For a while afterward, Claire spent her days taking the Saintess verification exam with a serious demeanor.
Initially, I followed her like a bodyguard out of concern for Claire, but after two or three days, I realized that she didn't need my company.
Fully armed knights tightly protected Claire and the candidates, while the seemingly ordinary groups of handsome young men, radiating an astonishing aura, were each stationed beside the candidates.
Having witnessed this reliable scene firsthand, I realized I didn't need to be present, so I decided to only pick Claire up and drop her off in the mornings and evenings, leaving the rest of the time to my own devices.
Although the hero knights would leave at night, the dormitory was located in a safe area, and the knightly order was stationed inside the church for protection… To be honest, what concerned me more than anything else was Sister Clarice… But for some reason, even when we met, she only smiled and greeted us, acting as if she had nothing to do with it, so I decided to observe for the time being.
If it was all an act, that would be terrifying. What exactly was going on? Even if it was just acting, the presence of the Hero Knights would make it difficult to cause trouble.
I've witnessed the Hero Knights' strength firsthand, and the heroes' kindness is as common sense as Esendia's… they should be trustworthy, right?
Anyway, Lisbeth and I spent some time in the royal capital's library and guild administration offices, researching information on how to become stronger.
Right now, I didn't really want to go far to level up, so I mainly looked at information about skills or aura… other skills aside, aura is too abstract, so I'll leave that aside for now.
Something about sensing Ethel energy within through meditation. Utter nonsense.
Skipping aura and looking at skills, I found suitable skills in a book that seemed to be written by a martial artist, and decided to prioritize learning one or two.
Although blunt weapons are relatively uncommon and don't have dedicated skills, this book compiled the usage methods, training methods, and acquisition methods for most weapons, including blunt weapons, as well as related basic skills. I'm extremely grateful.
However, it only records basic skills; if you want to study more advanced, it says to find a master… but it's already good enough. Thank you, nameless martial artist!
You even compiled weapon techniques into a book!
Although I still don't understand things like detonating the Ethel within my body… Lisbeth said that as long as I repeatedly recall the book's contents and keep swinging the mace, I'll naturally understand.
That's right. Anyway, let's get moving. That's how we protect my females.
After a while, every morning after taking Claire to the examination hall, Lisbeth and I would practice the skills recorded in the book on monsters in the royal capital, returning in the evening to pick up Claire.
Although I haven't been able to successfully execute any skills yet, I seem to be getting the hang of it… Speaking of which, I didn't expect there to be even a few small monsters inside the city walls.
The vastness of the royal capital is truly terrifying.
"The only thing left to do is… tomorrow's ascetic prayer. Hmm…" Back in the dormitory, while Lisbeth and Claire went to shower, I sat naked on the bed, examining the paper recording the schedule for the Saintess Selection Examination.
Claire said she felt good about the exams so far.
Due to unforeseen circumstances causing the trip to be significantly moved forward, the previously ample time has become tight… Fortunately, the exams seem to have all gone smoothly.
Tomorrow's penance and prayer only requires physical presence; no preparation is needed… Hmm. Don't do anything else today, just get a good night's sleep.
Once this penance and prayer is completed, the other candidates will seem inadequate in every aspect, and I should be able to compare and verify my chances with Clarice.
Paul seems to be preparing for that, meeting with various archbishops… Hmm. What will happen?
Despite all this effort, for some time now, Clarice immediately frowns whenever she sees Paul.
Clarice, who used to manage to maintain her composure, now openly displays a look of disgust as if she'd seen an insect.
What good deeds has she done during this time… Even if I don't interfere, Paul, you'll jump into the cesspool yourself.
"Yahaha♡ Really!?"
"Yeah. So…" The sound of two cheerful laughs came from the bathroom.
Lately, these two have been secretly talking behind my back.
They say it's a secret topic between girls… Although they promised to tell me later, I feel a little disappointed. While a harmonious relationship is a good thing, I never expected that today they would use the excuse of needing to discuss business to go take a bath alone!
Despair!
I also want to bathe skin-to-skin with my females!
What!?
You're completely used to it, my little brother!
Squirting around like that, you must be sad too!
Just as Сock and I were immersed in our solitude, the two of them emerged, naked, drying their hair with towels.
