Chapter 38

Of course, she did not let her guard down.

Lane spread her hand protectively in front of Riene, carefully observing the movements of the Second Prince.

He is said to be Clarence's younger brother, but they don't look much alike.

He has the same black hair as Ada and Aki, but his eyes are green.

Unlike his slender brother, he is quite large.

"Don't be so wary. There are proper knights behind us, so I can't do anything."

He smiled pleasantly, but there was a cold light in his eyes.

He is definitely up to something.

The question is, where does he intend to make his move?

Lane casually observed her surroundings.

Behind the carriage, there was a knight on horseback. These knights, ordered by Clarence, were there to protect Riene, his fiancée.

They are probably not the enemy.

And the Second Prince has one guard.

But that guard was not in the carriage. From this, it seems there is nothing he can do.

However, Lane did not let her guard down.

The ring on the Second Prince's right hand was particularly troubling.

(I feel an ominous aura from it. It must be dangerous.)

Noticing Lane's gaze, the Second Prince smiled in admiration.

"You noticed this. It seems you have the qualities of a saint. I don't like the idea of the neighboring king getting the prize, but my taste is more like this."

He said this and cast a lecherous glance at Riene.

Riene, who shuddered, was hidden by Lane's body.

"She is the fiancée of the Crown Prince."

Saying this in a stern tone, the Second Prince narrowed his eyes.

"Unlike her delicate appearance, you are a tough woman. Don't worry, my brother will be the dragon's prey along with the hero."

"I heard the dragon was defeated."

Riene, who had been protected by Lane, negated his words and announced it as if shouting.

"Yes, the dragon was defeated. But that dragon was cursed."

He spoke to them about their plan with a cheerful and proud tone.

"The saint who was eaten by the dragon had met the king of the neighboring country before that. There, I had the saint cursed with the magic I developed. The dragon, which had eaten the cursed saint, might have been defeated, but it has probably risen as an undead by now."

"A curse shouldn't work on a saint..."

"Ordinary saints, perhaps. But she was a saint on the verge of falling."

The Second Prince said with a pleased look that it was easy to send the self-centered woman to the dragon.

"Thus, the curse was cast, and the dragon was marked. Everything went according to plan."

"..."

Riene's face turned pale, and Lane hurriedly supported her as she almost fell.

An undead dragon can only be defeated by holy magic.

But Saint Aki is gone, and neither Riene nor Lane have awakened as saints yet.

"If that happens, the neighboring country won't be safe either."

"The undead dragon will disappear after taking ten thousand lives. By then, I will have the throne, and they can marry a saint. It's a good deal."

"What are you saying!"

Lane glared at the Second Prince, who smiled with a twisted expression.

It is unforgivable to sacrifice the people Alek worked so hard to protect just for the throne.

(I won't let that happen...)

If she can somehow escape and appeal to the king, the Second Prince will be restrained immediately.

He conspired with the king of the neighboring country to curse the saint and eliminate the Crown Prince and the hero.

The responsibility for the loss of the saint should be on the Second Prince, not Clarence.

She is also worried about Alek and Clarence, who are probably facing the dragon.

There is much to do, but first, she must get Riene to a safe place.

He said, mocking Lane's desperate thoughts.

"It's useless. This ring contains a transfer spell. I will move you to the neighboring kingdom's castle. Don't worry, you will be treated well by the king and me."

As he spoke, the ring on the Second Prince's finger glowed black.

Riene, who was frightened, clung to Lane.

"I won't let you."

Holding Riene, who clung to her, Lane glared at the black ring.

The ominous magical aura.

This is not ordinary magic but a curse that uses the soul of a monster.

She cannot allow such a malevolent thing to be used.

(Alek...)

Lane closed her eyes, thinking of him, and poured her strength into the small light growing within her.

The desire to protect Riene.

The wish to help Alek.

And the prayer to protect the people who would be killed by the undead dragon.

She transformed all these into power.

The black curse was already activated.

Its power surrounded Riene and Lane, trying to take them to an unwanted place.

But Lane cut the curse with the power of her white prayer.

"Lane?"

Riene, in her arms, trembled in surprise.

The view turned white, and Lane changed the destination of the activated magic, taking Riene with her.

(Alek, wait for me. I will definitely save you.)

