episode_0072

“What?”

For a moment, Endymian did not understand the words the saintess fired off like a rapid-fire gun. However, the saintess did not wait for his understanding to be satisfied.

“Unfortunately, my pilgrimage is a very cautious one… and one with a secret purpose. As you, the Prince, know better than anyone… and now, fate is showing me signs. It is telling me that there is no time to delay. As a saint, I must follow it. Please forgive my rudeness, Your Majesty.”

Endymian, who had been looking at her with a slightly apologetic expression for a moment, couldn’t believe it for a moment. No, he couldn’t stand the sight of her rejecting him without even giving him a moment’s pause. So he blurted it out without realizing it.

“You’re so… impatient. Did you hate seeing my face that much?”

“Oh, Your Highness the Prince…”

When the woman next to him raised her voice in concern, the prince finally realized that he had been welcoming her with ulterior motives.

That’s true, though.

But the saint who was asked the question did not answer, but instead raised her arm. It was her left arm. She extended one of her slender, delicate fingers.

It was the index finger. The saint was pointing somewhere.

“Everyone, please look at that symbol.”

It was not a word spoken only to the ears of Prince Endymian. It was like a whispered word to all those who watched the saintess’ visit in this fortress. Those who were tensely watching the meeting between the prince and the saintess unconsciously reacted to the words that suddenly came into their ears.

“Huh?”

“Bar, I just heard something.”

“Seo, the saint spoke to me! I’m going to heaven now!”

“What are you talking about… Hey, hey! Look over there! ”

“What, what is that!”

The reactions of the bewildered people soon began to change into words mixed with shock and amazement.

At that moment, Endymian, who had been hesitating at the rapid-fire declarations the saint had poured out, barely managed to regain his composure. He had also been affected by the reactions of those around him. That was why, rather than the emotionally charged words from earlier, he was able to cautiously say words mixed with more concise expressions.

“Saint. I know very well that your journey is very arduous, and I am trying to be kind to you, but you are so quick to refuse. You are being too hasty, which is not typical of you.”

“Your Majesty, look where my fingertips are pointing. If you look at that, you will understand why I am in a hurry.”

The saintess remained calm to the end despite the prince’s question. For a moment, Endymian felt a chill down his spine at her calmness.

What is this? This uneasy feeling. When he turned his gaze to follow the saint’s fingertips, it felt like Endymian himself would be overcome with an utter despair. Why? There was no way something like that could happen in this situation…

First, Endymian turned his head very slowly. Then, he rolled his eyes in the direction pointed by the saint’s index finger.

And, Endymian was also witnessed.

“Oh, no. That’s it!”

It was a scene that could only appear in ancient books. It was a symbol that only those with a wide knowledge of the doctrines of the Air Grants Church would know. It was an unrealistic manifestation that ordinary people could not even imagine or realize in reality.

A giant with a huge veil and a burning head was floating in the sky.

It was an absurd phenomenon that even those who had directly competed with monsters could not hide their shock.

‘Now, wait a minute… that’s…’

However, the first prince, who was intuitively clever, succeeded in recalling his memories by searching through the long history. He knew something of that hideous appearance.

But, to appear at such an absurdly amazing moment. Is this fate that I have to accept it at face value?

And before the First Prince could even think, voices mixed with exclamations rang out from behind him.

“Oh, ohhh! That, that flame-covered figure…is definitely…!”

“I never thought I’d see something like that in my life…Is God really blessing the saint’s journey…!”

“Thank you, God…Bless the Saint’s journey.”

Those damn teachers.

The voices heard from behind were full of praise, filled with joy, from the Airgrants cultists who resided in this fortress. Endymian gnashed his teeth. It was as if the world was telling him to give up before he even tried.

It was so unpleasant. Was it impossible for him to even try? Was he not even allowing that saint to take the first step toward a relationship as a man and a woman?

However, people still looked uneasy. It was natural. No matter how often the demons appeared, especially in the peaceful Southern Kingdom, they were much larger and more powerful than the ones that appeared, but now that the Demon King was gone, they were just wandering around like toothless tigers.

Above all, no one in this fortress had ever seen anything with as much presence as that thing floating in the sky.

And to allay people’s anxiety, there was someone who stepped forward and shouted. It was someone everyone could have expected.

“Everyone, don’t be agitated. That giant being is the ‘Wickerman of Prophecy’ from the literature of the Airgrants Church. He is one of the incarnations of the Airgrants Church who illuminates the path for those with great aspirations. The only reason that incarnation appeared in this world is to illuminate the path I should take. Therefore, if I were to leave this place and go my own way, I would naturally disappear. Don’t worry, everyone. Even if I am not here…my blessings will always be with you.”

With that, the saint clasped her hands together. Soon, as if waiting for that action, bright orbs of light rose into the sky around her.

“Wow, wow…”

“This, this…I’ve seen it before!”

“Oh, that’s right. The saint’s…prayer of blessing!”

Among the people who could not help but admire, the balls of light that had risen into the sky fell. Some people stared blankly at them, while others unconsciously covered their eyes to protect themselves.

But this wasn’t an attack, or an interruption, or anything. Rather… it was warmth.

“Ah, ahh…!”

“Oh, oh. My right arm that’s been hurting since yesterday… is it better?”

“Mom, my body feels light… Hurray, long live the saint!”

The people who were making a lot of noise each shouted praise and cheers toward the saint. The saint smiled gently and waved her hands in response to the people.

Clearly, everything seemed to be going according to the saint’s intention. Up to this point, everything was going smoothly.

However, the first prince, Endymian, a man with an unusual eye for detail, saw it. Cold sweat running down her beautiful skin, and a slightly pale face. Something. As if the saintess had overdone it… Wait a minute…

Endymian did not let go of his suspicions. It was clearly a sudden curiosity caused by some kind of obsession. However, it was a product of that obsession that he was not fully aware of.