"Hehehe... Ah~ That's nice... Hmm. Claire. Are you mentally prepared?"
"...Hmm. Liz. Ready."
"Hmm? Ready for what? Don't just laugh at the two of you, let me join in too."
Satisfied with admiring the clean bodies of my females, I made my request to the two of them, my loneliness palpable.
At that moment, Lizbet said, "Wait a moment~", and after using magic to dry Claire's and her own hair, sat down naked close to me.
"Hehe…♡Master. Claire says she has a request♡"
"Hmm? A request? What is it?" Since it's my female's request, I'll grant it no matter what. So…
"…Haa, um…"
"Hehe…Come here. Claire. If you don't tell me, Master won't know, okay?"
"Th-that…M-Master. I heard from Liz that…"
Since when, Claire has stopped using honorifics and started calling Lizbet affectionately.
Using honorifics seems to be Claire's habit, but now it's completely like a friend. Hmm. That's a good thing.
But to Lizbet?
What should she say?
"That…the relationship with Liz…that is to say, when Master became Master…Liz swore an oath of obedience to Master, um, um…as a female…"
…Huh?
Now Claire is bringing this up…could it be?
"Th-that oath of obedience…is…" Oh.
This…no, already!?
"Can, can I experience…once…?"…Hmm?
Experience?
So…you want to try the vow Lisbeth made, even if you don't really want to, but you want to give it a try?
"…Um? You said you want to experience it?"
"Hehe♡ Recently, Claire has been super~ disappointed in Paul. As soon as the Saint Election is over, I'll put everything else aside and just break off my engagement with Paul first♡"
Wow… Paul. I didn't do anything and I was automatically dumped. That's amazing.
"In this situation, for Claire, the only other male is you, Master?"
Yes. That's right. I am Claire's male and Master.
"To become Master's female, one must offer their virginity, but since she's a nun, it seems a bit of a dilemma♡ Although clergy don't necessarily have to be chaste, they still value it. If the object isn't the marriage partner, and it's discovered, you might be dismissed."
Oh, even dismissed? That's a bit harsh? Hmm, no. Clergy usually outwardly emphasize abstinence.
First of all, since Claire is a clergyman, she must be struggling with whether following her desires is right...
"After learning that my fiancé Paul is a good-for-nothing...♡ I just want to obey you, Master...♡ But because I'm a clergyman, I'm still hesitant♡"
"Hmm... So? Why did this turn into experiencing a declaration of obedience?"
"Hehe...♡ Come on, Claire♡" Seeing my serious, masterly attitude, Lisbeth urged Claire to answer.
"Haa, haa... um... I... tried following Mr. Semo and calling him Master... but I'm not sure if this is really what I want..." What...? How could this be?
The status bar clearly shows that Claire is currently infatuated with me?
What's going on?
Why is she saying this now?
"Because I've only heard others talk about it in the church... I'm not sure if love is like this... Ah, no, indeed for you, Master... um... it should be liking..." Ah... I see.
Claire, who grew up in the church and is blind... she's only heard about love from others, right?
Surrounded by clergy, the stories were nothing more than fairy tales.
Drawn to me in this state, despite remaining a virgin, we repeatedly touched skin… yet I doubted whether this stirring was truly love.
"Liz… Liz said that offering my virginity would confirm it…! But even so, I'm still a little afraid to offer my virginity so easily… Just then, I heard Liz swear to her master to submit as a female… My heart inexplicably raced… I wanted to understand that feeling, so I…"
"Hmm. I see. Claire. I understand what you mean."
A smile unconsciously crept onto her lips upon hearing Claire's words.
This was another new experience.
Want to try swearing to her master to offer everything?
"Then, first experience swearing to submit as a female to me… If you confirm that this is what you desire, what do you plan to do next?"
I could anticipate what she would say.
But regarding this, I had to hear Claire say it herself.
It seemed it was time to end this experience.
"…Yes. If I gain that certainty, I…" Claire took a deep breath, clasping her hands together in front of her chest.
Having just bathed and completely naked, the way she clasped her hands before me inexplicably exuded a sense of devout worship.
"I will become my master's female." From Claire's resolute expression, she declared her determination to become female.