The examination for the selection of a saint took place in the most secret and deepest place in the Great Hall. Every year on the first day of the year, she came to the Great Hall to pray, but this was the first time she had been this deep.

Unlike Lara, who was busy looking around in amazement, Elina5 was quiet, as if she had been here too many times.

‘… What kind of examination will she take in a place like this?’

Because of the solemn atmosphere where she was not allowed to make noise, Lara could not even ask. The examination that Lara expected would be something like this. It would be an interview where she would pray to God in the prayer room and receive an answer, or use divine power, or be tested for patience, or answer the Pope’s questions.

Perhaps an even more difficult examination awaited her. However, Elina5 simply pursed her lips as if she knew the answer. It seemed as if she would overcome any hardship or adversity that came her way with a bodhisattva’s pace.

[I will announce the start of the examination. Each candidate, please enter the prayer room with your exam number.]

The voice resonating from the ceiling was mysterious, as if it was ringing in her head. Elina 5’s exam number was 5. Lara felt nervous for no reason and asked God for an answer.

‘What happens next? The saint is obviously Elina 5, right?’

<Of course. If the power of the non-cliche hadn’t reached here.> ‘But what exactly is the test?’

<Basically, it tests how well you can use divine power. Divine power is the power that can save a person or sometimes lead to death, depending on who uses it; in other words, the power of God… … .>

When she came to her senses at the heavy voice, she was suddenly in the prayer room. The sacred atmosphere of the room was smaller than she had thought. When Lara sat down on the sofa against the wall, Elina 5 stood up straight, facing the front.

[The test will begin. Please look straight ahead.]

The guide’s voice was heard, and the room’s brightness gradually increased. A target in the shape of a human head appeared in front of the empty space.

Lara was puzzled for a moment, unable to figure out what kind of test it was. An intense white light shot out from Elina5’s two eyes.

Kwaaaaaaaang―!!

The light shot out without any warning, destroying the target and the wall behind it in just 0.1 seconds. The fragments that shattered into pieces flew all the way to where Lara was sitting. The tips were so sharp that they were embedded deep into the velvet sofa. “Kwaaaaaaaaaaah!!”

<W, WHAT, WHAT!! That!! Calm down, Chosen One!!> ‘Does it really look like that?!!’

The divine power struck the other targets in a straight line like a laser beam. Kwaaaaang!! Boom!! Kwaaaaang-!!

Lara panicked as the walls and floor shook like crazy to the sound of continuous explosions.

Lara ran to the door and scratched at it as she thought that she might die from that beam (divine power).

“Someone! Someone save me! Outside!! Is there anyone?!! I’m dying!! Mom!!”

<Calm down. I was also shocked, but it’s still amazing that divine power can be used like that.>

‘Don’t be amazed! In this situation!!’

No matter how much I look at it, it’s so bizarre that I can’t help but think that whatever the heroine does is pretty in the eyes of the god. A test to hit a target with divine power, I’ve never heard of it or seen it. More importantly, why is the target shaped like a human head? Was it to show that if you get hit by that, even a human head will shatter?

I screamed so loudly without thinking about the condition of my throat that my throat quickly became hoarse. Lara, crouching in front of the door, couldn’t stop crying and looked at Elina 5’s back. She realized that a small back that she wanted to protect could be so scary. She thought she knew why the country thoroughly protected the saintess.

‘Was the divine power this dangerous…? No, didn’t they shoot that at me before?!’

<It has the same power as a nuclear weapon. The country that has the saintess heroine will become a powerful country in the future. Although it was an unimaginable power, the romance world needs at least one heroine like that.> ‘How much of a heroine is she on the side!’

It would have been better if she hadn’t known. Her vision gradually began to turn hazy. In her hazy consciousness, Lara could hear a voice like a ray of light.

[Elina 5 candidate, 99 out of 100. Thank you for your hard work.]

Lara opened her eyes. It was a room with fluttering ivory curtains. The moment I saw the pure white sunlight shining through the gap in the curtains, I flinched at the memory that came back to me like a trauma, but fortunately, it seemed like a peaceful place.

“Are you awake?”

Suddenly, a voice that broke the peace was heard from somewhere. I backed away with my survival instinct and ended up rolling down the bed.

