《No, Saint, Don’t Awaken the Demon King!》 prologue
The image of this woman was the goddess, Miriat. A similarly beautiful young girl, with silver hair and golden eyes that seemed to have been ripped from the sun itself, was about to grasp that hand. The equally beautiful young girl was extending her hand with her eyes closed, appearing tranquil and immaculate. She had a youthful figure still far from fully developing; in fact, calling her young was not even accurate. She was only 14, yes, she was still a child. The child wore modest clothing, an old peasant dress. She was, of course, of humble origin, with humble parents and a humble attitude. She was a common child, but very beautiful. Oh, what disasters would come when she grew up, thought the peasants watching her, understanding the hardships of their own class. There were also nobles and kings. The nobles were already starting to have sinister thoughts about her. "How sinful!" The sacred place reacted to their thoughts and expelled them miserably. The foolish mortals who had never set foot in the temple had no idea about the peculiarities of the place. After all, these mortals would never have had the chance to step into the temple in their lifetime if it weren''t for today''s event. Any nefarious thought would result in expulsion. To be fair, the nobles were not the only ones who were expelled. There were also peasants of different professions. In fact, throughout the ceremony, someone was always being expelled. The blessed door of the goddess''s sanctuary could not close because of all the sinful people! Constantly, beams of light would envelop a foolish mortal and expel them through the door. The pope was frustrated, as he had to close the door and couldn¡¯t move from the entrance! The pope was indignant, his face flushed. "I¡¯ll make sure to put portraits of these humble people in every church so they¡¯ll never be able to enter again!" the pope swore. The temple was a sacred site that only a few members of the church could enter in their lifetime. Otherwise, only the chosen ones or those selected by the sanctuary could enter. But today was different. Today, everyone could enter. Anyone accompanying a girl no younger than 5 and no older than 16 could enter. Today was a special day of joy and nervousness. For 700 years, no day like this had ever occurred.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it. The saint, an elf who represented the goddess and maintained peace in the world by keeping the seal of the demon king, was retiring. Her life was ending. A new saint would be chosen by the goddess. A new representative of the goddess, pure and dedicated to safeguarding the world, would give her life to fulfill her duty. A woman who would take on the role of the mother of the world. A role every girl dreams of. A story every girl knows and wishes to be part of. A destiny¡­ already written in stone. The saint could not live any other way. In the huge temple, there were hundreds of thousands of people. Peasants and nobles. Humans, elves, dwarfs, beastmen, etc. All the non-demon races were present so that their girls could be candidates for the saint. None should be stopped from taking the test. And none could refuse. There was no excuse not to participate. During the ceremony, the strange place seemed to distort time. Only a few tens of thousands of girls had been inspected, yet no one felt tired. It was as if the place enveloped them with a protective cloak that deprived them of any human need. In any case, the mortals in the sanctuary were expectant. Today, the world was waiting for a new mother. The hand of the girl, moving slowly and imperceptibly trembling, got closer and closer to the goddess¡¯s hand. The girl¡¯s heart was beating furiously. Unlike any other mortal in the temple, the girl was not thinking about whether she would be chosen as the saint or not. No, she knew it was impossible! Instead, she feared what would happen once she touched the goddess¡¯s hand. Her back was soaked with sweat. What if she was punished? What if they accuse her of blaspheming the goddess''s ritual? How would she get out of this? Forgive me, goddess, I did it out of desperation! she nervously apologized. But the events were inevitable. She was already there. She had to take the goddess¡¯s hand and hope for the best. Hope that her life wouldn¡¯t be ruined in that moment. She had hope for a future. To explore the world. To make a name for herself. Perhaps, she would end up apologizing to the goddess every morning, afternoon, and night for the rest of her life. The girl¡¯s