Chapter 15

The blinding sunlight stings my eyeballs.

Maria, the Saint of the Sun, her emitted light is pretty dazzling too—but nothing compared to the real deal.

After living 111 days in complete darkness, I felt a bit dizzy stepping out of prison. But with a saint on my back, I can’t just keel over.

“The air feels warmer…”

“Of course, we’re outside now.”

“Hahaha…”

“Don’t talk. Just hang in there a little longer. You don’t want to die as a saint riding a demon, do you?”

“I thought you’d find this situation amusing…”

“If you keep making jokes, I might just drop you and leave.”

With that gentle warning, the saint smiled faintly and buried her face in my spine like a baby seeking comfort.

I was worried she might pass away before even reaching the guillotine. That’s why I tightened my grip around her hips for extra stability.

Though she had her thin arms wrapped around my neck, there was no strength in them at all—likely to fall apart with a breeze.

I bent lower so she could lean more comfortably against my back. After all, she’s my classmate from Tartarus. The least I can do, right?

She’s precious cargo—a girl more valuable than anything else. Covered in dirt, but still the most precious woman in the world because no one has a purer heart than her.

She’s as light as a feather. Even though sweat pours down like rain, she’s still incredibly light. Not even cotton candy compares. No joke here.

She’s tiny—not short or frail boned, just lacking any meat on her bones. It makes my heart ache like getting shot with a shotgun.

I should’ve treated her better back in Tartarus. Given her my last sandwich instead of eating it in my sleep.

“Come here, prisoner number 379.”

Guard Captain Taeseuethes calls me over to a forest-bound convoy truck.

“Get in.”

“Got it.”

“You can sit in the back.”

The truck’s structure is closed on top and sides like a truck. Without a word, I climb in the backseat still holding the saint.

Except for Taeseuethes, the other guards try to follow us inside. But Taeseuethes stops them with his truncheon.

“You come up front.”

“What?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself.”

“But… according to protocol, we need twice the number of guards to escort prisoners in the back…”

Kelt trails off. Looks like Taeseuethes is about to break another rule again. That iron-willed guy.

“Do you not know the difference between an order and a request?”

With that, Taeseuethes marches to the front seat.

“…”

Grumbling, the guards squeeze into the cramped front seats.

When the back door closes, the saint and I are left alone in the small, dark space again. My eyes, which were sensitive to the light earlier, rejoice at the returning darkness.

“Captain.”

Then, through the wall separating the front and back of the convoy vehicle, murmurs of conversation drift over.

“Since earlier, why have you been bending rules to treat the saint so well?”

One of the guard’s questions.

Taeseuethes’ answer comes after a long pause.

“…Just repaying a favor.”

For such a long wait, it’s a frustratingly short response. But that gives me more room to imagine.

Taeseuethes is also from Eden Academy, like the saint and heroes. And he used to be bullied badly as a commoner there…

…obvious.

No doubt this overly kind girl treated poor bullied Taeseuethes nicely.

That’s just who the saint is. And it explains why even the misanthropic Taeseuethes recognizes her uniquely.

“Ugh…”

Anyway, she’s got a disgustingly broad heart. Even after ending up like this, she still couldn’t leave me, a demon, alone when I entered Tartarus.

Still, thinking back now, I want to commend her. I didn’t want to squish together with those gloomy bastards in this narrow backseat anyway.

Crinkle-crackle…

The backseat isn’t wide enough for two people to sit cross-legged. So I leaned against the locked door and sat slanted.

“Excuse me…”

With feeble words, the saint rested the back of her head on my chest, slipping her butt between my spread legs.

“Well, well, never thought I’d get to hold Her Holiness.”

“But you held me last night too…”

“That was you clinging onto me while I was tied up.”

“Hahaha…”

“Just rest here. I’ll wake you when we reach the square.”

“Is that alright…?”

“I slept well last night, so I’m not tired.”

“Hmm… Indeed, since you had such vigorous dreams…”

“What? What are you saying! You dirty minx!”

Reacting angrily, the saint bursts into giggles.

I wonder if she’ll be able to maintain that smile when facing the guillotine.

Clunk-clunk…

Our convoy truck shakes violently as it moves forward.

Worried the vibrations would wake her, I cradle her in my arms and tuck my legs beneath her so the shaking won’t reach her.

The saint remains quietly without resistance.

Around two hours into the journey…

“Are you cold?”

I felt vibrations from above rather than below. Her fragile body was trembling.

“A little… chilly…”

“Let me check.”

Placing my hand on her forehead, I feel scorching heat despite her being drenched in sweat. Wrinkles naturally form on my brow at the burning temperature.

