Chapter 33

Rena was able to stand again only because of the feeling that she couldn't leave Elius behind.

She couldn't lift his body, which had become a corpse, by herself.

She explained the situation to the officials and, with their assistance, lifted Elius.

Then, she turned herself in and was imprisoned.

During the interrogation, she told the truth about what had happened.

She admitted that she had taken Elius to that place and killed him.

After the interrogation, in the solitary confinement cell,

she thought about the man who had given her the gloves.

The man who had given her the gloves had intentionally made Rena realize what had happened.

First, the gloves were a 'relic,' something left behind by a god or a messenger of the past.

Then, the method.

The method of planting seeds of doubt in Rena's mind and making her fight with others.

The man had indeed said,

"Whoever started it, I can't answer that, but there are people who spread such rumors."

He wasn't lying.

But his words didn't mean he didn't know the source of the rumors.

It was impossible to answer.

The source of the rumors was the man himself.

It meant he couldn't tell Rena directly that he had spread the rumors.

In other words, the man was – a servant of the evil god, who was said to have been sealed by a saint in the past.

And she had been completely manipulated by him.

During the interrogation, the official in charge questioned Rena in various ways.

Among them, there were obvious lies that didn't even require the use of 'lie detection.'

No, to be precise, 'lie detection' couldn't be used.

The skill 'Saint,' which is strengthened by good deeds,

had weakened significantly after she betrayed and harmed her companion.

With Elius's death, 'Saint Rena' had also died.

Five days after being imprisoned,

she heard cheers from outside the facility.

"It seems to be noisy outside..."

When she asked the guard, he casually told her.

"Yes. At first, I thought the sky had turned blue, but it seems the Demon King has been defeated. The main force hasn't returned yet, but the prince and the royal guards have already triumphantly returned."

"I see... Thank you."

Indeed, the Demon King had been defeated.

Eileen must have done it.

She, who would now bask in glory, and herself, who would spend her days as a prisoner.

But it couldn't be helped.

The sin she had committed was... too great.

It wasn't just that she had killed Elius.

The greatest sin she felt she had committed was...

After the cheers had been heard for a while, the cell door opened.

She thought it was time for another interrogation, but the person who was there was not the usual interrogator.

It was a man in his thirties, a tall and imposing figure.

His eyes were sharp, and he exuded an aura of someone who had been in battle.

But at the same time, he gave an impression of having been well-raised.

From his clothing, it was clear that he was a person of high standing.

"The prince, I have brought her!"

When the jailer reported, she understood who the person in front of her was.

The prince nodded and said to Rena,

"Saint Rena, I would like you to come with me."

The prince led her to a carriage and got in with her.

"Where are we going...?"

"I want you to treat the wounded."

After briefly stating his purpose, the prince fell silent for a moment...

"I will not hold you accountable for your crimes."

He said something she had never imagined.

"Fortunately, no, that's not the right word. Anyway, the victim... is dead. I have imposed a gag order on those who know about this. I have told them that anyone who leaks information will be executed."

"Why... why are you doing this?"

"Even though the Demon King has been defeated, it doesn't mean everything is over. On the contrary, the real challenge is just beginning. The reconstruction of the country requires the assistance of capable people, and I want your help."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Considering the future of the country, it is necessary to clearly reward and punish, regardless of the person. Moreover, I have no intention of using the 'Saint' skill, which I received from the gods, for my own self-preservation."

She knew it was impolite to speak this way to a noble she had just met.

But it was her true feeling.

The prince didn't seem to be offended and nodded before responding.

"I see. I understand your point. Personally, I agree with you. But as a ruler, there are things that take precedence over emotions... I'm not asking for a decision right now. We need to solve the immediate problems first."

He probably felt that further persuasion would be futile.

The prince didn't try to change her mind.

Instead, he asked Rena,

"Is there something you want to ask?"

"What is it?"

"Regarding the defeat of the Demon King... there was a strategy to lure out the demons, right?"

"Damn... it's a military secret... but I'll let it slide. Yes, the strategy was successful."

"Then, what about the demons...?"

"They were defeated. There were many casualties... but..."

Her heart felt as if it was being squeezed.

But she had to confirm.

"Was there a spear user among the victims of the demons?"

"...I don't know if it was someone you knew. But I heard that the one who delivered the final blow to the demon with his life was a spear user. He had recently joined the royal army and was the only new recruit who volunteered for the suicide squad. I have also heard about this."

"...I see, thank you."

The prince's silence was probably out of kindness.

The carriage continued in silence until it reached its destination.

Upon arrival, the prince led her to a hospital.

There were soldiers guarding the hospital room, but the prince dismissed them and led her inside.

In the hospital room was... Eileen, who had changed drastically.

Rena, who had seen many injured people over the years, rarely saw someone in such a state.

She was barely alive.

"Eileen!"

Rena called out, but of course, there was no response.

"We protected her outside the city when she returned from the Demon King's castle. She was conscious at the time, but after falling asleep, she hasn't woken up. From what I heard while she was conscious... it seems the Demon King self-destructed, involving her."

"Why aren't you casting healing magic on her!? With your position, you can summon famous healers, can't you!?"

