51. I want to reason with you.

Perhaps it was because of our previous “cooperation” that the two women had cultivated a bit of “tacit understanding.” This time, regarding my arrangement, especially the part where I needed to be alone with Nier, Kefir didn’t raise too many objections.

Although Nier still had her usual mysterious and unpredictable behavior, she eventually let us be and didn’t do anything like “stalking” or “following” us. Instead, she went to find her sister, the queen, to comfort the knights who had just arrived and to resolve the conflicts that had arisen within and outside the church.

Of course, my “alone time” with Nier wasn’t exactly what it seemed. We needed to deal with the mess left behind by the queen – the saint candidates who had been selected but couldn’t become the new saint. Their “dreams” had suddenly been shattered, and they were willing to just “let it go” and return to their original state.

At this moment, in the church, Nier and I were trying to “wrap things up” by visiting each of the saint candidates’ residences, where they had been confined by the Imperial Knights, and then using a combination of persuasion and coercion.

“In short, that’s how it is, Miss Candidate.”

With great difficulty, I explained the current situation of the “saint” to the candidate in front of me, who was clearly unhappy, and then repeated the same words I had said several times before to this saint candidate… uh, who should be around number 10 by now.

“Originally, the saint’s body suddenly recovered, and her intelligence regained its former glory. So, the original saint will continue to fulfill her duties, and you saint candidates, if you don’t mind, can just return to your residences, keep the secret, and wait for another opportunity in the future.”

In simpler terms, I planned to reason with these saint candidates, who were definitely not fools. Although what I said wasn’t entirely a lie, it was true that they would have to wait until the old saint retired, which might take a long time, and who knows if Ikuxisa would still be around by then. But, in any case, the saint candidates did have a chance.

Unfortunately, my plan was good, but the reality was not as optimistic.

“Why!?”

I received a furious response from the beautiful woman in front of me, similar to the previous ones.

The saint candidates who made it to the final selection were definitely not fools, but unfortunately… they lacked patience at this moment, and their true nature was revealed, whether it was hidden in their hearts or written on their faces and mouths.

“Isn’t selecting a new saint the church’s requirement?! I finally made it through all the selections and got here, and now you’re telling us it’s all for nothing!?”

The woman’s face, which was originally not bad, was now distorted by anger and frustration, and her previously perfect, elegant demeanor was also crumbling along with her mood.

Then, she let out a similar angry roar as the previous saint candidates.

“Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked?! Do you know how much I’ve sacrificed for this selection?! You think I’ll just let it go like this? Absolutely not! You must have pulled some strings behind the scenes! Don’t think this is over! I will definitely…”

I didn’t really pay attention to the girl’s incessant complaints after that, especially with the script appearing: [The No. 9 Saintess Candidate has decided to escalate this matter!]

Such content forced me to admit: my approach of reasoning without resorting to force didn’t seem to be very effective. I’m not pursuing some notion of “victory or defeat,” but the true nature of these Saintess Candidates, once they learned they couldn’t temporarily become the “New Saintess,” was far from what one would expect from a so-called “Saintess.”

If reasoning doesn’t work, then it’s time for “back-up.” Keeping these Saintess Candidates confined and cutting off their communication with the outside world isn’t a solution either, but fortunately, I have other means. And that’s precisely why Nilu and I are here to deal with the “Saintess Candidates.”

The appearance of the script made me shake my head at the girl who was still complaining at me, then I turned to Nilu beside me.

“~”

Don’t look at me and smile; I know my “reasoning” approach is quite naive and childish.

“Nilu, take action.”

“Understood.”

In the next moment, the fiery red fairy, Jias, flew out. In the blink of an eye, the girl who had just been complaining at me became as still as a robot that had suddenly lost power.

This is the method Nilu and I use to handle the Saintess Candidates: when they refuse to give up and even want to cause a scene, and that thought appears in my script, and I can’t persuade them to change their minds, Nilu’s fairy Jias uses the power of ‘command’ on them, then covers their memories as comprehensively as possible, making them completely forget that they ever participated in the Saintess Candidate selection.

This is considered a last resort, after all, the power of ‘command’ is not absolute; no one can guarantee that these candidates won’t suddenly remember due to some trivial matter in the future. Indeed, while Jias’s command sounds incredibly powerful and absolute, in reality… there are still some loopholes…

“Jias, you take the ‘command’ this time, according to our previous script.”

“Eh? No way, that’s too troublesome; this kind of thing, ‘King,’ you do it yourself…”

The fairy was about to say something, but Nilu shot her a look that made her obediently comply. This isn’t me being lazy; it’s just that… we’ve already ‘commanded’ several other Saintess Candidates before this one, and even if Nilu and I take turns, at this point, it’s a bit exhausting to keep talking.

Moreover, considering this opportunity for Jias to obediently give the “command,” I finally have a bit of time to, um… pay a little attention to Nilu.

At this moment, she was beside me, showing no extra reaction, merely watching Jias’s actions silently. It seemed that ever since Nilu learned some “secret” and completed the “main storyline” in her script, she had become somewhat taciturn. This series of reactions, even with Nilu’s BOSS “identity” in play, left me feeling a bit puzzled… and curious.

“Nilu, the ‘secret’ you learned earlier, doesn’t it affect you at all?”

“Hmm?”

Nilu blinked in response; whether she was playing dumb or genuinely confused, I couldn’t tell.

“You’ve been a bit too quiet lately, a little different from your usual self…”

Without any thoughts of competing with Kephiel, even during my alone time, I was just focused on completing my tasks. If I had to say, Nilu felt that “this is just how I am now,” and that I no longer had the initial “fervor” I once did, it wouldn’t be entirely accurate, because from the very beginning, Nilu’s script had been filled with similar content.

【Nilu has ulterior motives regarding Oujilide.】

Doesn’t she still care about me? Whether this makes me happy or helpless is beside the point; Nilu’s recent silence paired with this script is simply…

Simply like she is…

“!”

I couldn’t continue my thoughts, because in the next moment, outside, in the church’s “residential area,” a commotion erupted! Interrupted from my reverie, I hurriedly glanced at the script, and at the same time realized: Nilu’s concerns would probably have to wait for another time for me to understand.

After all…

【The candidate saint, Jader, and her father, Jada, are arguing and threatening each other.】

Such content appeared in the script.

“Mr. Oujilide, what’s happening outside…”

“It’s the biggest trouble. I had planned to deal with it last, but… it seems there’s been a bit of an accident.”

【Jada is preparing to expose the scandal of the candidate saint.】

Is this guy out of his mind? Not only did he come looking for trouble, but he’s also thinking of going down with the ship!?