Chapter 103: Meanwhile, the Hero's Party...[R-18]
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 103: Meanwhile, the Hero's Party...[R-18]
“Claire, it was a mistake to abandon our comrades and run away.”
“...Yes, it was.”
“If only we had stayed and fought the demons to the end, we could have died with honor...!”
Watching the fuming Leon, Saint Claire let out a deep sigh.
After fleeing their battle with the demons, Leon and Claire had taken refuge in the church.
It was because Claire was the only comrade Leon had left.
‘...There’s no way the Magic Tower, the Elf Tribe, and the Beastman Alliance will just stand by.’
Hyun-woo had been banished, and Rose and Tina had gone missing during the battle with the demons.
It wasn't even clear if they were dead or had been taken prisoner.
To make matters worse, the Knight Order and the Royal Family had all but abandoned the Hero over this incident.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were surrounded by enemies.
The only reason the church was giving them even minimal treatment was because Claire was still with them.
Of course, that treatment wasn't exactly good.
‘...This is worse than the room I used to have.’
Claire still remembered the splendid room she had used when she had just become the Saint of the Hero's Party.
In keeping with church doctrine, it had few expensive items, but for Claire, who had been a failure among the Saints, it was more than good enough.
That was how much was expected of her and the Hero.
She had even dreamed that if things went well, she might have a shot at becoming the Great Saint.
But this was the result.
“I wonder what happened to them. If only we could at least confirm they’re alive...”
“...Still, you should eat something.”
“I’m fine today. I’m so worried about them, I don't think I can stomach any food.”
“You need to eat to have the strength to fight.”
“...We shouldn't have done it, Claire. I know you were in a hurry, but it was a mistake.”
“...Yes, we were all panicking.”
Claire forced a bitter smile as she spoke.
She wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but she prided herself on her understanding of human psychology and emotions.
The truth was, Claire knew.
Leon certainly regretted what had happened, but he wasn't brave enough to have died there with his comrades.
Nor did he have the resolve to bear the stigma of abandoning them.
So, deep down, he was relieved by this situation.
At least he could avoid the responsibility of having ‘abandoned his comrades.’
As far as anyone was concerned, the Hero had ‘unintentionally’ survived because the Saint had teleported them away on her own.
Of course, it was unlikely that mattered to anyone else.
‘Skipping meals, saying those self-reproaching things out loud... it’s all for others to hear, I’m sure.’
If he truly wanted to save his comrades, he should have run to the royal palace and gotten on his knees.
How ridiculous must they look right now?
Having grown up in the church, Claire knew how perceptive the people here were behind their ordinary smiles.
Even an apprentice would see that his act was just a performance.
Still, it was better than doing nothing and just sitting around comfortably.
‘The best way would be to catch some demons and build up our achievements. But even that will be difficult now.’
It hadn't been easy even when there were four of them.
Now, with two of them gone, only she and Leon remained.
It was impossible to accomplish anything with this combination.
They couldn't expect any outside help, either.
Considering Leon's current situation, no one would volunteer to join them even if he tried to recruit new comrades.
No, their current situation itself was precarious.
How long would the church put up with them?
If they were deemed useless, Claire herself might be stripped of her title as a Saint.
‘...Was joining the Hero's Party a mistake after all?’
Claire recalled the day she first saw the Hero.
Back then, she had been somewhat resigned to her life.
She didn't possess any remarkable divine power.
She had somehow been lucky enough to be chosen as a Saint, but that was it.
There were countless women more talented than her.
That inferiority complex was enough to darken the once-bright Claire.
Will I just live an ordinary life without ever becoming the Great Saint?
In the midst of that resignation, she found an opportunity.
—The Hero will be staying at the church for a while. He’s here to recruit comrades to join him.
Most of the Saints did not welcome this news.
The Hero's Party sounded nice, but in the end, it was a dangerous position that involved fighting monsters.
Most importantly, the timing was bad.
For some reason, this Hero had appeared very quickly.
The current Great Saint, acknowledged by all, was still in good health.
There was still a long time until the next Great Saint would be chosen.
Subjugating the Demon King would leave less time for training, reducing their chances of becoming the next Great Saint.
But Claire, on the other hand, felt a sense of curiosity and anticipation.
—I probably have no chance of becoming the Great Saint anyway. In that case, wouldn't it be better to make a name for myself or rise in status in the Hero's Party?
Whatever happened, it would be better than being a half-baked Saint.
Claire watched the Hero and his companion, the mage, from a distance.
The Hero, Leon, and the Black Mage, Lee Hyun-woo.
Both were quite handsome young men.
—I-I didn't know there were so many Saints.
—Strictly speaking, they're not. The only ‘real’ Saint the church recognizes is the Great Saint. The others are just treated as candidates for the position.
