Taming the Evil Saintess

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Riding on Blackie’s back, I soared into the sky, using a telescope to examine the surrounding terrain and our destination. At a glance, this plan seemed quite splendid.

However, there was one crucial detail I had overlooked.

“Ophelia, if you throw up on me, I swear I’ll toss you off. If you’re going to puke, just do it already!”

“Damn it! Shut up! I’m already dying here!”

Ophelia had a tendency to get motion sickness no matter what vehicle she boarded, and being on Blackie’s back was no exception.

From the moment we ascended, Ophelia had been curled up in my arms, unable to even manage her own body, let alone handle a telescope.

I felt a bit anxious, wondering when she would throw up. I wasn’t sure if there was anything in her stomach to come out, but stomach acid is still unpleasant, nonetheless.

Despite this, it seemed Blackie was eager for this rare flight, flapping his wings with gusto.

“Ugh.”

Each flap seemed to churn Ophelia’s insides.

Is this what it’s like when a child turns their parent’s stomach?

No, that’s not quite the right meaning.

“Ophelia, get a grip and hold that telescope.”

With one hand wrapped around her waist and my legs gripping tightly around Blackie’s body, I earnestly patted her shoulder.

Ophelia, despite gagging, obediently raised the telescope and surveyed the surroundings.

Then.

“Wow…”

Ophelia was so captivated by the scenery that she forgot her nausea.

The view of the Erosion Zone couldn’t be called beautiful, but from this altitude, it had its own charm.

“It is quite a sight.”

Living in this world, I had few opportunities to see high places. Unlike Earth, where tall buildings were everywhere, the highest spots I had been were the Cathedral’s sky garden or when watching the Fireworks Festival from the Empire’s spire.

This time, assisted by Blackie, I had climbed to a much greater height.

Even though the Erosion Zone around us was barren, the northern landscape was truly magnificent.

“Ophelia, that direction is north.”

“Got it.”

Ophelia clung tightly to my back, as if afraid of falling, and lifted the telescope to look around.

This artifact stolen from the Ice Palace was quite impressive, worthy of being stored in a treasure vault. It could detect not just magical powers but also trace the footprints of people or the magic emanating from monster habitats, capturing even the tiniest details.

After some time had passed, Ophelia pointed at a spot in the air with an extremely pale face.

“Over there.”

“Over there?”

“There’s grass growing beyond that dead forest.”

“…a safe zone.”

Not all land in the Erosion Zone was dead.

For reasons unknown, or perhaps due to game allowances, there was a patch where plants could grow and the land was cultivable.

“Do you see any people?”

“I can’t tell. I can’t see anyone for now, but…”

There was enough reason to choose that as our next stop.

I nodded and patted her back.

“Good job. Let’s start descending.”

There wasn’t a designated signal, but I performed a leg shake to give Blackie the cue.

As expected of a dragon, he was quick on the uptake. Blackie’s body shook once and then headed straight for the ground.

Lastly, Ophelia took one last look at the beautiful scenery, a shy smile appearing on her face, contrasting her pale complexion and making her look quite cute.

“Elliot.”

“Yes?”

“It’s so pretty.”

“….”

I didn’t know Ophelia could say such things.

I merely shrugged, and Ophelia…

“Elliot.”

“Yes?”

“I’m going to be sick.”

“Seriously, you’re going to die.”

*

Preparing for winter was hard work.

Just because it was a safe zone didn’t mean it wouldn’t be targeted by the northern winter.

The Rulier Siblings were originally from the region that was now the Erosion Zone. They were confident that nobody in the continent knew this area’s geography and climate better than they did.

“Cover it with waterproof tarps. And set up some pillars. It’ll collapse if it snows.”

The Resistance Army moved in unison at Gale’s commands.

Yudiel, watching the scene unfold, chuckled.

“This is really a success.”

“Right?”

Setting up a forward base in the Erosion Zone was not a strategy that just any sane person would come up with.

However, the hero had promised full support to the Rulier Siblings, and now they had to wait for that promise to be fulfilled.

