“Saintess, what’s wrong?”

The chief warrior of the Lion Tribe, Vadim, asked Eileen.

Eileen, hearing the title “Saintess,” sighed softly, as if she had resigned herself.

“Actually, I’ve been seeing a strange aura for the past few days. It feels like it’s trying to guide me somewhere.”

“Oh! That must be a divine sign! Why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

They had been adventuring together for a long time.

To the east.

Sometimes they encountered wicked ogres, bandits who harassed mountain dwellers, and even a massive two-headed snake, not to mention the harpies that lured people in only to devour them.

One of the Lion Tribe warriors licked his lips.

“That harpy was pretty tasty. The meat was so tender.”

“Hey, knock it off. The Saintess is trying to think.”

Eileen had grown used to them.

They were a bit blunt and just a little bit barbaric, but they were deeply loyal and knew how to share with each other.

Except for their eating habits, which were a bit, no, very grotesque, they were good people.

“I must meet this person, but I’m afraid.”

“Afraid?”

“Because I have to face my own mistakes.”

Vadim furrowed his brow, clearly not understanding.

“I don’t really get it, but Saintess, trust in us. No matter who it is, even if it’s a demon, the warriors of the Lion Tribe will protect you!”

“Hehe, how reassuring.”

Eileen smiled and looked to the east.

Finally, the time had come…

The day when all her past deeds would be judged, fairly and squarely.

Eileen touched her belly.

It was smooth.

‘Good. No problems here.’

Eileen sighed in relief.

This was a week before Ascal began his military training.

******

“Cast a facial recognition concealing spell on me! Lia! Hurry!”

“Y-Yes! Right away!”

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People were swarming in like clouds.

The frontrunner, Count Tellio, and the dark horse, Sirius, had both been eliminated, leaving everyone disappointed, and now an unprecedented event was unfolding.

Flying Rock.

The stone, with the sword embedded in it, had flown directly toward someone.

This had never happened before.

People’s adrenaline levels spiked.

Sales of snacks like popcorn soared.

Even the Empire’s economic index followed suit and surged.

“Oh, what is happening! This is an unprecedented event! The stone has flown directly to someone. Has the era changed? Is it saying it won’t just sit there waiting to be pulled out anymore, but will take action itself?”

Count Devar excitedly began his commentary.

Ascal quickly smeared mud all over his face.

With Lia’s magic and his mud disguise, his identity was completely concealed. No one knew the person they were looking at was Ascal.

Not even Count Devar.

“Now, now, what is your name, stranger?”

“My name is Carl.”

“Then, Carl, will you attempt to draw the sword?”

People were watching the scene with eager eyes. However, Ascal had no intention of adding more trouble to his life.

“No.”

Boooo――

The crowd’s jeers echoed around him.

​However, the jeers are fleeting, while the pain lasts a lifetime.

Ascal turned away coldly.

All he had to do was leave the area, wipe off the disguise, and return to finish his military training as if nothing had happened.

The plan was flawless.

Until everything started to go wrong.

******

Bwooo――

“His Highness the Crown Prince is here! Everyone, show your respect!”

He appeared.

The man who stood just below one, and above all others.

The man who was essentially the next emperor.

Busy, yet somehow always with time to spare.

The man who seemed to appear out of nowhere whenever Ascal was involved.

<!– /21857590943,22888636799/readingpia.me/readingpia.mes_300x250_2 –>

He had grown so popular among the people that he now had a new title.

The Great Light.

Simply put, he was the light itself.

The Crown Prince arrived with a splendid carriage, the Empire’s banners, and a retinue of royal guards.

He looked around, then smiled brightly.

“Please, everyone, be at ease. I’m sorry if my presence has disrupted the joyful festival atmosphere.”

A guard prepared a chair for him.

Right in front of the stone of selection.

The Crown Prince sat down.

“Are you the next challenger? Come on, give it a try. After all, men are creatures born to challenge! Hahaha!”

Ascal began to sweat.

He was just a second too late to escape, and now he was caught with no way out.

Once the Crown Prince had spoken like that, there was no going against it.

And more than that, the mood had shifted.

“Draw it――!”

“Draw it! You can do it!”

“Carl――! Show them what you’ve got!”

He had heard stories.

Like the one about the discontented man who sulked alone at a grand festival, kicked over a stall, and was beaten to death by the crowd.

If he didn’t draw the sword, the crowd could turn into an angry mob.

“I’m merely a lucky man to be surrounded by such remarkable people.”

“We are but humble warriors who would be nothing without Your Highness’s grace.”

Both leaders instinctively realized one thing.

