The Banished Saintess Wants to Lose.
One week had passed since we had defeated Kbalt.
The commotion that erupted in the circular magic tower had by now spread throughout Serda.
The city’s newspapers had covered only the exploits of Selen and her companions.
They had written about the Hero party’s valuable victory in glowing terms, but they hadn’t so much as mentioned my name.
It was quite convenient.
I had no desire for anyone’s eyes to linger on me.
“No matter how I think about it, it just feels wrong.”
“I feel the same way.”
Yet the Hero party’s attitude left something to be desired.
They acted as if they were apologizing for claiming the credit that should have been mine.
It shouldn’t have come to this.
Such incidents were bound to happen again, and I had warned them to get used to it.
“But Clitia suffered the most.”
“Breny, the Hero party must stand on the sacrifices of others.”
“Why?”
“We must fight for everyone.”
Despite repeating the lesson several times, she still looked depressed, as if she hadn’t truly understood.
She was clever, so she would probably grasp it soon enough.
“I’m fine. Focus on recovery.”
“Yes…”
Her gloomy expression was oddly endearing.
After gently patting her head, I tucked her favorite robe around her.
“Are you heading out?”
Selen followed me closely, asking in her usual earnest tone.
This had been the state of affairs ever since that day.
Even the other two companions had grown equally dependent.
Their reliance on me was steadily increasing.
It felt as if I had become the guardian of the Hero party.
“I’m going to visit my master.”
“Deliver my regards to him, even for the part that’s mine!”
Ruel, who had been lying on Selen’s shoulder, shook his body vigorously.
“Understood.”
With his familiar movements, he pulled his robe hood over his head.
Then he added, “I’ll be leaving Serda today.”
The analysis of the curse on Eluke was now complete.
Riella had worked day and night to achieve it.
Due to the backlog of work from nonstop effort, she had immediately returned to the tower.
If I ever needed to visit the tower again, I would have to buy her a gift.
Thinking this, Selen stepped a little closer.
“Unni.”
“What is it?”
“May I accompany you temporarily until all my companions gather?”
She had spoken with such seriousness.
It was nothing more than a childish plea.
“No. Once the Hero party is formed, you must travel only with your own group. That’s the rule.”
“I feel it’s necessary, so it’s an exceptional case.”
It wasn’t a wrong statement, but it was a misguided one.
A Hero must not depend on others.
“This humble one will handle her persuasion.”
Ruel pointed at Selen’s face and darted forward.
Hands on his hips, he nodded resolutely.
“Leave it to me.”
A reliable martial sibling could not be found elsewhere.
He extended his fist, and the tiny one answered in kind.
“See you next time.”
“Go quickly.”
I opened the door hastily in case he would cling any longer.
“Are you ready to depart?”
In the corridor outside the room, Eluke stood wearing the same robe as me.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
We began walking in step.
Then a soft chuckle came from beside me.
“You look exactly like the head of a nursery.”
“That’s true.”
It was because all of us had lower actual and mental ages.
Clearly, the Goddess had intended this situation.
I still didn’t know why, but I could guess.
“The other companions probably feel the same.”
“No way. The Guardian is an Elf.”
The next companion Selen would meet was the ‘Guardian’.
After the Dragon and the Fairy, it would be the Elf.
As a gentle and quiet race, they wouldn’t be childish like us.
Elves with unique personalities like my master were rare.
“Another otherworldly being. I worry the Saintess might become a Demon before long.”
“That won’t happen.”
We kept moving, trading idle words.
Before leaving Serda, I needed to visit my master.
***
A quiet street lined with modest houses.
I had walked diligently until I stopped in front of one.
The roof and walls gleamed freshly painted, and the windows sparkled with cleanliness.
Its size was similar to others, but it was well-maintained.
It perfectly reflected the owner’s personality.
“I’ll wait outside.”
“It won’t take long.”
Having already told them I was coming, I entered without knocking.
“You’ve arrived.”
The moment I stepped in, my master greeted me.
She lay propped up on her elbows in bed.
“How are you feeling?”
“Not bad.”
She looked full of life now, as if she had recovered sufficiently.
Only now did I finally relax.
“I’m glad you’re well.”
“Thanks to you. I’m grateful you saved me.”
“I only assisted the Hero party.”
“How modest.”
A smile touched the scarred corner of her mouth.
It was an especially warm smile after our reunion.
“How many citizens witnessed the battle where you protected those children with your whole body?”
“Actually, I heard quite a lot about you while coming here.”
Even though the press hadn’t covered it, rumors had spread quickly.
People had talked a lot about me.
A Saintess who had fought a fierce battle to protect the Hero party had become a Public Enemy.
Her reputation for wrongdoing made sense.
“The gaze that once called you mad is fading.”
“There are still many negative opinions.”
“We’re about half and half, aren’t we?”
“Correct.”
It was exactly as my master had intended.
“Thank you.”
I bowed deeply.
Although it was far from enough to repay the favor shown me, this was how I could convey my heart.
“As for me, I should be thanking you, my disciple.”
On the contrary, I had received her gratitude.
“Why are you saying this? It doesn’t suit you.”
“As your master, you were manipulated so pitifully.”
“It was unavoidable.”
Kbalt was no ordinary Demon.
Without me, the Hero party would have been wiped out.
Moreover, my master was not weak against ghosts.
