The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

The receptionist at the bathhouse was a woman. She glanced at the clock, intending to pack up and leave, when a new customer arrived. She said, slightly impatiently...

"How many people?"

"one..."

Show your student ID

Tatsia handed over her student ID. The female employee glanced at it and saw that the gender section clearly stated "male." She then turned around and casually tossed Tatsia a key with a number tag.

"Take good care of your own belongings; we won't compensate you for anything lost."

"well..."

She had initially held onto a sliver of hope that she could bathe in the women's bathhouse. However, as expected, the school, to prevent anyone from lying about their gender, required students to present their student ID to confirm their gender before entering the bathhouse. Furthermore, the key given to Tatsia by the staff was also the key to a locker in the men's bathhouse. Thus, Tatsia was left with no choice but to bathe in the men's bathhouse. Since escape was impossible, Tatsia at least wanted to confirm one thing.

"And I'd like to ask... how many people are in the bathhouse right now?"

"Men's bath? Who knows? Why would I even bother with that?"

"No, I don't know?"

"Are you going to wash or not? We're about to leave work. If you keep arguing, we'll turn off the water!"

"Wash, wash, wash!"

There wasn't much time left for bathing, and if she spent any more time arguing with her, the remaining twenty minutes would probably be almost gone. Taqia had no choice but to hurry into the men's bath.

There was no one else in the undressing area, and no sound came from the bathhouse just a door away. Even though there was no one else around, Tatsia was completely focused on the slightest movement in her surroundings, stiffly and slowly removing her clothes. The thought of a woman undressing in a place frequented by men filled her with unbearable shame. Tatsia's face flushed, and her heart pounded. If anyone were to discover her now, she feared she would die of shame and rage on the spot.

She resumed her birth posture. Even the straw rope binding her pointed ears had been untied. Taqia then tightly tied a large bath towel below her collarbone, covering her chest and lower body, ensuring her identity wouldn't be immediately obvious, before cautiously opening the sliding door leading into the bathhouse.

As soon as she opened the door, a cloud of steam rushed out, making it difficult for her to see inside. Taqia didn't dare to swagger in. She squinted, shifted her body slightly, and slowly made her way in, brushing against the wall. She closed the door behind her.

After her eyes had adjusted to the moisture, she could finally make out the bathhouse that Oz had so highly praised.

"Wow, that's amazing..."

Indeed, as Oz said, it was a bathing environment that Tatia had never imagined, like a dream. She had thought that the bathing facilities in the hotel where Naka and Jasmine had stayed in Isard Town were already very advanced. But there's always something better.

She was very lucky; there was no one else in the men's bath except for Tatsia. This made Tatsia less afraid and reserved. She untied the towel covering her body and walked into the center of the bath with more natural and larger steps.

A waterproof poster was pasted on the central pillar, outlining the school's recommended bathing procedure—the same one Oz had done when he arrived. However, Tatia glanced at the large hot spring pool beside it and hesitated.

"Even though there's no one here now... the water in these pools hasn't been changed today, has it? That means countless men have been soaking in them naked..."

Even without bathing with men, just using the water they had used made Tatsia feel physically uncomfortable and repulsed. Oz strongly recommended that Tatsia try the hot spring pool, which was comparable to a natural hot spring. Having never bathed in a hot spring before, she was always eager to try something her parents had only told her about in stories. But in the end, Tatsia decided to decline.

"Never mind, I'll just take a shower and go home..."

The opening hours were about to close, and all she needed to do was wash off the sweat. Tatya decided it was best to finish quickly. Leaving the tempting hot spring pool behind, she obediently went to the shower area.

After wetting her entire body with a small amount of water, Tatsia decided to start washing from her hair. However, when she picked up the bottle that was supposed to contain shampoo, she was startled by its unusually light weight. Turning her wrist around, she felt and heard no liquid moving or making any sound inside.

"Huh? Are we done using it?"

Tatsia's luck seemed to be running out; the spot she randomly chose was missing something very important. However, each showerhead had different shampoos, body washes, conditioners, and other products. Tatsia put the empty bottle back where it belonged, then stood up, ready to try another showerhead.

"Clang!"

However, at that moment, the door to the men's bath was suddenly pulled open from the outside.

