I Reject the villain’s ending.

Episode 41.

[I’m going to wrap up the search, we still haven’t found Ella’s body, I’m sorry].

It was only three short sentences.

I could imagine how heartbroken Diane must have been when she wrote this.

Normally, he’d be writing long, rambling sentences, arguing passionately for an extension of the search. My mouth watered.

As I set the letter down, Iros and Mei scurried over to read it and shared a look with me.

I recognized the concern in their eyes and stood up and grabbed my coat, looking like I’d just brushed it off.

“We’ve kind of expected that we might not find Eldrakis’s body, haven’t we? So we’ll just have to do what we can.”

“Of course.”

“Right.”

Mei and Iros nodded in agreement and looked at me with great pride.

My face burned as I realized I was acting like a seven-year-old.

I’m not a child, after all.

I grunted as I cooled my heated cheeks with the back of my cool hand.

“Come on, get ready to go.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes! It’s good to be out with a saint after all these years.”

The two of them rushed down the corridor, small smiles tugging at the corners of their mouths as they followed my disingenuous backward glance.

* * *

Jozef’s mansion was still large after my first visit in two months.

And the vigorous Jozef had become almost undead.

“Somehow I feel like I should defeat him.”

“It’s like a living human being, Saint.”

“My head knows it, but my instincts are screaming that it’s not human.”

“That’s That’s kind of how I feel, too.”

That’s how desperate Jozef sounds.

We stare at him, cheeks sunken and eyes sunken, lips pursed, unable to find the words.

“Jozef, how long have you been away?”

“I’ve heard a lot about you in the papers. You’ve stirred up quite an empire in that short space of two months, haven’t you? The streets were all about you.”

“Well, yes, I did, but you don’t look like a living person. You haven’t gone from scholar to undead, have you, like, zombie or something?”

“What? Me?”

“Yes. I’m just trying to kill you so it doesn’t hurt.”

As I awkwardly asked, I heard Mei and Iros whispering behind me.

“Guardian, he looks like he’s about to die…….”

“Normally, when I go into a study, I wipe out food and drink, but this one seems a bit severe. He won’t die, though, I think.”

Iros sounded uncertain, which made me nervous.

“I don’t mind dying, but…….

Even if I do die, I should at least die with the results of my research.

Such a dark thought for the future, but I didn’t even realize it as I urged Jozef on.

“Let’s hear the results first, that’s what we came here for.”

“Oh, come on. Look at me. Let’s go to the basement study.”

Jozef led us down to the basement just like last time.

The only difference was that the basement was set up like a laboratory, with spellbooks scattered throughout.

And in the middle of it all, there were people sprawled out like corpses.

The conditions were almost as bad as Jozef’s.

I couldn’t tell if this was an undead lair or a study.

I halted in my tracks, looking up at Iros, pretty and smiling sweetly.

I felt like I needed to perform a cleansing ritual right away.

“And those people?”

“They’re my researchers, trusted colleagues.”

“…….”

I couldn’t help but wonder if the wizards I’d entrusted with my research were some kind of evil wizards who could drain the life out of people if they studied something.

I stretched out my holy power to energize the undead, or rather, the researchers so that I could return to my human form.

“Hahaha, this is holy power! We’re alive.”

“We’re alive, we’re alive, hail the saint!”

Are these people okay?

A cold sweat ran down my face as I watched them cheer like mad.

Meanwhile, Jozef returned with a research report.

“It’s a report. Think of it as a collection of academic terms.”

“Mmm. What the hell.”

“In short, this circle is not connected to the demonic realm, but to a demon called Nivas.”

Jozef flipped to the back of the report and tapped his finger on the diagram.

“This circle here is the circle that sends that demon back, and unfortunately, it doesn’t send others back.”

“That’s a shame, but it’ll have to do. At least we’ll be able to send Nivas back for sure.”

“Of all the demons in The Mad Saint, Nivas was the most influential, so the rest were nothing special.

As long as Nivas was kept in check, the country would be safe from destruction.

“If Eldrakis were alive, he’d be very pleased.”

“Saint…….”

The mood fell somber at my words.

Perhaps they had seen Diane’s letter about returning without Eldrakis’s body.

As the mood settled, I stood up and bowed slowly to Jozef.

“Thank you, Jozef. For fulfilling Eldrakis’s last wish.”

“Oh, no.”

As I bowed low and thanked him from the bottom of my heart, Jozef jumped and held out his hand.

“You have indeed changed, Saint.”

There were multiple meanings in that one word. It was impossible for me not to pick up on it.