father, lost in the crowd with erratic thoughts, nervously bit his nails. It was clear to anyone who looked closely that his thoughts were also not directed at whether his daughter would be chosen as the saint or not. It was lucky that no one had the time to notice his pitiful and insignificant self¡­ nor the pool of sweat beneath his feet. Everyone was distracted, watching the ceremony. "Oh goddess, we didn¡¯t want to sin. We did it to protect her!" the man swore. Things that must happen end up happening; it¡¯s the law of life. It¡¯s common sense. The girl¡¯s hand brushed against the goddess¡¯s hand... and it happened. In a brief moment, a halo surrounded her. The statue of the goddess turned golden, and the power contained within the statue entered the girl¡¯s body. Two golden halos sprouted from the girl¡¯s back. Her entire being shone with purity. The girl¡¯s silver hair turned golden, just like her eyes. A new saint had emerged. Everyone stood up in awe and reverence. Nobles? Kneel. Heroes? Kneel. Kings? Kneel. Paladins? Serve me. In the temple, where the goddess¡¯s will was fully exercised, the saint was like a lesser deity. Everyone kneeled and, in unison, said: "We salute the saint, the protector of the world. The daughter of the goddess. The immaculate. The pure. The mother of all races." But despite this, a few people found it absurd what they had just witnessed. They were kneeling, but at the same time, they choked on their saliva. These few people looked at each other to confirm they weren¡¯t hallucinating or dreaming. "Am I crazy? Why? How?! This has never happened before!" "It¡¯s a dream¡­ It must be. This is impossible! Did the goddess make a mistake? Does this make sense?" "The saint... I... I don¡¯t want to think about it!" A lost girl in the crowd, head bowed, murmured incredulously. "The mother of the world... is a man?" And in the saint¡¯s mind. "No, I¡¯m a man! How can I be the saint? I don¡¯t want to be the saint! Goddess, don¡¯t punish me! I don¡¯t want this! I¡¯m just here as a substitute! Goddess, don¡¯t make this mistake!" cap 1- REASONS The new saint felt miserable. Her life somehow felt like an absurd joke. "Father, mother... what do I do now?" she asked, looking blankly, her eyes tearful. The ceremony ended, and the temple expelled everyone, without exception. Every person inside the temple returned to the place they had entered. The new saint returned to her hometown''s temple and collapsed. Those from the same village who had witnessed the ceremony and knew the truth also returned and saw the new saint in shock. They were still recovering; however, some kneeled and lowered their heads. The villagers who had not attended the ceremony looked at them in confusion, not understanding the situation. A deathly silence enveloped the temple. "Ah, two weeks ago, I scolded him for stealing apples... will I be imprisoned?" someone lamented. "I changed his diapers, I can assure you, he''s a boy," whispered a middle-aged woman to another. "This village will have new festivities, how annoying," the village chief slapped his face in frustration. The thoughts of many were in chaos. A boy they had known all their lives, seen naked, scolded, and was a cheeky bandit was now the mother of all races. Even the kings could not speak to him as an equal. The thoughts of the new saint''s parents were also in chaos. Their son, who was the fruit of their love and was rude and crude, now had the role of embodying terms like purity and the beloved daughter of the goddess. The thoughts of the new saint... became stagnant at some point in time. She was blank as she tried to remove her wig, but for some reason, she couldn''t. However, in this sea of people who had lost their composure, there was a man who remained calm. "First things first. It won''t be long before the paladins come and take Clai... sorry, the saint. You must prepare. Don''t worry, I''ll accompany and protect you, I promise, saint," said the village priest. As a member of the church, he had attended the ceremony and already knew the situation. With calmness and solemnity, he accepted the situation as the will of the goddess. He closed his eyes and knelt before the statue of the goddess. "Thank you, goddess! I knew you wouldn''t abandon this pious child. Finally, I can leave this place. Now I''ll enjoy my life in a palace! Fufufufu," he thought happily as he danced. His faith was absolute... and so was his ambition. He would not hesitate or question the reasons. Those were not matters for mortals. He would just take advantage. He had been stuck in this small