Unexpected visitor

Done

It's all over.

The sound of the bathhouse door being pulled open reached Tatsia's ears. Before her brain could process the implications, Tatsia's mind went completely blank. She had been seen naked by a man, her female identity discovered, her elven race revealed. What awaited her was not just expulsion, but something far more unimaginable... Even the energy to consider these consequences was gone. Tatsia could only instinctively cover her private parts, screaming as she crouched down.

"Oh? It's so late, and there are still people here. And judging from the voices... they don't seem to be male students."

To Tatsia's surprise, the voice at the door was female. While she wasn't in a position to judge, how could a woman possibly be in the men's bath at this hour? Tatsia looked up slightly at the doorway. Standing there was indeed a tall and unusually voluptuous figure. Clearly, the voice belonged not to a man with a strange voice, but to a genuine woman. It was fortunate that the other person wasn't male. But if her identity was discovered, the impending crisis remained unchanged. Tatsia cautiously looked up again, and when she saw the person's face, she was utterly astonished.

She was familiar with this person.

"M-Mistress Mittian!?"

At 11 p.m., the incredibly unrestrained woman who appeared naked in the men's bath was none other than Mittian, the teacher of the Saintess Class.

Mitian squinted her slightly nearsighted eyes, looking at the girl in front of her who was only concerned with covering her private parts and completely ignored her two long, pointed ears that were exposed, and said in a calm tone.

"Oh? Isn't this Tatsia? No, I should say... little Tatsia, right?"

"!!"

Her words upon entering were already remarkably calm, as if she had known all along that the person in the men's bath wasn't male. Coupled with her earlier remarks, she seemed completely unsurprised by Tatsia's current state. Amidst her panic, Tatsia couldn't help but become more wary of her. She hadn't forgotten how her mother had once described this Mitian.

"Don't be so hostile... Don't worry, I know what you're worried about. I've already spoken to the receptionist. She said I'd like to stay a little longer, and she can leave all the cleaning and locking up to me after get off work so she can go home and rest... and so on. Also, I've put up a 'No Entry' sign at the door, so no one will be able to bother us anymore."

"...Ms. Mitterrand, you..."

"No need to say anything more, just go wash up. It's getting late, so go home and get some rest after you're done. Don't you have Ms. Worth's class tomorrow?"

Mittian swaggered into the showerhead and began washing herself. Rutalia stood bewildered beside her.

Even the not-so-bright Tatia could glean some clues from her words. Mitian clearly knew beforehand that Tatia would be bathing there, and deliberately made sure no one else was present. She definitely wanted to discuss something with her privately.

The current situation reassured Tatia somewhat. Since the other party knew her gender and showed no reaction to her pointed ears, it seemed they had no intention of reporting her. However, keeping her secret wouldn't be a free lunch. Tatia was still a little uneasy and dared not hastily close the distance between herself and Mitian.

"Why are you hiding so far away? Come closer to me. I'm not going to eat you."

"May I...?"

"Why not? Your mother, Vilia, and I have been old friends for many years. I would never harm you."

"..."

She even directly revealed that her mother was Vilia. Tatia was certain that her identity had been completely exposed to her.

Although Tatsia was so ashamed she wanted to flee immediately, she didn't want to offend her since the other woman knew her identity and had indeed helped her. While remaining highly vigilant, Tatsia picked up a bottle of shampoo that still had some product left and began slowly scratching her hair.

Neither of them uttered a sound while their hair was being washed. Only after their hair was completely washed and all the soap had been rinsed out did Mitian finally speak, explaining why she had come.

"I heard from Ms. Worse that you sweated a lot today, so she told you to come here to take a bath. I knew you definitely wouldn't dare come here when it's crowded, and would only choose this time before closing, when there are the fewest people. That's why I deliberately came to this disgusting men's bath so late at night. Because this is a rare and excellent opportunity to have a proper talk with you in an environment where no one else can hear us."

"..."

Tatiana had also washed the shampoo off her hair. She listened quietly to Mitian's words without saying a word. Seeing that she didn't answer, Mitian realized she didn't trust him and continued...

