Chapter 11 The Saint's Regret 2
Chapter 11: {The Saintess's Regret} 2
The Saintess's Regret
Why?
Until the battle with the Demon King began, Mine had clung to the blasphemous thought that the oracle might be wrong.
But as the fight unfolded, she felt her doubts vanish.
Every moment of the battle matched the vision shown in the oracle. And the conclusion—the way Ji-hu and the Demon King clashed—was identical to what had been foretold.
Then, she saw Ji-hu standing over the Demon King's corpse.
The oracle was true.
There was no room for doubt anymore.
How could you?
A crushing sense of betrayal surged through her as she glared at Yu Ji-hu.
Of all people, how could he have orchestrated something so monstrous?
Now, he would use the Demon King's Heart to forcibly open the Dimensional Gate, return to Earth, and doom the Terra Continent to destruction.
We have to stop him.
Just as she steeled herself to attack, Iris moved first.
"Guh—!"
Iris's sword flashed out. Ji-hu barely twisted aside, avoiding a fatal strike to his chest—but the blade still pierced deep. Blood gushed from his mouth as he staggered.
Mine's hands trembled as she watched him cough up blood.
Memories of their time together flooded her mind, and for a moment, she wanted nothing more than to rush to his side and heal him.
But she bit her lip, forcing the thought away with pain.
"Scarlet, Mine, Yenia..."
Hearing him call her name, Mine met his gaze with bitter resentment.
"I trusted you... I really did..."
She had been willing to doubt the oracle itself for his sake. And that was why the betrayal cut so deep—why she could never forgive him.
She had dreamed of a life with him, of becoming family. And now, he had thrown all of that away.
The other women felt the same.
"What... are you even saying...?"
Ji-hu's voice reached her, but Mine refused to listen.
No—she wouldn't listen.
BOOM!
Scarlet's magic slammed into him. Even as he desperately raised a defense, his body was scorched, writhing in agony. And then—Mine struck.
Though she was a Saintess, specializing in healing, defense, and support, she was not without offensive power.
She condensed her Holy Power into a shockwave—a brutal impact meant to rupture his insides.
"Ghk—!"
She watched as he convulsed, blood spraying from his lips.
Her chest ached as if being torn apart, but she smothered the feeling with betrayal and fury. She would witness his death—every second of it.
Iris stepped forward, tears streaming as she raised her sword to finish him.
Goodbye, Ji-hu.
Mine refused to close her eyes. She would watch until the end.
She knew she would never love anyone again.
Even if it ended in betrayal, he had been her first love. She would remember him forever—and she would watch his death without flinching.
"It's over now, Ji-hu. I truly loved you. That's why... I can never forgive you."
Iris swung her blade down—
But it struck an invisible barrier.
"What?!"
[Ding~! That's far enough.]
A translucent figure materialized—a breathtakingly beautiful woman with platinum hair.
The Demon King?!
Mine's shock was mirrored on the faces of the others. Iris froze, Scarlet and Yenia equally stunned.
[What a pathetic sight. How does it feel, Hero? To be betrayed by the women you trusted, left to die?]
"...What did you do?" Ji-hu rasped.
Mine's breath hitched. Her voice shook as she whispered,
"What... What does that mean? It sounds like—like we betrayed him...?"
A horrifying realization dawned.
If the oracle itself had been fake—if the one who crafted it was—
Then...?
Her gaze snapped back to Ji-hu.
If he wasn't the traitor—if the oracle was a lie—then what did that make them? The ones who had turned on him, attacked him, reduced him to this state?
Her legs nearly gave out.
"What... What are you saying? Then—then does that mean—?" Scarlet's voice trembled.
She, too, was realizing the magnitude of what they had done.
[That's right! The oracle was my creation! Ahahaha! I orchestrated everything for this moment!]
Yenia's voice shook. "Th-then...?"
[Correct! You, the Empire—everyone was fooled! You betrayed your own Hero, left him to die!]
Mine screamed.
"NOOOOO!"
The truth crashed over her, leaving no room for anything else.
Heal him.
Don't let him die.
Beg for his forgiveness.
Those were the only thoughts left in her mind.
But her Holy Power couldn't reach him.
The barrier the Demon King had erected blocked even her healing.
No!
Despair swallowed her whole.
They had wounded him, left him to die—and now, they couldn't even save him.
If he died here, it would be their doing.
Faced with the enormity of her sin, Mine wished she could die in his place. She would give her life if it meant healing him.
[Tch, trying to kill him and then save him? What kind of farce is this? How about it, Hero? Don't you hate them? I'll give you the Demon King's power. Destroy the Empire. Slaughter its rulers and anyone who resists. Do that, and I'll let you return to Earth with that power intact. Just say the word, and I'll restore you right now.]
Mine stared at Ji-hu, numb.
She had committed an unforgivable sin against him—they all had.
Even if he became the Demon King now, she couldn't blame him.
[Aren't you furious? Sure, I faked the oracle—but the Empire, these women, they abandoned you over a lie. Don't you want revenge? I'll help you. Oh, and don't worry—I'm already dead. Once I give you my power, I'll vanish. So? Do we have a deal?]
The Demon King's temptations continued, but Mine could only watch, paralyzed.
"I'm going back to Earth. The location is—"
[What?]
Ji-hu vanished.
He had chosen not revenge—but simply to return home.
[NOOOOOO!]
The Demon King's wails meant nothing to Mine.
All she saw was the empty space where Ji-hu had been.
He just... went back? All he had to do was defeat the Demon King, and he could leave whenever he wanted?
The Demon King's manifestation—likely a last-ditch effort—flickered out with a final scream.
And then, it truly sank in.
[How do I return to Earth? Just defeat the Demon King. After that, I can go back whenever I choose.]
He never needed the Demon King's Heart.
All he had to do was win—and he could have left at any time.
But they, deceived by a false oracle, had betrayed him. Stabbed him. Left him to die.
And even then, despite being blindsided by the ones he trusted, despite bleeding out—he chose not revenge.
Just silence.
Just home.
"Wh-what have we done? Ah... hahaha... No... This isn't real..."
Mine couldn't accept it.
She prayed this was all a nightmare.
I... I betrayed Ji-hu. I tried to kill him.
Why hadn't she trusted him?
Why had she been so sure he was the traitor?
"AAAAAAAH!"
The horror of reality broke her.
She screamed, sobbing uncontrollably.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm SORRY! Hic—AAAAAAAH!"