The Demon King was dead. And the head of the Hero from another world, who had been branded a traitor, was also cut off.
The obstacle that had terrorized the continent for decades was gone.
Naturally, people rejoiced.
Festivals were held daily, couples were formed, and celebrations continued. With the fear of being captured by the Demon King gone, intercity travel became more frequent. Logistics were activated, and even border cities thrived.
People who were in high spirits spent money without hesitation, consumption of luxury goods increased, and thanks to this, the economy grew.
An era where everything visible was splendid.
In later generations, this era would be referred to as the ‘Bubble Era’.
However, that was a few years later.
For now, everything was still splendid.
◆
Time: The day after the auction where Lloyd was sold.
Place: The main conference room of the Holy Kingdom of Constantine’s Holy See.
The meeting chaired by the Saintess was unusually tense today.
“D-danger… We must find it somehow. If not… the Demon King will…”
In the center of the conference room, Saintess Aria muttered in a crawling voice.
A murmur spread around her. The high priests, all dressed in priestly robes, were devout but mostly middle-aged men who intimidated Aria.
“Saintess. Your voice is too soft. Please speak more clearly.”
“I-I’m sorry. It’s just that… in the revelation I received… we must find it…”
“What are you talking about?”
Julius, a high-ranking priest in charge of the Holy See, spoke coldly.
Aria feared Julius.
In fact, it wasn’t just him. Even though Aria had become the revered Saintess, she still felt small when dealing with people in high positions, especially intimidating men.
At times like this, she couldn’t help but think of that person.
The one who was kind to her unlike other men.
‘… Lee Han.’
Thinking of his name, Aria quickly shook her head.
She was told she shouldn’t.
Lee Han was a bad person. His kindness was just a ploy to possess her. She shouldn’t be swayed by his words.
But…
But. On the execution platform, he had surely—
“Say something, Saintess. Don’t stay so silent. Unlike you, we cannot hear revelations?”
At his question, Aria wanted to cry.
You know too. How many times have I proclaimed the revelations here? That the Demon King’s seed is manifesting, and a child with the mark of God would appear at the auction!
She knew why he was so cold.
It was a subtle reproach towards Aria herself.
It was envy and jealousy. Priests, who refrained from harsh words, excelled at subtly belittling others.
“W-we had to find the child with the hero’s mark at yesterday’s auction… Otherwise, the Demon King will become stronger this time… and the continent…”
“Haha. With the beloved Saintess here, how could we fear the Demon King? Isn’t that right?”
Another mockery.
“Hahaha!”
“Indeed. With the Saintess here, what worry is the Demon King?”
This time, all thirteen Archbishops in the conference room burst into laughter.
They were wary of Aria.
It was understandable.
After the campaign against the Demon King, Aria was elevated to the position of Saintess. A new Saintess born after a hundred years.
The exact opposite of the Demon King, who symbolized ‘evil’, was, without doubt, the Saintess, who symbolized ‘good’.
This was why countless eyes turned towards the Church of Deus.
Pilgrimages to the Holy See in the Holy Kingdom of Constantine, where the Saintess resided, were unending.
In a continent where distrust in a god who couldn’t even deal with one Demon King was rampant, a wave of faith swept through.
The number of followers surpassed half of the continent in an instant.
Donations overflowed, so much so that they had to build warehouses to store them.
The Church of Deus enjoyed an unprecedented revival.
Thanks to Saintess Aria.
The objects she touched became ‘holy relics’.
The water she spoke over became ‘holy water’. No, even the well that supplied that water became holy enough.
The Saint’s Guards, an order devoted solely to protecting her, had become the largest organization within the Holy See.
The current Aria, it was no exaggeration to say, was above the Holy See.
Among the common believers, that is.
However, the Holy Kingdom of Constantine and the Holy See were still in charge. This place was undeniably a political organization, and the system established by the rulers was solid.
This was why the archbishops were wary of Aria.
“I am insignificant. We must find the boy with the hero’s mark. Otherwise…”
“Saintess.”
“…Yes.”
“…Hah.”
Archbishop Julius sighed, as if urging Aria.
He remained silent.
The silence in the conference room was palpable.
That silence and the sharp gazes pierced Aria.
A clear attack.
She despised this feeling.
Lee Han.
What if Lee Han were here?
Lee Han was smart.
He could easily outtalk these archbishops in their power struggles.
Their conversations echoed in her mind.
‘If the Demon King is gone, your popularity will rise for a while. But you must be careful from then on.’
‘Why?’
