NOVEL NEXT WORLD News spread that the famous legendary vampire had appeared in Evian, providing proof that this vampire really existed.
Not only that, but it was also reported that Priest Vigrind, the Saint of the Celestial God, summoned the celestial gate and defeated the vampire.
And alongside that, there was news that Yona, the apostate saint of the demon realm, was involved in the vampire’s demise as declared by the Church of the Celestial God.
Isn’t it something that wandering bards would recite?
Moreover, it’s quite provocative and the kind of rumor people would enjoy.
In Evian, the source of this rumor, stories of Vigrind and Yona were stirring, coupled with peculiar rumors spreading alongside them.
What on earth were all those cream-haired or orange-eyed girls that the Church of the Celestial God dragged off in search of apostates?
Without any evidence, girls were simply taken away, and not a single one has returned, making the rumor spread like wildfire in the dead of winter.
Despite the apostate appearing, the cathedral knights and priests of the Church were utterly powerless.
Furthermore, even when the demon revealed itself, they couldn’t even muster a proper counterattack.
If it weren’t for the Saint, they’d all be toast by that demon.
As these rumors were swirling uncontrollably…
In the healing room of the cathedral, Ludvik sat dazed, staring blankly into space.
“Hero, you need to eat something.”
Vigrind, holding a bowl of easily digestible cabbage soup, brought a spoon to Ludvik’s lips but sighed and put it down.
It had been a day since Yona and her party left.
Yona’s stubbornness to leave, claiming that staying any longer would only lead to trouble, was something even Vigrind couldn’t break.
Now, only Vigrind and Ludvik remained in Evian.
“It’s been a whole day since you last ate. Hero, you really need to eat to regain your strength.”
“Did I even do anything to deserve a meal?”
Ludvik’s gaze turned to Vigrind.
What was that look in his innocent eyes?
Vigrind couldn’t comprehend it.
But now wasn’t the time for such thoughts; the priority was to somehow get Ludvik to eat.
“I told you it wasn’t your fault.”
Vigrind understood the reasons behind Ludvik’s behavior.
During Damian’s attack, Ludvik was defeated in an instant by the black giant that appeared, not only lost but absorbed, unable to show his presence during the fight. It was only after everything ended, and following Damian’s injury at the hands of another, that he finally broke free.
Since realizing that, Ludvik’s condition had deteriorated.
He seemed to have given up on everything.
“…What exactly is troubling you so much, Hero? Even if you crumble, do I crumble? Does the Celestial God crumble? Even if I’m the one to repel the enemy, does that give you a reason to be heartbroken?”
Vigrind set the plate down beside him and clasped her hands together.
Does it really matter who vanquished the enemy?
Of course, it’s true that Priest Vigrind has paid a considerable sacrifice.
But that’s a fact only known to Vigrind, and he hasn’t shared it with anyone.
For that reason, it’s certain that Ludvik is so disheartened because he couldn’t do anything during the battle.
Vigrind lightly closed his eyes, organizing his thoughts.
He might need some comforting, but from his very nature, Vigrind can’t do such things.
Comfort is something that only those who have experienced it can offer, and since Vigrind has never been comforted, he doesn’t know how.
“Well then, why not get up and practice martial arts? Wouldn’t that be better? If you’re feeling guilty for not protecting me, shouldn’t you rise and hone your skills?”
“…Saint?”
Ludvik looked at Vigrind with a slightly surprised expression.
Vigrind simply stared at Ludvik while leaving the bowl of cabbage soup on the table.
“What exactly is the problem? Everyone knows that facing a demon alone is impossible. Even with the power granted by the Celestial God, today’s demons are on a whole different level. Even I wouldn’t have been able to handle it alone. It was only with the help of my allies that I was able to barely win.”
“But those guys are apostates, aren’t they? Isn’t it shameful to have relied on the help of apostates for victory?”
“Well, you called them apostates, so let me say this.”
Apostate.
What exactly constitutes an apostate?
Yona may have turned to the demon realm, but when she fought against Damian, she proved herself, didn’t she?
At this point, the hero needs to be a little shocked.
Vigrind took a small breath.
Now comes the heavy factual statement.
That’s one of the things Vigrind is confident about.
“Have you seen Yona fight? No, you haven’t, have you? Both Yona and Alex were at the forefront, bravely facing the demons that sought to spread death in Evian, or rather, aimed to harm me. Are those truly the ones who have forsaken the Celestial God? It would be more accurate to say they forsook the Church of the Celestial God, not the Celestial God itself.”
Without changing his gaze, Vigrind defended Yona, the apostate.
Seeing her like this, Ludvik felt a mix of emotions.
“However, Saint, the Church of the Celestial God has also designated them as apostates. It is true that they have apostatized, and they invited demons into the sight of the Celestial God—”
“Please stop right there, Hero.”
Before Ludvik could finish his sentence, Vigrind abruptly cut him off.
Ludvik looked at her with a somewhat shocked expression.
“It’s all just definitions set by the Church of the Celestial God. So, let me ask you, Hero. Whose hero are you exactly? Are you the hero who upholds the will of the Celestial God and acts upon it, or are you just a lackey for the rotting and decaying Church of the Celestial God, which even makes the Celestial God sigh? Which side are you truly on?”
After spilling out those words, Vigrind rose from her chair.
She then picked up the bowl that was on the desk and placed it in front of Ludvik, who was sitting on the bed.
