Taming the Evil Saintess

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“Chronicles of Sword & Magic” primarily falls under the RPG genre, but one could also consider it as a strategic simulation game in detail. You form your own party, represented by the Frontline Three and Backline Three, distributing items and skills strategically to tackle formidable foes.

Naturally, such a system tends to be complex, and the entrance barrier is considerably high. It seems the developers were aware of this issue, as they placed advisor NPCs within the game to explain the systems.

Enter the Rulier Siblings. If you choose a male hero, Yudiel often appears; choose a female hero, and Gale is likely to show up.

Given that the Rulier Siblings are described as guides from the North, they provide recommended paths for adventures and offer advice on party formation.

Of course, even if they are called NPCs, their actual appearances are just the portraits that show up on the interface.

Yet, since they are the faces I often see while playing, I have developed a certain attachment to them.

“…Hmmm. I’m not sure.”

I brought this topic up with Emily, but she couldn’t comprehend the concept of a game existing in a modern Earth setting, and it left her perplexed.

I chuckled softly while looking at the tightly bound Rulier Siblings and their followers, all of whom seemed anxious and cautious, as if they believed I would draw my Holy Sword and take their lives at any moment.

“So, what do you plan to do with them?”

Emily, who had been admiring the cheapness of the confiscated Mana Bombs, asked.

I pondered for a moment before approaching the Rulier Siblings. Just for reference, Gale had only recently regained consciousness and was trying to go wild again, but Yudiel held him back. Unlike her brother, the younger sister seemed to grasp the situation.

“Were you planning to take down the Purification Church with this sort of cheap explosive?”

Emily remarked.

“It’s rubbish; sloppy. It’s dangerous too. It’s a miracle it hasn’t exploded yet.”

In other words, these guys were committing terrorism with a ticking time bomb.

“Shut up!”

Gale, bound by magical ropes, shook his body violently, but Emily’s magic wouldn’t budge with just a little thrashing. Instead, Yudiel, who was also tied up, headbutted Gale.

“Brother! Stay still! The ropes are tightening, and it hurts!”

“Ugh.”

It resembled the typical bickering between siblings.

I couldn’t help but smile and sat down in front of them.

“I told you, you’re kidnapped by me.”

“Yeah? So, what are you going to do about it?”

Yudiel replied, looking at me with an indifferent expression.

No surprise there; she seemed to know very well that I had no intention of harming them.

Feeling somewhat satisfied, I opened my mouth.

“I plan to kick you out beyond the Ice Palace.”

“What?”

They frowned.

Beyond the Ice Palace, that is to say, the Erosion Zone.

It’s a place where survival is tough.

That’s a fact even a newborn living in this continent knows. Despair flickered across the faces of the bound Resistance Army members.

Yudiel grit her teeth and said, “Are you going to kill us?”

“Not at all. You’re simply too valuable to waste.”

I shrugged as I continued.

“I’m sending you to the Erosion Zone to keep you alive.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“What do you mean? You are secretly celebrating this, aren’t you?”

At my words, Yudiel’s expression stiffened.

Gale’s was similar.

“You two are guides, after all. So you’ll likely know safe places even in the Erosion Zone. What do you call those safe areas again?”

“…”

“Looks like I hit the mark.”

When passing through the Erosion Zone, advisor NPCs typically recommended safe paths.

Of course, they are not completely safe. The specific dot damage from the Erosion Zone still occurs, and the monsters continue to attack. However, by following the advisor’s routes, you can locate safe camps within the Erosion Zone.

If it’s the Rulier Siblings, they should be able to find a safe location in the Erosion Zone of the North.

“Cross the Erosion Zone and establish a new base in a safe area. I’ll provide the necessary supplies through the Knight Order.”

“But winter is coming.”

“Yeah. Before winter sets in, I plan to come find you.”

Regardless, any matter related to the Purification Church must be resolved before winter. When winter arrives, it’s not just us who will be in trouble; the Plague Lord Vermina will be in the same predicament, suffering from a lack of supplies, just the right timing to strike the Demon King’s Army.

And the headquarters created by these Resistance members inside the Erosion Zone will serve as a springboard for defeating the Demon King’s Army.

A plan that kills two birds with one stone—sounds good, right?

