Chapter 52
I’m screwed.
“Hero~?”
“…Uh…”
“Why are you coming in now~? I thought you were just having a light drink~♡”
“…Uh, yeah.”
The Saint glanced at the clock. The hour hand pointed to 2, the minute hand to 9. It was 2:45. The problem was that the moon and stars were twinkling brightly in the night sky.
Yeah, I was drinking heavily with Elfride until dawn and then came back. I headed to the quarters assigned to me and the other heroes and their party inside the royal palace.
I thought everyone would be asleep, so I came in quietly. And when I quietly opened the door to the room where the Saint and Selin were staying, both the Saint and Selin were awake, waiting for me.
The Saint greeted me with a creepy expression, her eyes smiling but her mouth not.
The Saint’s gaze turned toward my back.
“You brought something strange with you~♡”
“It’s not strange…”
On my back was Elfride, fast asleep. As for how this happened…
What’s there to explain? She just passed out first.
No, she suddenly collapsed while we were drinking. I was so shocked when she just fell over.
“I didn’t know where Elfride’s quarters were…”
“…Sigh. You should’ve sent her back after a reasonable amount of drinking. Why did you drink until she passed out?”
“Don’t be too hard on her. It’s probably been a while since Elfride drank with someone like this.”
While drinking, she told me she hadn’t had any friends until now. So I stayed with her for a bit.
Hearing my words, the Saint looked at me with cold eyes.
“…Are you in any position to worry about someone else right now?”
“…Yes, I’m sorry.”
…Damn, she’s terrifying.
“…I told you to drink moderately and come back.”
Selin, please don’t add your comments. It’s too accurate, it hurts…
The Saint pointed at Elfride on my back and asked.
“But why did you bring that woman to our room?”
Calling her “that woman” in front of the hero… If I make a fuss about this now, I won’t even get my principal back, so let’s just move on.
“Ah, I couldn’t find a servant to ask for her room location. I can’t just take her to my room, right?”
“…That’s true.”
Luckily, the room provided by the Vesta Kingdom was spacious enough for Elfride to sleep comfortably.
“So, I’ll leave her to you.”
“…But is it okay to lay Elfride on the floor?”
That was Selin’s question.
Now that I think about it, the room is big, but there are only two beds. The beds are wide enough to sleep comfortably, but the Saint or Selin might not like suddenly sharing a bed with someone else.
What should I do?
“…Sigh, I guess there’s no other way.”
The Saint smiled slyly and said.
“I’ll sleep with the hero♡”
…What?
“…Huh?”
“Why? We’ve slept together before, haven’t we?”
No, that was then. Right now, I’m too drunk to think straight. How can I sleep with her!?
Absolutely not. If I have a woman like her next to me, I might really do something I’ll regret.
As I shook my head vigorously, the Saint approached me with a teasing smile.
“I’m fine with it~♡ Are you having a hard time holding back~?”
“…What am I holding back!?”
“What are you holding back?”
The Saint whispered quietly, just loud enough for me to hear.
“The perverted hero’s lust, of course♡”
“…Cough!”
You, you crazy woman! You’re definitely not a saint.
Damn, where in the world is there a saint like this…
“Pfft♡”
Suddenly, the Saint laughed. She looked at me with a cheeky smile.
“It’s a joke, hero♡ Why are you getting so worked up~?”
“W-what am I getting worked up about!?”
“You’re so tense right now~♡ Were you imagining something in your head~?”
“…Damn.”
“Hero, you shouldn’t use bad words♡”
…Damn woman.
“Let’s put Elfride on this bed, and I’ll sleep with Selin. That should work, right?”
“…Yes, please.”
After laying Elfride down on the bed, I stepped outside and took a deep breath.
“Huuu.”
…Maybe it’s the alcohol, but I almost lost my mind.
“…Let’s go to my room.”
As I was about to walk away, the door creaked open behind me.
“Hero~♡”
The Saint peeked her head out and called me.
“…What?”
