The Saintess Highway

While Seyi and the others powered up and departed for the Elf Nation Anemosgive, at that same time—

S-rank adventurer Phylite chasing the saintess, and her lover Bols, were…

“Huff…! Haah…!”

“W-what a brutal journey…!”

Phylite and the others slowly advanced through the wasteland, drenched in sweat.

They were traveling through the Stampede Territory, a demonic frontier, with a temporary party of adventurers.

Where Seyi’s group had passed, monsters avoided the area due to the warding effect.

However, that only applied to lower-ranked monsters (though still B-rank and below).

A-rank and higher monsters appeared everywhere here.

Each encounter became a battle. And under the sunless shelter of this wasteland, murderous sunlight drained their water and stamina.

Without frequent breaks, they couldn’t proceed at all.

Even Phylite, driven by her determination to catch the saintess, collapsed within an hour.

“I… underestimated it… didn’t think it’d be this rough…”

They stopped their carriage on the saintess’s path and rested.

“Still, it’s far easier than before. Thanks to the saintess’s holy warding power.”

The party leader, once saved by Seyi, said so.

The warding potion she had given by chance granted monster-repelling power to them and to the path she walked.

Thus, the path she walked became a sacred road untouched by monsters.

“This… huff… path… should we name it the Saintess Highway?”

Despite exhaustion, Phylite said that proudly.

The leaders all agreed with smiles.

They were complete believers… Bols felt slightly put off.

“Well, thanks to this warding we know the destination. But man we’re not making progress.”

Following the monster-free path should eventually lead to Seyi.

But battles and the blazing sun slowed them.

“How frustrating…”

Then—

“T-this is bad! A monster pack! Black Hounds!”

“““Wha—!?”””

Their faces drained of color.

Black Hounds were vicious A-rank monsters.

Even veteran parties struggled to defeat one.

And they were in a pack.

Normally they could win at full strength.

But now everyone was exhausted. A pack now meant certain defeat.

“We will fight, everyone…”

Only Phylite stood and took up her weapon.

“If we do nothing, we become prey. If we fall, the powerless will also die. Stand!”

“Yeah!”

“Right!”

“Let’s do it!”

Her words carried power — her charisma.

Her beauty and dignified presence gave them courage.

Though acting like a saintess believer now, Phylite was one of the world’s greatest adventurers.

However…

The Black Hounds ran past them.

“They… avoided us?”

“Impossible. Monsters avoiding humans… the warding power? No… something else…”

Then—

RUMBLE…!

The wasteland ground swelled.

“““…………”””

A horrifying monster appeared.

A gigantic worm towering above them.

Its mouth was full of fangs, drool sizzling the ground.

Its body was armored like roof tiles.

The sheer size and form destroyed their will to fight.

Even Phylite dropped her weapon and trembled like a child.

It was over.

The monster — the Sandworm — tried to swallow them whole.

At that moment—

BACHUN!

The Sandworm’s head vanished instantly.

“W-what…?”

“Look! The warding power! The saintess’s holy power damaged it!”

Indeed, the moment it attacked, the Sandworm recoiled as if struck.

Sparkling holy light spread around them.

The Sandworm, frightened by the light, retreated underground.

“Whoa!”

“Even that monster was repelled!”

“It protects us from monsters like that too!”

“““The saintess is amazing!”””

Bols trembled.

That Sandworm was beyond even S-rank Phylite.

An existence beyond S-rank — effectively SS-rank.

Yet its attack was easily repelled by the holy power.

“Damn… that girl… she’s incredible…”

Meanwhile Phylite quietly cried.

Bols rushed over.

“H-hey, you okay!? Are you hurt!?”

She shook her head strongly.

“Tears of emotion… from witnessing the saintess’s miracle…”

“Oh… okay…”

Bols slumped in relief.

Ignoring his concern, Phylite shouted.

“The Saintess Highway protects the innocent even from such monsters! Spread the word! The divine road the saintess made for our safety!”

“““Yeah!”””

Unfortunately, Seyi hadn’t intentionally made the road.

She had simply walked while unconsciously spreading holy power.

Unaware of the truth, they would spread her legend further.