Taming the Evil Saintess

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It took just over a month for the Empire to normalize. Naturally, our attention was focused on the romance between Albrecht and Cecilia. Azar, Emily, and Ophelia meddled so much that Cecilia would freak out and use her mana to escape the moment she saw our faces.

Albrecht wasn’t much different. It seemed Erwin was playing the role of a dedicated mother-in-law, and those remarks would probably send him charging at me in a fury if ever mentioned.

In any case, our efforts bore fruit; Albrecht and Cecilia had moved beyond mere dating to an actual engagement. It was truly a cause for celebration.

“Ha-ha. Those two got together, huh? Epic!”

Oksana, who had a special relationship with Cecilia before the possession, was both surprised and delighted upon hearing the news. She enjoyed this world quite a lot. Since she loved the characters of the game, seeing those two get together—something unimaginable in the game—was enough to make her marvel.

“Cecilia doesn’t seem like the bold type, though.”

“Well, her lack of boldness made her struggle quite a bit.”

“…If we kill the Demon King, everyone will be happy.”

“Well, a lot of possessors sacrificed quite a bit in that process.”

No, ‘sacrificed’ seems a bit extreme.

It was I who killed the possessed, including Morgan and others. Although I claimed it was due to Adelheit’s mark, I had still killed more than a dozen of my own kind. There was no way I wouldn’t feel guilty about that.

Oksana, perhaps sensing my feelings, gave a wry smile.

“It’s okay. Still, the number of possessors your brother saved must outweigh those you killed.”

“How many did I save?”

“Just under twenty. There are about five possessors left in the Demon King’s Castle, so not much time left.”

The group of possessors led by Oksana steadily expanded their base starting from Eastern Port. They managed to locate the others through Emily’s Maleficarum, ambushing and imprisoning them. Thanks to Ophelia, who made plenty of talismans to weaken the mark’s control, we didn’t encounter too many difficulties in the process.

There were many possessors hidden in the harsh northern wilderness, but that wasn’t a big issue either. Thanks to Gale and Yudiel, the guiding NPC siblings of the game.

“Are the possessors left in the Demon King’s Castle strong?”

“Hmm… At least everyone’s as strong as me. That’s why Geldmier must have taken notice. There aren’t even any Dark Mages left.”

“…That sounds tricky.”

If the possessors stationed at the Demon King’s Castle are that strong, they probably have skills that rival Oksana’s. Given their use of swordsmanship, they’d be a formidable opponent, easily on par with a high-ranking member of the Demon King’s Army.

As I frowned in seriousness, Oksana furrowed her brows and asked.

“So, do you have a plan, oh great hero? No matter how many troops we have, the possessors in the Demon King’s Castle are practically sword master-level. What about their lieutenants? While Geldmier doesn’t have a lieutenant specifically, Idmien’s lieutenants are all cruel and excessively powerful. Well, I’m sure you’ve seen them in the game, anyway.”

“I know. I’ve got a particular countermeasure prepared, just as you mentioned.”

“Really? Will you tell me if I ask?”

“No.”

Oksana stuck out her tongue at me, and I left the room.

As I trudged down the stairs to the landing, I finally spotted the person—no, the creature—I was searching for.

[Kyiiing.]

Blackie flopped over, showing off her belly cutely.

Knowing from Nuar that Blackie was female left me hesitant. Above all, the blood contract of the dragon makes it a pact that binds humans to dragons. I recalled how Ophelia had exploded in anger, trying to keep Blackie and me apart.

However, cuteness is a powerful force. With Blackie making such an adorable display in her cat form, how could I resist?

After a while of patting Blackie’s belly, I brought up what I had been thinking.

“Blackie?”

[Meow?]

“I have a favor to ask you. It’s very important. I hope you’ll listen.”

Blackie, with her beady black bean-like eyes looking at me as if to say ‘what favor?’—I pulled out a letter I had prepared and tied it to her body.

I wondered if it would tear when she polymorphed. Just to be safe, I tied it to her horn.

“Fly over to the northeastern volcano and meet the leader of the Red Dragons. It’s a mountain too steep for a human to climb, so it’s something only you, as a dragon, can do.”

Only the Demon King can use underhanded methods.

