episode_0008

The Demon King is dead. And the head of the otherworldly warrior who was branded a traitor was also cut off.

The obstacle that had terrorized the continent for decades was gone.

Naturally, people cheered.

Festivals were held every day, couples were formed, and happy events continued. As the fear of being captured by the Demon King disappeared, travel between cities became more frequent. Logistics became active, and even remote cities became active.

Excited people were more willing to spend money, which led to increased consumption of luxury goods, which in turn led to economic growth.

An era where everything you see is splendid.

It was the beginning of an era that later generations would refer to as the ‘Bubble Age’.

But that was several years later.

Everything was still gorgeous now.

◆

The time is the day after the auction where Lloyd was sold.

The location is the Great Council Hall of the Holy Roman Emperor Constantine.

Today was the Saint’s conference, and the atmosphere here was unusually chaotic.

“Up… It’s dangerous. I had to find it somehow. Otherwise… The, the Demon King…”

Right in the middle of the conference room, Saint Aria muttered in a crawling voice.

The murmur that spread around her. The high priests in their priestly robes were all devout, but most of them were middle-aged and blunt, which made Aria feel intimidated.

“Saint. Your voice is too soft. Please speak more clearly.”

“Sorry… I’m sorry. That, that. In the revelation I received… I had to find the car…!”

“What are you talking about?”

The high priest in charge of the Holy See, Julius, spoke coldly.

Aria was afraid of Julius.

In fact, that’s not all. Even though she became a saint revered by everyone, Aria still felt small when dealing with people of higher rank. Especially when it came to men who seemed scary.

At times like this, I still think of that person.

A man who took care of me kindly, unlike other men.

‘… Lee Han.’

Aria, remembering the name, quickly shook her head.

I said no.

Lee Han is a bad person. His kindness is actually to take possession of Aria. You shouldn’t fall for his words.

but…

But. on the scaffold, he was clearly—

“Please say something, Saint. Don’t be so quiet. We can’t hear revelations like you can?”

At his question, Aria felt like crying.

As you know, I have recited the revelation several times here. The seed of the Demon King will manifest, and the child with the symbol of God will also appear at the auction!

I knew why he was so cold.

It was secretly criticizing Aria herself.

It was envy and jealousy. Priests were excellent at turning the tables and belittling others, as they did not speak harshly.

“Oh, I should have found the child with the Hero’s Mark at the auction yesterday… Otherwise, the Demon King will become stronger this time… and take over the continent…”

“Haha. If there is a saint who is loved by everyone like this, how could she be afraid of the devil king? Isn’t that right?”

Another sarcasm.

“Hahahaha!”

“That’s right. If there’s a saint, what’s the devil to worry about!”

This time, all thirteen archbishops in the conference room burst into laughter.

They held Aria in check.

That was understandable.

After conquering the Demon King, Aria was elevated to sainthood. A new saint born after 100 years.

The opposite of the Demon King, who symbolizes ‘evil’, was the saint who, no matter what anyone said, symbolized ‘good’.

This was the reason why so many eyes were drawn to the Deus Church.

Pilgrimages to see the saint were constant in the Holy See of the Holy Constantine Empire, where she resided.

A wind of faith blew across a continent where distrust of a god who could not defeat even one demon lord was rampant.

The number of Christians suddenly exceeded half of the continent.

The donations had to be stored in a warehouse because there wasn’t enough space to store them.

The Deus Cult enjoyed a period of unprecedented prosperity.

It was all thanks to the saint, Aria.

The objects she touched became ‘sacred’.

The water she held in her mouth became ‘holy water’. No, even the well from which she drew the water became holy water.

The Order of the Guardian Knights, which was filled with the belief that only they would protect her, soon became the largest organization in the Holy Palace.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Aria was currently on top of the world.

Among the laypeople, that is.

But the Holy Constantine and the head of the Holy See were still the Holy Emperors. This was also a political group, and the system established by the rulers was firm.

That’s why the archbishops kept Aria in check.

“I, I am nothing. I have to find it somehow. The boy with the mark of the warrior. Otherwise…”

“Saint.”

“…Yes.”

“Sigh.”

Archbishop Julius sighed.

A look that seems to be recruiting Aria.

He remained silent.

Silence permeates the conference room.

The silence and the stares stab Aria sharply.

A clear attack.

I hate this feeling so much.

Lee Han.

What if Lee Han were here?

Lee Han was smart.

A fight between archbishops like this can be won with words without any problem.

The conversation I had with him lingers in my mind.

‘If the Demon King is not around, your popularity will rise for a while. But you must be careful from then on.’

‘why?’

‘Now, look. The power center of the Seonghwangcheong is the Seonghwang. And the practical work is handled by the archbishops. The thirteen archbishops and the Seonghwang. You can see that as the core.’

‘…huh.’

‘But you suddenly became a saint. These people may be happy on the outside. But should we leave you alone?’

