Elise spent the following week focusing entirely on her holy magic lessons.
The results were outstanding.
Even the supervising priest in charge of guidance couldn't hide his amazement at Elise's holy magic.
"Truly impressive."
The high priest beamed, gazing at the large flower blooming from the sapling.
"You've clearly put in a lot of effort. Your control over holy power has noticeably improved. At this level of mastery, even Archbishop Balua will surely give high praise."
"...Thank you."
Elise herself was surprised.
In the past, no matter how hard she tried, there had been almost no progress.
Yet over the past week, her handling of holy power had improved day by day.
'Why is that?'
That evening, after being harshly scolded by the archbishop, Elise strangely felt the burden on her shoulders lighten just a little.
It was odd.
Of course, she had been scared and humiliated at the time.
But deep down, an inexplicable sense of relief had washed over her.
The archbishop's angry tirade hadn't lingered in her heart as deeply as the warm advice from that nameless priest.
- 'You don't need to be perfect. Try loving even your own flaws.'
Just recalling those words made her feel like she could breathe again.
For a moment, she could forget her family's honor, the church's expectations, even her self-loathing.
Was it really okay not to be perfect?
Even if her inadequacies as a saintess candidate were laid bare for all to see, did she still deserve love?
Clutching that tiny spark of hope, the flow of her holy power smoothed out as if by magic.
The force she had once squeezed out unnaturally now rose naturally from her fingertips.
"...I can do this."
Elise clenched her fist tightly.
Her anxiety remained.
But she wanted to hold on to a sliver of hope, just a little.
Hope that the change happening to her now was something positive.
...At least, that's what she thought back then.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"...Heh, this is the stuff."
I shoveled stew thick with chunks of meat into my mouth, grinning in satisfaction.
Eating meat after so long was pure bliss. Thanks to the feast these past few days, my previously haggard body even felt a bit healthier.
"Academy life isn't so bad, huh?"
Sure, I was just a lowly priest, but thanks to some unexpected luck, I was living large.
Time to savor this rare feast. I'd enjoy the peace until the game's main story kicked off.
"Priest Leo, come with me for a sec."
Of course, that peace shattered in no time.
My supervising priest suddenly barged in and slapped a hand on my shoulder.
"...Priest Lowen, is something the matter?"
Lowen, the supervising priest I'd gotten friendly with after the donation incident, was a cheeky sort.
Given his age, his career path was probably blocked anyway, so he seemed content coasting on his salary and saving for retirement. He had a habit of dropping by out of nowhere to chat.
"Got somewhere to go together."
Lowen grinned.
"The cathedral's holding the monthly evaluation for the holy magic division students soon. How about you observe?"
"O-Observe?"
"Archbishop Balua's there too, so it's a good chance to show your face. Come on, time's tight."
"... "
Are you insane, human?
I barely swallowed the words rising in my throat.
Me, head to a place swarming with the original story's key characters?
'With the final black curtain himself, Archbishop Balua, there?'
Archbishop Balua.
The chapter 3 boss of Throne of the Academy.
A mad zealot so steeped in faith that he valued the gods above the world itself.
The catastrophe he unleashed wrecked the academy—a plot point so infamous even non-players knew it.
Me? I don't stir up trouble where there isn't any.
This was early chapter 1.
Even if Balua hadn't fallen to corruption yet, sharing the same space and air with a guy like that made me uneasy.
I clutched my stomach and put on a pained face.
"Uh... I think I have a stomachache..."
"Perfect timing. Drink some holy water at the cathedral; it'll settle right away. Let's go."
"... "
Every escape route blocked.
In the end, I was dragged helpless to the cathedral by Lowen's grip.
Unlike the modest chapel where I stayed, the grand cathedral was ridiculously opulent.
And it was already packed with a crowd filling the vast hall.
"That's a ton of people."
"All here to see the saintess candidate."
I nodded at Lowen's explanation.
'Saintess... name was Elise, right? Definitely a major character.'
If you picked the five most important characters in Throne of the Academy, Elise was one.
The continent's sole saintess candidate. She faced all sorts of trials early on but ultimately awakened to become the protagonist party's core supporter and emotional pillar.
