The Party's Awkward Reunion
Why aren't they coming?
It's been five minutes now.
The blazing sun beat down on us at noon. Lily and I were waiting for our party members at the designated meeting spot.
Ah, there they come.
After a long time, familiar faces. Maisha and Clotine. Even though we've actually been together for just two or three years, the people who've been with me through the most precious and enjoyable moments in my life.
Hello, I'm the Hero, Kyle.
Ah, sorry for being late. I'm Maisha, the archer from the Elf Kingdom.
Unchanging blunt tone. The kind of person who seems to have gathered all the thoughts of what an elf would be like into one.
Well, actually a warm guy inside, though.
Nice to meet you. Please take care of me from now on.
Same here. Let's drop the formalities. We'll be together from now on.
Got it.
Um, I'm Clotine, the mage. Please take care of me!
Expressing her awkwardness with her whole body.
Same here.
So, where is the Saintess?
Maisha asked, looking around.
Here it comes. It's okay. I've prepared everything.
Ah, the Saintess is... this person.
I pointed to Lily standing beside me.
Lily looked at me with an expression of "what kind of nonsense is this?"
Yeah, she was surprised too. Definitely surprised.
Her Highness the Saintess wanted to tour this kingdom, so she arrived a bit earlier. Haha.
Lily still looked dumbfounded.
I sent her a pleading look. Lily sighed once and started the performance.
Yes, I'm the Saintess. Please take care of me.
Um, I heard the Saintess had white hair...
Um, well, white hair stands out, so I dyed it brown normally.
Ah...
Um, Saintess, could you show us some healing magic?
Um, that...
Lily seemed a bit troubled by my request. Probably because she's not confident enough in her healing magic to pull off the deception skillfully as the Saintess.
No, it's not necessary. The Saintess doesn't need to overdo it.
Unexpectedly, Maisha stepped in to help. This guy probably thought I was suspecting the Saintess.
Ah, yes, then we're all here.
Indeed.
Now, what should we do? After 20 years, it feels even more awkward than when we first met. Well, it's just me, but they are truly meeting for the first time.
Um, shall we go eat...? I'm sure you're hungry, so after eating, I want to make plans or review the current situation.
Damn, because of the awkwardness, the honorifics keep coming out. I'm not on that kind of terms with them.
Drop the formalities. Well, then let's go eat.
I, I like that too...
Wait a minute.
Lily focused all her attention on one person with one word.
Wait a minute. Can I talk to you, Hero? Before we move. I have something to ask.
Yes, please speak freely, Saintess.
Lily pulled me a bit away from Maisha and Clotine.
Oppa, are you crazy? What's going on?
What, what?
You know what I'm talking about. Why did I become the Saintess?
Right now it's a bit like that, I'll explain everything later. Really, try to play along. You do use healing magic to some extent.
No, I need to know the reason. Why are you doing this ridiculous thing?
I took a deep breath and looked into Lily's eyes.
Lily, please trust me just this once. Trust me. Me.
She frowned for a moment, hesitated, and finally sighed. And I knew what that sigh meant.
Ugh, okay. But you have to explain everything later.
Got it, I promise.
And we reunited with the others.
A table with food for five people.
Lily, unlike usual, didn't eat greedily even though she was the fake Saintess, ate elegantly with a white handkerchief, as much as possible cleanly.
Clotine, to match her small size, ordered the smallest food. Eating it with a crunch, like a squirrel gnawing on acorns.
And... Maisha ate two plates alone. Very greedily, as if someone might steal it.
Hey, that... shouldn't you eat slowly? You'll feel full...
Maisha stopped eating, turned red at my comment.
No, um, elves don't put much spice in food. Eating a bit spicy food after a long time makes my mouth water... I couldn't hold back.
This guy is really flustered now. He likes to eat, and is quite shy, so teasing him is fun. The gap between the 'stiff elf soldier' and the 'shy woman' is quite cute.