—Then who should I choose from among them?
—Whoever you pick, their skills will be about the same. They're all just flowers raised in a greenhouse, anyway. It'd be a different story if the current Great Saint, the so-called best in history, were available... but that's probably impossible.
—Didn't you say you were the top mage from the Magic Tower?
—That's because I'm a top-tier dumbass who's following his dumbass friend to go fuck up the Demon King.
—Wow, you've got a fucking foul mouth.
The mage was quite foul-mouthed, but he seemed capable.
The Hero was also quite handsome, and he seemed simple and naive, which fit the rumors that he was from a rural estate.
—If we defeat the Demon King, you'll get the title of Hero and inherit your own estate, right? And I'll be revered as a Saint. Not bad.
This could be... a rather enjoyable journey.
Having made up her mind, Claire waited for an opportunity when the mage was gone.
She put on the Saint's habit she had secretly prepared, one that clearly showed off her cleavage and thighs.
—Mmm~ You must be the new Hero, right?
—Y-Yes?
—It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Claire, a Saint. I've been wanting to speak with you.
—Ah... Hello, my name is Leon.
—You're more handsome than I expected. Oh my, and your muscles are so firm.
—Ah, th-they are?
—Yes, I've heard much of your reputation. By the way... isn't it a bit warm to talk here?
Claire deliberately exposed her thigh and fanned the collar of her habit near her chest.
Her pale skin was visible through the opening of her clothes.
She moved closer to his ear and whispered in a sultry voice.
—My room is a little cooler. Would you like to talk there, just the two of us? I wouldn't mind if it gets a little... intense♥
—But this is a church...
—It's fine. The Goddess forgives everything, you know?
That day, Claire gave Leon her virginity.
And she became the Saint of the Hero's Party.
She'd had her doubts, but they vanished completely when she was officially appointed to the Hero's Party.
As the Saint of the Hero's Party, she received the kind of incredible treatment she had never experienced before.
She even felt a thrill when those high-and-mighty nobles bowed their heads to ask for help with monsters.
‘...But that's all past glory now.’
Claire, who had been reminiscing for a moment, soon returned to reality.
She looked around the room assigned to her and Leon.
A room only slightly larger than the one she had when she was just an ordinary Saint.
That was her and Leon's current standing.
‘Haa... The Great Saint... I wanted to become her.’
The beautiful image of the Great Saint she had seen when she first became a Saint.
That admiration was what had driven Claire this far.
A face that looked as if it were sculpted by a god and a perfect body.
The impression of a woman far more mature than herself.
A woman so much like a goddess that even other women couldn't look away.
Claire still hadn't forgotten that day, or that dream.
When she was being revered as the Saint of the Hero's Party, she truly thought it was possible.
‘...Where did it all go wrong?’
There was no need to even say it.
It all started after they banished Lee Hyun-woo.
The Hero's Party collapsed all too quickly after he was gone.
Sensing this, the Hero and everyone else grew anxious.
And while they were all watching each other warily, the situation spiraled into disaster.
If that mage had been there, he would have found a way to resolve this incident.
He was a bit foul-mouthed, but his skills and connections were truly second to none.
‘It was a mistake to drive that mage away.’
If she had known it would come to this, she should have held onto Hyun-woo, even if it meant earning Leon's hatred.
If she had, she might not have become the legal wife, but she could have at least made a name for herself as the Saint who defeated the Demon King.
Of course, it was a meaningless regret now.
The mage was gone, and the Hero's Party was destroyed.
“Haa.”
Claire let out a quiet sigh, making sure Leon couldn't hear.
...I didn't have to think about such complicated things before.
Now that it was all on her, her head was spinning.
In any case, it was time to do something.
That is, if she wanted to hold onto even this tiny room.
“I think the church will be issuing a monster subjugation order soon.”
“Monster subjugation?”
“Yes, I heard it's a witch living in the forest. They say she uses some kind of strange sorcery. Apparently, something happened recently that's made her go on a rampage.”
...I thought I heard she was a magician before, but maybe I'm mistaken?
Then again, it wasn't a very important detail.
“I don't think it will be a difficult enemy. They're probably telling us to show some results instead of just sitting around.”
“That's perfect. It's a chance to show them what we can do.”
Claire just smiled quietly.
Right, surely nothing will go wrong on a simple monster subjugation mission.
Just as they were talking.
“Is the Hero here?”
Another nun opened the door after knocking.
She gave Claire a slightly sorrowful look before speaking to the Hero.
“A package has arrived for you, Sir Hero.”
“A package?”
“Yes, would you like to check it?”
Leon and Claire looked at each other.
Who would send them anything?
And how did they even know the Hero was at this church?
“Could you give it to me, please?”
Leon took the package without much thought.
Until that moment, he couldn't have possibly imagined what was inside.