Saint, You Should Quit Smoking

“Your Highness. You actually don’t have friends, right?”
“…”
After both Adela and Silvia refused to participate in the task.
I set out on a journey to the Boderod family with Rinet.
At first, we traveled by carriage from the academy, but soon we reached a path that couldn’t be traversed by carriage.
So the Saint and I got off the carriage and were walking to our destination.
Surrounding us was a vast plain. On both sides of the unpaved road we walked on, there were dense bushes stretching out.
Probably if we continue like this, we’ll first arrive at the village controlled by the knight family. After that, we’ll enter the family’s domain.
After walking for some time. Rinet opened her mouth to alleviate her boredom.
Except that the words she uttered were quite disrespectful.
I took a deep sigh and answered.
“What absurd words are those?”
“No. But look at the current situation.”
Rinet stretched out her delicate finger and pointed at me.
“Here. Your Highness.”
And then turned her finger to point at herself.
“And me.”
She paused for a moment, and then.
“Last time, you said the entire Special Class would join together and whatnot. But there are only two of us.”
“…”
She jabbed right where it hurt, quite sharply.
I closed my mouth, having no proper response. There was room to argue that I had failed to fulfill my duty as the class representative.
Rinet must have felt emboldened by my silence, as she displayed a cheeky smile. It was as if she had discovered my weakness.
“Ah- Your Highness, can you really handle this properly? I’m so worried~.”
“Hmm.”
Before responding, I glanced in her direction.
Rinet, as if not wanting to miss the opportunity, was chattering on about something more.
Naturally, my gaze was fixed on her lips, which moved without rest.
No. To be precise.
Inhale, exhale-
I was looking at the cigarette that never left her closed lips even as she continued speaking.
Moreover.
‘Hasn’t she been smoking continuously since earlier?’
Quite some time had passed since we got off the carriage and reached this point.
The fact that the time Rinet’s mouth spewed cigarette smoke vastly outweighed the time it didn’t was truly tragic.
“Saint.”
“-So. In the future, don’t recklessly claim to be the class representati… Huh? What is it?”
“I’m embarrassed to point this out, but please smoke in moderation. Your lungs are rotting.”
“…”
Rinet’s mouth, which had been chattering, immediately closed.
A red flush quickly rose to her cheeks.
“W-What are you saying! How can you speak such nonsense!”
She shouted at me in a shrill voice. Her jumping manner showed how extremely flustered she was.
But I didn’t stop speaking. After all, she too had persistently teased me about my failure.
There was no reason for me to be considerate of her situation. My tongue began to sharply point out her behavior.
“No matter how much there’s no one watching, I wonder how appropriate it is for a Saint to chain-smoke like this.”
“Ch-Chain-smoke, you say….”
“Since the cigarette smoke has been trailing behind you continuously, I’m deeply concerned that anyone seeing it would cause the Saint’s dignity to plummet.”
“…”
Rinet fidgeted with her lips. She seemed to want to retort but couldn’t find the words.
That’s inevitable. A Saint smoking is more reprehensible than my failure to bring the Sage and the Sword Star.
In the end, Rinet burned the cigarette butt with holy fire and significantly pouted her lips.
“Hmph! I can just stop smoking. Stop smoking.”
And she muttered quite discontentedly.
“This is my first free time in so long. Geez. There’s so much meddling.”
“What Saint smokes during free time? If children were to know this fact, they would be greatly shocked.”
“Heh. Kids would hate boring people like Your Highness more! Don’t underestimate me. Let me tell you, there’s a commotion every time I visit an orphanage.”
Bleh- Rinet stuck out her tongue, cutting off the conversation.
That appearance didn’t seem like a woman who had gone through an adult ceremony.
‘You’re the one who’s like a child.’
I inwardly smiled bitterly, briefly harboring an irreverent thought.
Anyway, I had adequately counter-attacked, and Rinet seemed upset. My tongue once again led the topic with a gentle tone.
“Why do you smoke like a fish taking to water like that?”
“What?”
“You must have been smoking secretly in the chapel as well. Looking at the Saint’s appearance, it seems as if you’re just waiting for others’ gazes to disappear.”
At my question, Rinet closed her mouth.
In fact, it was a topic I inevitably had to ask about.
The reason the Saint was treated as a problem child at the academy was originally due to her smoking habit.
