I tried to kill time nearby until just before our appointment, but there was something I overlooked.
This outfit I always wear is obviously a Saint’s Robe, which makes it clear that I’m the Saintess. I was the only one allowed to wear this outfit in the entire Church, so no one could just be wandering around pretending to be the Saintess.
Especially since I was the Saintess who appeared after 50 years, and although it wasn’t my intention, I had become widely known through various media recently, which made it even harder for anyone to impersonate me.
Well, it might be possible if there was someone who looked a lot like me. After all, I didn’t have an entourage like the Pope or the President. I didn’t drag the entire Knights around with me except for official events, since having too many people trailing behind made it so cumbersome to move around.
…Well, to be fair, I felt like there were already several hidden guards around me without me even realizing it.
Every time I showed signs of recognizing or suspecting them, they seemed to change those hidden guards regularly, making it more difficult to spot them as time went on.
I figured they were considering my character, which tends to feel incredibly uncomfortable around unfamiliar people, especially when I only wanted to go around with just Linea and Aurora.
Anyway, getting back to the point.
Even without dragging crowds, it was impossible to avoid attention; my face and attire were too well known. Plus, both Linea and Aurora were in their Nun’s Outfits, and Aurora even had the symbol of the Saintess’s assistant on her chest, so it was inevitable that people would stare at us.
Fortunately, no one approached me like a famous actor or idol asking for an autograph. The type of fame I had wasn’t quite that type. To someone who had never met me in person, I might come across as, I don’t know, not very approachable, if you catch my drift.
Like, they’d think that if they approached me wrong, they’d end up in the Inquisition or something.
No matter how much the influence of the Church had waned over the years, that vague illusion and fear that non-believers had regarding the Church sometimes proved useful.
Of course, that didn’t stop people from taking my picture with cameras or smartphones.
The Academy and this place weren’t that far apart. The Academy was also in the city center, and so was this place, making it a walkable distance.
The problem was, I had never stepped more than a ten-minute walk away from the Academy.
Naturally, people living or working around here found me to be a fascinating sight.
Click!
I was sucking on a straw at a cafe when I heard that noise. It sounded not like a camera shutter but rather a deliberately exaggerated, artificial shutter noise that came from a smartphone. When I looked over, a guy was hurriedly putting his phone under the table, as if he hadn’t expected the sound to be that loud.
“…”
I wondered where that photo would be used. Perhaps he’d post it on his social media today? Show it off in a group chat with friends or pass it around at a party? Or maybe…
Tock!
I realized that dwelling on it wouldn’t bring any pleasant thoughts, so I set my Americano down on the table with a tock.
“…Should we ask him to delete it?”
Linea leaned slightly towards me, whispering.
“No, it’s fine; that guy’s not the only one taking my picture. There have been a ton of others snapping photos since a while ago. I’m sure many are using apps without shutter sounds. If we zero in on just him and ask him to delete it, we’ll hear all sorts of complaints!”
Well, ever since I joined this world, I hadn’t been searching for articles or posts about myself, so unless some ludicrous situation occurred where he somehow got my contact information to send me the photo he took, I wouldn’t give it much thought.
First and foremost, talking to a stranger was uncomfortable. They were just a random person to me anyway. Plus, if I kept responding to each one, others might start doing it on purpose and increase those attempts…
…Is this called “Celebrity Syndrome”?
“Sigh.”
I let out a small sigh.
“Let’s just go to the meeting place and wait.”
Although there was still over an hour left until our appointment, at least if I was inside the Association building, I wouldn’t have to endure this uncomfortable scrutiny. After all, the heroes here were mostly famous individuals. They weren’t much different in popularity from actors, singers, and idols. Of course, the way people see them seemed to differ slightly from how they viewed celebrities.
It felt more like the kind of popularity a ridiculously handsome or beautiful firefighter or policeman might get when they excel at their job and appear on broadcasts. In any case, it was a somewhat unfamiliar feeling for someone who transitioned from another world.
It didn’t really matter to me since I had no intention of avoiding it.
In response to my words, Aurora and Linea both nodded vigorously and stood up. While most of the cameras were aimed at me, it was perfectly normal for the two sitting beside me to end up in the frame too. Plus, both of them had looks that ranked high even within this world’s beauty standards. It wouldn’t be surprising for them to face some bothersome situations like I was.
Thankfully, it was just a plastic cup. It’s better than leaving my drink behind, right?
*
The building of the Hero Association oddly resembled a fire station.
The rectangular 15-story structure had no special decorations, and the first floor was practically an enormous garage.
The cars parked between the supporting columns jutted out from the building’s exterior in a rather haphazard fashion.
Unlike a fire station where fire trucks and ambulances would be parked, the vehicles here were all different. There were menacing-looking, all-black vehicles that resembled fire trucks, along with transport trucks that looked like they could carry a special unit, similar to what one might see in movies. There were also regular sedans and SUVs.
