The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

108 – 108. Sanctuary (1)

Like Ludmila, who had expressed her self-loathing, Jebeline must also be burdened with many worries.

Is she alright?

She must be anxiously fretting alone.

Jebeline had returned to the palace to receive the handwritten letter that had arrived from the Holy Kingdom. To check on the condition of the adorable Saint, she had made an unexpected visit to the palace.

“What are you doing?”

“I was just pondering for a moment.”

Upon entering the palace’s office, she was greeted by the sight of the Saint with her delicate silver hair cascading down. The seated Saint frowned as she handed over the handwritten letter from the Holy Kingdom.

Is it really okay to hand this over so carelessly?

Of course, I will read it….

With an awkward expression, she unfolded the partially folded letter.

“Come to the sanctuary? What a persistent fellow…. He must be trying to draw me in, right?”

“Exactly. I’m playing the role of bait.”

The great fish he seeks to catch must be the calamity of war.

Perhaps it is the calamity of famine sealed within Jebeline.

The calamity of innocence.

The pinnacle of evil sealed by the one true god, Gael.

To the followers of the Earth Mother, the calamity of innocence must be eradicated as if it were an irreconcilable enemy. The intent of the Sovereign, who persistently sought to draw us into the sanctuary, was suspect.

“Do you think they are aware that the calamity of tyranny has gone rampant?”

“Perhaps. The Great Earth Mother is intervening in the present world through her oracle, after all.”

It was only four days ago that I had rejected the Sovereign’s proposal.

Four days.

Only four days had passed.

Yet, the Sovereign Kingdom sent a letter urging a visit.

They had discovered through the Earth Mother’s oracle that the Saint Party would resurrect the calamity of death. Likewise, they must have realized that the Empire’s Red Dragon had returned as the calamity of tyranny.

“Ha… this is really troublesome. Can’t we just ignore it this time?”

“Well, I don’t think that will be possible this time.”

Jebeline let out a deep sigh and pulled something out.

It was a thick envelope.

Inside, there was neatly folded parchment.

Leaders from various nations, including the Sovereign Kingdom, always used parchment when drafting confidential documents. This was a customary unwritten rule that prevailed across the continent.

So, upon seeing the parchment in the envelope, I frowned.

* * *

Maximilian pays a visit to the Sovereign Kingdom.

It was in response to the phenomena brought about by the end of the world.

A wave of discomfort washed over me.

It was a nauseating discomfort, as if a fishbone were lodged in my throat.

Just how much do they know?

The destruction that began as the work, which was the center and driving force of the worldview, progressed to its final chapter is precisely the “end of the world.” Surely, they wouldn’t know that much. They must think it’s merely a result born from the birth of the one true god and the void of calamity.

“I hear that more than half of the demon realm has been consumed.”

“…So, the Saint Party reported that?”

“They must be holed up in the Demon King’s castle, trying to resurrect the calamity of death.”

“How should we take this?”

The situation was too complex to simply ignore.

Yet, it was also difficult to accept the information handed over by the Sovereign Kingdom outright.

Come to the sanctuary.

The conditions communicated by the monotheistic faction weighed heavily on my mind.

To the heretics, the sanctuary was no different from a slaughterhouse. In other words, the demands of the Holy Kingdom meant inviting oneself into the slaughterhouse.

Slaughterhouse.

I furrowed my brow and let out a deep sigh.

“Just ignore it.”

“Hmm?”

“They must know that Ethan is the Apostle of War. They’re probably plotting to draw him out to the sanctuary and turn him into a puppet, just like they did with tyranny and famine.”

“……”

Nodding at Jebeline’s words, I picked up the envelope containing the parchment.

Without hesitation, I tossed it into the fireplace, where the embers crackled and spat.

Whoosh—.

In an instant, the flames ignited.

As the fire flickered, it turned pitch black.

“I never thought Maximilian would return to the Holy Kingdom. He was trying to resurrect the calamity of death with his comrades, right? No matter how much of a hero he is, he wouldn’t be able to escape the ultimate punishment…”

“That’s just how he is.”

Maximilian is a man who shows not the slightest interest in anyone except Beatrice. One could almost call him an emotionless machine, nearing the end of his humanity.

He was the typical psychopathic male lead found in romantic fantasy novels.

Such a person would have no reason to fear the murderous intent sent by the Cardinals, the hounds of the Earth Mother. Rather, he would hold his head high in front of them and assert his decisions to the very end.

Even if I didn’t go to the sanctuary, a great commotion would surely arise due to Maximilian.

