How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess!

Complete walkthrough, gameplay mechanics, and story overview for the visual novel experience

How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess! stands out as a free adult visual novel crafted with Ren’Py, featuring stunning renders from Illusion’s Koikatsu. The game transports players to a magical world filled with knights, wizards, monsters, and demons, where you play as an ordinary boy who must become the protector of the Saintess—a childhood friend and one of the world’s most powerful beings. With multiple character routes, engaging storytelling, and immersive gameplay, this visual novel offers players a unique narrative experience. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to explore all available paths, understanding the core mechanics and story structure will enhance your journey through this fantasy adventure.

Game Overview and Story Structure

Ever found yourself scrolling through endless game stores, looking for something that combines a gripping fantasy story with meaningful choices and stunning visuals? 😮‍💨 I certainly have. That’s how I stumbled upon “How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess!”—a title that promises classic fantasy adventure but delivers so much more through its clever visual novel multiple paths. Let me walk you through everything that makes this game a hidden gem in the Ren’Py landscape. ✨

What is How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess!?

Imagine growing up next door to someone who is basically a living legend. That’s the everyday reality for our hero, the Saintess bodyguard protagonist. He’s just an ordinary guy in a world brimming with magic, knights, and demons, while his childhood friend is Elara, the Saintess—a young woman destined to wield immense holy power to protect the kingdom. Their lives are simple, until a sudden, catastrophic accident injures the Saintess’s appointed guardians. In a moment of desperate need, our utterly average protagonist is thrust into the role of her sole protector. Talk about a career change! 🛡️

This is the core premise of “How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess!” visual novel. It’s a free-to-play experience built with the Ren’Py engine that masterfully blends character-driven drama with classic fantasy tropes. You’re not playing as a chosen hero or a secret prince; you’re a regular person trying to survive in a fantastical world while protecting its most important figure. This relatable grounding is what makes the fantasy visual novel gameplay so compelling. You’ll navigate political intrigue, monster threats, and deep personal relationships, all while trying not to get fired (or worse, killed!) from your impromptu bodyguard gig.

The world is beautifully realized through Koikatsu character renders, which give each character a distinct and expressive anime-style appearance. From the serene glow of the Saintess to the intimidating glares of demonic foes, the visual presentation pulls you deep into its realm. Whether you’re on Windows, Mac, Linux, or even Android, this story is ready to unfold on your device, offering a premium narrative experience without the price tag.

Understanding the Visual Novel Format and Multiple Routes

If you’re new to visual novels, think of them as interactive storybooks where your decisions steer the narrative. This isn’t a action RPG; the primary gameplay is reading, choosing, and watching the consequences unfold. “How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess!” follows a structure beloved by fans of Japanese visual novels, centered around the concept of multiple paths.

Here’s how it worked on my first playthrough: The game begins with a Common Route. This is several hours of story where you, as the new bodyguard, get acquainted with your duties, the world, and the cast of characters. It’s the foundational story everyone experiences. Think of it like the first season of a TV show, setting up all the characters and conflicts. During this common route, you’ll make numerous dialogue and action choices. These choices build your affinity—basically, your relationship points—with the different heroines.

Pro Tip from My Playthrough: Don’t try to please everyone! On my first attempt, I spread my choices too thin and ended up on the generic “friend to all” path. To reach a specific character’s ending, you often need to consistently choose options that align with her personality and interests. 🎯

Once the common route concludes, the game examines your choices. Whichever heroine you’ve grown closest to will determine which Saintess game story routes you unlock. This branching is the heart of the fantasy visual novel gameplay. Your journey with the stoic knight captain will be vastly different from your adventure with the mischievous court mage, even though they start from the same pivotal moment. This design guarantees high replay value; to see the whole story of this world, you need to play through each route.

Character Paths and Heroine Selection

This is where “How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess!” truly shines. Your choices lead you down one of four dedicated character arcs, each exploring a unique facet of the game’s world and offering a different perspective on the central plot. The Saintess game story routes are not just romantic subplots (though romance is often a key element); they are fully fleshed-out narrative branches that reveal hidden truths, face distinct threats, and develop your Saintess bodyguard protagonist in different ways.

Choosing a path isn’t just about picking a favorite design (though the Koikatsu character renders make that very tempting!). It’s about deciding which relationship and which aspect of the story you want to explore first. Here’s a breakdown of the four core heroines and their routes:

• Elara, The Saintess: The childhood friend route. This path delves deep into the burden of destiny, the nature of holy power, and the complexities of redefining a lifelong relationship under intense pressure. It’s the most emotionally intimate and central to the game’s core premise.
• Captain Valeria, The Knight Commander: The duty and honor route. Aligning with Valeria thrusts you into the military and political machinations of the kingdom. Expect more action-oriented challenges, strategic dilemmas, and a story about proving your worth in a world of seasoned warriors.
• Lyra, The Court Mage: The arcane mystery route. This path focuses on the mystical and intellectual threats to the kingdom. You’ll uncover ancient secrets, deal with magical anomalies, and explore a more cerebral, intrigue-filled storyline alongside a brilliantly sharp-minded partner.
• Seraphina, The Mysterious Stranger: The outsider’s perspective route. Often the most plot-critical and surprising branch, Seraphina’s route challenges the established lore of the world. It’s ideal for a second or third playthrough, as it recontextualizes events from other paths and introduces game-changing revelations.

The beauty of this visual novel multiple paths system is that there is no single “true” ending. Each route is a valid, complete story that contributes to the larger tapestry of the game’s world. Your role as the Saintess bodyguard protagonist evolves uniquely in each one, sometimes focusing on emotional support, other times on tactical cunning or unwavering loyalty.

Now, let’s get into the nuts and bolts. Before you dive into these stories, here’s a handy table with everything you need to know about the game’s technical specs. This info is pulled straight from the developer’s notes and my own installs across different devices. 🖥️📱

As a Ren’Py adult game, it utilizes the engine’s strengths for smooth branching narrative management and easy saving/loading. The development has been a journey, with the full v1.0 release representing the complete vision for all Saintess game story routes. The Koikatsu character renders ensure a consistent and high-quality visual style that brings every scene to life, from quiet moments of dialogue to tense confrontations.

What ultimately sets “How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess!” visual novel apart is its commitment to making your choices matter in a meaningful, narrative-driven way. It’s a testament to how powerful the visual novel multiple paths format can be for telling a rich, interconnected fantasy story. You’re not just reading a tale about a bodyguard; through your decisions, you are living his trials, his bonds, and his hard-won victories. So, which path will you choose first? Your journey as the reluctant protector awaits. 🗡️✨

How I Became the Bodyguard of the Saintess! delivers an engaging visual novel experience that combines fantasy worldbuilding with character-driven storytelling. The game’s structure, featuring a common route followed by four distinct heroine paths, ensures that players can explore multiple narratives and uncover different story outcomes. With its free-to-play model, cross-platform availability, and immersive Koikatsu renders, the game appeals to both newcomers and experienced visual novel enthusiasts. Whether you’re interested in exploring all character routes, unlocking hidden content, or simply experiencing the fantasy adventure, understanding the game’s mechanics and story structure enhances your overall experience. As the game continues to develop and receive updates, players have the opportunity to discover new content and refine their understanding of the Saintess’s world. Dive into this magical realm and discover what it truly means to become the bodyguard of the Saintess.