Chapter 2 : The Return

[Evaluation in progress.]

This is taking a damn long time.

[Congratulations.]

[Dimensional Coordinates Established]

[Return to Modern Era]

Oh. Seems like it’s finally over.

“W-Wait, I’m not going anywhere yet, so stay put.”

What is she talking about?

More importantly…

“Hero. There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”

Since this was the end, I should say what I needed to say.

“…What?”
“It’s been a displeasure, and let’s never meet again.”

He’s the Hero, who has everything, yet he makes such a pitiful expression. I’m not one to hold back, though.

“Bye!!”
“You!”

And why are they looking at me like that?

With their drooping ears and apologetic expressions, they look like they’ve just witnessed a village annihilated by demons.

“Take care, have lots of kids, be happy.”

I took one last look at Elin and Sena before lying down.

Actually, I wanted to say, “You sluts, seriously, get a grip.” But…

One way or another, they were the closest people to me in that world, perhaps even friends.

Thinking it was the end made me a bit sentimental, I guess.

I felt a cool breeze as I fell rapidly.

“Refreshing.”

Spreading my arms like a bird, a sudden thought struck me.

“And Hero, you’re dating two cute girls like that. So why do you keep bothering me?”

I should have told him that too.

Oh well…

[You must have endured many hardships. Thank you for your service, Saint.]

Yeah, I know I suffered a lot, so open the portal already.

[You have saved the world.]

I didn’t particularly want to save it, but anyway, open the portal.

[Despite the arduous path, you never lost your benevolent heart.]

“Just send me back already.”

Like an 80s game ending, all sorts of flowery words continued.

[I have witnessed all the hardships and trials you have faced.]

It felt like talking to a machine. Why are we doing this when we both know what’s up?

“Yeah, I know. Skip.”

[All life in this dimension praises your achievements and will be grateful for generations to come.]

“Are you trying to make me fall to my death?!”

The Saint was in a hurry. She had given the Hero the middle finger and dramatically jumped off the cliff.

–I can stop time for a moment. If you don’t listen to the explanation now, in the future world…

I thought the tone sounded strangely different from the middle. Seems like the actual operator finally showed up.

Thinking that it was an automated response until now made me feel incredibly pissed.

“F*ck. Stop time? If you could do that, you could have stopped time before I smashed that prince’s head with a vase when he snuck into my bedroom.”

–Stopped it. For about two seconds.

God really is God.

Their skill at getting on people’s nerves is god-tier.

“Then that’s pointless! Even if the Demon King is a migratory bird who builds his castle on a skyscraper with over 100 floors, time’s running out!”

No matter how light she was, as a human, she would plummet in a few seconds.

Furthermore, her body was exhausted from pushing herself to get the kill on the Demon King and his Four Heavenly Kings, to the point of feeling languid.

She wouldn’t die, but it would definitely hurt.

Ding. All conditions met. Opening return gate.

<Defeat at least 2 of the Four Heavenly Kings>
[4/2]

<Obtain the Demon King’s Heart>
[1/1]

The blue window quickly flashed by.

[Using the Demon King’s Heart.]

A portal opened on the ground.

‘At least they have some conscience.’

At this rate, I could just stay put.

The Saint turned and looked up at the sky.

Two moons, purple and blue, hung in the sky. A sight she had initially admired, but now felt nauseated by.

Still, thinking of it as the last time, it was rather beautiful.

–You’ve worked hard.

With that voice, presumably the Goddess, her consciousness faded.

“This is the end of our journey together.”

The Saint said with a relieved expression. A genuine, joyful smile he had never seen before.

The Hero shook his head. Memories of the past flashed before his eyes.

‘Propose.’

This was his last chance.

It was the Hero’s intuition.

However…

“Hero~?”
“Hero! I’m more your type than that flat-chested elf, right?”

His companions wouldn’t let him go.

Even he didn’t have the courage to propose to the Saint with two women clinging to him.

By the time they released him, the Saint was already at the edge of the cliff. A precarious position where even a gust of wind could send her tumbling down. Even when she had spun around to look at them, she had been so close to the edge that he worried she might fall.

“Take care, have lots of kids…”

The Saint’s words made his head spin. She knew everything.

The Hero covered his face with one hand and closed his eyes.

‘I have to catch her. Even if we talk, it can’t be there.’

In that instant, he made up his mind and opened his eyes.

The scenery of the Demon Realm stretched out from the top of the spire. The horizon, splitting the world in two, was a breathtaking view, but the Hero had no time to appreciate it.

She was already gone.

“Saint!!!”

The Hero screamed.

This couldn’t be happening.

He immediately tried to follow her.

He could still catch up and save her.

Even Elin and Sena, seeing his serious expression, stepped back.

Just as he gathered his magic power and was about to dash forward like lightning…

An explosive energy erupted from the front.

‘A Grand Barrier?!’

When did she…?

The shimmering heat haze that had enveloped the ground began to take on a crimson form.

“What…?”

It was a dragon.

The dagger the Saint had discarded. The red dragon that emerged from it seemed to be blocking their path.