"I already have."

"Huh?"

"At first, she accepted a small amount of healing magic, but now she doesn't accept it."

"Doesn't accept magic?"

"The healer said he had seen similar symptoms before."

"...What did he say?"

"It's a kind of curse, he said."

"A curse... meaning a spell?"

The prince nodded and continued his explanation.

"This is my guess, but the Demon King cast a curse on her in the end. He bombarded her with powerful magic, and even if she survived, the curse would prevent her wounds from healing, ensuring her death..."

The prince's explanation made sense.

The fact that a small amount of magic worked at first suggests that the curse gradually becomes stronger.

This couldn't wait any longer.

"That's why I thought that you, the saint I had heard about, might be able to do something. I had my subordinates search for you... but I didn't expect you to be in prison."

While listening to the prince, Rena tried to cast healing magic.

But unlike a few days ago, the light was weak, and it disappeared before reaching Eileen.

"Hmm, just a confirmation... I guess?"

For Rena, it was her best effort, but the weak healing magic made the prince misunderstand.

However, from the sensation of casting the spell and her experience of healing many people in the shelter, Rena saw the possibility of breaking the Demon King's curse.

Divine-level healing magic.

This would probably remove the curse and heal Eileen.

But, of course, there was no time to atone for her sins and rebuild her skills...

Then, she realized something.

"...Quite a thorough plan, isn't it?"

"Huh?"

"Sorry, it's nothing."

This was probably – the final move by the evil god.

To make Rena wear the black gloves and use a spell she couldn't possibly cast now, to eliminate her.

If so, she had to be grateful.

To Rena, even a little.

For giving her the opportunity to atone for her sins!

She put on the gloves and made a vow in her heart.

(Fine. Take my future, my everything, if you want. Even if it's as you wish... I don't care!)

"The Lord has two arms that govern creation. The right hand with four fingers governs – regeneration! Behold, this is the unchanging truth. Cut through the veil of darkness and bring the blessing of the sun to the people!"

She cast the divine-level healing magic.

Instantly, she felt something leave her body.

But she continued the incantation regardless.

"Like a spring that never runs dry. Cast the judgment of hope upon the brink of despair! Let the divine work manifest here and now – Resurrection!"

A powerful light, unlike anything she had ever seen, radiated from Rena's hands and enveloped Eileen.

But the curse left by the Demon King, who had given his life, was formidable.

The light didn't immediately reach Eileen's body.

As she continued to radiate light, the prince shouted.

"Saint Rena! Stop it!"

The prince grabbed her arm.

Don't interfere, she thought, and looked at where he had grabbed her...

Her arm had changed.

It looked like an old woman's, wrinkled and sagging.

The sensation she felt when she cast the spell.

Her life force was being drained.

It wasn't just her imagination.

When the man gave her the gloves, he said that using power beyond her limits would cost her her future.

Probably, as he said, Rena was now sacrificing her life.

But it didn't matter.

She shook off the prince's restraint and continued to radiate light.

Because this was her atonement.

The 'Accounting' skill was just a means to strengthen her own skills.

Once it was over, Eileen would leave the party.

What a presumptuous thought.

The 'Saint' skill, which she had been given by chance and was not worthy of, and yet she had judged people, treated herself as special, and looked down on Eileen.

Phalan, who had left the party with a resolve to die.

Why didn't she stop him?

It was because of her presumptuous thoughts that she had driven him to his death, making excuses that 'she didn't have the right to stop him.'

And Elius.

"I don't want you to be alone."

He had said that to her at the end.

If someone said that to her, she wasn't alone anymore.

But...

Elius must have been alone, struggling.

Even though they had been together for so long, she hadn't understood him.

She should have listened to him honestly, without testing him.

She should have been more open with her feelings.

To Eileen, "Thanks to you, the church is saved. Thank you."

She should have expressed her gratitude at least once.

"Don't die, don't go."

Even if it troubled Phalan, she should have stopped him by force.

Of course, if he hadn't gone, there might have been more casualties.

But she didn't want him to die.

But I...

Even though she had asked Elius not to leave her alone...

She had left everyone alone!

This sin must be atoned for.

Even if it meant losing her future.

"I think... it's okay now."

Speaking was painful.

But she felt a little satisfaction.

She couldn't completely heal Eileen.

But Eileen's condition had improved; her face had a hint of color, and her breathing was stable.

She had passed the critical point and was now in a stable state.

And – she didn't have much time left.

"Prince, please..."

"What is it?"

"Please keep this a secret from Eileen and everyone... tell them I was executed."

The prince, who had shown no emotional changes until then, showed a surprised expression for the first time.

"Why! You saved a hero, yet..."

"Please. Don't make her carry the burden of my death. I can't rest until you promise me."

She could barely stand.

The prince supported her wobbling body.

"Alright. Rest assured. I promise, on the honor of the royal family."

"Thank you."

She was too tired to speak, but she looked into the prince's eyes and thanked him before closing her eyes.

When she closed her eyes... the events of the past floated in her mind.

She remembered many things, but the last thing she remembered was...

Elius, who had smiled gently at her when she licked the powder off her hand after eating