42 – Securing the specimen – 2

***

When Evangeline heard that the sage had gone into the forest of elves, chills ran through her body. It had to be.

No one knows better than she what elves are and how they treat other races.

Can not be done.

Hyeonu has already suffered many wounds. Considering how he would be treated among the elves, he should never be sent alone.

Hyeonu is a person who endures alone. No matter what good he does, those who do not understand will hurt him mercilessly.

Someone has to stop it, and when it comes to the elven forest, that someone has to be themselves.

At least as an elf, and as a member of the hero’s party, he would be able to stop it.

“Let’s go quickly, huh?”

“It’s almost done. So please wait.”

After arriving in the capital and hearing the news about Hyeonu, Evangeline felt extreme anxiety and urged Claire every day. Of course, Claire was equally anxious.

I don’t know what kind of person Hyeonu is.

Because she went to the Elven Forest to save the elves from the plague, and she knows that he will be treated unreasonably by the elves.

And, it was certain that they would silently endure the unreasonable treatment alone, just like they did to them.

But I couldn’t move now. It was because he hadn’t come from church yet.

“…Cheet. Why is the church so late?”

Claire bit her lip. Wouldn’t it be better to send the kingdom’s alchemist first and then come back? okay. Let’s do it. Although sending a lot of people is hard work, it’s still better than letting Hyeonu suffer.

Thinking so, when Claire got up from her seat, the door burst open.

“Church support has arrived!”

“Leventia!”

“Why is church so late?!”

“It must have been blocking the movement of many priests and paladins in each territory.”

“Leventia. I heard you asked? Minimize their checks!”

“I heard that the royal family also requested it…?”

“Umm. Local nobles are all like that.”

No matter how much it was a church, there were no lords who would just like to have that many and powerful people enter the territory or use the road.

This was especially true for those who valued their own self-esteem. It is because of the unfunny anxiety of what if they let them pass and join hands with other territories to attack themselves.

During the journey of defeating the demon king, I had seen countless lords who were afraid of rebellion or attack and thought only of their own selfishness that most of them had such a mental illness.

And, they also knew that if it hadn’t been for Hyeonu, their journey would have been considerably hindered by such people.

The three recalled things from the past without even realizing it.

Thanks to that, how comfortable they moved.

how much help they have received from him.

“…Let’s go.”

“yes…”

“Hyeonu will wait…”

Following Claire who broke the silence, Leventia and Evangeline packed up their equipment and went outside. The kingdom’s support was already waiting as well.

“…Princess. It is said that support from the church has entered the capital.”

“Yes. I heard. Too late.”

When Lucille responded briefly to Claire’s report, the castle gate opened. The one who led the priests and paladins was a woman in black priestly clothes.

It was Cardinal Veronica who led the Heretic Questioners.

Lucille, who already knew she would come, sighed lightly.

More dangerous than the party of warriors next door, a man who claims to be his one and only teacher and close friend of the great one he respects.

But Lucille knew.

Her sense was that Veronica wasn’t satisfied with that.

What was contained in that blunt expression was something very shady and soggy, not something that a priest who had to give up desire and live with integrity would have.

“You’re late, Cardinal Veronica.”

“Yes. Why do nobles from the kingdom keep blocking the road? Didn’t you ask for cooperation?”

“I made the request myself.”

When Lucille stepped forward and spoke, Veronica smiled bitterly.

“I see… the princess herself…”

“Perhaps he noticed the danger of the person leading the support…?”

“You might have known that the princess’ urging wasn’t just to prevent the plague.”

For some reason, the atmosphere starts to flow bleakly. The two beauties looked at each other for a moment and then shook their heads.

Now is not the time to fight like this.

Who are the elves? He may be persecuting Hyeonu, who went to help, just because he is a human being.

So you need to move as quickly as possible.

“Hero.”

“Hero. Open the portal.”

“Yes. I’ll be right there.”

Claire grabbed the warrior’s sword, and at that moment, a huge portal was created in the air. Claire let out a deep breath as a blue portal was created, large enough for a considerable number of reinforcements to enter.

“Let’s go.”

As soon as she entered the forest of elves, Evangeline heard about Hyeonu from the other elves and gritted her teeth.

As expected, Hyeonu was being persecuted by the elves.

Of course, Hyeonu was recognized by alchemists and some elves thanks to his nice personality and his outstanding abilities.

Even so, the overall atmosphere in the elven forest was negative to him.

It was unbearably sad, and it was unbearably heartbreaking.

And, even in this situation, when I heard that he was cooperating with the elves and researching a cure for the plague, I felt like it.

Hyeonu is a good sleeper.

He is absurdly good, and he lives for others rather than looking after himself.

