There is a name that can stop a crying child in its tracks.
Moreover, there is a name that can make even a laughing adult cry.
Rubena Pradeiri was clearly the latter.
She embodied the image of a saintess in the worst possible sense.
For starters, she was arrogant. She was more aware than anyone that she was a saintess who could hear the voice of the deity, and she knew how to enjoy that power.
She squandered her omnipotent power on luxuries. In other words, she used it to adorn and elevate herself. Nearly 90% of her budget went towards embellishments. Just looking at her priestly garments—which resembled elaborate evening gowns, with sections cut out here and there—each piece was crafted from the finest fabric.
Her extravagance did not stop there.
The truly terrifying aspect about her was her unique, hysterical temperament.
The nickname “Graveyard of Holy Knights” was no longer surprising.
Five holy knights had already been crushed under her pressure.
And they weren’t just ordinary holy knights; they were elite holy knights, each receiving the highest honors. Yet, five of them couldn’t withstand her and fell.
Her personality was so hysterical that only ghost stories remained about her. What would people think of her reputation within the church?
Usher, who neither liked nor believed in ridiculing others, couldn’t offer any positive evaluation of her. For that reason, this situation was clearly a crisis.
The first words out of her mouth were profane.
Ironically, at this moment, Usher thought, ‘Lady Bersia is actually quite a good person.’
A dry gulp slipped down his throat.
Usher struggled to maintain his composure.
‘Usher, a neutral expression…!?’
Bersia had advised him:
When meeting other saints, just ignore them if they start a conversation.
Usher looked away.
But Rubena wasn’t the type to back down that easily.
“Hey, you b***h. Ignoring me again? Hmm? But your expression is different from usual. What is it? Trying to elicit some protective instincts because you’re next to a knight?”
“……”
“Acting like a b***h.”
Usher’s shoulders flinched slightly.
He fought down the urge to retort.
He forced himself to ignore her, yet Rubena continued speaking.
“Or not? Because of you, even I’m in trouble. If you wanted to play the saint, you should have done it somewhere else.”
“……?”
“Everywhere I go, there are people asking me to pray for them. Hm? I can’t even shop in peace anymore.”
Rubena reached out and grabbed Usher by the collar.
The cold touch of her slender fingers near his collarbone sent a chill down his spine.
The scent of her perfume wafted over him, and he felt her breath tickling him.
Usher recoiled, biting down on his lips.
“…!”
“How is it that there’s not a single thing I like about you? You worthless wench.”
Rubena sneered.
‘I have to ignore her…!’
It was at that moment.
Tap-
“Forgive me, Lady Saint, but could you stop there?”
Bersia stepped forward.
She gently placed a hand on Usher’s shoulder and pulled him back.
For a moment, Rubena’s face went blank.
Her gaze darted between Usher and Bersia.
Then, a mocking laugh escaped her lips.
“Hey, do you even know where you’re interfering? Are you a little mutt daring to open your mouth while your masters are talking? Can’t you be as quiet as that bald one behind me?”
“I apologize. It seemed the lady saint was uncomfortable.”
“Hey, how do you see me? Am I not a saintess? Now I’m uncomfortable too.”
“I apologize. To me, there is only one lady saint.”
Bersia placed a hand over her heart and gracefully bowed.
With a crooked and decadent smile, she spoke.
Usher’s lips pursed as he watched her, his eyes filled with distress.
He was grateful for the help, but…
‘Uh, isn’t the dynamic… off?’
For some reason, it didn’t feel quite right.
But the situation continued, regardless of Usher’s feelings.
“Oh my, so arrogant. And I think you’re a bit mistaken. Do you think this girl looks like she needs protection? This woman wouldn’t even bleed if you stabbed her.”
“To my eyes, she appears far too delicate.”
“Hah, you b***h. You’re quite the actress, aren’t you? How did you wrap him around your finger?”
At that moment, the emotion in Rubena’s eyes seemed to be of disgust.
Or perhaps, resentment?
Immediately, her voice rose.
“Hey, act like you normally do! Huh?! Look at her like she’s just a pebble!”
“I, I…”
“Hah! Playing coy to the end, are you?!”
‘I’m not being coy!’
…but that retort never escaped his lips.
Usher’s head spun.
Rubena’s mouth twisted unnaturally.
“You… crazy b***h…!”
Was it just his imagination, or were the veins on her forehead bulging?
He was starting to fear Bersia’s typical behavior—just what did she usually do to provoke this?
Desperate, he looked up at Bersia.
But Bersia simply smiled with a look of amusement.