village for 25 years and had never managed to get transferred. However, now the new saint came from the very village he was in charge of. That could be conveniently interpreted as his teachings guiding the saint to connect with the goddess. "Subarashi!" he exclaimed. "Me? Is this a dream? Have I become the saint? Do I have to leave? Why should I leave? I don''t want to! Ouch," she still didn''t want to accept the situation. She winked with all her might at the wig, originally silver but now turned gold, but it was useless. The wig fused with her hair and radiated holy power. Her back was soaked in sweat for the third time that day. Fearing a disturbing thought, Clain began to check his hidden parts. He lifted his dress. He touched his chest and groin. "No, no, no... it''s still there! Great," he sighed in relief. "Saint, calm down, that is improper of you! Remember to behave, you are a pure and righteous lady!" a drunken, mocking villager spoke. The relief and calmness that Clain had regained evaporated upon hearing the man''s voice. His eyes turned red, and he scolded. "You, damn it. This is all your fault! You were the one who gave me the idea to carry out this nonsense! You must take responsibility somehow!" The drunken man tipped back a mug of beer. "Don''t blame me, boy... or girl? What are you now? What a dilemma. Anyway, you were the one who took a drunkard''s nonsense seriously, wahahaha," he laughed. Clain clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. He looked at his parents, who were still pale and had not said a word, searching for hope. How did all this happen? Why did his attempt to protect lead to this chaos? The parents had no answers. "Saint, you must accept the will of the goddess. The immense wisdom of the goddess gave you the role of the mother of the world... regardless of your gender. Perhaps this was all the goddess''s plan..." Clain listened to the priest''s babble and rolled his eyes. He thought this man was hopeless. "What plan? My sister''s illness? Her inability to enter the sacred space? Tell me, priest, are you saying that everything was a plan for me to disguise myself as my twin sister and send me to the sacred space? Why would the goddess go through all that trouble? Nonsense! If I were the destined saint, I would have been born a woman, not a man!" That''s right, the new saint... the boy named Clain had not entered the ceremony to blaspheme or mock the sacred ceremony. He would never dare to. The protection of the demon king''s seal and peace in the world were maintained thanks to the saint''s work. The role of the saint deserved respect and reverence. No, his actions were purely driven by pure and protective motives. In Clain''s family were his two parents, him... and his twin sister. A common and ordinary peasant family. They survived by managing the village''s only inn. His father was a former adventurer who traveled from place to place. One day, he rescued a young lady who had been kidnapped by goblins, who turned out to be the daughter of a viscount. They fell in love and escaped because their love was impossible.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. Some time later, she became pregnant, and they settled in this small village, leaving behind the lucrative but dangerous life of adventuring. A common and clich¨¦ story. From their union and love, a pair of healthy and happy golden-eyed, silver-haired twins were born. A boy and a girl. The children''s growth flowed naturally. They walked at one year old. They spoke at two years old. They ran at three years old. Always inseparable. In a village of 300 people like this, everyone knew each other, and everyone saw them grow. Every boy and girl in the village was like part of each family. Four years ago, Clain''s sister''s health began to deteriorate for no apparent reason. Mild symptoms like dizziness, body temperature spikes... until the failure of movements and a pain that seemed to consume her from the inside. The priest, who examined her and tried to heal her, was powerless. His sacred power had no significant effects. The girl began to suffer from long-lasting dreams of days and weeks. Every time she opened her eyes, she looked confused as if her reasoning had failed. The mother returned to her noble family, whom she had abandoned, to kneel and ask for help, but she was rejected and expelled. Her former family rejected her for choosing to run away with a commoner. In just one year, the girl''s health reached its lowest point. She closed her eyes and never opened them again. Fortunately, she was still alive