Chapter 54 : The Suffocation Before the Truth

The Saintess wants to reminisce with her?

Tifna had only met Saintess Lillian a few times. What was there to reminisce about? Wait, the Saintess suddenly seeking her out now… A possibility flashed in Tifna’s mind, and her fingers dug into the nun’s wrist, her knuckles turning white.

“Is the Saintess trying to tell me about my brother? How is he?”

Tifna’s composure shattered instantly. Her voice held a tremor Milly had never heard before.

The nun winced in pain but maintained her polite smile. “Lady Lillian only said it concerns the Sword Saint’s whereabouts. She will share the details in person.”

“Did she say anything else? My brother, is he…”

“Tifna! Calm down.”

“I…”

It had been half a month. Half a month since she entered that forest. When she came home yesterday to a dark, empty house, her heart had sunk.

She knew she shouldn’t be like this, but she couldn’t let go of the nun’s hand. She was squeezing so hard, the nun’s wrist was turning red.

Milly stepped forward and grabbed Tifna’s shoulder. She knew Tifna wouldn’t listen to reason now. She had to pull her away.

“Captain, I know you’re worried, but don’t take it out on her. Have you forgotten your family’s code?”

Hearing the word “code,” Tifna looked at Idis casting a healing spell on the nun and then down at her own trembling hands.

“I… I didn’t… I just…”

“The captain is just very worried, so she was a bit impulsive. She didn’t mean it.”

“I understand Lady Tifna’s feelings, but Lady Lillian only told me this much. I don’t know the Sword Saint’s specific situation.”

As the nun walked away, Tifna’s expression turned dazed, as if she had been pulled from reality.

Idis sighed. She still remembered the look in Tifna’s eyes half a month ago when she had come to her. She had never seen Tifna so unhinged. She would probably never forget that look.

She helped Tifna into the Adventurer’s Guild, then glanced back at Milly, who was following closely. “Sorry you had to see that. I’m going to turn in the quest. Can you look after the captain for a bit?”

They found an empty table. Idis took the quest scroll and the bag of materials from Tifna’s waist and went to the front desk. Now it was just the two of them.

Idis had said she could be serious when she needed to be, and it seemed she was right. Milly shifted closer to Tifna, trying to hide in the shadow of her cloak. Since they had entered the guild, she had felt eyes on her from all directions, though most were probably looking at Tifna.

A few people seemed to want to come over and talk, maybe they were Tifna’s acquaintances. Milly could only cast a hopeful glance at the front desk, wishing Idis would hurry back.

Tifna stared blankly at the table until Idis slapped a pouch of coins on it. The clinking of gold finally snapped Tifna out of her daze.

“Split it as usual, wait a minute.” Idis had just handed the pouch to Tifna when she looked at Milly. Out of habit, she had divided the reward into six parts. Although Milly had only joined in the last two days, she should get a share. But Tifna took the pouch and handed it to Milly.

“Huh?”

Milly was taken aback. The heavy pouch in her hand felt alien. She looked up at Tifna, but her gaze was fixed on the entrance. Her mind was clearly elsewhere.

“I don’t need it…” Her voice was soft, as if she were talking to herself. “All those days, I was just running away…”

Idis sighed and patted Tifna’s shoulder. “Come on, don’t overthink it. It might be good news. And your birthday is coming up, maybe your brother and the Saintess are planning a surprise for you.”

Idis wasn’t good at comforting people. And when she had been at the front desk, she had glanced at the quest board. There was a commission from the Empire. She had asked the receptionist about it and learned some bad news.

No wonder Agnes had left without a word. He knew that if Tifna found out, she would insist on joining him, even if it meant facing the legendary Fell God.

The Empire had issued a quest to find Agnes. The adventuring party that had taken it had been gone for a while and was now out of contact.

Now the Saintess was coming to see Tifna in person. It was probably… she shook her head. Idis hesitated. Should she tell Tifna to prepare herself?

But the Saintess would be here soon. There was still a slim chance of good news. Idis decided to keep it to herself.

Hearing Idis’s words, Tifna nodded and forced a smile. “Maybe. My brother is the Sword Saint, the strongest in the Empire. He’s…”

Tifna fell silent.

Idis knew her words were useless. She could only pat Tifna’s shoulder, as she always did.

“Don’t think too much. Let’s wait for the Saintess’s good news. I’ll hand out the rest of the reward money.”

She took the remaining pouches and, before leaving, whispered to Milly, “Take care of the captain. Don’t let her do anything foolish.”

As Idis left, Milly had a bad feeling.

In her world, when a high-ranking figure like a saintess delivered news in person and in secret, it was almost always bad news.

And Idis had looked worried ever since she came back from the front desk. She had spent a long time there, talking to the receptionist.

She must have found out something, but she hadn’t said anything. It had to be bad news.

But only the unknown Saintess knew the details. Milly could only take Tifna’s hand, just as Tifna had taken hers.

“Let’s go home and wait. The Saintess will surely bring good news.”

Tifna forced another smile and nodded, leading Milly out of the guild. Before they went home, Tifna took her to a clothing store. She was clearly distracted, but she still managed to help Milly pick out a few well-fitting outfits.

…

Back at home, Tifna sat in the living room, her fingers drumming on the table, her eyes constantly darting to the window.

Milly sat quietly beside her, feeling the anxiety radiating from her. She wanted to say something, to break the dead silence, but the words wouldn’t come.

She knew that Tifna didn’t need comfort right now. She needed the truth from the Saintess. In the face of the impending truth, any words of comfort would be hollow.

All she could do was wait with her.

It was an agonizing wait, the seconds stretching into eternity. Finally, the sound of a carriage approached. Before Milly could say anything, Tifna shot up and ran to the door, practically throwing it open.

Milly followed, her own heart pounding with anxiety.

The carriage that had stopped in front of the house was more ornate than the ones they had rented, adorned with the symbols of the Church. The driver was even a knight in armor.

The carriage door opened slowly. As she waited for the news, Milly wondered what a saintess would look like. She must be the embodiment of holiness.

She stared at the golden figure stepping out of the carriage. Holy or not, when she saw the face, her world came crashing down.

Are you kidding me? Why does this Saintess look exactly like Stacy?