NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
Village of the Holy Sword.
Now that we have truly produced a Hero of the Holy Sword, we should call it the Hero’s Village.
The village was bustling in preparation for the festival, yet there were some who could hardly hide their anxiety.
“Ugh….”
The Village Chief, after directing the busy villagers, slipped away to light a cigarette.
“What should I do…?”
When someone you despise achieves great success, it’s natural to feel envy and jealousy.
The Village Chief disliked Lucius.
While it was partly comparison to his son, he also had a grudge against Lucius’s adoptive parent, which added to his dislike of Lucius.
And because he hated Lucius, he planned to do something bad to the witch Lucius had saved.
“Witch….”
In the witch’s gaze towards him, there was irritation and rage, but also an understanding look.
Yes, an understanding look.
One that he couldn’t even feel from his own wife, as if to say, ‘It’s only natural for a man to desire me.’
The witch knew everything, yet she spared the Village Chief.
She showed mercy to the one who tried to kill her.
She showed mercy to the one who sought to harm her in a secluded place.
Is it merely the Village Chief’s one-sided misunderstanding?
No.
If it had been a misunderstanding, the witch would have truly been outraged by what the Village Chief intended to do and would have roasted him.
Or maybe, when the goblins attacked, she would have thrown the Chief to be the goblins’ prey.
But she merely continued the Hero’s awakening.
The witch did not kill the Chief, and the Chief owed her a debt of gratitude.
“She is… a Saintess!”
Sorceress of Crimson Lotus.
She did not actively deny being called a witch, but the witch’s understanding of his lascivious desires and crimes resembled that of a true Saintess.
Unlike those who are called Saintesses merely because they received a saint mark from a sect, she was the kind of Saintess who could truly show mercy to foolish humans.
“Thank you, Sorceress of Crimson Lotus. I am truly grateful.”
The Chief dropped his cigarette ash and bowed his head in silence.
“And not just for myself, thank you for sparing my son’s life as well.”
Although his son was still cowering in a corner, terrified that Lucius and the witch would come to kill him, the Chief understood his son’s fears and began to protect the witch.
“Huff….”
Thick smoke ascended to the sky.
The Chief gazed blankly at the ascending smoke, then turned his head away.
“Oi, what the hell?!”
“…….”
Next to the Chief stood a woman with brown hair.
“D-Droniel?”
“……. Village Chief.”
Droniel.
The most beautiful among the village maidens, a woman whom the Chief secretly considered as a potential daughter-in-law.
At the same time, a woman who liked Lucius and thus contributed to his son disliking Lucius.
A woman who tried to say something to Lucius when he was leaving but was told to stay back because it was dangerous.
“What brings you here? Why are you packing your things like that…?”
“I… need to go meet my father.”
“…… It’s dangerous.”
The Chief was taken aback and tried to dissuade Droniel.
“Why do you suddenly want to meet Count Odrone?”
“I want to learn how to wield a sword from my father.”
“…Is it because you want to follow Lucius?”
“Yes.”
Droniel’s eyes were serious.
“Is staying in the village because I’m weak an option? That can’t be. Lucius needs someone to take care of him by his side. He needs someone to embrace him when times are tough, not just someone who serves him.”
“…….”
The Chief felt goosebumps on his back.
Though she was merely an ordinary village maiden, he could sense the silhouette of the kingdom’s strongest knight and swordsman behind Droniel.
“…Blood doesn’t lie, huh? But Droniel, the outside world is dangerous.”
“It’s just next door to the territory. It would take only a day to walk there.”
“…That’s true, but.”
“And you heard that the Hero of the Holy Sword has appeared. That means knights will soon come from the territory. Some of them may know me. After all, this village was attacked by goblins while hiding the lord’s secret daughter.”
“…….”
Droniel’s words were valid.
“An old noble’s mistress fled here to avoid a political marriage, but I won’t hide any longer. I’m an adult now.”
The Chief was worried for many reasons, but Droniel’s determination could not be broken.
“…If you want to live as a noble, it could be incredibly tough.”
“I’m not trying to live as a noble. I’m trying to become strong enough to be with Lucius. So, I came to greet you.”
Droniel bowed her waist.
“Goodbye, Village Chief.”
The Chief could not stop Droniel from leaving.
The contract he made with Count Odrone was “Droniel shall be free to live as she pleases.”
“…If the Count finds out that his daughter has feelings for the Hero of the Holy Sword, he would definitely try to exploit that.”