thanks to the priest''s sacred power. His meager sacred power at least served for that, though she was more of a corpse than a living person. Clain remembers the last words that came from his sister''s lips. "Clain... come... closer," she whispered. "More... more... shit, I''m not... going to... stab you. More," Clain stepped closer. "Wh-what do you want, you asshole? What will you tell me?" Clain asked. His sister grabbed his neck and... kiss. She kissed him on the lips. Clain''s eyes opened wide. His heart raced in confusion. He thought she was going to slap him or something, not this! He quickly pulled away. "Shit, gross! You''re a pig! Why are you kissing me?! We''re siblings, you bitch! And your mouth stinks!" Clain complained frantically. He didn''t understand; nor did he want to; the mess his sister had just made. His sister didn''t say anything. She just looked at him calmly while smiling faintly. The parents, who saw this, were stunned and covered their mouths. They never knew what to do with these twins of theirs. Always doing and getting into strange things. Her bony finger pointed to the sword in Clain''s hand. Two tears slid down her thin and pale face. Her smile reflected loneliness and a difficult decision. "Sword... please... use it and... everything... will... end-" Her voice was almost inaudible and hoarse. Every sound she made seemed to tear at her throat and rip away her last moments of fleeting sanity. She closed her eyes. Clain sweated all over his body every time he remembered that moment. He tried to suppress it and not think about it. What did his sister mean? Did she want him to kill her and end her pain? To Clain, her words meant the renouncement of her life. The will to sleep forever and escape the infernal pain. But how could he renounce her? As a twin, he felt a deeper connection with her than with anyone else, even more than with his parents. He didn''t want to lose her. He didn''t want her to die. He wanted to help her and heal her. He wanted to be her hero and for her to know that as her older brother, he would do everything he could to make sure she didn''t suffer and was happy... except to be something more than siblings, that he could never do. Never! But there was nothing he could do at that moment. They didn''t have the money to go to expensive places to get her healed. There was nothing like insurance or volunteer campaigns that could cure such destructive diseases as hers. He had to get a lot of money. So much money that he could build a castle of gold. He remembered that the fastest way to become famous and earn a lot of money was to be an excellent swordsman. There were many ways to earn money and fame using a sword. Adventurer, knight, mercenary, bandit, raiding commerce guild branches, kidnapping the pope. Both correct and incorrect ways. "You want me to use my sword? Fine! I''ll use it." So he decided to become a great swordsman. It would take many years, however. He wasn''t sure how long his sister would hold on and if he could achieve his goal by then. Every day was filled with frustration and the urge to hurry. His father returned to his adventurer job. Clain occasionally accompanied him to gather more money, though the amount was miserable. That''s why when the news about the trip to the temple of the goddess was announced in the village, Clain hoped that his sister could be healed by going to that place with the sacred will of the goddess. They were not the only ones to think this way. Many families took advantage of the ceremony to bring sick daughters or relatives to be healed. And it worked. Some families even sold spots as companions and made a lot of money. But that''s beside the point. So they prepared his sister for entry into the place. Their hopes were shattered. There was one unique requirement to enter the place... to accept the goddess''s welcome. His sister, unconscious and half-dead, didn''t have the capacity to accept the goddess''s invitation. And that wasn''t the only problem. "I... I don''t know if it''s the right time to say this, but the church asked for a list of candidates who met the conditions. I thought she could attend, so I signed her up... If she''s missing, it would be considered a crime against the goddess. All of you... would fall into her maternal arms," the priest said. As their hopes shattered, this news from the priest terrified them to death, almost literally. "But... my sister can''t attend because of her condition. We''re not disrespecting the goddess," Clain replied. The priest sighed and shook his head in resignation. "Her inability