Chapter 32

After hearing about Elaine's achievements, Lena's heart was not at ease.

What she had done with good intentions had backfired.

She hurriedly asked Elyus to sound out Elaine about her return, but it turned out that direct contact was impossible. Due to the bad reputation of having exiled Elaine, the party could hardly receive any requests.

Despite the situation, Elyus remained kind. However, his kindness only made her more miserable.

She would have preferred to be blamed.

Amidst these difficult days, Faran announced that he would leave the party.

"Lena, this is a secret from Elyus... I heard from an acquaintance, an archer, that the royal army seems to be planning a large-scale operation."

According to his explanation, the royal army, which had started to turn the tide thanks to Elaine's efforts, was planning to lure out the demons at the entrance to ensure she could enter the Demon King's castle in perfect condition.

"I will volunteer for the royal army in disguise and participate in the operation. If it were known that I was a member of the party that exiled Elaine, I might be questioned and rejected. Fortunately, I'm not as famous as Elyus or the Holy Maiden."

"Faran, you..."

Perhaps he felt guilty towards Elaine, which is why he made this decision?

Even if he were strong, fighting demons was almost synonymous with death.

"But, you should tell Elyus..."

"No way!"

Lena fell silent at his firm tone, and Faran placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Listen, Lena. If Elaine can defeat the Demon King this time, that's all that matters. But if she fails... if you and Elyus aren't there, there won't be any hope left. That's what I think."

"Faran..."

"Elyus... I understand him because I have the same 'Great' skill. He's not the type to settle for being a 'Sword Master.' He will definitely become a 'Sword Saint' like his father. That's why he can't die now."

"..."

"That's why, Lena, you should stay... and take care of Elyus."

I don't have the right to stop Faran. After all, it was I who instilled a sense of guilt in him.

A few months after Faran left, she was approached on the street.

"Holy Maiden, it's been a while. Is the glove I gave you useful?"

Turning to the voice, she recognized the man who had given her the glove.

"Yes, I'm sorry for not thanking you sooner. I tried to find you afterward..."

"I'm sorry for the trouble. I only came to this place to give the glove to the Holy Maiden. I usually stay elsewhere..."

"I see."

"Yes. By the way... there's something I want to tell you, Holy Maiden."

"...? What is it?"

"Yes. The currently active Elaine, who is making a big impact, was originally in the same party as the Holy Maiden, right?"

"...Yes, that's true, but..."

"Rumors are spreading about that."

"Rumors...? What kind?"

"Apparently, there's a rumor that the Holy Maiden said, 'If you don't expel her, I'll leave,' despite Elyus, the leader, opposing it..."

"Who would say such a thing!?"

"I can't tell you who started it, but there are people spreading such rumors."

Lena had a new ability that had recently awakened: the ability to detect lies—'Lie Detection.'

She could tell that he wasn't lying.

Then, who was spreading such rumors...

"...Holy Maiden?"

"...Ah, sorry! I was just thinking..."

"No, it's fine. I apologize for causing you distress."

The man bowed and said, "I'll leave now... please make good use of the glove," and walked away.

Lena wanted to find the source of the rumors, but doing so would only spread them further.

Moreover...

She couldn't shake the feeling that it was impossible, yet she couldn't help but wonder...

If Elyus had spread the rumors...

Elaine had always admired Elyus. Her refusal to return to the party, despite the request, was likely due to Lena.

As long as she was around, Elaine's return would never happen. If Elyus wanted it, she would step aside at any time. However, being forced out by a rumor was not what she wanted.

Perhaps Elyus, like Faran, had heard about the royal army's plans and decided to leave without her. She didn't know. She couldn't understand anything.

But there was a way to know Elyus's true feelings.

She could detect lies.

She hoped her suspicions were wrong. She asked, "When did Elyus first come here?"

The man, a long-time resident of the shelter, looked puzzled. His expression seemed to ask, "Why are you asking this?"

From his answer, she realized he was puzzled by the obviousness of the question.

"Of course... it was the same day the Holy Maiden first came here."

