Chapter 528: The Chosen Hero

I raised my gaze as I pulled the reins of my horse out of the capital of the Bolvat Dynasty.

The road looked rough, likely due to the effects of the demon army’s march, but it was wide enough for a few horses to pass through. At the end of the road, the combined forces of Gharast and the Heraldic Order were likely encamped. They seemed to have already marched quite close to the capital.

Suddenly, I glanced at Caria’s flowing silver hair and said the following.

「There’s no need to be so forceful. It’s fine, I’m just an emissary. I’m going to have just a discussion. 」

The memory of that moment with Mastigius in the council room flashed back to me as I spoke. Caria’s words were sharper than they usually would’ve been in normal times.

Caria gripped the reins tighter and sighed dramatically as she spoke.

「That’s why you suck at this. You have no awareness at all. In these matters, formality is valued above all else. 」

Oh c’mon. As I thought, she always used harsh, barbed words, and even poisonous ones. I wish she would learn to speak a little more gently.

「That man, Mastigius, is stronger than you think, Lugis. In any country, the position of general isn’t one you can attain simply by boasting meaningless words. 」

Isn’t that right?, Caria called out to Filaret, who was sitting across from me, holding the reins.

Filaret looked distracted for a moment, but after a few seconds, slowly nodded her chin.

「…Yes. He’s not a bad person, but he’s not good either. Maybe he wanted to show Lugis’ relationship with Bolvat by making him his emissary. I don’t mind it. 」

Filaret said nonchalantly, and I noticed that Caria’s gaze tightened for a moment.

Showcasing my relationship with Bolvat. I wasn’t clueless to the point that I couldn’t understand what she meant. I was well aware of my current position.

But even so, wasn’t it cruel to ask me to pay attention to every single action? This was why I hated things like politics and nobility.

They had been insinuating for generations, so they tried to find meaning in the smallest actions of others.

Poor people like me had no such customs. What we said and did was everything.

As I sighed, my eyes involuntarily trembled. The very image before my eyes seemed to be blurring somehow.

Suddenly, I wondered. If what I had said and done was everything, then I wondered if I had done anything for Ariene.

Looking back, it had been a very long time since I last saw Ariene. The last time I caught a glimpse of her was through Altia, who was taking on Ariene’s form, at the Great Temple of Flimslat. Which meant the last time we had actually met and spoken was that day at the orphanage.

It has been several years now.

I gripped the reins tighter. My eyes involuntarily narrowed.

…I wondered if Ariene really remembered me?

Though I had promised to come and get her someday, Ariene herself had risen to the position of Saint of the Great Holy Church.

She had likely had many encounters and many emotions along the way.

A bad feeling lurched in my stomach. What if she had long since forgotten about me and was enjoying life as a saint?

What should I do? Maybe I should just try to live like a hero.

Now that everything around me, and even my own body had all changed, the only thing keeping me connected to the past was Ariene.

The tents of the Gharast and the Heraldic Order’s army came into view up ahead. They were within reach in less than ten minutes.

—

The Cathedral. A sacred, pure place where only the truly devout were permitted to enter.

Even though it was covered in snow year-round, this was the only place where demons never approached. People called it a miracle from God.

At its deepest depths, in the shrine prepared for the saint, a God smiled. A demonic smile that attracted, fascinated, and corrupted others. Even though she was alone, she spoke as if speaking to somebody.

「…Vrilligant is dead. This is no longer a problem that can be resolved by your intervention alone, Offal. 」

The shadow that had answered her words was no longer here. For a while, he had disappeared, as if up to something. But it made no difference whether he was there or not. If she asked him what he had done, then he would surely answer that he had done nothing.

『Of course. Because it was Lugis, after all. Yes, so splendid of him. 』

In her mind, Ariene, the owner of the saint’s body, laughed in his place. It was as if she believed in Lugis more than Altia.

Even as she let out such an innocent laugh, she was so convinced that she was the only one who could save him. She was undoubtedly a saint. An incredibly holy being.

「Ariene, now and always, you have only one thing in mind. That state of faith is what makes you a saint. 」

『I suppose I should say I’m honored. But isn’t that what it means to love someone? 』

Altia tapped her foot, still uttering her usual cheerful voice, yet acting as if she had no emotion whatsoever.

She opened the door leading from the sanctuary to the outside world. There was another door after walking down a slightly longer corridor. It seemed the intention was to keep the saint as far away from the lowly world as possible.

Altia, with a calm expression on her face, opened the door once more. Four figures knelt there, as if in a show of loyalty.

All of them were heroes and brave warriors who had dedicated their lives to the Saint. They were the ones the Saint had recognized as her guardians. Altia sang to them.

「…Raise your heads. God has recognized you as guardians. After the ordination ceremony, I will officially appoint the four of you as the official guardians. 」

Each of them slowly raised their heads as she spoke. Everyone’s eyes lit up with a brilliant light, and they all turned their gaze toward the Saint.

「…How are you feeling, my Lady Saint? You don’t look well. 」

「Stop it, Garras. I didn’t appoint you as my guardian to examine my health. 」

The leader of the Cathedral Knights, Garras Gargantia, was the first to raise his head and speak. A self-mockery look appeared on his face after hearing the Saint’s words. Garras moved his lips once again. His canines were visible from his mouth.

「I’m glad to hear that, my Lady Saint. But you know it isn’t my style to be so decorous. 」

Garras no longer called Ariene “Songstress”. He officially called her Saint. And yet…

To be able to maintain such a normal demeanor was a testament to his talent.

「Hey Garras, how dare you speak to the Saint like that? You should show natural respect, regardless of what the Saint may have said. 」

Beside Garras, the Apostle Giluel Harno spoke, showcasing her pale blue hair and sparkling eyes. Her eyes exuded fanaticism. And they overwhelmed those who looked into them.

Faith, and even more faith. This was what filled those eyes. It was precisely because of this that another person standing there exuded a kind of divinity.

「You…hey, what do you think? Valerie Brightness. 」

The silver-rimmed ultramarine. The Guardian Valerie was the last to raise her head. Her sharp gaze seemed to pierce everything she looked at, including Giluel’s figure. Giluel’s fanatical eyes also entangled Valerie’s.

They stared at each other for a moment, then Valerie opened her mouth to push him away.

「If the Saint says so, then I don’t mind it. Why is your faith getting on pointless arguments? 」

Giluel didn’t say a word in response. He simply stared at Valerie with a calm expression.

The Saint finally interjected.

「Stop it. There’s no need for discord. From now on, you will be both guardians and heroes. 」

The Saint’s eyes spun around to look at the blonde knight. He didn’t say a word, but he was staring straight at her. Then, the Saint called out their names.

「Helot Stanley, Garras Gargantia, Valerie Brightness, Giluel Harno. The Saint and their guardians are all here. We shall accomplish a great deed. 」

After a pause, the Saint spoke again. Everyone was waiting for her words.

「…We will destroy the Great Demon Zebrililith, as well as the demons and evil spirits swarming the area, and the false heroes that have arisen as a result. Know that you are the true hope of this world. 」

The four of them readied their weapons and attire, offering themselves to the Saint and pledging their loyalty and absolute success.

Here stood heroes, chosen by talent, blood, and destiny.

「I swear we will accomplish your purpose, Saint Ariene. 」

Helot Stanley’s golden eyes sparkled, while he spoke as if professing justice.

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How did she ressurect him? But he isn’t the Helot Stanley we know of, maybe sort of a puppet? Who knows!

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