I Reject the villain’s ending.

Episode 51.

Why the hell was the crown prince lying? It’s made our stiff Pink very talkative.

“I’ll kick his arse when I see him later, but for now, let’s tell the people outside what’s going on. They’re dying to know.”

When the crown prince’s knight sent us to the temple, he happened to send us to the most crowded prayer hall…….

Iros was dripping with blood from his grievous wounds, and I was covered in it, staining all my clothes.

‘It’s obvious to anyone who looks at you that you’ve been in an accident.

I was greeted by several pairs of eyes as soon as I appeared. I still can’t forget the heated stares I received from the priests.

I finally managed to get Mei back to the room with Iros, and outside, Mei was somehow managing to keep people at bay.

To make matters worse, Mei tells me that word of the poisoning at the imperial court has already reached the temple, and the temple has been turned upside down.

“You’re going to get a scolding from the High Priestess, aren’t you?”

“We didn’t do anything wrong, why?”

“Because you always get into trouble when you go outside.”

As soon as the news came that the holy woman had tried to poison the emperor, empress, empress dowager, prince, and crown prince, Iros and I appeared, covered in blood and dying.

I’m sure that added to my notoriety among those in the temple who don’t yet know the full extent of what’s going on.

Isn’t there talk of suppressing me in the temple at this point?

That’s not a saint, that’s a walking scourge.

I shuddered, goosebumps rising at the thought.

“Pink, I could nag you for hours today.”

“Do you want to hear it?”

“No, thank you. Just don’t tell me.”

I’d rather die than suffer. What’s the point of knowing in advance that I’m going to be nagged anyway?

“By the way, Pink.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you use your holy powers? A little too much.”

“…….”

When she didn’t answer, I rearranged the potions in the drawer and looked in the mirror.

In the reflection, I saw Iros stiffen.

My eyes pierced him numbly.

“Lacerations all over your body, and burn marks on both hands.”

“…….”

“And the pathways of divine power within your body are all burned out. Why did you do that?”

“I’m sorry…….”

Out of habit, Iros started to apologize but stopped and bit his lip.

“The laceration was caused by the divine power you used to save the imperial family in the dining hall.”

“I misunderstood that. What about the rest?”

“The two hands, the fallen saint was in a lot of pain, so…….”

“You fool……. What about inside your body?”

“Because I drew a lot of divine power to heal the saint…….”

“…….”

In other words, this silly pink puppy made my body this way for me.

I slapped my forehead and let out a long sigh.

“Well, he’s a good boy. What did I say?”

“You are my master.”

“I’m not going to let you get away with that. You’re in convalescence for the next month.”

So I’ll deal with those bee-like priests at the door.

I steeled myself, opened the door, and walked out.

But why is there no one……?

“What’s the matter, they were buzzing around until I came to the room, but now there’s no one there?”

“Saint, are you okay?!”

“Mei, I’m fine, but where are all the priests here?”

Mei asked, blinking her eyes in confusion.

“I came out here after urging Iros to leave the situation outside to me.

I hadn’t meant it when I said I would take care of everything, but no one was here.

Only Mei was there.

“Ah! Still don’t know about the Saint, but the imperial palace sent word first, even sending the imperial mages themselves.”

“What, those asses came to the temple?”

It wasn’t every day that a group of imperial wizards, who holed up in the palace, came to do their research during a drought in the empire.

“So what did they say?”

“They said that an unknown group had paid someone to poison the feasts of the royal family, the saints, and the guardians.”

“That’s it?”

“No! There was also word that the imperials ate it and died, and the Saint saved them, and then the beast tried to frame and assassinate the Saint, and the Guardian stopped it… …….”

I don’t need to hear the rest of the story.

I suppose that means that Iros was gravely wounded and we returned to the temple.

The only person who knows the details of this story, and therefore relayed it to the temple, is the crown prince.

He and the crown prince are the only two people who know about the beast that came to kill me.

“Iros saved me, and this time he got it right.”

He told me he saved me. He seems to have some conscience left.

“So what about the High Priest and the High Chancellor? One way or the other, they’re not exactly the kind of people you’d want to mess with.”

“The High Priestess and the high priests are in a meeting, because they have to give the temple’s position on the news from the imperial palace, and besides, they’ve been targeting you.”

Mei balled her small fists, fire shooting from her eyes.

“How dare they target our saint. I don’t know who they are, but they should just separate their heads from their necks……!”

“Whoa. Calm down and let’s go to the conference room first. We shouldn’t be having a meeting after what happened, should we?”

I smirked at the thought of being a jerk and stomped to the conference room.

I burst through the door to find the High Priestess and the imperial mages about to begin their meeting.

I flashed them a cheeky smile and jutted my chin arrogantly.

“Hello, you don’t mean to hold a meeting without me, the man who was falsely accused, humiliated by the Imperial Court, and sent to prison, do you, High Priestess?”

He laughed briskly, grabbing his still-blooded clothes and holding them in the air.

He looked as if he’d just killed someone, and the fact that Iros’ blood was still dripping instead of drying out made him look terrifying.

“Of course. Why don’t you take a seat, Lady?”

