The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

164 – 164. The Return of the Saintess Party (1)

Now it was time to discuss the treatment of the Saintess Party.

The Saintess Party.

Legendary heroes who recorded countless adventures.

But unfortunately, public opinion towards the Saintess Party was divided, running parallel in both support and opposition. Despite the continuous disasters caused by the invasion of the cultist forces, the Saintess Party had ultimately not shown themselves.

– They fled to enjoy their love games.

– A shame for humanity that betrayed the world and faith.

– Cheap harlots. Lustful parasite brothers.

They turned their backs on humanity for a moment of infatuation.

A peerless beauty.

Men who loved the same woman.

It was only natural for the public, who hated the Saintess Party, to suspect infatuation. Did not Edanant himself doubt infatuation the moment he heard the news that the saintess and the heroes, including the warrior, had vanished?

It was a bitter outcome.

How could the Saintess Party, who had vanquished the Demon King and saved the world, fall to the target of such criticism?

If the return of the Saintess Party were announced hastily, it would surely be swept away by a horrific backlash. Countless crowds, engulfed in hatred, might gather at the Marquis Hohenberg’s domain to hurl stones. Therefore, it was decided to consult with the Holy Kingdom and delay the news as much as possible.

“I’m sorry, it’s because of me.”

“Shut up.”

The saintess, leaning on her wheelchair, spoke in a pitiful voice.

Then the man pushing the wheelchair from behind answered firmly.

“I only vaguely remember, but… Ethan saved me, right? I think I kept hearing his voice.”

“Then you should have opened your eyes. You were getting hit quite a bit.”

It was not an exaggerated statement.

As if to prove him, Edanant was wrapped in bandages from head to toe.

It’s a miracle he’s not dead.

That was the unanimous remark of the priests who had treated Edanant.

“Ah, ugh…! I’m sorry! I apologize! Because of me, Ethan got beaten up badly.”

“It wasn’t entirely one-sided!”

The number of times he was hit must have been two or three times more than the number of times he struck back.

A victory marked only by wounds, perhaps.

Thanks to being thoroughly beaten before landing a cross-counter, they managed to win.

It was a blow to his pride.

Under normal circumstances, they should have achieved an overwhelming victory with immense firepower.

Edanant, whose pride was bruised by Beatrice’s innocent apology, shouted in an agitated voice.

“I keep being a burden to Ethan every time. This time, I wanted to save him…!”

“Yeah, it was a burden.”

It wasn’t a burden,

—was a response he couldn’t afford to voice.

If he had failed, the Saint’s party would have become a lingering spirit, never escaping the Demon King’s castle. They would have spent eons merely existing to prevent the world’s end.

“I hoped Ethan wouldn’t have to sacrifice himself. I didn’t want to put him in danger anymore. I wanted Ethan, who always chose sacrifice, to be happier than anyone else, without a care in the world.”

“…….”

Hmm.

Should I push the wheelchair into the pile of leaves?

I wanted him to be happy.

A surge of anger welled up at the Saint’s endlessly irresponsible words.

“Ahhh!”

Thus, she immediately sprang into action.

Beatrice, who had been relying on the wheelchair, tumbled onto the pile of leaves like an armadillo. After rolling a few times, the Saint was covered in leaves from head to toe.

“Cough cough! Ptooey!”

She inhaled the dust.

She even stuffed her mouth full of leaves.

Suddenly beset by misfortune, Beatrice flailed her arms as she tried to get up.

“I’m sorry. I was rambling without thinking, and my hands moved on their own.”

“Please, next time, just tell me in advance and throw me….”

He lifted Beatrice effortlessly and set her down in the wheelchair.

At that, the saint pouted her plump lips and brushed off the fallen leaves clinging to her body.

“Did you really think I would be genuinely happy about the peace you filthy sacrifices have obtained?”

“…No.”

Surely, they had overcome the gray of the end.

The world, which had been on the brink of destruction, must have once again enjoyed peace.

But,

Did the one who knew the whole truth truly rejoice in it?

The memories they had built together were far too happy and precious to uphold the cold, harsh logic of consequences. Thus, Beatrice shook her head at Edanant’s resolute question and spoke.

“I would have been very sad thinking of you all. I probably cried out of that pathetic self-loathing.”

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Edan….”

“No, not me.”

“…What?”

Edanant raised a hand and pointed to the side.

Beatrice’s gaze, which had been directed forward, shifted.

“Be, Beaaa!!”

