Chapter 31
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 31
Uninvited Guest (1)
The cathedral of the Kingdom.
In that place that was always holy and quiet, groans mixed with pain were being heard right now.
The Saintess Hariri let out a sigh as soon as she entered.
"Haa."
It's already been four days since she came here. Nevertheless, she couldn't get used to this scene yet, and that was the same for the clergy dispatched with her.
Although they ran here hearing the news of the Kingdom, the situation placed before their eyes was much more gruesome than they thought.
She had heard the rumors of the Kingdom's 1st Knight Order well. Their bravery and skill had a widespread reputation of not lagging behind even compared to the Empire, so hearing their screams disturbing the peace of the cathedral couldn't help but be flustering. Even the wounds of the Knight Order Captain were the most serious among them. She couldn't believe at all the fact that all this was the deed of just one person.
However, this was still much better. Because when she first arrived, the screams of over fifty knights echoed like a hymn.
Recalling that time still gave her goosebumps. Did he really deal with this many knights alone.
"Saintess."
"Ah, yes!"
For now, distracting thoughts come later. I should work as much as I was paid. She spread her holy power to heal the knights' wounds, then went to check Leohar's condition.
There was no danger to his life, but his condition was serious unlike other members. She spread holy power for four days, but the wounds on his leg and neck still hadn't completely healed.
Did the opponent perhaps go easy on him. She patted Leohar so he would be relieved.
"Fortunately, it seems there will be no aftereffects. Of course, it will take a little time to heal though."
"Yes... Thank you. Saintess."
"Perhaps the opponent also didn't want Lord Leohar to die. Because he didn't cut a vital point."
At those words, Leohar clenched his fist tightly. She was saying words of comfort without much thought, but they were words he couldn't accept at all.
"No, that wouldn't be the case."
"Yes?"
"That guy. He definitely intended to kill me. He must have been hiding Aura like that just for this day. If only I hadn't let my guard down... that damn bastard."
At those words, she tilted her head. The Kingdom's Hero being unable to use Aura was a famous story spread throughout the continent. Because he was the first among Heroes to be unable to use Aura. She was surprised that such a person had been hiding Aura, and secondly, she blinked her eyes not expecting such vulgar curses to come out of the Knight Order Captain's mouth.
At that reaction, Leohar also belatedly cleared his throat.
"Ahem. Anyway, it's true that the guy Carmil ambushed me and made me like this. If not for that, the one lying in the hospital room right now wouldn't be me."
"Is that so...? Then if you fight again, you would win, Captain?"
"Yes?"
He paused for a moment at the Saintess's sudden question. Leaving aside why she asked such a question, he imagined. If he really fights Carmil again on the dueling ground, whether he could really win.
That eerie and heterogeneous Aura, could he really handle it? At the Saintess's gaze looking at him, he eventually gave an answer different from the conclusion made in his head.
"...Of course. If we fight properly, he won't even be a match for me."
Hearing those words, she made a meaningful smile and nodded.
"Fufu. To be able to say such words against a Hero. As expected of the Kingdom's best Captain."
"It is nothing much. Ahem, in a way, that title of Hero is practically me yielding it."
As the Saintess praised him, he seemed modest yet didn't stop boasting about himself.
Finishing the treatment like that, she left the room telling him to rest for a while. And walked the hallway deeply lost in thought.
'Hmm. So that War Hero actually knew how to use Aura?'
That was truly information not had in advance. The public reputation was just that he became a Hero by making many contributions on the battlefield.
She suddenly looked around the cathedral. The members defeated by Carmil were still lying there. Hearing the citizens' stories, she heard everyone was defeated without even being able to swing a sword properly once. And that was the same for Leohar too. She couldn't believe the words coming out of his mouth exactly as they were.
'Because he might have lied to make an excuse for his own defeat.'
Since those who actually saw his Aura were only the 1st Knight Order people. It was also possible they made up a non-existent fact because they were embarrassed to have lost to a knight without Aura. She said to the believers waiting in front of the cathedral.
"I will go take a walk for a moment. You don't need to follow me."
"Yes. Instead, please do not go too far."
Originally, the accompaniment of believers was the principle, but since she was the Saintess with the best reputation among all previous Saintesses, they couldn't disobey those words.
She shook off the believers and started roaming the streets. The more she roamed the city, the more she liked this place.
The capital's splendid scenery and even the citizens' enthusiastic cheers. Receiving people's love, she became curious anew.
If despair descends here, what will happen. If blood flows like a river, and corpses cover the city, will they be able to smile like that even then.
Hariri waved her hand at them and moved with light footsteps, and at that destination, the entrance of the underground sewer was seen.
She approached the guards guarding the entrance and smiled.
"Hello. May I enter for a moment?"
"Sa, Saintess!? What brings you here."
"It is not a place for the Saintess to enter. Or we will call knights to accompany you."
"It's fine. I will come out quickly, and I also got permission to come."
Of course, it was a lie, but the guards couldn't possibly dare to confirm it. They eventually just watched each other's mood and stepped aside without any suspicion.
"An investigation team went in a while ago, so there should be no monsters. Still, if anything happens by any chance, please find them or contact us immediately with this."
Saying that, the guard lent her a magic tool. She nodded and went inside.
