Ch.76Chapter 76. Two Delusions, One Rebuke

Naidrian, who had nearly died from broken ribs but regained consciousness thanks to Arsil’s healing, snatched the letter from Investor Lee delivered by the World Postman and headed straight to his room.

Behind him, Arsil shouted asking if he couldn’t even say thank you, but to Naidrian, Investor Lee’s letter was more important.

The amount of gold coins enclosed was substantial, but what made Naidrian happier was that he had written a longer letter than usual.

‘To my dear partner Naidrian,

I have finally secured funding and can breathe a sigh of relief.

Although it’s less than before, I’m sending all the money I can currently spare as investment. I hope it helps your research, even if just a little.’

Help? Absolutely!

Mr. Lee was her only investor.

She had placed recruitment advertisements in both the commercial city of Valtercrois and the academic city of Aitervel, but only Investor Lee had responded.

This precious investor had appeared like a comet just when her confidence and self-esteem were crumbling after she had spent all her savings for her race.

The letters, which initially only exchanged information about her research, had somehow become a medium for sharing her worries and receiving encouragement.

‘I know you must be going through difficult days, but I still believe you can overcome them.

Haven’t you made this much progress in your research even while journeying as a hero party member?

In a world full of people who only worry and never act, Naidrian is taking action and producing results.

Some may say it’s nothing special, but those seemingly insignificant steps will accumulate to become a forest that enriches the world. Then, even those critics will either offer praise or be too embarrassed to speak.

You always worry about being timid, but what timid person would directly place investor recruitment advertisements and diligently balance hero party duties with research?

I say this as someone who believes in you and invests in you. I hope it helps you find even a little courage to move forward.

I’m always cheering for you.

When your research is complete, please send me a letter along with the seeds anytime.

I will be the bee that spreads them widely throughout the world.

Always supporting you, from Lee.’

A bee? How romantic.

Just like Luci had done, Naidrian held the letter to her chest and let out a passionate sigh.

To her, an elf and a botanist, even Lin’s simple metaphor carried profound meaning.

No, she thought there was romance in everything about this relationship—from his handwriting to the fact that they only communicated through letters.

For someone who had no dating experience and struggled with basic communication, falling for Investor Lee was an utterly simple and predictable progression.

After reading it several times, the archer sat at her desk and wrote a reply.

The letter, which began with greetings and gratitude for the investment, soon included unnecessary praise about how romantic Lin’s bee metaphor was and heartfelt expressions of how his support had helped her persevere.

‘When my research is complete, could I meet you in person?’

However, writing this sentence required much deliberation and resolve.

What if his appearance was disappointing when they finally met?

That wasn’t a consideration at all.

Naidrian wouldn’t mind if he was one-eyed or crippled.

Her concerns were the opposite.

What if Investor Lee didn’t like her?

What if he became disgusted by her inability to speak properly?

But she no longer worried about such things.

Being able to express her feelings clearly and cleanly through letters to him, looking forward to and enjoying their correspondence, Naidrian had developed a desire to approach him more actively.

‘I really want to thank my benefactor in person.’

And I want to develop an even deeper and better relationship.

“Kyaa~!”

Unable to write those final thoughts, Naidrian stomped her feet and covered her flushed cheeks, fantasizing about meeting Investor Lee and even having grandchildren together.

—

And here was another person enchanted by a letter.

“To my beloved Luci… To my beloved Luci… To my beloved Luci…”

Perhaps the mage had advised Lin to include such phrases out of concern for Luci’s unstable mental state.

Whether coincidental or intentional, it was clearly a foresight that prevented disaster.

[But why are you only reading the first line…?]

Was her mental training too effective?

When even the Abyss pointed this out with annoyance, Luci finally read through the letter properly.

The content itself wasn’t anything special.

It asked how she was doing and praised her for enduring well despite his absence.

Luci was happy with just that, but her eyes widened at what followed, forcing her to read it again.