“Don’t dream about me~♡”
What kind of nonsense… No, damn woman!
“I won’t!!”
“Pfft♡”
With a light laugh, the door closed with a thud.
…Is she really not crazy!?
#
“Ugh…”
Elfride opened her eyes groggily. A somewhat familiar ceiling came into view. As soon as she saw the ceiling, she realized she was in the quarters provided by the Vesta Kingdom.
“…Thankfully, I made it back safely.”
“Not really?”
A strange voice from beside her made Elfride jump up in surprise. At that moment, a voice echoed in her head.
[Hey, hey! Why are you waking up now? You’re in big trouble! That woman is next to you!]
It was the voice of Luna, the trusted Holy Sword. Before Elfride could question Luna’s words, she couldn’t help but be shocked by the woman in front of her.
In front of her was Estelle, the Saint of the Solaria Church and the Saint who traveled with Abel.
“You’re finally awake. How much did you drink yesterday?”
“…Uh, why am I here?”
“The hero brought you here last night. As a senior, you should take care of your junior. What would’ve happened if you passed out first and had to be carried back?”
“Ah…”
Elfride bowed her head in shame. She never expected Abel to carry her back. The faint memory she had while half-asleep wasn’t a dream but reality.
“…I’m ashamed.”
“You said you were just having a light drink, but it seems you drank a lot.”
Elfride felt deeply embarrassed by the Saint’s sharp tone. It was Elfride herself who had suggested having a light drink to celebrate and encourage.
“…I’m sorry.”
“…Well, it’s fine. The hero seemed to have enjoyed himself. Nothing strange happened yesterday.”
As Estelle said that, Elfride nodded.
“We just talked.”
“Talked…”
Estelle glanced at Elfride and asked.
“Did you talk about me?”
“…Huh?”
“Did the hero talk about me?”
“…No. We didn’t talk about Saint Estelle. Why do you ask?”
Hearing Elfride’s answer, Estelle’s cheeks puffed up slightly before returning to normal.
“Is that so…”
“Why do you ask?”
“Nothing.”
Elfride was puzzled but decided to let it go.
Thinking it would be even ruder to ask questions in a situation where I was causing trouble.
“Ah, Saintess.”
“Yes?”
“I have something I’d like to say to you personally.”
“…Yes?”
Estelle seemed a bit flustered. Elfride reassured her, saying it wasn’t anything strange and told her to relax.
“I just wanted to give you a personal greeting.”
“…What kind of greeting?”
“After talking yesterday, I realized something. Abel truly has the mindset of a great hero.”
Elfride looked at Estelle with a hint of gratitude in her eyes.
“The fact that Abel could become like that was surely due in part to your role, Saintess. You guided him on the right path, and that’s why he could become who he is. As the longest-serving hero among the current ones, I’d like to express my gratitude for that.”
As Elfride bowed her head, Estelle was a bit taken aback. She had always seen Elfride as nothing more than a thieving cat trying to steal Abel away.
But Elfride’s serious demeanor and words made Estelle respond in a slightly more earnest tone.
“…The mindset of a hero comes from their innate nature. I didn’t do anything special. I just guided him on the most solid and reliable path to strength. That’s all I did.”
Hearing Estelle’s words, Elfride smiled faintly.
“…You’re more humble than I expected.”
“…Huh? What do you mean, ‘expected’?”
Elfride smirked.
“I thought you were just full of jealousy.”
At Elfride’s teasing tone, Estelle furrowed her brows slightly.
“…Hero Elfride, are you trying to pick a fight with me?”
“It was just a light joke. Me, fighting with the Saintess?”
Elfride looked at her with a slightly more serious expression.
“How could a mere human like me dare to do such a thing to someone chosen by the Sun?”
“What…?”
Estelle was flustered, making a face she had never shown before. Seeing her like that, Elfride chuckled lightly.
“Haha, did you really think I wouldn’t know?”
After parting ways with Abel, Elfride had tried hard to recall the memories from Habsburg. There were many things that bothered her. And someone had given her the answer.
