Holy Kingdom – Love? (1)

“Will she be alright….”

Jade was fidgeting anxiously at the door, worried about Rena.

“You needn’t worry. When I checked earlier, she was showing improvement. I’ve also reported everything about Raspa to the Temple, so the Holy Kingdom and Rika Kingdom will soon dispatch investigation teams.”

Antonio, who had returned after delivering his report, comforted Jade.

“…Understood.”

Jade exhaled, calming his anxious heart at those words. He decided to focus on other postponed matters rather than pointless worrying.

It was time to resolve the questions he had been suppressing until now.

“Sir Antonio, I believe it’s time you explained the situation. Even my arrival at the Holy Kingdom is deeply perplexing to me.”

“Understood. First, the reason the Hero went to Growburn Village was due to His Holiness the Pope.”

“Huh? I went to Growburn Village under orders from the Rika Kingdom…”

“It was the Pope who made the Rika Kingdom issue those orders. We obtained information that the Holy Kingdom made a deal with the Rika Kingdom.”

“…Why on earth would His Holiness do such a thing?”

The fact that none other than the ‘Pope’ had directed him to Growburn Village left Jade utterly bewildered.

“I don’t know the exact reason either, but it was likely to prevent you from coming directly to the Holy Kingdom. Had I not brought you here through warp magic, it would have taken over a week to travel from the village to the Holy Kingdom.”

Sir Antonio was right. Had that happened, it would have taken considerably longer to reach the Holy Kingdom as the Pope intended.

As Jade nodded absently, an unbelievable suspicion suddenly struck him.

‘Was encountering the high-ranking demon in the dungeon also…?’

“W-wait! Does that mean our meeting Raspa in Growburn Village was also the Pope’s doing?”

Could the Pope have conspired with demons to assassinate the Hero’s party?

If so, Jade would have to fight not just demons but the Pope himself.

Fortunately, Antonio shook his head.

“I briefly considered that possibility too… but no. Even considering collusion with demons is unthinkable in the Holy Kingdom. Not after what they did during the Great War. Moreover, His Holiness lost family members to demons.”

“…Understood. But if it’s revealed that the Pope is involved in this, I won’t forgive him even if he is the Pope.”

“No need to worry. Should that happen, I too will assist you for justice’s sake.”

Antonio promised Jade his support.

“Then from the Pope’s perspective, why couldn’t I come directly to the Holy Kingdom?”

“Because of the Saint. To rescue the Saint from the Pope’s grasp. That’s why I urgently brought you here.”

‘Rescue the Saint from the Pope’s grasp.’

This made no sense to Jade.

Though the phrasing ‘grasp’ seemed odd, it was normal for the Saint to be under the Pope’s protection.

“I don’t understand why we need to rescue the Saint in the Holy Kingdom. Has something happened to her?”

“Could you wait a moment?”

Antonio scanned their surroundings before lowering his voice to continue.

“To explain, you must first understand past events. What I’m about to tell you is top secret, known only to a few in the Holy Kingdom. The Saint-“

-Creeeak.

Just as Antonio was about to speak about the Saint, someone emerged from the room.

A woman in priestess robes-the priestess who had been treating Rena.

“Miss Rena’s treatment is complete.”

The priestess delivered the news Jade had been desperately awaiting.

“Sir Antonio, apologies for interrupting… but I must check on Rena now.”

“Of course. We’ll speak later.”

Though curious about the Saint’s secret, Rena’s condition was Jade’s top priority.

After excusing himself from Antonio, Jade hurried into the room.

Rena lay on a large bed inside, bandaged head to toe and sleeping peacefully.

“She’ll be alright, won’t she?”

The priestess began explaining methodically to Jade’s question.

“The treatment was successfully completed. Physical wounds were healed with Holy Power, but broken bones aren’t fully mended yet, hence the bandages. We removed most of the semen and successfully eliminated the magi that had penetrated her body.”

“Then why hasn’t she woken up yet?”

“There appear to be no physical issues… likely psychological trauma. Having endured the worst possible experience for a woman, the mental shock must be severe.”

