The Protagonists of the Novel Escaped

The Emperor’s suspicion was spot on.

As soon as the afternoon hit, the priests of the Holy Kingdom started to question the Saintess Party, led by Maximilian.

The Warmonger might be a Cultist.

Having gathered the intel, the Holy Kingdom went into full investigation mode.

Though his time on the battlefield was short, the Warmonger was an official member of the Saintess Party. This speculation that such a figure could be a Cultist of a false god enraged the priests who followed Beatrice.

“We’ve obtained information that the Saintess Party visited the Hohenberc Family from time to time. Was the Warmonger accompanying the Saintess then?”

“No, I have never seen the Warmonger.”

“Has the Hero mentioned the Warmonger?”

“My brother is quite the reticent person.”

He had no clue at all.

This was the first time I’d heard about it.

Shrugging off the priests’ continuous questions, I repeated the same answer.

I felt like a politician.

Staying as a thick-skinned enigma felt strange.

The priests, unable to extract any information from me, sighed heavily as they left. It seemed they reluctantly dropped their fixation after starting their interrogation like investigating a witness.

“Edanant, is your journey to find your self enjoyable?”

“Not at all.”

A girl with fluttering silver hair chuckled as she entered the reception room.

I shrugged as I replied.

“They’ll pester you again next time, but please cooperate as much as possible. It means the Holy Kingdom trusts Edanant. With each trust shown by the priests, the doubts towards Edanant will gradually fade away, right?”

“…Got it, I said got it.”

Would they even think of that?

The shocking truth that the Holy Sword user was actually a disciple of the Disaster God.

There’s a saying: “If you want to hide a tree, choose a forest.”

Nodding at Zebeline’s suggestion to cooperate with the priests to gain the trust of the Holy Kingdom.

Pfft! Ahaha!

“I’m the one involved, and it’s not funny at all. I’d rather this unnecessary commotion pass quickly.”

The lively laughter filled the reception room.

With a sigh at the sight of the Saintess smiling with her pearly-white teeth.

“I’m really glad your memory is returning.”

“…It hasn’t completely returned. Just bits and pieces popping back up.”

No action particularly triggered the return of my memory.

I’d thought for a long time that Zebeline could be the apprentice priest I met back then.

It must be the same person.

Though I still couldn’t shake off the bewilderment, I decided to believe that.

It was all thanks to Zebeline’s devoted efforts who tried to protect me more than anyone else.
If it were a relationship of strangers, would Zebeline have gone this far to help me? She deceived the Earth Mother and tricked the Holy Kingdom to assist me. That’s why I ended up breaking the wall of distrust and fully accepting Zebeline.

“By the way, you’ve changed a lot. Especially….”

I reached out my hand.

And I touched her beautiful hair, as white as snow.

“Isn’t my silver hair super pretty? I’ve been taking care of it diligently for you to compliment me next time we meet….”

“Your brown hair was pretty too.”

How did her luscious brown hair turn into dazzling silver?

The same could be said for her eyes.
The brown-hued eyes transformed into an icy-clear cerulean.

Could it be due to being chosen by the Holy Kingdom’s White Dragon?

Back in the day, Zebeline had a face riddled with scars. But now, she boasted a beauty that could hardly be marred by even tiny blemishes; akin to white jade.

It’s the first time I realized this.

The manifestation of the blessing completely changes the user’s appearance.

Perhaps it was only natural that I couldn’t accept Zebeline’s identity until now. She had changed so drastically that it was almost a reverse transformation.

“Why? Did I make you lose your mind because I’m too pretty?”

Zebeline tilted her head and burst into giggles.

She must have waited long for this moment of revelation to be unveiled.

I realized too late.

It was just a misunderstanding.
Could the apprentice priest and the Saintess really be the same person?
I couldn’t help but resent myself for doubting Zebeline’s kindness.

“I told you, you were pretty back then too.”

“Ugh!”

“But you haven’t grown at all. Did the Holy Kingdom not feed you?”

“I-I did grow! About 2 inches…!”

2 inches, huh.

So that means in three years, she only grew 5cm at best.

Sadly, it seems the blessing from the White Dragon only focused on enhancing her beauty.

“…You really haven’t grown at all.”