She had always wondered.

Elyus was... strange. There was no doubt that he was an excellent person.

But the more she thought back on the days since they met, the more abnormal it seemed.

The first day they met.

He caught a candy that a child had dropped mid-air. It was clear he had been moving before it fell.

The same went for her skills.

He arrived at the conclusion that 'good deeds' would strengthen her skills too quickly. And when she confirmed, Elyus had first appeared at the shelter on the same day she had arrived.

It was as if...

He had known from the beginning that 'good deeds' would strengthen the Holy Maiden's skills.

In the first dungeon they visited, he moved ahead without hesitation and saved Elaine several times, clearly anticipating the events.

Why was this possible?

The only answer that came to mind was a skill.

However, a skill that could see the future was unheard of.

If there was such a skill, it would be the legendary 'Divine Eye,' which had no historical evidence of existence. But if such a skill existed...

The extent of the future it could see would greatly affect its reality.

A few seconds seemed unlikely. If Elyus knew that 'good deeds' would strengthen her skills, it would take months.

The problem was...

If he could see five or ten years into the future, everything since they met would be a setup by Elyus.

His kind words.

The promise he made, "I won't leave you alone."

All of it would be an act to get her to join the party. Even the decision to exile Elaine.

She had thought Elaine would eventually leave the party, but perhaps it was she who would be cut off.

Faran had said as much when he left, but at the time, she couldn't use 'Lie Detection.'

So, perhaps the three of them, excluding her, were planning to re-form the party.

If she wanted to know the truth, it was simple.

She could ask Elyus. She had 'Lie Detection.'

She knew this.

But if everything was a setup...

She was afraid.

Even though she could detect lies, she was afraid to know the truth.

Lena continued to struggle with this.

Why did she do it?

She couldn't explain it clearly.

But if Elyus could see everything, her actions would be stopped. Perhaps she wanted to test him, even if she lacked the courage to ask directly.

However, it was surprisingly easy to bind the sleeping Elyus and bring him to the outskirts.

"Are you awake? Elyus..."

"Yes."

When she addressed the awakened Elyus, he responded calmly.

"I've been hearing rumors... that I was the mastermind behind Elaine's exile."

Elyus didn't respond to her words. Determined to confirm the truth, Lena asked:

"You swore that you wouldn't leave me alone. ...Is that promise, those words, not a lie... Elyus?"

Elyus still didn't respond. To prompt an answer, she began to chant a spell.

"The index finger of the right hand governs destruction—this is the punishment given by the gods."

Perhaps Elyus didn't know everything.

Then, what was important was...

That promise.

The decision to exile Elaine.

Whether it was a setup or not.

If he didn't answer, she would cast the spell. This might force Elyus to reveal his true feelings. And his answer was...

"I don't want to leave you alone! But it's impossible! No matter how much I think about it... it's impossible!"

Indeed, that was the case.

Elyus knew.

His cry conveyed...

That his feelings were genuine.

But that's why the promise was a lie.

"I understand that your feelings are genuine... but I can't forgive you."

Was it anger, or sadness?

Or both, causing her finger to tremble as she aimed.

But...

Perhaps even this was seen through.

In the end, she couldn't harm Elyus, no matter how much she resented him for using her with false promises.

Even if the past four and a half years were a lie, they were more precious than anything else...

And then...

Without her control, the magic was released from her finger.

The magic pierced Elyus's left arm, and the impact sent him flying into a well.

"What?"

After a moment, she realized what had happened.

"Elyus!"

Rushing to the well, her body trembled. This was supposed to be an act to reveal his true feelings.

But why...

Recalling that moment, she felt someone had interfered with her magic.

Looking at her hand, she saw the black glove.

She instantly understood the cause. But that wasn't the priority now.

She had to save Elyus!

Peering into the well...

A black mist enveloped the sinking Elyus.

After a while...

Elyus reappeared in the well, already lifeless.

Seeing this, she recalled recent events and realized...

(So, I... lost.)

How long she stayed there, she couldn't remember. When she came to, the sky was blue.

That much, she remembered.