Lane understood that the power growing within her was that of a saint.

With this power, she can protect and help Alek.

Thinking this, a smile naturally appeared on her face.

Of course, she has no intention of letting the Second Prince and the king of the neighboring country, who planned this evil scheme, go.

She created a cage of light and trapped them inside.

This cage cannot be broken without the power of a saint. After everything is over, these two will be properly judged.

"Riene, I will fly to where Alek is. You wait at the castle."

"No, I will go too."

Riene, whom she intended to send to a safe place, shook her head.

"I don't want to run anymore. I want to see my brother's battle. Please, take me with you."

"Alright."

Lane smiled gently. Of course, she has no intention of letting Riene get hurt.

"I will protect you, so it's okay."

Using light magic, they moved to where Alek was.

It was the first time using this magic, but she had no doubts.

She seemed to understand instinctively how to use it.

When the white light disappeared, a different scene spread before her.

A town turned to rubble.

Land scorched by dragon breath.

And the shadow of the curse deeply imprinted on this land.

"..."

Miasma floated, making it hard to breathe.

She was worried about Alek, but first, she had to deal with this miasma.

At that moment, a dragon's roar shook the ground.

"Kyaa!"

It shook like an earthquake, making it impossible to stand.

When she was about to fall, someone's hand firmly supported her.

Feeling the warmth of that hand on her back, tears welled up in her eyes.

(Ah...)

She came here to meet this person, to save this person.

Thinking back, it hasn't been long since she left the small rural village.

But after deciding to live on her own and leaving her hometown, so much has happened.

During that time, she realized her feelings for him.

Perhaps it was because of this love that she awakened the power of a saint.

"Alek"

Without thinking, she hugged him, and Alek held her firmly without hesitation.

"Lane. Is it really you, Lane?"

"...Yes, it is."

She nodded, tears streaming down her face.

"Why... How did you get here?"

Confused, but Alek did not let go of Lane, who was in his arms.

He looked no different from the day they parted.

But Lane did not miss the strong smell of blood.

And the obsession of Saint Aki, who clung to him like a remnant.

Due to the curse, Aki's soul was still bound to this land.

"I'm sorry. I can't give him to you."

Placing her hands on Alek's cheeks, she gently leaned her forehead against his.

Without knowing the reason, he did not resist but rather bent down to make it easier for her.

"Alek"

She loves him.

She doesn't want to give him to anyone, and she thinks this even more strongly now.

Foreheads touching, she used the power of a saint.

Healing all pain and wounds, purifying the miasma.

Alek, in Lane's arms, breathed deeply, looking comfortable.

"Did you become a saint?"

Asked briefly, she nodded.

"It's the power I wished for."

Before Alek could say anything, Lane told him.

"I want to be your strength. I want to heal your wounds. I have always wished for this. So, my wish came true, and I am happy."

Smiling, she said this, and Alek squinted as if dazzled.

"Lane, I'm sure you can use this power correctly without being overwhelmed or drowning in it."

If Alek says this, she cannot betray his expectations.

"I have so much to talk about. But first, we need to deal with that undead dragon."

"Right. With you here, it's possible."

Riene, and Alek asked her where she was, to which she replied that she was probably with Clarence.

They had been transferred to this land together but were sent to their desired places.

Lane moved to Alek's side, and Riene was with Clarence.

"Got it. Then, let's end this quickly."

Alek focused his gaze on the roaring dragon and readied his sword.

Lane imbued the sword with holy power.

Undead are weak against holy attributes.

With Alek's skills, it would probably end in one strike.

"Alek"

"Got it."

After completing the imbuing spell, she called out, and Alek, sword in hand, ran forward.

Avoiding the dragon's decaying front leg, dodging the bone-exposed tail attack, and deflecting the dragon's breath, he did not stop once and plunged the holy-imbued sword into the dragon.

A blinding white light enveloped the dragon's entire body.

With a roar that made her want to cover her ears, the dragon's body collapsed. Alek leaped back to avoid being caught in the collapse.

Lane tried to run to him but stopped, noticing that the dragon's corpse still had the influence of the curse.

"I will purify it."

"Please."

She clasped her hands and offered a prayer.

The dragon's corpse turned into particles of light and eventually ascended into the sky and disappeared.

Now, the corpse cannot be misused.