Chapter 20

Just before leaving the venue, Alex stopped for a moment and turned his gaze towards the saint who was still berating Rane.

"Aki, you are the summoned saint. Now that the Demon King has been eliminated, that power is not immutable. If you continue to act with such malice, you will lose the power of the saint."

"…"

At those words, the saint closed her mouth as if she were frightened.

"That's a lie. Nonsense. I am the saint, after all?"

But she quickly began to scream again, as if trying to rouse herself, while Alex no longer looked back.

"Um, Mr. Alex, is it okay?"

While still holding Rane's hand, she asked him softly as he walked at her pace.

Even though it was a celebration for the defeat of the Demon King, was it really all right for the hero to be absent? Rane was worried, but Alex, with a stern expression, said it was fine.

On the way out, they were stopped several times and desperately pleaded with. Still, Alex ignored everything and left the castle.

The carriage driver, surprised by their early return, was told by Alex to return to the mansion immediately.

"Understood, but please suppress your killing intent a little more. The horses are frightened and the carriage can't move."

Admonished by the elderly driver, Alex exhaled deeply as if he had suddenly realized.

"…Sorry."

"No, if you've come to this, something terrible must have happened. Let's go home quickly before you're stopped."

The driver skillfully calmed the horses, and it seemed they could set the carriage in motion right away.

"Rane, I'm sorry. I didn't think Aider would say such things."

After the carriage had been moving for a while, Alex apologized.

"I shouldn't have brought you here if this was going to happen."

At his regretful words, Rane shook her head in a hurry.

"No, it's not your fault, Mr. Alex. I didn't expect to be said such things either."

Indeed, she was shocked and felt like crying, wondering why she had to be said such things.

But Alex believed Rane's words, just as they had agreed in their conversation.

That was a relief.

He protected Rane's heart, which was about to freeze with malice, with a light like the sun.

"…I see."

Alex nodded slightly, relieved, and then lowered his gaze as if in deep thought.

"Aider wasn't such a man when we first met."

"I think he was more delicate and kind."

If he had been such a man from the beginning, Rane wouldn't have agreed to the engagement, and Alex wouldn't have chosen him as a member of the Demon King extermination party.

After thinking for a moment, she answered.

"He has always been concerned about his small stature and weakness. Perhaps he went out of control after gaining power and authority."

To Aider, Kikito Village and his fiancée Rane were symbols of his weakness.

He might have despised them.

That's why he tried to belittle them with harsh words and attitudes.

(But…)

Upon reflection, she had no reason to be blamed like that. On the contrary, she felt anger rising now.

"Rather, any lingering affection as an old friend has completely disappeared."

She said this without thinking.

Moreover, Alex had no need to feel guilty about this matter.

But Alex, who had seen Rane being insulted right in front of him, couldn't switch off so easily.

"You said you had something to tell Aider. What did you want to say?"

"That…"

Since Alex had agreed to let her meet Aider, she had made up her mind.

This would be the last time she would speak to him or see him.

"…Congratulations on your marriage. Be happy. And goodbye."

Rane smiled awkwardly.

"That's what I wanted to say."

The words she wanted to convey were a farewell.

She no longer had any romantic feelings for Aider, but she thought it was necessary to forget the five years of her feelings.

"But maybe it was better not to say it. I thought the saint wouldn't know anything until we actually met."

In reality, she also lashed out with malice.

But after those harsh words, all such sentiment was completely erased.

It was absolutely impossible to continue thinking of him after being said such things.

So, it was good that she could part ways without having to say it.

"I've already told my family, so I think I'll look for a job without returning to the village."

Her childhood friends, after being treated like that, probably wouldn't praise Aider as they used to.

But Rane had no intention of returning to the village.

"Understood. Of course, I'll be your guarantor. You can live in that house until you find a job."

"But, I can't impose on you that much."

She said this in a hurry, but Alex shook his head.

"Since I've been involved this far, I want to see it through to the end. I'm worried about you."

"…Thank you."

When he said that, she couldn't refuse.

In fact, she knew nothing about the capital. If she stayed at an inn until she found a job, her money would run out quickly.

She vowed to find a job as soon as possible and gratefully accepted his offer.