, but Mammon said, “No human would embrace an insect,” and killed her.
At least my dignity as a woman would be preserved.
Mammon killed me mercilessly, without resistance… More than the pain, I just… Rudy, I want to see you…
◆◆◆
When I opened my eyes, an endless white void stretched before me.
Is the ground made of clouds? Or mist?
Where am I?
“This is the Heavenly Realm.”
A beautiful woman with golden hair and translucent skin.
She didn’t seem of this world.
“Who are you?”
“I am the Goddess Ishtas. The one who made you a Saintess.”
“A Goddess!? I never wanted to be a Saintess!”
“I know. Neither you nor Hero Kain wanted this… I’m sorry!”
For a Goddess to bow so sincerely in apology…
But…
“An apology doesn’t fix anything.”
“You’re right… So, as atonement, I’ll grant you one wish.”
“Any wish?”
“Yes. Hero Kain went to be with the woman he loved.”
“You can do that?”
“Of course. But without a body, he’ll be reborn as a child near her.”
“…Just being near isn’t enough. I wanted to marry Rudy and live happily with him!”
“Then wait for him to come to the Heavenly Realm. Then you can both be reborn together.”
“Is that okay?”
“Mammon is like a glitch in the demon side. No ordinary Hero or Saintess could ever hope to defeat it. This is my atonement for sending you into an unwinnable fight.”
“Then, please.”
“Wait here until he arrives! As a bonus, I’ll let you watch his life. Who knows, he might marry someone else!”
“That’s mean for a Goddess!”
I received a crystal from Goddess Ishtas-sama to view Rudy and looked into it.
No way, why are you doing that? A hunter like you, hunting monsters? Is it because of me?
Even after I treated you so horribly, you still care for me…
“He’s incredible. A mere hunter, yet he’s as strong as a holy knight. This shouldn’t be possible.”
“My Rudy is amazing, isn’t he?”
“Indeed! Why didn’t he come up as a Hero candidate? I don’t understand. His strength surpasses Kain’s by far.”
Why are you trying so hard? Why do you look so sad? Is it… because I’m gone?
“I see now. His incredible willpower drove him to hunt monsters relentlessly. He probably grew strong for you. He’s surpassed the plans of gods and evil gods alike.”
No… You’re going to fight Mammon? Why?
“You know why. To avenge you. His determination is astonishing. But it’s impossible. A hunter’s job can’t win. Even a Hero couldn’t.”
“Be quiet!”
Rudy, you really…
“He took Mammon’s eye, despite being a hunter. Incredible… Such tenacity. No Hero or Saintess ever managed to wound it.”
That’s how you fought.
“Truly, it’s his wisdom. But he’s lost an arm, and his rifle is gone. This is as far as he goes. It’s a shame.”
“Be silent!”
Rudy’s still fighting! He’s fighting so desperately! And this Goddess just…
Why can’t I be there? If I were, I could heal him.
“Incredible, he broke Mammon’s horn. Something no Hero or champion could do, and a hunter did it. Unbelievable. But this is the end.”
“I want to go to him, now! I want to apologize… I want to heal him… I want to comfort him!”
“Very well, go to him. That was a fine display. Comfort him.”
“Yes!”
With Goddess Ishtas-sama’s permission, I leapt through a gap in the Heavenly Realm’s clouds.
It felt like such a long detour.
Rudy, battered and broken, lay gazing at the sky.
You think I didn’t love you? How could that be?
I love you so much.
“You think I don’t love you? That’s harsh, Rudy… I came all this way to meet you…”
Rudy looked straight at me.
With a shocked, tearful smile, he gazed at me.
“Lili… Is it really you?”
“Yes, I’m sorry… And I love you, Rudy.”
“I love you too, Lili… Don’t go anywhere.”
The words I’d longed to hear.
“I won’t. I’ll stay by your side forever, Rudy.”
I threw myself into Rudy’s wounded chest.
◆◆◆
After Lili left, Goddess Ishtas pondered alone.
“It’s strange. An ordinary human, a mere hunter, pushing a Heavenly King to that extent? It’s impossible.”
Mammon is an anomaly. No one in this world can defeat it yet.
“For the next Hero, I’ll issue an oracle to avoid Mammon and fight the Demon King directly. Rudy must have been a guide. I didn’t realize.”
Rudy, I’m grateful to you.
Now, live happily with her in the peaceful world the next Hero will create, as a ‘hunter’ and a ‘seamstress.’
Mammon’s soul is too powerful, surpassing even the Demon King.
My Heroes likely can’t defeat it.
But Rudy showed me the possibility.
Someday, surely, a second or third Rudy will appear.
A human who can defeat even Mammon… will surely come.
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