The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

"Takia. Don't be a hero anymore... Be my adopted daughter and live with me."

"what?"

I will take care of you.

If she really didn't want to be an adventurer, what should she do? Just as Tatia was pondering this, Mitian suddenly dropped a bombshell suggestion. This caught Tatia completely off guard.

"No, that's not the point... Me? To become your adopted daughter, Professor Mittian?"

Mitian nodded

"That's right. Don't let my appearance fool you, I've been teaching here for many years and have saved quite a bit. My parents don't need me to support them, and my sister works here too; she has her own income. I've already decided that I'll never marry. So I still have the money to raise you, and even after I die, to ensure you have enough to eat and wear. You don't need to fight anymore. Let's live a peaceful and tranquil life together."

"No, no, no..."

The conditions Mitian offered were objectively very tempting. Anyone else might have readily agreed, content to be Mitian's gigolo for life. But in the current situation, telling Tatia this would only leave her bewildered. The topic was simply too far off track.

"Teacher, do you know what you're saying? Even if you know my mother, we're not related, how can I accept this..."

"It's not that we're completely unrelated... Tatya, I love you, I love your mother."

"...What?"

Tatia had already heard from her mother that Mitian liked women, and that she liked her own mother. Tatia had thought that Mitian would try to hide this, but she hadn't expected her to be so frank. This left Tatia speechless.

"You might be very surprised, or even a little scared, to hear this... but that's really who I am. I don't like, you could even say I hate, and I'm disgusted by men. Senior Vilia is the only person I truly love. And you, as her daughter, are to me the same as my own daughter."

"..."

Because I consider you my daughter, I want to protect you, I want to raise you… This reason seems plausible at first glance. It's enough to convince Tatia, a young girl whose mind is still immature and overwhelmed by conflicting information. But Tatia still can't agree. There's something Tatia can't articulate clearly right now, but it's something she's always kept in mind. Because of this, she can't grant Mittian's request.

Mitian had actually seen through this long ago.

"Takia, are you thinking about... that saintess named Naka?"

"Na, Sister Naka?"

Mitian's words hit the nail on the head. If she gave up the adventure and became Mitian's adopted daughter, it would mean saying goodbye to Naka. Tatya knew that Mitian wouldn't adopt Naka, who was a complete stranger, and Naka, given her personality, would absolutely not accept such an outcome. She hadn't repaid Naka's kindness, nor had she conveyed her feelings... Until then, Tatya absolutely didn't want to be separated from Naka.

But all of this was not hidden from Mitian. Mitian greatly admired Naka's talent and future. However, for her and Tatsia, Naka was a stumbling block that Mitian had to eliminate.

"That Naka is really stubborn and won't listen to reason. I thought it would scare you if she came directly to you, so I originally wanted to use her to gradually build rapport with you before finding an opportunity to talk to you alone. But no matter what I did, she wouldn't open up to me at all... But now that I have this opportunity, I think I don't need to. Phew. It's saved me a lot of trouble. By the way, Naka claims to be your girlfriend. Is that really the case?"

"...No"

"Does she know your true identity? That you're a girl, and that you're an elf?"

"........Yes"

"I knew it. When she first told me, I thought you were keeping it from her too. But after spending more time with her, I found that Naka is exceptionally shrewd, exceptionally perceptive, and her action and judgment are beyond the average person... If it were her, she would probably have discovered that you were hiding something by now."

"Teacher... what exactly are you trying to say?"

Mitian's sudden mention of Naka made Tatsia very uneasy. It seemed she was about to hear something incredibly difficult to accept. She didn't want to hear those truths. She only hoped Mitian would say something different from what she expected. But Mitian was targeting Tatsia's greatest weakness. Ruthless and direct, she had driven Tatsia into a corner.

"Takia, you like Naka, right?"

"!!!"

Tatiana's feelings, which she had kept hidden in her heart and unwilling to express, were thus exposed by Mitian.

Whenever Naka was around, Tatsia felt her heart race. Whenever Naka looked at her, Tatsia's face would flush instantly. When Naka held her in her arms, she felt enveloped in boundless happiness... a feeling she had never experienced with any classmates, friends, or even her parents. Tatsia understood, to some extent, what this feeling was. She just didn't want to... or rather, she didn't dare to express it.

