Saintess Awakening
After that day, Elisa shut herself in the library whenever she wasn't training.
I did everything I could to help her.
I-I did it...! A perfect presentation script...!
Once they hear this, everyone will realize the Aganon XXXXV relic isn't a weapon...
...But a machine that eats garbage!
Elisa cheered, waving a bundle of papers.
...A rather massive bundle at that too.
Th-this is already the shortened version...!
But I see... I need to persuade them with this, don't I?
I'll cut it down more—so even someone with Saintess Muriel's intelligence can understand it!
...Your tone's got a little harsher lately?!
Time passed...
...And that concludes my statement. Please give it your consideration...
...I did it, Captain!
It's done... I think this is concise enough!
Great work, Elisa!
I want to report to the Order and rest right after...!
You sure you're up for it?
Yes...! If I can save that poor relic from being wrongly reconstructed...
I'd gladly sacrifice... this worthless body of mine!
Uh, maybe don't go that far...
What?!
The head priest... already left for the ceremony?!
B-but the Sacred Restoration Ceremony isn't until the day after tomorrow!
That was the plan, but the forecast says it'll rain that day.
So they decided to hold it together with the New Year's festival today. Two birds with one stone, right?
I can't believe it... I've been holed up in the library and missed the news...
Th-then when does the ceremony s-start today?
Around now... I'd imagine...
*Dun-dun-dun*
Today...? Today...?!
Aah, I'm useless again. I'm always too late...!
The streets were packed with festival-goers.
We pushed our way through the dense crowd toward the plaza.
And so, by restoring even a fraction of Lord Gaph's holy body...
We hope to present a small glimpse of His divine glory.
Let us all welcome the Holy Vessel of Lord Gaph!
Huh? Is this a show or something?
It's the Monolith Order again. Probably another one of their fancy displays.
Might as well stick around and watch.
Ahhh... It's already started...
What should I do...?
Don't worry, you're well prepared.
R-right? I've got the script you helped me with...
So if I just read... read... it...?
Huh...?
...No way.
I-it's gone! The script...! It's gone!!
Where is it? Where did I drop it?! At a time like this...!
...Ahhh...
Elisa collapsed in the middle of the street.
...It's over.
I really am... just useless.
No matter how hard I try... I always fail when it matters most...
Finding it on the street was impossible as the place was packed with festival crowds.
But if it wasn't lost here, it might still be in the library or the Order building.
Buy me some time until I get back.
B-buy you time? How am I supposed to...?
E-even if I wanted to...
The script's... gone...
You wrote it yourself, didn't you?
Elisa is smart. She wrote down her script not because she couldn't recall its contents.
She wrote it down because she wasn't confident speaking offhand.
You remember what it said, don't you?
I do... but...
But... I'm such a clumsy... useless person...
Maybe... everything I wrote was wrong—
Elisa.
Y-yes, Captain?
A robot... vacuum... cleaner...?
C-Captain! Wait!
He left me...
...
...This isn't just my problem anymore.
It's for the Captain... and for the relic...
I have to handle this myself...!
It's okay, Elisa. Just say what you wrote... just like you practiced...!
E-everyone!!
Huh? 117th Saintess, Elisa?
So you even found time to join the ceremony—guess the Journey's been easy.
The next relic's actually one we collaborated on.
The Priest Council was quite pleased with our creativity.
Fufu, you remember. The idea to lure enemies with music was mine.
Ahhh... U-um...
What is it?
Th-that's wrong! That relic wasn't made for that purpose!
What did you just say?
You can't just say that now!
That's why I wrote a script... to explain everything...
You see... the lower structure, i-it doesn't have space for explosives, so...
117th Saintess, Elisa.
Is something so trivial like that really important right now?
...What? Trivial?
We're in front of the citizens. We've finally got their attention with our relic...
And now's the worst possible time to start second-guessing.
I-I'm sorry. But this relic is precious—
Saintess Elisa.
Father! Please listen to me...!
Normally I wouldn't interfere with the saintesses' discourse, but...
Now's not the time. There are too many eyes watching.
No, I have valid evidence—if we continue like this, the relic will—
The ceremony is underway. Speak your mind after it's over.
Hmph, so rigid. If you'd just stay quiet, this would all work in your favor.
But no. You just have to make a scene.
Wait! Maybe you haven't escaped the temptation of Ehror after all!
Ahaha, better run along and pray for forgiveness—
*Crack*
—up.
Hmm?
I-I said... Shut up...!
So that's where she left it...!
She must've forgotten in her rush to leave.
I grabbed the script and sprinted back out.
The festival crowd filled the streets, but I kept shouting apologies as I pushed through and ran.
Elisa, I found—
If you interrupt me one more time, I'll send you straight to the Big Cloud!!
Do you... even know... who you're talking to... right now...?
Y-you're the one who doesn't know what you're talking about, Saintess Illene!
Music? W-with that structure?
Anyone who didn't sleep through research would know that's impossible!
Be honest—you fell asleep during research, didn't you, Saintess Illene?!
What's going on?
Looks like things just got even more interesting!
Ngh...?!
Pfft...! Look at Illene's face turning beet red!
Great job, Elisa! You really put her in her place—
Y-you're no better, Saintess Muriel!!
Eh?!
Pink?! The only thing pink here is your head, S-Saintess Muriel!
With that cotton-candy brain of yours, no wonder you're still ranked 116th!
E-Elisa...?
S-Saintess Elisa...! What are you...!
Stay quiet unless you want your ankles blown off!
E-eek?!
You lunatic weapon addict…! You really can’t resist turning every relic into a weapon, can you?!
Try touching a relic with that absurd idea of yours one more time, and...
I'll use this one to blow your ankles off!
U-understood!!
Everyone, quiet down and listen to my theory!!
This relic!
It roams around gobbling up garbage like you! Because it's a trash can!
Elisa...
Ah... Lord Gaph...
I've... I've strayed from your teachings...
I interrupted the ceremony... and spoke anger instead of love...
...
Aah... So this... So this is how it ends...
Yes... I was born... a corrupted soul... from the valley of darkness...!
...So... as a fallen saintess, it can't be helped, can it?
I'll leave your side... and fall into Ehror's embrace...
I'll sit to Ehror's left hand... burn all the other saintesses at the stake, and build a new temple upon their ashes...!
A temple with no ranks, no bureaucracy...
Where I can study relics in peace!
Hehe... hehehe... I can see it... Ahh... so clearly...!
A paradise where I can bury myself in relics, free from all distractions...!
...Elisa!
Captain...?
Uh...
You were right, Captain.
After saying everything I wanted to say...
I f-feel relieved!
Y-yeah...
I looked around.
The members of the Monolith Order were pale from Elisa's verbal onslaught.
Meanwhile, the onlookers cheered wildly, thinking it was all part of the festival.
Surrounded by their applause, Elisa stood radiant with triumph.
...At that point, even I didn't know what to think anymore.
The now-useless script drifted away on the festival breeze, carried off by the crowd's cheers.