The Protagonists of Romance Fantasy Novels Have Escaped

112 – 112. Traces of the Past (2)

The series of terrorist attacks in the Baltaria Empire only served to amplify the fear and hostility towards the cultist forces.

Thus, the nations, including the Empire and the Holy Empire, dedicated themselves to the identification and capture of the cultists. Their intent was to completely erase the specters symbolizing violence and revenge from the world.

“Quickly, escort the cultists!”

“They must reach the sanctuary by today! Hurry!”

The paladins clad in resplendent armor shouted.

Following them were hundreds of individuals, their hands bound with ropes, making their appearance known. Dressed in tattered rags, they were being dragged like livestock—cultists captured by the Holy Empire.

“Kill them! Kill them!”

“Filthy cultists…! I can’t believe there are still so many of them!”

Pagans who worship the forgotten gods.

Murderers who had committed slaughter and human sacrifice.

The cultists, filled with negative traits, were always the targets of disdain and oppression. As the cultists were escorted, murderous intent poured in from all directions.

Burn them at the stake.

Hang them immediately.

All kinds of ominous shouts poured down like rain.

Among those being transported, there were even young children, yet public opinion remained unchanged. The citizens of the Holy Kingdom, accustomed to the bloodshed of massacres, showed no mercy to the heretics.

“Ahhh!”

“Stop it! Ugh!”

Stones were hurled at the heretics being brought to the sanctuary.

Countless rocks and pebbles flew in from both sides, expressing their hatred. The heretics, who had become sacrificial offerings to relieve this hatred, were soon drenched in blood.

“Is this a sanctuary? How ridiculous. To call a place devoid of any sanctity a sanctuary.”

Shouts stained with anger and screams marred by anguish.

The acrid black smoke of burning corpses.

It was repulsive.

The city was filled with pain and death.

As soon as I arrived at the sanctuary with Jebeline, I instinctively recognized the slaughterhouse that the heretics had become. It was only natural to frown at the sight filled with violence.

“It’s a living hell that even the One God would not dare to glance at.”

A girl with flowing silver hair wore a bitter smile.

The scene of the large-scale massacre taking place in the sanctuary seemed like a living hell even to the First Saint of the Holy Kingdom.

“They are the pagans who rejected the teachings of the One God and worshipped false faiths. Naturally, they must be purified by the flames of judgment!”

As Jebeline and I were conversing after witnessing the scene of the massacre, a spirited young priest interrupted us.

Perhaps he wanted to boast about his faith,

the priest, dressed in ornate robes, began to deliver a speech to the hero and saint of the Holy Kingdom.

“Among those being dragged away, there are children. They surely know nothing and have followed their parents in worshipping heresy.”

“It is indeed a tragic situation. To be led astray by fanatical parents… But worshipping a forgotten god is a grave sin, and they cannot escape judgment.”

Who exactly is the heretic?

Who exactly is the fanatic?

I looked at the priest of the Holy Kingdom, who steadfastly justified the massacre, and expressed my disdain.

It’s madness.

Is this the result of extreme idolatry?

Sighing as I mulled over the madness of the followers of the One God, the carriage carrying the hero and saint of the Holy Kingdom finally reached the Fabrua Cathedral located in the heart of the sanctuary.

“Welcome back, First Saint.”

“…It’s been a while.”

The First Saint Jeblinne, who had long resided in the Baltaria Empire, finally returned. A multitude of priests gathered like clouds, proving her immense popularity that could even overshadow the grandeur of the occasion.

Surely, they would prefer the saintess over the wrinkled old men.

The priests, faced with the beautiful girl clad in pure white robes, focused their gazes, sending forth countless feelings of reverence. It was akin to witnessing a fandom welcoming their favorite idol.

“Your family is waiting inside.”

The reason Jeblinne had stepped into the sanctuary, which she had so long dreaded, was to meet her family. If the Holy Kingdom had not held them hostage, she would not have come to this ominous slaughterhouse.

Her family was waiting.

At the priest’s words, Jeblinne bit her lower lip hard.

It was only natural to hesitate.

After all, she was meeting her family, a relationship fraught with love and resentment, after several long years.

“You don’t need to worry too much. I’ll be by your side.”

“Thank you, Ethan.”

It was difficult to predict what Jeblinne was feeling at that moment.

Whether in her past life or this one, her family situation had always been complicated.

I couldn’t be the one to understand her.

But I could certainly play the role of a reliable supporter.

