Taming the Evil Saintess

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Sword Saint Albrecht stood in a league of his own within Sword & Chronicle.

If Albrecht were to raise the protagonist hero as a mage, he would always be a character that neither Azar nor anyone else could replace in the front lines. His strength was that substantial, with stat distributions at the peak and his marking effects being nothing short of remarkable.

When I faced him in person, I felt it. He was stronger than anyone I had ever encountered. Even if I used the Hero’s Divine Mark now, victory was not something I could hope for against him.

“I had no choice but to remove the gloves. The poisonous energy had spread to my limbs; it had to be extracted.”

Sword Saint Albrecht said, looking at the back of my bare hand.

The Hero’s Divine Mark was distinctly drawn across my skin.

I had tried to hide it, but it was discovered. By none other than the most renowned named figure in this world.

However, it wasn’t a bad situation.

“Since I saved your life, it doesn’t matter. After all, being a hero, you had to reveal it eventually.”

“It’s nice to get straight to the point.”

“Is Ophelia in the Grand Assembly Hall building?”

“A few days ago, the Pope visited the Cathedral of the Saint. In other words, it’s highly likely that the Saint Lady has been transferred to the Pope’s Residence.”

It was comforting to know that Ophelia was here.

If she had been dragged to the Cathedral of the Saint, the situation would have been dire, but fortunately, this was the Imperial Capital, White Crown. And the person before me was the leader of the Imperial Capital Knight Order.

I looked at Albrecht and declared.

“I’m going to save Ophelia.”

“Good luck with that.”

“Forget about good luck; I’m asking you for help.”

With the protection of the Capital Knight Order, I could take down the Shadow of God and the Cathedral Knights without much trouble.

Yet Albrecht simply tilted his head in confusion.

“I don’t understand. Rather than asking for my help, shouldn’t you just reveal to the world that you are indeed the Hero?”

Of course, that was the general idea.

This was the Grand Assembly Hall. Since it was the regular conference of the continental alliance, the continent’s influential figures would be present. One of the agenda items would likely be discussions about the still-missing Hero’s Divine Mark.

If I were to declare that I was the Hero in front of them and that the Pope’s personal guard was intent on killing such a Hero, it would undoubtedly cause a massive stir.

The power of being a Hero was indeed overwhelming. Bringing back the kidnapped Ophelia or uncovering the Demon King’s Army would feel like child’s play.

But I couldn’t do that.

“Revealing that I’m the Hero can wait until after I rescue Ophelia.”

“And the reason for that?”

“I want to punch that bastard, the Pope, in the face.”

If I revealed that I was the Hero, the matter would become the entire agenda of the conference.

In that case, I wouldn’t be able to deliver direct retribution to the Pope.

Right now, I was seething with rage. At the Shadow of God and the Pope.

Of course, Ophelia would likely feel the same.

That’s why I had to do this myself.

“Sounds like an unsightly reason.”

“Did you not catch on? I’m quite the selfish person.”

“Haha.”

Albrecht laughed as if he found it amusing.

I stepped forward and said to him.

“What do you and the Empire want from me? If you give it, can you help?”

“Of course.”

Albrecht turned his cold gaze toward me quietly.

“This is the Empire. As the leader of the Capital Knight Order, I can offer plenty of assistance. However, you must bear certain responsibilities.”

“Responsibilities?”

“In my case, it would be a form of probation. In your case, you could be executed. Since you drew your sword in the Hall, you must accept the consequences.”

“So you’re saying you’ll behead me?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

Albrecht pointed to the left cheek where the Mark was engraved.

“You are the Hero. I am the Sword Saint. Within the Empire, we possess considerable immunity. That’s reason enough for us to work together, but what I really want to know is your heart.”

“My heart?”

“Why do you want to save the Saint Lady? Justice? Personal desire? Or perhaps a romantic interest?”

“…”

As I fell silent, Albrecht leaned back and squinted.

“I can suggest a method. There are many apprentice nuns in the Imperial National Church. Even if they aren’t the Saint Lady, some of them can wield quite advanced Holy Magic…”

“Shut up. Unless you want to die.”

“…”

Albrecht fell silent as if struck dumb, and I forced a displeased expression onto my face.

“Simply put, I want to. I’ll save Ophelia, and no one else.”

“…”

“I’ve given kindness and received it in return, so I will honor that. I vowed to do so. I used Gears. Is that clear?”

“…Hmm.”

Albrecht seemed to contemplate my words for a moment before nodding.

“A true knight’s example.”

He stood up and burst open the door.

