Chapter 72 : False Goddess (3)

The Relics

Unlike other nations, the people of the Mines Kingdom believed in the actual existence of a goddess. 

The goddess herself had been deeply involved in the kingdom’s affairs, and what made this possible were the relics.

Long ago, during the age when the Demon King appeared and plunged the continent into chaos, the other gods chose to remain silent. 

The only deity to lend aid to humanity at that time was the goddess.

“Take these relics. They are forged from my blood and flesh. As long as you possess these relics, I will use all my powers to watch over you.”

The goddess bestowed these relics upon humanity, and only those who desperately defended them survived. 

This was the legend of the relics as Theodore knew it.

When Wolfgang heard this, she immediately began thinking deeply. 

Now that the legendary heroes, who were once thought to exist only in myths, had appeared before her, she could no longer dismiss the relics as mere fantasy.

Moreover, it was the hero herself who had suggested searching for the relics. 

Judging it to be worth investigating, Wolfgang asked Theodore for more details.

“There’s no known location of the relics. Honestly, I thought they were just a fictional part of legend. But considering the heroes have appeared, it seems that might not be the case.”

“Do you have any idea where they might be?”

“Hmm. According to legend, the goddess first bestowed the relics at a specific location where a temple was later built to house them. Beyond that, I don’t know much.”

“That’s enough.”

Even a vague lead was better than nothing. 

If the relics were housed in a temple, then finding that temple was the first step.

However, Wolfgang’s thoughts were interrupted by an unsettling yet familiar presence. 

Turning her head, she saw faces she knew well. 

Among them, the one that stood out the most was a woman who bore a striking resemblance to herself: Saintess Jeanne.

With a confident smile gracing her lips, Jeanne spoke, “What could you two possibly be discussing so secretly, like little mice?”

“I will not tolerate further insults, Saintess Jeanne,” Theodore replied coldly.

“It seems Sir Frost still considers himself the kingdom’s greatest sword.”

Jeanne’s mocking smile made Theodore visibly bristle, unable to hide his displeasure. 

Yet he couldn’t act rashly—Jeanne wasn’t alone. The heroes stood at her side.

Her arrogance is suffocating, but I have no choice but to endure for now.

The balance of power was currently in Jeanne’s favor. 

Although unsealing the heroes had been a hasty decision, the saintess had leveraged the growing threat of the Wild Hunt to justify her actions. 

Many nobles and commoners alike supported her decision.

Of course, not everyone was convinced, but the immediate danger posed by the monsters made reliance on the heroes an appealing choice.

Despite Wolfgang’s recent accomplishments—such as destroying the lair of a dragon—even her name could not outshine the heroes, who were credited in legends with defeating the Demon King and saving the world.

For now, it’s better not to provoke her, Theodore thought.

“Of course, Sir Frost is the kingdom’s greatest sword,” he added diplomatically.

“Lana?” Wolfgang muttered under her breath.

Theodore’s approach wasn’t wrong, but he had underestimated Wolfgang’s temperament. 

She wasn’t the type to quietly endure situations like this. She especially detested people like Jeanne.

Acting high and mighty because the heroes are by her side… How pathetic.

The scene reminded Wolfgang of the arrogant nobles and the emperor during the Winter War. 

Back then, they hadn’t just refused to support her—they had actively obstructed her efforts.

Why? Wolfgang could only speculate that they saw her as a threat to their power. 

And power, after all, was a monster in its own right.

Despite the heroes’ presence, Wolfgang’s defiance showed plainly on her face. 

Jeanne, noticing this, nearly lost her composure and was about to lash out when a third voice intervened.

“There’s no time to quarrel here, Jeanne.”

“…Yes, you’re right. This is no place to waste time.”

“Rest assured, one of my comrades has already prepared to leave for the location.”

“Impressive as always, Van—pardon me, Your Highness.”

Jeanne, nearly letting slip a more personal name, forced herself to suppress her anger. 

Now was not the time to focus on such trivialities; the Wild Hunt was running rampant.

If they failed to subdue it, the backlash could be catastrophic. 

Moreover, the goddess herself had decreed that the relics on this land be retrieved and offered to her.

Initially, Jeanne had planned to devote all her forces—herself, the three heroes, and the royal guards—to secure the relics safely. 

But Van Cread had cautioned her.

“Isn’t it excessive to commit such overwhelming forces to securing the relics?”

“But this is a mission directly commanded by the goddess!”

“I don’t doubt the goddess’s will. But look at the situation—between the Wild Hunt and external threats like the Empire’s war hero, we cannot afford to leave the kingdom undefended. What will you do if things go awry?”

Van’s argument wasn’t without merit. 

Jeanne conceded and decided to send only one hero to retrieve the relics. 

She failed to realize the deeper implications of Van’s insistence.

At least the worst has been avoided, Van thought. 

Without destroying the relics, we can’t even begin. 

And with the false goddess’s powers, there might still be an opportunity to strike.

Hidden in Van’s heart was a quiet, rebellious ambition.

***

Two days later, Wolfgang was growing increasingly impatient. 

She hadn’t been able to uncover any new leads regarding the relics or the temple. 

Even high-ranking nobles like Crown Prince Jaiha and Theodore only had vague, secondhand knowledge.

Not a single record remains. 

Most people know nothing about it, and even those who do, like Jaiha and Theodore, only have scraps of information from old rumors.

Wolfgang’s thoughts lingered on the possibility of divine or otherworldly interference in the spread of this fragmented knowledge. 

But for now, she could only focus on what was actionable.

That led her to a single course of action: tracking.

Having often followed fanatical Wendigo worshipers to uncover and eliminate their bases, Wolfgang decided to use a similar approach here. She had even overheard Van’s slip.

“Rest assured, one of my comrades has already left for the location.”

With that hint, Wolfgang spent two days staking out the city walls, watching and waiting for one of the heroes to make a move.

And at last, her patience bore fruit.

Two days later, one of the heroes finally began to move.