Since smoking is the only blemish for her, who otherwise maintains her conduct as a Saint well.
I needed to know that to take a step forward toward my goal.
“…”
Seeing Rinet erasing her sulky expression and delaying her answer. It seemed she was contemplating whether to reveal some emotion in her heart.
After experiencing some internal conflict for a moment, Rinet’s mouth opened slightly.
“…I…”
Just as I was expectantly waiting for her to peel off a layer of her inner thoughts.
Kyaaak!
A tearing scream from a young girl.
Hearing that voice, both Rinet and I stiffened our expressions.
“Where is it…?!”
Although we heard the scream, we couldn’t tell the exact location. But if we delayed, we don’t know what might happen to the girl.
‘No choice then.’
I clicked my tongue and circulated the dragon’s blood in my veins. Immediately, the dragon’s blood gathered in my eyes, causing my pupils to split vertically.
I took in the colors of mana forming the earth and atmosphere. I turned my head toward the source where emotions were flowing out.
After confirming the place where mana tinged with fear was deepening, I immediately left words for Rinet.
“Saint. I’ll go ahead. Please follow and observe the situation before intervening.”
Then without waiting for an answer, I quickly moved from my position.
Dragon Blood Magic
Gliding on Grass
There’s not the slightest wobble in my feet as I cross the field. The secret to advancing as if skating on leaves, is the same as in my previous confrontation with the Sword Star.
But one thing that concerns me is.
-Loran. Remember.
That day when the dragon’s blood awakened. The words my father said to me.
-If you don’t use the dragon’s blood, there will be no issues with the rest of your life. I think that’s also a good method.
-….
-However.
In my father’s eyes as he advised me.
While worried about me, there was also a certainty that it would inevitably be so.
-As long as you are of the imperial family, this father guesses that situations where you must use the dragon’s blood will inevitably come.
-Yes.
-When that time comes, always remember.
The deep weight in my father’s last words pierced my lungs.
-Those who cannot control the blood are devoured by it.
“…”
Since coming to the academy, situations where I need to use dragon blood magic keep arising, and I wonder how it will turn out.
It’s an unknown aspect. But I can’t choose not to use it either.
Thinking about various things while sprinting through the forest for a while.
I arrived at the source where the scream had resonated.
“H-hic….”
There was a small girl crouching awkwardly. Her age would be around the time when one just starts to open books.
She couldn’t stand up as if the strength had left her legs, and her eyes were visibly wet.
And in front of her was a magical beast with dark brown fur.
Grrrr…
That tiger-shaped beast approached the girl step by step, baring its teeth.
Surely with this girl’s agility, she would have been caught by the magical beast quickly. Perhaps it was playing with its prey.
‘Typical of a magical beast.’
It’s the nature of magical beasts that enjoy hunting humans.
If left alone, the girl would suffer a terrible fate, but.
“Stop.”
I had no intention of allowing that.
“…!”
The girl’s eyes widened as she noticed me suddenly approaching. Eventually, tears welling up in her two eyes, she powerlessly whispered.
“P-Please save me….”
Grrrr…!
A ferocious energy swirled in the magical beast’s eyes. It seems displeased by the unexpected intruder who intervened just as it was about to enjoy its feast.
Its back, which had been overflowing with leisure, drew a curve. I could see the leg muscles of the magical beast contracting as it hunched forward.
It probably intends to rush at me and tear me apart with its claws in one breath.
‘Tsk.’
Even though I deliberately put power into my voice. If it’s so drawn to the taste of blood, it won’t back down.
I too infuse tension into my body’s muscles. While doing so, I turn my head. With a smile on my face that’s quite gentle for me, I addressed the girl.
“Child.”
“Y-Yes…?”
“What is your name?”
Perhaps it was an unexpected question in this urgent situation. The girl blankly opened her mouth.
Reassured by the gentle smile on my face, she somehow managed to answer.
“…Sophie. It’s Sophie.”
“I see.”
I take one step forward.
Now it’s a hair-trigger situation. In seconds, the magical beast will push off and present its claws to me.
If I get hit wrong, even I could be seriously injured. Since my own body can’t handle mana, I can’t strengthen my skin with magical power.
I can only touch the mana of others.
Therefore, I need to avoid the claws while approaching the magical beast at close quarters and placing my hand on it.
