Chapter 03
Two years ago, on the day of the Academy graduation ceremony.
The day everyone but me graduated, leaving me all alone.
Why! My grades were the best, my attendance was perfect! Why am I the only one who can’t graduate?!
Is it my fault they rejected my additional student loan because I had no guarantor? Is it my fault I’m an orphan with no family?!
Why do I even need money to graduate in the first place?!
This damn world!
Just go bankrupt already!
I was clinging to the Academy gates, sobbing while hugging the giant statue of God at the entrance, when—
Flash!
…Huh?
The statue suddenly burst into light.
Crack, crumble—
“Waaah!”
The part of the statue’s robe I was holding shattered in my hands.
By my strength.
Yes.
That’s how I ended up with this bizarre, inexplicable super strength.
The problem is… touching a sacred statue is illegal.
The fine is a whopping 100 million gold—2.5 times the Academy’s entire development fund.
That’s why I hide my strength.
If it were a normal level of strength, I would’ve used it to make money, but this? This is clearly abnormal. What if someone gets suspicious?
“But what does that have to do with anything?”
Don’t tell me they’re making me the Magic Saintess as punishment for breaking God’s statue?
“Or do they think since I broke divine property, I’d also be good at stealing?”
The dog gave me a sidelong glance full of judgment.
“For generations, the Magic Saintess has always been both a magician and a saint. Someone who could use both mana and divine power.”
To purify evil with holy power, heal people, and also unlock doors with magic and escape pursuers—
Magic + Saintess.
“But as Seraphina knows, all magicians disappeared hundreds of years ago.”
“Right.”
“But Seraphina has super strength instead! Power bestowed by God!”
The Maltese panted excitedly.
“So maybe God chose Seraphina as a candidate for the next Magic Saintess from that moment!”
“Aha…”
“Plus, you’re the right age! And you’ve got stamina!”
“…Oh.”
Requirements for a Magic Saintess
Kind heart (X)
Sense of justice (X)
Strength (O)
Physical stamina (O)
Cannot be too young — no child labor
Cannot be too old — no elder abuse
Well… if she’s supposed to jump around day and night living a double life, it does make sense you’d need someone with good physical abilities.
As I accepted that, the Maltese barked boldly:
“That special power must be used for the world!”
“Sure… the world’s messed up.”
But still.
“I don’t want to.”
“Huh? You don’t?”
“No. I don’t.”
I straightened the dog’s slipping backpack strap and spoke clearly:
“Justice is nice and all. But is it nice enough to sacrifice my body for? No.”
Work all day at the boutique dealing with customers from hell, then run around at night doing vigilante nonsense nobody recognizes. When am I supposed to rest?
“Look.”
I pointed at my room.
“As you can see, I’m poor. I don’t have a family.”
If I get injured or screw up and need a lump sum of money, my life is over.
“That’s why I plan to enter the Imperial Palace. Secure a salary, pension, and retirement.”
I’ll need to study for that. If I fail because I was too busy playing hero, will you take responsibility, dog?
What if I end up working part-time at the boutique until I’m forty, and they finally stop hiring me—am I supposed to beg under a bridge? Who’s going to praise a ruined life?
“People devote their lives to the world only when they believe the world won’t throw them away.”
I refuse to save the world at the cost of destroying my own life.
I can’t even save myself right now—what world?
Re: Rejection
Jec: Absolutely rejected.
“Let people who have spare lives save the world. Not people like me who’ll splatter the moment we slip.”
Academy fund debt, boarding house rent, civil service exam fees, everything.
“I’m already barely keeping afloat—”
KNOCK KNOCK!
“Whoa.”
What now? I turned toward the door.
BANG BANG!
“Dog, did you call someone?”
“No.”
BANG BANG!
“Senior? Are you inside?”
Arden.
My junior.
“No! No—I’m here!”
“Alone?”
“…”
Technically, I wasn’t alone. I was with a talking dog…
As I hesitated, Arden’s voice grew sharp.