to attend the ceremony can be seen in many ways, foolish boy." Fearing the consequences of not attending the ceremony, they racked their brains for a solution. "What if we escape? Remember? Like when we fell in love and you took me...," suggested Clain''s mother. "I don''t think that''s an option. Once they start looking for us, we''ll already be dead," Clain''s father explained, somewhat embarrassed by the exposure of his intimate past. An enemy wanted for a crime against the goddess was already a dead man; he just didn''t know it yet. The time for the ceremony approached. The drunkard burped, half asleep, and said, "What''s the problem? Aren''t you a dead ringer for your sister? You''re more of a girl than a boy. Why don''t you pass yourself off as your sister? There''s no difference!" Everyone looked at the drunkard as if he were an idiot. Wouldn''t that get them into more trouble? They wondered. A second later, they looked at Clain. In fact, anyone would confuse him for a girl. A beautiful girl who could even break sacred vows. They began to consider the idea more and more. They were already in a life-or-death situation. Nothing could be worse. The rules for who would be allowed into the goddess''s temple were simple. They must accept the invitation.Each candidate between the ages of 5 and 16 can have a companion, though it is not mandatory. This is for the girls'' peace of mind. However, if you''re a candidate and don''t attend... the paladins would visit your home. That''s why the list of girls who met the conditions was verified to avoid prohibiting them from participating or them refusing to attend. Desperate situations call for desperate measures. "But how am I supposed to enter? I didn''t receive the goddess''s invitation, I''m not a girl!" Clain replied. "There are two orphans here. You can accompany one of them, anyway, they have no one," the drunkard rolled his eyes and grabbed one of the girls who was watching everything like it was a show. "Why is it so hard for you to think? Life''s about finding solutions, damn it!" the drunkard grumbled and fell asleep in a corner of the temple. That''s how Clain entered the ceremony, substituting for his sister. Now he regretted it with every fiber of his being. "I''m an idiot. My past self is an idiot. My sister is an idiot. My ancestors are idiots. My future children will be idiots. I don''t even want to think about the consequences if they find out I''m not a girl," he lamented. The world''s faith was based on the goddess and her representative, the saint. One of the common sense commandments of the faith of this world was: - The saint is always a woman. The goddess uses the saint as a vessel for her power to represent her will. Therefore, the saint is the incarnation of the goddess, her image. But then, he appeared. A boy who became the saint. Conspiracy stories wouldn''t take long to appear. "No, I must not let anyone else find out my gender. I have to avoid it," he decided. As he clenched his fist and made a determined decision, one of the orphans touched her chin and spoke. "Clain, don''t just look at the bad side. Now you have sacred powers and as a saint, they must be very strong. Can''t you try to heal your sister?" asked the girl with brown hair, about the same age as Clain. She had a mole under her left eye. Next to the girl was another one, but with a mole under her right eye. They were the orphans, who were also twins. Clain slapped his head, realizing. All the problems he had been thinking about blinded his thoughts. Of course! I didn''t think of this! He felt that the future would be beautiful. Two seconds later, he frowned. "These powers... How do I use them? I don''t feel anything." cap 2- The Saint, a High-Risk Role - Part 1 The temple expelled everyone. The Pope, who guarded the temple''s door, returned to his office. He opened his eyes. ¡°Goddess, thank you so much for granting us a new chosen one. We will guide and protect her, no matter how many lives it costs us, until she fulfills her predestined role,¡± he prayed. With a steady yet sweaty hand, he pulled a gem from his robe and, without taking a breath, recorded the information it contained. With the gem, he could access the temple''s records, where he reviewed the candidates¡¯ data. His good memory allowed him to recall with great detail the face of the new Saint, and without difficulty, he found her data. With a snap of his fingers, he summoned one of the paladins who was standing guard at the office door. The door opened. The Pope quickly sketched a portrait of the girl and noted down