Taming the Evil Saintess

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“Cecilia, what a beautiful day it is!”

“Indeed.”

At the top floor of the Ice Palace lies the Tsar’s office.

There, the current Tsar Ryudmila of the Ice Palace was sipping a cup of black tea, taking in the beautifully embroidered northern landscape.

“I’ve lived for decades now, but I still love this view.”

“So do I.”

“It must be the unique atmosphere of the north.”

With a small chuckle, Ryudmila set down her teacup.

Then, with a fiery gaze, she stared at the gray land at the edge of her view.

“However, the blemish on that beautiful scenery is the greatest regret of my reign.”

“…You’re referring to the Erosion Zone?”

“Right. It’s the failure of my predecessor, and now, the burden I must bear.”

The great betrayal that occurred in the Ice Palace. As a result, the Ice Palace had surrendered over thirty percent of its territory to the Demon King’s Army.

In the Empire, it seemed they were simply grateful that the damage wasn’t worse, but the Ice Palace had lost the right to live in safety since that incident.

“If I could kill that wretched Plague Lord Vermina, I would sell my very soul.”

“…”

“Even if it means creating innocent victims for the Purification Church.”

This was the background behind Ryudmila’s tolerance of the Purification Church.

However, those thoughts had begun to waver recently.

“Is the Hero still out on that ‘hunt’ of his?”

“Indeed.”

“How many has he caught?”

“Already the seventh one.”

“All of them possessed?”

“It seems the Hero claims so, but…”

Cecilia forced a bitter smile.

Hero Elliot had started hunting possessors, capturing one each day for the past week.

The public trembled in fear, expecting the Hero, backed by the Ice Palace and the Purification Church, to perpetrate a horrific witch hunt.

Yet, the people he was actually hunting were all criminals. Violent offenders who had killed or raped. Notorious criminals that the Ice Palace’s law enforcement found too hard to apprehend began to be captured one by one.

“So he’s calling them possessors, is he?”

“Correct.”

“What’s the intention behind that?”

“To meet the head of the Purification Church, it seems.”

“…”

Ryudmila sighed.

There was nothing more to say regarding this childish game.

However, crime rates in the Ice Palace had surprisingly plummeted over the past week.

Even if the individuals being captured or killed by the Hero were not possessors, they were still abominable humans, leading the public to express fervent support for the Hero.

In other words, the Hero’s hunt for possessors was contributing to civil stability more effectively than the Purification Church.

“Isn’t it amusing? That a single person’s vigilante work is more effective than the Church that has turned a blind eye to so many rights.”

“It’s the Hero, after all. And he’s not alone.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Saintess is accompanying the Hero.”

“…Oh?”

The continent’s Saintess.

Ophelia Meredein.

Although the mainstream faith in the north had weakened somewhat, the title of Saintess still stirred emotions of reverence beyond measure among the populace.

With the renowned emissaries of the God—Hero and Saintess alike—vowing to annihilate evil, even the Emperor could not stand in their way.

“Has the Hero…”

Ryudmila, somewhat impressed, began to speak.

“Did he foresee all of this?”

“Seems like he did.”

Cecilia nodded.

Yet, perhaps feeling frustrated, she added a remark.

“After all, he is quite cunning.”

“Haha. Yes, that does seem to be the case.”

Nodding, Ryudmila gazed at the cross of the main cathedral visible in the distance.

“I was too greedy, too.”

This wasn’t something she said to Cecilia.

*

“Did you capture… all of these?”

Ian looked somewhat surprised as he checked the list of criminals I had brought.

Of course, though I referred to it as a list of criminals, it wasn’t barbaric in the sense of stringing up the heads of wrongdoers.

It was a list of criminals issued by Cecilia, with the Tsar’s seal attached.

“All of them are possessors.”

“…”

“Probably.”

As I handed him the list, even Ian couldn’t hide his expression.

More than that, his reluctance to speak up was likely due to the presence of Ophelia, who was glued to my side, her nose held high like a proud hound.

“I didn’t just catch that one. I brought some in too.”

“That… makes sense.”

In truth, Ophelia was right.