“Saint. Thank you for giving your blessings to those who work tirelessly in this fortress. But, it seems like a very busy road.”

“Your Highness Endymian. I apologize if my small power has been of any help to you. I must assure you that it is a busy journey. And, as you know, Your Highness… it seems that God also wants you to achieve the true purpose of this pilgrimage.”

As I know? Prince Endimian’s eyes trembled. He couldn’t hold it in any longer. Yes, he definitely succeeded in bringing the saint to this fortress. Then…

Prince Endymian nodded sideways.

‘Do it.’

His adjutant, his loyal vassal who had been watching silently until now, nodded. Finally, the adjutant made a gesture.

A few soldiers, those loyal enough to jump into the hellfire if Endymian ordered them to, moved quickly. Anyone who could watch from afar would have noticed in an instant.

Endymian’s soldiers must have clearly noticed that the saint’s party was surrounded.

An atmosphere of bewilderment hung over the saintess’s group. The saintess herself was also in the same situation. It was natural for her to protest as if she was resisting.

“Prince Endymian…I would like to ask you what your intentions are…but doesn’t it seem as if soldiers have surrounded my group?”

You’re quick-witted.

Endymian clicked his tongue, but began to carefully recite the words he had prepared in advance. Adding a little bit of the current situation.

“I’m sorry… There is a possibility that the demons will transform into the saints. As is customary in this fortress, please forgive me for having to first be investigated in a military environment. No one is exempt. ”

“What, what…”

“Wow, Your Highness! What are you talking about! A monster transformed into a saint? After seeing the miracle just now…”

“I’m doing this because I saw a miracle a little while ago.”

Damn it. Even I think it’s ridiculous. For a moment, silence lingered around.

One by one, bewildered faces appeared. Most of the saints and their companions had expressions of bewilderment, and the same was true for those staying in the fortress. No, some of them were openly muttering.

“What does that mean?”

“Was the miracle from a moment ago some kind of magic from a monster?”

“Hey, that’s ridiculous. Then why is my arm fine?”

“What the heck? What is the prince thinking…”

I know, I know. Shut up, you idiots.

The prince felt a little regretful that he had been too generous to the people staying in his fortress. Normally, it would have been a serious crime to gossip like that in front of royalty.

Then why did such reactions come out so blatantly? It was due to the characteristics of the people the prince had gathered. Basically, when the prince set out to develop the central region, he only brought along those who had followed him. From the beginning of this development until now, their role was significant.

At the same time, the prince’s friendliness and generosity shone through. Naturally, his followers were also people of the kingdom. At first, he was conscious of his position as a prince and behaved in a restrained manner.

However, as the prince approached Endymian without hesitation, and together they fought off the threats of monsters, erected fences, and stood guard, everyone naturally began to feel friendly towards Endymian.

Thanks to this, except for a few close associates and the Airgrants from outside, most of the residents treated Prince Endymian much more comfortably than other royals. It was a double-edged sword, but Endymian did not mind this and rather liked it.

Except now.

“Now, please invite the saintess in ‘respectfully’. I have something urgent to tell you.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

“Your Highness Prince Endymian… Is this truly your will?”

Endymian did not respond to the saint’s words.

In fact, I also felt that I was making a mistake. Even though I didn’t say it out loud, I already realized that the gazes of the Air Grants followers behind me were unusual.

But, no matter how much I thought about it… this was my only chance.

And Endymian overlooked the fact that now was the time for another incident to occur.

And then something happened.

.

.

.

.

.

.

“That kid is really…”

“Hold on, Glenn. Right now, you have no choice but to follow quietly.”

It was around the time when Prince Endymian and the saintess were engaged in a debate that wasn’t really a debate.

There was a man who, gritting his teeth, tried his best not to rush forward. Behind the saintess, there was a man who had sworn to protect her with his life. Next to him, there was a woman, no, a half-elf, who had feelings for the man that she could not express.

The man, Glenn, clenched his fists tightly, hiding his fierce expression behind his glasses. Briwen also tried to calm Glenn down, without letting her worried expression go.

“But…it just so happened that it went the worst way. Right now…shouldn’t we use some trickery to get the saintess out of here? Like ‘that’.”

Without moving a hand or a foot, Glenn did not hide his hostility as he pointed to the unidentifiable object in the sky with only a nod. Briwen sighed.

Yeah, it was definitely the worst. Everything seemed fine until Glenn and his magical properties lit up the sky with the magnificent creation that was burning.

However, Prince Endymian, despite his reputation as being reckless but quite clever, foolishly became obsessed with the saintess and ignored their tricks.

‘This guy Glen… is in much worse condition than when he was young. Is this what they mean when they say environment changes people?’

Briwen tried to calm Glen down, but it was quite awkward since this was the first time this had happened. Before, to be exact, when Glenn was actively adventuring and fighting against the demons, this had never happened. He ran away before she could stop him, and Briwen herself was no different.

However, time passed and the two grew up as mid-level adventurers. Now, they had to refrain from the reckless behavior they had done when they were young. The world was not easy enough to do such reckless things. Especially when it came to requests like this.

And now, Prince Endymian was trying to destroy the plan of the saint’s party and somehow capture them in the fortress. If that was the case, then even if it was infuriating, it was the right decision to obediently follow them for now in order to discuss future plans.

But how can I convince him of this?

Briwen shook her head without thinking, unable to think of anything to say to Glenn, who seemed ready to run away at any moment.

It must have been that moment. The whisper that created the opportunity reached the ears of both people.

“What a fun trick. I wonder how it works. Of course, it’s definitely two people who start it, right?”

“!”