"Don't be afraid. Your mother and I are sworn sisters. I will never tell anyone that you are a girl or an elf. I just want to talk to you... because I thought I would never see elves again, never see Senior Vilia again..."

As she spoke, Mitian's voice began to choke. Tatsia's heart was also heavy with worry at the thought of her mother. Both women in the men's bath shared the same longing for Vilia. Tatsia's heart softened, and she relented.

"Please speak your mind..."

"You've finally answered me."

Mitian suddenly stood up, walked behind Tatsia, and first gently stroked Tatsia's shoulders with both hands. Then, her slender fingers slowly moved upwards, her left hand lifting a strand of Tatsia's green hair, while her right hand gently played with her pointed ear.

"You know what? You look exactly like your mother from twenty years ago. From the hair color and facial features to the temperament and even those ears... The moment I saw you on campus that day, I thought it was Senior Vilia from my memories popping into my head. Then I remembered that she once told me that if she had a daughter, she would name her Tatsia. That's how I found out who you are."

"..."

"The Elf Kingdom should have been destroyed, and the Elf race was wiped out by the Demon King. So I always thought that Senior Vilia, who returned to the Elf Kingdom to live a peaceful life, had also fallen victim to the Demon King... But you survived. Tatia, can you tell me, teacher? How did you escape? And Senior Vilia... did she also survive that catastrophe like you?"

"this..."

Her father had warned her never to tell anyone about the night the Elf Kingdom was attacked. Otherwise, it would only bring trouble upon herself. Until now, Naka was the only exception. Naka was someone she, and even her father Osider, trusted completely, someone they could entrust all their secrets to. But was Mitian the same? Tatia knew too little about her and couldn't be sure.

As for her mother Vilia's whereabouts, that was a painful memory that Tatia didn't want to recall. Chronologically, her mother had indeed survived the calamity three years ago. However, not long ago, she transformed into a giant wolf demon and was killed by her own daughter, who was unaware of the truth. The two questions Mitian posed were difficult questions that Tatia couldn't answer. In the end, Tatia chose to conceal the truth.

"My mother... she died a long time ago. I was lucky enough to escape the massacre because my father assigned me to buy things in a human village before the Demon King's army attacked..."

Upon hearing that Vilia had passed away, a look of grief instantly appeared on Mitian's face. Her voice became even more choked with emotion.

"Yes, really? Senior Vilia, she, she's already..."

Now that Vilia's daughter had been found, it was highly likely that Vilia was still alive. Mitian held immense hope. Even if they couldn't meet, as long as she was alive, Mitian would be content. But tragically, her beloved senior had ultimately passed away. Having shed countless tears for her beloved, tears she thought had dried up once more streamed down Mitian's face.

Seeing how much Mitian missed her mother, Tatia could no longer hold back her heartache and quietly shed tears as well.

Both harboring memories of Vilia, the two strangers, who had only recently met, eventually embraced and wept bitterly.

"I'm so sorry, Tatia. I'm so old, and I'm crying like a child, making you feel sad too. As a teacher, I should be more composed. It's so embarrassing."

After crying their hearts out, Mitian and Tatsia splashed water on their faces to wash away the tears. Mitian apologized to Tatsia for his earlier outburst.

"Teacher, you don't need to apologize..."

"Yes. The one who's wrong isn't me, teacher. It's the Demon King... The one who killed your mother wasn't anyone else, it was him."

"...That's right."

Although it was Tatia herself who committed the act, she wouldn't have become an adventurer if the Demon King's army hadn't attacked. She wouldn't have taken on any quests, and naturally, she wouldn't have been able to fight her mother, who had turned into a monster. Tatia also understood that the root of all this tragedy wasn't herself, but the heinous person who ordered the destruction of her homeland: the Demon King.

Tatiana was willing to disguise herself as a man, risk being discovered, and endure such shame to hone her abilities as a hero. Everything she did and every price she paid was for the sake of killing the incorruptible demon who had taken everything from her: the Demon King.

Now, the girlish innocence, shame, and tension were gone from Takiya's face. Her taut features and furrowed brows revealed only hatred and murderous intent towards the Demon King.

Even though Tatia didn't say a word, her current state of mind was already completely exposed. Mitian leaned closer and whispered...

"Takia...do you want to kill the Demon King?"

