I Saved the Demon King Who Was About to Commit Suicide – Chapter 4

Since the day Evan received a reply from the Saintess.

Evan was able to concentrate more on his training.

Of course, part of it was due to the Pope’s statement that he no longer needed to train to kill people, but the main reason was that he had a clear direction to move forward.

In the past, he only thought about catching the Demon King to return home. Now, he trained with the mission to ensure the deaths of those who were sacrificed were not in vain and to protect those who believed in them.

There were times he collapsed from the grueling training, but each time, Evan picked himself up and gripped his sword again.

He worked hard to handle the Apostle’s powers with maximum efficiency.

After two years of only training to kill the Demon King.

It was a long time, yet also a short one, and soon it was the day to embark on their journey.

“Ugh…”

It was an early morning, just like any other.

Evan got out of bed with a groggy face and opened the door to his room.

Normally, he would have slept a little longer due to training late into the night, but today, on the morning of their journey, the Apostles were all gathered for a communal meal, so he couldn’t sleep in.

“Hey, shorty. You look like you didn’t sleep well.”

As he headed to breakfast, a blue arm draped over Evan’s shoulder.

“Are you anxious about leaving for a journey tomorrow and couldn’t sleep?”

“And why are you picking a fight this early in the morning, old man?”

It was Alastor.

When Evan first saw him, he didn’t have a great impression due to his mischievous pranks, but two years later, he thought…

“If you want to fight, then just go ahead.”

…He was a total brawler.

A really severe one at that.

“I’m tired from not getting much sleep today. It’ll be boring on the way anyway, so let’s just fight then.”

“Hahaha! A true warrior never tires!”

Alastor let out his signature boisterous laugh and tossed a piece of fruit at Evan.

It was one of the fruits that Ice Giants ate to replenish their energy.

“Eat this and get your strength up, shorty!”

…One thing was certain: aside from being a brawler, he was actually a pretty decent guy.

“Thanks.”

Evan received the fruit and gave a small smile.

“What’s everyone doing here?”

Just then, a woman wearing a thorned crown peeked her head from the wall of the temple.

Her golden hair shone brightly, almost as if made of gold.

“Oh, Athena.”

The Apostle of Judgment. The wing of the Empire Evgenia.

It was Athena.

“I was just checking in since you two are a bit late… You aren’t fighting again, are you?”

“Not at all, no need to worry. I just woke up a bit late…”

“Well, I did tell you to sleep early last night, didn’t I?”

“Sorry. I’ll listen to you better next time, Athena.”

“You always say that… Come on, let’s eat! Since it’s the last day, they’ve prepared a special meal, so if you don’t hurry, the others will finish it all!”

Athena grabbed Evan’s wrist with a slightly pouty expression leading him toward the dining hall.

“Athena, I know, but could you ease up on my wrist…?”

“Hurry up! Evan usually eats less, so you need to eat a lot today!”

Strong for someone with such a tiny frame.

Evan couldn’t resist her strength and was dragged into the dining hall.

‘It’s only a three-year age difference… How does she have that much strength? It’s hard to understand.’

*

Arriving at the dining hall with Athena and Alastor, Evan noticed two Apostles were already eating.

“You’re here, Evan.”

A man, expressionless and shoving food into his mouth, extended a hand to greet him.

“Hey. Did you enjoy your meal, Tristan?”

The Apostle of Protection. The living wall of the Dwarven land, Terra.

Tristan.

He was known for his contributions, especially five years ago, when he single-handedly defended Terra against a horde of Monsters.

Some thought it was an exaggerated rumor, but when Evan first saw him, he felt there was not a shred of falsehood to that rumor.

The immense magical power enveloping him and muscles that seemed ready to explode. Even on his knees, he was far taller than Evan.

People often said Dwarfs were short, but in front of this man, it was impossible to say that.

“It’s delicious today, probably because it’s the day we depart. You should eat up too, Evan.”

