Chapter 03:
I snapped my head up.
Am I okay? Does this look okay to you?
Catching my breath, I shot him a glare full of silent curses.
But the man didn’t even look at me. He simply brushed off his clothes and stood up, then lazily pointed somewhere.
“The convent of the Grand Temple is that way. It’ll be a better place for begging. Goodbye.”
“H-hey!”
I reached out and grabbed for his clothes, but he avoided me with just one step.
Then he walked away as if he were simply out for a night stroll.
Even after he disappeared from sight, I remained there, arm still outstretched.
Whooo—
A cold wind, unfitting for the season, blew past.
Only then did I come to my senses and blurt out—
“…B-begging?!”
Looking down, I saw my clothes—stained with dirt and grass.
The hem was torn from earlier.
No matter how generously I looked at it, I couldn’t call this anything but rags.
“…Ha.”
I let out a hollow laugh, then winced at the pain in my knee.
Lifting my skirt, I saw a large wound.
I didn’t know whether it came from falling in the hallway or rolling down the hill.
When I checked further, my palms, elbows, and arms were all injured.
“…Let’s go back first.”
Yeah. I’ll think once I’m back.
I stood up with a limp and brushed the dirt off my clothes.
That’s when something sparkled near my feet.
I picked it up.
A silver badge.
“…Is this that guy’s?”
I narrowed my eyes and examined it, raising it slightly toward the light.
“Ugh.”
Pain shot through my muscles, making me groan.
Right. Let’s just get back first.
Suppressing the aches in my body, I headed toward the building in the distance as quickly as I could.
***
“…Mm.”
A yellow glow flickered over my eyelids.
When I opened my eyes, bright sunlight hit them directly.
Ugh. Blinding.
I shut them again, then slowly blinked until I adjusted.
Is it morning already?
Rubbing my sore eyes, I sat up. The sofa creaked and released a cloud of dust.
“Cough, cough!”
I waved my hand to clear it away.
Then I leaned back against the sofa and stared up at the ceiling.
It was yellowed, covered in black mold that looked like patterns on wallpaper.
Tracing the shapes with my eyes, I let out a laugh.
“Unbelievable.”
What even is my life right now?
In a single day, I got hit by a truck, possessed a novel, met the protagonists, ran away, rolled down a hill, got injured, and almost suffocated because of some random lunatic.
“…Oh, right.”
Something came to mind.
I opened my palm.
Yesterday, I had collapsed onto the sofa the moment I got back and passed out.
So now I finally checked my injuries—
“Huh?”
They were gone.
I hurriedly examined my arms and knees.
Smooth. No wounds. No scars.
“…What kind of nonsense is this?”
And it wasn’t just the physical injuries.
The strange pain in my heart from yesterday—when I tried to leave that room—was also gone.
Since yesterday… since that man covered my mouth.
Then… did he heal me?
“No.”
I immediately shook my head.
I had checked my injuries after he left.
Then… did this body heal itself?
I clenched and unclenched my fists, thinking.
The original story never mentioned anything like this…
And that wasn’t the only strange thing.
The saintess—who was supposed to be one of the highest authorities in the empire—getting slapped by the high priest.
This shabby room.
None of it made sense.
Did I miss something?
I carefully reviewed the original story in my mind.
First—the setting.
The Holy Empire, a theocratic nation.
Its political structure was unusual.
Under the Saint Emperor, who founded the empire a thousand years ago, there were two types of nobles:
Holy nobles (priests) and secular nobles.
Holy nobles couldn’t marry and held religious authority.
Secular nobles could marry and pass down titles.
But at the same rank, holy nobles held higher status.
Currently, the saint emperor was away on another continent.
Which meant the high priest—the second in command—was holding full power.
Until a year ago—
when the Saintess appeared.
“…Ah.”
That’s when it clicked.
“The power struggle.”
I slammed the sofa.
Dust puffed up as I grabbed my head.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
Not only am I the rival of the female lead…
I’m also the rival of the most powerful man in the empire.
“What kind of possession is this?!”
Grinding my teeth, I looked toward the light.
The badge on the table reflected sunlight sharply.
Squinting, I picked it up.
Knock knock.
“Saintess, are you awake?”
I quickly ran a hand through my messy hair.
“Yes, come in.”
Creak—
The door opened.
An elderly woman with gray hair bowed politely.
“I apologize for coming so early, Saintess. But I heard about the banquet…”
Bertha lifted her head—and froze when she saw my clothes.
“Did something happen yesterday?”
“O-oh, no. I just… fell on a hill.”
Better not mention Rexton.
I smiled casually.
After studying me for a moment, Bertha nodded and changed the subject.
“I’ll have the attendants prepare a bath and clothes. Shall I serve your meal afterward?”
“Yes, please.”
Then I glanced at the badge.
“Do you know what this is?”
“May I take a closer look?”
“Of course.”
I placed it in her hands.
She adjusted her glasses.
“This is the insignia of the Inquisition.”
“The Inquisition?”
“Yes. Officials of the Grand Temple receive insignias depending on their department. The chain, axe, and lily engraved here represent the Inquisition.”
“I see.”
I took it back and stared at it.
The Inquisition…
My thoughts raced.
The man from yesterday.
The situation.
The Inquisition.
Then—
…Could it work?
It might.
I turned sharply to Bertha.
“May I ask you a favor?”
“Of course, Saintess.”
“Can you get me some books?”
“…!”
Her eyes widened slightly.
“What kind of books?”
“Books about the temple’s organization and laws…”
I quickly added—
“And anything related to ‘witch hunts.’ Also, the profiles of all Inquisition officials.”
“Understood.”
Even though it was a strange request, she didn’t question it.
“I’ll bring them right away.”
“Thank you.”
I let out a quiet sigh of relief.
After she left, I collapsed onto the sofa.
“…Do I really have to go this far?”
I bit my lip.
This was a gamble.
But if a villain wants to survive—
Sometimes you have to do something crazy.
***
“How is the water temperature, Saintess?”
“It’s perfect.”
I answered calmly while letting Bertha support my arm.
Inside, I was panicking.
Helping with clothes was one thing—but bathing too?
I hadn’t experienced this since elementary school.
Still…
If I’m already planning something crazy, this is nothing.
“Ahh…”
I let out a satisfied sound as my muscles relaxed.
Bertha flinched, then continued scrubbing my arm.
Hmm.
I glanced at her.
Since yesterday, I’ve had a feeling—
She knows something has changed.
But instead of confronting it, she’s choosing to ignore it.
And quite actively.
I spoke casually.
“By the way… how many people have seen my face?”
Bertha paused briefly.
“…Your three personal attendants, the six who were present in the high priest’s office yesterday, and I.”
“Only ten people?”
“Yes.”
Really?
I narrowed my eyes.
Even in the original story, the saintess’s identity was revealed very late.
Even Rexton didn’t recognize her at first.
Still… this felt strange.
“Why is that?”
“As you know, the Saintess is described in scripture as ‘the reason for this world’s existence.’ Protecting your identity is only natural.”
“…Then what’s the real reason?”
