The Tale of the Nation That Banished the Saint - Chapter 3

Episode 3: The Exile of the Saintess

Today is the celebration for my twelfth birthday.

Today is the day when the true “Saintess” will be expelled.

Two years have passed since I recalled my past life.

Time flies swiftly indeed.

I am receiving greetings from the guests alongside my parents.

Minister Dalforn stands behind my seat, looking dignified.

The birthday party is progressing as scheduled.

As the line of guests starts to diminish—

Zopondote, accompanied by the Saintess Roselia, appears with a smug smile as if deliberately late, delivering birthday wishes to me.

Zopondote’s appearance distinctly exudes villainy.

He resembles the epitome of a corrupt noble, befitting the various nefarious rumors surrounding him.

I have been introduced to Saintess Roselia on several occasions before.

For some reason, she glares at me each time we meet.

Even today, while exchanging greetings, she directs hostile glances towards me.

Though her appearance mirrors that of a saintess—

To me, she emanates a palpable malevolence, unable to conceal the rottenness at her core.

Well, perhaps it’s just the way she glares that makes her appear so.

Now, the story begins here.

Once the greetings from the guests conclude, Dalforn raises his voice solemnly.

“Ladies and gentlemen! Before we raise our glasses to this auspicious day, I must make an accusation!”

From there, Dalforn unfolds his theory that Zopondote concocted a false Saintess to marry his henchman to the prince’s consort and deceived the kingdom.

Zopondote, accused of deception, doesn’t stay silent.

“What?! I-I never lied, at, at least not… t-that’s irrelevant! Shut up! Ah, n-no, I mean… Shut up! You, arguing with you won’t get us anywhere. Your Majesty! Please believe me. I have never told a lie!”

Amidst Dalforn’s calm assertion of the Saintess being a fraud, Zopondote, though flustered, retaliates with fury.

“However, the dramatic improvement in crop yields during the downturn and the absence of monster attacks are undeniable evidence! That is the ultimate proof of Roselia’s sanctity! If she were false, it would be inexplicable!”

While I am lost in my thoughts, Zopondot regains composure, turning the tables.

“Explaining the improved crop yields? Haha, it’s quite simple, really. It’s merely that the true Saintess, not the imposter you’re escorting, has been bestowing ‘Saintly Blessings’ upon this country. Let me take this opportunity to introduce you all!”

As Dalforn speaks, a young girl steps forward.

She appears to be around my age, with unkempt hair and modest attire.

“This young lady is the true Saintess! Discovered within our borders, she has been under my care as my adopted daughter. Her name is Sophie. She has been protecting this country with her saintly blessings for three years now. This fact has been discreetly conveyed to His Majesty the King and His Highness the Prince.”

Roselia, escorted by Zopondote, is adorned in luxurious attire with expensive embellishments. It might be Zopondote’s preference, but there’s a lack of refinement.

In contrast, Sophie, brought by Dalforn, though not dressed lavishly, exudes cleanliness and neatness upon closer inspection.

Observing Sophie’s attire as Dalforn’s staging, I couldn’t help but feel detached—until a thought struck me.

If this world adheres to the novel’s setting, Roselia is genuine and Sophie is the impostor.

That much is clear.

I’ve never had any interest in the Saintess herself, and I’ve always believed that relying entirely on her for nation-building is erroneous.

Hence, I’ve prepared for what to do once the Saintess disappears.

However, if by some twist of fate—

We could avoid banishing the Saintess, wouldn’t that be preferable?

It would contradict the novel’s plot entirely, but I haven’t received any particular restrictions from the deity Meldo, who supposedly created this world based on the novel and subsequently repaired it due to instability.

Is this the result of those repairs?

I have no intention of expelling the Saintess.

So—

Is he acting on behalf of me, moving towards banishing the Saintess?

“Pardon the interruption in the conversation. However, this concerns my betrothed and holds significant implications for the future of our nation. May I express my opinion?”

After obtaining permission from the king, I voiced my proposal.

“To ascertain which one is the true Saintess, why don’t we conduct an examination of the Saintess’s power? The efficacy of the Saintess’s blessing lasts for a year. Let’s have Roselia refrain from offering her prayers as the Saintess for a few years and observe. Through this, the genuine Saintess will naturally reveal herself.”

The existence of the Saintess has already been somewhat investigated.

The Saintess’s power consists of two types: “Saintly Blessings” and “Saintly Healing.”

It would be simpler to verify using one of the Saintess’s powers, “Saintly Healing,” but as the Saintess’s power is finite, its use is regulated by law.

Particularly, the use of healing powers is severely restricted.

There have been past instances where a Saintess, inundated by an influx of sick and injured people, exhausted her power prematurely. Consequently, the use of healing powers is now prohibited by law.

That’s why, while utilizing powers for examination is not possible—

What about conducting an examination without using powers?

I survey the party venue.

Dalforn, upon hearing the proposal, visibly pales.