Chapter 49: Divine AssignmentGrace collapsed onto the training field in a sweaty heap. Her muscles burned. Her lungs burned. Her freaking eyeballs burned.

    "Is... is that good enough?" she wheezed.

    Seraph loomed over her, arms crossed, expression completely unimpressed.

    "You call that training? My grandmother hits harder than you, and she’s been dead for three centuries!"

    "That’s not fair!" Grace protested. "Your grandmother was probably some legendary warrior who killed demons with her pinky finger!"

    "She was a baker."

    "Oh."

    "GET UUUP! FIFTY MORE REPS!"

    Grace groaned and forced her trembling body upright. It had been a month since the Oakridge mission. A whole month of Seraph’s relentless training regime. No demon-slaying, just endless sword drills, flight practice, and whatever sadistic exercise Seraph dreamed up each morning.

    She raised her practice sword for what felt like the millionth time that day.

    [I think she’s actually trying to kill me. Can angels die from exhaustion? I might be the first to find out.]

    Three hours later, Grace dragged herself back to her quarters, a trail of sweat marking her path. The rookie dorms—which at this point was just her house since no other rookies had shown up—loomed ahead. Well, her house plus three uninvited roommates.

    After the attack at the Banquet by that Veil member, Isolde, Seraph had decided Grace needed protection. Her solution? Make Diana move in. Because nothing said "safety" like living with a woman who spent half her time throwing Grace into walls during training.

    Of course, Alia and Zephyr were both still rooming with Grace. Which meant Grace’s once-peaceful home now housed a grumpy warrior, and two Love Sisters, all of which treated clothing as an optional concept.

    Grace pushed open her front door and immediately regretted having eyes.

    "Oh GODDESS!"

    Diana was on the couch. Alia was also on the couch. Specifically, Alia was sprawled across the cushions, back arched, her ass in the air while Diana’s fingers casually worked between her legs.

    Grace slammed her hands over her eyes.

    "SERIOUSLY?!"

    "Welcome home," Zephyr, who was nearby, eating a sandwich, said. "Bad day?"

    Alia waved cheerfully.

    "Hi Grace! Wanna join— Ah! Right there, Diana!"

    "I didn’t sign up for... for... lewd exhibitions!" Grace squeaked, backing into the wall with her eyes still covered.

    "Door has a lock," Diana replied, sounding utterly bored. "You should try using it sometime."

    "This is the living room! OUR living room!"

    "And we’re living in it," Diana shot back. "Deal with it."

    Grace fumbled her way to what had become her bedroom, bumping into at least three pieces of furniture before slamming her door.

    [This is fine. Everything is fine. Just three sexually liberated angels turning my house into... whatever this is. Totally normal.]

    She flopped face-first onto her bed, too exhausted to even change out of her training clothes. Just as she felt sleep’s sweet embrace approaching, a knock rattled her door.

    "Whoever you are, I’m dead. Again. Come back tomorrow," she mumbled into her pillow.

    The door cracked open anyway. Zephyr poked her head in.

    "Message for you. From Archangel Celestia."

    Grace shot upright.

    "What? When? Why?"

    "Dawn tomorrow. Her chambers." Zephyr’s eyes traveled over Grace’s sweaty, disheveled form. "Might want to bathe first."

    "Is that all it said? No hints about what she wants?"

    Zephyr shook her head.

    "No, but..." She lowered her voice. "The faction leaders are all attending too."

    "All three of them?" Grace’s stomach did a nervous flip. "That can’t be good."

    "Could just be a progress report." Zephyr shrugged. "Try not to overthink it."

    But Grace was already overthinking it. Hard.

    ---

    By dawn, Grace had overthought herself into a full-blown panic. She’d bathed (twice), tried to sleep (failed), and practiced saying "Yes, Archangel" without sounding like a terrified child (also failed).

    She stood outside Celestia’s chambers, taking deep breaths.

    [You can do this. It’s just the most powerful angels in existence judging your every move. No pressure.]

    She knocked.

    "Enter," came Celestia’s melodic voice.

    Grace pushed open the massive doors to find exactly what she’d feared: Celestia seated on her crystalline throne, flanked by Seraph, Mara, and Venus. All four pairs of eyes turned to her.

    "Grace Lightsinger," Celestia smiled. "Right on time."

    Grace bowed, praying she wouldn’t trip over her own feet.

    "Archangel. Uhm, leaders. You... wanted to see me?"

    "Wow, so formal!" Mara giggled.

    "I-I figured... Whatever," Grace deflated.

    "Indeed." Celestia rose, her rainbow-hued wings spreading slightly. "Anyway, we have a situation that requires your unique abilities."

    "A demon?" Grace asked, reflexively reaching for the sword that wasn’t there.

