It’s beyond imagination.
That was the emotion Arhen felt as soon as he arrived in the Realm.
Even though most priests and nuns were terrified and wouldn’t dare to set foot in this dangerous area, the current Saint had boldly stepped forth without fear and saved many people.
For those who lived day to day on the brink of life and death in the Realm, it would indeed be stranger if they didn’t like it.
Even if it meant dying, they had gone so far as to risk their lives to save others, so it was only natural for them to worship Aria as a goddess.
“…”
Arhen looked at the girl before him.
She may not know much about what had happened here, but she could at least guess.
Just the sight of so many soldiers revering this girl like a goddess and fussing over her showed how much they had endured.
To put it bluntly, yes, she must have died countless times.
‘Eris…’
The saint who sacrificed herself for the world.
Now, he was the only one who knew about the girl.
Even if sealing the Demon King was all she managed to do, without Eris, they would have been unable to seal him, and the world would have been destroyed after losing to the calamity of the Demon King.
Yet Eris had kept smiling until her very last moment, even as she disappeared.
Despite how hard it had been, despite her suffering, she never stopped using her power.
Knowing this about her, Arhen could not just stand by and watch Aria.
“[What brings you here?]”
He couldn’t help but feel relieved that she still had her innocence intact.
Recalling the time when they arrived in the Realm, before the procedures were even completed, the way she revealed untouched purity before everyone including the Grand Duke made him smile.
But if she kept using her power without regard for herself like that, eventually…
Arhen turned his slightly smiling face back.
At the very least, he had to prevent her from collapsing before they defeated the Demon King.
It had to be that way…
“…”
This world would not leave the existence of a saint alone.
Arhen let out a silent sigh.
“It’s not something to discuss alone like this, but… I needed to take this time for a conversation, or rather… a conversation that must happen.”
“[A conversation that must happen…]”
“… You know, but I was once a member of the Hero Party in the past. It’s something everyone in the Empire today knows.”
Thanks to becoming a grand magician capable of bending the laws of the world, he had not aged and was still alive.
Having lived for hundreds of years, of course, the birth of a saint appeared only when danger approached the world, so there hadn’t been a saint during those hundreds of years of peace.
But it was different several hundred years ago.
“During the Age of Destruction War, when the Empire was suffering from the horrific conquest wars… the Demon King invaded the world, taking advantage of that weakened state.”
“I know. The Northern Empire fell during that war, cold mainly due to its faith in Solanis, the sun god.”
“Right. It was the driving force that allowed the Empire to thrive because a lot of magic stones were mined.”
Then one day, an emperor with ambitions to place the entire continent under his feet declared war.
To mine all the various magic stones for use in the war, many slaves from different races were dragged to the mines to provide the necessary magic stones for the conquest war.
And then the invasion of the Demon King began…
“A calamity appeared.”
A massive calamity descended upon the North.
A gigantic monster, quite literally.
Arhen closed his eyes and recalled that moment.
A monstrous creature, dozens of meters in size, covered in pure white fur.
Just being there stirred up a storm of magic power, creating a blizzard fierce enough to freeze everything.
As Arhen remembered the golden-eyed monster that introduced itself as the lord of Nastron, he broke into a cold sweat and continued to explain.
When a monster that could rightly be called a calamity appeared, the North, known as the heart of the Empire, was wiped out without a chance to respond.
Monsters of all kinds emerged from the Demon World, creating an ecosystem and transforming the North into an eternal tundra, all of which was sealed away in a subterranean realm by the miraculous arrival of the Hero Party.
“You mentioned the conditions of the monsters were strange lately.”
“That’s right.”
“The reason for coming to the Realm for an inspection was both educational and to check the status of those seals. I can’t be absent on the pretext of verifying the barrier when I’m not even sure about it.”
“[Ah… So that’s why you came here…?]”
“The two years of dedication spent here is known by all the people of the Empire. I apologize if it brought back bad memories.”
Arhen bowed his head sincerely in apology.
At that, a startled Aria responded it was fine, but Arhen did not stop bowing his head.
After a little while, when he lifted his head again, Arhen continued his story.
“I heard from Grand Duke Erghart that you fell from a cliff, right?”
“[Ah… Yes, that’s right.]”
“The ones you met are likely survivors from the tribes that lived here when that monster descended upon the North and caused destruction.”
“[… I’ve seen them. They saved me when I fell from the cliff.]”
Of course, it was a bit different from what he had imagined.
‘I should have alerted them that a monster will awaken here soon… I hope they managed to escape.’
If he warned them in advance, they wouldn’t end up dead, and it would allow them to prepare for the awakening of the monsters.
Even though they had only seen them a few times in the game and had hardly seen them here, they were still living beings, and Aria hoped they would not die.
Falling from the cliff wasn’t intentional, but since they carried her, she felt the need to repay them by informing them of the impending monster awakening.
She thought they would escape given this information.
However,
“I intend to meet them.”
“[… Huh?]”
Aria froze at Arhen’s words, which indicated he planned to meet and talk with them.
Since there was no storyline in the game involving meeting and talking to them, this sudden situation was incomprehensible.
‘No… Wait.’
Now that she thought about it, even in the game, it was the same to come to the Realm and raid the revived monsters… the original reason for coming to the Realm was to check the barrier, and something happened there that caused their revival?
Realizing this, Aria lowered her head and began to think seriously.
Dealing with the monsters was undoubtedly necessary.
‘Not just me, but even Evan needs to grow… he must face a calamity-level monster at least once.’
If they didn’t engage, nothing would happen; from that perspective, it was indeed a good thing, but on the flip side, if a stronger opponent appeared during the final exam, Evan, who hadn’t properly awakened yet, would be rendered useless.
What would happen if a hero turned out to be useless?
‘What do you mean what happens? It’s just going to end in disaster.’
Anyway, they needed to ensure that this time he could undergo his first awakening so that didn’t occur.
And to control the situation, it was essential for her to directly follow them into that place.
‘Should I take Evan with me?’
Everyone here already knew he was the hero.
While the monsters hadn’t awakened yet, going down into the valley filled with all kinds of ferocious monsters along with the Swordmaster Grand Duke and Arhen, the grand magician, would be a great experience.
Well… they probably wouldn’t meet them.
There might be a few remaining, so it wouldn’t hurt to check it out.
Then…
“[Shouldn’t we take Evan along as well?]”
“If it’s Evan… the hero of the present age?”
Arhen asked, a look of curiosity on his face.
Wanting to take him along for a good experience seemed a bit strange, so she needed an excuse.
Fortunately, Evan had someone next to him who served that purpose.
“[I thought Lady Esther might offer good advice.]”
“Ah… If it’s her, it would indeed be good to take her along. Alright, let’s bring Evan as well. Since it’s the Grand Duke and I going together, it shouldn’t be too dangerous.”
Great.
‘Nice…!’
Awesome, it turned out just the way I thought.
With a joyful heart, I quietly cheered for the two of them.