“Get out of the way!!”

The Hero swung his holy sword. Known as the strongest Hero in history, he had easily defeated spirits bound to swords before.

But it was too late.

“Saint…”

The Saint was nowhere to be seen. Even with his superhuman vision, all he could see was a bottomless abyss.

The Demon King’s castle, built atop the highest peak in the Demon Realm, boasted an incredible height befitting its 100 floors.

If she had jumped from here…

Just then, a light flashed.

A radiance that seemed to push back even the darkness of the night sky.

“How…?”

Sena, the Mage, spoke in astonishment.

Something purplish-black rose into the air, then began to dissipate with a flashing light.

It was as if… evil energy was being purified and permeating the world.

“C-Could it be…?”
“What?! Do you know something?!”

Pressed by the Hero, Elin struggled to speak.

“It’s…”

Hearing her story, the Hero’s heart sank.

A common legend.

Saints, holy people, they defeat the Demon King and ultimately sacrifice themselves to seal away an evil god.

It was a story he would usually laugh off, but the reality unfolding before his eyes was just that. Even if he wanted to ask more, Elin’s expression was filled with guilt. Sena, despite her usual boldness, was the same.

The Demon King’s heart, disintegrating, spread throughout the world.

The world, ravaged by fierce battles, began to heal. Vegetation sprouted anew.

Elin, the Elf, felt it with her entire being.

Even dead trees came back to life, and Dryads, the tree spirits, sang.

The salvation of the world.

“Saint…”

Every living creature in this world was rejoicing, but the Hero couldn’t.

‘Let’s never meet again.’

Her parting words pierced his heart like a dagger.

At the same time, a story came to mind.

A man who cheated on his fiancée. Even if she hadn’t allowed him to even kiss her, she was pure. She hadn’t slept around or cheated like him. He was the one who betrayed her.

Furthermore, he cheated with her companions, one of whom she considered a sister.

He, who cheated with those two, had driven the Saint to her death.

“Ugh… Uhh… Aaaaaaaaaaagh!”

Whiiir!

A jarring ringing in her head pulled Hayun back to consciousness. Simultaneously, her hands flew to her chest.

To grasp her rosary. A seemingly simple accessory that could transform into sharp daggers, more of a weapon than a protective charm.

‘…It’s gone?’

She slowly groped around, but all she felt was soft skin, the fabric of her clothes, and the smooth curve of her collarbone.

She kept her eyes closed.

Moving her hand to her thigh, just in case. The dagger that should have been strapped there was also gone…

“Ah…”

It all came back to her.

Opening her eyes, she slowly surveyed her surroundings.

White.

Not the moldy wooden ceiling, nor the gaudily decorated room. Just a clean, white fluorescent light.

She sat up to get a better look.

The bed beneath her was soft. On the vanity table were an array of cosmetics that looked expensive at a glance. Next to it was a door with a handle.

Unlike the door across the room, to her left, just by turning her head, she could see a sink through a glass door, giving her a clear idea of what lay beyond.

More importantly…

‘What is this…?’

Between the bathroom and the bed, occupying a significant amount of space, was…

Smaller than the bed, jet black…

‘A gaming chair…?’

With a computer right next to it, she couldn’t rule out the possibility.

But its design… perhaps a massage chair? It had a futuristic look, like something out of a sci-fi movie.

“Hehehe…”

A silly laugh escaped her lips.

A sci-fi movie. It had been so long since she’d even entertained such a thought.

And all these thoughts…

Confirmed that she was back.

No pressure to defeat the Demon King, no need to endure the advances of nobles drawn to the title of Saint.

No more fear of constant attacks.

A truly free world.

“I’m back…”

She covered her face with her hands. Emotion welled up inside her, a mix of tears and overwhelming joy. But perhaps due to the harsh monastic life she had endured in her childhood, no tears came.

So instead…

“Hahahaha.”

She laughed.

Laughing like a madwoman, her gaze fell upon the mirror attached to the wardrobe.

The entire surface was glass, taller than her, reflecting her form completely.

Silver hair that shone white even under the sunset, pale skin, and pomegranate-red eyes. The expression on her delicate face was one of utter peace.

It was an expression she had never seen on her face in that other world, but it was undoubtedly the face of Lutecia White, the Saint of that world.

‘Well…’

It would have been strange to revert to her old appearance now.

She raised a hand to tuck her hair behind her ear, the mirrored image mimicking the motion. Her long white hair, reaching her waist, swayed.

A plain white t-shirt, a stark contrast to the saintly robes. It was a few sizes too big, loose, but comfortable.

One shoulder slumped, revealing the strap of her white bra.

“Hmm…”

A matching white underwear set. Could she leave the room wearing just a shirt and no pants?

A fleeting moment of doubt.

“It’ll be fine.”

It was too late now. The her of that other world would have immediately assessed the situation, but she had wasted time lost in sentimentality.

She was back in the modern era. The realization had released all the tension she had accumulated.

Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, she didn’t know.

Adjusting her shirt, she stepped out of the room.