But this couldn't fool Mittian, a woman who had fallen in love with another woman. She knew very well that Tatia was a woman just like her.

Therefore, Mitis had even more reason to persuade Tatia.

"Although I haven't seen you much, Naka constantly exudes an aura of 'she values ​​you and cares about you.' She lied and said she was your girlfriend to protect your secret, right? I also observed how that girl interacted with you on the day of the lecture. Perhaps neither of you realized it, but she was unconsciously protecting you. She always kept you on the inside, standing on the outside herself. At the slightest disturbance, she would rush to your side. These are all evidence of how much she values ​​you... For someone like you who lost your parents, lost your home, and embarked on an adventure alone through countless dangers, it's impossible not to like someone who goes to such lengths to help you. Even if it hasn't reached the level of love, you must feel a lot of affection and gratitude towards her, and don't want to be separated from her... Am I right?"

"....."

"But unfortunately, her feelings for you are completely different from your feelings for her. She has no affection for you, no gratitude towards you, and no desire to be with you in the long run... because her feelings for you are pity."

The rejected olive branch

Even Naka herself was unaware of, oblivious to, these feelings. Mitian, however, was already fully aware of them.

He was supposed to be a ruthless and merciless demon king, but he was never able to keep his promise to kill Tatia.

Why do I always find excuses to avoid making choices? Why is it that when I look at Tatsia's face, my boundless power is always difficult to gather? This question has troubled Naka for a long time.

The truth is that it's "pity," an emotion that shouldn't exist in a demon lord. Although Mitian didn't know Naka was a demon lord, it wasn't difficult for her to see through the reason for Naka's protectiveness towards Tatya. Naka herself didn't realize that her protective instincts towards Tatya had long since reached an uncontrollable, even indulgent, level.

But for Tatia, this was like a bolt from the blue.

"Phew! A bottle of coffee milk after a shower is just so refreshing! You should try it, it's really delicious!"

It wasn't very dignified to be inside naked all the time, so it was appropriate. After pointing out Naka's true feelings, Mitian quietly went to take a bath. Now she had changed her clothes and was sitting in the dressing room, downing a bottle of brown liquid in one gulp. She exhaled a puff of hot air with satisfaction.

Similarly, Tatia had also finished showering and changing her clothes, holding a bottle of coffee milk that Mitian had given her. But she had no desire to drink the milk at all.

Even while bathing, Tatia appeared dazed and confused, splashing water on herself a couple of times before emerging. Even now, Tatia stared blankly at what lay before her, her mind a complete mess. She simply couldn't accept this reality. She opened her slightly trembling lips and timidly asked Mitian, who was standing beside her.

"M-Mistress Mitis...you're not kidding me, are you?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"What you just said... about Naka's feelings for me..."

"Oh, that's the one..."

Mitian put the bottle down. She pondered for a moment. What she was about to say was already difficult for a fourteen-year-old girl to bear. Moreover, what Mitian was about to do was to forcibly separate Tatsia from her beloved. If she spoke rashly without careful consideration, the harm she would cause Tatsia would be unpredictable.

After carefully choosing his words, Mitian explained his views and intentions to her.

"That's right. She knows you're a lonely elf girl. You have no home to return to, no parents to rely on, and no ability to realize your dreams. She felt sorry for you, which is why she agreed to team up with you long-term, lying that she was your girlfriend to keep your secret, and giving you special training to help you grow... Everything she did for you was out of pity."

"..."

"To be more precise, it's probably something like maternal instinct. In her eyes, you're like a little puppy abandoned by its owner, shivering in the cold rain. She shelters you from the storm out of kindness... but ultimately, it's just a passing fancy. She's a very shrewd person, with her own calculations and schemes. She definitely has her own purposes and goals to achieve, and she can't stay with you forever. Maybe you like her a lot, but unfortunately, she can't reciprocate your feelings."

"This...this..."

Tatsia never considered what Naka's true feelings were for her. She only knew that Naka was willing to help her. Over time, being with Naka became as natural as it should be. But what was Naka really thinking? Tatsia never tried to see things from Naka's perspective.

