Grand Sacred Relic
Hello, Captain.
My dream is to one day carry on the name of the Star Savior.
I look forward to working with you.
...
Huh...?
So I made a decision.
I would learn how to smile, and teach her.
That way, she can have her wish.
Is this a dream...?
I'm not thrilled about using my abilities for something as petty as making money...
But since we've already set the stage, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to give you a taste of the real deal.
Bring them all in!
Today, I shall pull back the veil and reveal the other side of fate!
When did this happen...?
Captain!
Captain, come on out—quick!
Today marks the start of the [Journey]!
Are you... talking to me?
Of course! Who else would it be?
Hurry and follow me! Your first Journey member is waiting!
...Ah, right.
I'll be right out.
That's me!
Eek!
W-whoa, you scared me...
What's wrong, Captain?
Did you have a nightmare or something?
That's not what's important right now!
Captain! You screamed out of nowhere, and my ice cream fell over!
It comes in tiny batches, only sold 30 servings every day at Cafe Strega...!
Even in a negative outcome, there's always a silver lining.
A dropped ice cream becomes an excellent protein source for ants.
Do you think I stood in line all day just to feed ants?!
Luna's question is a paradox.
If you'd foretold the ice cream's fall, the incident wouldn't have happened.
If you didn't foresee it, you're not an oracle.
Which leads to the logical question.
Is Luna really an oracle?
Grr...!
What, do you think oracles just sit around fortune-telling all day...?
*Sigh* Anyway, it's fine. I still have the last spoonful.
...Nom!
Now you don't.
Aagh! What did you just do?!
How could you lap up my last bit of happiness?!
...
Captain, you don't look well.
Are you all right? Should we call it a day?
I feel like I had a strange dream...
But I can't remember what it was.
Wait! Just now, I saw a vision of the future!
The Captain collapsing from overwork!
To avoid that terrible fate, we should wrap up training here and let ourselves rest!
Meet in the morning for ice cream, then take the rest of the day off?
Luna, you know...
We only let you join the Savior Party because you begged, and now you slack off every day, you know that?
That's an exaggeration, Asherah. It's not every day...
Barely five days a week...
That's every day except weekends!
I've had enough!
Tonight we're doing all-night training! Skip again and you're out!
Termination papers ready.
...
Well, I guess there's no helping it.
If you say so, then I guess I'll just have to roll around the training grounds all night.
W-what? You're agreeing that easily...?
*Sigh* What a shame.
Today just happens to be the performance of [Star Savior and the Seven Witches]...
W-what...?!
You mean, the romance play about seven witches who had a crush on the Star Savior...?
Wasn’t that the one the NOA Performance Review Board banned last year for being too suggestive...?
Are you talking about that legendary show?!
The troupe protested for freedom of performance, so the ban was lifted.
But... Oh well.
We're model Saviors, so of course we'll [train] all night.
Right, Asherah?
...
S-sens—
Hmm? What was that?
Sensory training!
That's right, watching visual materials can be a great training method!
So just this once, let's go see it!
Asherah... Sinking... Disappointed...
S-so, what do you say, Captain?
Sure, let's all go watch it together.
Really? Thanks!
You're the best, Captain!
Tickets for popular shows likely sell out fast.
Hehe, leave that to me!
I know a scalper who can hook us up...
This way! Over here!
Don't dawdle and hurry up!
*Huff* *Huff* I-I'm sorry, 116th Saintess Muriel.
I-I'm sorry that I'm just... big and swinging all over the place...
S-so jealous...
Huh...?
Stop babbling and look over there!
Huh? Oh, okay! But... where?
Over there! Those people sitting in front of the cafe!
Do you see the sword that person in the middle has?
What about the sword—o-oh...?!
Th-that sword... Is that?!
Heh heh heh! Well? Do you believe me now, hmm?
Yes...!
That mysterious material... The ancient runes engraved on its surface...
Th-there's no doubt!
That's the grand sacred relic recorded in the Monolith Order's scripture...
Yes, the sword that pierces the stars... the [Star Piercer]!
No one knew where it had gone, but... here it is!
116th Saintess Muriel!
With that sword, reaching the single-digit ranks won't just be a dream.
Every time 97th Saintess Illene bragged about being in the double-digit ranks, it made my blood boil...
Rank 97! She's barely any different from me!
The long years of oppression are over...
Once I'm a single-digit saintess, I'll put you in charge of washing my underwear, Illene...!
A-as expected, you're amazing!
Such overwhelming ambition... that a lowly being like me wouldn't dare to imagine!
I-I can't help but admire seeing that side of you...!
116th Saintess Muriel!
Will you quit it with the "116th" already?!
I-I'm sorry... 116—
I-I mean, Saintess Muriel...
Now then, you know what we have to do next, right?
Uh... um...
Offer a prayer of praise to you for discovering the grand sacred relic...?
Th-that's... also important, but...
First, we have to get our hands on it before we can do anything.
R-right!
Even if it's in the hands of strangers, the will to take it for your own advancement...!
That's so you, Saintess Muriel! Cold and ruthless in your resolve!
W-when you put it like that, it makes me sound awful...
I, the 117th Saintess, Elisa!
Will devote my body and soul to carrying out your will, Saintess Muriel!
W-wait! Stop!
Huh? Yes?!
What are you going to do just rushing in without a plan...?
Well... Since the 116th Saintess Muriel, the hope of humanity and the future of the Monolith Order, needs that grand sacred relic, I thought I'd politely ask him to hand it over...
Like that would work!!
Oh, it wouldn't...?
I guess I'm just a fool with nothing but heavy boobs...
If only I'd been tiny but wise like you... then I could have been more useful to the Order...
Who are you calling tiny?!
You've been doing this on purpose, haven't you!!
W-what are you saying, 116th Saintess Muriel...?
I've never once thought anything so disrespectful as thinking you are tiny, like an ironing board, or eating twice as much as others but still looking underdeveloped...
I've never had those thoughts! Not even once!
...
F-fine... I get it, so just drop it...
Anyway, I have a plan, so just follow my lead.
Got it?
Yes, understood, 116th Saintess Muriel!
...Wait for me, grand sacred relic...!
The Muriel of the Monolith Order will be taking you!