Chapter 106
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Awakening to Desire
Midway through their journey toward the Northern Frontline, Brayden and the Sword of the Goddess unit members stopped at a village.
The moment they arrived, the villagers welcomed the Holy Warrior's unit while shedding tears and offering words of comfort to Brayden.
"Ugh... Holy Warrior, our hearts ache for you right now..."
"To rush here to save people even after losing your lover..."
"We never imagined Celine would go like that..."
"Stay strong, Holy Warrior! We don't have much, but please accept this donation!"
"This is our village's famous dish! Please take it with you!"
"Stay strong, Holy Warrior!"
"...?"
Brayden was bewildered and flustered amid the crowd of consoling people, unable to make sense of it.
The news that Celine had been defeated by terrorists and taken prisoner had already appeared in the newspapers, so it was no surprise that other citizens knew about it.
What was truly strange was that the citizens weren't reacting as if he'd left his captured lover behind to come save them. Instead, they were acting as if he'd buried his dead lover in his heart and come rushing here without even a moment to mourn.
The newspapers had only reported that Celine was taken prisoner—there wasn't a single word about her death—yet the citizens were treating her as if she were already gone.
"Everyone, there's a misunderstanding. Celine is—"
But before Brayden could say anything, someone in the crowd scolded the others.
"Do you have to poke at the Holy Warrior's wounds like that? Enough with the useless talk—hand over things that will actually help him and step back! We need to give him time to compose himself!"
"I, uh..."
"My apologies, Holy Warrior. Here, this is my donation."
The crowd hurriedly handed over donations, daily necessities, various equipment, and countless other items they could offer to Brayden and his subordinates before dispersing.
The amount of donations and supplies gathered that day set a record even within the church, and upon hearing the news, Lunia Church headquarters showered Brayden with endless praise.
"To gather this much from just one city in a single day—it's all thanks to you, Holy Warrior. Your virtue inspires the faithful to give so generously. You've done so much. And thank you once more for your noble sacrifice, Holy Warrior."
"No, I didn't really do anything... And it seems the villagers misunderstood something—"
"How great must your grief be, having lost your lover. We can't fully comprehend your pain, but even in such circumstances, you made the resolute choice to act for the greater good. It's truly the exemplar of a great Holy Warrior. The Goddess herself must be immensely proud of you."
Church headquarters praised him relentlessly without even hearing his full explanation.
At some point, Brayden gave up trying to clarify and just let the rumors spread.
They weren't harming him in any way—quite the opposite. He was receiving unprecedented respect and adoration not just from citizens, but from church headquarters and nobles alike.
Such receptions grew even more fervent as they approached the operational area of the Northern Frontline, and the rumor of Celine's death had now become accepted fact among nearly all citizens.
As the rumor that the captured Celine had died spread further, the pitying gazes toward Brayden were joined by ever-growing voices of praise for his heroic resolve and noble sacrifice.
Even the cities near the Northern Frontline had heard the rumor. The moment Brayden and his unit arrived, citizens burst into tears at the sight of him.
"Sob... Holy Warrior, to come running to us after enduring such hardship..."
"May the blessings of Lunia Goddess be with you, Holy Warrior."
"How can we ever repay this grace..."
Having grown accustomed to similar reactions in every city they'd passed through over the past few days, Brayden calmly reassured the people.
"I'm fine, everyone. How could my small pain compare to the suffering you're enduring in this war? Gather only what you need and head to the square at once. My Sword of the Goddess unit and I will ensure you evacuate safely."
"Ah, we're so grateful..."
"Blessings upon the great Holy Warrior!"
"Blessings!"
"Long live the Holy Warrior!"
"Long live!"
Each time cheers erupted, Brayden's chest swelled with a profound sense of accomplishment and elation.
I'm special, after all. No one else could draw out cheers and shouts like this. I'm a superior being. This fervent support suits me far better than those suspicious glances from a year ago.
Brayden moved the city's evacuees to temporary shelters prepared by the Empire and continued relief efforts over the next few days.
On the final night before wrapping up the relief and heading back...
While still gathering information on Celine, Brayden received the devastating news.
"Celine... is really dead?"
"Yes... We thoroughly searched the Imperial Second Western Outpost she departed from and the surrounding areas. The base presumed to have been occupied by the terrorists was completely empty, and in the nearby wild mountains, there were traces of fierce combat along with several charred corpses... One of them was wearing Celine's equipment."
"......"
"It seems Celine fought those terrorists and in the end..."