Naka never asks for anything in return for her help. She gives selflessly and unilaterally. This is what Tatia is most grateful to Naka for. But if we interpret it as what Mitian meant, then Naka's lack of expectation of reward is also understandable. A rescued puppy will naturally be extremely grateful to its savior. But does the person who rescued the shivering puppy in the downpour expect the puppy to repay them? Comparing this to Tatia's current relationship with Naka, it's strikingly similar.

Mitian wasn't Naka; these words were merely her speculations. Tatia could easily ignore them... but that was assuming Tatia could make a calm judgment and analysis. Right now, she was gripped by unprecedented panic and anxiety. The more Mitian spoke, the more it seemed to fit the current situation. She gradually became convinced of Mitian's words.

Because of Naka, she was able to become strong. Because of Naka, she was able to come here. But what if Naka were gone...? Tatia didn't want to imagine it, and she dared not imagine it. The reality of dying at the hands of the Demon King was far more terrifying to her.

Unable to accept this fact, Tatia gripped her hair tightly, muttering incantations as if in a spell.

"No, it can't be...it can't be..."

Seeing Tatia's agonizing struggle, Mittian felt a deep empathy. She herself had been in the same state as Tatia when she learned of Vilia's impending marriage. Unable to reciprocate her love, she could only watch helplessly as her beloved left her for someone else. This heart-wrenching feeling would likely be an unbearable burden for a fourteen-year-old girl, enough to cause her a mental breakdown.

But it was precisely because he let go back then that Vilia died. This time, Mitian decided not to let go again.

"Takia, don't blame me for being blunt and harsh... Your mother and I ended up in the same situation. I loved her, but we weren't meant to be. She rejected me and married your father. I knew I couldn't force her to give up men and love a woman like me. So I had no choice but to step aside. Naka is like your mother. She has her own adventures and her own goals. She won't stay with you indefinitely; she'll leave you sooner or later. It's better to end it now than to suffer for a long time. Don't wait until she officially rejects you. By then, the pain will be countless times greater than it is now."

"No...no way..."

But Tatia has no intention of giving up yet.

"If Naka doesn't like women, then I'll just make her like women..."

"How do we do it?"

"this..."

"I also thought about changing your mother. But I ultimately failed. It's very difficult to change a person's orientation, Tatia. Besides, even if she likes women... doesn't she have Jasmine by her side?"

"Sister Jasmine...?"

"As far as I know, they knew each other since they were nuns. They practiced together and went on adventures together. You've only known her for about two months, right? If she's like us, the most likely person to end up with her isn't you, but Jasmine. Can you compete with her?"

"..."

Naka and Jasmine had a very good relationship, a fact that Tatsia was well aware of. Looking back, many of their conversations and communication styles were truly incomprehensible to Tatsia. At that time, she felt like an outsider, completely unable to connect with them. Tatsia only knew Naka on West Mountain, the Naka who had fought with her because of her momentary impulse, and Naka after that. But what about before that? Tatsia knew nothing about Naka's time training with Jasmine. In terms of understanding Naka, she couldn't compare to Jasmine.

Although Jasmine currently believes that Tatsia and Naka are in a relationship, and therefore shows no sign of interfering, it's still a lie. As Tatsia grows and develops, the truth will inevitably come out sooner or later. At that time, how could she possibly have the right to rightfully snatch Naka away from Jasmine?

Objectively speaking, Tatya's worries were somewhat unnecessary. Even if Naka liked women, it didn't mean Jasmine did. That wasn't a reason for Jasmine to take Naka away. But the distraught Tatya couldn't grasp this level of understanding. She only felt that she was carelessly living each day, when in reality, danger lurked everywhere. Naka, who had been by her side as if it were a given, seemed to be drifting further and further away...

"Takia, don't take on so much burden anymore."

Mitian reached out and embraced Tatia, who was visibly shaken and panicked, her forehead covered in cold sweat. He solemnly extended an invitation to her.

"Forget about revenge. Senior Vilia and your father wouldn't want you to risk your life again and again, only to lose your life in vain. They would want you to live a happy and fulfilling life. Naka can't give you a home, a place to stay. But I can. Be my daughter and live with me. You don't need to hide your gender anymore, and you don't need to have your ears tied. You don't need to compete with guys like Oz anymore, and you don't need to live in the boys' dormitory anymore. I'll find a way to get your tuition back from the school... Come with me. I will make you happy and free."

