Chapter 18: The Saintess’s Disappearance (3)

Saint Candidate

“Saint candidates” refers to girls gathered from various orphanages to be selected as the next Saint.

A special ability that resists magic appears in them between the ages of 10 and 15. This ability can maximize healing

power in others and can generate a defensive shield called a “Blessing” that repels magic.

And the way this ability is activated is…

“Not here either. Well… there’s no way it would be.”

In the Grand Imperial Library — big enough to hold every book in the empire — Cecilia was searching for a specific book.

One that could prove her past.

“You’re here again.”

“…Yes, Lord.”

“Didn’t I say you could call me Father?”

Count Rowan Dain —

He’s the one who took me from the Grand Cathedral, taught me the sword, and raised me. He’s like a father.

When I was 14, among the last 10 Saint candidates, I caught the Count’s eye during his visit to the cathedral and managed

to escape.

The cathedral must’ve been in chaos. A candidate running away just before the final Saint ceremony?

The Count was repeatedly summoned and questioned by the cathedral. In the end, he made a harsh choice —

He burned the body of a street orphan and tricked the cathedral into thinking I had died.

Honestly, I didn’t believe it at first. Claiming a runaway orphan died in a fire and the body couldn’t be identified? Too

convenient.

But when Charlotte manifested her holy power, the cathedral lost interest in me.

To them, what mattered was the emergence of holy power — not some orphan who hadn’t awakened anything.

Still… of all people, it had to be Charlotte…

“I’m telling you, what you’re looking for isn’t here.”

“Even so… there’s always a chance.”

“I’m sorry I can’t take you inside the cathedral.”

“Don’t say that. I’m already grateful you saved me.”

It’s true — if I could get into the Holy Nation’s cathedral, I could find information on holy power.

But just as I had almost everything figured out and was planning to meet Charlotte, it all fell apart because of that

ridiculous incident — the demon beast raid in the granary region.

And then I lost Charlotte too.

“You still care about Saint… Charlotte, don’t you?”

“You can see right through me, Lord.”

“I raised you, didn’t I?”

The Count had no children of his own. Due to a health issue, he couldn’t have kids.

So even though the noble line needed a male heir, he adopted me instead — just because he wanted a daughter.

In the empire, it’s not impossible for a woman to be head of a noble family, but it’s rare.

“Anyway, I came to bring news for my lovely, pitiful daughter.”

“As expected, you’re amazing, my Lord.”

“Call me Father.”

He always jokes like this. But I still can’t call him “Father.” I respect him too much.

How can someone pour everything into a random orphan they just met?

Even when the cathedral had him marked, he protected me. Can someone like me dare to call him Father?

Father.”

“A little awkward… but fine. Guess I’ll only hear ‘Dad’ after I die.”

“Please don’t say such things.”

Count Dain pulled a letter from his coat and handed it to me.

“Did you know there was a wyvern swarm near the forest you came from?”

“Wyverns…?”

“Yeah. A woodcutter near the northern border saw them heading north.”

Wyverns… in that burning forest? With all the smoke, it was hard to even see the sky.

I remembered the hero party emerging from the forest — without Charlotte.

She was like a little sister to me… and she got caught in an accident just hours after I finally reunited with her.

And it was all because the Hero lost control.

I can’t forgive that.

“Wyverns are demons that live in the northern Demon Realm. Why would they be in the western Great Forest

and then go back north?”

“Monsters like wyverns aren’t known to travel in groups.”

“Which means…”

There was something in that forest capable of commanding wyverns.

Fenrir was bad enough… now wyverns? Could the Demon King have returned?

The beastkin who led the Fenrir raid disappeared into the burning forest, never to be seen again. He left behind a warning

about the southern empire before vanishing.

“Fenrir went south… the wyverns returned north…”

“We need to reinforce our southern defenses first.”

“Who will be sent to defend the south?”

“Not something you, a Royal Guard, need to worry about.”

That’s true, but still… Fenrir, wyverns, and the disappearance of Charlotte — it’s all too strange.

Sercia’s fists trembled. She recalled the bloodied mace, and Charlotte being attacked by wolves.

“Charlotte is alive.”

“Of course. She’s a Saint. She wouldn’t die from something like this.”

Yes — she’s strong. She’s survived so much.

She wouldn’t die before those kids she was protecting. She promised that.

“I’ll be going now. The captain called for me.”

“The captain?”