“Tch, you’re the Saint of the Sun and yet you’re so frail.”

“It’s evidence that the Lord’s grace bestowed upon me is nearing its end…”

“Tch.”

I shift my arms to encircle her petite frame. While in Tartarus, I had her stomach pressed against my back, but now it’s reversed.

“How’s this? Better?”

“Thank you… Your kindness always…”

“Don’t mention debts or favors for something like this. It’s embarrassing.”

“Recognizing one’s own good deeds isn’t arrogance…”

“Who said it was arrogance? I’m just uncomfortable, okay?”

While exchanging curt words, the saint’s body continues to shiver uncontrollably, like someone with severe flu.

I press my chin against her crown and pull her closer with both arms. Please, stop shaking already.

It makes me anxious when you keep doing that.

I thought death was no big deal, but I don’t know why my mind is so restless now. My impending death doesn’t bother me, but imagining the saint’s neck being severed makes my chest tight and oppressive.

Tightening my grip…

As emotions intensify, my strength around the saint increases. Though it must hurt, she stays silent.

I hold her tightly with all my might, like magnetic poles resisting separation. Please, don’t leave me.

You foolish, naive woman.

So foolish that even when the world is filled with filth from the Demon King’s Army, you never lose hope.

So dense that you made even the Succubus Queen of the Demon Realm feel guilty.

So simple and pure that you tell the hero who betrayed you that everyone makes mistakes.

You reprimand the Demon King, embrace lowly demons and traitors with your life, and generously share your lifespan with insignificant beings until you have nothing left.

If only you had chosen a normal, selfish life like everyone else…

“There wouldn’t have been today’s situation, would there…”

The soft glow that used to flow from the saint’s silhouette is nowhere to be seen anymore.

Clunk-clunk…

Clunk-clunk…

Clunk-clunk…

…

***

Squeak-kaboom!

Finally, the convoy truck carrying the saint and me comes to a stop.

The rear door opens immediately, and the sunlight hanging high in the sky pours in on us.

I wake the saint by gently pressing her saggy cheeks.

“Saintess, we’ve arrived.”

“…”

“Let’s go. We have to die now.”

“U-unh…”

The saint slowly rises, brushing her messy hair away.

“Should I remove your bandages? You’ll soon be standing before everyone, and I don’t think you’d want to appear blindfolded.”

“Yes, thank you.”

“Your voice sounds prettier after sleeping.”

Carefully, I peel off the bandages that have been covering the saint’s head layer by layer.

Her eyes remain tightly shut.

“You don’t have eyeballs, right?”

“Yes.”

“Then don’t open your eyes. Just keep them closed. I’ll carry you.”

“Thank you.”

The saint’s smooth eyebrows flutter like they’re dancing in the wind. It’s probably been a long time since they’ve touched fresh air, I think.

“Prisoner 379 and 386, come out.”

“Joker, it’s time.”

Taeseuethes and Kelt’s voices ring in my ears. I nod silently and ask quietly.

“Sainthood, may I carry you?”

Taeseuethes briefly nods in response.

“As long as you don’t cause unnecessary trouble. All the big shots from across the continent are gathered at the square right now.”

“Are dragons and elves here too?”

“Not just them.”

After looking around outside the car, Taeseuethes continues.

“Fairy, angels, devils… and even gods are present.”

“Aren’t you guys on bad terms with the gods?”

“Apparently, they know that crossing me means death.”

“Hehe, quite the confidence there.”

Stepping out of the door, I bend my upper body as low as possible and speak to the saint.

“Alright, Sainthood, hop on.”

“Excuse me.”

The saint painfully raises her body and collapses onto my back like she’s falling. Lifting her onto my back once more, I support her hips with my hands and carefully step out with bent knees.

“!!!!!!!!”

The first thing I see is an overwhelmingly large crowd of nearly tens of thousands.

It’s not just one specific race either.

There are quite a few humans visible, but giants, elves, dwarves, and others are also densely packed.

On the spires, there are extremely rare species like angels with massive white wings on their backs and devils sitting with their black bat-like wings folded.

Even goblins and orcs, the lowest-level monsters, are gathered in countless numbers. It feels like some sort of grand unification event of the continent.

Are they all here for me or the saint?

I don’t know. Honestly, I don’t care.

“Follow the path straight ahead.”

Taeseuethes points toward a direction between the crowd with his finger.

There, soldiers of the Demon King’s Army are lined up on both sides, forming a long path.

At the end of the path lies a long staircase reaching towards the sky. A towering staircase.

At the very top of that staircase stands the guillotine that will sever the heads of the saint and me.

A guillotine that has turned countless emperors, kings, heroes, and villains into dew on the execution ground throughout history.

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