Seongguk – Counterattack

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A sense of unease and fear, as if he had already crossed a point of no return, swirled within him.

“If the assumption is correct… what should I do….”

-Thump!

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

“…Let’s get a grip. I can confirm it myself.”

He had learned countless times how pointless it was to regret the past. It was more important to prepare for the situation ahead.

Besides, even if it was a highly probable guess, it was still just an assumption.

There would still be a chance to turn everything back.

‘No, there has to be.’

It was the moment Jade took a deep breath and steeled his resolve.

-Knock knock.

A delicate voice was heard from beyond the door along with the knock.

“The Hero. Are you there?”

That voice… It’s Veronica.

Surprised by the sudden visitor, Jade hurriedly straightened his disheveled collar and headed for the door.

“Veronica? What’s wrong?”

“I have something to tell The Hero. May I come in for a moment?”

“Okay…”

Jade, who was about to open the door right away, stopped with his hand on the doorknob.

The Saintess. The one chosen by the Goddess. The hero who saved humanity.

Doubting her was an act of blasphemy against the Goddess. But the unease in his heart did not disappear.

“…Sorry. I just want to have some time alone.”

“Ah, I understand. I’ll come back when The Hero is feeling better.”

The footsteps that had slowly moved away from the door came closer again a few seconds later.

“The Hero. I know you’re having a hard time. There have been so many things happening recently. But I hope you regain your strength soon. His Holiness the Pope also wants to talk about the upcoming inauguration ceremony and future plans. Then, I’ll be going.”

The Saintess’s comfort was filled with warm concern and sincerity for Jade.

‘Veronica. The Saintess….’

Veronica had expressed a strong liking for Jade. And there was even a dangerous incident that went beyond a simple expression of affection.

The Saintess who came to him one day. The sight of the pure maiden approaching without a single thread on her body.

It was embarrassing to him who has a lover, but it was an unforgettable memory.

‘But it’s strange.’

Jade knew that his appearance or charm wasn’t particularly outstanding.

It was strange that Lena liked him, but it was even more absurd for the Saintess.

A love story between The Hero and the Saintess. It wasn’t impossible, but it was very strange for Veronica to rush at him at their first meeting. He even had a lover.

He carefully retraced the assumptions and current situation from earlier.

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

Were all the actions so far acting?

Frankly, the pure appearance Veronica showed didn’t seem like it at all. If it was acting, he thought, would she have seduced him so foolishly?

‘First, what is the purpose? Why would they do this?’

In complex situations, you have to think about the person who benefited as a result.

Lena disappears and the Saintess is united with The Hero.

If the Pope could freely control the Saintess… the Pope would get The Hero.

“It’s not impossible.”

When he organized it, it was quite a convincing assumption.

“I wish that were the case.”

The Pope has fallen. It was something that shouldn’t have happened, but Jade rather hoped that was the truth.

‘Then… Lena is innocent.’

If this assumption is correct, all the journeys and love he had with Lena were real.

“…Haha.”

Jade laughed at his absurd wish.

“Am I out of my mind?”

To wish for the Pope’s corruption. After experiencing all sorts of incidents, he might have gone crazy.

“Is there nothing left but to wait for the inauguration ceremony?”

He needed fame and status, not just power.

Currently, Jade is receiving tremendous treatment comparable to a great noble. But he is not truly recognized because he has achieved nothing.

He had felt something in the gazes of the nobles and the attitudes of the people last time.

On the day of the inauguration ceremony, he will gain the recognition of the Pope, the Saintess, and the citizens, and hold the Holy Sword in his hand.

After that, it was clear that he would have at least a small choice.

On a dark night without even moonlight, Annie’s room window opened slowly with a small sound.

-Squeak.

“Wh-Who is it!”

Annie covered the Magic book she was reading and quickly picked up her Wand. But soon, she recognized the identity of the shadow that entered the room and lowered her hand.

“…Jade?”

“It’s been a while.”

Jade carefully lowered himself into the room and looked at Annie. On Annie’s face, instead of joy, there was a mixture of embarrassment and complicated emotions.

“How did you get here? This is the third floor, and there must have been Holy Knights guarding it.”

“I came carefully, so I probably wasn’t caught. I felt like I had to see you today.”

After Jade’s words, an awkward silence flowed in the room for a moment. There was a distance between them that was different from before.

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

“I’m sorry. The Hero is only making his companions suffer.”

Jade avoided Annie’s gaze and lowered his head slightly.

It was a Hero Party that started with friendship and hope. But they don’t trust each other, they are disappointed, and they regret it. The party was already on the verge of collapse.

“Yes, I know. It was inevitable that you would suspect Lena. But… did you have to go that far? She was someone who risked her life with you, could all that trust be so easily broken?”

“That’s….”

Jade opened his mouth, then pressed his lips tightly.

The Pope’s and the Saintess’s testimonies. Lena’s actions of stabbing him in the interview. Ian and Lena’s appearance—there were many reasons that confused Jade.

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 done that to Lena.”

“It may be a childish thought of mine. But I think you should at least resolve the matter with Lena yourself. No matter who it is, whether it’s the Pope or the Saintess, you shouldn’t handle things by only believing their words.”

