episode_0070

Flutter.

At the top of the tower of Kurn City Hall.

The national flag of the Holy Empire hangs on the right side of the main entrance.

“Alright…”

The important thing is the position and height of the flag.

The direction of the flag doesn’t originally hold any special meaning.

But for Cornelia, the direction of the flag was significant.

It was because of the promise she made with Eugene.

If the flag is hoisted on the left side, everything is fine.

But if it’s hoisted on the right side, it means that the Saint is at risk of being exposed, so do not approach.

And today, the Saint was at City Hall.

“You’re here.”

“Oh, uh, it’s dangerous here…”

At the gentle voice that came from behind, Cornelia’s body flinched and trembled.

Jill Diner.

The Saint of Hameln stood on the rooftop, holding onto her swaying hair.

“Do you hoist the flag yourself every time?”

“Yes. It’s like starting my day’s work.”

“Wow. I thought being a mayor meant sitting at a desk and ordering your subordinates around.”

“Haha… I have a handful of trustworthy aides.”

Cornelia quickly finished hoisting the flag and dusted off her hands.

Her eyes were fixed on the towering national flag of the Holy Empire.

Jill couldn’t take her eyes off the flag fluttering in the wind for a while.

Feeling anxious, Cornelia gently grabbed Jill’s shoulder.

“It’s dangerous, so let’s go down quickly.”

“Haha. Alright.”

Only then did Jill smile and lower her head.

Cornelia led the Saint back inside and took the lead in descending the stairs.

She glanced back to see if it was difficult for Jill to come down the stairs, but the Saint was wearing neat flat shoes, not high heels.

“Indeed, she’s quite different from the previous Saints.”

There used to be negative views about the Saints.

Critics always said that they only appeared at various events, serving as the face of the gods, and were used as a tool to prove the existence of the deities.

But Jill Diner was different.

She was always absent from important events, insisting on volunteering and providing medical support.

She intervened in corrupt practices and scandals, causing a lot of resentment.

As a result, enemies tried to assassinate the Saint whenever they had the chance, but her determination never wavered.

The Saint’s choice was right.

As time passed, the forces following her grew much larger than those who envied and hated her.

At this point, the Saint was no longer just a mascot of the Holy Empire.

She was evidence that justice existed in the world.

And proof that the gods existed.

“I’m grateful for your legal advice. Thank you once again.”

“No, if my humble opinion helps you, it’s an honor for me.”

Cornelia received legal advice from the Saint.

Guiding the Saint to her seat, Cornelia was in a daze.

What have I done to deserve this?

I only studied law for a while, why was I chosen?

“Could she be subtly pressuring me…”

The situation was strange.

The Saint came to seek legal advice to pursue Eugene.

And the person she was looking for was someone who knew Eugene.

Could such a bizarre coincidence happen?

Maybe the Saint is subtly pressuring me.

Quickly, call out Eugene’s location.

With that thought, Cornelia suddenly became eerie.

“Saint, could you please start by telling me about the person you’re looking for?”

“Sure. His name is Eugene. He’s a human. Male. In his early twenties. About 180 centimeters tall with a lean physique… Despite his tall stature, he’s quite slim. When you touch him, he feels firm, with many lean muscles. Black hair with brown eyes. And…”

With each detail listed, Cornelia had to exert all her effort to maintain a poker face.

It sent shivers down her spine.

Most of the information could be known just by meeting Eugene.

But there were a few details that only someone very close to Eugene could know.

“What was your relationship with him?”

“…”

Cornelia finally managed to speak and asked.

Above all, she was most curious about the relationship between the Saint and Eugene.

A wandering mercenary and the Saint.

They seemed to have no connection at all.

“He’s someone I can’t live without. Someone I must find at all costs. I’m willing to sacrifice anything to find him.”

“…”

Someone she can’t live without.

It was a rather unfriendly response.

There was no explanation about their relationship.

Since it seemed like she wouldn’t elaborate, Cornelia decided not to ask any further.

“At least we need to prove that person exists for the court to take action. For now, we need to try other investigation methods…”

“I’ve tried everything. Full body searches, various inspections, and so on. I’ve used every method available through the power of the Saint. We’ve investigated every resident within the influence of the Papal See at least three times, but we couldn’t find Eugene. He must be constantly moving without leaving a trace, or he’s definitely in the land of the heretics. Now it’s time to use methods beyond the authority of the Saint. I couldn’t think of any other way, so I came to find the deputy mayor.”

“…”

Cornelia was at a loss for words.

To go to such lengths just to find one person without a proper justification.

It was clearly an abuse of power.

But there was no hint of regret in the eyes of the Saint.

‘What weakness does she have that…’

Eugene said that he had a weakness of the Saint.

How fatal must that weakness be for the Saint to be so determined to find him.

Cornelia swallowed nervously, continuing her inquiry.

“You’ve tried more than I thought. Even the full body searches didn’t catch him. So, at the moment, there seems to be no solution. If you cooperate a bit more, maybe we can come up with a plan…”

“Cooperate?”