Tortured by Raspa and gang-raped by monsters.

Even Jade, who had only witnessed it, felt his mind might break.

He couldn’t imagine how deep the scars ran for Rena, who had experienced it firsthand.

“Rena….”

Jade’s heart clenched whenever Rena’s face twitched slightly.

He worried she might be having nightmares.

“If only I’d arrived a little sooner… I’m truly sorry.”

Antonio, standing behind Jade, spoke with regret.

“No. Had you not come, even belatedly, we’d all be dead.”

Blaming Sir Antonio was unthinkable.

Had Antonio not chosen to personally retrieve the Hero, Jade’s life would have ended in that dungeon.

“By any chance…”

“Yes.”

Jade started to ask another question but hesitated.

A question he dreaded but had to ask.

Finally, he spoke again.

“Can you tell if she’s pregnant?”

Only priests could check pregnancy status using Holy Power.

If Rena was pregnant, he needed to know immediately.

“I can’t determine that yet. At least a week must pass after conception to confirm pregnancy. However, I’ve applied contraceptive Holy Magic as a temporary measure.”

“Thank you.”

Jade would now anxiously await whether Rena carried an orc’s child.

‘What should I do if Rena is pregnant?’

But the decision wasn’t Jade’s-it was Rena’s choice to make.

For now, Jade decided to believe in the miraculous odds that Rena wasn’t pregnant.

-Thud.

“Haa….”

Jade slumped into the chair beside the bed.

With Rena’s life saved, he could finally relax somewhat.

Though they’d faced grave danger, a series of coincidences had allowed everyone to survive.

“Ah.”

Only then did Jade notice Annie lying on another bed.

He’d been so preoccupied with Rena that he’d completely forgotten about Annie.

In the dungeon, Annie had been badly injured by Raspa’s surprise kick.

“Is Annie alright too?”

“Miss Annie had several broken ribs, but they’ve all been healed. However, due to her weak constitution, she must be careful moving for a few days. And-“

As the priestess listed precautions, Jade cautiously approached Annie and stroked her hair.

“Annie, I’m sorry I couldn’t pay attention to you. You went through so much too.”

I’ll have to treat her to something delicious later, Jade thought while looking at Annie before standing up.

He bowed deeply to the priestess.

“Thank you so much for healing us.”

“Not at all. It was Sir Antonio’s request, and not difficult for me. Moreover, assisting the Hero is my greatest honor.”

‘Hero….’

Jade had yet to accomplish anything as a Hero.

Even the Growburn Village dungeon had been resolved with Sir Antonio’s help.

Yet people treated him with respect and expectation solely because he was the Hero.

The weight of that title felt heavier than ever to Jade.

Antonio lightly patted the priestess’s back.

“Thank you truly. You may return to the Temple now.”

“Actually… I must inform you, Sir Antonio.”

“What is it? Speak.”

“I’m afraid I can no longer assist you. Though I tried to remain undetected, I believe I’m under surveillance. The Pope’s faction seems to have realized I’m aiding you. My apologies.”

“…No. You’ve been an immense help until now.”

“Assisting a hero like you has been my greatest honor.”

The priestess bowed to Antonio and Jade before leaving.

Hearing this, Jade began understanding the situation.

They’d arrived via warp magic not at the Grand Temple but a small house.

Antonio, a hero, had secretly brought a priestess.

He’d directly opposed the Pope’s plans by bringing the Hero to the Holy Kingdom.

This wasn’t mere disagreement-it was outright confrontation.

The conclusion was simple.

“Sir Antonio, are you opposing the Papal Court?”

“…Correct. It’s no exaggeration to say I’ve become the Pope’s enemy.”

“What on earth happened?”

Jade couldn’t believe a revered figure like Antonio faced such treatment in the Holy Kingdom.

Antonio was famous for his piety and monumental achievements. Moreover, he was the newly elected Pope’s senior.

Mistreating him would naturally undermine the Pope’s support in the Holy Kingdom.