Pretty and kind, she was super popular.
She took second in the dev's popularity poll, I think.
First was the princess.
"Lady Elise dominated last month's evaluation too, taking top spot in the division. Lots of folks here to watch again."
Her popularity was the same in this world, it seemed.
Well, who wouldn't flock to a pretty, demure saintess?
"Students corresponding to each number, step forward."
The evaluation began right on cue.
Holy magic division students in pristine white robes ascended the platform one by one.
The test was simple: sprout a seedling using holy magic.
Some managed just a sprout; others even coaxed out tiny buds.
But none drew the crowd's real attention.
It was only natural.
Everyone was waiting breathlessly for one person.
"Next, Elise Aurora de Lua."
Murmurs swelled around us.
Finally, it was her turn—the saintess candidate, Elise, gracefully ascending the platform.
'She's pretty, alright.'
Snow-white hair, golden eyes. Soft lips, modest gait.
Just looking at Elise made it easy to see why such a crowd had gathered.
"Begin the test."
Archbishop Balua rose from the head seat himself.
Unlike before, when he'd judged seated, he stood right before Elise and ordered a deacon to bring the potted plant for her test.
"...Huh?"
I narrowed my eyes.
The pot placed before Elise was blatantly different from the others'.
Theirs had live saplings; hers held only a completely withered, twisted trunk.
"You are the heir of House Lua and our next saintess candidate. Sprouting a single leaf like the others won't prove your worth."
Archbishop Balua spoke in a solemn tone.
"Make a flower bloom from this dead tree."
The hall fell deathly silent.
'What a jerk.'
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
No matter that she was the next saintess candidate, she was still a student. Blooming a flower from a fully dead tree was near impossible.
Yet a saintess needed miracles to turn the impossible possible.
At least, that's what the archbishop believed.
Elise hesitated briefly before cautiously extending her hand, gathering holy power.
Golden light blossomed from her fingertips—brilliant and potent enough to draw gasps from all.
"... "
But that was it.
Her hand radiated dazzling glow, yet the sapling showed no change.
It was only natural. How could one revive what was already withered?
That would require not a saintess, but an apostle of god.
Whoosh.
When the last drop of holy power was squeezed out, the light faded pathetically.
The dead tree didn't so much as twitch.
The silence blanketing the hall was sharper than any blade.
"Pathetic, Elise."
The archbishop murmured lowly.
From my view, I saw only her back as she stood on the platform.
But her trembling shoulders made her expression all too easy to imagine.
The archbishop bellowed for all to hear.
"The sole saintess candidate can't even perform this much of a miracle? Faith has grown lax, prayers empty echoes. What a lamentable state."
"... "
"Elise, this isn't mere personal sloth. Your failure stains not only House Lua's honor but the church's very authority. Everyone here sees you. They witness your inadequacy."
As he said, the crowd's gazes mercilessly poured onto the small girl on stage.
Elise stood still, taking every condemnation.
The archbishop continued his sermon, and Elise bowed her head deeply.
Her posture stayed rigid, but somehow her small shoulders seemed to shrink smaller by the moment. Was it just my imagination?
This went on for a while.
Whoosh.
Elise yanked down the veil over her head to cover her face.
She turned and fled the hall like she was running for her life.
The sudden uproar filled the air.
Yet no one moved to stop the fleeing Elise.
"...Hmph."
I scowled.
It was a spectacle miserable enough to sour my mood just watching.
Lowen apparently felt the same, patting my shoulder with a wry smile.
"Er... sorry about that, Priest Leo. These awkward situations crop up sometimes."
"...Isn't that too harsh?"
"Harsh, yeah. She's the saintess candidate, but barely past coming of age... Pity her, but what can you do? The archbishop has his reasons."
Reasons, sure.
The bastard planned to sacrifice her for the gods' return.
"...Tch."
I clicked my tongue.
Whatever. It had nothing to do with me.
Elise was a main character anyway. Left alone, she'd overcome it, team up with the others, and save the world like in the original.
That was enough gawking at someone else's fire. I made excuses to Lowen and slipped out of the cathedral back to my chapel.
Clack clack.
The sound of footsteps heading to the confessional came that evening.