The Hero Party Couldn’t Kill Me

Chapter 9: The Two Saints (3)

Late afternoon. It was when he was returning to his hiding place after visiting the market.

As usual, walking around the city collecting information was quite profitable.

“I never thought one of the devices I was going to install on the tower would be a lightning rod….”

Of course, this place is not as fast as the development of science compared to magic, so it is not the lightning rod we saw on Earth, but a device that works with magic. Anyway, there was a similarity in blocking lightning.

However, it is still too early to conclude the substance of the prophecy. There is no guarantee that lightning rods will be installed just because of the prophecy.

Above all, the lightning rod is just one of many devices installed to prevent the Great War from collapsing.

“… As expected, public opinion on Etoileism is worse than I thought. In particular, there are many people who curse at today’s eccentricity.”

If it’s the other income, it’s not calming people’s dissatisfaction in the Etoile Church. And Iris’ criticism of the saintess certainly played a part in tarnishing the image of Etoile.

Particularly, she was greatly criticized for acquiescing to the murder of her kin even after knowing about it, and in addition to this, the Etwar Church gave her an indulgence, so they explained that they did not see her as her criminal.

Well, it seems that they said that because it was difficult for them to admit that the indulgences were fraudulent now, but they did not sympathize with people.

In many ways, public sentiment was no longer on the side of the Etoiles. But the problem is, even so, they carried the goddess on their back.

… At least they claim so. So people are just swallowing their anger.

Not yet.

When I reached the alley where the hideout was, I glanced behind me.

There was a man following us from the market. And I confirmed that she was a woman.

“Rafaela, what do you think?”

“You don’t look used to being followed. It’s a big physique, so it’s hard to hide.”

“Doesn’t it seem like the saintess sent it?”

“I don’t think I would have hired someone like that. Of course… I’m not sure.”

After a brief conversation with Rafaela, I turned around and ran towards the pursuer. She was frightened and then took something out of the basket she was holding and tried to enter the defensive tesse.

But she didn’t have anything that could be called a weapon in her basket. Reluctantly, she put her basket down and got her stance.

Unlike her clumsy tailing skills, her posture was correct. Even though he was immediately overpowered by me.

In the meantime, Rafaela cast a soundproofing spell around us so that people around us couldn’t overhear our words.

“Kuu! Now, hold on!”

“Lower your voice. You’ve been tailing us since a while ago, what’s your intention?”

I deliberately lowered my voice and asked.

“Okay, I was wrong. It’s just that he’s strangely familiar, so I followed him without even realizing it.”

“Were we old friends?”

“…No. Technically, I saw it once in my dream. Oh, so…….”

The woman stuttered for a moment, not knowing what to say. Then, looking up at me, she said.

“Edmund. Is that right?”

I was stunned for a moment. Until now, no one had ever recognized my true identity when I wore a mask.

Realizing the lack of explanation, the woman hastily added.

“Ah, don’t worry too much. I have nothing to do with the Etoile Bridge. Ah, to be precise, I used to be a paladin, but I got kicked out.”

“… What is your name?”

“This is Joan.”

“Okay, Joan. Let’s talk for a while.”

I said as I pulled Joan back to her feet.

“I have to go back to the orphanage soon….”

“It only takes a moment. You followed us because you had a purpose in the first place.”

“Yeah, but….”

Joan hesitated for a moment, but then followed me with his basket in her hand.

“… Raphaella. Bringing an outsider into hiding. Will Marion allow it?”

“Don’t worry. I will speak well.”

Rafaela said as she removed the barrier in her lair. We opened the door and let Joan into the hiding place.

As Joan looked around the hideout, his jaw dropped.

I led her to her chair in her living room.

“I’m not saying I don’t believe it, but why don’t you use the Sphere of Truth for reliability? Instead, I also use the Sphere of Truth.”

“… Ah yes! I think that would be good.”

Rafaela summoned two of her truth orbs and gave them to me and Joan. I never took off my mask and stared at Joan.

After seeing my face, Joan was startled for a moment, but quickly made up his mind.

“You used to be a paladin?”

“Yes, but at the end.”

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“Why were you kicked out?”

“Um… The superficial reason was neglect of duty. But it was unfair! Even though I lacked something, I wasn’t lazy.”

“Then what do you think is the real reason?”

“I’m not sure, but… days before being kicked out. When the saintess came in after defeating the demon king, she asked if it would be like issuing indulgences. At that time, I expressed my opinion that it was not for those with too much money, but it must have offended the other chief priests.”

“Who is the saint?”

“The saintess rather listened to me and suggested her solution! And… When I was kicked out, the only person who took care of me was the saintess. Thanks to him, even after she was kicked out, she was able to work at the orphanage.”