This plan has already been agreed upon with Cecilia. The statement regarding supplies coming from the Knight Order is undeniably true.

Perhaps it showed on my face, as Yudiel’s expression shifted to one of relief.

“So….”

“I’m proposing to cooperate with you. I have no intention of killing you; instead, I want to save you.”

“…”

It seemed Yudiel was narrowing her eyes, trying to gauge my intent.

“We need evidence we can trust you…”

But before Yudiel could finish her sentence, Gale interrupted.

“Enough, Yudiel.”

“Why? We’re gambling our lives here. We need to confirm this…”

“Our lives are already in their hands. No need to resist for no reason.”

It seemed that the older brother was equally quick at grasping the situation.

Gale raised his head and stared intently into my eyes.

“…Hmph.”

“What? Did you feel something by looking into my eyes?”

“You’re a filthy one, aren’t you?”

“…”

Emily nodded her head vigorously from the side, so I playfully smacked her.

As soon as Gale finished speaking, he let out a chortle.

“Still, I like it. I’ll follow that plan.”

“Following or not is irrelevant; there’s simply no other choice.”

Each of the Rulier Siblings chimed in, and I just nodded.

*

“Things are going smoothly.”

“Yep.”

On the way back towards the capital with Emily, I muttered while fiddling with the Holy Relic I had taken from them.

It’s going so smoothly that it’s even easier than I predicted. The fact that the leader of the Resistance Army is a guiding NPC from within the game is surprising enough, and the fact they cooperated is beyond belief.

Thanks to that, I had to put in less effort, and the tale wrapped up in a flash. What I thought would take a full two days, I ended up resolving and returning within a day.

The sun had already risen.

“Should we grab breakfast before we go? I’m hungry.”

Emily cheerfully gazed at the sun rising in the east.

But for some reason, I scratched my neck, feeling an inexplicable unease.

“Emily.”

“What?”

“Don’t you think everything has been resolved a bit too easily?”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s something I used to believe when I was in the mercenary group…”

In the Black Eagle Mercenary Group, there was a taboo phrase.

“Smooth sailing.”

“Damn it, Laila! I told you not to say that!”

“Why? Poppy, don’t you think so? It’s smooth sailing!”

[Keek!]

“Ugh.”

If the phrase “smooth sailing” is uttered, a new danger is always lurking around the corner. I’ve experienced that fact multiple times; I always believe in the power of flags.

Upon relaying this to Emily, her eyes squinted in an arc like a crescent moon.

“Hehe.”

“Why are you laughing?”

“I just have a really good feeling about it.”

“A good feeling?”

I frowned as I looked at Emily.

The girl with ash-colored hair was displaying an expectant expression, unable to contain herself for the events to come.

An unnecessary sense of anxiety washed over me.

“Emily… about that note you slipped into Ophelia’s room before leaving the Ice Palace. What did it say?”

“What note?”

“…Quickly, tell me.”

There was a reason for my urgency.

Right now, my Gears were reacting.

That meant the subject and object of the Gears were drawing closer.

“Um… ‘Elliot, I’ll borrow you for a moment? I’ll be staying out overnight?’”

“…Really, that’s all it said?”

“Is there anything more to write?”

“Damn it, there’s a ton!”

I clutched the Holy Sword in a panic.

And began to have doubts internally.

Was I about to draw the sword? For what purpose? To swing it at Ophelia?

But instincts don’t lie.

Swish.

I drew the sword, and at the same time, from the corner, emerged the girl with pure white hair, no, a warrior.

Leaning against the wall, she smirked as she watched us, her face unmistakably wolf-like.

“…You’re late?”

“…Uh, Ophelia?”

“Hey, how about breakfast? We need our stomachs filled before the chaos begins.”

“….”

Ophelia glared at me with a murderous gaze, clearly furious.

“It’s a misunderstanding, Ophelia.”

“Sure it is.”

Yet, despite my protests, Ophelia just nodded slightly, her expression devoid of emotion.

“Misunderstanding or not, the fact that you were out overnight with Emily without telling me is irrefutable.”

“…That’s, well.”

“You little bastard.”

The Branch of the World Tree began to glow with a golden light.

Of course, even at this moment, Emily was just chuckling and observing the situation.

Truly, there wasn’t a sane person in our party.