I gave one last word to Sophie.
“Sophie. Don’t worry. The kind of terrible thing you’re imagining won’t happen.”
“…”
“Since I don’t want a cute child like you to see blood, I’ll quietly subdue that fellow.”
“Really…?”
To the small, trembling response of the girl who seemed anxious at my words.
“Of course. Certainly.”
The moment I reassured her with a confident smile.
ROAR!
The magical beast lunged fiercely with a roar.
Boom! A savage sound of impact was heard, almost unbelievable for a living creature pressing against the ground.
Despite that loud noise, the magical beast’s movement was very agile, and in the blink of an eye, it was rushing right in front of my nose.
Whoosh! Its claws swung with the force to tear off my shoulder.
Whether I dodge to the sides or backward. It’s already too late once I’ve allowed the approach. Within the reach of the magical beast’s arms, my skin would be pulled, exposing the bone.
However.
I leaned forward, pushing my body in instead.
…?!
For a moment, the magical beast’s eyes wavered as if it hadn’t expected this response.
Would it have anticipated that there would be a human who would directly rush into the beast’s embrace?
But the point the magical beast was mistaken about was.
‘I allowed it intentionally.’
My pupils were dissecting the magical beast’s body in detail. Observing the mana flowing through its body and predicting its movements.
Without even blinking, I lured it to rush all the way to the front of me, and then I burrowed into its embrace.
The important point here is to never be intimidated.
It’s about maintaining composure even when death is right in front of you.
Now the only task remaining is one.
Dragon Blood Magic
Internal Energy Shattering Technique
I placed my palm on the magical beast’s navel. And then I stirred up the mana flowing through the magical beast’s body.
…!
A silent scream erupted from the magical beast’s mouth.
This magical beast wasn’t one that used mana.
However, mana flows through all living beings.
If that flow is reversed, it’s possible to tear and split the blood vessels and nervous system.
This was a technique I had also used on the Northerner before, but since I showed no mercy in my hand movements this time.
Grrrk…
The magical beast lay down powerlessly. It was hard to believe it was the same beast that had been raging fiercely just moments ago.
Bloody foam flowed between its sharp teeth, but it didn’t matter since Sophie couldn’t see it.
“Phew.”
I exhaled to dispel fatigue, and then turned my gaze to Sophie.
“It’s okay now.”
I smile gently again to reassure the child.
At such a young age, having experienced such a harsh ordeal. It wouldn’t be surprising if she burst into tears as soon as tension was released.
If that happened, she would need someone to comfort her.
Before I could confirm the child’s reaction.
“Your Highness!”
Rinet had already come running towards us.
Seeing her timely appearance, I felt relieved. It seems Rinet would be better at comforting Sophie’s mind and body than me.
“You’re here.”
“Haa, haa… Yes. So what happened?”
“There was a magical beast. It seemed to be targeting this child.”
I gestured towards the magical beast and Sophie with my chin. Understanding the situation, Rinet immediately inferred even the parts I hadn’t mentioned.
She immediately approached Sophie and extended her hand.
“Are you alright? You must have been scared. Come, don’t worry.”
Her loving smile was befitting of a Saint.
Especially for children who have fantasies about the image of a Saint. Even if they don’t know Rinet is a Saint, they would instinctively feel it.
That her character is exceptionally pure.
However, despite the extended hand, Sophie didn’t take it.
“…?”
Just as Rinet tilted her head to express her confusion.
The child stood up abruptly and shouted loudly.
“S-So cool…!”
“…”
The emotion contained in those bright eyes was, how should I say it.
Yes. It was ‘admiration’.
Sophie ran straight past Rinet and came running to me.
Then she immediately stretched out her small hands and grabbed me.
“Hey, hey! Are you a nobleman?! How did you do that?! It was so cool!”
“Hmm.”
While such fervent support certainly feels gratifying.
I glanced at Rinet.
“…”
Rinet’s white face was subtly vibrating. She must be shocked.
Who would have imagined that Sophie would completely disregard Rinet?
Unable to outwardly sigh, I swallowed it inside. Suddenly, Rinet’s words came to mind.
-Let me tell you, there’s a commotion every time I visit an orphanage.
‘Surely that’s not just her own perception.’
If it were, it would be a truly presumptuous reality.
For the sake of the Saint’s honor, I decided not to doubt that.