Taming The Evil Saintess – Chapter 39

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Lord Fourth
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I was bedridden for half a day after that. The backlash from the Mark wasn’t just muscle aches. I could smell blood, and I could barely move a finger.

“Pathetic.”

Ophelia, who had been looking after me all day, said with a smirk. She had even put her bare feet on my chest after realizing that I was just suffering from severe muscle aches.

She was making herself at home.

“What kind of knight collapses after a little sparring? You’re a weakling. You should just give me your knight title.”
“….”
“What? Are you feeling sorry for yourself? Then hit me if you can! You were acting all tough, and now? Muscle aches? Can’t walk?”

She started hitting my chest, laughing.

“…Sigh.”

I wanted to flick her forehead, but I could barely move. I hadn’t expected the backlash to be this severe.

Well, it made sense.

It was the difference between me and the one who was supposed to bear the Mark. The hero had A-rank aptitude in everything, a naturally gifted body.

His potential was far greater than mine. I was using a Mark that wasn’t meant for me; it was natural for there to be consequences.

The Hero’s Mark was powerful, but if the penalty was being bedridden for a day, I couldn’t use it regularly. Only as a last resort, or in situations that required a quick burst of power.

I needed to become stronger. And for that…

Thump.

Ophelia’s small foot landed on my chest. I glared at her, and she grinned. She had clearly been waiting for this opportunity.

“Can’t you just… leave me alone?”
“Nope. I’m going to keep teasing you. You enjoyed tormenting me, didn’t you? Now you know how it feels. Tit for tat.”
“….”
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”

Seemingly satisfied, Ophelia grinned and started wiggling her foot on my chest. The pain intensified, but I didn’t react.

I remembered teasing Ophelia when she was bedridden with muscle aches in the Holy City.

‘Does it hurt?’
‘Yes, it hurts.’
‘How much?’
‘A lot…’
‘Then keep hurting.’
‘You bast…’

I had no excuse, so I turned my head and looked out the window. The landscape of Lavre. Azar hadn’t killed us, despite our intrusion. He had even given Lyla and me separate rooms.

It seemed he had decided to abandon both the Demon King’s army and his own stubbornness.

“Is everything settled?”
“Yeah. I prayed for her.”

It was a prayer for Azar’s wife, Aria. Her funeral had been held a few hours ago. Azar had finally let her go. He had asked Ophelia, the Saintess, to pray for her, and she had agreed.

“What about Azar? Will he join us?”
“That’s…”
“It’s still difficult for me.”

The double doors burst open, and Azar walked in. His expression was grim, understandably so, after his wife’s funeral.

“I have a lot to deal with in the territory. Now that the castle gates are open, I have a mountain of work. As the lord, I have to stay here for at least a couple of months.”

Azar looked out the window, a melancholic expression in his eyes. Ophelia stuck out her tongue.

“I also need time… to sort out my feelings.”
“Then…”
“Yes. Once everything is settled, I’ll join you. As you said, I’ll help you defeat the Demon King.”

It was fortunate. Azar de Albrecht was an indispensable companion. One of the top five strongest characters in the game. A-rank aptitude in axe wielding, and almost A+ in heavy armor and shield skills.

The ultimate tank.

And thanks to his damage-dealing Mark, he could also dish out significant damage.

A versatile character. He was essential for defeating the Demon King.

“And…”

Azar finally stated his purpose. He pulled two letters from his robes and handed them to me.

“These letters were delivered to you through the Adventurers’ Guild.”
“What letters?”
“I don’t know.”

I took the letters. Ophelia, curious, leaned closer. One of them was probably Owen’s reply to my request. I opened the black envelope.

Inside was information on the current status and whereabouts of the Mark bearers I had listed. It wasn’t much different from the game. However, the whereabouts of a few named characters were unknown.

If even Owen, with his skills, couldn’t find them…

“Tsk.”

The transmigrators. They were dangerous. Regardless of their circumstances, they bore the indelible mark of the stigma. That alone was enough reason to eliminate them.

Of course, I also felt a pang of sympathy for them, knowing they were being forced to serve the Demon King.

Could they be saved? I would have to look into it. I opened the other letter. There was no sender’s name, but an inverted cross was stamped on the inside of the envelope. I knew what that symbol represented.

“Ured.”

The symbol of the Inquisition. It was a letter from Ured.

I frowned.

Had something happened in the Holy City? I opened the letter and narrowed my eyes, reading the terse message.

“What is it?”
“Ophelia.”
“Yeah?”
“The Shadows of God have been mobilized.”
“….”

Ophelia’s eyes widened in surprise, and she snatched the letter from my hand.

The Shadows of God. The Pope’s personal guard.

Unlike the Holy Knights, who served the Holy City, they were assassins who obeyed only the Pope. Their identities were shrouded in secrecy.

Even I, a former Holy Knight, knew nothing about them. But if they had been mobilized, it meant they were after Ophelia and me, on the Pope’s orders.

“Are they strong?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen them outside the educational institution. But… I’ve heard they’re the strongest in the Holy City. They can use both sword aura and divine power.”

Stronger than Ured, then? This was troublesome. Ured’s tracking abilities were unmatched in the Holy City. The Shadows of God couldn’t be any less skilled. And the fact that they could use sword aura meant they were stronger than most Holy Knights.

I had no chance against multiple opponents like that.

“….”

This wasn’t good news. We couldn’t stay in one place for too long.

What should I do? Should I reveal my identity as the hero? But I was afraid of the transmigrators in the Demon King’s army.

Even here, in the southern part of the continent, far from the Demon King’s castle, their influence was present. If I revealed myself as the hero now…

“That’s not an option.”

No, it wasn’t. According to Owen’s letter, the transmigrators’ influence spanned the entire continent.

“This is troublesome. We’ll have to leave as soon as I recover.”
“….”

Ophelia dropped the letter, then spoke hesitantly,
“E-Elliot.”
“What is it? You look like a child who just broke a plate.”
“I-it’s not that… it’s just…”

Ophelia hesitated, then continued,
“You’re not… abandoning me, are you…?”
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s…”

Ophelia trailed off. I saw her clutching the letter tightly. Did she think I would abandon her because the Shadows of God were after us? I wanted to reassure her, but a mischievous thought crossed my mind.

She had teased me earlier; it was my turn now.

“Well…”

I said casually,
“It wouldn’t be a bad option. They’re after you, not me.”
“….”
“I could start a new life as an adventurer with Lyla. I’m a skilled swordsman. I can make a living anywhere.”

Ophelia’s mouth dropped open, and she blinked a few times. The ahoge on her head twitched. She looked like she had been struck by lightning.

“Really…?”
“….”
“Are you… really going to do that…?”
“Um…”

I was taken aback. I had expected her to be angry. That would have been the normal reaction. But she looked like she was about to cry.

Her eyes were red-rimmed.

“…Ophelia?”
“Don’t…”
“Don’t…?”
“Don’t leave me…”
“….”

Ophelia’s voice was a whisper.

“Sir Elliot.”

Azar, who had been watching us silently, finally spoke. He looked at me with disgust.

“I didn’t want to say this, but…”

“…You’re a real bastard.”

I felt wronged.

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Hi Lord Fourth here!
I’m still new to translating as this is my second novel to pick up, so if you find some mistakes or inconsistencies let me know about it on the dedicated channel on discord.