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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Simzy
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Lina’s sword tip trembled slightly.
She seemed unaware of it, frozen stiff as she stared at the woman before her.
“Turn to dust and disappear. You beings who disrupt order.”
The owner of the melodious voice was beautiful.
Beautiful, long orange hair that flowed down to her waist.
She wore a form-fitting nun’s habit that accentuated her femininity.
And as if the hem of the habit had been cut, it revealed her legs all the way up to her knees.
By this world’s standards, a skirt that showed the knees was considered very scandalous.
Furthermore, she held a pipe in one hand.
In short, she was a sultry, alluring older woman.
The type who seemed capable of seducing and devouring a man in a single breath.
To compare her to his nostalgic homeland, she felt like an incredibly beautiful, but intimidating school bully.
Then, Kerry heard Victoria muttering to herself.
“Why is the Saint here….”
“…”
For a moment, he thought he’d misheard.
“The Saint?”
“Yes. It’s definitely her. I’ve seen her in the capital. I couldn’t forget such a striking presence. She is undoubtedly the Saint.”
That sultry, alluring older woman was truly the Saint?
The image, or rather, the prejudice Kerry held of the Saint, shattered into pieces.
Kerry had also heard rumors of the Saint.
A woman who always looked after the people before herself.
An incarnation of the Goddess Elena. Someone who made enormous donations to the orphanage daily.
“It seems someone recognizes me. Did you live in the capital? Or are you a noble?”
“I saw you once in the capital.”
It was the first time Kerry had seen Victoria speak formally.
Well, she was the Saint of the Elena religion, the primary religion of the Empire. She was beyond comparison to Victoria, a provincial noble.
“So, you’re a noble who has seen me. I apologize, but I don’t recall who you are. More importantly, who are you? Who are you and why are you here? Just in case, I have to ask, you aren’t the heretics who did this to the village, are you?”
“…”
Usually, Lina would step forward and explain the situation in these circumstances.
Lina had always handled that role well. But now, for some reason, she hesitated to step forward.
“Someone, tell me something. Who are you? You don’t seem like heretics… so I’m treating you like this… but you’re starting to look suspicious.”
Just then, knights in armor came clunking from behind.
“Saint! I told you it was dangerous to wander alone…”
“Hmph. It’s not the fault of you slowpokes.”
Indeed, the sultry, alluring older woman before them was definitely the Saint.
More importantly, was it okay for the Saint to smoke something like that?
No. It was just his prejudice that the Saint shouldn’t smoke. He needed to let it go.
Kerry stepped forward in Lina’s place and spoke.
“Greetings, Saint. You may find this hard to believe, but we are the Hero’s party. And this is Lina Knightly, the Hero chosen by the Goddess Elena.”
“Oh?”
The Saint took a long drag from her pipe.
She exhaled, and a puff of smoke billowed out. So decadent. Why was she the Saint?
“Saint… didn’t you promise to refrain from smoking in front of others?”
“Shut up. I don’t remember making such a promise.”
“…”
The Saint’s way of speaking was so… captivating. Damn.
The Saint, with her pipe still in her mouth, walked slowly forward.
With each step, the way her clothes clung to her body felt provocative.
“The Hero’s party… I’ll believe that. You’re exactly the members Elena described.
I’ve heard a lot about you from the Goddess.
You’re the Hero, Lina Knightly? Hmm. You don’t seem like the ill-mannered child I heard about.”
“…Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I am Lina Knightly.”
“Yes. But why are you so nervous? You’re reacting like virgins seeing a woman for the first time. Do you perhaps like women?”
“…”
Lina shook her head.
She still didn’t seem well.
Lina, who was always so confident, now resembled a herbivore before a predator.
Kerry felt like he should do something. But there was no need for him to intervene.
The Saint, seemingly losing interest in the frozen Hero, turned her gaze to Kerry.
“I’ve heard a lot about you from the Goddess as well. In fact, she talked more about you than the Hero. Hee hee hee.”
What did that Goddess bitch say?
Probably nothing good. So what? Bring it on. He had Natasha and Victoria. And Lina would probably… take his side.
“As you know, I am Saint Grace. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Kerry.”
The Saint seemed surprisingly friendly.