her details, which he handed to the paladin who entered the office¡ªspacious and with ostentatious windows that allowed air and light to reach every corner. The office lacked expensive ornaments like vases, mirrors, or wines. It was filled with detailed drawings and paintings, signed by the Pope himself. The paladin checked the data. Amelia Sophia ¨C Village XXXXX, Kingdom XXX, 14 years old, new Saint. The paladin removed his helmet and wiped his forehead. For some reason, he was drenched in sweat. Then, the paladin nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll handle this quickly, venerable Pope. I won¡¯t allow anything to happen to the new protector,¡± the paladin said as he bowed and left. He set out to gather a squadron to receive and protect the newly born Saint. On his way, however, he didn¡¯t forget to stop a comrade and hand him a letter. ¡°If I don¡¯t return, give this to Maria from the kitchen. See you, I think,¡± he said as he departed. His comrade watched him leave with tears in his eyes. He tore the letter apart. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Maria from the kitchen likes me too,¡± he whispered imperceptibly. Back to the Pope. The Pope nervously tapped the table and leaned back in his chair. ¡°Nothing should happen to the new Saint, right? Well, even if something does, that woman will show up to prevent it... maybe, yes,¡± he muttered and sighed. He set aside that thought, knowing there was nothing he could do about it, and his eyes grew sharp. He remembered the temple¡¯s events and keenly realized he had pending tasks. Time passed. The Pope remained in the office, having pulled out a stack of papers. For some reason, he was reviewing the temple¡¯s records and scribbling on the papers. Thousands of detailed portraits and data were taking form. ++++++++++++++++++++++ Dragons are a race of war and violence. They spend their lives wreaking havoc over the slightest grievances and reasons, despite being considered as intelligent as humans, elves, and dwarves. And, despite this, there is a stage in a dragon''s life known to scholars as the ¡°maternal stage,¡± which lasts about 600 years. In this stage, all dragons become incredibly docile to protect their eggs until they hatch. What happens after? Do they protect them until adulthood? No! They abandon them to their fate the minute they are born! There have even been documented cases of dragons launching their hatchlings several kilometers away to expel them from their territory, particularly fire dragons! This erratic behavior in dragons has left many scholars with gray hair as they try to understand them and determine their causes. For now, the only answer is that it¡¯s part of their biological system. It¡¯s still under investigation. Ragner is a dragon going through this stage. Ragner lived a peaceful life for 400 years¡ªuntil now. In the heart of the forest and the mountains, where a waterfall cascaded like a river of liquid light, a thunder dragon was busy relocating its nest. Its imposing figure gleamed with electric sparks as its scales reflected the deep blue of the water and the golden hue of the lightning. This place had been its home for centuries, a territory isolated from the noise and intrusion of the lesser races. But that had changed. The tranquility he valued so much had been broken by the ambition of one of the many lesser races. He didn¡¯t know which one, as he couldn¡¯t differentiate them. They had begun building settlements nearby, destroying the surroundings of his territory. Ragner knew it wouldn¡¯t be long before these lesser beings entered his domain, forcing him to confront them¡ªsomething he¡¯d be more than willing to do at any other time in his long life. But now, it wasn¡¯t convenient. The egg he was protecting needed peace, and a confrontation with those pesky lesser races would mean he couldn¡¯t devote 100% of his time to the egg. He chose to move his nest and later reclaim his territory. He needed to find a quiet, safe place, free from noise or danger, so the egg could develop without complications. Only 300 years remained. It was about to hatch. With one last look at his nest, carefully constructed with golden branches and stones imbued with magical energy, the dragon took the egg in his claws. Its shell, shining with a mixture of sparks and moisture, contained the most precious life the dragon could imagine. The only life he could have in his long and solitary existence. Dragons have no genders and don¡¯t need partners to reproduce.