NOVEL WEB Chapter 19
After deciding to visit Zech in person, the Saint immediately left the Holy Kingdom and headed for the Empire where Zech was located.
With five Holy Knights accompanying her for protection, she traveled in a carriage.
Using her divine power to alleviate not only her own fatigue but also that of the horses, they sped toward the Empire, entering it in a time unmatched by ordinary carriages. However, they gradually slowed down as they tended to the impoverished citizens of the Empire along the way.
While helping the poor, a sign caught the Saint’s eye.
[Check Writer’s First Novel {The Betrayed Hero Does Not Return} Special Cover Edition 10 Volume Event! One entry coupon per book!]
“Huh…?”
She entered the bookstore like a moth to a flame and managed to buy the last remaining copy of the Betrayer Hero. As this news hadn’t yet reached the Holy Kingdom, she lamented her late discovery.
Still, with a glimmer of hope, she handed a single entry coupon to the staff…
“I won the lottery! Surely the benevolent goddess has sent me a gift!”
“That’s right, I suppose.”
“Oh no! I’ve embarrassed myself!”
Feeling taken aback by her un-Saint-like behavior, the Saint immediately apologized to the author in front of her.
The author, with a somewhat jaded look, waved his hand dismissively and said it was alright.
“So, could you finally enlighten me about the ‘purpose’ of your visit?”
“Ah! I completely forgot to explain the most important part. Ahem, cough.”
The Saint cleared her throat a few times to prepare for a serious talk and then sat up straight, resting her hands on her lap.
“Check Writer, I have come to discuss your work ‘The Betrayed Hero Has Returned’… First, I would like to express gratitude on behalf of the Holy Kingdom.”
With that, she immediately bowed her head in thanks.
Zech quickly urged her to rise.
“Thank you. We have decided to include your Betrayer Hero in our Holy Kingdom. Do you have any objections?”
“Well, it’s a bit surprising that my book is being included in the Holy Kingdom, but I don’t see why not.”
“Thank you. The reason I came to see you is connected to this.”
“Surely the Saint wouldn’t come to ask for permission just to bring in a book.”
The Saint took a deep breath and opened her mouth again.
“We plan to honor you as a ‘Saint’ in our Holy Kingdom in the future.”
“…What?”
…
“We plan to honor you as a ‘Saint’ in our Holy Kingdom in the future.”
“…What?”
“A Saint. Your work revealing the truth about the Hero will be recognized for ages in our Holy Kingdom. Of course, not just in our kingdom but eventually in other nations as well.”
This thunderous declaration from the Saint left me scrambling to defend myself.
“But I’m not a Saint or anything…”
“No, you certainly have the qualifications to be a Saint.”
“But don’t Saints get known for things like ‘saving the impoverished people in the streets’ or ‘performing miracles’? I haven’t done anything like that. I just wrote a book about the Hero…”
“‘Saint Zech revealed the truth and recorded the Hero’s story, leading all to understand reality.’ What do you think? It’s quite well-written, isn’t it?”
“Uhh…”
‘What? Surprisingly, that sounds quite credible.’
It sounds dignified as heck, and I didn’t exaggerate any of my actions.
“Well… yes, it’s well written.”
“Then that settles it!”
“But seriously, I’m not the type of person who should be recorded as a Saint.”
“Even humility counts as a value!”
“No, I—”
This is bad.
It’s more incomprehensible than when Rate was a pigeon girl.
“Well then, since it seems you’ve accepted this, I’ll take my leave.”
“…Yes, goodbye.”
“May the blessings of the goddess be with you, author.”
And just like that, the Saint left.
No way, is this how being a Saint works?
Shouldn’t I be defeating the waves of Demon Race to earn this title or something?
This world is tough.
‘…Well, thinking about it, since there’s no Demon King to lead the Demon Race, the standards might have been lowered.’
“I’m back, Rate.”
If the Demon King were alive, surely people like me wouldn’t be chosen as Saints…
“Mmm! This cookie is incredibly delicious! Its name is…”
“Belua!”
“Right, Belua. You make cookies really well.”
The Demon King was killed by that memory-impaired Hero.
…What’s going on, I suddenly feel like the Demon King was probably weak too.
Ah, but still, since this person is a Saint, maybe I should ask.
“Um, Hero.”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“I actually heard from the Saint…”
After briefly explaining what I heard from the Saint, I asked Rate.
“Is it true that being a Saint works like this? Only people like you can become Saints? How did I even qualify?”
Upon hearing my question, Rate closed her eyes to think, then opened them again not long after, saying:
“Actually, becoming a Saint isn’t that impressive. I honestly didn’t do much either.”
“Huh? Aren’t you the one who defeated the Demon King?”