No. That expression wasn’t friendliness, but more like curiosity.
She definitely didn’t mention the parental insults.
Well, even if he were the Goddess, he’d be too embarrassed to mention that.
Kerry took the hand the Saint extended. Her hand was incredibly soft.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Saint.”
“Hee hee hee… I have high expectations for you.”
What expectations? What did that Goddess bitch tell the Saint?
Then Natasha approached Kerry and linked arms with him.
As if declaring him a taken man.
“Now that the Hero has arrived, I can return and rest. I hope you’ll take care of these matters before they reach my ears next time.
These trivial tasks… are bothersome.”
“…”
“I’ll be going now. I don’t know why Elena chose a Hero, but do your best. And don’t ever ask me for help.”
The Saint waved coolly and departed.
He saw her buttocks jiggle above her tight skirt. Damn hot.
But this wasn’t the time to be distracted by the Saint’s buttocks.
Kerry called out to the departing Saint.
“Saint! Have you by chance seen a man around here? A thin man with many piercings. We’ve followed him all the way here.”
“I haven’t seen such a man. However… I did find suspicious traces. I found them in the western forest of the village… So look for them… or don’t. I’m too bothered to care.”
“…Thank you for the information.”
Something about the Saint felt off.
After they parted ways with the Saint, the shadow that had settled deeply on Lina’s face finally lifted. There definitely seemed to be something between her and the Saint. Probably something from their past lives.
“I apologize. I showed you an unsightly side of myself…”
“Lina. Did you know the Saint? She seemed to act as though she didn’t know you…”
Victoria also seemed puzzled by Lina’s behavior.
It was noticeably different from her usual demeanor, so it was impossible not to notice.
“No. I don’t know her. Just… just… yes. I just wasn’t feeling well.”
It was obviously a lie.
Even Victoria, sensing Lina’s mood, didn’t pry further.
Lina excused herself, saying she wasn’t feeling well and wanted to be alone for a while.
What in the world happened between her and the Saint in their past lives?
And why was the supposedly devout Saint acting like a frivolous delinquent?
Victoria seemed to know something about the Saint, so he decided to ask.
“That’s the Saint’s true nature. The rumors circulating are all just nonsense spread by the Empire. That’s how they can fool the ignorant masses into trusting and following the Saint, and the Empire can use her.”
“…So… that’s the Saint’s real self?”
“That’s right. I heard she’s the biggest troublemaker in the Imperial family. Her appearance speaks for itself, doesn’t it? Like a prostitute. That attire for a Saint… Tsk tsk.”
Victoria was a lewd noble, but her attire was usually modest. Lewd nonetheless, but still.
Anyway, the Saint, to put it nicely, was like a rough, battle-ready Joan of Arc. To put it nicely.
To put it badly, she was just a delinquent Saint.
The Empire’s future looked bleak.
Natasha, who had been listening quietly, spoke angrily.
“I don’t like that woman! She was flirting with Husband, giving him seductive looks. Husband is a married man!”
“I’m not married, Natasha.”
To Natasha’s eyes, it seemed like the Saint was flirting with him.
To him, the Saint was… ambiguous.
It wasn’t exactly flirting, but she definitely showed curiosity towards him.
It must have been because of something that Goddess bitch said.
‘Surely the Saint isn’t the continent’s hidden mastermind or something like that, right?’
For Lina to be so shocked, there must be something about the Saint.
But if the Saint were the hidden mastermind, Lina would have shown hostility.
It was more accurate to say she trembled before the Saint, rather than showing hostility.
“Ah, I’m curious! So damn curious!”
“Kerry. What are you curious about?”
“H…Husband. Are you perhaps interested in that Saint…”
“No, it’s not like that. It was just… me talking to myself.”
He was so curious about what happened between Lina and the Saint in their past lives.
He couldn’t just let this go. He needed a method.
He would have to ask the Witch for help.
If it was an intermediate level magic usable with a hero-grade orb, maybe something could be done.
“Lina, please rest here for a while. We can handle investigating the surroundings ourselves.”
“No. I can’t do that. I’ll go with you.”
Stubborn as always.
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The party investigated the western forest as the Saint had suggested.
Sure enough, there were traces of someone moving hastily through the forest.
“If we follow these traces, we should be able to find Nasen.”