The variety of vehicles was likely because heroes needed different kinds of vehicles when they went out on missions. Some might have to stake out in plain sight with regular cars, while others would need vehicles to break through or rescue people. It wouldn’t be surprising to see a few helicopters on the roof either.
Despite the impressive name of the Hero Association building, not many people were wandering around. Well, that made sense. By the standards of this world, the place felt somewhat like a combined fire and police station, so there was no real reason for anyone to want to go in. After all, there were far better places for appointments in the city.
Still, it allowed me to enter the building without running into anyone. Most of the heroes probably were out on their missions, as there didn’t seem to be many people inside.
Notably, the lobby was on the third floor. The first floor was essentially a parking lot, and the second appeared to be where personnel were waiting for deployment. I wondered if they had holes and openings connecting to the first floor like a fire station.
Despite its rough exterior, the lobby was quite well-designed. The neat, somewhat pale LED-lit interior resembled a dental office that had been recently constructed.
“Saintess?”
Something in the entrance area startled a guy sitting nearby to stand up and ask, as if he hadn’t expected me to come at that time. He had short blond hair cropped like a sports cut at the bottom, which was neatly combed back with a 2:8 part that gave off the vibe of someone who had just started working at an office.
It seemed that he was responsible for guiding guests in the lobby. He quickly stood up and tugged on the hem of his dark navy suit jacket a couple of times to smooth out the wrinkles from where he had been sitting. A lock of his combed fringe wobbled somewhat precariously, threatening to fall down at any moment.
“Hello.”
Having frequently encountered people who were surprised to meet me in various locations, I was able to greet him somewhat naturally. As I bowed my head, I could sense Aurora and Linea mimicking the gesture behind me.
“Have I arrived too early?”
“Ah, no, it’s fine! The Association Head has been preparing since the morning. There’s no special agenda, so you won’t have to wait for the Saintess.”
Despite his somewhat stiff appearance, he spoke smoothly and confidently, indicating that he might have quite a bit of experience working here.
I wondered if he was a hero too? Though he was guiding guests, it seemed he probably wasn’t one. Then again, just because it was the Hero Association didn’t mean everyone working there had to be heroes or heroines. It would be a waste of talent to have those who could be deployed in the field tied up with administrative tasks, especially in a world where demons were actively battling and special crimes committed by those with abilities sometimes occurred.
“This way, please.”
After a brief chat, the man seemed to relax and let out a soft breath that was so light it was almost unnoticeable, covering it with his voice.
Following the guide, we arrived at the front desk on the edge of the lobby. Beyond the desk, a friendly-looking young woman had been watching us and smiling. Unlike the rigid salesperson smile, it was a warm, natural one. Judging by her demeanor, she likely had more experience than him.
The woman had a neatly trimmed black bob, and considering how people in this world often looked younger than their actual ages, she seemed to be in her early thirties. Taking that into account, she could even be in her mid-thirties. At the very least, she looked slightly older than the man.
Her well-structured features looked somewhat familiar.
“Saintess, hello! Are you here for your appointment?”
Even though her voice sounded entirely new, it was incredibly friendly.
“Uh, yes. I have an appointment with the Association Head…”
“Understood. Please wait a moment.”
As I quietly watched her lean against the desk, consistently maintaining a friendly tone of voice, I realized something.
She wasn’t sitting on a regular chair; she was in a wheelchair.
The hand rest was visible on the back of the chair, and the large wheels caught my eye. Unlike the women often seen at desks here who would wear skirts, she was in pants, so I couldn’t see what kind of injury she had on her legs.
“Everything’s confirmed. The Association Head said he would meet you without delay, regardless of when you arrive, so you can go right in.”
As she spoke, she handed me an access pass. I placed it around my neck. The blue strap held a white card that read “Visitor” in English. Although it had a barcode, it didn’t seem to be a formal ID as there was no photo printed on it.
“Of course, we trust the Saintess, but it’s a principle to obtain permissions one by one. Given the nature of the Hero Association, safety comes first, so I apologize for any inconvenience.”
“Oh, no, it’s okay. It’s a rule, so it should be followed.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
She spoke respectfully and then said to the male employee standing behind us, “Then, please.”
“Yes, understood.”
The male employee responded promptly and didn’t guide us… instead, he approached the desk where the young woman sat. When I turned my head, I saw that she was smoothly maneuvering her wheelchair backward from her spot.
The male employee took a seat in the empty space and adjusted the chair that had been shifted to the side, sitting at the desk.
“The time you were supposed to arrive aligned with the shift change for us. The person who was supposed to take the desk was the one who would guide you, but… the schedule ended up shifting a bit.”
“Oh, did I perhaps disrupt things by coming early?”
