Holy Kingdom – Counterattack (4)

A whirlwind of anxiety and fear swept over me-the dread that I might have already crossed an irreversible river.

“If my assumption is correct… what should I…”

-Thud!

Jade violently slammed his forehead against the desk. The sharp pain cleared his mind.

“…Get a grip. I just need to verify it myself.”

He’d learned countless times how meaningless it was to regret the past. Preparing for what lay ahead was far more important.

Even if it was a highly plausible theory, it remained just an assumption for now.

There must still be a chance to undo everything.

‘No-there has to be.’

Just as Jade took a deep breath to steady himself-

-Knock knock.

A delicate voice came from beyond the door.

“Hero-nim? Are you there?”

This voice… Veronica.

Startled by the sudden visitor, Jade hastily straightened his disheveled collar before approaching the door.

“Veronica? What brings you here?”

“I wanted to speak with you. May I come in for a moment?”

“Of cour-“

Jade froze with his hand on the doorknob.

The Saintess. The chosen of the Goddess. The hero who saved humanity.

To doubt her itself felt like blasphemy against the Goddess. Yet the unease in his heart refused to fade.

“…I’m sorry. I need some time alone right now.”

“Ah, understood. I’ll return when you’re feeling better.”

The retreating footsteps paused briefly before approaching again.

“Hero-nim. I know you’re suffering greatly. After everything that’s happened recently… But I hope you regain your strength soon. His Holiness the Pope wishes to discuss the upcoming appointment ceremony and future plans. I’ll take my leave now.”

Veronica’s consolation carried genuine warmth and sincere concern for Jade.

‘Veronica. The Saintess…’

Veronica had shown strong affection toward Jade-even crossing dangerous boundaries beyond mere expressions of fondness.

The memory of that day when the pure maiden approached him wearing nothing but her innocence. Though ashamed as someone already committed, it remained an unforgettable scene.

‘But something’s wrong.’

Jade knew he wasn’t exceptionally handsome or charming.

Lena liking him had been strange enough-but the Saintess? That defied all logic.

A love story between the Hero and Saintess wasn’t impossible, but Veronica throwing herself at him from their first meeting was absurd. Especially when he already had a lover.

He methodically reexamined his earlier hypothesis against current events.

“The possibility that His Holiness and Veronica deceived me…”

Was it all an act? Honestly, Veronica’s displays of purity seemed too genuine to be fake. If it was acting, would she have made such clumsy advances?

‘First-what would be their motive? Why go this far?’

In complex situations, one should consider who ultimately benefits.

Lena disappears. The Hero and Saintess unite.

If the Pope could freely control the Saintess… he’d effectively possess the Hero.

“It’s not impossible.”

The theory held considerable weight when laid out.

“I desperately hope that’s the case.”

The Pope being corrupted-an unthinkable scenario, yet Jade prayed it was true.

‘Then… Lena would be completely innocent.’

If this hypothesis proved correct, every moment of their journey together and their love had been real.

“…Haha.”

Jade laughed bitterly at his own absurd wish.

“Have I lost my mind?”

Praying for the Pope’s corruption? After everything he’d endured, maybe he truly had gone mad.

“Now all I can do is wait for the appointment ceremony.”

He needed more than strength-fame and status were essential.

Though currently receiving treatment equal to high nobility, Jade hadn’t accomplished anything to earn genuine recognition.

He’d sensed it in the nobles’ gazes and people’s attitudes before.

On the day of the ceremony, gaining acknowledgment from the Pope, Saintess, and citizens while wielding the Holy Sword…

After that, he’d surely gain some measure of autonomy.

***

Under a moonless dark sky, Annie’s window creaked open with faint sound.

-Creak.

“Wh-who’s there?!”

Annie slammed shut her magic tome and swiftly grabbed her staff. But upon recognizing the shadow entering her room, she lowered her hand.

“…Jade?”

“Long time no see.”

Jade carefully landed inside and looked at Annie. Her face showed not joy, but flustered complexity.

“How did you even get here? This is the third floor, and the Holy Knights were monitoring…”

“Came carefully-probably wasn’t spotted. Needed to see you today.”

An awkward silence fell between them, the distance palpable compared to before.

“Sigh… I don’t know how to treat you anymore.”

“I’m sorry. For making my comrades suffer while playing hero.”

Jade avoided Annie’s gaze as he bowed slightly. Their party had begun with friendship and hope, but now they couldn’t trust each other-only disappointment and regret remained. The party teetered on collapse.

“Yeah, I get it. The situation forced you to doubt Lena. But… did you really have to go that far? She risked her life fighting alongside us. How could all that trust crumble so easily?”

“That’s…”

Jade bit his lip instead of speaking. The Pope and Saintess’s testimony. Lena stabbing him during their meeting. Her being with Ian-countless reasons clouded his judgment.

