# 21. The Last Companion. The Saint Loves Holy Water (1)
[No such probability exists? A group from the religious order proselytizing people in the park! Naturally, the future Saint is there too! What is Lee Jun-woo's choice?]
[1. Wear a mask, conceal your identity, and kidnap the Saint.]
[2. Betray Minerva and dedicate yourself to the Goddess's Church.]
A multiple choice appeared before me as I encountered the Saint.
Option 1 was written out in great detail, and even without checking the answer key, it seemed like a good future awaited.
*'Well, obviously the correct answer is number 1.'*
Anyone would shout that option 2 was wrong.
The moment I betray Minerva, my multiple choice ability disappears.
The one posing these questions was Minerva herself, and since I'm her follower, latching onto another goddess would be insane.
*'...Still, I'm a bit curious about the future though.'*
Should I just take a little peek?
At that moment, another choice appeared before my eyes.
[Do you really need to see that, Lee Jun-woo? The question-poser might get upset, you know? Are you really going to look at a future where you betray her? Goddess Minerva hopes you won't.]
[1. Look at it.]
[2. Poor Goddess Minerva! I won't look!]
"..."
Right, since Minerva doesn't like it, I won't check the answer key—
I was going to do that, but I was too curious about the future.
With the feeling of secretly peeking at the back of a Kumon worksheet, I decided to check the answer key for option 2.
...
The Hero Party safely defeated the Demon King.
The Mage didn't attend the celebration party for the Hero Party.
And I was silently guarding the Saint from behind.
"Jun oppa."
"Yes, Lady Estia."
"How do I look today?"
"You're beautiful today as well."
"Hehe, I knew you'd answer that way. I hope the Goddess's blessing is with you all day today."
Saint Estia was relaxed.
She showed a benevolent appearance and was beloved by the people.
On the other hand, she also showed the side of a mischievous child.
Behind such a Saint, I merely stood still.
*'...What the hell is this.'*
It's so unrealistic, it's absurd.
Why am I just standing there like a slave?
No matter how much it's my future self, it was completely incomprehensible behavior.
As I stood there quietly, other Hero Party members appeared in the distance.
Luna and Hare.
They had matured with time, and both had grown into unimaginably beautiful women.
Estia saw them and waved, shouting.
"Luna~ Hi there~"
"...Hello. Estia."
Hero Luna.
She gave only a light greeting and passed by, looking at me with pitying eyes.
"Hello to you too, Hare?"
"I, I'm going to kill you...! I'll definitely kill you...! Always watch your neck...!"
"Ah~ so it was you fighting with oppa yesterday? Well then~ work hard to try and kill me, Hare!"
Hare trembled with rage, then made eye contact with me.
She made a painfully sad expression and clutched her heart as if it hurt.
"Mister..."
Then she quickly left as if she couldn't bear to look anymore.
*'This is dizzying.'*
What kind of relationship is this anyway?
Watching Hare flee, Estia stood up from her chair and approached me.
"Oppa did well yesterday. I'll praise you today. Come on, head!"
Should I give her my head or not?
As if my voice couldn't be heard, my future self naturally offered his head to Estia.
Someone much younger than me patting my head made me feel strangely unsettled.
"Oppa. You blocked it well yesterday. Thank you."
"Yes."
"Then, I'll give you Holy Water as a reward! You really loved it when we first met, right? Come on, open your mouth, oppa."
"..."
My future self naturally opened his mouth.
White light gushed from the Saint's hand, forming a river in her palm.
The river flowed like a stream, pouring toward my mouth.
*Gulp— Gulp—*
I drank without missing a single drop of the flowing Holy Water.
Immediately after, my future self began trembling.
As if unable to feel sensation in my face, I even slapped my cheek.
Then later, I caressed my cheek with a happy expression.
The answer key after that was torn to shreds as if it didn't want to show any more.
...
"Are you insane?"
I shouldn't have looked.
It would have been better not to see it.
Seeing my future self broken was hard to watch.
And it wasn't physical destruction but complete mental breakdown, which made the shock even greater.
"Minerva, you should warn me properly..."
[I did warn you though, Lee Jun-woo. You chose it yourself and now you're blaming others. You even checked a future where you betray Goddess Minerva, so naturally you should be punished, right?]
[1. Bonk yourself on the head with your fist.]
[2. Shout loudly in front of people, "I am an idiot."]
"You're basically telling me to hit my own head. Don't you understand jokes, Minerva?"
*Bonk—*
I punched myself in the head.
The citizens around me looked at me like I was crazy, but I didn't particularly care.
*'Anyway, since I've confirmed a future where I'm broken, the correct answer is definitely number 1.'*
Number 1.
Kidnap the Saint.
Without even needing to see the future, that was clearly the answer.
I thought about checking the answer key, but since I might need it during the kidnapping process, I decided to save my second chance to view answers.
Then, now I just need to tail the Saint and wait for the right timing...
"Excuse me."
"...?"
A touch on my sleeve.
Someone was grabbing my sleeve.
The voice was the familiar girl's voice I'd just heard.
"Lady Estia. You mustn't move carelessly."
"It's fine. I have something I want to ask this person."
"Me?"
"How impudent. To dare speak informally to Lady Estia...!!"
"Holy Knight Eric. Stay quiet. I said I have something I want to ask."
"...Yes."
Unlike her benevolent appearance from before, Saint Estia's voice was cold.
Her current appearance was firm and benevolent.
Her future appearance was relaxed and full of mischief.
Even I couldn't tell which was her true self.
"Don't mind him. Holy Knights are naturally sensitive to the outside world."
"...I see. More importantly, you said you had something to ask me."
"Yes, I got curious about something. Just a moment..."
Estia trailed off and began looking around me.