He moved thinking that an altruistic life was his mission, and he was truly a saint who could only come out of a fairy tale, and was also an honorable man.

When she found out about Hyeonu again, Evangeline felt extreme pain from the contempt and disgust she had for insulting, laughing at, and blaming him.

“let’s go.”

“…yes.”

Watching Claire, Lucille, and Veronica go ahead to meet Hyeonu, Evangeline nodded.

I can’t even stand in front of him yet. If you can see even a little bit of his face from a distance, that’s enough.

So instead of entering the building and greeting Hyeonu like they did, she just peeked at him from the outside.

“…Someday. Will there be a day when I can go out to Hyeonu?”

I want to go in right now and apologize to him.

I want to go in right now and talk to him.

But as Evangeline muttered, heartbroken by the pain of not being able to do that, Leventia let out a heavy sigh.

I do not know.

But I know that I can’t stop.

“By the way… is it really okay?”

While Hyeonu was researching pestilence treatment, he heard that the Healing Tree Tribe was preparing a great divine technique.

If the plague is cured by the great sacred art of the healing tree tribe, Hyeonu’s hardships will be in vain.

How heartbreaking it would be if he was working so hard and not getting anything in return.

It was as if he had made the biggest contribution to defeating the demon king, but had not even received any reward.

“…That’s… but everything Hyeonu does is right…”

If it was something that could be solved by counter-sacred art, he would have suggested that we perform counter-sacred art.

If that doesn’t work, wouldn’t it be better to come all the way here and make medicine?

Evangeline murmured softly and clasped her hands.

Please, this time, I hope that Hyeonu will be rewarded for his hard work.

It was then.

I saw someone rushing towards me from afar.

Dark blonde, luxurious priestly clothes.

It was an elf beauty with a mature and beautiful face.

However, that expression did not suit her attire or atmosphere.

Tears and worries, regrets and pain.

It is wrapped in all sorts of negative emotions.

Seeing what was going on, Leventia saw her approaching and grabbed her weapon.

What if it was meant to harm Hyeonu?

“…Suhui tribe leader?”

Chief of the Healing Tree Tribe.

Why did she, who is the mother of Saint Seongya and a powerful priest, come running with such a face?

Evangeline, who felt uneasy at the sight of Hyeonu, who once had a conflict with Hyeonu over the treatment of the plague, grabbed her bow. what if. If you’re trying to attack him, the tribal chief or something…

“Something… strange.”

But Soo-hwi didn’t even care about them. I just entered the laboratory with a desperate look.

The moment the duo raised their heads slightly through the window, they heard a bitter cry from inside.

“Please… boo, please… save my daughter…”

“…..”

“…”

From what I heard, it seemed that even the saintess Seongya was afflicted with the plague.

After being so confident, he pressured Hyeonu, saying that if it was a great sacred technique, he would be able to cure the plague.

In the end, it turned out as Hyeonu said.

“…Hyeonu… hey.”

Through the window, Evangeline saw Hyeonu. Just by looking at them, my heart aches, and I miss them.

He has a blunt impression, but inside he is warmer than anyone else in the world and is full of altruism.

He looked at the woman who insulted and oppressed him.

“…ah.”

I slowly raised her up.

As if the pressure or insults she had received were nothing.

so naturally As if that was his role, he raised Soo-hwi up.

As if they saved themselves when they suffered in the battle with the demon king.

“let’s go.”

Even she reached out to save her.

Seeing that, Evangeline couldn’t even look at Hyeonu out of shame.

You still try to save even those who bullied you as if it were natural.

to you

I.

What the hell have you done?

Unbearable, Evangeline glanced at Leventia, who was in the same situation as herself. Her beautiful face was also distorted.

Regret, pain, and guilt.

Contempt for oneself and respect for him.

Leventia’s distorted expression, filled with various emotions, must have settled on her own face.

It was so ugly that Evangeline reached for the dagger at her waist.

In order to erase this feeling, to hide this pain, you have to give yourself pain.

Then the door burst open.

What came out was Suhwi. and.

“…Ahh…”

It smells sweet.

Please don’t look at me so ugly

It smells nostalgic.

Still, if possible, put me in your eyes for a little bit.

Evangeline let out a low exclamation at the smell emanating from the man she had gotten close to.

Did you hear that exclamation? Or have you already noticed?

in the man’s dark eyes.

It seems empty, but the moment our eyes meet deep eyes that say we can embrace so many things.

– Pound.

Evangeline felt the urge to immerse herself in it.

However.

Unfortunately for her, Hyeonu casually turned his head and ran away with Suhwi.

As if to say that there is no place for Evangeline anymore.