“Please tell me more about this Eugene. That way, we can come up with a plan.”

“…”

She decided to be a bit shameless.

It seemed like she might be able to hear about the relationship between the Saint and Eugene.

After a moment of silence, the Saint took a deep breath and spoke.

“Alright. I’ll trust that you find it difficult to speak. Eugene is a precious person to me. To me, who has no family, he is more precious than anyone else.”

“…”

Cornelia felt her breath catch in her throat.

Although she expressed it as being as precious as family, it was clearly about a beloved lover.

What she had feared was becoming a reality.

“But I hurt him with my mistake. He left me, hiding his whereabouts as if to never be found… I don’t know what to do. I want to find him and apologize, but Eugene doesn’t even give me a chance. I want to find him and apologize, to go back to the way things were before. I want to go back to the good times…”

With tears in her eyes, the Saint spoke with a vulnerable face.

Cornelia had never seen this side of the Saint before.

She was a person who passionately loved someone and knew how to cry for love.

In love, she was also selfish and human.

It was a big shock to Cornelia.

And at the same time, Cornelia made a decision.

‘She’s definitely not right.’

She couldn’t let the Saint continue to search for Eugene.

‘She’s not in her right mind.’

Hiding and running away means she doesn’t want to face you.

If she were in her right mind, anyone would understand that.

At this point, she should give up.

She should acknowledge that the relationship is over.

But the Saint was searching for Eugene as if she were going to catch him and kill him.

It was understandable why Eugene was so desperate to escape.

There was nothing good to come from being involved with a woman like her.

‘Please give up now. What Eugene needs is not a persistent woman like you, but someone who can make him comfortable.’

Although she seemed so desperate that Cornelia’s heart wavered slightly, she quickly made up her mind.

She couldn’t let this woman approach the man who saved her life.

“Don’t worry too much. I have a few ideas that come to mind.”

“Really?”

“Yes. We’ll be able to find him soon. Just trust me.”

Cornelia held the Saint’s hand with a gentle smile.

For Eugene’s happiness, she had to outsmart this woman.

***

Elvengard.

A huge community inside the base of the World Tree.

Mia sat crouched at the ‘Eye of the World Tree,’ concentrating quietly.

‘Another prophecy…?’

It had only been a few days since the prophecy came down.

And already, the next prophecy was about to come down.

Within a short interval, it was already the third prophecy.

Normally, there should be a one-year interval.

It was an unprecedented event.

‘Will Eugene have to listen to this one as well?’

Mia felt a sense of regret.

The more prophecies Eugene heard, the better.

That way, he would come to Elvengard more often.

But if a new prophecy came down before the accumulated prophecies were told, it would be pointless.

She hoped that at least the last prophecy would be told before the new one came down.

Mia inwardly grumbled, but approached the interpretation seriously.

“Hmm?”

However, soon the prophecy of the World Tree ceased.

As silence enveloped the surroundings, Mia sensed that something was amiss.

The air around her seemed to have cooled slightly.

“You are…”

“…”

And when she turned around.

There stood a figure in a hood, concealing their face.

This was the strictly controlled entrance of the World Tree.

There was no way anyone could enter here freely.

“Lady Yulia…?”

“Ah, yes.”

The former priestess.

The Tangya of Elvengard.

Yulia Pentenburg lowered her hood and revealed her face.

“How did you get in here?”

“I- I avoided the guards… sneaked in…”

Although she had given up her priestess position, she was once chosen by the World Tree.

So as long as she avoided the guards’ gaze, the World Tree did not prevent Yulia from entering, allowing her to come here without resistance.

“What’s wrong? Is there an issue with the life-sharing method I taught you last time?”

“Oh, no. That, I- there’s no problem at all…”

Yulia stuttered, unable to meet Mia’s eyes.

Although they had known each other since childhood, it was still difficult for Mia to interact with her.

They had laughed and chatted together before leaving Elvengard.

But since leaving Elvengard, Yulia seemed to have forgotten how to have a normal conversation with people.

Having isolated herself from the world for over 200 years, her social anxiety had only worsened.

“I- I won’t talk… any longer…”

After taking a deep breath, Yulia looked Mia in the eye.

Although she still stuttered, her eyes were firm.

She no longer seemed like a clumsy, socially awkward loner.

She had the face of the Pentenburg’s mistress.

The cold face of a ruthless witch.

“The man who cleared the dungeon underground the World Tree. Where is he?”

“…”

Without any hesitation, she uttered a chilling demand.

Mia’s body stiffened.

It wasn’t a question.

It was a demand.

Yulia was confidently demanding the whereabouts of Eugene.

After hesitating for a moment, Mia finally spoke up.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“…”

And with a sly smile, Yulia shrugged.

She couldn’t simply hand over a man who could potentially become the priestess’s husband.

“Mia, you…”

At Yulia’s audacious attitude, her expression twisted.

She knew she should have decisively burned Elvengard to the ground back then.

Regret swirled within Yulia.