“Wh-What are you talking about?!”

I casually glanced at her slightly plump body.

At that, Zebeline quickly covered her chest with both hands, flushing red. Surprised by the blatant harassment, she turned beet red and squawked.
“How dare you sexually harass the First Saintess of the Holy Kingdom…! It’s a grave sin worthy of being burned at the stake!”

“I was just speaking the truth. You’re as known for being closed-minded and strict as the Holy Kingdom.”

“Cruaak! You’re really quite the mischievous one!”

“Just a joke, a joke.”

The passage of time is truly wondrous.

Who would have predicted that the apprentice priest I met back then would become the First Saintess of the Holy Kingdom?

Not even the gods could have foreseen it.
Life is always more dramatic than anything else.

Like a continuous flow of curves with no limits.

“Somehow, you recognized me. How did you figure it out? Your obsession is terrifying…”

“There are ways to recognize, you know. Don’t underestimate a woman’s instinct.”

I was certain I had concealed my identity thoroughly.

To prove that, all the countries on the continent, including the Holy Kingdom, still hadn’t figured out the identity of the Warmonger.

How,

How did she figure it out?

I stared at Zebeline with a puzzled look.
But the silver-haired Saintess maintained a coy expression and didn’t answer my question.

“Anyway, now that we’ve reunited, it’s all good.”

“Thanks to some dimwit, we were delayed a lot. It’s just like before…!”

Feeling awkward at Zebeline’s mumbling, which held a hint of resentment, I turned my head away.

I had no rebuttal.
I displayed an utterly foolish display of contemplation in front of the involved party.

Bending forward, I apologized to Zebeline. She grinned mischievously and quickly struck a triumphant pose.

—

A ceiling on the verge of collapse.

Walls filled with messy vines like a spider’s web.

A man with black hair appeared in the hunting lodge owned by the Hohenberc Family.

Creak.
He placed his hand on a rusty chest.

As he opened the chest, worn-down armor was revealed.

It was so old that it couldn’t even be considered junk. Yet, it appeared to gleam slightly, as if it had been carefully maintained before being put away.

“Edan must have already left for the Imperial City.”
“…Father.”

“Before he left, Edan said that his icy and stoic son would eventually show his face.”

“…….”

As I was pondering deep remorse,

A middle-aged man walked in with a creaking sound.
“You’ve gone completely bald now.”

The gleam reflected from his smooth head was even more dazzling than the shine of the meticulously handled armor. Staring at my father who had been beaten raw by the storms of time, I spoke in a solemn voice.

He must have gone through a rough time.

It surely must have been.
Wasn’t I the root cause that scattered the seeds of disaster within the peaceful Hohenberc Family?
“…I’m sorry, Father.”

“You should apologize to Edan. He took it upon himself to resolve everything.”

“…….”

“I know. You left because you trusted Edan. But it was too hasty a decision. At least you could have given a minimal explanation.”

The Hero of All Times, Maximilian, is the perfect superhuman recognized by all the kings of the continent.
But alas, his personality isn’t quite on par.

He’s rough and reckless.

His self-centered nature has always caused friction.

If Beatrice hadn’t acted as the center point, the Saintess Party would have never reached a midpoint and would have disbanded due to Maximilian’s self-centered nature.

“Rue is healthy. She’s just as cheerful as Saintess Beatrice.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Regret is merely a weakness.
Hesitation on the battlefield always leads to death.
That’s why I never hold onto regrets.
The reason I left the Hohenberc Family without a word was to shake off that regret. So I forcefully suppressed my emotions and cut ties with my blood.

But the only regret I could never shake off, even as a cold-hearted person, was Rue.
My travel partner and the mascot of the Saintess Party, Luinong.
Maximilian smiled softly, remembering Rue’s gentle yet spirited demeanor, who could endure the strongest winds like a dandelion.
“Worry not about the Saintess who has gone far away. Do your best to support her. You are not just the family heir… You’re a warrior supporting the Saintess.”

“Yes… I will protect her with my life.”

No criticism,
No reproach came my way.
Only sincere paternal love, filled with concern, remained.
As my father’s rugged hand patted my shoulder, my stoic expression wavered endlessly.

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