‘I’ve been blessed by the Goddess and have changed my class to “Item Master.” On top of being a combatant, I’ve become much stronger, so I think I can finally properly fulfill my role in the hero party.’

‘Oh, and after some twists and turns, Tigria’s exclusive item was also strengthened by the Goddess’s grace. It’s a good sign that our forces are being strengthened in preparation for the demon hero party.’

“Lin got stronger? Tigria too?”

The fact that Lin casually mentioned the mage’s name suggested something had happened between them, raising uncomfortable suspicions.

“That thieving cat…!”

[Oh! It’s good news that Lin has become a combatant, isn’t it?]

“Don’t be ridiculous! He could get hurt even worse than before if he steps up as a combatant when there are already so many people targeting him!”

[He got hurt even when you were there, right? This is good. With the mage powered up too, they can fight with more diverse formations.]

“What diverse formations?”

[Well~ I don’t know exactly what an Item Master is, but it would expand your opportunities by supporting the saint, archer, and mage…]

“Lin!”

Cutting off the Abyss’s words, Luci emphasized each syllable forcefully.

“Should only be by my side. There are no other formations. Understand?”

The Abyss smiled sinisterly.

It was too easy—she responded exactly as desired with just a little provocation.

The other hero party members were digging their own graves, so there was no need to interfere.

As long as the hero, who could become a major variable with just her inaction, remained under her surveillance and intentions, that was enough—and thanks to Lin, it was proceeding smoothly.

Yet even the Abyss felt a twinge of guilt toward Lin.

The pain he was experiencing was comparable to that of Tiana, the first hero and demon lord.

‘Our revenge is just beginning, isn’t it?’

The illusionist who had sought her out in the Zramun Archipelago handed over an essence containing most of the power the demon lord had deliberately set aside.

Understanding the demon lord’s intentions, the Abyss immediately absorbed that power and began her activities.

In other words, the demon lord that the 4th hero party defeated possessed less than a quarter of her usual strength.

It was a measure taken as soon as she realized her death was the first condition for moving to the next stage.

Many had forgotten, but the demon lord was an entity that could never be underestimated.

Even in death.

‘I will make everything in this world regret.’

Even if it were the Goddess and the Demon God.

Hiding her schemes, the Abyss whispered to Luci.

[It’s okay. If the mage gets stronger and tries to steal your role, you can just make her weak again, right?]

“How?”

[By destroying the exclusive item bestowed by the Goddess, or by nearly killing her?]

“Would Lin like that?”

[What are you saying?]

The Abyss expressed irritation at her obtuseness.

[Of course you have to do it secretly. Do you want to be hated?]

“Yes, I must do that. I absolutely must.”

Luci nodded frantically.

For her, besides Lin, there was no one else she could call a comrade anywhere.

—

“You called for me, Commander-in-Chief?”

While everyone else was swimming in their fantasies in their rooms, Arsil, still in tatters, was summoned by Airan.

The Duke, sitting in the office where the Crown Princess should have been, was languidly waving a fan while buried in piles of documents.

“I heard the hero went on a rampage this morning?”

“Well… Luci suddenly went berserk…”

“Do you take me for a fool? Arsil, do you think I don’t know you provoked that incident?”

Although Arsil was a saint affiliated with the Church, as a member of the Anti-Demon Army front line, she was under Commander-in-Chief Airan Decarrun.

Unlike Rinasien, Airan was meticulous and had her own charisma. Before her, Arsil was like a cornered mouse.

“Arsil, when you first joined as a saint, you were such an upright and stubborn fool.”

With a swish, Airan opened her fan, and Arsil instinctively shrank back.

“After rolling around on a few battlefields and attending some meetings, you’ve become a pathetic wannabe politician.”

“Am I… being scolded?”

“Let’s see, according to reports, you asked the hero if she had genuinely hit her comrade?”

With another swish, the fan closed, revealing Airan’s mocking smile.

“But from what our palace heard, you tore off the hero’s right arm, didn’t you?”