I looked up, smiled wryly, and replied.

“I have changed, and perhaps I will change even more in the future.”

We said our goodbyes and climbed into the carriage to return to the temple.

Mei read and memorized the many reports as the carriage rattled along.

“Speaking of which, Mei, are you ready for the Wisdom Selection Test?”

“Yes! I’ve read all the books I can find in the library, just in case.”

“Really?”

“Hehe. I’m the saint’s dedicated maid, and since she’s not here, I’ve had a lot of time.”

That means you’ve been living in the library almost all day, and if my guess is correct, Mei smiled proudly and shrugged her shoulders.

* * *

The day passed, and the next day, a new wisdom competition began.

On the day of the Wisdom Test, people gathered at the entrance of the bustling testing center to cheer Mei on.

“Hmph. Holy Mother, I’m so nervous!”

Mei wailed, stamping her feet.

She looked like a cute, pitiful puppy, with tears in her eyes.

I watched from a foot away, rolled my eyes, and smiled.

“Don’t worry, May. You’ll be able to do it.”

“You’re just throwing it at me because you’re not taking a test, are you!”

“Did you catch her?”

“She’s a saint-!”

Mei puffed out her cheeks and shrieked at the top of her lungs, and gasps could be heard around her.

Everyone who remembered my murderous past (?), even though I had upended the reputation of the entire empire, looked at Mei in horror.

Their gazes were half worried that I would twist her throat at any moment, and half filled with disbelief at her.

It was as if they were thinking, “How is such a cowardly lamb still alive and well next to a saint?

Regardless, I smirked and patted Mei on the shoulder.

“Registration is opening. Hurry up and get registered and get into the test room.”

“Burr, already? Black.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll be the wisdom, Mei.”

“Phew, I’ll give it a try, since you trust me so much, and I’ve been paid.”

“Yes, yes. You’re very trustworthy.”

The generational shift in wisdom was so sudden that those preparing for the exam must have studied for two months in seclusion.

Mei was just like everyone else, but her good memory gave her an overwhelming advantage.

“So, unless something drastic happens, Mei will be the next Wisdom.

I muttered, my eyes calming down.

“I’ll have to prepare more money, just to make sure she doesn’t fall for someone else’s offer.”

“You’re suspicious of Mei?”

Iros looked at me, surprised, and I smiled at him.

“Yes. I don’t trust anyone because I’m not sure who the enemy is.”

“Even someone as close to you as Mei?”

“She’s cute, but I don’t trust her completely. I know she’s on my side, but trust is a different matter.”

The words were cold, coming out of his mouth in contrast to the way he waved at Mei, who was sulking and sulking in front of me before heading into the examination hall.

Iros’ fists curled into tight fists as he heard the harsh words.

“So you don’t trust me either?”

“Huh?”

What the hell is this?

I shook my head, but Iros kept his voice low and serious.

“So you don’t trust me, even though I’m just as cute as Mei and you keep me around?”

“What?”

I turned to the side in bewilderment and saw Iros, who had averted his eyes, biting his lip hard.

No, how could he come to that conclusion?

I grabbed him by the nape of the neck and yanked him to his feet.

“……!”

His mauve eyes widened in surprise as I pulled him so close that our noses were practically touching.

“Iros Elijah, who do you belong to? Who is your master?”

“My master, of course, is the Saint.”

Embarrassed, Iros loosened his grip and replied in a broken voice.

The hardened corners of his eyes melted a little.

“I am Sierra, and I am yours.”

“I know you well. If you know that so well, why do you ask?”

“Did I get the answer right?”

“Yes. You’re mine, regardless of the answer, and I don’t question mine, because you’re mine.”

Sure, I doubt that Iros would slit my throat, but that’s more conviction than doubt.

“You don’t have to tell him this, do you?

After all, if I told him I knew the future, he’d think I was crazy.

While other thoughts filled my head, Iros asked again.

“Am I trusted?”

“What are you asking?”

I tilted my head with a sullen face as if to say, “What’s so obvious?

Then Iros chimed in, his voice husky with amusement.

“Ha, ha, ha, ha, Sierra, you are unstoppable.”

“……?”

I stopped dead in my tracks, staring at Iros, who was grinning so wide and sweetly that his eyes narrowed and his teeth peeked out from under his lips.

I felt my feet lift off the ground and my whole body was captivated by his smile.

I gaped open-mouthed and gave him a thumbs-up.

“Most beautiful.”

“I’m not sure I can keep up with how un-English you sound sometimes.”

Iros shook his head as if remembering when he’d laughed.