8 – The saintess is crying

14 Days have passed since the hero kidnapped the wizard and left.

Inside the huge temple, a huge prayer room prepared exclusively for saints.

There was Lancia, who was praised by everyone as her holy woman.

The black priest’s clothes, which were always neatly arranged, were disheveled, and the touch was nice. Her white hair, which Duna loved, turned frizzy and lost her strength.

The clear walls that Sol liked were deeply depressed and lost their light, and the dark circles under her eyes clearly showed her body condition.

But, she couldn’t stop her prayers.

She is said to possess the greatest divine power in the empire, but Lancia was somehow broken.

“Holy Lady, 5 hours have already passed.”

“…”

One of the priests who was quietly watching from the back spoke with concern.

Lancia did not answer.

She was still in the worst mood, and the goddess she worshiped did not answer her prayers.

His expression was also not good. She was worried about Lancia, who seemed to be about to collapse, and she couldn’t do this or that, just rolling her feet in her place.

“Drink a glass of water and rest.”

“It’s okay.”

“Saint, your body will be damaged.”

“…I’ll take a break in an hour.”

“Yes, then.”

In the end, the priest gave up persuasion and left the prayer room with a gloomy face.

He will guard the door for the next hour, preventing everyone from approaching. Then, he will try to persuade himself by coming back into the prayer room with a glass of water.

He is a kind person.

Even thinking so, I couldn’t stop my displeasure against him for interfering with my prayers.

Lancia recognized the fact that she was on the verge of going crazy. And, she admitted.

“Mister Sol, I miss you.”

Lancia’s weak voice echoed faintly from Lancia’s mouth.

She couldn’t accept this world without brush.

Tears welled up in her eyes when he praised her for being pretty, and she banged her head on the cold marble floor with an expression as if she would cry at any moment.

I miss his kindness when he wakes up without the knowledge of other colleagues, puts me to sleep on his lap, and stands at the watch instead.

Because he was the youngest, he was always favored.

Even those dirty-tempered colleagues couldn’t touch me carelessly just because they were favored by the uncle.

The uncle was actually the leader of the warrior party, and although he was a commoner like himself, he was recognized by everyone and was an indispensable talent.

Water leaks from her heart. The leaked water turns into tears and drips drop by drop, soaking the marble.

I was shedding such hot tears, but my heart was empty and so cold.

I still remember her first meeting with him.

“Hello, are you Lancia?”

Her inexperienced man greeted her awkwardly, waving her hand.

I couldn’t forget the embarrassment and confusion that was revealed in the face that I couldn’t completely hide.

He explained later that a friend who was younger than expected came out, and he wondered if he should take him with him.

“Ah, from now on I will be in charge of support from the rear! Thank you, hero!”

“What?”

“Eh?”

“Puha, I’m sorry. I’m a Solaseido mage. You’re a woman, and I’m training right now, so I came alone.”

“Ah, that… Ugh.”

The embarrassing scene that comes to mind then was like that at the time. Of course, I knew that the cool warrior would be a man, and I was thrilled without even realizing it.

If it hadn’t been for his kind explanation and unconcerned attitude, he would have sat there and not looked up for a while.

“You can call me Mister comfortably.”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

“Mister, I’m not young enough to walk around holding hands.”

Reminds me of the hand he extended with consideration. Where and what he did, he was a rough hand who had gone through a fair amount of trouble just by looking with his own eyes.

Actually, Lancia regretted not holding that hand for a while.

As an orphan, she was not accustomed to being treated as a child by someone, and she was very afraid of the care she received for the first time.

She worried that if she was treated as a child, she would not be recognized and would later be kicked out.

“Hero, Lancia is not needed for this party.”

“Owen!!!”

Then, there was a day when that worry might have become a reality.

Owen, the recently joined elven archer, glared at Lancia and gnashed his teeth.

Hero, Duna jumped up from her seat and shouted at Owen, but Owen’s expression was still cold.

A rudimentary mistake made during the morning battle that day.

Her poor judgment of the situation caused her to get confused about the sacred art she was supposed to use, and almost got seriously injured. As luck would have it, she wasn’t hurt, but her leg was injured when her solar attempt gave up her own safety to keep her.

Lancia couldn’t help but lift her head.

I saw him sitting next to me, with a bandage on his leg.

