The [Black-Haired Saintess] Vanished Like Smoke

A few days after Seyi defeated the Hydra, this happened.

Adventurer Phylite was one of the few S-rank adventurers in this world.

Phylite was the one who, the other day, had her life saved when the Hydra’s poison was detoxified by the hands of the [Mysterious Saintess].

Phylite—and her lover Bols (the leader who brought Seyi to the town of Sanjo)—were summoned to the Adventurers Guild’s guildmaster.

“You’re here, Phylite, Bols.”

“Sorry for being late, Guildmas.”

Phylite and Bols were urged by the guildmaster—Guildmas—and sat on the sofa.

“So, did you find her? The Mysterious Saintess.”

“That’s the thing… we searched everywhere, but we couldn’t find that young lady anywhere… oww ow ow!”

Phylite yanked Bols’s ear hard.

“Show some respect, Bols. It’s Saintess-sama, isn’t it?”

“Yeah, well… who cares. She ain’t here anyway.”

The saintess meant Seyi.

Phylite and the others were searching for Seyi.

“I tried probing the Tendo Church, but they said there’s no saintess with black hair…”

“The black-haired Saintess-sama…”

Of course, that meant Seyi.

Seyi Falt had glossy black hair, which was rare in this world.

They didn’t know her name, but someone with black hair and that level of healing power wouldn’t exist in pairs.

And yet, no matter where they searched, they couldn’t find the black-haired saintess.

“Maybe she’s just gone. When she treated you the other day, she disappeared like smoke, didn’t she?”

“Maybe so… hmmm, what a shame. Truly a shame.”

Bols and Guildmas both sighed.

“You already know this, but because of those Tendo Church bastards, casual healing and detoxing aren’t possible in this world anymore. They squeeze huge sums out of us and only provide simple treatment. Worse, to make their own saintesses look special, they regulate the sale of potions.”

The world Seyi came from and the world now were different in circumstances.

In this world, all acts of [Healing] and [Treatment] were monopolized by the new organization called the Tendo Church.

“Guildmas. I’ve… met those so-called Tendo saintesses. They think they’re special beings chosen by God. Arrogant as hell. But… that black-haired young lady was different.”

Bols reminisced.

When his lover was on the brink of death, Seyi showed no sign of reluctance and walked straight to the patient.

And with terrifying healing power, she saved her life. And then…

“She helped people for free, refused even thanks, and left like smoke… wonderful…”

“Hoo…”

Phylite let out a heated breath.

From the outside, Seyi’s actions could look like a goddess descending from the heavens in someone’s hour of need.

In reality, it was simply that being questioned was annoying, so she ran away as fast as she could—a very unfortunate truth…

“The black-haired Saintess-sama… ah, I want to meet her. I only wanted to thank her once…”

“Phylite, you’re totally that young lady’s believer—”

“Not ‘young lady,’ Saintess-sama… right, Bols?”

Before anyone realized it, Phylite had drawn her sword.

She pressed the blade to her lover Bols’s neck, wearing a fierce expression.

When Bols raised his hands, his lover lowered the sword.

“Well, we’ll keep searching for that black-haired Saintess-sama. If she’s a saintess who doesn’t belong to the Tendo Church, then I want to build a good relationship with her no matter what.”

Among adventurers, there was a shared belief that the Tendo Church’s saintesses were villains who extorted high fees.

Just then—

“E-Excuse me!”

An adventurer rushed into Guildmas’s office.

“What is it?”

“I-I have a report! The Hydra has been subjugated!”

““““W-What!? What did you say!?””””

Phylite and Bols heard the report of the Hydra subjugation and rushed to the scene.

At the scene stood an adventurer with the job of Forest Druid.

A Forest Druid. A special power that let them link consciousness with plants and communicate.

“So, was the Hydra really defeated?”

“…Yes. These children apparently witnessed it.”

With the staff in hand, the Forest Druid pointed to a nearby tree.

“They saw a black-haired woman defeating a venomous snake.”

“! Th-That is… the black-haired Saintess-sama!?”

Phylite lunged at the Forest Druid.

“…I-I don’t know… but she was apparently accompanied by three slaves.”

“That young lady did buy slaves in Sanjo. Three of them.”

Bols was shaken inside.

The Hydra subjugation mission had been taken by his lover Phylite, an S-rank.

But even working with her companions, she was completely defeated.

He knew Phylite’s strength well. She was so skilled she could subjugate a dragon alone.

…And yet that frail-looking woman defeated the Hydra that even she couldn’t?

He couldn’t believe it. But…

“Ah! The black-haired Saintess-sama! Not only merciful, but strong as well! She must have smitten evil with holy power! Haaah… wonderful♡ Magnificent♡”

It seemed Phylite completely believed Seyi defeated the Hydra.

And even knowing a girl defeated the enemy she couldn’t, she didn’t look discouraged at all.

“Forest Druid-san! Which way did the black-haired Saintess-sama go!?”

Phylite grabbed the Forest Druid by the collar and interrogated them with a terrifying expression.

Bols pinched her by the collar and peeled her off.

“…Th-That person left the forest and headed south.”

“Then the closest town from here would be Mitsuke.”

“I see!” Phylite nodded.

“Then let’s go, Bols! We’ll find the Saintess-sama!”

Phylite dashed off, and Bols followed behind.

As he walked, Bols swallowed hard.

The Hydra exuded deadly poison. It had the power to taint the air and the land.

But this forest was quiet—calm.

It didn’t feel like poison damage existed at all.

“…Defeating a Hydra that even S-ranks struggle with, neutralizing its poison, and restoring the forest… she might actually be a real Saintess-sama. No… could it be she has the same power as the Tendo Church’s boss, the [Great Saintess]…”

“Bols! Keep up!”

…Speculating didn’t get them anywhere.

Right now, finding and meeting that black-haired saintess came first.