"M-Mistress Mitis..."

If she was 100% convinced, Tatia would grant her request. Right now, she believed Mitian almost 99%. Her hand slowly rose and circled around Mitian's back.

But that remaining 1% is far more important than the 99%. As long as that 1% remains, Tatia will absolutely not accept it.

Tatia, who had initially intended to embrace her, ultimately pushed Mitiam away from her embrace.

"Takia?"

Having said all that, Mittian still didn't understand why Tatia was refusing him. He looked at her with a puzzled expression, seeing her finally displaying her stubbornness.

"No...I can't...accept..."

"why?"

"Because... I haven't... repaid Sister Naka yet!"

To Tatsia, Mitian's promises seemed utterly meaningless. She couldn't even comprehend the bond between Mitian and her own mother. More than anything, she knew and saw everything Naka had done for her. To be asked to abandon Naka before Naka abandoned her was something Tatsia would rather die than accept.

"Even if Sister Naka doesn't see me as an equal, even if she doesn't ask for anything in return... I still want to repay her in my own way, with all my heart and soul!"

"As expected, it's all because of Naka..."

Tatia's obsession with Naka seemed to exceed Mitian's expectations. She sighed helplessly. However, Mitian wasn't entirely unable to understand. If it were her younger self, she would probably have said the same thing. In Tatia's eyes, Naka was just like Vilia was in Mitian's eyes back then, perhaps even more important.

"Teacher, is that all you wanted to say?"

"Yes"

"Well then, I'll head back now."

Tatiana stood up and walked towards the door. Before leaving, she bowed deeply to Mitian.

"I am very grateful for your feelings for my mother. I am also grateful for your kindness in wanting to protect me and give me a peaceful life. However, unless you have other important matters to attend to, I hope you will not come looking for me again."

"..."

"I'll take my leave now."

Before Mitian could reply, Tatian slammed the door shut and left.

Mittian, who should have gone back to prepare for her classes tomorrow, lingered in the locker room, unwilling to leave. She picked up the unopened bottle of coffee milk from Tatia, unscrewed the cap, and put it in her mouth.

"ha..."

After finishing the drink, she no longer let out a pleasant breath, but rather a regretful sigh.

"As expected, a single conversation isn't going so smoothly."

Mitian adopts Tatia and raises her to be the Vilia he envisions, thus fulfilling his regret of not being able to have Vilia... This is Mitian's true purpose.

She valued Tatsia emotionally, but she underestimated her in conversation. She assumed that a fourteen-year-old girl could be easily swayed by arguments about benefits and the promise of a comfortable life. However, Tatsia's strong will and persistence proved to be more complex than she had imagined.

However, just like Tatya's unwavering devotion to Naka, Mitian would never give up easily for this goal. This failure didn't discourage Mitian; instead, she began to reflect on the reasons for her failed persuasion and devise a new strategy. Although Tatya's expression seemed resolute as she left, she was actually still very concerned about her words. While she hadn't convinced her completely, it had been enough to significantly shake her confidence. She was left with only a sliver of hope.

Talking to Tatya is only one-sided. No matter how much she tells Naka she won't be with her, Naka won't give up. Unless Naka herself rejects her.

Only then will Tasia know what true despair is. Only then, utterly alone and helpless, will she gladly throw herself into his arms.

"Let's talk to Naka again next time."

A sinister smile crept onto the face of the virtuous, holy, dignified, and wise senior saintess.

The other side that I am unaware of

Just a few hours later, Tatsia stood neatly dressed at the entrance of the women's dormitory, staring intently at the exit. She looked energetic, but in reality, she hadn't slept a wink all night.

It was breakfast time, and some women were already emerging from their dormitories. Seeing the "man" loitering outside the women's dormitory, they pointed and whispered amongst themselves, fearfully keeping their distance and circling around Tatia.

"What's wrong with that guy?"

"Is he a pervert?"

"He's so young, it shouldn't be that bad, right?"

"It has nothing to do with age. These days, little boys are incredibly lecherous..."