“Didn’t I mention it when I was telling you about writing the book? The circumstances of the battle with the Demon King.”
“You fought fiercely, right?”
“Sure, but think about it. A Hero is meant to perish alongside the Demon King.”
Rate pointed at herself with her index finger.
“But for me? I was considerably stronger than the previous Heroes, so I emerged from the battle with the Demon King without so much as a scratch. Compared to the self-sacrifice of previous Heroes, I did nothing. It was a fight I was bound to win.”
“Hero.”
“Yes?”
As I listened, I started getting a little frustrated.
“What are you saying? You kill the Demon King and then act like it’s no big deal? Are you kidding me?”
“What, what…?”
“You downplay your achievements when I asked if they were too small? You’re cutting down what is considered a world-class feat! I picked the wrong person to ask.”
“Huh? No…”
“Listen carefully.”
I gently grabbed her shoulders to meet her gaze.
“The fact that you’re alive doesn’t make it any easier. The incredible thing is that you did something so difficult while clinging to life. You are the greatest among the Heroes, so please have some confidence.”
“Ah, I see…”
“Yes, just understand that.”
After giving her a smile, I let go of her shoulders.
This is why you have to choose wisely who to ask.
When I asked if this was right, she was undermining her accomplishments.
‘I should throw away the thought that the Demon King might have been unimpressive.’
With this Hero being the strongest, the Demon King had no way of winning.
“The Demon King must have been quite strong, right? If the strongest Hero had to struggle against them…”
Rate, for some reason, nodded with a bright red face.
“Well, they were strong. Quite suspicious, to be honest.”
“Suspicious, you say?”
“While fighting, it was fine, but when I defeated him, he closed his eyes with a peaceful smile, as if to say, ‘Let’s just wait a bit longer.’
“…Huh?”
Was that last sentiment really the vibe it gave off?
“Hero, you didn’t mention a peaceful smile while I was writing the book!”
When she said “let’s just wait a bit longer,” I figured that was typical final words for a Demon King.
“Oh, I just remembered… are there any problems?”
“Uh, how do I put this…”
If the Demon King died peacefully while making such a statement…
1. Maybe he was controlled by someone or something and had just recovered, ready to go see his deceased lover.
2…
‘What? The only conclusion I can reach is the first.’
If that’s the case, then it would be serious.
The reason the Hero before me is still alive could be that they were trying to catch the final Boss behind the Demon King… Isn’t that plausible?
…But given that 300 years have passed and the world’s still like this, maybe it’s just my imagination?
Yeah, that’s probably it.
“Phew, no, Hero. Now that I think about it, it seemed like just unnecessary worry.”
“What the heck was the problem…?”
“There’s just something like that. But honestly, thinking about how much time has passed without anything happening, it seems like there’s really nothing to worry about. There’s no way something drastic is going to happen now, right?”
If something were to happen, it would have happened long ago.
Whether it be the final Boss descending or creating an even stronger new Demon King to send out.
But nothing happened?
…
***
In a forest adjacent to the Hypno Marquess’ territory.
“Hey, did you see today’s newspaper?”
“Huh? No, I haven’t looked yet.”
“Well, it says our Zech was kidnapped but has returned!”
“Oh really? I suppose one encounter like that is worth having in life.”
“But get this, apparently Zech came back with a ‘girl’!”
“What? Our Zech already has a girlfriend?!”
The Hypno Marquess couple, granted leisure by the Emperor, leisurely strolled through the forest without being bogged down by duties.
“Hehe, I’ve been worried about how both Zik and Zech seemed uninterested in romance, but thankfully it looks like at least Zech is making progress!”
“I just hope Zech hasn’t forgotten our family motto…”
“‘Don’t stand out’ is something neither of them has adhered to, right?”
“Right? I distinctly told Zik to keep his muscles to a reasonable size…”
“And Zech became too noticeable because of the book.”
“Tsk, tsk, both of them are too conspicuous.”
“Hehehe, at least they didn’t stand out as much as you!”
“Oh, come on. What did I do to stand out?”
The Hypno Marquess snapped his fingers and said.
“If I erased all memories through hypnosis, that means I wouldn’t stand out.”
“Yes, yes, I suppose.”
“Hah, seriously…”
With a teasing tone, the Marquess hugged his wife tightly.
As their faces drew closer,
-Rustle.
“Huh?”
A rustling sound came from the bushes, prompting the Marquess to set his wife down.
He moved closer to the bushes to investigate and was met with…
“Who goes there?”
“…A little girl?”
A girl with white short hair and red eyes stood before him.
“Oh my, it’s been ages since I saw someone from the horned race.”
She had black horns sprouting from her head.