Ch.94Chapter 94. Delicious Vegetable Porridge

Arsil was sitting alone in a secluded spot, her head buried between her knees.

In her heart, she wanted nothing more than to gaze endlessly at Lin, but the memories of her past mistakes made that impossible.

Her mind felt numb.

The truth of the Sewage Alley, which she had unconditionally denied, was something her heart—not her head—calmly told her she had no choice but to gradually accept.

In the emptiness that felt like a hole punched through the center of her chest, Lin was the only one she could find.

But immense regret and guilt pressed down on Arsil’s head.

Lucy, and even Tigria, looked upon her with disapproval.

They wanted to confront Arsil, to ask if she was pretending to be pitiful to get attention, but they themselves had no right to say anything.

Besides, the situation unfolding in the Holy Nation was urgent, even without considering Arsil.

“The Goddess has descended and personally exposed and purified Pope Agreus’s corruption. The Holy Nation no longer exists.”

The mage Tigria declared to the gathered crowd, speaking on behalf of Lucy, who was reluctant to step forward.

Everyone in the Holy Nation had witnessed the pillar of light created by the Goddess’s descent, so they didn’t doubt the statement itself, but the citizens asked how they should manage their immediate lives.

“Form a council, and those with wealth should contribute a portion of their assets to secure enough provisions for people to survive this year.”

“What did you say?”

“We bought those ridiculous indulgences and gave donations! The Pope must have collected and hoarded our money! I won’t mention that, but can’t we use those funds?”

The mage’s suggestion was perfectly reasonable, but the wealthy who had been extorted by the Holy Nation strongly objected.

Not only the wealthy, but also the commoners who had donated to earn the right to buy indulgences gave them unfriendly looks.

Unless all the slum dwellers had been sacrificed to Agreus, no one was on the hero party’s side.

“There’s no money.”

“What?”

“Looks like the Holy Knights took it all and ran.”

When Lucy responded indifferently, the wealthy looked as if they’d been slapped.

“They were the only armed force in the Holy Nation, and they might be circling nearby, looking to swallow up your money too.”

“H-Hero…”

“Unfortunately, we used all our supplies helping the slum dwellers. And our purpose for coming here was to purify the Holy Nation.”

Lucy pushed the mage aside and stood before the people, coldly cutting off their expectations.

“Our mission is complete. And it was the Holy Nation that took your money, so why complain to us? I’ve suggested what you need to do if you want to survive. If you don’t like it, don’t do it. You’ll be perfect targets for thieves, even if not for the Holy Knights.”

“Where is the Holy Maiden? The Holy Maiden must save us!”

“Arsil is for slaying demons to save you. She can’t do anything except fight.”

“…”

It wasn’t that Lucy was good with words.

She was simply telling the truth.

Even the Holy Nation’s citizens couldn’t argue about Arsil’s purpose.

“You’re the Hero!”

“And I killed the Demon Lord for you. Risking my own life.”

Lucy casually brought out the Abyss and placed it on her shoulder.

“Or should I start by raiding your storehouses first?”

As the atmosphere suddenly turned hostile, the citizens watched nervously and said nothing more.

When they started looking unjustly wronged, Lucy began to tighten her grip on her sword.

Just then,

“Let’s eat first.”

Lin brought out a large pot and set it on the ground.

“People get angrier when they’re hungry.”

Then Lin began pouring water and preparing ingredients alone.

Lucy didn’t like showing kindness to these ungrateful people, but she was absolutely on Lin’s side.

Putting down her sword with a sigh, Lucy growled at the citizens.

“What are you doing? Line up! Form a line!”

—

The day seemed particularly short today.

Dusk had already fallen, and the citizens, having filled their stomachs, agreed to continue discussions tomorrow and gradually dispersed.

The hero party didn’t bother finding separate lodgings but set up camp near the destroyed papal palace.

Even then, Arsil remained isolated.

The other party members didn’t bother calling for her.

Naidrian went alone to watch for any Holy Knights or thieves that might appear, while the other party members helped Lin prepare their dinner.

“Arsil.”

The Holy Maiden sensed someone’s presence but tried not to respond.

But upon hearing the voice calling her, she slowly raised her head.

“Lin…”

“You need to eat.”

“I…”

Without waiting for an answer, Lin set a bowl down in front of Arsil.

It was a pale vegetable porridge.

“Sorry, we were short on ingredients, so this was all I could make.”

Vegetable porridge was Arsil’s favorite food after sandwiches in Sewage Alley.

But why was Lin apologizing to Arsil?

