A Mastermind? No, I'm just the Live-In Son-in-Law-Chapter 57: Corruption?

Thankfully, with the surplus of mana I’d stolen from the demon, not a single student had suffered a fatal injury despite being knocked out.

“Saintess. It’s time.”

“......”

“Please identify your hero.”

Regardless, clumsy as it was, it was true that only three participants remained in the tournament, so I leaned toward Hestia beside me and spoke in a low voice.

“This is... such a crude method.”

“...Haha.”

“Did your ‘hero’ really get selected properly like this?”

Hestia, who had been staring absentmindedly at the fallen students, asked me in a voice laced with worry.

“Please trust me, Saintess.”

Of course, I couldn’t give her a definitive answer—this method was undeniably forceful—but I flashed her a bright smile, offering encouragement.

“Even if the awakening fails, we’ll go down together anyway.”

“...Haa.”

She let out a deep sigh and then suddenly asked in a quiet voice,

“What if I awaken and betray you?”

“Hmm, well...”

I hadn’t actually considered that development, so I briefly made an awkward face. Deciding to defuse the moment with humor, I lowered my voice to match hers and whispered back,

“Then I’ll just have to kidnap you again and recondition you until you listen.”

“......”

“You’ll probably realize everything I’ve done until now was child’s play. Hahaha...”

The moment I said it, I regretted it—the look on her face turned ice cold in an instant.

“Uh, that was just a joke...”

“...Well, that doesn’t sound so bad.”

Just as I started fumbling to explain myself, trying to read her expression, Hestia narrowed her eyes and murmured,

“Rather than withering away under the Church’s trials after a failed awakening... maybe being broken by your hand would be better.”

Wait—what the hell is that supposed to mean?

“So, what kind of punishment were you thinking of?”

“......”

“I’ve been through so much already... ordinary punishments don’t even do it for me anymore...”

She leaned in, her tone playful but teasing, her face slightly flushed.

No wonder she’d been saying strange things about the Demon King and whatnot. That timid personality must’ve been stretched too far, and now she was drunk on something she found who-knows-where.

“...Huh. I didn’t expect you to be so weak to jokes like that.”

“We’re out of time. Go.”

From my past life’s experience with family, I knew dealing with drunk people was a pointless waste of time, so I let out a quiet sigh and pushed her gently forward.

“He... he’s controlling a demon.”

“But isn’t he definitely a white mage...?”

Honestly, I wanted to see the birth of the Saintess with my own eyes, but there was no time left.

“...More importantly, Sacred Nation law must be upheld.”

“So then... is he the enemy?”

The Holy Knights, who had begun to move again after Azrael’s binding spell wore off, were now eyeing me suspiciously from behind.

‘This is bad.’

If they interfered before Hestia ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) finished awakening, everything could fall apart.

And I couldn’t risk involving the executives just to stop them.

If Hestia failed to awaken—then fine, I’d take the blame alone. But I couldn’t let others suffer judgment from the Sacred Nation because of it.

“Haha, everyone, if I could just say something—”

“It’s no use.”

Just as I took a step forward, trying to persuade the Holy Knights...

“Sheesh. When have they ever listened before?”

Meredia, who had been silently watching me for some time, stepped forward to block my path.

“Your Highness?”

“Don’t talk to me. I might kill you.”

Startled, I tried to speak—having been watching her closely ever since she fell silent—but all I got in return was a cold, murderous rebuke.

“I’m sor—”

“...Why would you pull something like that without saying a word?”

I tried to apologize, despite having no excuse, but Meredia’s voice trembled slightly.

“You scared me... you bastard.”

Only then did I finally see the pale fear in her face.

‘This isn’t the time to be thinking like this... but... why is she so cute?’

That inappropriate thought popped into my head before I quickly shook it away and opened my mouth.

“Your Highness, if you get involved with me right now, things could—”

“The moment we got engaged, there were already mountains of problems.”

Cutting me off mid-sentence, she murmured and moved to stand beside me.

“I’ll share the trial. If I give up most of my rights, I should at least be able to keep my life.”

“There’s no need for that—”

“...Guess you didn’t understand me, Whitney Ringaarden.”

And shockingly, she took my hand in hers and calmly declared in a cold voice,

“You’re part of my property now. That was the contract, wasn’t it?”

“......”

“You don’t get to choose anymore. Got it?”

I don’t know whether to be touched or terrified.

“If you didn’t like it, you shouldn’t have sold me your rights.”

“Haha...”

This translation is the intellectual property of Novelight.

“...If you get it, then deal with that demon having a fit over there first.”

Of course, this wasn’t the time to hesitate, so I did as Meredia said and approached Azrael, who was still thrashing wildly on the ground.

“Be good, okay? Just shrink down for a bit and hide in my clothes, won’t you?”

“GRAAAAGH!!!”

“...Hmm. Not listening very well, huh.”

Trying to control a demon I’d bound without any real preparation was, unsurprisingly, beyond my limits.

“At this point... all I can really manage is keeping her from attacking anyone.”

“Haa.”

Seeing me cautiously muttering, Meredia clutched her head, sighed, and then spoke as if she had no other choice.