The Chief sighed deeply.
“……Can I defeat the Saintess?”
“Hah.”
Droniel smirked.
“I’m Lucius’s Childhood Friend.”
*
“Thank you, Saintess. We’ll be taking our leave now.”
“Um….”
Though we stepped outside the cave, the Saintess showed no signs of leaving.
To me, it seemed more beneficial for the Saintess to join us, but losing control of the group would be problematic.
‘The journey must revolve around Lucius.’
Lucius has to be the key man who makes the decisions.
There may be many who point Lucius in different directions, but ultimately, it’s up to Lucius to decide.
“May the blessing of the Goddess be abundant.”
“Wait a moment.”
The Saintess blocked our way just as we were about to leave.
“Where did you say you’re going?”
“We’re intending to go to the village.”
“So what village?”
Persistent, isn’t she?
“I know there’s a Village of the Holy Sword nearby. How about we accompany you there safely?”
I wanted to question if it was accompanying or kidnapping, but she is the Saintess.
“That’s alright, Saintess.”
“I’m uneasy sending just the two of you.”
“That too is fine.”
“You don’t have to decline….”
‘Agh, just dammit.’
I wanted to smack her once and tell her to get lost, but I had to hold back.
The moment I swing my hand with malice, it would likely be consumed by divine power and vanish.
“We’re….”
“I’m sorry, Saintess.”
Lucius stepped in front of me, bowing towards the Saintess.
“My Master has agreed to register me as an adventurer. We plan to go to Normans, where the Adventurer Guild is located.”
“…….”
The Saintess lifted her gaze towards Lucius without a word.
Suddenly, the two began to silently stare at each other, and I glanced towards the female knight behind the Saintess—presumably the head of the Holy Knight Order.
-Can we separate for a bit?
The blonde knight seemed to understand my intense desire for separation and blinked her eyes widely.
But then…
Step, step.
The knight approached me.
The woman, taller than me by a head, pulled something from her bosom and…
“When you go to Normans, there will be a checkpoint. Present this as proof, and you’ll pass right through.”
“What is this…?”
A blue crescent moon brooch.
The woman tightly grasped the brooch in my hand before holding onto my hand.
“What’s your name?”
“Bel.”
“Bel….”
The knight stared at me for a while before smiling faintly.
That smile felt like a snake ready to devour me, and I got goosebumps down my back.
“It was nice to meet you. Saintess, let’s be off.”
“Yes….”
The Saintess appeared to be regretful, but time was of the essence.
“Goodbye, Lucius. We’ll meet again.”
“I’ll see you again someday, Yan.”
‘What the…?’
In between, they even exchanged names, calling each other by name now.
Was it because Lucius did well, or did the Saintess just fall head over heels for him?
“Bel, let’s have a deeper conversation later.”
“What about your name?”
“Excuse me?”
“It seems I’ve introduced myself first.”
The knight blinked her eyes for a moment, then smiled softly.
“I am Liriez Cesarcross.”
*
“Master.”
Lucius cautiously asked me from behind in a worried tone.
“If we go to the village, won’t our identities be exposed?”
“Well. That would be the case.”
There’s no doubt about it.
“However, I don’t think it matters much if we do get exposed. Being a hero doesn’t mean we necessarily have to work with the church.”
“What about the Red Moon Church…?”
“Whether it’s the Red Moon or the Blue Moon, I don’t care. Talks about sects or religions are beyond my interest. All I need to do is catch the Demon King.”
Red Moon Goddess or Order of the Crescent Moon Goddess, they’re all the same to me.
“Unless you’ve fallen for the Saintess or something?”
“Of course not.”
“Man, that was sharp. Almost got cut. Why? They seemed like a perfect match.”
“……I’m not interested in that kind of woman.”
“So, do you prefer men? Are you gay? Ugh.”
“Master….”
Lucius grimaced and shot me a glare.
“I’m interested in women.”
“That Childhood Friend of yours?”
“Hah….”
Fidgeting with the ring, it was as if he wanted to pull out the Holy Sword and hit me.
“I’m just joking. But seriously, think about it. If the Saintess joins us, it would be helpful.”
“If it puts you at risk, isn’t that dangerous?”
“That’s all manageable. It won’t be resolved immediately, but we can gather materials and make some unique items. On the way, we can get everything we need. Hehe.”
I pointed towards the village.
“Let’s go. To Normans.”
After registering as adventurers, we will search for the remnants of the Demon King there.
For my revenge.