“You’ve saved my seat just in time.”

I strode confidently over to the best seat in the house, where the imperial mage was about to sit, except for where High Priest Diego sat, and sat down cross-legged.

“What are you doing, everyone sit down.”

“Holy Lady, it’s…….”

The priest hesitated to speak in Moorish, but High Priest Diego spoke first.

“That’s it. Guests, please sit this way.”

“Kirchhmmm. Thank you.”

The imperial mages blushed and squeezed into the chairs the priest had brought.

“So, why did the imperial mages come to the temple?”

“Priestess, your behavior is…….”

“Why, because I went there, almost got poisoned with them, saved dying imperials, had them imprisoned, was attacked, and nearly disappeared from this world forever.”

“…….”

“And you even touched on my ‘family affairs.’ I executed the humans of Count Elgraton for a reason every Cyanin Imperial knows.”

“Well, that’s…….”

“It is taboo in the Temple, especially in my presence. I didn’t expect the Emperor to tell me something that was buried even in the New World.”

A chilling silence descended on the room, for there was no mistaking the truth.

I swept my gaze across the room.

“If you have a reason for my patience, tell me. I’m confident enough to swear at the Emperor right now.”

At my boldness, they all cowered in fear. What’s even more amazing is that I do have a temper.

I tilted my head and laughed, even harder.

“So, why are you here?”

“Hmph, hmph. His Majesty the Emperor said there had been a misunderstanding, and that he wanted to arrange a banquet to apologize to the saint and the temple. And as compensation, he’s prepared several parcels…….”

“That’s all.”

The imperial chief mage interrupted and clenched his teeth.

“Is that all the Emperor has to say?”

“How dare you call His Majesty the Emperor……!”

“You ask me if that’s all His Imperial Majesty said, I, the beloved of God!”

“……!”

“If you ever mention that smug emperor again in my presence, I will run to the prayer room and pray until this empire is destroyed.”

“Huh!”

I’m serious. Serious enough to make me run to the prayer room where I’m hanging my crane.

“Come on, Saint, what part of …… don’t you like?”

What don’t you like? That’s the question.

I glared at the priest who asked the question.

“Hic!”

The cleric promptly bit the bubble and fainted. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I glared at the Imperial Chief Wizard and said.

“Listen, I’m the one who almost got poisoned, but my sword almost got poisoned too.”

“Hmph. That’s…….”

“Interrupt me one more time and I’ll make sure you can’t breathe for good. I’m quieter these days, but you know my reputation.”

“…….”

“Now you shut up.”

I stripped off my clothes and tossed them on the desk. There were gasps here and there, and the priests squeezed their eyes shut or poked at their eyes with their hands.

The wizards’ eyes widened in surprise at my sudden action.

Despite being dressed in chemise and drawers, I lifted my chin, crossed my arms, and spoke boldly.

“Didn’t the crown prince tell you whose blood is on my clothes?”

“Well, that’s…….”

“It’s the blood of my sword, the one I used to defend myself against the Emperor’s attack when he sent us to prison and I fell, defending myself without a sword. And you apologize to the saint and the temple?”

“…….”

“You have the wrong person to apologize to, go straight to the Emperor. If you don’t want to risk the holy woman’s wrath, send an envoy with proper manners.”

Watching them all go dumb with honey, I gathered up my clothes and turned around to open the door.

No, just as I was about to open it, light poured in and Iros burst through the door.

Iros’s eyes widened at the sight of me.

“Saint, your clothes are ……!”

“You don’t look well, why did you come out?”

I looked up at him, a blush rising to my cheeks, and I hastily pulled off the cardigan I was wearing to cover myself.

The knit sagged and the large cardigan wrapped tightly around my body.

“You’re not even naked.”

“Growl.”

“Fine. Have it your way.”

He wraps me up tightly and sends a blast of flesh toward the priests and wizards behind him.

Looking at him, I could tell he was ready to draw his sword at a moment’s notice.

‘Look at the growl.

It reminds me of the first time Iros came to the temple.

He was a wary boy, growling like an animal at times, and I thought he’d finally become a more respectful human being, but it seems he still has some of that in him.

“Tsk! Who’s growling at me?”

“The saint.”

“Come on, my pinkie.”

“…….”

Iros glared into the conference room for a moment, then his eyes drooped softly, and he took my hand and trotted behind me.

As we walked through the deserted corridor, I spoke.

“What was the raider who did that to you?”

“It was a grey-haired woman.”

“Few would be skillful enough to turn a Guardian like that.”

“It’s only because she didn’t have a sword. If she did, I would have won.”

He patted Iros’s hand affectionately as he spoke, adding.

“Was she strong?”

“…….”

“I stand corrected. Were you strong for a ‘human’?”

“……!”

“Right.”

Iros’s eyes flickered, and I recognized it immediately.

The man who attacked me was not human. More like Iros, perhaps. A ‘race’ like him.

I smirked and walked forward as if I knew nothing.

“It’s a big world, so there can’t be anyone stronger than humans, right?”

“…Yes.”

Iros stumbled over his answer, but I let it slide.

If I knew his secret, it would always be a secret.