I Reject the villain’s ending.

Chapter 15

On the morning of our departure, Iros, still mesmerized, brought me a beautiful bow that glowed different colors depending on the angle.

‘It’s made of mithril. It was made by a dwarven craftsman from the Kingdom of Morgoth, so it’s light and strong.’

‘Good work.’

‘Yes.’

He must still be suffering from the after-effects of his separation anxiety because he replies with the same dumbfounded look on his face as yesterday.

‘We’re all loaded up, so we should be on our way.’

‘Okay.’

A moment later, Eldrakis and Diane spotted me and greeted me with a stiff smile.

‘Hi, guys.’

‘Good morning.’

‘Are you both ready to go?’

‘What? Oh, yeah.’

Eldrakis’s eyes narrowed at my lack of regret.

My calm demeanor seems awkward as if he remembers the last time we met, when I was furious and rampaging.

In the meantime, Iros had brought the horses that had been prepared.

‘The Saint and Mei will ride in the carriage, and we will ride on horseback.’

‘Eldrakis shall ride with us in the carriage.’

‘Me too?’

I looked at Eldrakis in surprise and nodded.

‘You’re not a knight, and with your weakness, you won’t be able to get up the next day after traveling all day on horseback, so you’ll ride with us in the carriage.’

‘Am I allowed?’

He looked at me as if He was asking for mercy. I nodded and gestured to Iros and Diane.

‘Unless you’re a hunk of muscle like that, you’ll die after a few days on horseback.’

‘That’s true.’

Eldrakis shifted his stance with a quick nod of acknowledgment, grinned broadly, and climbed lazily into the wagon.

He turned to me and spoke gravely.

‘You’re not tired.’

‘Of course.’

I was about to climb into the carriage, grinning at Eldrakis, who was jumping for joy when Iros spoke from behind.

‘With all due respect, holy woman, being with the opposite sex in an enclosed space for long periods is.

‘Do you think I’m a chihuahua who goes after just anyone?’

‘You have an impressive track record…….’

Yes, I have a rather colorful record.

Still, I wish you wouldn’t look at me so pathetically like you’re looking at a bully.

‘Don’t worry. Eldrakis is not my cup of tea.’

‘What? You’re not my kind of saint either?’

‘You heard me.’

Eldrakis cried out, and I shrugged and looked at Iros.

Iros looked at Eldrakis’s petite frame and nodded.

‘Ah, well. Not your cup of tea, then, so let’s get going.’

‘What? Hey! What do you mean, why are you looking at my body in a bad way? Yaaah!’

Eldrakis shouted as if in a seizure. Watching him grind his teeth against his skinny body, Iros slammed the door behind him.

Then the carriage drove off, Iros on a pure white horse escorting the carriage.

As expected from my notoriety, no one came to see me off, so we set off in silence.

* * *

As the carriage rattled along, Diane stole a glance at Iros’ side.

‘Are you all right, my dear?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I was worried when you disappeared with the priestess that day. You were in a bad mood then.’

The mood was almost ready to slit anyone’s throat.

Diane sent him a worried glance, recalling the murderous edge to the air, the way the wrong word could mean trouble.

Iros fixed his gaze forward and spoke low.

‘I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t like that shit.’

‘Don’t say that.’

‘I’m… well, I’m… anyway.’

‘What?’

‘I didn’t want you to hear it.’

‘Oh, no.’

‘And I was in the wrong, you know, but thankfully it was a slap on the wrist.’

Diane, who had just realized what Iros had said, gave him a quizzical look.

‘You’ve had a hard life, too.’

‘You’re still living like an old man.’

Iros replied without losing his temper.

* * *

In the carriage.

Mei pulled a sandwich out of her basket and grinned broadly.

‘Saint, would you like to try my sandwich? It’s so refreshing and sweet with kiwi jam on it.’

‘Mei, we have had breakfast in less than an hour.’

‘Well, would you like to read a book then?’

‘Reading in a swaying carriage makes me motion sick.’

‘Hmph. Really?’

The surprise in Mei’s voice made me tear my gaze away from the window and look at her, wondering if she didn’t know.

Her eyes sparkled and she grinned, seemingly oblivious to the fact that she was going to another part of the world to slay a warlock.

Which meant she was excited.

‘Mei, are you that excited?’

‘Hehe. Does it show? It’s my first time traveling in a carriage, and I’m just so excited!’

‘I see.’

As I stroked the orange head, Mei, who was sitting across from me, blushed and lowered her head, muttering softly.

‘Of course, I know we’re going on a warlock extermination and investigation mission.’

‘Where we are going can be dangerous, you must always bear that in mind.’