Meanwhile, Rubena suddenly exploded with a shout.
“You vile, wretched b***h!!!”
—My, such harsh words.
This struck Usher as a different kind of shock from Bersia’s vulgarity.
“You shouldn’t… say such…”
“Aargh! You b***h!!!”
Rubena’s hand shot out.
It looked like she was about to slap him.
Of course, to Usher’s eyes, her movements were excruciatingly slow, but he couldn’t help hesitating.
‘Should I block it?’
But if he retaliated, Rubena could get hurt.
No matter what, striking a woman seemed a bit extreme.
‘…I’ll just take it.’
He thought to himself, squeezing his eyes shut.
At that moment, tap—Bersia caught Rubena’s wrist.
Rubena froze.
“You… you…!”
“Forgive me. It’s my duty to protect.”
Usher squinted and saw it clearly.
Rubena, her face flushed red, trembling with suppressed anger.
Bersia, repeatedly saying sorry without looking the slightest bit remorseful.
Grinding her teeth, Rubena’s gaze turned fierce.
Her eyes reddened with bloodshot veins, and veins popped visibly on her forehead.
She jerked her hand away from Bersia’s grip with a snarl.
Then, in a voice tearing with rage, she shouted,
“Of course you’d pick someone just like you, both of you freaking out in sync!!!”
At her sharp cry, a memory of something Marvin had said floated up in Usher’s mind.
—That woman definitely has anger management issues, I’m telling you.
…How far had Marvin actually seen into this?
“Get lost! Both of you, out of my sight!!!”
Despite saying that, Rubena stormed past them in anger, her steps loud and brisk.
The bald holy knight, Usher’s senior and guard knight Saturn Heisenberg, gave Usher a brief nod and then spoke.
“My apologies. The Lady Saint didn’t get enough sleep this morning.”
“Ah, no… that’s…!”
Immediately afterward, Saturn followed Rubena.
As the two moved away, their conversation went on.
“Hey! Get away! How many times do I have to tell you that the glare off your head blinds me?!”
“…Apologies.”
“Is ‘sorry’ enough?! You think your guarding duties are over now?! Huh?! If you’re criticized, at least make an effort to grow some hair! Ugh, being bald is so… miserable, damn it!!!”
Usher felt a surge of pity.
‘Will he be alright, Sir Heisenberg?’
They parted ways without a proper farewell, but Saturn was a senior Usher respected deeply.
He recalled the days Saturn had helped him with sparring during his training. Once known as “Saturn with the Lion’s Mane” for his thick, golden locks, now only the bald man—criticized for the shine of his head—remained.
Hopefully, he’s not too disheartened.
While thinking this, a voice broke in.
“Well done.”
“Oh! Lady Saint, you did well too! Are you alright?!”
“I’m perfectly fine. But, Sir Knight, you were remarkable.”
“Pardon?”
“You were incredible. I never thought I’d meet someone who could irritate Rubena that much.”
Usher tilted his head, not understanding.
Bersia lazily smiled and murmured.
“Oh, you don’t realize, do you? Female talent.”
“W-what kind of vulgar…!”
Usher’s mouth dropped open in shock.
Embarrassment flushed his cheeks, and his eyebrows shot up in indignation.
“Take that back! And I have no such talent! My talent is in swordsmanship…!”
“Dangerous, this one.”
“Hey! Don’t interrupt me!”
“I’ll think about it. But, Sir Knight, do you think it’s true? That bald men have that much… vigor…”
“Don’t change the subject! And stop being vulgar while changing the subject!!!”
“Ehh.”
“Lady Saint!”
Usher, horrified, scolded Bersia, forgetting entirely that he had been relieved earlier, thinking she was at least better than Rubena.
It was a warm, sunny noon.
Despite everything, the crisis had passed.
In the unexpected encounter with Lady Saint Rubena, Usher had managed to avoid major suspicion and moved on from the situation.
Two days passed like that.
On that day, Usher realized that the real trouble hadn’t even begun.
Thud—
The cookie he was holding fell to the floor.
His expression started to go blank.
“… A tea time?”
“I’m sorry, I forgot all about it.”
“So, a…”
“A gathering. It’s one of the few mandatory events the Order requires us to attend.”
Usher knew.
Although it was called a tea time, it was a much more brutal event.
It was a gathering set up centuries ago, after a bloody power struggle among the saints within the order, intended as an agreement for saints to handle their conflicts directly.
“That…”
“Guards aren’t allowed to attend.”
Sway!
Usher’s balance wavered.
Already feeling dizzy from his current condition, the shocking news made him feel faint.