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. ¡°A high, secluded place,¡± he thought, unfurling his majestic wings. Each movement produced a faint thunder that resonated through the air as the dragon rose gracefully. The gentle sound of his wings caused the egg to tremble slightly. Dragon eggs are sensitive to noise and shake easily. At the same time, they are as fragile as bird eggs, though their shells are thicker. The dragon couldn¡¯t grip it too tightly. He had to be careful. Flying above the clouds to remain unseen, he ensured no disturbances would arise. Nothing should go wrong, right? +++ The paladins didn¡¯t take long to arrive. Clain barely had time to calm down and reconsider his situation from a new perspective. Maybe¡ªjust maybe¡ªwith his newfound sacred and divine powers, healing his sister wouldn¡¯t be a problem, right? Stories of the miracles performed by the Saint''s powers had spread far and wide across the world. His heart raced with excitement. The villagers all gathered to greet the approaching paladins, who moved like intimidating beasts radiating resentment toward everything evil and unjust in the world. gulp Clain felt nervous as they approached. The purpose of these intimidating men and women was him¡ªor rather, her. Clain needed to get used to acting like a girl, though the very idea didn¡¯t sit well with him. ¡°Clain¡­ What do you think about running? We¡¯ll act as a shield,¡± his mother whispered. Clain rolled his eyes. What was his mother¡¯s obsession with fleeing or escaping? He shook his head in disapproval. His mother, like the devoted priest, was beyond help. Both were missing a screw, compared to him, a perfectly sane person¡­ It had been less than half a day since the ceremony ended and the paladins arrived. Clain was amazed at how quickly they had come. It clearly showed the importance of her role as the Saint. They must want to protect her and take her to a safe place so she could begin her duties, Clain reasoned. hmph But Clain raised his chin with pride. Protect me? I¡¯m not like the other Saints who can only heal and purify here and there. I can protect myself! I¡¯ve killed orcs and ogres, and my sword is always with me. Even if I had to travel on foot, nothing would happen to me because monsters would run away with their tails between their legs. hmph Clain was convinced of this. He trusted in his abilities, honed through effort, talent, motivation, and experience. The squad of about 30¡ªno, 300 paladins? Huh? So excessive¡ªarrived at the village entrance. In perfect synchronization, they dismounted their horses, drew their swords, and pointed them skyward before driving them savagely into the ground. Kneeling on one knee, they shouted ceremoniously. The earth trembled. Birds in the distance fled in fear. ¡°Greetings, Holy Mother of the races, the Pure One, the Favored Daughter of the Goddess, the Savior of the World, the sworn Arch-Nemesis of the Demon King, the Fear of Demons, the Nightmare of Evil, the Friend of the People, the Omnipresent One¡­ ETC. We, your protectors and servants, greet you and offer our most sincere respects. Please forgive us for any errors or misconduct before your divine presence. The world awaits you; kindly accompany us to return to the capital immediately.¡± ¡°¡­¡­¡± Clain was speechless. It wasn¡¯t the first time Clain had heard the endless titles attributed to the Saint, but it was the first time he truly questioned why she had so many. What kind of role did she have as the Saint? And now that he thought about it, how did the Saint protect the Demon King¡¯s seal? What and where was the Demon King¡¯s seal? These were secrets of the highest level, known by only a few. Logically, she didn¡¯t know either. Clain found it a bit strange, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it much. The greeting from the paladins made him stumble half a step back, seriously considering the idea of running away that his mother had suggested earlier in a whisper. It was too late. They were already right in front of him, and Clain needed to figure out how to use his powers to heal his sister. Clain pushed down his nerves and greeted the paladins with grace and a slight curve of his small, red lips. His golden hair swayed in the wind, and the setting sun returning home after a day''s work served as a backdrop to highlight the beautiful visage of the new Saint. The paladins marveled fervently at the sight, capturing the very image of a true Saint, pure and full of the goddess¡¯s grace. ¡°Hahaha! Kyaa, how elegant and powerful! Don¡¯t be so nervous. I, the new Saint, may be greatly lacking in skills, so I ask for your guidance and care¡­ P-Please, allow me to ask you a question,¡± Clain said, hesitating outwardly for a moment, his melodious tone filling the already fervent paladins with awe. The paladins lowered their heads. The first paladin, their leader, was the one who spoke: ¡°Do not hesitate to speak, venerable Saint. Your words, true and beautiful, need no restraint.