“I retract what I said previously. It was a slip of the tongue. I merely meant to test the Hero; I hope you didn’t take it too negatively.”

“…What about the test outcome?”

“Perfectly splendid.”

He continued with a snap of his fingers.

“I’ll help you. However, my only condition is this.”

“What is it?”

Albrecht grinned and winked.

“The Hero’s safety will be managed by the Empire.”

*

In a pitch-dark room.

Ophelia stared blankly at a spot on the ceiling.

I had no idea how much time had passed. After being poisoned by paralysis venom and losing consciousness, I had awakened in this place.

So, I felt restless.

The last scene I recalled was that of Elliot collapsing to his knees, his body saturated with poisonous energy.

“No… don’t die…”

He couldn’t die.

If I attributed a reason to that death, it would solely be because Ophelia was incompetent.

She brought misfortune. Elliot was sacrificed because of her.

As that thought struck me, I wanted to tear my hair out. But my wrists and ankles were tightly bound, so I couldn’t do anything.

I could only stamp my feet in frustration.

“Elliot.”

He wasn’t someone I held much affection for.

However, he was the only person who had approached me in the Cathedral of the Saint.

Above all, he had risked his life to help me escape the Cathedral. His words had been so sweet, I had followed him.

But now, this was the result…

“Ugh, ugh…”

Suddenly, tears welled up in Ophelia’s eyes.

‘Don’t act cool. It doesn’t suit you.’

‘It’s alright. Everything will be fine.’

“Damn it….”

Don’t act cool? Doesn’t suit me?

“You were the one acting cool!”

Ophelia murmured through her tears.

So much for being fine.

If this situation was alright, then that bastard must have completely lost his mind.

In fact, he was already somewhat deranged.

“…Huh, ugh.”

As I swallowed my tears all alone, the door creaked open.

Light poured in.

My eyes squinted against the brightness.

“Elliot…?”

I asked, just in case.

The figure standing in the doorway was wearing Holy Garments.

He approached Ophelia and said…

“I am not Knight Elliot, but I am a loyal servant of the Saint Lady.”

A gentle-looking man.

For sure, just like Elliot, he was also a bit unhinged.

“Yurede?”

“Yes. Inquisition Officer Yurede.”

Yurede flashed a smile, likely intending to reassure me.

Then he pulled a chair and sat down opposite Ophelia.

“We don’t have much time. I’ll get straight to the point.”

“What do you mean?”

“Right now, the Saint Lady is in the Imperial Capital. To be specific, in the Grand Assembly Hall, where the continental alliance’s conference is taking place. The Pope is also here. The dynamics of the Hero and the Demon King’s Army will be the main agenda. Unfortunately, Auriga and the Ice Palace couldn’t attend due to circumstances.”

“…What about Elliot?”

“I do not know. However, there has been no report of a corpse being discovered.”

Ophelia let out a breath of relief at Yurede’s words.

Whether he was alive or dead was still uncertain. However, the fact that no body had been found was undoubtedly good news.

“…Saint Lady, I’ve entered here under the pretext of an Inquisition. I must leave when the time comes. Is there anything you require?”

“…A hairpin.”

Ophelia murmured.

Yurede tilted his head.

“There should be a laurel leaf-shaped hairpin among my belongings. Please bring it to me.”

“It must be an important item for you. Understood. I will retrieve it immediately.”

I appreciated his lack of unnecessary chatter.

Yurede brought back the hairpin, and Ophelia checked its texture before nodding.

“Saint Lady, don’t worry. Knight Elliot is strong and upright, unlike this unworthy Yurede. He will surely survive and come to save you…”

“I said enough. Leave.”

“….”

“Leave, I’m starting to get a headache.”

At Ophelia’s words, Yurede blinked and then smiled.

“Just like the usual Saint Lady. Was there really no need to worry after all?”

He seemed rather cheerful after having received insults, even humming a little tune.

Yurede left the room, and with him gone, Ophelia fiddled with the hairpin.

“Elliot.”

The fact that no body had been discovered meant that he was likely alive.

That guy would surely come to save Ophelia.

Yet, I would not continue accepting kindness from others.

Therefore.

Clank.

The sound of the handcuffs’ latch unlocking rang out.

The reason was, unsurprisingly, that I had inserted the sharp end of the hairpin into the keyhole.

It was a simple skill I had learned since I was young. Whenever my dull school life became boring, I would pick locks to sneak out.

“Damn it.”

Before I knew it, Ophelia had adopted the expression of someone who had just bitten into a bug.

The sorrow had morphed into anger.

She resented her circumstances.

“Damn you, stepfather! I swear I’ll kick you where it hurts.”