I Will Not Fall For the Villain’s Flirtations - Chapter 97

“When did you arrive in the Holy Kingdom?”

“Just now.”

As I looked up at him, trying to gauge his sincerity, he slipped off his ring and chuckled.

“Of course, I also came briefly during the competition.”

Watching his ordinary yet unfamiliar features transform into an extraordinary and familiar face, I clicked my tongue. The peace treaty with its stringent clauses had always been meaningless to this man who had been coming and going in the Holy Kingdom as if it were his own home.

“Did you come to tell me to give up too?”

“Did Peidos say that? To give up?”

“……”

His genuinely surprised question left my mouth clamped shut like a clam. I thought he came to dissuade me, knowing the decision of the cardinals, as he always seemed to know everything.

“It’s surprising that he would say that after seeing your performance in the competition, Du.”

“It’s not that. Sir Peidos is worried about me……”

“Worried that the holy relic might consume you?”

“……”

Of course, he knew. Crushing the packet of Mattnum Possun in my hand, I asked in a slightly offended tone.

“You don’t seem to be worried at all.”

Even though you said you liked me. How can you be so unconcerned?

“People tend to overestimate the holy relic.”

He sat on the bed and curled up the corners of his mouth.

“In reality, the holy relic is just a vessel containing holy power.”

I glanced sideways at the man who dismissed what everyone worshipped as if it were nothing. Regardless of the essence of the holy relic, the fact that I was in danger remained unchanged.

“Don’t worry too much. Even if you are exposed to a large amount of holy power, it may temporarily strain your body, but it won’t be life-threatening.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’ve done it.”

“……What?”

He made this astonishing statement with a nonchalant expression. It was only after seeing my shocked face that he added, as if doing me a favor.

“They advertised that you could hear the oracle, so I tried it. I wanted to know the will of the god that everyone shouted about.”

“So, what happened?”

“Nothing happened. I woke up about a week later.”

“……Nothing happened?”

“I didn’t hear any voices, and I didn’t gain anything. I just lost consciousness and then regained it.”

“……”

It took a while for my runaway mind to return. How could he talk about it as if it were nothing?

Moreover, even if what he said was true, his situation and mine were different. It wasn’t a position to select the Great Saint, so it was natural that he didn’t receive the oracle.

“It could have been because it wasn’t a situation where the oracle was needed. If you could hear the oracle every time you connected with the holy relic, why would the priests have spent years holed up in the prayer room?”

“Of course, that could be the case. But whether there is an oracle or not, the process of connecting itself is similar to a life stone.”

“A life stone?”

I widened my eyes at the word I hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Just as you can connect with a life stone, you can connect with someone else’s life stone. Although it’s rarely used now, in ancient times, it was done to strengthen the relationship between the emperor and his vassals.”

The life stone of this man, who said such things, had been quietly in the pocket of my priest robe for some time. There was no particular need for it, but since it wasn’t bulky, I just kept it there. Almost like it was a talisman.

“If you break the life stone, you get seriously injured but you don’t die. The connection between the Great Saint and the Guardian is the same. If you sever the connection woven with holy power, you get temporarily injured but you never die.”

“……”

“If you don’t regain consciousness after more than a week, I will step in and sever the connection, so don’t worry.”

Strangely, what the high priests had warned me about as a dangerous task felt like nothing due to his single reassuring statement.

[It’s okay to stop now.]

[Don’t worry.]

The voice of Peidos I heard earlier overlapped with Keene’s voice and echoed. Feeling my anxious heart gradually calm down, I quietly asked.

“Why don’t you try to stop me? Even if it’s not fatal, it’s still dangerous.”

“Do you want me to stop you?”

I met his eyes at his indifferent question. The familiar silhouette was reflected in his inscrutable eyes.

Maybe, even now when he’s showing his heart to me, I might not fully trust him.

“You wanted to become the Great Saint, didn’t you? And you have the ability to match.”

“……”

“I don’t care what choice you make. I just want you to get what you want.”

His words, which were not for his own benefit but simply because I wanted it, made my grip on the blanket loosen.

Yes, why does my intention matter? After coming this far, there is only one path I can take.

“It’s a promise.”

A pinky finger suddenly entwined between us.

“If I don’t regain consciousness after more than a week, you have to wake me up.”

Keene, as always, responded with a deep smile.

“I promise.”

* * *

The connection with the holy relic took place in a quiet prayer room. In the serene space where even the sound of dust rising seemed audible, Prim and I cautiously knelt.

At each vertex of the large formation drawn on the floor, a priest placed an antique candlestick and then set a gold chalice on the small altar. The chalice, quite large, contained holy water from the morning mass.

“Oh God, we, Your servants, have come here today to serve You and help people according to Your great will. We offer our souls and bodies, which we received from You, as a sacrifice of praise and service. Please look upon us kindly and lead us to Your peace.”

As the Pope’s low prayer continued, candles were lit one by one on the candlesticks. The candles were lit by the cardinals after each had finished their prayers for safe return.

The Pope personally lit the last candle. After making eye contact with Prim and me, he conveyed a silent encouragement with a nod and left the prayer room. Soon after, the other priests began to leave the prayer room one by one, following him.

Once we were the only ones left, I lifted my head and gazed at the softly glowing holy relic. It was a cup decorated with large emeralds and rubies, boasting a rather splendid exterior compared to other holy relics known to the public. Except for the bracelet obtained from Liche’s ruins, it was the first time I had seen a holy relic up close.

But what occupied my mind was not the holy relic in front of me.

“That necklace you wore during the competition.”

Prim turned her head to look at me at the sudden topic.

“I’ve seen it before.”

“……”

She said nothing. Keeping my eyes fixed on the holy relic, I continued speaking.

“Around Chelin’s neck, and also……”

“……”

“When I was kidnapped by the group targeting Stellas in Liche.”

I turned my head to observe her expression, but her face, which I glanced at, was devoid of any emotion, showing no particular reaction.

I asked as if I were confident of something that was merely a possibility, to see Prim’s reaction. However, she offered no response and turned her head back towards the holy relic, saying,

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“……”

“It could be your last words, and you’re saying strange things. You’re so relaxed until the end.”

As if she didn’t want to deal with me any longer, Prim immediately used her holy power. A blue light seemed to spread over her entire body, and then with a thud, her body fell.

I already knew about the process of connecting with the holy relic. But after witnessing it firsthand, I couldn’t help but feel a sudden fear.

Prim is the protagonist, so she will wake up. But can I really do the same?

If I can’t take her place.

[It’s a promise.]

A low voice from my memory calmed me. Yes, Keene definitely said so. It’s no different from connecting with the life stone. He’s the man who has saved me from countless dangers so far, so I believed he would do so this time as well. He’s a person with top-notch abilities.

After several deep breaths to calm my pounding heart, I followed Prim’s example, closed my eyes, and channeled holy power into my palms. As the magic circle reacted to my holy power, I could feel the surroundings becoming so bright that it was dazzling even with my eyes closed.

Beeeeep—.

At the sudden ringing in my ears, I reflexively opened my eyes. At that moment, I witnessed a few drops of holy water splashing onto the holy relic.

I wasn’t sure if it was an illusion, but in an instant, a bright light completely filled my vision.