I had originally planned to take Emily with me. Although she had caused a major incident previously, she was the best talent in our party when it came to tracking someone.

However, Ophelia opposed vehemently.

“That Emily is under house arrest.”

“House… arrest?”

“Only a week left.”

In the end, respecting Ophelia’s wishes, I had planned to operate alone.

“I’m taking her with us.”

“Who?”

“Can’t you see the beautiful big sister right in front of you?”

“Just a headache for me, I see.”

“Damn girl.”

After some altercation, Ophelia ended up accompanying me.

And she had a significant talent for tracking people.

“There it is.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Those who’ve killed tend to want to live lavishly, surprisingly.”

“…How do you know that, Ophelia?”

“Because I think about wanting to kill someone dozens of times a day.”

“…”

Her gaze was terrifying.

Anyway.

With the criminal instincts honed during her unfortunate childhood in the Cathedral and the Holy Magic taught by Yurede, she was a tracker that could put even Emily to shame.

Regardless, thanks to her help, we successfully detained twenty notorious criminals who had given up hope of capture in the Ice Palace.

Very few dangerous situations arose.

No matter how dangerous a criminal was, they had no chance of resisting against a knight wielding sword energy.

“Hmm.”

Ian, unaware of the intricacies, seemed troubled by this swift achievement.

Ian merely frowned, but the apprentice priest behind him was quite earnest in voicing his opinion.

“Ian Priest, this seems strange, no matter how I think about it. To recognize such a public service and meet with the head….”

“Shut up and be quiet.”

“What did you just say?”

The apprentice priest glared as Ophelia raised her hand in protest.

“What does a lowly priest know of right and wrong? Want to feel my wrath?”

“…”

“Enough, Ulrich Priest.”

At Ian’s words, Ulrich’s expression twisted, and he slowly took a seat.

Ian folded the list, returned it to me, then gestured with his hand.

“Shall we go?”

“…Will I be able to meet the head?”

“No matter what, these criminals have been a headache for our Purification Church. Besides, Elliot is a Hero. He has the authority to meet with the head.”

“Ian Priest!”

“It’s decided. I understand Ulrich’s feelings, but for now, please follow my wishes.”

“…Yes.”

I appreciated the quick development. With a smile, I rose to my feet, and Ophelia followed, but…

“I’m sorry, but the Saintess will be escorted to a separate reception room.”

“…Why me?”

“Meetings should be one-on-one. This applies to even the continent’s Saintess.”

“….”

Ophelia looked ready to unleash a string of curses, so I hurriedly intervened.

“Ophelia, it’s alright. I’ll be finished quickly and come back.”

“…Okay.”

I lightly patted the waist of Ophelia, who reluctantly nodded.

“Instead, can I borrow this?”

What I pointed to was none other than the Branch of the World Tree.

With a face full of skepticism, Ophelia stared at me, but as I slightly nodded, she pulled the branch from her waist.

And that decision proved to be correct.

“All weapons must be handed over.”

“Yes.”

I had to return all my sharp objects.

*

Thus, the leader of the Purification Church, successfully ensured to meet face-to-face…

“…”

“Are you the Hero?”

Just as I expected.

His attire was completely different from that of the priests of the Purification Church.

Military uniform, or perhaps what could be called a people’s uniform. An attire covered in a multitude of medals.

Not to mention, what about that mustachioed face covered in wrinkles?

The very hat he wore had a red star on it.

“…”

The sense of discomfort I felt while working with the Purification Church lingered in my mind.

And now every action of the leader stood as a warning bell in my head.

“Hero?”

I did not answer his question but instead blurted out.

“Red Army? Soviet Union?”

“…”

“Stalin.”

“W-what?”

“Hmph.”

The visible panic on his face.

With certainty, I smirked and placed my hand inside my robe.

I intended to cause chaos anyway, so this development played right into my hands.

“You bastard, you were a possessor, weren’t you?”

“Ugh!”

As he rushed to ring the bell beside him, I strode over and pulled out the Branch of the World Tree from my robe.

If I was facing someone from the same region, I could draw my sword without a second thought.

“Did you enjoy your life as a revolutionary from another world?”

At the very least, this bastard wasn’t an enlightened one.