“Are you okay?”

“Hmm? What do you mean?”

“The Empire’s Red Dragon has been revealed as the calamity of tyranny. Then the Holy Kingdom’s White Dragon is most likely the calamity of innocence…”

“Oh. That makes sense.”

She was the saint representing the Holy Kingdom.

A devotee who had dedicated all her time to faith, except for her childhood.

She must be suffering more than anyone else.

Yet, contrary to such expectations, Jebeline displayed a remarkably calm reaction.

I felt a sense of awkwardness at the sight of the saint, who appeared no different from usual. Despite facing the absurd fate of being both the saint of the Holy Kingdom and the Apostle of the Calamity God, Jebeline remained remarkably composed.

“If I end up becoming the Apostle of the Calamity God… will Ethan hate me?”

“No, that’s impossible.”

“If Ethan continues to stay by my side, it doesn’t matter at all. Whether he’s the First Saint or the Apostle of the God of Calamity. I will always be Ethan’s Saintess.”

“That makes me feel a bit awkward.”

Jebeline’s statement, which was practically a confession, made her face flush. It was all the more surprising because Jebeline had always appeared so aloof.

What is this?

Did she feel a sense of crisis from Ludmila?

If I hadn’t given her a wedding ring, she would surely have been in a frenzy.

Jebeline chuckled as she traced the wedding ring on her ring finger.

“Just don’t leave me behind. That’s enough for me.”

“…….”

Nodding in response to the earnest plea of the benevolent Saintess, I answered.

* * *

A hero of a thousand ages.

The strongest warrior in history.

Maximilian had arrived at the sanctuary.

He accepted the deal from the Holy Kingdom.

As if to prove it, the pitch-black Cardinal accompanied Maximilian.

The Cardinals of the Holy Kingdom showed their indignation at Maximilian’s brazen appearance, revealing their hostility. The atmosphere was so tense it felt as if they would draw their swords at any moment.

“Maximilian…!”

“How dare the apostate defy the One True God and enter the sanctuary!”

The warrior chosen by the Earth Mother had instantly fallen from grace to become an apostate.

A sinner who betrayed the faith.

The foremost traitor who sought to collude with calamity.

With each step he took, the animosity grew ever tighter.

He attempted to resurrect the deathly calamity that had been cast into eternal rest. Thus, the Cardinals representing the Holy Kingdom branded Maximilian as the chief sinner.

“I’ve heard enough of the plan. To draw the innocent calamity into the sanctuary and force it into rampage… that’s quite a mad method.”

A man with flowing black hair stood at the center of the assembly like a sinner summoned to a witch trial.

At that moment, countless hostile gazes were directed at him.

“How dare you! This is a desperate measure to save the world…!”

“An apostate trying to resurrect the deathly calamity dares to speak of justice to us!”

The way to prevent the end of the world is to resurrect the ‘Apex of Evil’ to replace the Lord of Death.

Evil.

It is fear and dread.

In the sanctuary where the devout followers of the Earth Mother have gathered, the calamity of innocence stirs a bloodbath. There could be no better signal flare.

If the calamity of innocence begins to rampage, it will unleash a great flood that could sever the existence of humanity. Yet, the cardinals displayed an air of confidence in their success.

Maximilian frowned at the sight of the cardinals, filled with arrogance.

‘The figure of Boern is nowhere to be seen. Does the Sovereign not know of the cardinals’ farce?’

The cardinals gathered in the sanctuary were likely members of the hardliners of the Sovereign Nation. Confirming the absence of the Sovereign, Maximilian shook his head.

It was treason.

They were attempting to overturn the powers under the guise of a noble cause.

The cardinals, aware that the end of the world was approaching, sought to resurrect the calamity of innocence, just as the Saintly Party had tried to revive the deathly calamity from the demon realm.

While they continued to assert their righteousness with their lofty ideals, the process was hardly different.

It was endlessly contradictory.

Maximilian’s dark eyes shimmered with contempt.

‘I just need to play along with these damned fanatics until the moment the objective is fulfilled. As long as Edanant isn’t dragged into this, that’s all that matters.’

Before arriving at the sanctuary, he had secured a promise not to involve Edanant.

And since the calamity of tyranny was the second princess of the Baltaria Empire, it would not be touched recklessly.

The goal was clear.

The calamity of innocence that the hardliners sought was famine.

The First Saintess.

The vessel that bore the white dragon of the Sovereign Nation.

They were planning a massacre to bring down the calamity of famine upon the sanctuary, where countless followers had gathered.