“Are you unable to respond due to current circumstances?”
“No! It’s just—”
“I’ll break down the door.”
“W–wait! I’m opening—!”
I flung the door open.
Arden, scowling, stared at me.
“Hi?”
He scanned me up and down and snapped:
“Why are you talking to yourself so loudly past midnight? I thought someone broke in.”
“Sorry…”
“And why did you take so long to open the door?”
“Oh, a dog came into my room!”
“A dog?”
His expression froze. He looked inside.
His green eyes skimmed over my cramped room, scattered books, and the dog on the bed.
The Maltese pretended to be mute and panted innocently.
Then—
“Grr.”
“…”
“…”
I’m gonna lose my mind.
Arden’s grim face.
The dog’s anxious eyes.
Me, stuck between them.
“GRR!”
Please stop!
Arden frowned deeper.
“You…”
“You?”
“You live in a pigsty.”
“…”
“Clean your room. Seriously. As a human being.”
“…”
He was more concerned about my mess than the growling dog?!
“Your room is such a dump that even a dog wandered in.”
“…I’ll clean.”
“And wash the dog.”
“Yes. Thoroughly.”
“You planning to keep it?”
“No, it has an owner. It’s leaving.”
“Then take out that trash on the floor. At this rate, it won’t be dogs—you’ll attract cockroaches.”
“This building already has— never mind. I’ll clean.”
Then why are you here?
“You were worried about me?”
He stiffened.
“I wasn’t worried. Breaking and entering is a crime, so I came to investigate.”
“Oh.”
“I don’t worry about people. I have neither blood nor tears.”
“I see.”
“If someone drops dead in front of me, I still won’t worry. Got it?”
“…Please worry if someone dies.”
“Anyway. Be careful. The world is dangerous. Don’t open your door without checking.”
“I opened it because it was you?”
“You trust me?”
“Yeah.”
“…”
“…Should I be careful anyway?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
If someone looks suspicious, punch them first. I nodded solemnly.
Arden seemed done lecturing, yet didn’t leave.
He hesitated, then pulled out a portable quill. Keeping his body far away, he stretched his arm toward the dog and scratched its head.
Scratch scratch
The dog tilted its head.
As if asking, You’re petting me? It took a step closer—
Arden immediately jumped back.
“…”
“Take this.”
He shoved the quill—now contaminated by dog contact—into my hands and left without hesitation.
Click.
“…”
“…”
The Maltese, whose fur was sticking up, asked:
“What’s that weird human?”
“My junior from the Academy…”
He lives right above me. I’m Room 206, he’s 306.
Why he still lives here even after becoming a Royal Knight, I don’t know. This place is far from the palace.
Is he broke like me?
Impossible. Knights get paid well. He probably wasted it all on handkerchiefs. Tsk.
“Your junior? That’s it?”
“What else would there be?”
I turned around—
The bed was empty.
The window was open, rattling in the wind.
“What? Maltese left?”
No goodbye?
I thought he’d try harder to convince me.
He gives up fast.
Next Morning
“Uaaaah!”
I’m exhausted.
After stretching, I left my boarding house. I usually pass out right after work, but the dog kept me up, so I’m still tired.
“I’m thirsty! But I’ll drink water at work!”
Get paid while drinking water.
“I’ll wash my face at work!”
Get paid while washing.
“So cold…”
Spring is almost here—why is it still freezing? I pulled my collar tight.
“I want new clothes.”
Once I get my diploma and pass the Imperial civil service exam, I’ll buy an outfit.
With that vow, I walked thirty minutes to the boutique, washed up, and changed into my uniform.
The person in the mirror was the same ordinary boutique employee as always.
Right. This is my reality. Not some Magic Saintess from 950 years ago.
I sighed and headed downstairs to prep for opening—
“…?”
The atmosphere was strange.
“What’s wrong? Ellie, why are you crying?”
Our youngest employee, Ellie, was bawling, surrounded by flustered coworkers.
Then the manager appeared.
And—
“You’re firing her?”
Why?!