“Eat up. While you’re at it, think it over carefully. I am the Saint of the Celestial God, and I fought to protect us humans, His creations. And Yona, too, fought bravely alongside my will to protect humanity and repel the demons. Does that go against the Celestial God’s will, or does it align with it? Let me say it again: I fought not for the Church of the Celestial God, but in upholding the will of the Celestial God. I fought without backing down.”
“Think carefully while you eat this. I am the Saint of the Celestial God, and I have fought to protect our human creations from the Celestial God’s will. Yona, too, has fought without retreat to protect humans and repel demons alongside my will. So, is that against the will of the Celestial God, or in alignment with it? Once again, I say, I fought not for the Church of the Celestial God but to uphold the will of the Celestial God. I fought without retreat!”
With a loud clink, Vigrind placed the spoon down on the plate and added, “—Even though it was scary.”
At that, Ludvik flinched, his shoulders quaking.
It was scary, it was terrifying—yet, he stood firm and fought.
With those words, Vigrind closed the door and left.
Left alone in the bedroom, Ludvik gazed into the plate, deep in thought.
*
Earlier that same day, before the conversation between Vigrind and Ludvik took place, the two girls were facing each other.
“Don’t worry, just go. I’ll take care of those girls. The Pope probably doesn’t know about it, so if I talk well, I’m sure he’ll tell them to stop right away.”
It was time for their farewell.
Standing before each other, Vigrind said to Yona, “Okay, I’m counting on you.”
With a smile, Yona hesitated for a long moment before speaking up.
Should I say this?—She fretted and pondered, yet she didn’t want to regret keeping it in.
“Just stay a bit longer. If nothing else, we can go together to the Church Region.”
“Don’t say such absurd things. Are you trying to cause a commotion too?”
Yona flatly rejected Vigrind’s suggestion.
It sounded reasonable, right? The idea of Yona teaming up with Vigrind—was that even acceptable?
Vigrind sometimes said things that made no sense.
“I’m just sad about it.”
Just when they thought they had gotten closer, just when they thought they had reconciled.
Now, they faced separation.
Vigrind wanted to hold onto Yona.
She wanted to say they should journey together like before.
“…Someday, we will meet again. So don’t worry. I’m counting on you; I really am.”
Vigrind nodded at Yona’s words.
It was a bit reassuring that they wouldn’t be going down parallel paths like before.
Surely, they would meet again someday.
That’s what Vigrind believed.
“Then I really will go. Take care, Vigrind.”
“Yeah. Take care. Be safe.”
The Saint of the Celestial God and the Demon Realm’s Saint.
Two people who could never stand side by side eventually averted their gazes from each other.
“Yona.”
At Vigrind’s call, Yona, about to get on the carriage, paused and looked back.
“—Was I saintly enough?”
Yona turned her head and quietly stared at Vigrind.
A little girl whose gaze barely reached Yona’s chest.
Where did she find such courage, given that?
If she wasn’t saintly, what could being saintly possibly mean?
But Yona turned back to Vigrind and nodded.
“Aside from being smaller than the First Saint, you’re a perfect Saint.”
“She’s a perfect saint, except for that.”
“That girl.”
“I’m going.”
“… Goodbye.”
Yona smiled back at Priest Vigrind, who was about to flare up, as she boarded the carriage, and Vigrind quietly watched her retreating figure.
It’s getting further away.
The carriage is drifting away.
My friend is drifting away.
Vigrind stood there, staring blankly at the carriage until it completely vanished from sight.
*
‘It’s a bit awkward to just tell her to screw off.’
Yona frowned as she looked back through the window of the carriage.
In her line of sight, there was a military horse above, and on that horse was the silver-armored cathedral knight, none other than Scarlet, accompanied by the healer, Serad.
When leaving Evian, it was expected that Scarlet would stick with Priest Vigrind again, but surprisingly, she followed Yona instead.
What shocked Yona even more was that she sought permission from Yona, not the clingy Alex who had been all over her.
“I was more surprised that you granted her permission.”
Alex, noticing Yona glancing at the back of the carriage, grinned and spoke to her.
But Yona didn’t respond to his remark and gave him a sulky glare.
“…Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?”
“No. I just wonder if you’re even human sometimes because you act so clueless, but then you surprise me with your quick wit.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Look at this. It makes me wonder if you’re doing it on purpose every time. Be either smart or clueless, just pick one.”
Yona didn’t reply to Alex’s words but hugged Rubina and let out a snort, leaning back against the carriage seat.
‘…How could I tell her to go away when she comes just to ask for this?’
The anger that felt like it could kill him at any moment naturally dwindled over time.
If she thought about all those torturous moments she inflicted on Alex, it felt like blood was rushing to her head, but claiming she didn’t recognize him due to side effects sounded reasonable too.
And it was Scarlet who had blocked the magic blast aimed at Yona.
Anyway, Yona was soft-hearted.
No matter how much she pretended to be tough and fierce, deep down, Yona was soft-hearted.
“Hey Alebians, there won’t be any trouble now, right?”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean, huh? After a few days of ease, you’re starting to relax again? Should I start it up again?”
“Oh, no! Pretty lady, that’s not it.”
Alebians closed the book she had been reading and placed it on the table in the carriage.
Then she looked out the window and awkwardly nodded.
“Yeah, there shouldn’t be any trouble. We just need to keep going straight to Kapatia Port and then into Katus.”
—If Ceres hasn’t done anything strange, that is.
Alebians muttered to herself.