“…At least from now on, I will try to judge for myself. I will see with my own eyes and choose with my own hands, not anyone else’s words. Whatever the outcome, I will finish it myself.”

Annie heard those words, let out a sigh of relief, and closed her eyes.

“It’s late… but it seems like you’ve come to your senses a little.”

After a moment of silence, Jade carefully brought up the main point.

“…I want to know about the relationship between Lena and Ian. The next Magic Tower Lord was your brother.”

“I knew my brother was talented, but I didn’t know he had risen to the position of the next Magic Tower Lord. I didn’t expect to meet him here.”

Annie bit her lip slightly and turned her head. She seemed to have a hard time speaking.

“First, I’ll tell you from the beginning. One day, Lena asked me for help in a letter. So I asked my brother to save Lena, or rather, to reveal the truth.”

“So Lena and Ian were together….”

It was Annie’s request that Lena and Ian were together on the day of the prison break.

One thing still didn’t make sense that day.

Lena’s appearance at the time. Her clothes were tattered, and there were traces of intercourse below.

‘…Damn it.’

Jade didn’t have the courage to dig into the truth of that day yet.

‘Other things are important now. So….’

For more important things, Jade turned away from the scene.

“But you know….”

Annie hesitated and opened her mouth.

“Actually, I don’t know much either. My brother didn’t give me any proper information even after meeting Lena.”

“What? He didn’t give you information? I don’t understand that.”

Jade couldn’t help but be embarrassed by Annie’s words.

He went to meet Lena at Annie’s request, but he didn’t give Annie any information. Something was wrong.

“I don’t understand either. Maybe he said he wouldn’t tell me because it was dangerous? Or maybe it wasn’t certain yet? No….”

Annie made a confused expression and tried to recall her memories.

Then, she suddenly grabbed her head and staggered.

“Ugh!”

Jade was surprised and ran to grab her.

“Annie! Are you okay?”

“Ugh…. I have a bit of a headache. I think I’ve been under a lot of stress lately. I think my memories are all mixed up because I was shocked.”

“Hoo… don’t overdo it.”

Jade was worried about Annie’s condition.

Annie is currently under surveillance and can’t even go out properly. It was impossible for her to be in a normal state.

Annie, who took a rest while sitting on a chair, forced a smile.

“I’m okay now.”

“Be careful. If you feel even a little strange, tell the Priest right away.”

“Let’s continue the story we were talking about. We don’t have much time.”

“…Okay. Then what do you think about the story that Ian cooperated with the Demons?”

“That’s absolutely not true. My brother is not that kind of person. In the first place, given my brother’s personality, it’s absurd to cooperate with Demons.”

Annie denied Jade’s words without a moment’s hesitation.

“…I think so too.”

Jade and Ian’s meetings always left each other with the worst impressions. But in his opinion, Ian didn’t seem like someone who would cooperate with Demons at least.

Besides, there are even stories that the Magic Tower itself is cooperating with Demons.

That Magic Tower was at the forefront during the Great War with the Holy Kingdom. It seemed strange that the Holy Kingdom side was raising these suspicions.

“Annie, I’ll be honest. I’m suspicious of Veronica and His Holiness the Pope. To be exact, I think His Holiness the Pope is behind everything.”

Even at Jade’s shocking remarks, Annie only nodded.

“Yeah, I think it’s ridiculous… but if Lena is innocent, that’s all that’s left. I have no idea about the reason or method, though.”

Annie asked Jade a question.

“If His Holiness the Pope is really the enemy, what are you going to do? Are you going to fight against the Holy Kingdom?”

It was a question that hit the core. If the Pope was really behind everything, the scale of the incident would be even bigger than it is now. To the point where it was impossible to solve with their own power.

Jade had thought about that part, but it was impossible to come to a conclusion easily.

“If that’s the case, I want to go and swing my sword right away… but that won’t solve anything properly. I’ll prepare step by step after the inauguration ceremony.”

From Jade’s point of view, he had no choice but to seize opportunities while gaining power, fame, and information one by one.

Jade glanced at the window and felt that it was getting brighter outside.

‘There wasn’t much to gain. I thought Annie might know everything.’

Still, he could confirm that Annie was holding up well.

Jade headed back to the window and said goodbye to Annie.

“I should go now. Thank you. And… hold on a little longer.”

Then, two arms hugged Jade from behind.

“Annie?”

“Jade, in my opinion, you are a very lucky and unlucky person. Becoming The Hero is lucky. But even at the Academy, when you met Demons in the Dungeon, and even in the Holy Kingdom. You’re constantly going through really hard things.”

Annie’s voice was small and quiet, but it was definitely comforting.

“But I think I know why you were chosen as The Hero. You’re enduring everything. If it were me, I would have given up a long time ago. I think this is also a trial that you can overcome in the end.”

“…Thank you.”

It was as if he remembered the moment when he comforted Annie, who was crying. This time it was the opposite.

Annie released her arms and patted Jade on the back.

“Okay, now go. I’m looking forward to seeing you look great on the day of the inauguration ceremony.”

“Yeah, be sure to come and see me.”

Jade left his last words before going out the window.

“Annie, I’ll make you smile at least in the end.”