¡± Clain clenched his fists and stepped forward to stand closer to the paladin. ¡°Leader of the paladins, may I know your name?¡± ¡°I am Tom, my lady savior.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Tom,¡± Clain said, lifting his new humble dress slightly¡ªa recently made garment by the town¡¯s clothing designer¡ªrevealing some rough manners. It was a white dress with a ceremonial blue cape. ¡°I¡¯m very excited to begin my role as the Saint, but it¡¯s getting dark, and I haven¡¯t fully said goodbye to my loved ones¡ªmy dear neighbors. Can¡¯t we delay our departure until tomorrow? My companions haven¡¯t finished preparing either,¡± Clain asked. He turned to look at his "loved ones" and dear neighbors¡ªthe town''s commoners¡ªkneeling silently in the presence of the paladins. The paladin lowered his head in apology for having to reject the Saint¡¯s request. ¡°That is not possible, my lady Saint. We must return now. Every breath counts! Please understand! We must return to the capital and secure you in the palace. We must leave! Please accompany us,¡± the paladin said nervously but firmly. He sought understanding but would accept nothing else from the Saint. What¡¯s up with this bastard? Clain wondered, slightly annoyed. Moments ago, it seemed they would blindly agree to any request he made, but his perfectly reasonable request was rejected. Does he also have something wrong in his head? He narrowed his eyes and squatted to meet the paladin¡¯s gaze through the helmet. The paladin met his stare, somewhat surprised by the sudden change in behavior from the upright and gentle Saint. They stared at each other for three breaths. ¡°...!¡± A chill ran down Clain¡¯s spine. His intuition screamed that something was terribly wrong. Clain couldn¡¯t pinpoint the paladin¡¯s exact emotions through his gaze, but he could almost feel a palpable sense of foreboding. The stare-off between the sanctified golden eyes and the dark ones ended when the latter shifted their gaze to the sky. Something had caught their attention. The other paladins also looked up at the sky and rose. They tried to draw their swords, but the weapons got stuck in the ground. What a tragedy! What an embarrassment! Raindrops began falling from the evening sky, which had darkened and turned into a sea of clouds. ¡°Huh? When did this happen?¡± Clain was confused for the hundredth time that blessed day. Since the arrival of the paladins, less than a hundred breaths had passed. How had the atmosphere changed so quickly? He found no answers, none that were natural or logical. He looked up at the sky and raised his hand to shield his eyes from the drops now falling. Thunder rumbled. He closed his eyes briefly at the deafening thunderclap. His gaze failed to catch an object hurtling toward his location until it was too late. Clain noticed it when it was less than a meter away and reacted reflexively, not knowing if his action made any sense. He moved the hand he had over his head and tried to deflect the falling object. He succeeded¡ªsort of. The object shattered. Clain was drenched in a bluish fluid with a texture resembling both egg yolk and egg white, while a soft object adorned his golden hair. No, it didn¡¯t resemble it¡ªthat¡¯s exactly what it was. Clain froze as a current of electricity enveloped him, along with the nauseating and repugnant smell that surrounded him. The nausea churned his stomach, doubling him over as he vomited. Some of the fluid had entered his mouth, and he had swallowed it. Before Clain realized it, the paladins had formed a protective circle around him. Thankfully, most managed to draw their swords¡ªnot all of them. ¡°A¡­ a dragon! The Saint has attracted and provoked a thunder dragon!¡± While Clain wiped his mouth after his stomach¡¯s revolt, he heard this absurdity. What did I do? When and how?! I¡¯m innocent! I didn¡¯t do anything! At first, he wanted to argue against the accusation, but he fully grasped Tom¡¯s words. Dragon?! Clain was about to faint in horror. In his subconscious, Clain classified this day as the second-worst of his life. His life had been fairly normal up until now, with a hint of drama and tragedy. How did the genre change so brutally and abruptly today?! END