Slapstick Saintess
Training with Elisa officially began.
I recalled what Elisa had said when we first met.
W-wait, did you already notice...?!
That I'm slow, clumsy, and physically inefficient...
That I'm just a fat, useless lump...
Someone who's good for nothing...?!
So I kind of braced myself for it, but...
I didn't think it'd be this bad.
C-Captaaaain...
Please help meee... waaah...
Elisa lost to a training dummy.
While awkwardly swinging a flail, she got her wrist caught in the chain and fell over.
...Even after seeing it happen, I could hardly believe my own eyes.
S-someone, anyone, please save meee...!
Captain... Lady Alicia... Lord Gaph...
...Hang on, I'll get you loose.
Ow... My wrist's all red and swollen...
You're not very good at handling yourself, are you?
No...
I've always been like this. Even during relic expeditions, I always got stuck in narrow places or tripped over something...
The other saintesses avoided traps easily, but I was always the only one who triggered them...
So when I was chosen for the Journey, I worried a lot... and, well, I was right to.
Her phrase, "chosen for the Journey", caught my attention.
W-well...
...One day, the head priest called for me.
I'd dozed off during meditation, so I thought I was in trouble, but instead...
He told me that Lady Alicia had personally chosen me.
And then...?
S-so I...
I assumed that since Lady Alicia had chosen me, I had to participate...
...I see.
I-I was wrong, wasn't I...?! Someone as useless and clumsy as me...
I never should've joined the Journey... Even if it meant disobeying Lady Alicia's word...!
Th-that's not what I meant!
I tried reassuring Elisa that she was chosen because she had the qualities for the Journey, but...
Her anxious expression didn't ease easily.
A dream...?
Something like a support money goal, or gaining great power...
I forgot to ask her that back when we first met.
Th-that's absurd, Captain...!
With wealth or power... If I had any... I'd surely fall to temptation.
I'd become someone who eats steak every day and kicks pebbles on the road without a thought...!
...I don't see that as a problem, honestly.
But still... since I've joined the Journey...
I'd like to become someone who can at least be of help... to the Monolith Order.
To the Order?
Y-yes...
The Order raised me since childhood and taught me everything I know.
On my very first day of class, the priest who came to teach us told this.
"Endless doubt and inquiry are the truest path to Lord Gaph."
I was so happy that day. Learning something with my own hands felt so fulfilling...
...Oh! I-I'm sorry! I zoned out again without noticing...
I-I just thought... if I could somehow bring the power of the Star Savior back to the Monolith Order...
The Order would gain more recognition...
And u-unbelievers might finally come to truly believe in Lord Gaph!
Then... even someone as foolish and clumsy as me... might finally be of use to... the Order...!
Hmm...
Captain? Did I... s-say something wrong...?
F-for myself...?!
Ahhh... C-Captain, y-you shouldn't say things like that!
A saintess of the Monolith should never live for her own desires...
That's... That's the first step toward corruption...!
...
She might lack personal motivation, but her sincerity toward the Journey and the Order was unmistakable.
If that was the case, then I'll have to make sure she grows into a fine Savior.
For now, let's move on to another kind of training.
Okay...
I-I'll take care of the dummy.
Like this...
Careful, it might be heavy—
Nnngh... Hup...!
...Huh?
C-Captain? What's wrong?
Elisa, have you lifted heavy stuff before?
Her form and her grip were perfect.
Huh? W-well, I've carried heavy things a lot, actually.
The senior saintesses were always busy, so I often had to handle the physical work during relic digs.
H-how long?
At least... a few years, I think...?
...That explains it.
Clearly, Elisa possessed the talent worthy of being invited on the Journey, but she just didn't realize it yet.
And it was my role as Captain to help her see it.
That day, we devoted ourselves to basic training—running, jumping, and jump rope drills—to awaken her coordination and reflexes.