No, well... since no one's trying to steal it, you can eat slowly. I've eaten enough, so I'll walk outside to digest a bit. When I'm done, come out.
Th, thank you. It won't take long.
I stood up from the chair, greeted the restaurant owner, and went outside.
Pay the bill yourself.
Seems like everyone has eaten.
Yeah, it was delicious.
From outside the door, the women came out after a while.
Great. Let's do a briefing. How's the current situation, and what will we do next, things like that. I don't know much, so can Maisha explain?
Yeah. First, I'll explain the current situation. The target we've been calling the Witch or Demon King has been causing harm to this world for several years. Especially by turning vast areas into frozen wastelands where survival is impossible. The most important thing is that all of this was done by the Demon King himself, alone.
Impressive. With that kind of power.
Even though I know it, I agreed roughly.
Right. Without any army or group, just the Demon King alone wielding that power, and all the evil deeds were his alone.
So where is this Demon King now?
At the Demon King's Castle. I don't know why, but he doesn't come out. We sent elite units and assassins, but they all died before entering the castle.
That’s not good. It means information is limited.
Right. That's all I know for now. So from now on, our plan should be for the Hero over there to think of it.
It's a tough question...
Actually a difficult dilemma. I haven't set the optimal route to defeat the Demon King yet.
The special skill, Limit Break, I don't know how or if I'll get it this time, and because the Saintess Floris is out and I'm putting Lily in, the party's strength is weakened.
Actually, I don't know. First... I think we have to keep going north, even if it's vague. The Demon King's Castle is far away, and we can grow while going. What do you think, Maisha?
Yeah, right now we have no choice. Clotine, what do you think, Saintess?
I think that's right too...
I’ll follow what the Hero says.
Alright, it's decided. Let's go right away.
Right away? We should prepare more, arrange transportation, etc.
It's a bit difficult that way. I want to leave before Floris does.
Prepare? Isn't there nothing much to prepare physically? And there's a place near the city gate to rent a carriage. Take that carriage, go as far as possible, then walk or use another transport. I think it's better to start slowly.
We had a plan for available transportation. Yeah, then we don't need to delay. Shall we depart now?
So, our journey started once more.
A room with windows facing south so sunlight comes in, even at night with candles to drive away the darkness.
For the past few months, the candles in this room hadn't been lit.
Only moonlight, and the fireplace that protected the room from the outside cold was off.
Now, the only one left in this room to give warmth is the white-haired woman.
And that warmth was rapidly cooling.
Hah, hah... why did I... do such a thing...
She regretted her mistake. She cursed herself for making that mistake.
But she could get another chance.
This time, never again...
But even if she got the chance, the sin remained. Her sin remained in her bones, in her blood.
Still, I have to atone.
She held the silver sword glowing with moonlight in her right hand and carved a wound on her left arm.
There's pain, but no fear or anxiety. She has confidence in herself.
The more pain spreads from her arm, the more she realizes she loves him.
So she hates her mistake even more.
So, she carves another wound.
Kyaaaaaaaak!
Knock knock.
Someone knocks on the door.
The white-haired woman covered her hideous arm with a long sleeve and opened the door slightly.
Saintess, are you okay? I heard screaming.
I'm fine. Please go back, ah, wait a minute. Prepare the carriage and horses. I'll be leaving tomorrow.
Eh? The conscription day is still there, and wasn't this where we were supposed to meet?
The conscription day and location different from before. She knew what this meant.
It doesn't matter. Prepare the carriage and horses.
But...
I'm leaving tomorrow.
Understood.
After the intruder left, she decided to continue atoning.
Hah, hah, I'm sorry, I love you...
The flesh splits,
I love you...
Blood flows,
I love you...
Pain spreads.
I love you, now I'll find you, even if you push me away like this, as long as I can face you, I...
The last red line briefly stops speaking.
I’ll find you, my dear.
Over the letter sent by someone, her dirty, red blood drips down.