How had things deteriorated to this point between the Pope and Antonio?

“Ugh….”

Annie’s groan reached Jade’s ears.

‘Is Annie waking up?’

Jade hurried to examine her.

“Uuuh….”

Annie slowly opened her eyes, likely awakened by their noisy conversation.

“Annie, you’re awake.”

“Jade? Ugh, why does my head hurt? Did I oversleep?”

Frowning, Annie shook her head and gradually sat up.

“I had this awful nightmare. We went dungeon exploring, then a high-ranking demon appeared. Of course we got crushed. Then Rena was… violated by orcs. It was terrifying. Anyway, it was just a dream. Phew….”

As Annie sighed in relief, she grew puzzled by the unfamiliar room.

“Where are we? Was this place in Growburn Village? And who’s the old man behind you?”

“We’re in the Holy Kingdom.”

“Ah, the Holy Kingdom….”

Annie nodded absently before freezing.

“Huh?”

“We came directly here using warp magic.”

“You’re joking! I wake up suddenly in the Holy Kingdom?”

“Calm down. I’ll explain everything slowly.”

Annie must be utterly bewildered.

Even Jade, who knew the whole story, struggled to keep up with the rapidly changing situation.

Jade carefully explained everything-the dungeon events, meeting Antonio, coming to the Holy Kingdom.

As she listened, Annie’s expression hardened.

“W-wait, then what I saw wasn’t a dream? So Rena being violated by orcs really….”

“…Yes. Rena is lying on the bed behind me, receiving treatment with you.”

“I need to see her now.”

“Wait, you shouldn’t move yet-“

Annie glared at Jade’s restraining hand.

“Is that important right now?”

“….”

-Thud.

Annie weakly pushed past the silent Jade and approached Rena.

“Rena….”

Seeing Rena’s condition, Annie bit her lip, trembling with suppressed rage.

“The treatment went well. So don’t worry too much-“

“How can you say that?”

Annie whirled around, grabbing Jade’s collar and shaking him violently.

“You promised to protect Rena! What were you doing while she suffered?!”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t enough! What about Rena’s wounds?!”

Jade could only apologize despite Annie’s fury.

He’d vowed Rena would never endure such horrors again…

Yet within days, she’d suffered something worse than at the academy.

**

“You promised to protect Rena! What were you doing while she suffered?!”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Sorry isn’t enough! What about Rena’s wounds?!”

‘Should I wake up now?’

I’d been waiting for the right moment to stir.

This seems about right.

Otherwise, Annie might punch Jade.

“Uuugh….”

“Rena!”

The moment I groaned softly, Annie released Jade and rushed to me.

“Ahh….”

I slowly sat up.

My whole body ached dully, heavy as if waterlogged-likely aftereffects of the injuries.

“…Annie. I’m glad you’re safe.”

“Why worry about me now? How do you feel?”

“Everything hurts, but I can manage. Where are we?”

Jade answered instead of Annie.

“We’re in the Holy Kingdom. Sir Antonio here saved us from Raspa and brought us here.”

“Jade! You’re here too? So we all survived?”

“Y-yeah?”

I greeted Jade with a bright smile. Both seemed somewhat relieved by my unexpectedly cheerful demeanor.

Though they might think I’m forcing it.

“Right. You need to rest and recover for a few days. After… everything that happened.”

“Got it. Come here. I need to tell you something.”

At my summons, Jade approached closely.

“What is i-“

-Chup.

I suddenly kissed him.

Jade seemed momentarily surprised but soon skillfully explored my mouth with his tongue.

-Schlurp, Slurp.

Jade’s tongue entwined with mine, mapping my mouth.

Though I’d initiated it, his serpentine movements left me breathless.

This should be enough…

-Clutch.

“Hng?!”

But Jade gripped my head, preventing escape as he sensed my attempt to pull away.

‘This brat?’

On our third kiss, he was already trying to lead. A bit insulting… Is Jade quick at learning these things?

Peeking at Annie’s reaction:

“Am I dreaming…?”

She stood dumbfounded, mouth agape.