“Winter is approaching.”

“Yeah.”

Supplies were plentiful, but the northern winter was an entirely different level of horrific cold.

It wasn’t for nothing that ancient people feared winter and depicted it with demons of blue bodies.

In winter, even the seas freeze over, and a hellscape opens where no food can be found.

The hero had said he would arrive before winter, and just a few days ago, they had received news through a messenger.

“The Purification Church has fallen, huh… I wonder if this was the hero’s doing?”

“Reasonably speaking, it probably is.”

“How amazing. How could such a huge church fall apart overnight? Even when we detonated bombs, it didn’t budge.”

“That’s the hero’s power, I suppose. You saw it; it’s strong.”

“…Yeah.”

The Purification Church had fallen.

When I first heard the news, it didn’t feel real at all.

It also meant there was no one chasing after the Resistance Army.

Before winter came, they could return to the Ice Palace. They had even stockpiled supplies to return in case of an unforeseen incident.

Yet, they chose to stay here to keep their promise.

“I’m going to take a nap. After all, we can’t light a fire in winter, can we?”

“Humph.”

“You should rest too, brother. You’ve been pulling all-nighters for days. You’ll wear yourself out.”

Yudiel casually yawned and turned away, while Gale raised his hand to assign more work.

However, Yudiel’s steps toward the tent halted.

“…Hey, brother?”

“What is it? Didn’t you say you were going to sleep?”

“Is there… a dragon living in the Erosion Zone?”

“Why would you ask something so obvious? There’s nothing here….”

Gale, feeling something was off, turned his head, and he was equally shocked.

A black dragon with purple eyes was soaring straight toward their tent, its massive wings unfurled.

“…Is it the Demon King’s Army?”

“No way. No matter how much of a Demon King it is, taming a dragon is impossible!”

Moreover, that was a Black Dragon.

An extraordinary mythical beast praised as a divine entity and a legendary creature since ancient times.

“Everyone, grab your weapons…!”

Gale hurriedly raised a torch and called for the Resistance Army, but as the dragon drew closer, a figure on its back became visible.

A woman grasping a pair of enormous horns on its back.

Her dress was not white fur but her hair, which shone brighter than the snow. Her green eyes sparkled like precious jade. Last but not least, a long branch over her shoulder emitted a dazzling light that was blinding.

“…The Saintess.”

There’s no way we wouldn’t recognize her.

The Rulier Siblings were well-acquainted with the news of the continent. Thus, they knew just how great a figure she was.

Ophelia Meredein. The continent’s Saintess. The messenger of God. She was gracefully flying toward the Rulier Siblings on the back of the Black Dragon.

Her appearance was so divine that Gale couldn’t help but recall passages about celestial messengers descending from the heavens on beastly backs to impart wisdom to humanity.

“…A Dragon Knight.”

Someone murmured.

In the divine age, humans were much closer to gods and were greater than they are now. They succeeded in taming dragons and fought alongside them against the Demon King’s forces.

That’s why they were called Dragon Knights.

“….”

Everyone instinctively shrunk back.

The Resistance Army was no different.

They all dropped their weapons and stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the miracle before them.

Boom!

The dragon finally landed in the center of the tent, stretching its long neck.

It was surprising enough that the proud Black Dragon bowed its head, but the Saintess Ophelia gracefully descended as if descending steps.

Her stride seemed precarious, yet it held a certain grace.

What was even more astonishing was that the moment her feet touched the Erosion Zone, the ground bloomed with vibrant green, as if life itself was spreading across it.

Some members of the Resistance Army even knelt, witnessing the miracle.

“D-Did the hero send you?”

That was all Gale could think to say.

“….”

Ophelia Meredein’s complexion was as pale as her face.

No, rather than pale, it was ghostly white.

“…Over there.”

Yudiel cautiously spoke up, but Ophelia shook her head.

As she opened her mouth, she spoke.

“…Get away.”

“Eh?”

Get away? What for?

As Gale pondered this, an unpleasant surprise awaited him.

“Ugh.”

…And vomit came rushing in.