‘Look. The core of power in the Holy See is the Holy King. The archbishops handle the practical affairs. The thirteen archbishops and the Holy King form the core.’
‘…Yes.’
‘But you’ve suddenly become a Saintess. They might outwardly rejoice, but will they leave you alone?’
‘ …Why wouldn’t they? I defeated the Demon King… I mean, we defeated the Demon King together. Shouldn’t I be rewarded?’
‘This is why people from other worlds lack sense. Look, everyone will praise you. You’ll become the most supported figure in the Holy See in no time.’
‘… Yes.’
‘Don’t you think they’ll feel envy and jealousy? I assure you, they’ll try to corner you, control you. You must handle it well.’
‘How…?’
‘Dominate them. Reign over those cunning old foxes.’
‘B-but… I’m not good at that…’
‘Get a grip. There are no exceptions. In politics, the weak are merely prey.’
Lee Han’s words were always right.
For now, all the believers revered Aria as the Saintess, so they couldn’t treat her recklessly.
‘…If my popularity wanes…’
They would surely pounce on her like wolves.
Or, they would handle it more elegantly.
By branding her a witch or something similar…
“I… I…”
But she couldn’t bring herself to speak.
She had always left such matters to Lee Han.
Without him, she could only blush and hang her head low.
— Tsk, Tsk. How can a Saintess be like this?
Even as the archbishops grumbled ‘daringly’ in front of the Saintess, she only flinched and couldn’t refute them.
She was completely overpowered.
“In fact, the reason we couldn’t secure many boys is because the Empire’s Second Princess Aina and Claire of the Harold Trading Company were involved. It’s not us you should blame.”
Archbishop Julius pounded the table with his fist.
Thud, thud, thud.
“Eek.”
Seeing the Saintess flinch, he continued speaking.
“Aren’t you acquainted with the other two heroes? You need to talk to them.”
I have to resist.
Get a grip.
Aria clenched her fists.
After squeezing them a few times, she eventually let go.
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll try to find it somehow.”
She felt inadequate and lacking.
Since Lee Han’s death, Aria had only continually reaffirmed that fact.
◇
After the meeting.
Aria staggered back to her quarters.
The largest bedroom in the Holy See.
The room prepared for the Saintess was not overly ornate, but it was supremely luxurious and elegant.
A room where simplicity seeped in like beauty.
Aria collapsed onto her bed in a staggering manner.
The blanket that gently embraced her. Surely, this bed was incredibly soft… Yet, for some reason, Aria couldn’t sleep well on it.
“I’d rather go back to that time…”
Back when she roamed outside to conquer the Demon King, the uneven bedroll covered with cloth on the grass. She missed the tent that Lee Han used to set up.
— Squeeze
Aria gripped the blanket tightly.
It was hard.
She felt lonely.
Agony.
Everything was supposed to be happy once the Demon King was dead.
But she was more miserable now than when she was fighting against the Demon King.
The three heroes were torn apart.
And Lee Han…
“…”
Aria bit her lip.
Whenever she thought of his name, her mind would always become overwhelmed.
The sight of him silently setting up the tent, smiling as he said it was fortunate that the ground was flat today.
His kind demeanor, always reminding her to stay vigilant even after the Demon King was defeated.
His dependable figure, running faster than anyone to rescue her when she was in danger from monsters.
The Lee Han in her memory was undeniably…
A good person.
Lee Han.
When she heard the revelation that he had come back to life, she was honestly delighted. But she had to deny it immediately.
“There was… there was evidence.”
There was clear evidence.
Evidence that one of the Hero’s Party had colluded with the Demon King.
Aria squeezed her eyes shut.
And shook her head.
‘No… I must not believe it.’
Even the three heroes, who had fallen out, agreed to gather and decide what to do if they found the reincarnated Lee Han.
Five years until the Demon King’s resurrection.
How would she navigate through these events?
Aria felt utterly lost.
… It had always been Lee Han who guided her.
“… Get a grip.”
He was a bad person.
Aria repeated to herself once more.
But.
Every time she did, an image floated in her mind.
The execution ground.
Countless onlookers.
And Lee Han, with his neck tied.
The sharp blade of the guillotine.
And…
Just before his death, the look Lee Han showed…
Despondent.
Full of betrayal.
As if he had let everything go.
… So utterly empty.
A smile.
If that smile had been genuine.
What have I done?
“…Ah.”
Aria covered herself with the blanket.
Under the heaving blanket, only the sound of her sobbing filled the air.
