Chapter 18

“You’re calling this a b-blessing? Not a curse?”

Oh, those were some seriously blasphemous words. I bet Ralphican—the god who likely granted the Saintess her powers—would weep if he heard that.

“I knew my mother was going to be m-murdered, but I c-couldn’t do anything. I t-tried to stop it… And that little ch-child who died after being hit by a carriage just died… I tried to s-save them…!”

Come to think of it, I believe there was a line like this among the Saintess’s dialogue in the game.

“The futures I see in my dreams have no regularity.”

She never knew when or where things would happen, and even the sequence of events was a jumbled mess. Unless she was lucky enough to figure out the specific time and place, there was almost no benefit to knowing the future. The Saintess spoke while struggling to catch her ragged breath.

“I have n-no power to change anything…! Just k-knowing does nothing! I just had to watch h-helplessly. So, h-how is this a blessing!”

Helplessly, huh…

After her awakening event, far from being helpless, she’d be using raw “power” to destroy things left and right.

‘No, this isn’t the time for those thoughts.’

I need to focus and recall the contents of the Saintess’s route. I recall an option that significantly boosted her affection in a situation similar to this.

What was it the protagonist said?

“Every day, I dream of the night I lost my father. Even though I tell myself I must shake it off, that I must forget. It seems you and I are alike. Your eyes are the eyes of a very unhappy person with a past that simply won’t be forgotten.”

“Saintess-nim. Do not look at the past. Look at the people you have saved. And look at the people you will save in the future. Because I… intend to do the same.”

Basically, it was about not being bound by the past and moving forward. Let’s try to paraphrase that appropriately for the situation.

“It’s not your fault that you couldn’t save those people. Don’t live your whole life burdened by guilt just because you happened to know.”

“Ugh…”

Judging by the way her face contorted as she choked back tears, those were the words she wanted to hear.

“Ivanke. Do you have a dream?”

At my somewhat abrupt question, a look of bewilderment spread across the Saintess’s tearful face.

“A d-dream…?”

“Yes. It doesn’t have to be anything grand. Is there anything you want to do?”

The Saintess pondered for a moment before answering hesitantly.

“I don’t know…”

I figured as much.

How could someone who stays holed up in a collapsing house without any social interaction have a dream?

“That’s quite a problem. Having nothing you want to do at such a young age.”

“…”

“But I understand. It’s not like we’re in a normal situation, after all.”

The Saintess looked troubled, seemingly agreeing with my words. I spoke to her with a casual, offhand tone—like someone offering to buy a meal just because they’re in a good mood.

“I’ll handle the difficult and painful parts. Leave it to me and go live a new life.”

The Saintess froze, her eyes wide with shock at my words. Then, as if remembering something, she spoke up hurriedly.

“B-But you came h-here wanting something from me…”

“It wasn’t really anything like that. I just wanted to meet a kindred spirit. But seeing that kindred spirit suffering doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Ah…”

The Saintess was surprised by my words, but she lowered her head as if she understood. She probably felt the same way—wanting someone to confide in.

“And don’t worry about me. I have a plan.”

At my calm voice, the Saintess lifted her head slightly.

“I’m sorry… And th-thank you.”

“Not at all.”

“Um… H-how should I go about finding a new life?”

The Saintess brushed her hair back from her neck, looking completely at a loss.

“Well. Oh, I know. How about leaving for somewhere else? Being in a new place and meeting people you don’t know might give you some ideas.”

“L-Leave this village…”

The Saintess stood still and looked around her house. Then, she nodded.

“I think that’s a good idea. I’ve stayed here for a long time anyway. It’s all f-falling apart, too…”

I thought she’d say she was scared of unfamiliar places, but she accepted surprisingly readily. Perhaps there was somewhere she had wanted to go.

“There is a p-place I’ve wanted to go. Actually. I heard there is a very b-beautiful sea in the Kingdom of Brishwin. I’ve n-never seen the sea before… so I’d like to s-see it if I have the chance.”

“That sounds like it will be a beautiful trip.”

Even with the stuttering, I could feel the passion in her voice. Her dull pupils had cleared up, too. It didn’t seem like she was being forced into this by my words.

“Then shall we pack your bags? I’ll help.”

“R-Right now?”

“The sooner the better for things like this. Come on, I’ll help, so hurry!”

“A-Ah, okay!”

I pushed her through the process with lightning speed before she could think too deeply about it. Before long, the Saintess was wearing a pack filled with her belongings, looking a bit dazed but seemingly having accepted the situation.

“Do you know the way?”

“Yes. There is a carriage that runs to the Central District every day at noon.”

Is it like a shuttle bus?

I was glad I could get the Saintess out of the village before she had a change of heart.

“It would be dangerous once night falls, so it’s a good thing you’re leaving before then.”

“Y-Yes. Somehow, I feel r-relieved…”

The Saintess let out a deep sigh, as if the reality of leaving was finally hitting her now that she had her bag on. It was a sigh filled with a lightness, not a heavy heart.

“Shall we go?”

And so, I headed to the village’s central square to see the Saintess off. A carriage was parked nearby.

“Ah, over there.”

As the Saintess made a gesture indicating she would be on her way, I handed her a brown pouch.

“I’m giving you this as a blessing for your new life.”

“Th-This is…!”

The sound of clinking coins rang out clearly from inside the pouch. At the unmistakable scent of money, the Saintess waved her hands, refusing to take it. I forced the pouch into her hands anyway. She shouldn’t be short on funds for a long journey. I had put in enough for her to go away and never return for the rest of her life, so she shouldn’t run out.

“Um… Ah…”

“Keep it well hidden. And don’t stay in cheap inns just to save money. It’s dangerous.”