Listening to Joan’s words, I remembered once again the image of the saint I had seen during the warrior’s party. Yes, at that time I thought she might really be an angel who came down from heaven.

I didn’t know it was all acting.

“Now then, let’s get right to the point. You dreamed of meeting us?”

“Yes.”

“Can you give me a little more detail?”

Joan hesitated for a moment before he said he had seen us in a dream. The peculiar thing about her is that all she saw was us dressed up.

“So the goddess… Didn’t she tell you to find me?”

“Yes. And she woke up.”

“And, can anyone hear the voice of this ‘Goddess’?”

“It can’t be. Only the saintess can hear it.”

I gazed lightly at Joan with a delicate expression on my face. Joan realized her mistake and added hastily.

“… Or am I wrong.”

“Is this the first time you’ve had such a strange dream?”

“Exactly… I have been having the same dream periodically since a few weeks ago.”

“What was the dream?”

Once again Joan hesitated.

“Me, before that. I have a question. Edmund-sama, do you intend to harm the saintess?”

“If you mean something physically damaging, no.”

I was sincere. If I kill or injure her saintess, she becomes good and I become evil. Therefore, she does not intend to inflict physical harm directly on her.

“But… Didn’t she originally intend to hurt the saintess? So, according to the revelation…….”

“What exactly is the revelation? All I heard from the saintess was that I was a great threat to the empire.”

“Well then, let’s change the question. Does Edmund-sama have any ill feelings toward the saintess?”

“Of course not. Think about changing your position. I killed the demon king while struggling to die, and he tried to kill me, saying that I was a great threat to the empire. What do you think it would be like?”

“… She seems to resent the saintess. But she must have had a reason for doing so, too.”

“Yes, it must be because of the revelation. So you know the revelation? Is that the dream you’ve had over and over again? Say it. Why on earth did the saintess try to kill me?”

Joan stared at his floor, clutching his head. She pondered for a while, then glanced up at me and said,

“… Edmund-sama destroys the Great Hall.”

Upon hearing her words, she honestly lost steam. Was that one thing that really made you shudder?

“To be precise, when lightning strikes and the Great Hall collapses, Edmund-sama is beside him smiling in victory. Of course, what I saw and what the saintess saw could be different.”

There is not even evidence that I drop lightning if what Joan saw was real revelation. I was dumbfounded and just laughed out loud.

“Is that the end? Honestly, it’s futile.”

Raphael also said a word as if he was disappointed. Then Joan shook her head and said.

“No, that’s not the end. It’s not a very widespread rumor, but there is a long-believed legend in the Etoiles. To be precise, it is a prophecy from a saint from long ago.”

“What prophecy?”

“On the day the Great War of Etoile collapsed, the goddess said that Etoile would be abandoned.”

“… Then the goddess has already stopped Etoile. I just had to.”

I murmured.

“What does that mean?”

“Think carefully. Is the goddess abandoning Etoile because I destroyed the Great War of Etoile? Or did I, or someone else, let the Great Temple collapse because the goddess abandoned Etoirism?”

“That, that… ….”

“Even though you came this far, you guys just chose the former. Maybe that side was right for you too. If the former is correct, I just need to kill myself, but if the latter is correct, there is no hope. Etoileism must be completely overthrown, but would the saintess and the chief priests want that? Are they losing their power?”

“… ….”

“And you also got kicked out for saying the right thing, don’t you know? How corrupt Etoirism was. Shall I say more here?”

“No, I just had to stop.”

Joan said, covering his face with both hands. Her shoulders shook from time to time.

Well, she wouldn’t want to admit it. I quietly waited for her to make up her mind.

“Then what about Edmund? Why is Edmund-sama emphasized in the revelation?”

After calming down somewhat, Joan asked cautiously.

“That’s what I want to ask. Why do you put so much emphasis on me and make me misunderstood? Still, do I dare to read the thoughts of the Goddess? When the Goddess saw it, she might have thought that I was the one who could destroy the current Etoile Church.”

I don’t know why you chose me. I never wished for anything like this in the first place. It makes me want to curse the goddess if I think I’ve been betrayed by this damn revelation.

“Then I am. Why did I see the revelation that the saintess saw? Why did she hear the goddess’ voice? If the Goddess abandoned Etoirism, why would I… Was she chosen as a saintess candidate?”

“Isn’t it because we need someone who can communicate with the Goddess even after abandoning the Etoile religion?”

Joan lowered his head again.

“I still don’t know. Can I trust Edmund? Was I really chosen to be a saint? No, before that. Why was it me? Why did you show me these dreams?”

Joan screams. I looked at her indifferently and said a word to her.

“Do you think I came here because I wanted to?”

“…Then. What am I supposed to do now?”

“You should know better about that.”

At this point, she must have understood. I waited for her to make her decision.

After a long thought, she opened her mouth.

“I…”