R4STWH - Chapter 99

Chapter 99

"A holy relic...?"

The Saintess murmured softly.

"But I don't sense His presence... rather, there's some kind of alien energy..."

Alien energy?

Could she have detected traces left by the god of our world?

Though curiosity briefly stirred, that wasn't what was important right now.

"How are things on your end?"

Even though it had only been one night, we couldn't let our guard down.

My companions weren't known for their patience, given their difficult personalities. If they wanted to do something, they never held back.

After briefly looking at the Saintess and Crow as if gauging whether it was safe to speak in front of them, Baeksa opened his mouth.

"The First Princess hasn't made up her mind yet. She's been making all kinds of fuss all night."

"All night..."

"Fuss..."

Regardless of how the Saintess and Crow were taken aback by different points, he continued speaking.

"The First Prince is the problem. As you know... I have no way to approach him. The only information I could get through the spy I planted was that he's been spending more time underground lately."

"Underground? What's down there?"

Elias answered that question.

"There's a prison. It's used to detain and interrogate those who can be punished under the First Prince's authority."

At this point, there was only one being that Zero would imprison and take interest in.

'Ermitar. He must have found and imprisoned him there.'

"But... why the First Prince? Did he do something wrong to Lady Ilesha?"

"Huh? Didn't the god you serve tell you?"

"What do you mean?"

I stared blankly at the Saintess's question while calculating the timing in my head.

'Come to think of it, they said communication with this world's god became impossible from the day the dungeons opened.'

The Saintess had stayed at Tenaclad for a while, starting before the dungeons opened and continuing afterward.

She might not know the truth since she probably hadn't met Leonard after Zero took over his body while she could still communicate with the god.

"Well, actually..."

I wasn't entirely blameless in the problems that had befallen the one who was supposed to play an important role in this world.

While I could somehow insist that the dungeons appearing was something that was going to happen anyway, it was definitely because of my companions' soul stones that I brought to this world that Leonard, Selena, and Howell couldn't meet normal deaths.

"Let's just say something like a Demon Lord has possessed the First Prince's body."

Elias answered in my place as I hesitated.

"What?"

The Saintess blinked rapidly while looking back and forth between Elias and me, then after a moment screamed with a face full of shock.

"WHAAAAT?"

"...That's what happened."

Unable to be proud about this one, I quietly averted my gaze while confirming that Elias's words were true.

"That's impossible! How could this be? The Demon Lord possessing the Male Lead's body! This can't be! This absolutely cannot be!!!"

I could only remain silent watching the Saintess who was making a scene, frantically pacing around the small room.

"I apologize. The Saintess must have been quite fond of His Highness."

Crow apologized to us, seeming embarrassed.

"She believed he would do great things for the world..."

"Crow doesn't seem very surprised?"

"I felt something was off when we met at the dungeon entrance. Originally, His Highness wasn't... reckless enough to enter a dungeon alone."

Well, whatever talents he might have had, Leonard's combat abilities were quite lacking compared to Elias.

Moreover, I had never heard of the First Prince focusing on dungeon conquest, so there shouldn't have been any plausible opportunity for such growth.

Entering a dungeon alone without anyone knowing? That was naturally suspicious.

"What are you planning to do now?"

Instead of answering Baeksa's question, I just slightly raised and lowered my eyebrows.

Given the high possibility that Zero had imprisoned Ermitar underground, I needed to go meet him.

But I was concerned about Elias to voice my thoughts right now.

'He probably won't let me go alone.'

He would surely try to stop me, saying it was dangerous. Or try to come along.

'But I need to meet Ermitar to resolve the questions of why he destroyed our world, how he's still alive, and how I was able to come to this world.'

Besides that, hadn't I received a quest to meet him within four days? If I ignored that, an SS-rank monster would suddenly appear somewhere on the continent.

'It would probably be similar to when the Evil Dragon first appeared.'

Wasn't that the decisive turning point that led our world toward destruction?

"For now, stay by the First Princess's side and keep watching. If anything seems suspicious, send word to the temple."

"Alright, understood."

Seeming to understand my intentions just from my gesture, Baeksa nodded without asking further questions.

"Ah, take Crow with you when you go."

"What? Why me..."

"Well, you see..."

I glanced at the Saintess who was sitting limply on the floor with a blank expression.

'Hmm...'

Since she didn't seem like she'd be of any help for a while, I should try to persuade Crow properly.

"There's another Demon Lord candidate still deciding whether to destroy the world or not, and they say they like your face."

"...?"

Crow's expression showed no comprehension.

"Just like I want to protect this world for Elias, they might change their mind if they keep seeing you. Toward favoring peace."

"So what you're saying is..."

Crow said with confusion clearly showing on his face.

"You want me to seduce the Princess for world peace?"

"Huh...? Seduce?"

Do we need to go that far?

But Crow should have the right to meet and fall in love with someone who suits his taste, and I shouldn't force his choice like this.

If this method failed, we could find another way. There was no need to push unnecessarily. I wasn't so incompetent that someone's sacrifice would be needed.

"Let's just stick to showing your face often. Prove that this world is worth preserving. With that pretty face of yours!"

"Pretty..."

After briefly making a troubled expression, Crow quickly nodded.

"I understand. On the honor of the Holy Knights, I will cultivate their heart into a beautiful flower garden."

...Something about the wording seems a bit odd, but it's probably just my imagination?

"I'll be in touch then."

After Baeksa left with Crow, I followed the gaze that had been persistently fixed on my face.

"Elias, do you have something to say?"

Actually, I wasn't unaware of why he was looking at me with such eyes.

'It must be because of Crow.'

He was clearly bothered that I called Crow's face pretty.

"No, not particularly."

"Really? Then I'll take her to her room and come back."

Though I wanted to say something reassuring to Elias right away, I had more important matters to attend to.

"I'll come with you."

"That probably won't work. If I remember correctly, men not affiliated with the Order can't enter where the Saintess stays, right?"

I asked while helping her up, and the Saintess nodded.

"That's right."

"I'll be right back. Don't worry and wait here."

I looked at Elias with a slight smile as if to say 'See?'

"...Alright."

On the way out after leaving him alone in the lodging.

When we were far enough away, I spoke to the Saintess in a very low voice.

"This is a very important matter, so I really hope you'll answer."

"As I thought... you had something to ask me."

The Saintess looked at me with a stern face.

"What is it?"

"Well... you said you had some kind of precognitive ability, right?"

"...And?"

Being just as tense myself, I swallowed hard before asking with a determined expression.

"In the future you saw, who was Elias's wife? It was the Second Princess, right?"

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