“How did you…?”

“Though I’m from a branch family, I’m still royalty and a close aide to Her Highness the Crown Princess. I heard about it after everything happened.”

More than that, Airan was displeased with Arsil’s reaction.

This panic she showed when her wrongdoing was exposed was nothing more than that of a petty person.

“The reason I held you in high regard was because, despite being foolish and selfish, you never hesitated when it came to your comrades.”

But Arsil had put on an act in front of everyone at the palace.

She covered up her betrayal of Luci and emphasized that the hero had attacked a comrade.

“The only reason you’re still around is because Her Highness the Crown Princess still considers you a political partner.”

More like a political patsy, but Airan swallowed those words and got to the point.

“We’ve located the mage and the porter.”

“Where?!”

“The City of Lament, Gillesman.”

The answer came from elsewhere.

Turning her head, Arsil saw a silver-haired thief entering the office.

“Ravin!”

“Oops, if you stare at me like that, I can’t greet Her Grace. Look ahead, will you? I get anxious not knowing when you might stab me in the back if I’m not facing you.”

At Ravin’s sarcasm, Arsil lowered her head.

Though she hated even the sight of him, if she had acted brazenly, Ravin would have immediately drawn his dagger.

“Gillesman? How did you find out, thief?”

Unable to say that the demon hero party had told him, Ravin made up a plausible explanation.

“I asked the World Postman who delivered the letter today about his affiliation and area of operation. He said they run a golden carriage in Gillesman.”

“I see. Actually, I knew too. The mage sent word to the palace this morning. They’re in Gillesman and will return through the teleport magic circle this evening.”

This woman was testing me while already knowing.

If there had been anything suspicious about how he obtained the information, Airan would have immediately put Ravin on her hit list.

Even as a double agent, Ravin was currently serving as the Crown Princess’s eyes and ears, so she was checking if he had completely defected to Rinasien.

Having to endure this from the Crown Princess in the Zramun Archipelago as well, Ravin was miserable.

Ravin took out a letter from his pocket and handed it to Airan.

After quickly scanning the letter, written almost entirely by Rinasien—or rather, Rainfold—Airan nodded.

“At least on this point, our thoughts align.”

Casually tossing the letter behind her, she patted her shoulder and issued orders indifferently.

“When the mage and porter return, you’ll move to the Church the next morning, as you wanted.”

“The day after they return? Then the Church won’t have time to prepare for guests…”

“There’s not much food to serve anyway because of the famine, right? The purpose of visiting the Church is to regroup the hero party, and there’s no reason to delay.”

Since this was true, Arsil couldn’t argue.

“More importantly, when the porter returns, could you please heal him? I’ve heard he was infected by the demon lord’s demonic energy, but I haven’t received any reports of you using holy power to heal him since his return. Please, I beg you, Saint Arsil who cares so deeply for her comrades.”

With a swish of her fan, the Duke dismissed her.

Arsil was confused.

She was aware of her wrongdoing, but it had all been for a purpose.

Yet she had failed to achieve that purpose properly and had to beg for scraps like a beggar.

How was this any different from the Gutter Alley?

If anything, she had only accumulated sins and lost her center.

What would Lee think if he saw her like this?

Though she hadn’t lived a pure life from birth, he would probably despise her for betraying the trust she valued most.

“Hey, Ravin.”

“Get lost.”

She wanted to share these suffocating feelings with her old partner in crime, but Ravin coldly turned away.

Watching his retreating back, Arsil wondered:

If that back belonged to Lee instead of Ravin, could she endure it?

“Ugh…!”

The mere thought made her want to vomit.

Trying to comfort herself by recalling the ten carriages that had set out for Gutter Alley, Arsil reassured herself.

She would be punished.

But if her sacrifice could help them improve, that would be okay.

Lee would scold her harshly but ultimately forgive her.

That was the final hope and stubborn belief of this foolish saint who didn’t understand true sacrifice.