The Saintess Improvement Project
Training continued slow, but steady.
Elisa was timid and a slow learner, but once she mastered something, she never forgot it.
I decided to add a small routine to her practice.
Y-yes, Captain! Just a moment...!
Here—this one, right?
Huh?!
N-no, that's not true!
Being tall just means bumping into things... and getting stared at everywhere...
But it helped just now, didn't it?
Y-yes, but still...
Ah... Y-you really think so? He... Hehe...
Ah, um...!
E-excuse me!
C-Captain, about the training curriculum you asked me to organize... I've done it like this...
I wasn't sure if someone as clumsy as me... should even touch your documents, but...
I-I hope I did it right... even a little...
N-no, it's not!
It took me longer than others... and it's not that well-written...
A-ahhh...
E-excuse me, Captain!!
After that, I made a habit of asking for her help and complimenting her whenever I could.
It was a small attempt to help Elisa recognize her own strengths...
...
...Elisa?
...Y-yes... Captain...?
Why are you wearing that armor again...?
Th-th-th-that's...!
I-I don't know...! But... but lately...!
I can't... even look directly at you anymore...!
...Why?!
...It seems like my plan backfired...
W-why? Because I can't stop... thinking about you...!
Last time, you said my height was a good thing...
And then... you said I was good at organizing documents, too...
...Hehe...
...!! Aah! No, no! A pure saintess shouldn't be smiling while thinking about a man's face!!
I-if I keep thinking these indecent thoughts... I'll really fall... I'll become a corrupted saintess...!
I-I... I have to calm myself...!
I'm a saintess... a faithful servant of Lord Gaph...
I'll cleanse my heart... with Lord Gaph's sacred words...!
Grant us ever-pure hearts that we may not stray...
Deliver us from the temptations of Ehror and Bugg...
Of Ehror and Bugg...
...
I wonder how the Captain's doing...
...Ah?! Again! Another impure thought...!
Okay, let's calm down again...!
Shine light upon the darkness and reveal the righteous path...!
The righteous path...
That leads to the Captain—wait, that's not right...!
Deliver us from the temptations of Ehror and Bugg...!
Deliver us from the temptations...! Of Ehror and Bugg...!!!
...Huh?
Temptations... of Ehror and Bugg...?
The temptations that test me... that draw me away from enlightenment and light...
The... one... tempting me and leading me astray!
Which means...
The Captain... is actually...
The sworn enemy of Lord Gaph, the demon of the eternal abyss...!
Is he Ehror... himself...?!
...So, you're saying the Captain might be the demon Ehror?
I-I-I'm not saying I really believe that, but...
Still... wouldn't your judgment... be more accurate...
Than a triple-digit saintess like me, Saintess Illene...?
Hmm...
...Keke.
I think you're right. The Captain definitely is Ehror.
S-so it's true! I knew it!
Think about it. When did those impure feelings first start?
R-recently?
Liar.
Eek!
You felt that way... from the very first moment you saw him... didn't you?
You wanted to keep looking at him.
Maybe... even touch his hand...?
I-I-I-I'd never have such indecent thoughts!
Your suspicion was correct, Elisa. The Captain is indeed Ehror.
I-I can't believe it... Then... what should I do now...?
Fufu... who knows? You'll have to think about that yourself.
Go on, take your time.
Aaah... Lord Gaph... Please guide me...