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Translator: penny
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Proof (1)
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Hespania Mountains, midway up the slope—the Sun Church headquarters. I strolled along the outdoor corridor, basking in the still-perfect sunlight.
Normally, I wouldn't be up this early.
But today was worth it.
The second-quarter evaluation exam for the saintess candidates, announced earlier. A test of skill based on handling Holy Stones.
"Yawn..."
I let out a short yawn and stretched, arriving at the exam hall at a decent time. I claimed a spot and plopped down.
Even on exam day, saint candidates and saintess candidates had different schedules.
No reason for me to worry just yet—
'Though I don't really need to be here either.'
Still, in this barren saint and saintess training ground, she was my one and only acquaintance.
Outcasts like us had to look out for each other.
We were always itching to tear into one another, but in moments like this, we'd lick each other's wounds. That was the weird bond between Lete and me.
That's why I'd skipped my lie-in and dragged myself out here early in the morning.
My eyelids felt heavy from drowsiness, but I'd stick around to watch the exam.
Because today—probably, no, almost certainly—something was about to turn the entire Sun Church upside down.
I narrowed my eyes slightly and gazed intently at the exam site, now underway.
Indoor seating where I sat, and the wide outdoor clearing for the test.
In the center, where a dozen girls gathered, I locked eyes with Lete for a moment before scanning the whole venue.
Holy Stones are classified by size: small, medium, large, and extra-large.
Sure, there are rare cases with immense power despite small size, but generally, bigger meant stronger.
And here for the second-quarter exam, Holy Stones of all sizes were laid out.
Candidates picked one themselves to test with...
"Whew."
Obviously, choosing one beyond your ability meant seeing blood.
A few saintess candidates had greedily picked ones mismatched to their skill and ended up with the lowest scores.
I clicked my tongue at the girl who'd just chosen a large Holy Stone and bombed.
Her face pale as a ghost, on the verge of tears. Red hair, red eyes—Dorothy, was it?
I couldn't peek at the proctor's scoring sheet, but with that control, she'd be lucky for a D.
'Why push yourself like that?'
She'd done everyone a favor, serving as a fine cautionary tale for the class.
Most others aimed high by handling small ones flawlessly or nudging mediums decently.
The exam seemed set to wrap up smoothly, no major incidents.
But then—
—
"..."
Lete Heresia, current top candidate based on prior exams.
By coincidence, as the last in line, the atmosphere shifted when she stepped up.
She glanced my way—briefly, so quick only we'd notice—then stood before the Holy Stone.
A platinum boulder about the size of a person's head.
An 'extra-large Holy Stone' that, in holy spells, could rival a decent explosive from my past life.
—Is she serious?
—No way...
Most saint candidates watching, like me, exchanged stunned looks. The saintesses too.
"What's with Lete? Why's she doing that?"
I glanced sideways at the sudden voice.
Lustrous purple hair, clear eyes. A young girl in a revealing saintess robe.
Eliya Ruben.
She'd finished early with a high score and flowed back inside, naturally taking the seat next to mine.
"Even so, extra-large? Not even large? Quantity and quality of Divine Power aside... how's a girl with half— no, a quarter—my control gonna manage that?"
"Don't sit so close, Ruben."
"...Always so cold."
I gave her a bored glance. Eliya pouted and glared.
"Your attitude toward me never changes, Evan. Aren't you worried at all? Weren't you and Lete pretty close...?"
"What on earth made you think she and I are close? I'm genuinely curious."
Close? We were lucky not to flip each other off every time we met.
I let out a short, dry chuckle and refocused on the exam.
Ignoring the worried stares, Lete placed her hand on the Holy Stone.
I tilted my head slightly, then on a whim, murmured:
"Watch closely."
"Huh?"
Eliya turned to me puzzled, but I said flatly:
"From now on... none of you saintess candidates will even catch up to her."
"...What? No, what do you—"
As Eliya's cherry lips parted in shock—
, ...
I lightly pressed a finger to my lips. She shut up. Her startled gaze shifted to Lete.
'Second place is still second, huh?'
I smiled silently. The immediate reaction meant Eliya sensed Lete's changed aura.
And that anomaly would soon spread to everyone here.
Something tickled pleasantly. Hard to explain, but perhaps the petty thrill of being the only one here who knew Lete's change first.
Or more—the thrill that I caused it.
'What a great personality.'
Guess I was still a kid at heart. Thrilled over something so trivial.
Anyway, Lete exhaled lightly, and the change hit instantly.
"──."
The moment water-like Divine Power, misty as fog, rose from her whole body.
!!
Not just the extra-large she'd touched—dozens of stones across the site shot up simultaneously.
Straight into the sky, overwhelming platinum light bathing everyone, perfectly aligned to her will.
"Wha...?!"
Eliya beside me widened her already-big eyes even more.
Excluding me, she was closest to Lete.
She knew her power well enough to be extra shocked. And that normally, this should've been impossible for her.
Her sharp mind would draw its own conclusions.
Eliya's eyes twitched in disbelief for a while, then her shoulders jerked.
Most around were fixated on Lete.
Only she snapped out early. Eliya stared at me, eyes twice as shocked.
The one person here not panicking, shocked, excited, or tense.
Flip it around: the one most directly linked to Lete's change.
"Y-you, y-you-you. You, no way...?"
Eliya reacted like she'd heard oil and water mix.
Pupils shaking like an earthquake, hesitant finger pointing at me.
Soon, her clear purple-tinged eyes flicked down to my crotch.
Without meeting my gaze, she asked:
"...D-did you... do it?"
"..."
Answer, or stay quiet?
I pondered briefly, but it didn't matter.
Either way, it'd come out soon enough without me saying.
I sank deeper into the chair and replied.
"We took each other's firsts, that's all. Lete got mine, I got hers."
"...!!"
Eliya's face twisted like she'd been hammer-struck from behind.
Shock froze her small mouth open, body rigid.
Then she stared obsessively at my groin. Precisely, my crotch.
"...Why stare so hard again? You slutty Ruben bitch."
"..."
Despite my blunt scolding, Eliya stayed silent. Eyes trembling steadily, then she collapsed into her seat.
"...?"
I floated a few question marks over my head, and soon she wailed pitifully.
"I-I was gonna claim it first! Evan, that tasty-looking virginity of yours...!"
"...What? What did you just say?"
"A crack in my perfect bucket list—ugh, ahh!?"
My face paled as I shot up. Eliya, lunging to cling, flopped limply into empty space.
Despite smacking her forehead hard, she looked up at me with manic eyes.
"N-now that it's like this, at least let me have your second time—mmph!"
"...You crazy bitch."
I grabbed her lunging face roughly as she tried to latch onto my pant leg.
Cheeks squished in my grip, yet she whimpered passionately despite muffled.
"Phha...!?"
Struggling to free her lips, beaming earnest eyes at me.
What was she so desperate to say?
I waited briefly, curious.
"Fuck me too! It'll feel amazing!"
"..."
"...Guh, mmph?!"
I regretted it instantly. One hand clamped her jaw; the other summoned red Divine Power.
"Time for your spanking today, Eliya."
"...O-oh. Finally calling me by name... Wait, no. Hold on, you're really gonna hit me? That fist looks pretty dangerous."
-!
"...!? Ow, eek! You actually hit me...! How could you hit meee?!"
"Ugh, seriously."
As she geared up to cry, I smacked her crown again.
"It hurts, it huuurts...! Okay, okay, stop hitting! I might die!"
She clutched her head, teary-faced. I sighed deeply.
What to do with this slutty mess... I seriously wanted to gut-punch her.
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