When I asked, concerned that I might have inadvertently changed the schedule by arriving early, the young woman shook her head.
“No, not at all. This is our working time anyway. There won’t be any setbacks in the schedule because of you, Saintess. Besides, there are no other visitors today. When there aren’t any visitors, there isn’t much work for those at the desk either.”
Though I thought it was odd that the staff sitting at the desk weren’t taking on other duties when they weren’t at the desk, I didn’t want to argue or question the consideration shown by the staff, so I just nodded.
“Senior, you’re doing great.”
“Yes, thank you.”
She exchanged greetings with her colleague who was sitting in her place and adeptly maneuvered her wheelchair, leading the way down the hallway. The wheels of the wheelchair rolled smoothly without making any noise.
“Are you curious about what happened to me?”
She suddenly asked as she caught me looking repeatedly at her wheelchair, causing me to jump slightly. Aurora and Linea, who were beside me, seemed equally taken aback. It felt as though we were caught doing something we shouldn’t have. They were probably thinking the same way.
“Hehe.”
The employee returned her gaze to the front again and chuckled softly.
“I used to be a heroine too. I mainly operated on the battlefield.”
“Ah…”
So she must be a war casualty.
“Most of the administrative staff working in this building are individuals who were once heroes but can no longer continue for various reasons. Of course, that doesn’t mean everyone who has stopped being a hero works here. It’s part of the support from the Association.”
Ah, I see.
It’s providing employment for those who can’t continue to work physically after getting seriously injured while fighting as heroes. While they might receive a pension, that might not be enough to live comfortably, especially for young people who still have many years ahead of them.
“So, what about that guy from earlier…?”
“He’s probably like that. It isn’t polite to ask fellow employees about their reasons, so I don’t know the details.”
“…”
“I lost my legs. People who operate on the battlefield often experience such incidents. Of course, I have prosthetics, but… they still feel very awkward. However, my arms are perfectly fine.”
The employee raised her arms, showing them off. There were some small scars, but as she said, they didn’t seem to restrict her from using them. The wheelchair she had pushed earlier was now rolling forward in front of her.
Grabbing the wheels once more, she continued speaking.
“Did you know? You’ve actually met me before, Saintess. I’ve been told that I owe my life to you, though I don’t remember it at all.”
…Huh?
“…Ah!”
After rummaging through memories for a while, I finally recalled her face faintly.
She was the heroine lying unconscious in the medical room when I went to the battlefield. The one who had lost both legs. I had used my Holy Power to cure everyone there, but creating new legs was a miracle, and I hadn’t been able to do that since I had been occupied with battling the witch at the time.
Her expression now was somewhat different from when she was lying down with her eyes closed. After all, I had only seen her briefly and hadn’t talked to her, so it was natural I didn’t recognize her immediately.
“So the story I heard was true. I thought it was just something the hospital staff said to console me.”
“…Um, about that…”
I was at a loss for words. I never expected to meet her again like this.
“I didn’t have a chance to express my gratitude at the time. Thank you. Thanks to you, I’m living this second life.”
“Ah, yes…”
Stuck in a state where I didn’t know what to reply, I ended up mumbling my response. However, she didn’t seem to mind, merely smiling softly.
“I was very despondent at first… but thinking of it as the life you gifted me when you hadn’t yet been canonized changed my perspective. In retrospect, I actually have more personal time now than I did when I was a hero. I’m taking rehabilitation when I can and have started exercising again. For now, just upper body workouts, but I’ve developed personal dreams.”
As she spoke, she slightly moved her legs. The emaciated structure hidden beneath her pants stirred a bit. It was probably her prosthetic leg beneath the missing part.
“I’m aiming to become a track athlete.”
And she said that while looking up at me with a bright smile.
“My second dream is to represent the 21st District in the Paralympics. It’s a dream I wouldn’t have been able to have if I hadn’t survived. Once again, truly, thank you.”
What was I supposed to say?
Wow, that’s fantastic! Thank you for staying alive, and please continue to shine brightly. I only did what was natural; I’m more grateful that you risked your life for others.
Many phrases popped into my head, but not a single one found its way out of my mouth.
“…”
Seeing my expression, she smiled widely again and finally stopped her moving hands.
The wheelchair came to a halt before a door.
The Association Head’s Office.
That was what it said on the door.
She positioned her wheelchair beside it and knocked on the door with her right hand.
“Come in!”
A soft voice called from behind the door.
“Then, I hope you have a great time with the Association Head. He’s a wonderful person. I’m sure you’ll have a great conversation together.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
As I replied, she turned the doorknob, opened the door, and moved her wheelchair backward.
“…Thank you.”
I bowed my head once more, and along with a solemn expression from Aurora and Linea, we entered through that door.
Even as we went in, she wore a bright smile, genuinely pleased to see me again.