Elina5 just smiled calmly at Lara’s tangled and ugly appearance. Lara realized belatedly that her clothes had changed. A laurel wreath-shaped pure gold hair ornament delicately wrapped her silver hair in two parts, and at the end of her hanging hair, a waist ornament with alternating gold and silver embroidery sparkled. The skirt line was straight overall, but the white lace hem that fell down like water was secretly abundant. It was like a holy garment that only a saint could wear. When Lara opened her mouth, forgetting even her dignity, Elina5 came over and helped her up.

“I was selected as a saint. It was thanks to Miss Shumord who cheered me on from behind.”

‘No… … . All I could do was scream… … .’ “I don’t know how to thank you.”

‘No… … . If you just spare my life… … .’

Every time a gentle hand helped her get out of the blanket, Lara shrugged her shoulders like a helpless boy being hit by a bully’s fist.

She couldn’t even dare to make eye contact. She became even more nervous because she didn’t know when a destructive white light would shoot out of those eyes. Not only her facial muscles, but also the muscles of her entire body were stiff. Cold sweat continued to run down her spine.

“It seems like you’re not feeling well after all. Last time you collapsed, and today you’re sweating and your face is pale.”

“T, this is… I, I have a little bit of a cold… … .” “How did you catch a cold?”

The words filled with worry were automatically filtered to Lara’s ears as the scariest words in the world. When her complexion turned pale, like someone drowning in water, Elina5 rolled up her arms.

“I can’t do this. I have to use some of my divine power… … .”

“Gyaaaaah, I made a mistake!! Please don’t use that!!”

Lara cried again, then quickly got up when she noticed Elina5’s hand trying to grab her wrist. She abandoned her Lady’s shrinking technique and ran out of the room, determined to survive.

“Young-ae! Come back!”

A faint cry was heard from behind her, but Lara couldn’t stop. She wanted to live. This was the first time she had ever wished for it so desperately.

“Ugh… Huh.”

The hallway of the Great Hall was wider and more complicated than she had thought. Every wall she came out of reminded her of a white maze. She had been walking aimlessly for tens of minutes. For the first time, a window connecting the outside of the building appeared before Lara’s eyes.

She just wanted to get out of here. Rather than the terrifying Great Hall, wandering around the natural garden seemed much better for her mental health.

It was something she would never have done normally, but Lara jumped over the window frame to survive. Since she was wearing a knight’s uniform, it was easy to jump over. ‘… Where is the exit to the garden?’

For some reason, Lara had to wander through the garden, which seemed even wider than the inside of the building. In fact, this was a private garden hidden deep in the center of the Great Hall, a space only the Pope could enter. Lara had set foot in a forbidden area where even the Emperor was not allowed to enter.

The garden path, where the dazzling sunlight was sprinkled like gold dust, was decorated with rare ornamental flowers. Lara passed by the green leaves reaching out and entered a secret place where no one would enter. At the end of the small flower garden and pavilion, the outer wall of a building presumed to be an annex was revealed.

‘Is this where people live?’

<Somehow I feel like the male protagonist is in here.> ‘A male protagonist… … ?’

<Michael Lester, the young pope of this country and the male protagonist who captures the hearts of women as a sickly man. He is born with an enormous amount of divine power that transcends human limitations and suffers from heart disease.>

Lara reacted sensitively to the specific word divine power, but tried to control her expression.

<He cannot rest comfortably even for a day, and he suffers every day because he cannot escape the pain in his heart that comes frequently. He is reluctant to leave the garden annex because of the accompanying seizure symptoms.>

‘So that’s what happened. I only heard that the Pope was there, but I’ve never seen him… … . I just thought he was old and didn’t do much outside work.’

<He’s actually only twenty years old.>

Lara felt a bit complicated. He’s living in seclusion because of a heart condition… , some people live well and smell even though they just roll around in their rooms all day and eat spaghetti three times a day.

<Chosen one, it’s your turn to step forward.> ‘Me?’

<Michael hasn’t met any female protagonist yet.>

‘Then shouldn’t he meet me even more? The first person he approaches is the one who tends to have a great attraction, right?’

<You’re right. However… if Michael was consumed by the power of the non-cliche, it’s obvious that there will be problems meeting the female protagonist. You go first and check on the male protagonist’s condition. It would be okay since yo are dressed as a man.>

If we were to meet as men, she could keep Elina’s title of ‘The First Woman to Reach Out’.

Like a special agent who received orders through the radio, Lara quickly approached the building. As she turned the corner of the wall once more, a large window appeared. Through the white fluttering curtains, the dark room scenery despite it being broad daylight appeared and disappeared.

<You have to go through the window.> ‘… Just find the door… … .’