Taming the Evil Saintess

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Laila, the Dragonkin warrior, was a connection from my days as a mercenary.

The Northern Black Eagle Mercenary Group was formed to create a place to dispose of slaves and ex-convicts cheaply. Yet, as is the case in any human dwelling, a greater camaraderie could blossom amidst shared suffering than out in the harsh world.

– Hey, newbie. At that puny size, you won’t last a day, you know?

Laila was a senior, having joined the mercenary group a month prior.

It seemed odd for someone with such a short tenure to be giving advice, but recalling my then-self made it perfectly understandable.

I had just possessed Elliot’s body at the time and was nothing but a clueless rookie who had never even held a sword. I could easily imagine how pathetic I must have looked to others back then.

– So, what’s your name?

– Elliot.

– …What’s the point in asking a soon-to-be dead guy for his name? I’m still green myself.

The mercenary group had a peculiar culture. They would gamble on how long each newbie would survive. Laila, seeing my dazed self, apparently bet a week’s rations that I wouldn’t last a day. And her prediction was spectacularly shattered—I survived a full year.

In the end, Laila treated me like her junior and taught me the basic rules of survival.

We got close. Naturally, conversations about our circumstances followed. Like others, she had her own burdensome past.

– I killed a noble.

– How did that happen?

– I killed a merchant who was treating Dragonkin slaves poorly, only to find out he was a noble. Apparently, he was a successor to a certain Count.

It was a tale as old as time.

She ended up sentenced to death and dragged up north.

Being meekly executed and being preserved in a noble’s chamber as a rare specimen, or enduring more than three years in the Black Eagle Mercenary Group to earn a pardon—most would choose the latter, and Laila was a veteran who could certainly endure for three years in such a dire predicament.

“Well, it turned out that way. After three years, I could return to my hometown. I said goodbye to that guy.”

With her introduction wrapped up, Laila flashed a broad grin, showcasing her large fangs.

Ophelia, who had been silently listening, looked our way, and I nodded.

“That lizard’s right.”

“What? Poppy, I see that sassy attitude hasn’t dimmed!”

“Didn’t I tell you not to call me that?”

“Haha, touchy touchy.”

With Laila patting my back hard enough to sting, I offered an awkward smile toward Ophelia.

Whatever misunderstandings she had seemed to have lightened her expression considerably.

“So, Elliot.”

Laila perched herself on the table.

Given her weight, I half expected the table leg to snap at any moment.

“I think I’ve wrapped up my introduction, but you should know who this little lady is.”

“I’m not little!”

“Really? But you look like a little one to me.”

“Not little, you lizard!”

….

Laila’s eyes widened, then hardened her expression.

“Well, bringing a cheeky little one like you along. If you weren’t my friend Elliot’s kid, I might’ve split you in half.”

“Gah!”

Laila thumped her battle axe on her back. At that threat, Ophelia’s visage turned ghostly pale.

Laila’s build exceeded that of a typical adult. The intimidation factor was through the roof.

But Laila didn’t pursue further and chuckled instead.

“Just kidding, just kidding. I have some common sense, you know.”

After saying that, Laila leaned forward and scrutinized Ophelia’s face. As the bipedal lizard with a height of around two meters got close, Ophelia inhaled sharply.

However, Laila pulled back without any further action and exclaimed in awe.

“You’re like a doll.”

Indeed.

Ophelia’s appearance was truly exceptional.

“Considering how lovely your face is, you must be some noble’s cherished daughter…. Elliot.”

“Why?”

“Is this little one by any chance your wife? I never knew you had a taste for delicate ones like her.”

“Who, who said she’s this jerk’s wife!”

Suddenly, Ophelia shouted in protest.

After being terrified by Laila earlier, how could she unleash such volume?

I guess she really hated that idea.

Ophelia glared daggers at Laila.

“Oh dear, seeing such a heated reaction only makes it more suspicious.”

“I told you it’s not! Who would marry a jerk like this!”

“Hmmm. Then what kind of relation are we talking about?”

At Laila’s mischievous remark, Ophelia hesitated, glancing at Laila’s massive claws. But upon seeing me chuckling nearby, she steeled herself and slammed the table.

“That, that jerk… kidnapped me! He’s a kidnapper!”

And just like that, she spilled the beans.

….

All eyes in the inn turned toward us.

Realizing her mistake, Ophelia subtly let her accusing finger drop.

Even Laila, who had asked the question, wore an expression of disbelief as she gazed at me.

“Hey, Elliot. You didn’t—”

“Enough.”

I waved my hand, rising from my seat.

“Let’s just move to a different location first.”

*

Changing the setting to the private room of the inn, I explained the situation to Laila.

Including the fact that Ophelia was a Saintess and that I was traveling the continent with such a precious one.

I refrained from mentioning the Hero’s Divine Mark, as I felt the story might get too convoluted.

There would likely be an opportunity to share it later.

“Whew….”

Not surprisingly, Laila was shocked to the point her scales bristled.

“This little one… is really a Saintess? And you became a Knight of the Saint? One that resides in the Cathedral?”

“Not at the moment, but that’s the gist of it.”

“You? The Elliot I know is now a Knight of the Saint?”

….

Something about her surprise seemed off.

It wasn’t hard to understand. During my time in the mercenary group, I didn’t have the luxury to indulge in faith or religion.