"...I see."
It saddened him, but strangely, no tears came.
Was it because so many people had been saying she was dead—rumor though it was—that he'd grown numb to it?
"Officially announce Celine's death in battle. People may have heard through rumors, but now that it's confirmed, the church needs to make an official statement. Have you located the terrorists?"
"They seem to have vanished after the battle. We're expanding the search with as many teams as possible."
"Alvis—that bastard—I'll kill him myself. Contact me the moment you have news."
"Understood, Holy Warrior."
The news of Celine's death spread instantly to church headquarters via communication crystal, and within an hour, the church issued an official announcement.
Beloved by so many, a wave of mourning swept through immediately, with people in the temporary shelters weeping as they paid respects to Celine and consoled Brayden.
Brayden lay on the bed in his temporary quarters, staring blankly at the ceiling.
'Celine... you're really gone. But why aren't there tears? Maybe deep down, from the moment I heard those rumors, some part of me already accepted it as true? If I'd known it would end like this, I would've made love to you at least once... What was I even trying to protect...?'
Regret consumed Brayden.
If he'd known someone's death could come so abruptly and emptily, he never would've made that childish vow to abstain from Celine until he was truly acknowledged as a Holy Warrior with proper 'dignity,' treating her as something precious instead.
Now that he had finally attained that dignity as a true Holy Warrior, his partner was dead. Then what had he lived so hard for?
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
"Holy Warrior, are you there? Someone from the evacuee shelter brought wine and wishes to treat you."
"Let them in."
The door opened soon after, and a cute young woman entered carrying a bottle of wine.
The door closed behind her, and with a voice thick with tears, she offered the wine to Brayden.
"Holy Warrior... We heard the news. Our hearts break for you... It's not much, but this is a specialty wine from our village. The elders asked me to bring it so you could have a glass and ease your sorrow."
"Thank you. It means a lot."
She poured him a glass, and Brayden sipped the smooth wine.
"It's delicious. I hope the war ends soon so I can enjoy more of it."
"Th-thank you!"
Her face flushed as she bowed her head, and Brayden poured her a glass as well.
"Too good to drink alone. Have one since you're here."
"Oh, if you're enjoying it, that's enough for me..."
But unable to refuse his invitation, she accepted the glass and drank.
As a slight buzz set in, tears welled up in her eyes as she comforted him.
"Holy Warrior, just imagining your pain... It's incredible that even in such hardship, you came to save our village. We're endlessly grateful. Before you arrived, it was chaos—everyone panicking just to survive... Thank you so much for coming."
"It's only what I must do as an apostle following the Goddess's will."
"Still... the Goddess is too cruel! To take your lover from such a devoted Holy Warrior... You must feel so lost and lonely..."
Her voice trembled with sadness as she looked up into Brayden's eyes.
"T-truthfully... bringing the wine wasn't just the elders' idea. I came of my own accord too."
"Is that so?"
"Words of thanks alone felt so insufficient... And I read that in the old days, village girls would entertain Holy Warriors who visited... So..."
"......"
"Ah... I was too brazen, wasn't I? How soon after losing your lover, and here I am spouting nonsense to someone grieving more than anyone..."
"No, it's a great comfort. And I'm truly glad such a beautiful woman came all this way with those feelings."
Brayden set down his glass and met her gaze.
Inwardly, he apologized silently where no one could hear.
'Celine... forgive me. But you're gone from this world now... I realized too late how foolish it was to keep you like a flower in a picture for stupid reasons. If you're watching from heaven, you'll be angry... but I want to be true to my desires now too.'
His hand rested on hers, their faces drew closer, and as she closed her eyes, Brayden temporarily erased Celine from his heart.
"Celine, how about believing us and cooperating now? Your real enemies are elsewhere."
"Don't make me laugh! You think I'll fall for your fabricated stories pinning your crimes on them? And cooperate? More like turning me into your whore like Ravi, Elfin, or Lenis! You won't fool me into thinking my body isn't your goal!"
"But I like you. And I need you too."
"Disgusting... Brayden is the only one who likes me and needs me! Not a criminal like you!"
"Brayden needs you? You sure about that?"
"Huh? Of course my boyfriend needs me just like I need him! I've told you a million times—flattery won't work! I won't go to any other man but Brayden, especially not a criminal scum like you! I'll never be yours! Come closer and I'll bite off your thing, cut it off, and kill myself too!"
"So stubborn. Let's see how long that lasts."