She seemed to be observing something carefully, even bringing her nose close to smell me.
Each time she did, the Holy Knights' gazes grew more menacing, but I deliberately avoided making eye contact with them.
"Hmm..."
"...What's the meaning of a person smelling another person? Are you a dog?"
"Ah, sorry. I smelled something so I unconsciously..."
I should have washed thoroughly, yet she says I smell.
The smell Estia was talking about must be something else.
Since I'm also an Apostle of a goddess and can smell Grimoires, the Saint must have noticed Minerva's scent.
It was like a marker that religious people could identify among themselves.
"Ah, now I understand. It's the scent of a kindred spirit. A very strong kindred scent at that. May I ask the name of the goddess you serve?"
"Minerva."
The shut-in goddess Minerva.
Her only apostles are me and an owl.
Estia seemed to have heard of her, laughing in surprise.
"Ahh~ so you're an apostle of a goddess affiliated with the Goddess's Church. I apologize for not recognizing you."
*Bow—*
Estia politely bowed at a 90-degree angle.
It was a completely different feeling from her appearance in the future.
After apologizing once, Estia raised her head and suddenly grabbed my hands with both of hers.
"Our Goddess's Church welcomes apostles of all twelve goddesses! So, would you like to come to the church sometime...?"
"Come to the church...?"
Hearing that, a memory from the past came to mind.
*'Kid, won't you come to church?'*
*'No, ma'am! I'm late for taekwondo class, I have to go quickly...!!'*
*'Don't be like that, just listen for a moment~'*
*'Gyaaaah—!!'*
I vividly remembered being late to taekwondo class and getting scolded by the instructor.
Actually, what was more memorable was my face pickled in Holy Water that I'd just seen.
Recalling that memory, I didn't particularly want to follow Estia.
"No, I don't have time today so I don't think I can go."
"You don't have time...? You believe in a goddess yet you're saying you don't have time to come to church right now? Are you a heretic?"
"No, why does it turn into that?"
"I'm joking. You might not have time to pray today. I understand. It's fine to visit the church next time."
Estia stuck out her tongue, giving off an atmosphere that it was a joke.
However, seeing how she had dead fish eyes when I said I couldn't go to the church, it seemed about 50% sincere.
*'Anyway, not the church right now. I'll visit later wearing a mask...'*
If I followed her now, I felt like I'd be pickled in Holy Water, so I decided to quickly leave.
"Anyway, not today but next time. I'll definitely visit the church."
"Then, thank you! Making apostles happy and comfortable is what our Goddess's Church does. Please, do visit us next time."
*Grin—*
Estia saw me off with a smile like a café employee.
But why?
That smile was an ominous smile that seemed like it would devour me.
"...Well then, goodbye. I'm going."
"Just a moment before you go."
"Hm?"
"Could I possibly... call you oppa...?"
Jun oppa.
Did she call me that in the future?
If so...
"No, just call me mister."
"...Really? That's too bad. I wanted to call you oppa."
*Grin—*
Estia was still smiling, but the ominous atmosphere never disappeared.
This is scary, I should just leave quickly.
I turned my back on Estia and quickly fled far away.
At that moment, I heard Estia's voice from behind.
"See you next time. Oppa."
"..."
A feeling of my whole body becoming as cold as midwinter.
Saint Estia of the Hero Party.
What was her true self?
Pondering that, I returned home and began preparing to kidnap her.
The church.
In her personal rest area, prospective Saint Estia shouted.
"Ah, I need Holy Water. I'm tired of acting now."
With her benevolent appearance completely gone, the mischievous girl picked up a water cup.
*Splash—*
Then she dumped all the water inside onto the floor.
"Estia likes Holy Water~ Holy Water is good~"
*Humming—*
Humming a tune, Estia wet the floor with water.
She was already in a good mood because the happiest time of her day was approaching.
However, a regrettable moment from today came to mind.
"...That oppa is a bit disappointing. It's been a while since I met an apostle of a goddess~ If he follows a goddess, he'd definitely like Holy Water~ I wanted to let him know this happiness~"
Divine power that appears in people with devout faith.
Estia's divine power was a special constitution.
It brings happiness and makes worries disappear.
It submerges you in prolonged pleasure and forcibly replays happy memories in your head.
Truly a goddess's miracle.
It was nothing less than a goddess's miracle for people who live to be happy.
Estia reached out and began filling the cup with Holy Water.
"Well, he said he'd visit the church later. I can tell him then, right? Keke."
*Splash—*
Surely that oppa will like it too.
Holy Water is the Goddess's blessing.
Nothing in the world goes against the Goddess's will.
Estia picked up the cup filled to the brim with Holy Water.
White, but holding a brilliant light—the Holy Water.
Estia gazed at the Holy Water as if entranced, then recalled Lee Jun-woo's retreating figure and said:
"I'll soon have that pitiful, desirable oppa. My oppa who's rich with the Goddess's scent—I'll make him happy, so just wait a little?"
*Gulp— Gulp—*
Estia drank the Holy Water without hesitation.
Her golden eyes trembled at the approaching happiness, she dropped the glass cup on the floor, and collapsed on the spot.
There was no pain at all.
Rather, only pleasure that made her body tremble dominated her.
"Ah, ahhh... Th, this is it... It's thrilling..."
I'm happy.
People who don't know this happiness are so pitiful.
People who don't know the Goddess's blessing are pathetic.
Estia hugged both shoulders with trembling hands.
Drool was flowing from her mouth, but it didn't matter at all.
Because she was happy.
Because she was addicted to happiness.
"G, Goddess... Thank you for bestowing such a blessing today too..."
Estia prostrated on the floor as if praying.
The last companion of the Hero Party.
The Saint.
She was a serious Holy Water addict.