It was Luna, the spirit of the Holy Sword of Trust.
Unlike Elfride, whose memories were hazy due to the aftermath of the fall, Luna, being a holy sword, had no reason to lose her memories. She remembered everything clearly and had said this:
“That monster? The one with the new hero and the Saintess. She killed it. Judging by the power she used, that woman… she’s probably the real Saintess chosen by the goddess, right?”
Elfride had asked Luna why she hadn’t said anything sooner, and Luna had replied:
“Huh? She seemed like she wanted to keep it a secret. For some reason, she pushed the credit onto you and acted like she didn’t know anything. She even asked Cynthia to keep it a secret. So I didn’t say anything, but since you were curious, I’m telling you now. Honestly, she scares me too. She just waved her hand and took down a Balvatos-level monster? Oh, and don’t tell her I told you. I don’t want to get shattered…”
Luna had rambled on after that, but Elfride had already forgotten most of it because it was too long.
Anyway, that’s how Elfride found out that Estelle was the “real Saintess.” But she didn’t know why Estelle was hiding it.
Still, that didn’t matter. Even if she didn’t know the reason, the fact that she had uncovered something Estelle wanted to keep hidden was enough.
Bringing it up, Estelle was, as expected, extremely flustered. It was a good thing Selin had stepped out for a moment.
Seeing Estelle looking like she’d been hit with a bombshell, Elfride slightly raised the corner of her mouth. Then she extended her hand to Estelle.
“So, let’s get along from now on, Saintess. I don’t want to be disliked by Abel because of a bad relationship with you.”
“…I still don’t like you, Hero Elfride.”
“I quite like you, though.”
“…I really don’t like you.”
Even as she said that, Estelle took Elfride’s hand, and Elfride laughed happily.
“Abel seems to be staying in another room. I’d like to apologize to him for yesterday’s disgrace. Could you tell me where his room is?”
“…I was planning to go see him once Selin returns.”
“Then I should get ready too.”
Estelle was puzzled by Elfride’s words but quickly snapped out of it.
“Wait, you’re going to get ready here?”
“I’d like to go back to my room to prepare, but if you’re going to guide me to Abel’s room, I’ll have to get ready here, won’t I? I doubt you’d wait for me to come back.”
She was quick-witted. Annoyingly so. Estelle clicked her tongue and turned her head.
“…Tch.”
“There should be some spare clothes prepared by the palace. I’ll borrow them for a moment.”
“They’re in the wardrobe. Help yourself.”
Estelle answered in a dismissive tone. Elfride bowed her head slightly in thanks.
“May I wash up first?”
“…Sure. Selin and I have already washed.”
“I see. You’re quite diligent.”
Elfride began removing her armor. With each piece that fell to the ground with a thud, her feminine figure became more and more apparent.
‘…Is she really a hero? Her body is too vulgar!’
Estelle, who herself often made vulgar remarks, bit her lip as she looked at Elfride’s ample chest.
‘That woman really shouldn’t be near the hero. She’s too dangerous. Those cow-like breasts will steal all of the hero’s attention.’
With a chest larger than Estelle’s and a well-balanced, toned body befitting a hero, Elfride’s figure was more than enough to enchant any man.
Estelle was confident in her own body, but compared to Elfride, who was tall and had an impeccable figure, she couldn’t measure up. She was acutely aware of that.
“…Saintess Estelle?”
“…Yes?”
“If you stare at me like that, even as a fellow woman, it’s a bit embarrassing…”
At Elfride’s words, Estelle made a strange sound and quickly turned her head. She had been staring too much. Realizing this, Estelle apologized.
“…Uh, sorry.”
“…It’s fine.”
Elfride headed to the bathroom, and Estelle, left alone in the room, let out a deep sigh. She hadn’t expected that incident to come up. She thought she had covered it up well, but she hadn’t accounted for the holy sword.
“Sigh…”
From now on, she’d have to be more careful. That’s what Estelle resolved to herself.