She cried because of her guilt and regret that he had been hurt because of her. I gritted my teeth and endured the crying that seemed like it would explode at any moment.

Sorry, I was scared.

However, you shouldn’t cry here. She had to apologize properly and say that she would make sure this doesn’t happen in the future.

Lancia liked Doona who hugged her warmly, and she liked a man who was always considerate of her.

Molon battle was scary, and I didn’t want anyone getting hurt.

However, as she wanted to be with the two of them more than that, the moment she opened her mouth.

“Owen.”

Unable to hide his tired expression, he stepped out.

“The wounded are out.”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

He responded to Owen’s shrewd attitude.

“I’m only 18 years old now. It’s my first time traveling and fighting with us, so I can’t help but be clumsy.”

“That’s what’s important. You, mage, are the ones who know best that lives can come and go over the slightest mistake in battle here.”

“I know what you want! But this kid is just inexperienced, and his talent is overflowing.”

“We just need to recruit more capable people.”

“Where do you recruit someone? Did you get old for nothing? You think anyone can join a warrior’s party?!”

An argument ensued between the two. Doona quietly approached Lancia, and she stood by her side.

“Listen to me, I will never let Lancia go. She will defeat the Demon King with us, return to the Empire, and live happily ever after.”

“You…”

Her confident answer left Owen speechless.

Doona smiled quietly, and Lancia watched him blankly with surprised rabbit eyes.

“Your life is in danger? Don’t worry, my defense magic can block anything. Just learn it step by step.”

“Uncle…”

“Starting tomorrow, always stay by my side, I’ll always protect you.”

He still had a haggard face, but he was more handsome than ever, Lancia remembered.

She didn’t know if she said it without realizing it, or if she knew it, but her face turned red at her declaration that sounded like her confession.

She was then the first time she was conscious of him as a man.

Once I became aware of it, it was an instant to fall in love with it. He tricks enemies with his quick movements and pours magic. If it’s not possible, kick it and swing the staff.

He always took care of himself.

It was so cool that I couldn’t help falling in love with it.

“Sister, why, why did you take Uncle Sol?”

Naturally, resentment toward the hero who took him by force and disappeared settled in her heart.

“I liked her first, but how many people love her older sister?”

She is overcome with a deep sense of loss here, and is crying with her head on his floor. However, she will be leading a happy life with him.

“The only person who loves me is Mr. Sol.”

A flame burns in the name of jealousy.

Mixed with the affection I had for Doona, ambiguous feelings whirl in frustration, and then I remember Doona and Solaseido laughing together.

Hard-.

Unbeknownst to me, my teeth were grinding.

“Goddess, the gracious goddess Thetis.”

Lancia wept, filled with her anger, and prayed her prayers.

“I have yet to receive my reward for completing the journey with everyone.”

He did not receive a reward either, but instead became a reward, and was simply sold into the hands of a goddess.

The goddess was a worthy reward, and she decided that he would also consider her an honor, so she bought Lancia her resentment.

Now Lancia doesn’t believe in goddesses, she only believes in her divine power she has built up herself.

“Mr. Owen received the protection of the Goddess and was promised the protection of the elves.”

Is it because of the different races? Owen’s love was light love. Lancia thought so.

Because I can’t give up on myself.

“Uncle Udon received the blessing of the Goddess and received great power.”

Udon was no different from Owen.

Maybe Udon didn’t love Doona, but maybe she loved the warrior, the symbol of power? Lancia came to that conclusion.

In the end, he too was a trivial love.

“Thought, thought, thought.”

Her prayer continued.

His voice grew harsher and began to be mixed with sobs.

“I also couldn’t give up on the person I love.”

Her fingers scratch the floor.

Her fingernails crack, blood bursts, leaving her gruesome mark.

“Please send me to Uncle Sol’s side.”

Lancia begged.

“Please… Please, please.”

She killed her pride to another being who took him from her, shedding her bloody tears, Lancia gritted her teeth.

Insignificant pride, in order to meet him, I prioritized love over useless emotions.

“I sincerely hope for the first time in my life!!”

The plea eventually turned into sobs, and began to resonate in her prayer room.

“I can’t live without you!!!”

After the final words that sounded like screams, Lancia was enveloped in light.

Eventually, nothing remained in the prayer room except for the traces of tears and bloodstains from someone.