“Yeah, just a while ago.”

“And you’re only telling me now?!”

“Which is more important — time with your father, or your captain?”

“If you put it that way, I can’t argue.”

He laughed and patted my back before walking away down the hall.

Next time I visit the mansion, I’ll bring his favorite southern wine.

“Come in.”

“Sorry I’m late.”

“Don’t worry — the Count wouldn’t have let you go easily.”

“You know me too well.”

The man in front of me was the captain of the Royal Guard — a laid-back middle-aged man with black hair and black eyes.

He disliked wearing the shiny uniform, so he always wore black armor — hence the nickname “Black Knight.”

Even during drinking parties, he would drink for the younger guards to help them out.

In this rigid imperial court, he’s the only one with such a carefree personality.

“Sit down. Tea? Coffee?”

“Water is fine.”

“Got it. Orange juice it is.”

“No, just water.”

“Sigh… alright. I’ll tell the chef to bring orange juice.”

Such a stubborn man… he still treats me like a child, even though I’m in my mid-20s.

But knowing his past, I can’t tell him to stop treating me like a daughter.

“Well, drink something sweet. What I’m about to tell you is bitter.”

“…Black Ops?”

“Yeah.”

If the front-facing role of the Royal Guard is the imperial guard, then Black Ops is the team that cleans up the mess

behind the scenes.

Someone must have ticked off the Emperor. And that someone is…

“Investigate Duke Claudian, Hero Alex’s past three years.”

“Wow. What a sweet job.”

Seriously. A secret mission to investigate the Hero’s three years? What a treat.

“The Emperor has started to doubt the Hero because of his recent mistake.”

“If the Hero really killed the Demon King, then how did beastkin bring Fenrir to raid the granary?”

“But… didn’t the Holy Nation confirm that the Demon King’s horn was genuine?”

I saw it too. It radiated that unmistakable demonic energy from the Demon Realm.

There’s no doubt — it had to be the Demon King’s horn.

“That’s the problem.”

A maid brought orange juice and coffee. Once she left, the captain continued.

“The Emperor suspects the Hero made a deal with the Demon King — that the party fell apart after that, and

maybe even finished off the Saint in that forest.”

“A traitor?”

“All they brought back was the horn that the Saint had. No other proof. And only she brought it back — alone.

The others claimed they just woke up and her body was gone. Wouldn’t you be suspicious?”

He sipped his coffee and went on.

“The Emperor and his advisors think the Hero’s story doesn’t add up. They can’t explain why only the Saint

brought the horn.”

“Yeah… he avoided the question at the banquet.”

When asked why the Saint came back separately, the Hero just laughed and brushed it off.

“There’ve always been rumors that the Saint didn’t get along with the others. Then she shows up alone? People

are suspicious.”

“So… they made a deal with the Demon King, things went sour with the Saint, and they silenced her…?”

“No one paid attention back then. But now, it’s back in the spotlight.”

“I see…”

There were even rumors that Charlotte had argued with the Hero at his wedding.

They didn’t seem close at all during the mission either.

The captain drained his coffee, then took my orange juice and drank it — claiming it as his own.

“The Emperor’s lottery actually hit the jackpot, but turns out it was a scam lottery.”

He’s mocking how they select Heroes from the Academy each year.

From the Emperor’s perspective, whether the Hero wins or not doesn’t matter.

If he wins — great. If not — no big loss.

“Now he’s wondering… is this really a Hero worthy of legend?”

“Charging into a burning forest just because of one provocation?”

If he had succeeded, maybe it would’ve worked. But he failed.

And the more achievements someone has, the more one failure raises doubt.

“The Emperor has a lot to clean up now.”

He has to grant my wish too.”

He didn’t ask what it was. We both know each other’s pasts already.

“Anyway, find out everything from the past three years.”

“Understood. Can I do it my way?”

“As long as it’s reasonable. Where will you start?”

“Too lazy to go to the Duchy… I’ll start with the warrior and the archer in the search party.”

It’s easier to go after those two. They seem a bit distanced from the Hero right now.

“Keep it reasonable.”

“Yes, sir. Then I’ll get started.”

This was going to be fun.

Did the Hero Party really make a deal with the Demon King and fake their success?

Why did Charlotte return alone with the horn?

Did they try to get rid of her to cover up the truth?

If so…

They’re not heroes.

They’re legendary con artists who fooled the whole continent.