A girl with light green hair came running swiftly. Tears welled up in the saint’s sky-blue eyes as she looked at the audacious Ruinong.

Had she run all the way from the forest path without stopping?

Breathing heavily, she didn’t halt her short steps.

With a rush—.

Ruinong threw herself into the saint’s embrace.

Her face, a mess of tears and snot, buried itself against Beatrice’s chest. In response, Beatrice, like Rue, shed tears of reunion, wrapping her arms around the small, fragile shoulders.

“Bea, Bea! You’re back now, right? Really, really back?!”

“Yeah, I’m sorry for making you wait.”

“Wah! Huhh, waaah!!”

“I’m sorry, I’m really sorry… Rue.”

She wiped the tears and snot from the slender face with her sleeve.

Then Rue, despite the tears streaming down her face, burst into a giggle.

“Welcome back, Bea!”

“I’m back.”

I won’t be leaving anywhere anymore.

Lue accepted Beatrice’s promise, nodding his head repeatedly.

“I knew it! I knew it all along! Beatrice, Max, Mard, Leg and Fels…! I knew you would come back!”

“Even though you cried every night.”

“Eek! No, no! I never doubted Beatrice!”

“Alright, let’s leave it at that.”

Beatrice smiled brightly at the playful banter between Edanant and Lue.

She had believed.

That the cute Lue would become a close friend.

Because they were so much alike.

That’s why, just before departing for the Demon King’s castle, she entrusted Lue to Edanant.

“Bea, are you in a lot of pain?! I’ll ask the deity to heal you!”

“Please do.”

A bright radiance burst forth from the small Lue.

It must have been the power of the mysterious.

Having been healed by the Earth Mother who had possessed her body, Beatrice was in a state of complete recovery. She was just temporarily uncomfortable moving around.

But she decided to accept the cute gesture.

Because she wanted to hold those charming, radiant little hands.

“You’ll have to pay for making our little one sad all this time. Don’t even think about brushing it off.”

“Eek!!”

She pushed the wheelchair with all her might.

The pure white saint began to roll again on the pile of fallen leaves, as if reenacting the violence she had suffered. Perhaps she put in even more strength than before, rolling even more vigorously.

Thud—

The saint’s head collided hard with a protruding stump.

Seeing Beatrice faint from the blow to her head, Edanant and Lue screamed and rushed to the scene.

* * *

When they returned to the mansion,

Edanant, carrying the unconscious Beatrice on his back, witnessed a scene straight out of a morning drama.

“Son of a b*tch!”

Crack—.

A pure white hand struck the cheek.

The man with flowing black hair accepted the punishment with remarkable composure.

“Anyway, you were never my type! I never even liked you in the first place! So don’t get it twisted!”

“…….”

The rage of the divorced man, who had been unilaterally dumped, erupted against his fiancée.

The fiancée’s colleagues, watching the situation unfold, nodded in agreement, muttering “You brought this upon yourself.”

It was indeed severe.

He had abruptly declared a broken engagement to the princess.

Finally achieving her revenge, Elizabeth turned on her heel, spitting out her frustration. The slap she delivered was a clear indication that she had completely given up on the unrequited love she had harbored for over a decade.

“Just like the youngest daughter of the Mustache Emperor. She has inherited that bold personality.”

“I heard the Third Princess is in a romantic relationship with Ethan… I’m looking forward to what will happen next.”

The Mercenary King and the Swordmaster whispered to each other.

It seemed they planned to settle in the Hoenberk family estate to witness the upcoming love rivalry.

“Bea!”

After the whirlwind caused by the Third Princess passed,

the gazes of the reverse harem men turned towards Edanant and the unconscious Beatrice on his back.

What had happened?

They were engulfed in shock upon seeing Beatrice, who had fainted with a large bump protruding from her head.

“While we were briefly away, a stranger with a grudge against the Second Saintess hit her on the head with a wooden stick and ran off.”

“Is that true?!”

“You said many things happened while you were gone. So, how could there be only a few people harboring resentment against the Saintess? From now on, we must ensure the Saintess’s safety.”

“Th-That’s…!”

The lies flowed as smoothly as water.

Regnas was taken aback by such effortless deceit and nodded in surprise.

“It might be the remnants of the socialites.”

“Hm… For now, we can only hope it’s not an attack from the Demon King’s army.”

Felix and Maximilian, who had been listening to the conversation, speculated about the forces behind the attack on the Second Saintess.