“I’ll get rid of the witnesses.”

“...What?”

“I’ll take responsibility. You just hide somewhere with that thing—”

The solution she came up with was terrifyingly simple and efficient. I broke out in a cold sweat at her words... and that’s when I heard it.

“No.”

Right behind me, Hestia’s calm, clear voice cut through the air.

“There’s no need for that.”

“What are you talking about?”

Meredia turned her head sharply, frowning and clearly on edge, as she questioned Hestia.

“......Huh?”

“I know the optimal solution.”

When I turned to look at her too, I couldn’t help but stare, my mouth slightly open.

‘...Is her body... glowing?’

With all the dark energy hanging in the air, it was hard to be sure.

But if what I was seeing was real... then there could only be one explanation.

‘Did the Hero... finally awaken?’

In the original game, when the Hero makes contact with the Saintess and she awakens, her body always glows.

So if she was glowing now... then this reckless deathmatch strategy had actually worked.

“Saintess, which of the three is the Hero—wait, huh?”

I quickly turned to ask Hestia, but she silently brushed past me and stopped directly in front of Meredia.

“So, Lady Meredia.”

“You...”

“I’d like to ask a small favor.”

She spoke in a calm, mystical tone completely unlike her usual, humiliated self. A radiant energy surrounded her as she opened her mouth.

“...What did you say?”

Meredia’s jewel-like eyes suddenly widened.

“Have you lost your mind, Saintess?”

Meredia’s pupils turned a deep red as she began to release killing intent at Hestia without even trying to hide it.

‘...What in the world?’

What had she said to make the usually composed Lady Meredia react like that, even in a situation like this?

“Come now, follow me.”

“...Uh...”

Before I could even process the thought, Hestia grabbed my arm and began leading me toward the Holy Knights.

“Saintess, what exactly are you trying to—”

“...Just leave it to me from here.”

Maybe it was my imagination, but for some reason, the line she said as she held onto my arm sounded oddly familiar.

“This time, I’ll be the one to save you.”

Wait a second—wasn’t that the highlight quote the Saintess says to the Hero in Chapter 1 of the game?

***

“All Holy Knights, halt where you are!”

“......!?”

“Your Saintess is here!”

The Holy Knights surrounding Whitney and preparing for battle all froze in place, eyes wide, as Hestia suddenly appeared before them.

“S-Saintess...?”

“Is this... an illusion from the demon?”

“No... there’s no way an illusion could reproduce divine power of that magnitude...”

Even though Hestia’s appearance was different from usual due to Bergen’s disguise magic, the radiance surrounding her—and the terrifying wave of holy energy spreading through the air—left no doubt of her identity.

“W-We should contact the Holy Nation, right?”

“Yes, we need to confirm this first.”

“...If she’s really the Saintess, this is huge.”

Despite the overwhelming presence she radiated, the Holy Knights still hesitated, wary due to the suddenness of her appearance.

– RUMBLE...!

But at that very moment, a deafening crash filled the arena as the sky split open, bathing the stadium in blinding light.

“Kyaaaaaaaagh!”

Simultaneously, Azrael—who had been bound to the ground by Whitney—began to burn up entirely.

At that, not just the Holy Knights, but everyone in the arena had no choice but to believe Hestia’s words.

“This... this is a miracle.”

“Has the Goddess’s blessing reached the heavens...?”

As the Holy Knights dropped their weapons and knelt before her, Hestia, briefly tense, steadied her voice and began to speak.

“...Brothers and sisters. I spent a long journey in hiding, evading the clutches of evil. But guided by the Goddess’s blessing and revelation, I have returned to this place.”

At that point, she paused, subtly glancing at Whitney. Then she looked up toward the sky, seemingly expecting divine judgment—but no lightning bolt struck her for lying.

“And by the benevolence of the Great Goddess, I have at last found the Hero to whom I can entrust my fate... and awaken as the true Saintess!”

With her voice now infused with confidence, Hestia’s declaration echoed powerfully through the eerily silent arena.

“And now, I shall introduce my Hero to you all.”

As everyone’s attention in the arena locked onto Hestia—

“...Well? What are you waiting for?”

“...Huh?”

Still trying to keep her composure, she suddenly jabbed Whitney in the side with her elbow and whispered.

“This is the solution I came up with.”

“Wait, hold on a sec—”

“You dared to kidnap and train the Saintess. Now it’s time to take responsibility.”

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Whitney finally understood her plan and tried to retreat, but it was already far too late.

“The Hero who will save the world with me...”

Hestia had already linked arms with him and forced a smile for everyone to see.

“Now, go on and declare it for all to hear.”

“...What?”

“I’ll keep the fact that you’re actually the Demon King our little secret...”

That tiny, mischievous smirk at the corner of her lips—tinged with a hint of delicious betrayal—caught Whitney completely off guard.

And in the next instant, alarm bells exploded in his head.

‘...Wait. Is this... the Saintess Corruption Route?’

He had just now realized—the light pouring from Hestia’s body wasn’t pure white.

It was a deep, murky gray.