Entering like that, inside the underground sewer was darker and dirtier than thought. The stench pierced her nose, and it felt like something would pop out from the darkness in front at any moment.
Nevertheless, she walked along the path without hesitation. Fortunately, no monsters were seen on the way, but that wasn't thanks to the investigation team as the guards said.
"Ah, auuuh..."
Someone's voice heard from not far away. It sounded like a scream, and also like a death agony.
Splash. Splash. She who was walking straight following that sound stopped her steps before long. And let out a deep sigh looking down at something caught at her feet.
"Haa..."
Squirm. Squirm.
A soldier whose lower half was eaten by a pitch-black slime was floundering on the floor. The legs were already swallowed and completely melted down, and only the upper half was begging for life pitifully.
"S-Save. Uuuugh..."
With this level of wound, it was impossible even if the Goddess came directly. Pop! She directly cut off his breath with magic power without an inch of hesitation, and soon a pitch-black shadow revealed its appearance from the opposite side.
"Wow. You are merciful. Is it because you are a Saintess?"
"..."
Hariri looked at the opponent silently. The slime, having digested the corpse before anyone knew it, returned to its owner.
Stroking that monster's head, the demon smirked.
"How is it. Our kid is cute, right?"
"Fufut. Indeed."
Hariri nodded with an artificial smile. Dozens of demons were swarming around, and all their mouths were fully stained with blood whose owner couldn't be known. Only then did she realize why the floor was so damp.
"Don't worry. Our kids like licking and eating blood so much. There will be no traces left."
As she said, the demons were sucking and drinking the blood spilled on the floor. At that bizarre sight, Hariri wanted to quickly finish her business and leave.
"They say the War Hero defeated the 1st Knight Order Captain and his members alone."
"Right, we heard too."
Because coming all the way here was because of that War Hero bastard in the first place. Demons were also paying attention to his every move.
"By the way, to deal with dozens of people alone. Was that human called Hero really amazing. Or were those knight bastards terrible?"
"It won't be the latter. The Kingdom's 1st Knight Order is famous even within the continent, and Captain Leohar is said to possess skill befitting a Hero."
"Really? Then it worked out well rather."
Since that arrogant War Hero left this capital, and that guy Leohar is collapsed with injuries. It was truly the optimal timing.
She scattered her blood on the floor with a fishy laugh. Then the surrounding demons flocked.
"You see, that War Hero bastard should have crossed the border about now? So if you also don't want to die, it would be better to leave the capital."
"Yes. I was thinking of leaving today anyway."
Now there was no more information to gain here. Originally, she intended to return straight to the Empire when the business in the capital was finished, but her mind changed.
"It seems a place I must go has come up."
Hariri left the place with those words. Seeing it myself, there was no need to worry here anymore.
Coming out, the guards who were waiting approached her.
"Are you okay? Don't tell me you got hurt anywhere..."
"I am fine. I am sorry for causing you to worry."
"Haa. That is a relief. Did you happen to meet the investigation team inside? We couldn't contact those guys since a while ago."
At those words, she answered recalling the soldier being eaten by the slime.
"Fufu. I wouldn't know."
Coming out to the street like that, she stretched greatly.
Perhaps this will be the last time I can see the scenery of this capital too. Keeping this peace in her eyes, she headed to her next destination.
"Kyaaaaaaaak!"
A sharp scream brushed past my ears. Leaving behind the demon's corpse that didn't matter anymore, I thrust my sword into the next opponent's neck.
"Kkeo, keoheok..."
I thrust a dagger into that opened mouth, then looked for the enemy running away beyond. Before I knew it, my vision was dyed red, but it didn't matter.
"Th-This monster bas- Kuaaaaaak!!"
With the last scream as the end, no more enemies were seen. When I came to my senses, my clothes were already thickly stained with blood and flesh, and I looked around after brushing it off roughly with my hand.
Dozens of corpses were laid at my feet before I knew it. I sheathed my sword only then.
"Brother, good work."
"Yeah. You too."
Yuria approached with other warriors and praised my achievement. They were also drenched in blood all over their bodies.
She made an emotion-filled expression looking at the retreating demons.
"It's been a long time since I stood on the battlefield, but it's my first time seeing demons retreating from the front line."
"Yes. At this rate, it seems we can push up the front line that has been stagnant all this time."
At those words, she smiled and looked up at me.
"Fufu. Tell me about it. It's all thanks to Brother."
"It's thanks to fighting all together."
It's already been a week since coming here. I was getting used to this battlefield.
Including the members, Northern warriors also followed behind me, and no one among them feared me or took me lightly.
So I naturally came to expect.
That if we go on like this, wouldn't we really be able to prevent the Demon King's resurrection.
"The enemies also ran away, so let's go and rest a bit too."
As we were about to return like that, one soldier was running from the territory side.
"Milady! A letter was sent from the Theocracy."
At that unexpected news, she tilted her head. Why would they, who had paid no attention to the North all this time, send something like a letter now.
While everyone was curious and opening the envelope, her head tilted even more after reading the content.
"What is it?"
"Hmm. I wonder why she says she is coming suddenly."
She handed the letter to me with an expression not knowing the reason. I also paused for a moment after reading the letter.
"...The Saintess is coming?"
What was written there was definitely content that wasn't in the original work.