    "Not exactly. A village called Rosewood has reported an outbreak of illness. Symptoms resemble demonic corruption, but with... differences."

    Grace blinked.

    "Oh. You want me to heal sick people?"

    "We want you to determine if this is natural illness or something more sinister," Celestia corrected. "If it’s the latter, your ability to eradicate corruption without killing will be invaluable."

    Before Grace could respond, Mara stepped forward. Actually, Mara’s chest stepped forward first, followed by the rest of her. Grace found herself eye-level with the most intimidating cleavage in the Angelic Dominion.

    "This is perfect!" Mara exclaimed, clasping Grace’s shoulders. "A chance to develop your healing abilities in a real scenario! I’ve been telling Celestia you need practical experience."

    Grace tried very hard to maintain eye contact and not look down. She failed. Twice.

    "I... um... thank you?"

    Seraph made a disgusted noise from the side.

    "Soft mission. The girl needs combat experience, not nursemaid duty."

    "Not everything is solved with a sword, Seraph," Mara shot back, finally releasing Grace from her bosomy prison.

    "Most things are."

    "Ladies," Celestia interrupted gently. "This mission serves multiple purposes."

    Venus, who had been silent until now, glided forward. Her hips swayed with each step.

    "And let’s not forget," she purred, running a finger down Grace’s arm, "healing hands can be useful in many contexts."

    Grace’s face went full-tomato.

    "In any case," Celestia continued, slightly louder, "you’ll depart tomorrow. Mara will accompany you, along with a small team."

    "How many people are affected?" Grace asked, trying to sound professional despite her burning cheeks.

    "Reports suggest around a hundred villagers showing symptoms," Celestia replied. "The local healer is overwhelmed."

    Grace’s eyes widened. A hundred people? Her biggest healing challenge so far had been cuts and minor burns. This was leagues beyond that.

    "I... I’m not sure I’m qualified—"

    "You are," Mara said firmly. "I’ll be with you every step of the way."

    "This isn’t a request, Lightsinger," Seraph added. "It’s an assignment. It’s angel work."

    "From all three factions, no less," Venus said.

    Grace swallowed hard.

    "Then I accept."

    Celestia nodded approvingly.

    "Good. Mara will brief you on the details. You’re dismissed."

    Grace bowed again and backed toward the door, desperate to escape before she said something stupid. Just as she reached for the handle, golden text appeared in her vision:

    「Quest Gained!」

    Category: Compassion

    Objective: Heal the Rosewood Corruption: 0/100 villagers cured

    Reward: +10 Compassion

    Her eyes widened.

    [A hundred people. The System wants me to heal a hundred people with some mysterious disease that might be demon-related.]

    She glanced back at the four celestial beings watching her. They couldn’t see the floating text. They didn’t know about her System, about the pressure it added.

    They were just... well, kinda waiting for her to leave.

    The past month of brutal training had changed her. She knew it had. In quiet moments alone, she’d checked her status more times than she cared to admit.

    「Status」

    Bravery: 40/100

    Compassion: 26/100

    Love: 16/100

    Traits:

    - Saintess System

    Can see System information

    - Touch of the Saintess

    Able to kill demons Sear?h the ηovelFire.ηet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    - Divine Attraction

    As Grace’s attributes increase, she will become more attractive to everything around her.

    Skills:

    「Blade of Eternia (Lvl. 3)」

    「Soothing Hands (Lvl. 2)」

    「Golden Tongue (Lvl. 2)」

    「Aura Sight (Level 2)」

    「Divine Insight (Level 1)」

    「Aura Cleanse (Level 1)」

    Equipment:

    1. 「Blade of Dawn」

    A rapier made of divine light.

    「Equipment Synergy: Power grows with Bravery attribute (10/100)」

    2. 「Stardust Veil」

    A lightweight, shimmering silver arm guard that extends from wrist to elbow. When activated, it hardens and is able to deflect or absorb a single strike before needing to recharge.

    Recharge time: 30 seconds

    Her Bravery had shot up thanks to Seraph’s relentless drilling. Her other stats had barely budged. Not surprising, considering she’d spent most days collapsed in exhaustion after training. Hard to spread compassion or love when you could barely lift your head.

    But now, with this new mission... maybe things would balance out a bit.

    "Thank you for this opportunity," she managed, then slipped out the door before her knees gave out.

    In the hallway, she leaned against the cool marble wall and took a shaky breath.

    A hundred sick villagers. A mysterious illness. And her—disaster-prone, barely-trained Grace—as their only hope.

    [What could possibly go wrong?]

    Everything. Everything could go wrong.

    But she’d do it anyway. Because that’s what angels did, right?

    That’s what Eternia would want her to do.