Suddenly, a memory flashed through her mind.

It was right after their first battle with monsters, when the hero party’s hatred for the porter began.

After hearing the party members’ harsh words, Lin, feeling guilty and ashamed, had worked hard to prepare a meal.

He had injured his arm but hastily wrapped it in bandages and worked quickly to provide nutrition to everyone.

His arm felt numb, perhaps from wrapping the bandage too tightly.

I need to hurry.

Until the battle that day, the hero party had praised Lin’s cooking skills and happily awaited mealtimes.

Even Lucy, who had put a mask on him, emptied her bowl of Lin’s food without complaint.

What he did best.

Carrying luggage and cooking.

It wasn’t much, but as a form of apology and atonement, the porter made vegetable porridge.

Arsil’s favorite vegetable porridge.

She disliked mushrooms, so he left those out, chopped various ingredients, and stirred them together.

He even made it a bit saltier to match Arsil’s taste.

Until then.

Lin had been secretly overjoyed about reuniting with Arsil.

“What are you doing, porter?”

“Oh, Holy Maiden! Dinner is ready. It’s vegetable porridge.”

Lin spoke deliberately cheerfully as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with his arm.

Sweat had soaked through the bandage, but the porter didn’t mind.

But Arsil felt Lin’s pretense of cheerfulness was shameless.

“Sigh…”

After letting out a sigh,

“I have no appetite. I’m not eating.”

She turned away coldly.

Following Arsil’s lead, the hero party members gradually left as well.

Lin stared blankly at their retreating backs.

He watched as Arsil, whom he had pursued for so long, disappeared into the soldier’s mess tent far from their camp, and quietly sat down.

“I guess she doesn’t like vegetable porridge anymore…”

Well, it’s been five years, so her tastes might have changed.

She must have eaten many better things.

Left alone with the pot, Lin just stared at the campfire boiling the vegetable porridge.

Those flickering flames were just like his unsettled, disappointed heart.

He covered the pot with a lid and kept it warm in case someone wanted it for breakfast, but until the aftermath was settled, the hero party didn’t eat the meals Lin prepared.

In the end, Lin had to carry the untouched pot of porridge, struggling with its weight, to a distant place to dispose of it.

Arsil’s gaze as she watched was nothing but cold.

That’s how it was.

After that, Lin rarely made porridge or soup.

This continued even before his heart was sealed, when he was still taking initiative with various tasks.

“Ugh…”

It’s numbing.

Only after so many years had passed did she realize that the vegetable porridge from back then had been made especially for her.

Despite declaring to even the mage that Lin was most precious to her, Arsil had already been hurting him.

None other than Lin,

Humiliating him in front of everyone.

“Hic! Huu…”

She sobbed while holding the bowl of vegetable porridge.

She regretted it as much as the warmth still emanating from the bowl.

Arsil still loved vegetable porridge.

But now, vegetable porridge had become a symbol of the wounds she had inflicted on Lin.

As she wept endlessly, a monotone voice quietly reproached her.

“Do you dislike vegetable porridge?”

It was Ravin.

The thief, standing stiffly before the Holy Maiden, waited a moment before approaching to retrieve the bowl.

“If you’re not going to eat this time either, hand it over.”

“No! No… I’ll eat it… I’ll eat it…”

Only then did Arsil hurriedly scoop up a spoonful and put it in her mouth.

“It’s delicious…”

She meant it sincerely.

Plop

But before she could take another spoonful, thick tears fell into the porridge.

“Hic… Sob!”

Arsil’s face contorted as she burst into tears.

“I shouldn’t have… If I had known it was Lin… Hic…!”

No matter how much she wiped with her sleeve, the tears wouldn’t stop, and the Holy Maiden wailed loudly.

She covered her eyes with the back of her hand and sobbed with her mouth open.

It was sorrowful and pitiful, but none of those who heard it felt any sympathy for Arsil.

“I said hand it over if you’re not going to eat it.”

“Huu… Uuuu…!”

When Ravin pressed her, Arsil quickly shielded the bowl and shoveled porridge into her mouth.

But because of her crying, less than half made it in, and what did spilled out.

Realizing her messy state, Arsil lowered her head in self-loathing, and eventually Ravin took the bowl away from her.

“Give it back! Give it to me!”

“You’re making a mess and acting ridiculous.”

Watching Ravin’s retreating back, Arsil cried out for the bowl to be returned.

The Holy Maiden, still dripping porridge from her mouth, cried like a child until she was exhausted and fell asleep.