Tatsia nodded vigorously. It wasn't a matter of whether she wanted to or not. This was the meaning of her existence, a mission she had to complete even at the cost of her life.

"Very well. I knew you wanted to avenge your mother and your people. That's the daughter of my respected Senior Vilia. But..."

While Mittian didn't dislike Tatia's ambition, her visit wasn't to encourage her further aspirations. On the contrary...

"Takia...don't go and become a hero or an adventurer."

Mitian looked seriously at Tatsia's face and said something astonishing.

Mutual feelings

Mittian is a teacher at the school that trains adventurers. Her mission is to make the adventurers who come here stronger. These adventurers' only goal in becoming stronger is to fight the Demon King's army and various monsters, resist the Demon King's invasion, and protect their homes... That's how it should be, but she suddenly advises Tatia to give up the path of an adventurer. Tatia is both surprised and angry.

Having already lost her parents, she had nothing left to lose. She came here only after making all the necessary preparations and being prepared to die a martyr. If anyone doubted her sincere heart, it would only make Tatsia feel utterly contemptuous and demeaning.

If this woman deliberately came to the men's bath in the dead of night just to persuade her to give up, then Tatia really felt that Mittian was looking down on her.

"Teacher, why are you saying that? Do you think I'm afraid of death?"

"Of course not," Mitis shook her head in denial.

"So you think I lack talent and will never amount to anything?"

"No, it's not like that," Mitian still denied.

"Then why?"

"Because I don't want you to die."

Hot water flowed from the showerhead, splashing onto the two of them with a rushing sound. Interspersed among this was Mitian's heartfelt words.

"Takia, you should know that too, right?"

"Know what?"

"That Demon King's level"

"Know..."

Before meeting Naka, during her solo adventures, she had heard about the Demon King. It was said that the Demon King was the only person in history to possess Level ∞ power. No matter how vast the astronomical number, it was meaningless before the Demon King's immense power. To oppose the Demon King meant only defeat. This was why Mittian stopped Tatia.

"Takia. Although I'm a teacher and shouldn't say things that boost the enemy's morale while diminishing our own, the Demon King is an opponent that even if all the adventurers in the world ganged up on him, they would almost certainly not be able to defeat. The purpose of our school is simply to train more adventurers who can hold off the Demon King's army as much as possible. Most adventurers have already given up on the idea of ​​defeating the Demon King himself. But you are different; your hatred for him is particularly deep. If I don't stop you, you will definitely fight your way to the Demon King himself... But do you know what that means?"

"..."

"Takia...you will definitely die."

A cruel and hopeless future lay before them. Tatiana's impulsive claim that she wasn't afraid of death was, in Mitian's view, nothing more than a momentary display of bravado to release pressure and hatred, and to motivate herself. It didn't stem from a genuine acceptance of her inevitable demise. Mitian felt it necessary to directly clarify this point with Tatiana.

"I know you're prepared to die in battle. But what's the point of dying on the battlefield other than leaving behind a hollow reputation and glory? Senior Vilia was so outstanding, so admirable, yet she met such a tragic end... I don't want her only bloodline, you, to die in the same worthless way!"

"teacher..."

The hatred for the annihilation of her race is irreconcilable. Taqia is the only remaining elf in this world. This heavy responsibility naturally falls on her shoulders. She believes this herself, and she believes that her deceased people and parents in the other world also had high hopes for her.

But could she really do it? She was just an ordinary girl, a half-baked elf who couldn't even match the proficiency of other elves in magic. Could her frail shoulders truly bear such a heavy burden? If she died at the hands of the Demon King, how would she face her parents and fellow elves in the next world? "I tried my best," was that all? Who would understand such a reason?

More importantly, what does Naka think? Tatsia has already decided that even if it costs her her life, she will repay Naka for the debts she can never repay.

But Naka is not an elf. If fighting the Demon King to avenge the elves results in Naka being implicated and losing her life, how can that be considered repaying a debt of gratitude?

These complex questions, which she had never considered before, disrupted her mind and train of thought. Tatsia lowered her head. She remained silent.

For a fourteen-year-old girl, these questions are not so easy to understand, nor so easy to accept. Mitisan knew that now was the time for her to point her in the right direction.