They had met a worthy adversary.

The Crown Prince was particularly impressed by Eileen, who remained humble to the end.

Typically, a wandering martial group like this could easily turn into a mere band of ruffians, yet Eileen’s leadership had turned them into noble warriors.

“Well, be that as it may, have you come to witness the sword-drawing yourself? You should have arrived a bit earlier.”

“I…”

​

Eileen bowed her head slightly and approached Ascal, who was still holding the sword.

Ascal began to piece together the memories he had pushed aside.

That’s right.

The Golden Saintess was Eileen all along.

‘Eileen… so you’ve become a saintess after all.’

But why is Eileen coming this way?

Despite his unease, Ascal stood firm.

With Lia’s facial recognition concealing spell, his disheveled hair and clothing from frequent training, and the mud smeared all over his face, he was confident.

Even the Crown Prince hadn’t recognized him.

If Eileen hadn’t recognized him when they met earlier, there was no way she would now.

“Carl. I want to ask for your forgiveness.”

But then, to his surprise, Eileen knelt down, clasped her hands together, and bowed her head.

“I turned the golden grace you gave me into nothing more than a mere stone. I repaid the love you showed me with indifference. You gave me light, and I returned darkness to you.”

Ascal silently looked down at Eileen.

He had no choice.

The atmosphere was far too heavy. It wasn’t the kind of situation where he could just say, “Don’t worry about it, it’s no big deal.”

The warriors of the Lion Tribe knelt beside the saintess.

The onlookers held their breath, watching the scene unfold.

“I fell into desire. Greed consumed me. I left the orphanage, claiming it was to atone for my sins, but in reality, I was just running away. It wasn’t true repentance. I am still a sinner.”

Eileen’s tears fell freely.

“Do not forgive me. Punish me, Carl.”

Ascal found himself in a difficult position.

She was asking for punishment. But if he delivered any kind of punishment, the men behind her (who seemed strangely familiar) might tear him apart. And honestly, he wasn’t even sure what Eileen had done wrong. Truly.

In hindsight, hadn’t she just been pursuing her own happiness? It wasn’t like she had neglected the children in her care.

「Master! Leave it to me! Just lend me your arm for a moment!」

‘Leave what to you? Hold on.’

Before Ascal could react, Lightbane moved on its own, lowering toward Eileen. Decapitation wasn’t the plan, right?

Fortunately, Lightbane stopped at Eileen’s shoulder.

「Here. Now say something cool. Quickly.」

‘…….’

Ascal spoke.

“You were never a sinner. You were simply a traveler who had lost their way. Now that you’ve found your path, don’t lose it again. The children miss you dearly.”

“The children… my children… I’m so sorry…”

Ascal glanced at Sirius.

Since Eileen’s appearance, he had been wearing a conflicted expression, his hat pulled low over his eyes.

“Still, if it’s necessary, I will forgive you.”

At that moment.

A golden light burst forth from Lightbane.

The golden light shot up into the sky, and in an instant, the sky turned dark.

‘This is just like what happened in the Holy Kingdom…’

A halo of light began to appear, illuminating the darkness.

– Hahaha! You’ve been caught in your own trap! Hoisted by your own petard!

– The scene is set. The purpose is clear. You can’t refuse this time, you rascal.

– Of course, you’re the hero. Mmm. Just perfectly ripe. And she’s the saintess.

​​******

​

This can’t be happening.

Ascal whistled sharply.

Lately, Ascal had made it a habit to keep Fer close by, ready to flee at a moment’s notice.

For moments just like this.

“Fer ! Full speed ahead, let’s get out of here! Eileen, you too, hop on!”

-Where do you think you’re running off to?!

The halo of light trembled.

If that light caught them, they would be forcibly transformed into a hero and a true saintess.

Fer soared into the sky.

But the halo of light relentlessly pursued them.

******

It was a grave mistake.

“…Ascal? Where are you going without me? And who is that woman?”

Lia’s eyes turned icy cold.

“Brothers, did you see that?”

“We did. The way he fled confirms it.”

“Indeed. The Saintess has led us to the truth.”

“Hahaha. Our Mazar-nim really does enjoy a good game of tag! But this time, we won’t let you escape, Mazar-nim! Oh, how delightful!”

The warriors, with bright smiles on their faces, took off in pursuit of Ascal.

******

“D-d-did you see that? You saw it too, right? That’s… that’s it!!!!”

“Yes, Your Highness. It appears to be a Pegasus, a mythical creature.”

The Crown Prince had witnessed the sight of a Pegasus.

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –

[TL: Fighting- Koreans say this to encourage someone.

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