‘Yes!’

‘Of course, everyone will protect you, so don’t worry too much. Until we get to Elotta, you can enjoy the journey.’

‘Yes!!’

Mei said earnestly, clenching her fists in her lap.

‘I’ll have a lot of fun and make the most of the trip!’

I tapped the bridge of her freckled nose and chuckled softly at Mei’s determination to play hard.

Eldrakis, who had been watching the scene, spoke up for the first time since the carriage had set off.

‘I’m curious. Why you’ve suddenly changed.’

‘Me?’

I slowly turned my head to look at him.

I must have changed too quickly, even in the eyes of others.

I cupped my chin and said.

‘When I die and wake up, everything changes. I can see my life through a third person’s eyes like I’m reading a novel.’

I read the novel ‘Crazy Saintess’ through the eyes of Kim So-won. My current life.

Thanks to this, I was able to see my life most objectively.

Eldrakis, who had been watching me thoughtfully, spoke up.

‘There’s something about you that reminds me of Iros.’

‘What? Why the pink?’

‘She’d been strange since she first entered the temple, and you’ve been strange since the beginning.’

Is she going to say this to my face?

‘No one can help but notice the strange energy between the two of you, you look eerily similar.’

‘Me? With Pink?’

‘Haven’t you felt it? You know the feeling, maid.’

I looked at Mei, and after a moment’s consideration, she nodded.

‘There’s an aura or something between you two, I can’t quite put my finger on it.’

Iros and I look alike. Where? What?

I did have some kind of connection with Iros. We can read each other’s thoughts without speaking.

But now I don’t know. It’s hard to tell what he’s thinking or how he’s feeling.

‘I got the feeling that you were leaning on each other a lot, like twins. As if they’ve shut out the rest of the world and each other is the only thing in the world.’

‘The maid is right. That’s exactly what I meant.’

Did I do that with Iros? I have no idea.

‘I don’t think so, at least not now.’

‘Why?’

‘I don’t know. Ever since yesterday, he’s been acting like he’s in a daze, and he keeps avoiding eye contact with me.’

He kept flicking her head away and backing away when I got too close. This behavior is so frustrating that I keep approaching him.

I wondered if Iros was the one with the separation anxiety, not me.

‘He’d never done that before.’

I said, a little sullenly, and Eldrakis spoke as if to comfort me.

‘Then you’re the first to walk up and punch the bastard.’

‘But…….’

‘When has the Saint ever looked out for others?’

‘That’s true.’

The words stung. I’d always been the kind of person who did what I wanted to do and then saw it through.

‘Well, I hope she’s not freaking out about her guardian, too! We’re leaving the temple in a carriage, on a journey, aren’t we?’

I looked at Mei, who was smiling, and the gloomy thorn in my side eased.

‘Yes. You’re right, but how do you go about approaching them first?’

‘Huh?’

‘Huh?’

I asked, because in twenty-one years of living in the Sierra, I’d never done anything like apologizing, let alone reconciling.

Mei and Eldrakis looked confused at my question and then fell silent as if they didn’t know where to begin.

‘So, you’ve never approached someone before?’

‘No, never.’

When I was seirra I was such a promising national archer that I didn’t have to approach people when I was standing still.

Now that I’m my person, I don’t feel the need to approach others, so I’ve never done that.

I looked at the two of them distantly, and Eldrakis and Mei nervously deferred to each other.

‘Any ideas, maid?’

‘Uh, I’ve never seen anyone like this before either. I’m stuck.’

I sighed heavily as I watched the two of them with their thinking circuits shut down.

It would be quicker to come up with a solution myself than to expect them to come up with something.

‘If I knew this was going to happen, I should have read some books.’

How to approach people, or how to approach people who seem to be avoiding you.

Those books don’t sell anywhere.

As I pondered the question of how to make the first move, it was already lunchtime and the carriage stopped for a break.

Outside, I could hear horses whinnying, Iros dismounting from his horse, dropping to the ground, and walking back to the carriage.

The footsteps paused at the door of the carriage, and a moment later, a muffled voice called out.

‘We will stop for lunch and rest before we set out.’

At the voice from the other side of the door, I stared slack-jawed at the closed door and muttered.

‘Now you tell me without even looking at my face?’

‘…….’

‘Normally you would have opened the door and nagged me.’

Iros, with his bright ears, must have heard me, but he said nothing and continued on his way.

‘Mei, Eldrakis.’

‘yes, holy woman.’

‘Why?’

The two answered like docile sheep.

He’s avoiding me subtly, isn’t he?’

‘I think he’s avoiding you overtly.’

‘Is that what you think?’

I think so, too. Damn.