The party nodded in agreement.
They prepared to begin their pursuit, leaving the empty village behind.
Kerry spoke playfully.
“I’d like to ride on Lina’s back this time.”
“!”
It was just a joke, but Lina’s face turned bright red.
What was this? It was a different reaction than before. In the past, she would have said, “That’s not allowed,” with a serious expression.
Then Natasha caused a scene.
“No! How can you try to ride on another woman’s back when I’m here, Husband?!”
“Well, Natasha’s back bounces too much, and it makes me motion sick. That grandmother slept comfortably while riding on Lina’s back. I want to travel comfortably too.”
Was he being too greedy?
“…”
Natasha looked shocked. Lina looked flustered, unsure of what to do. It didn’t suit her. Why was she acting like this?
“I was joking, Lina.”
“Ah… is that so?”
In the end, Kerry rode on Victoria’s back this time.
“Hehehe. Finally, it’s my turn.”
Victoria was unsettling.
Ready, the party followed Nasen’s trail through the forest.
Nasen’s tracks were quite clear.
It was as if he hadn’t cared about being tracked at all, like a man with nothing to lose. Victoria, who was running at the front, began to fall behind the group.
As a tank, her agility was low, and with Kerry on her back, it was only natural.
However, it didn’t seem to be solely because she was the tank that she was falling behind.
“Please stop touching my butt, Victoria.”
“This is just natural touching that occurs during the process of carrying you, Kerry.”
“…”
Shameless. Was this the infamous in-party sexual harassment he’d only heard about?
To think he would experience it himself.
The trail continued for quite a distance. Even though they were moving at a good pace, Nasen’s tracks stretched on and on.
Eventually, night fell upon the forest. The dark forest was dangerous.
The party was also exhausted from running all day from the hot springs. Lina, who was running in the lead, spoke.
“Let’s rest here for tonight.”
Finally, the group began preparing to camp. As always, the preparations were Kerry’s responsibility.
He couldn’t ask the party, who had carried him all day, to prepare dinner as well.
His two years of adventurer experience hadn’t been wasted, so he quickly finished the preparations.
Kerry started a fire and began cooking. With ingredients available, cooking was no problem.
Natasha butchered a wild boar she’d caught nearby and began roasting it.
As the sizzling sound of cooking meat filled the air, the party swallowed hard.
He added a bit of the seasoning he’d received from Undine, and the fragrant aroma made everyone’s mouths water.
“Let’s eat!”
“Kerry. Thank you for the food.”
“You’ve worked hard, Kerry.”
“Son-in-law. Thanks for the meal.”
The party enjoyed their dinner as always.
The moonlight was bright. Kerry excused himself to use the restroom and stepped away from the group.
Carefully checking his surroundings, he took out the White Witch’s seal.
Kerry had something to ask the White Witch.
‘The Witch might… know a spell to read memories. Magic is a miracle mystery after all!’
Even if not, she might know of another method.
Kerry pressed the seal’s keypad. The surrounding scenery instantly transformed.
“Witch.”
“Kerry? Two days in a row. Something must be up.”
There wasn’t much time. Kerry greeted the White Witch briefly and stated his business.
“A spell to read someone’s memories, you say?”
“Yes. Is there such a spell among the intermediate level magics?”
“…Memory reading magic is considered high-level magic. Even with a hero-grade storage orb, that would be difficult.
Furthermore, the stronger the target’s mental fortitude, the harder it is to read their memories.”
As expected, it wouldn’t be that easy.
“But after hearing your story, I don’t think it’s entirely impossible.”
“What method is there?”
“If this Lina was greatly agitated by someone, she might dream about them tonight. Stealing a peek at someone’s dream is possible with intermediate magic.”
As they say, when one door closes, another opens.
He might see a completely unrelated dream, but it was better than nothing.
“Witch, please engrave that dream-peeking magic onto the orb. I beg of you.”
“Very well.”
Kerry handed the hero-grade magic storage orb to the White Witch.
The White Witch took the orb and headed to her workshop.
She gave Kerry, who was about to leave after finishing his business, a lingering look.
But it couldn’t be helped. His party was waiting for him outside.
Kerry planned to peek into Lina’s dreams tonight.
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