Chapter 71 : False Goddess (2)

With Van and the other heroes joining the battle, the monsters were being swiftly dealt with.

However, the one who stood out the most in the subjugation was none other than Wolfgang Leonhardt.

A blazing wave of fire engulfed the clustered monsters. 

The flames spread with precision, mercilessly incinerating only the monsters. 

The more they thrashed in agony, the fiercer the flames burned.

Even if the monsters had intelligence closer to that of beasts, the searing pain was unbearable. 

Thanks to her intervention, they successfully pushed back the Wild Hunt, which had nearly breached the royal palace.

Surprisingly, the collateral damage from the flames was minimal, a testament to her fine control. 

She could direct the fire strategically, sparing allies from harm.

In other words, her fire wasn’t just powerful—it was efficient and precise. 

At least, it was while sealed. Wolfgang sighed and muttered, “Is it over for now?”

A voice responded, “Your power is far greater than I imagined.”

“…You must be Van. So, what do you want?”

“Perceptive, aren’t you? I like that,” Van said with a smirk.

Wolfgang couldn’t help but feel uneasy. 

It wasn’t the words themselves, but seeing Van’s expression as she spoke. 

The battlefield had cleared, leaving only Van, Wolfgang, and the three other heroes.

This meant one thing: they could talk freely without outside interference.

Standing amidst the ashes, Wolfgang turned to face Van. 

Her golden eyes, glowing faintly with intensity, met Van’s. 

Van tilted her head, her gaze radiating a divine aura.

But something was off. 

She was said to have been stripped of her title and powers by the false goddess. 

So, whose divine energy was she wielding? 

Could it truly be the Sun God intervening directly?

It was hard to say. 

The Sun God had refrained from interfering even when the continent teetered on the brink of collapse. 

But if the Sun God truly was acting now… there might be hope.

A chance to correct this twisted fate.

Yet, Wolfgang couldn’t trust it so easily. 

There was no precedent in history for the Sun God’s direct intervention.

If only there were time to investigate. 

But alas, there wasn’t. 

The false goddess was already manipulating the Saintess and enacting her schemes.

“One thing I’d like to ask you,” Van said. “Are you fighting for revenge, or is it for a greater cause?”

“What nonsense are you spouting now?”

“I heard you were a war hero in the Empire. You must have gained wealth and honor beyond most people’s wildest dreams. And yet, you left it all behind to come here.”

“…”

“So, I need to know—what is your true purpose? Is it revenge, or are you fighting for a noble cause?”

Would asking such a question even yield an honest answer? 

Wolfgang thought it was absurd. 

Anyone could lie, and the “right” answer was obvious.

If someone admitted they were fighting for revenge, it would only invite hostility. 

Who would confess to that?

Wolfgang scoffed and replied, “Revenge is an emotion I let go of a long time ago, along with my memories.”

“…Wait. Are you saying you have no memory of your past?”

“That’s right. I am Wolfgang Leonhardt now, not Lana Frost.”

It wasn’t a lie. 

She wasn’t here for revenge. 

Her goal was far simpler: to kill the Saintess and secure a peaceful future for herself.

If she retired from the military while the Saintess was aware of her existence, it would be like discarding her most valuable trump card.

“I’m not fighting for some lofty ideal. I fight for myself and for the Empire. Does that answer satisfy you?”

“A humble answer, for a hero.”

“Is there a problem with that?”

“No, in fact, it’s reassuring.”

Van didn’t have the power to discern truth from lies, but she could sense sincerity in a voice. 

And from her perspective, Wolfgang was speaking earnestly.

This realization allowed Van to relax, even if only slightly.

Now, I can die without regrets.

“…It seems the interference has already begun,” Van muttered.

“What are you talking about?” Wolfgang asked.

“Listen carefully. To kill the Saintess, you must first destroy the relics. Only by breaking them can you weaken the false goddess’s power…”

Van suddenly faltered, clutching her head as if struck by intense pain. 

The false goddess was beginning to intervene.

Damn it. 

I couldn’t tell her everything, but… this will have to do.

With that, Van and the other heroes swiftly retreated from the area.

“What’s with her, all of a sudden?” Wolfgang muttered, bewildered.

Though confused, Wolfgang didn’t dismiss Van’s words. 

As heroes, they were likely connected to the kingdom’s innermost affairs. While the abrupt nature of her advice was unsettling, she couldn’t completely disregard it.

Still, one thing nagged at her: why would a hero, someone clearly aligned with the Saintess, reveal how to defeat her?

Heroes are the kingdom’s treasure, and the Saintess is its core. 

So why would a hero provide me with this information?

Wolfgang frowned. She’d been misled before. 

During a past mission, she had relied on information from brainwashed fanatics planted by Wendigos. That operation had ended disastrously.

I was too arrogant back then, drunk on my power. 

Charging into a trap cost me comrades.

The memory of that failure lingered. 

It taught Wolfgang to approach such matters with caution. 

She couldn’t fully trust the hero’s words, but she also couldn’t ignore the potential lead.

Relics, a false goddess… Even with just a brief conversation, Wolfgang’s thoughts were brimming with questions. 

She resolved to investigate further.

Returning to the palace, Wolfgang was greeted by Theodore.

“Are you hurt? Any injuries?”

“I’m fine.”

“Good to hear.”

“Did you think I’d die that easily?”

Despite Wolfgang’s reassurances, Theodore only relaxed after confirming she was safe. 

After ten grueling years, they had finally regained even the smallest sliver of hope.

The possibility was slim—nearly nonexistent. 

But as long as it wasn’t zero, Theodore clung to that hope.

Perhaps that was why he grew restless whenever Wolfgang wasn’t within sight. 

Even during missions, he’d often stop by to ensure she was still at the ducal estate before returning to his duties.

Noticing the shadow lingering in Theodore’s expression, Wolfgang spoke up.

“Is something troubling you?”

“We thought recruiting a few royal guards was an achievement. But now, an even greater obstacle has appeared before us.”

“You mean the heroes.”

“Yes. If they truly are the legendary heroes, facing them will be a daunting challenge.”

No matter how exaggerated the legends might be, the heroes were still renowned for defeating the Demon King and saving the world. 

Even Theodore, the kingdom’s greatest swordsman, couldn’t guarantee victory against any of the three heroes.

And Wolfgang knew this too—having clashed with the weakest among them, the Shadow 

Hero, she could only imagine how much stronger the others were.

That’s why they had to act quickly. 

They had to kill them before it was too late.

“Do you know anything about the relics?” Wolfgang asked, her golden eye beginning to glow.