episode_0079

“It was enjoyable.”

“Enjoyable? Don’t spout nonsense you don’t mean just because it’s over.”

“I am being sincere, though?”

“There’s a good doctor in the palace. I’ll introduce you. Seems like you’ll need it.”

“My mental state is perfectly normal. I don’t need a counselor.”

“You brought it up before I even mentioned it—at least you’re self-aware. That’s a relief. I’d hate to throw a former comrade into a mental institution, too.”

“I really am fine. So—”

“Eric’s probably gone by now. I should get going too.”

Elia waved lightly at Christine and Cecilia.

“Since I’ll have to drag this one along with me.”

“Sa~ve~ me~”

With Eric’s bold declaration, the meeting ended in disarray.

But the very person who made that statement, Eric, had already vanished before anyone could stop him, claiming he didn’t want to be around anyone.

“Fine. It’s not like treatment has to start right now. So, what do you plan to do?”

“I intend to act according to Eric’s advice. Since he’s revealed everything he knows about the prophecy, I should align my actions accordingly. Elia, do you happen to know anyone among your acquaintances who fits the characteristics Eric mentioned?”

“Hmm. He said someone who could teach you swordsmanship, right? If such a person really existed, I probably would’ve chosen them as the Hero over you.”

“I agree. That logically means the person Eric is referring to isn’t human but another race. And among them, someone exceptionally strong.”

“The first races that come to mind would be dragons or elves. Dwarves are strong too, but their style of swordsmanship is a bit different from what you pursue.”

“The direction of the sword doesn’t matter. My swordsmanship was never about pursuing something in the first place.”

“Then I’m even more lost. Still, since Eric mentioned it, I’ll dig around the palace and question the nobles when I get back.”

“The nobles?”

“Something’s bound to turn up. There are always a few with dirty secrets—they won’t dare complain if we investigate.”

“Elia. Don’t sneak my business into your illegal slave crackdowns.”

“Sharp as ever. But as long as we get the information, what does it matter?”

“You never change… Fine. Most non-humans are more closed-off than humans, after all. I’ll ask around in my own way too.”

Lucilla turned and bowed slightly to Cecilia and Christine.

“Well… I should head in now. I’m worried about my brother. I need to make sure he can even get home alone in that state. Cecilia, don’t stay out too late—”

“Wait a second.”

As Christine tried to leave for home like the other two, Cecilia stopped her.

“Are you really just going to leave Eric like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“If we leave him alone, he’s definitely going to get seriously hurt again. You know better than anyone, Chris—whenever he’s weighing what to abandon in a crisis, the first thing he drops is always…”

“That’s…”

Even Christine, who already knew Eric’s words were nothing but empty reassurances, couldn’t refute Cecilia’s point and trailed off.

The Eric she knew would unquestionably discard what he held dearest first—even if it were his own life.

In truth, Eric was only acting based on his knowledge of the original story, carefully toeing the line to avoid death. But to the others, unaware of this, it seemed like he was constantly gambling with his life.

Time and again, either sheer luck or their own intervention had resolved things. At the time, Eric’s reckless actions just seemed foolish. But now, knowing how he thought, they couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

Like parents leaving a child by the water’s edge, they had no way of predicting Eric’s next move.

This time, they got through it. But what if next time—?

And the time after that?

Eric wasn’t the type to sit back and let others save the world. That much, they knew better than anyone.

Even Christine, despite her usual composure, felt the same unease as the others. And Cecilia, ever perceptive to others’ vulnerabilities, knew exactly how to sway her.

When it came to manipulating emotions, Cecilia was unmatched—her skills had even carried her to sainthood. The reason she’d chosen Christine wasn’t arbitrary.

This one will listen to me.

“Do you plan to let Eric die in this world too?”

“Of course not! If I abandon him again, I’ll—”

“I know, I know. I’m sorry. That was too harsh. You must feel the same as I do.”

Cecilia lowered her voice to a whisper only Christine could hear.

“You’re different from those two, Christine.”

“Huh?”

“Elia and Lucilla won’t save Eric. Well, they might try, but only because of his prophecy—never for his sake.”

It was an unfair accusation, one the other two would’ve resented if they’d heard it. But Christine remembered how Elia and Lucilla had cornered Eric during the meeting, and Cecilia shared her sentiment.

Thoughts, after all, remain unheard until spoken aloud. Cecilia was already trapped in the narrative she’d constructed.

“But… even so, it’s them. They saw how he died. Would they really go that far?”

“Their circumstances are different from ours. The burdens they carry… are incomparably heavier.”

“Hah, the Saintess is saying that?”

“I think I told you before—I have no intention of serving anything like a goddess anymore.”

“Ah.”

Christine nodded, recalling that conversation.

“Back then, you started speaking casually to me out of nowhere. I thought you’d finally started living freely.”

“Hehe. I tried, but people don’t change that easily. Besides, this way is more comfortable when talking to Eric.”

“I see.”

As Christine nodded blankly, Cecilia continued.

“Anyway, to return to the point—those two are already carrying too much. Their feelings for Eric might weigh as heavily as ours, but if he told them to drop him from the scales, they’d obey.”

“Them?”

“An empire, and beyond that, the lives of everyone on the continent. Doesn’t that sound like too much for ordinary people? Humans can live without gods, but not without food or shelter. So they’ll never let go of their duty—never. Even if Eric is on the other side of the scale.”

Cecilia was certain. She didn’t even need to ask.

Lucilla, inscrutable as she was, and Elia, unmatched in arrogance, had fought relentlessly since becoming the Hero’s party.

Though expressionless and blunt, Cecilia had seen the faint smiles Lucilla wore when saving people.

Elia, who despised incompetence more than anyone, had worked the hardest for those who’d lost families and homes to the demons.

Because they understood Eric’s will and dreams better than anyone, Cecilia couldn’t even bring herself to try persuading them.

“What do you want, unnie?”

Christine, sensing Cecilia’s turmoil, cut straight to the point.

“Fairchild.”

“What?”

“Back then, under the church—we met Fairchild, remember?”

“That annoying guy who looked just like oppa?”

“Yes. That’s him. If the future proceeds as originally intended, whether he wants it or not, it will emerge and corrupt people.”

“You’re saying we should stop it?”

“Glad you catch on quickly. If we leave it be—no, Eric will leave it be. Because that’s the only way the lazy nobles and the church will realize the severity and act. And after the crisis erupts, he’ll foolishly think he can handle it himself again.”

“……”

“Chris, you know it too. Like Fairchild said back then, Eric is more than capable of doing exactly that. So we strike first.”

“……”

“Fairchild’s power is strong, but that’s only because it was unleashed in the imperial capital. If we settle things in that church’s underground, Eric can get through this unharmed!”

“……”

“Chris!”

Christine remained silent. But Cecilia didn’t blame her.

This was an unreasonable demand to begin with.