But he didn’t want to make excuses. He shouldn’t have done that to Lena.

“I made an unforgivable mistake. I shouldn’t have treated Lena like that.”

“This might sound naive, but I believe only you can resolve what happened with Lena. Don’t blindly trust the Pope, Saintess, or anyone else.”

“…From now on, I’ll judge things myself. Not by others’ words-I’ll see with my own eyes and choose with my own hands. Whatever outcome comes, I’ll face it.”

Annie sighed in relief and closed her eyes.

“Better late than never… Seems you’ve finally come to your senses.”

After a brief silence, Jade cautiously broached the main topic.

“…I need to know about Lena and Ian. Your brother was the next Tower Lord candidate?”

“I knew he was powerful, but not that he’d risen to that position. Never imagined meeting him here of all places.”

Annie bit her lip and looked away, clearly struggling to speak.

“First, let me explain from the beginning. One day, Lena sent me a letter asking for help. So I begged my brother to save her-no, to uncover the truth.”

“That’s why Lena and Ian were together…”

Annie’s request explained their collaboration during the prison break incident.

One thing still puzzled Jade about that day.

Lena’s appearance-clothes torn, bearing traces of intercourse below.

‘…Damn it.’

Jade still lacked the courage to confront that day’s truth.

‘More urgent matters now. So…’

He deliberately avoided that memory for more pressing concerns.

“But you know…”

Annie hesitated before continuing.

“Truthfully, I know almost nothing. Even after meeting Lena, my brother shared no proper information with me.”

“What? He didn’t tell you? That doesn’t make sense.”

Jade couldn’t hide his confusion. Ian went to meet Lena at Annie’s request yet told her nothing? Something felt off.

“I don’t understand either. Maybe it was too dangerous to tell me? Or he wasn’t certain yet? No…”

Annie’s confused expression shifted as she strained to recall.

Suddenly she clutched her head and staggered.

“Ugh!”

Jade rushed to support her.

“Annie! Are you okay?”

“Mm… Head hurts a bit. Probably too much stress lately. Maybe the shock scrambled my memories.”

“Whew… Don’t push yourself.”

Jade worried about Annie’s condition. Under surveillance and confined, she couldn’t possibly be well.

After resting in a chair, Annie forced a smile.

“I’m fine now.”

“Be careful. Tell the priests immediately if anything feels wrong.”

“Let’s continue. We don’t have much time.”

“…Alright. What do you think about Ian cooperating with demons?”

“Absolutely impossible. That’s not who my brother is. His personality makes collaborating with demons unthinkable.”

Annie rejected the notion without hesitation.

“…I thought so too.”

Every encounter between Jade and Ian left terrible impressions, but Ian didn’t seem the type to ally with demons.

Moreover, rumors claimed the entire Magic Tower was collaborating with demons. The Magic Tower that fought alongside the Holy Kingdom during the Great War. The Holy Kingdom raising such suspicions seemed stranger.

“Annie, I’ll be honest. I suspect Veronica and His Holiness. More precisely-I believe the Pope is behind everything.”

Even after this shocking statement, Annie simply nodded.

“Yeah, it sounds absurd… but if Lena’s innocent, that’s the only possibility left. Though I can’t grasp the reasons or methods.”

Annie posed a crucial question.

“If His Holiness is truly the enemy, what will you do? Plan to fight the Holy Kingdom?”

The question struck at the core. If the Pope orchestrated everything, this would escalate beyond their capacity to handle alone.

Jade had pondered this but found no easy answers.

“If true, I’d want to storm in sword drawn… but that wouldn’t solve anything. I’ll prepare step by step after the appointment ceremony.”

Jade had no choice but to gradually gain power, fame, and information while awaiting his chance.

Noticing dawn approaching through the window, Jade realized their time was up.

‘Didn’t gain much intel. Thought Annie might know everything.’

At least he confirmed she was holding up.

Heading toward the window, Jade bid farewell.

“Time to go. Thanks. And… just hold on a little longer.”

Suddenly, arms wrapped around him from behind.

“Annie?”

“Jade, you’re simultaneously lucky and unlucky. Becoming the Hero was fortunate. But from the academy days, encountering demons in dungeons, even now in the Holy Kingdom-you keep facing terrible hardships.”

Her voice was soft but carried clear comfort.

“Yet I think I know why you were chosen as Hero. You endure everything. I would’ve given up long ago. I believe this too shall pass-another trial you’ll overcome.”

“…Thank you.”

The moment mirrored when he’d comforted a tearful Annie long ago-now their roles reversed.

Annie released him and playfully slapped his back.

“Now go. I’ll expect greatness at the ceremony.”

“Yeah, make sure to come watch.”

Before climbing out, Jade left final words.

“Annie-I’ll make sure we’re smiling in the end.”