Nodding as I held the saintess’s trembling hand, she, with her silver hair cascading down, steeled herself and began to move her previously halted steps.

‘By the way, I don’t see the Holy Monarch anywhere in the sanctuary… Despite having sent a personal letter to summon me. Even after calling upon a new hero following the First Saint.’

Since entering the Holy Kingdom, she had received a series of enthusiastic welcomes from the cardinals. Yet, for some reason, the Holy Monarch, who had sent the invitation, was nowhere to be seen.

Is it a trap?

It might be.

Having thrown out bait, would they not set a trap as well?

I glanced around with a suspicious gaze, but nothing felt amiss. For now, it seemed there were no traps around the Februa Cathedral, where Jeblinne’s family was staying.

* * *

What kind of people would the family of the First Saint, representing the Holy Kingdom, be?

With that question lingering in my mind, we arrived at the reception room prepared inside the cathedral.

“Li, nu…?”

There were five people waiting on the sofa in the reception room for the reunion.

A middle-aged couple, presumably her father and mother.

And two siblings, a brother and a sister, were also present.

I was taken aback by the youngest’s appearance, which had changed so drastically it was almost unrecognizable. If I was shocked by Jeblinne’s transformation, her family must have been even more astonished.

The nickname that the family used for Jeblinne was “Rine.”

It’s quite a cute nickname. I should try calling her that sometime.

“Really, it’s been a long time.”

Jeblinne, hesitating with a tremor at the corners of her mouth, finally spoke.

A heavy awkwardness settled in the air.

Even a simple greeting required immense courage.

The time that had passed mercilessly was enough to sever ties with blood relatives. Especially for the Russell family, who had a troubled past, it was even more so.

“You’ve grown a lot. Really, you’ve grown so much….”

“…….”

A middle-aged woman with brown hair reached out and approached. At that, Jeblinne took a step back, showing a look of confusion.

She had merely accepted the reunion.

It did not mean she was willing to accept them back as family.

To convey her intentions, Jeblinne deliberately displayed a cold demeanor.

“What business do those who should be in the Kingdom of Beruso have with me? I would appreciate it if you could get to the point first. I am quite a busy person, you see.”

“Y-yes, that would be the case. After all, you are the saint of the Holy Kingdom….”

As Jeblinne stepped forward from where she had retreated and sat on the sofa, the middle-aged woman, who had intended to shake hands with her long-lost daughter, nodded while stammering.

Gulp.

The sound of a dry swallow echoed.

Jeblinne glanced at her siblings, who were watching the situation with pale, astonished faces.

Their faces were covered in freckles and scars.

Surely, they bore the marks of having suffered from smallpox in their childhood.

They were busy casting sidelong glances, as if they were criminals awaiting judgment. It was likely due to the fear of retribution from their sister, who had become the saint of the Holy Kingdom.

“Rine, I’m sorry for sending you away alone!”

“I humbly ask…! Please let us live here!”

After years of suffering from famine and plague, the Kingdom of Beruso had finally fallen. The Russell family, having lost their country in an instant, had fled to the Holy Kingdom as if they were being chased.

What kind of deal had they made with the cardinals?

The Russell family desperately begged for mercy from their youngest daughter, who had grown into a saint.

‘For all that, they seem to have been living quite well until now…’

As she watched her family lamenting their unfortunate circumstances, Jeblinne suddenly thought. They all looked quite healthy for refugees arriving from a nation ravaged by famine.

Jeblinne’s father and brother had become quite stout from years of accumulated flesh.

Moreover, Jeblinne’s mother and two older sisters were adorned in very luxurious clothing and jewelry.

Even in the midst of fleeing, they had packed thoroughly.

It seemed they had continued to receive financial support from the Holy Kingdom even after selling their youngest daughter to the convent.

“I’ve come here for nothing.”

“……”

A sharp voice laced with contempt reached my ears.

I let out a heavy sigh in response.

“Now, even the last remnants of my attachment have vanished. So it’s fine now. I won’t care at all if the Holy Kingdom takes them hostage.”

“Really?”

The shameless sight of a family trying to thrive off the youngest daughter they sold for a few gold coins stripped away any remaining sentiment I had.

The reunion with my family after so many years was the worst.

Jeblinne turned away coldly.

As I watched her delicate silver hair sway with each step, I sighed, filled with complicated emotions.

“Well… I wish the Russell family good fortune. Oh, and I will take responsibility for your daughter.”

“……”

They might someday become my in-laws.

A simple greeting should be acceptable.

It seemed Jeblinne had fully resolved to sever ties.