The Abandoned Saint I Picked Up is a Side Character in an Otome Game and Turns Out to Be the World's Strongest Mage. I Plan to Rescue the Heroine Who Couldn't Achieve Her Happy Ending in a Dungeon. - Chapter 3

“I can’t believe this is actually a dungeon…”

I muttered to myself as I gazed out the window at the forest stretching beyond.

The sun hung in the sky just like on the surface, and the wind rattled the window frame as it blew past.
Even though Endo-san said this was inside a dungeon, it was hard to believe.

But more unbelievable than the setting was the situation I now found myself in.

From a young age, I was told repeatedly that magicians who sacrificed others for their own goals were evil beings.
Stories of people being kidnapped by magicians and later found in gruesome conditions were not uncommon.

And yet, here I was, being sheltered by one of those very magicians.

To be honest, Endo-san isn’t what I’d call a good person.

He killed without hesitation, with the kind of ease that only someone who’s taken many lives could exhibit.

But I also didn’t think he was entirely evil.

He had spoken to me, a stranger, when I was at my lowest. He had fought off the assassins sent after me and brought me to a safe place.
Sure, he casually mentioned that he spends his time at home in the nude, and he stared at my chest and legs a little too much, but… he didn’t seem like a bad person.

At the very least…

“He’s much kinder than the people at the Academy.”

In the royal capital of Andarencia, there is the Royal Academy where noble sons and daughters learn the art of magic.

For me, that place was hell.

It all started after my parents passed away from an epidemic. Around that time, I awakened to the power of Light Magic.
Hearing of this, the King of Andarencia declared me a descendant of the Saint and had me forcibly enrolled in the Academy by royal decree, without even giving me time to grieve for my parents.

That much, I could endure.

According to old legends, Light Magic had the power to heal any illness or injury.

I thought that if I learned to use it, I might be able to save others who couldn’t afford expensive medicine, like my parents.
I thought I could help prevent children like me from ending up alone in the world.

So, I told myself I was lucky to be able to attend the Academy and learn magic for free.
At least, that’s what I thought.

Reality, however, was cruel.

As a commoner who had awakened to the rare attribute of Light Magic, I was nothing but a nuisance to the nobles.

At first, the bullying was mild—things like hiding my pens or notebooks.
I had expected a bit of harassment from the start, so I ignored it, thinking they’d eventually get bored and leave me alone.

But the bullying only escalated.

When they realized I wouldn’t retaliate no matter what, it became worse.
During practical magic lessons, they would “accidentally” hit me with spells.
They often resorted to physical violence too, leaving bruises in places hidden by my clothes.

Occasionally, there were kind-hearted people who tried to reach out to me.

The Crown Prince of Andarencia, a Duke’s son who was the prince’s aide, the sons of the Knight Commander and the Magic Division Head, and even a commoner teacher at the Academy…

To be honest, they were more of a hindrance than anything else.

At first, I was grateful for their concern.

But every single one of them was a charming, well-liked man who treated everyone with kindness.
Because of that, the harassment from the other girls only intensified.

The bullying didn’t stop—instead, it grew worse whenever those men weren’t around.

They didn’t realize that their involvement was accelerating the bullying rather than deterring it.
And yet, they had the audacity to say, “It’s okay, we’re here for you,” as if that solved everything.

So, I began avoiding them.

When they spoke to me, I gave curt replies and did my best to keep my distance.
But then, the girls turned that against me, accusing me of being arrogant.

What was I supposed to do?

Even so, I endured it.

I was at my breaking point, but I told myself I’d prove them all wrong someday.
What finally pushed me over the edge was a single comment from the leader of the group that had been bullying me.

“It’s such a shame how ignorant commoners are. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree—trash parents raise trash children.”

My parents were kind people.

We may not have lived in luxury, but they were never the kind of people who would mock or torment others.
They had hearts full of compassion, something these nobles could never understand.

That’s why, when my parents were insulted, I couldn’t hold back.

I was so angry, so devastated, that I lost control of my magic.

My outburst injured many people, and I was expelled from the Academy as a dangerous individual.
Even the men who had tried to protect me before now looked at me with fear, calling me a witch.

A witch.

That title suited me far better than “descendant of the Saint.”

“…I wonder if Endo-san will fear me too if he finds out I’m a witch.”

The thought made me uneasy.

How would he look at me then, this man who had been so kind to me?

“At the very least, I want to believe he’s different from the men at the Academy who thought they were protecting me.”

He had effortlessly defeated the assassins, likely sent by someone in the kingdom who viewed me as a threat.

He’s a magician.

He might have done things far worse than I could imagine.
Even so, I can’t forget the sight of his back as he stood in front of me to protect me.

With his large dark circles under his eyes, sharp gaze, and unkempt long hair tied back in a messy bundle, he’s far from well-groomed.

But still…

“…He was really cool…”

I can feel my heart beating a little faster.

The robe he lent me carries his scent, and it oddly makes me feel calm.
I can’t believe I’m thinking this way about a man I just met.

But then again, my mother once told me she fell in love with my father at first sight and confessed to him herself.

Maybe it runs in the family. If I work hard, could I make it work too?

“…Wait, what am I thinking?!”

Calm down.

I’ve been lost in my thoughts for too long and am starting to think about unnecessary things.

“…Huh?”

That’s when I noticed something sticking out from under the sofa in the living room.

It looked like the corner of some paper. Curious, I reached down, picked it up, and opened it without much thought.

It was an art book.

It was filled with dozens of meticulously drawn illustrations, almost lifelike in their detail.

But the content…

They were all drawings of women in revealing clothing and suggestive poses—illustrations so indecent that just looking at them made me blush.

“Th-this is… an erotic book!”

It reminded me of how my father used to hide similar books under his bed.
Whenever I found them, he’d beg me, “Don’t tell your mother,” and bribe me with pocket money to keep quiet.

Of course, I’d immediately report it to my mother, earning another bribe from her. Those were fond memories.

“…All the women in here have big chests…”

I noticed something as I flipped through the pages. Every woman in the book had large breasts.

I glanced down at my own chest.

…Hmm.

I think mine are a bit bigger than the women in the drawings, and they’re probably better shaped too.
Maybe… maybe I have a chance.

Just as I was entertaining that thought—

Ding-dong!

The sound of the doorbell echoed, startling me so much I nearly jumped.

It was followed by an angry voice shouting from outside and the sound of someone pounding on the door.

“…Who could that be? It’s not Endo-san, right?”

Endo-san is the owner of this house; he wouldn’t be knocking or ringing the bell. He’d just come in.

It’s probably better not to answer.

That was my instinct, and I decided to stay quiet.

But before I could fully commit to ignoring them, the intruder suddenly destroyed the front door and stormed inside.

“Begone, fool! Today I shall finally settle the grudge I hold from that day—wait, who are you?”

“Um, I’m Ariel. Endo-san’s apprentice.”

“Oh, how polite of you to introduce yourself,” the intruder replied, bowing slightly.

Standing before me was an adorable girl with fox ears and a fluffy tail.