“Thank you…”

A moment later, the coachman gave the signal for departure. This was truly the end. Whether the Saintess sensed it too, she spoke with a lingering, regretful expression.

“Will we… be able to meet again?”

“If fate allows it, I suppose we will.”

Though I’d personally prefer it if we never met again.

“I see…”

The Saintess opened her mouth as if she wanted to say more, but turned away at the coachman’s urging.

“T-Tonight. I will p-pray for your safety…”

“Thank you. I feel reassured.”

Since the prayer came from the Saintess herself, I felt like it might actually have some effect. Just as I was about to turn back, I called out to her one last time. I’d remembered something I wanted to say.

“The fact that you stayed even though you had plenty of chances to run away means you are a kind person. Most people couldn’t do that.”

“…”

“You deserve to be happy. Take care of yourself.”

Her footsteps paused for a moment, then resumed. And I could have sworn those steps looked somewhat hopeful and full of confidence.

‘I thought my brain was going to explode.’

Now that I’d successfully sent the Saintess away.

‘The Saintess event is mine.’

The position of Hidden Heroine was officially vacant. I took a moment to catch my breath.

‘Of course, it’s too early to relax.’

The encounter event between the protagonist and the Saintess. It involves the protagonist rescuing the Saintess from danger.

‘A salvation narrative.’

In the original story, the Saintess met her end while trying to convince the villagers to flee by explaining what she saw in her dreams. If Mo Je-won fails to find the option to slip out of the barracks, he might save the village from annihilation, but he won’t enter the Saintess route. It makes sense. How can you progress a route when the heroine is already dead?

‘To take the Saintess event for myself, the most ideal way is to act exactly like she did.’

But for that to happen, Mo Je-won has to discover the Hidden Route and save me. But could that guy really find it?

‘Not a chance. I’d just die a dog’s death like the original Saintess.’

I could tell him through the chat to be certain, but that wasn’t a great idea either. It would likely backfire.

‘If he realizes it’s a spoiler, he might go out of his way not to do it.’

So what should I do?

Naturally, I had to come up with a scenario completely different from the original. As I was agonizing over how to apply the plan I’d thought of, I saw a familiar figure in the distance.

Is that… Emily?

“Hey, Belita! I’ve been looking everywhere for you. So you’re the type who knows how to slack off? I never knew.”

“…”

“What are you doing here?”

“…Nothing much.”

“What do you mean ‘nothing much’! I set up all the tents by myself! You came to sightsee, didn’t you? Honestly, you should have waited for me so we could go together. I’m hurt.”

Ah, so she did all of that alone. I felt a little guilty.

“Sorry. I’ll buy lunch.”

“Now that’s a friend who knows how to talk!”

Emily boisterously led the way, saying she’d already scouted out a good restaurant. With her arm draped around my neck, I followed obediently. Everywhere in the village, expedition members were already enjoying their long-awaited break.

‘They’re certainly boosting the local economy.’

When else would such a large group of customers visit a small village like this? The residents were moving busily, determined to strike while the iron was hot.

‘What’s the protagonist doing?’

I flicked on Omniscient Viewer Perspective to see him in a tent with Arianne and Frederick, planning their next move. Mo Je-won was staring intensely at the monitor with a slack-jawed expression.

-This illustration came out great

-Arianne is so pretty

-Look at his face at 1:00 LOL

-Where’s the guy who said he doesn’t play dating sims?

…It looked like he was about to drool. Seeing that state he was in, finding the Hidden Route seemed like a distant dream.

‘At least I don’t have to worry about bumping into him here.’

It was a plus since I could eat in peace without worrying about getting caught. Of course, even if we did run into each other, since I’d already come this far, he wouldn’t be able to threaten to kick me out or send me home.

“What? Is this line for real?”

The queue was long enough to wrap around the exterior of the building where the restaurant was located. In the end, unable to handle the numbers, the restaurant started taking names and assigning reservation times. As we sat quietly on a bench waiting for our names to be called, Emily wailed.

“Argh! Two hours?! We have to wait two hours?!”

“Well, since we don’t have to stand in line, maybe we can go somewhere else and come back.”

I also had no desire to waste time just for a single meal.

“My perfect plan!”

She clearly wasn’t listening. I put a bit more force into my voice.

“I heard one of the ‘Top 10 Views You Must See Before You Die’ as selected by Orbis is near here.”

“What? Where? I mean, a place like that…”

Her confused eyes turned toward me.

Was that too much of a stretch?

“I can’t believe you looked that up. How unexpected!”

Apparently not.

“Let’s go right now!”

Taking an energized Emily with me, I headed toward the northern part of the village. The whole “Orbis” thing was, of course, an excuse. The truth was, I was scouting the path in advance for the raid that would start tonight. I hadn’t expected to drag Emily along, but it wasn’t a bad choice; two people would look less suspicious than one.

“Oh my, the autumn leaves are already falling here! How fascinating! And you can see the whole village from here~!”

The direction our expedition had come from was the southern forest. Unlike that area filled with lush greenery, the northern side of the village was vibrant with autumn colors. The blend of maple leaves and green trees was quite a sight.

‘A lucky find.’

It was a “killing two birds with one stone” situation—scouting and sightseeing.

“I was going to complain about more hiking, but this was worth the climb! Huh? There are houses even in a place like this?”

One might wonder what’s strange about houses being in a village, but her reaction was justified. The small mountain we’d climbed was at the very peak, quite a distance from the village center. In the game, they said the poorest woodcutters in the village lived here. There was a reason the forest gave off such a gloomy vibe.

‘Because this is exactly where the magic beasts will emerge tonight.’

I felt a sudden chill.

‘And it’s where people are going to die.’

That was the reality. This was where the Saintess died and where the magic beast raid would begin. And the people living in those houses would be the very first victims.