The fact that I became a Knight was part of planning for my future, and even now, I held no piety.

“Anyway, I’ve set loose some pursuers from the Cathedral to track me and Ophelia down. It’s becoming increasingly tricky to remain in the Empire. At least here in this desert, it’s relatively safe. I plan to spend some time here.”

“Well, that’s a wise choice. Auriga isn’t known for its security, after all. It’s the best place for a lawbreaker like you to thrive.”

“I’m no lawbreaker.”

I denied it, but Laila merely winked.

“Regardless, welcome to Auriga. My old friend.”

With her voice booming dramatically, Laila spread her arms wide, and with no reason to refuse, I embraced her.

….

Ophelia’s brow furrowed.

“So, do you have a destination in mind?”

“I do. In that vein, I need to ask you for a favor.”

Now getting straight to the point, I didn’t beat around the bush.

“There’s someone I need to meet in the Auriga Desert. I’ll need your help in the process. That person is…”

“Alright, let’s go.”

Before I could even explain the details, Laila readily accepted.

I scratched my cheek with a somewhat sour expression.

“I haven’t even explained yet.”

“Do you need to?”

“Just like that?”

Laila grinned and crossed her arms.

“Either way, during our time in the mercenary group, all of us owe you our lives. There’s no way we could refuse when a benefactor returns after four years to ask for a favor.”

Benefactor, huh.

I didn’t think I deserved to be called that.

I only wielded a sword against the One-Eyed Knight Geldmier at the time.

“Elliot, looks like you were quite the remarkable fellow.”

Ophelia commented, sounding genuinely impressed.

I merely shrugged my shoulders.

“So, who’s the person you’re trying to meet?”

In the Auriga desert, there are a total of three marked characters.

One of them will be a named individual that cannot be met for now, and another might take a backseat due to her somewhat peculiar personality. That leaves just one remaining.

I wondered if Laila would know this person, but given that she’s a local of Auriga, she should know.

“Azar de Elbrecht. Known as the Golden Lion.”

In Sword & Magic Chronicles, the Hero party is composed of the Frontline Three and the Backline Three.

And Golden Lion Azar was a character armed with stats and traits perfect for the Frontline.

In other words, the ultimate tank.

Even his personality was gentle, overflowing with loyalty.

In my opinion, he was the best companion.

….

However, Laila’s reaction was starkly different from what I expected.

Her expression turned cold. It was typically hard to read emotions from a Dragonkin’s face, yet I instantly recognized it.

“Why the long face?”

“That guy is the lord of Labre Territory in the outskirts of Auriga.”

Labre Territory. It was a small town with a population of only about five hundred, but it was well-known because it lay on the route of the caravan.

In-game, Labre’s shop had many unique items that couldn’t be found elsewhere.

“I know that much.”

I replied, pondering.

Is Azar’s character as villainous as Ophelia’s?

That was actually within the realm of expectation. The personalities of characters in this world often deviated from what was presented in the game.

I could easily endure that level of setback. Azar, like Ophelia, fell into the category of ‘essential characters’ I needed to take along.

But Laila’s response pushed my predictions up by one tier, no, several tiers to the point of disbelief.

“Lord Azar de Elbrecht… is currently a high-ranking member of the Demon King’s Army.”

“…What the hell?”

*

That evening, rain fell over Labre Territory.

Before long, as lightning struck between the clouds, the usually dim and unlit castle’s interior took on a malevolent atmosphere.

Lord Azar de Elbrecht sat deep in thought, listening to the sound of the falling rain.

“…Hmm.”

Couldn’t shake off his boredom, perhaps? Azar slowly rose from his seat.

Clank. The sound of his armor echoed throughout the quiet castle.

Descending the staircase, he glanced at a man who was bowing his head beside him.

“Your name was Richard?”

“Yes.”

It seemed he was bowing his head as a sign of loyalty, yet a discrepancy in etiquette twisted Azar’s expression.

But rather than chastise him, he asked.

“In the ‘game’ world you observed, what kind of person was I?”

Richard.

Currently, he was Azar’s Torturer Mage and a puppet of the Demon King.

He called himself a soul from another world.

It wouldn’t be surprising if he brandished a sword right then, as he was an enemy of the world.

Richard lifted his head with that same craven smile and whispered softly.

“Lord Azar, you were a figure cloaked in the guise of a loser, staining the world with evil as a high-ranking member of the Demon King’s Army.”

….

“That visage has become an object of yearning for our possessors.”

I had heard this story many times, but Azar continued to probe.

Every time, the same answer would return, and only then did his gloomy mind seem to clear a little.

“Yet you speak of being a soul from another world. Even after hearing it repeatedly, it’s still a hard story to swallow.”

“However, we…”

“Enough.”

Cutting off Richard, Azar burst into laughter.

“How foolish. Ridiculously foolish.”

From the long window, the desert view outside was visible.

Boom! Lightning illuminated the night sky.

Azar stepped out of the castle he adored the most.

“You do whatever work you promised.”

“Y-yes.”

“No matter what role I play in that game you speak of.”

Azar threw open the massive door.

“I shall rise above the world as myself.”

The audacious ambition.

For Azar, it was, of course, a natural declaration.

Richard, who was watching from behind, raised the corners of his mouth mischievously, careful not to get caught.