I recalled how Adelheit had called forth the challenge boss, the demon Abaddon. I, too, was a possessor.

So now was the time to fully utilize the knowledge and connections from the game.

“If you say Nuar sent you, she’ll understand right away.”

[Meow.]

Responding as if to acknowledge me, Blackie let out a small cry.

I patted her furry forehead.

*

Now, only the Demon King’s Castle remains.

Warriors protecting the grand cause began to gather in the capital. Among them were Knights of the Empire, including Knight Austin, who had assisted us from Eastern Port, and the Cathedral Knights called by Ophelia who were arriving one after another.

Considering that Albrecht’s knight order was stationed in the capital and that Cecilia’s Ice Guard had been exchanging letters to join us from the north, we were getting quite the force together.

Of course, not only knights were offering their help. The Black Eagle mercenaries, carefully chosen by Mercenary King Gersen—even if I phrase it like that, they were still Black Eagle mercenaries—and combat mages of Shadowhold summoned by Emily.

While the Fairy King didn’t send any soldiers, that was to be expected because they were reclusive elves. We had hoped that the Elf Great Warrior Kaius might lend his strength, but in the end, he never showed.

Thus, our gathered forces totaled around two hundred.

The final battle, which held the fate of the continent, awaited us.

“How does it feel to be in command?”

Albrecht grinned and gave my shoulder a light pat.

Though I was given command as a hero, I wasn’t skilled at military tactics. I had effectively become a figurehead, delegating most of the powers to Cecilia. Ophelia insisted she’d lead but no one was foolish enough to let a cat guard the fish.

“By the way, we’ve gathered quite a crowd.”

“That means the people’s trust in the hero is strong, right?”

“Well, the ones I faced directly seem to fear me.”

That was certainly true for the Imperial Guards.

During the turmoil with Adelheit, I had brutally slaughtered the surrendered possessors. That sight was enough to instill fear. Look at that. The knight from the guard who had previously asked me for an autograph avoided my gaze the moment our eyes met.

“Well… A ruler needs to command a bit of fear.”

“That’s a comforting thought, mate.”

I noticed the kiss mark on Albrecht’s neck and let out a deep sigh. They had claimed to be preserving purity before marriage, but in the end, they were both beasts.

At the same time, I felt a sense of shared experience. Did Azar not claim he couldn’t sleep at all? I too was suffering from headaches in the room closest to Albrecht.

As our gazes met, Albrecht subtly rubbed the back of his neck. He chuckled and said,

“Well then, shall we depart? We’ll have plenty to do once we get to the Ice Palace.”

“Right. I’ll let the equestrian know.”

And so began our journey to the Ice Palace.

Unlike the journey from the Great Forest to the Ice Palace, there was a well-paved road between the Empire and the Ice Palace, so we wouldn’t be halted.

After a week or so of marching, we arrived back at the Ice Palace.

The Ice Guard under Cecilia welcomed the return of the leader. The citizens of the Ice Palace did the same. Tsar Ryudmila smiled happily at our long-awaited reunion.

“…I think I’ll take a quick breather.”

Of course, Tsar’s daughter, Oksana, had quietly slipped out before we arrived at the Ice Palace.

In any case, a grand banquet was held. Despite knowing of the Ice Palace’s dire circumstances, the quality of the food served during the banquet was incredibly luxurious. Just look at how Ophelia, known for being picky, finished her meal without complaint.

Knights gathered from various regions exchanged pleasantries and celebrated each other’s honor, and this solemn yet smooth atmosphere encouraged us to envision an optimistic future.

However, as always, problems arose.

A rather big problem.

“Hero Elliot, or rather, Traitor Elias, hear me!”

One of the High Nobles among the citizens of the Ice Palace entered the banquet hall with a declaration document in hand.

And with his eyes fixed on me, he loudly exposed my identity.

More precisely, he revealed the identity of the body I had possessed.

Elias. That name I had almost forgotten.

“Traitor Elias Night Rune! That knight is a criminal wearing the shell of a hero! He is the eldest son of a traitorous family from the Ice Palace! He must be judged according to the rightful procedures of the Ice Palace!”

“…Ha.”

I thought things were finally going smoothly.