She had been left with nothing but injuries, which was the worst possible foe.
“So throw it all away.”
“I will. But don’t misunderstand.”
Suddenly she sat up straight, arms crossed.
“If the Demon hadn’t been there, I would have gone all out and not been defeated so easily.”
She meant she was pleased after all.
“Even so, the result would have been the same.”
“You’re a little annoying.”
“Without any training.”
Though spoken playfully, I knew my master’s strength better than anyone.
An Elf who had lived spanning centuries.
Her accumulated experience was vast as mountains and deep as oceans.
That was why I had a request.
“Teach the techniques of my master to the Hero and the Saintess.”
“I will.”
She agreed without hesitation.
“Really?”
“Of course. Instructing talented people is enjoyable.”
I let out a small sigh of relief.
I had worried if she refused, there would be no way to convince her, but things had gone easier than expected.
“You’re hopeless.”
Her affectionate touch ruffled my hair.
“Anyone would think you’re an active Saintess.”
“You wouldn’t understand, but I only want to lose.”
My passion for defeat had brought me here.
Of course, I would keep guiding us toward that path.
“There must be other reasons.”
“Of course, defeating the Demon King is important.”
“Do you still not know which side I’m more sincere about?”
What did that mean?
No matter how I asked, she only smiled.
“I get along with you well.”
The Sun-bask suddenly spoke.
“I support you. Even if you want to lose.”
She drew closer and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, remaining silent.
The fragrant scent of grass unique to Elves grew stronger.
“Choosing you as my disciple was the best decision.”
“I feel the same.”
If it hadn’t been my master, I might have died lonely somewhere.
To me, she was like a parent.
The age difference was as vast as the Empire’s history, but
“I wish priestly bonds could be shared elsewhere.”
The warm atmosphere shattered because of the rough voice of the Orc who always complained.
“Be quiet in the hospital room.”
“This is my home.”
Giph, the hospital manager and owner, had a sullen expression.
His arm wrapped in bandages.
“Why did you end up like this?”
“You ask right away. Rephis and I had a fierce fight.”
Only then did I remember I had forgotten the leader of the mercenary band.
Why had my master, who had agreed to friendly sparring, fought Giph?
“I asked him to do so.”
My master immediately canceled the request.
“I wanted to prevent Rephis from entering the circular magic tower.”
“Thanks to that, we had a heated street brawl. Of course, I kept losing throughout.”
For a dungeon raid, maybe, but in pure strength, Giph couldn’t be defeated.
I had marked him as a future challenger for the Evergreen Mercenary Group leader.
“You suffered because of me.”
“Hmph, hearing that from you makes me uncomfortable. Say it as you usually do, with your usual brazenness.”
After all the thought I gave him.
He had grown used to being neglected and kicked away my sincerity.
“Orc, go do your duties.”
“That’s right.”
Giph immediately stood up.
“Do you have time to slack off?”
“Of course not.”
He had looked quite busy lately.
Because the previous guild leader couldn’t bear the pressure and ran away, he had suddenly become deputy leader.
“But you’ve been short-spoken since earlier.”
His ugly face wrinkled slightly.
“Welcome back, former guild master.”
“Mmm. Go on, leave.”
The owner chased me out like a stray, and only the two of us remained.
“My companions are waiting, so I should go too.”
“You’re leaving immediately?”
“Yes. There’s a lot to do.”
I had to lift Eluke’s curse and train the Guardian’s spirit as well.
An extremely busy schedule.
“Stay healthy and live freely.”
I said nothing for a moment.
I wanted to feel the warm tenderness on my back.
“I’ll see you again.”
“Yes. When we meet next, the magic device made with forbidden magic will be complete. Look forward to it.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
I bowed once more, then stepped outside.
“I’ve been waiting for a long time.”
Eluke, who had been waiting, stretched.
“Will you proceed as we discussed last time?”
“That’s the plan.”
Public Enemy Hunting.
Curse Removal.
There was a target to solve both at once.
“Let’s go catch the mosquito lord.”
The Public Enemy Vampire Lord.
Colloquially, the mosquito lord.
He was Remiraen the Lich’s only friend.
I intended to go and make him reveal his location.
Also to satisfy my hobby.
“Let’s go. Dark Hero.”
“I told you not to.”
We left Serda.
It was the beginning of the journey to become Vampire Hunters.
***
The sunlight was blindingly bright.
A sacred atmosphere enveloped everything.
Selen, who had been squinting from the glare, knelt with eyes closed.
It was a situation she had experienced many times and become familiar with.
“What words will you speak this time?”
The Sun’s Revelation.
A dream where the Goddess herself appeared.
She always shone brightly with the future.
One-way communication, yet to Selen, the Hero, the most precious moment.
Waiting with a pious heart, an aura was felt.
Cautiously opening her eyes, a woman surrounded by brilliant light stood before her.
“Your beauty is on full display today as well.”
The Goddess praised her with a smile.
It was less joy and more unease.
It meant something unpleasant awaited her.
“There is a fact I haven’t told you until now.”
Selen focused on the next words.
“Your companion, the Guardian, has become a Vampire.”
The next moment, she woke from the dream.
“……”
“Selen, what’s wrong?”
Breny, who had been playing with Ruel on the sofa, looked at her with curiosity.
“Something has happened.”
It was a major issue.
Selen’s mind went blank.