‘…Why don’t you just leave me alone? I killed the Demon King… So we killed the Demon King together. Shouldn’t we give him a reward?’

‘That’s why people from another world have no sense. Look. Everyone will praise you. You’ll become the most popular person in the Holy Emperor’s Office in no time.’

‘… huh.’

‘Then don’t these people get jealous or envious? I’m sure they’ll try to catch you like a rat. They’ll try to control you. You have to deal with it well.’

‘how…?’

‘Take control. Reign over the cunning old foxes.’

‘Ha, but… I’m not good at that kind of thing…’

‘Wake up. There are no exceptions. Politics is all about preying on the weak.’

Lee Han’s words were always right.

Now, all the believers revere Aria as a saint, so they cannot treat Aria herself carelessly.

‘…if my popularity falls…’

It was clear that he would rush at me like a leopard.

No, I’ll handle it a little more elegantly.

Like accusing me of being a witch or something…

“That… That’s….”

But my mouth won’t open.

Because I’ve always left these things to Lee Han.

Without him, I would just blush and hang my head.

— Tsk tsk, that’s what a saint does.

Even when the archbishops ‘dared’ to grumble in front of the saint, she could only shrug her shoulders and not even refute them.

It was completely eaten.

“In fact, isn’t it because the Imperial Aina and the Princess and Claire of Harold’s upper class also participated in the war that we couldn’t secure many boys? Rather than nitpicking on us.”

Archbishop Julius pounded the table with his fist.

Thud, thud, thud.

“Eek.”

He continued, looking at the saintess who was shrugging her shoulders.

“Your Majesty, aren’t you familiar with the other two heroes? You should talk to them.”

You have to rebel.

Come to your senses.

Aria clenched her fists.

After applying force like that a few times… he put his hand down with a thud.

“Sorry… I’m sorry. I’ll try to find something.”

“Remember, if by any chance the Hero’s Mark falls into the hands of the Blood Cult.”

Archbishop Julius finished speaking, staring at Aria.

“The continent is over.”

Aria bowed her head.

I am lacking and inadequate.

After Lee Han died, Aria only constantly confirmed that fact.

◇

After the meeting.

Aria staggered back to her quarters.

The largest bedroom in Seonghwangcheong.

The place prepared for the saint was not splendid, but it was infinitely luxurious and old-fashioned.

A room where simplicity permeates like beauty.

Aria stumbled and fell onto the bed.

A blanket that gently wraps around her body. It must have been an incredibly soft bed… But for some reason, Aria couldn’t sleep well on this bed.

“That time would have been better…”

When I was wandering outside to conquer the Demon King, I missed the rough bedding made by covering the grass with a sheet. I missed the tent that Lee Han had spread out for me.

— Kook

Aria gripped the blanket tightly.

it’s tough.

I’m lonely.

pain.

Clearly, the Demon King should have died and everyone should have been happy.

Rather, it is more unfortunate than when you conquer the Demon King.

The three heroes were torn to pieces.

And, Lee Han…

“…….”

Aria bit her lip tightly.

Whenever I think of his name, my mind is always full.

He silently set up the tent and smiled, saying that it was fortunate that the ground was flat today.

A caring look on his face as he worries that we shouldn’t let our guard down even after conquering the Demon King.

A dependable figure who would run faster than anyone else to save you when you were in danger from a monster.

The Lee Han in my memory is definitely so…

He was a good person.

Lee Han.

When I heard the revelation that he had come back to life, I was honestly delighted. But I had to immediately deny it.

“There was evidence…there was evidence.”

There was clear evidence.

There is evidence that one of the warrior parties was in league with the Demon King.

Aria shut her eyes tightly.

And he shook his head.

‘No… don’t trust it.’

Even the three heroes who had been at odds agreed to gather together to decide on how to treat the reincarnated Lee Han.

9 years until the Demon King’s resurrection.

How should I get through things?

Aria’s future seemed so bleak.

…because it was Lee Han who always led him.

“… Come to your senses.”

He is a bad person.

Aria repeated it in her mind once more.

but.

Every time that happens, an image comes to my mind.

Execution ground.

A large crowd of onlookers.

And Lee Han with his neck tied.

With the sharp blade of the guillotine.

and…

What Lee Han showed just before he died…

I felt empty.

Full of betrayal.

It felt like I had put everything down.

… so empty.

laugh.

If that laughter was true.

What on earth have I done?

How on earth should I apologize?

“…Ahh.”

Tears flowed from Aria’s eyes.

Because I didn’t even know how to apologize to Lee Han. And what if, by any chance, Lee Han was captured by the Jaehyeol Sect…

“It won’t work… … .”

The Bloodshed Cult is the most vicious of the heresies that sacrifice people to summon demons.

Aria covered herself with the blanket.

Beyond the fluttering blanket, only the sound of sobbing filled the air.