Seeing Tristan speaking to him reminded Evan of their first meeting. He had thought Tristan was mute due to his excessively quiet nature.

Even now, despite having grown closer, he still didn’t talk much, which was slightly frustrating, but Evan liked him.

He admired his steadfastness, always standing at the forefront in joint training and quietly safeguarding his comrades, and he appreciated how he always prioritized others, even when he himself suffered the most injuries.

“Yeah, since it’s the last meal, I should eat a lot like you, Tristan.”

With a smile, Evan picked up a fork and started loading his mouth with the prepared meat.

“Just don’t overdo it. The night before a journey…”

An elegant-looking Elf next to him spoke up.

“Condition management is essential for a warrior, you know.”

“If you get sick, come to my room. Of course, you can just come if you feel like it.”

“I’ll refuse if you’re going to do something weird, Sharon.”

Evan shot her a suspicious glance.

“I’m not going to do anything weird, so don’t worry.”

“Can you swear that to the World Tree?”

“Uh, that might be a bit hard…”

Sharon got up from her seat and moved to sit next to Evan, wrapping her arm around him.

“How would you know I was going to take you back to my place and do something?”

“Because you always do. You seem similar again this time.”

Evan quickly pulled his arm away and moved a little further from her.

But Sharon immediately followed and sat right next to him.

“Humans usually awaken to their desires around this age, but why do you seem to dislike it so much…?”

“Well, I only want to do those things with someone I like.”

“Then does that mean you actually like someone?”

At Sharon’s words, Evan glanced toward the entrance of the dining hall.

Four Apostles who hadn’t yet arrived were entering.

“…There’s no one I like.”

“What were you all talking about?”

An Undead approached, draping an arm across Evan’s neck.

With his skeletal shape and a bit of flesh sticking to him, his bizarre movements as he spoke could easily lead someone to mistake him for a Monster, but he too was an Apostle.

From the land of the dead, Anima, the Apostle of Death.

Ophelin.

When Evan first saw Ophelin, he thought he was a gloomy and terrifying person… no, an Undead, but contrary to expectations, Ophelin provided a positive energy to others.

Now that they were all familiar, he was practically the mood maker among the Apostles.

“Nothing much. Sharon said something weird.”

“Evan seems to have someone he likes.”

“That’s not true.”

“Is there really someone you like?”

“No, there isn’t…!”

“It’s fine. Liking someone isn’t shameful.”

An old man walked in with a cane, chuckling.

The Twilight Apostle.

Lucas Macanio.

He was the oldest among the nine Apostles.

Because of that, Evan had always found it hard to approach him.

“Even if you say no, there seems to be someone in your heart.”

Macanio continued to smile as he looked at Evan.

Evan flinched at his words, then turned his gaze elsewhere.

At the end of his turned gaze, there was a girl.

Her white hair flowed like snow from a winter day, blown by the wind coming through the window. Her blue eyes, reminiscent of calm seas, were gazing at him.

“Evan, good morning.”

The blue-eyed girl completely captured his gaze.

“Good morning, Saintess.”

It was the Saintess.

Evan warmly greeted her as she descended the stairs.

“Did you sleep well before the day of the journey?”

“I slept fine, so you don’t need to worry. Did you sleep well, Evan?”

“Yes. Thankfully, I didn’t stay up all night.”

“That’s good to hear. As you said, our journey starts tomorrow, so let’s all eat plenty today to gain strength!”

Just like two years ago when he first saw her, she was still glowing brightly like the sun.

Seeing her like that made Evan think he understood why she was chosen by Amor, the God of Light.

“I, I have someone too…”

Just as their conversation continued, a shy voice piped up from behind the Saintess.

“Oh, Sio’s here too?”

The Apostle of the Sea. The Princess of the land of Aquarians, Cordelia.

Sio Ocelin.

“I feel slighted that you didn’t greet me first…”

“There’s no way that would happen. I planned to greet you right after the Saintess.”

“…Really?”

“We’re all comrades, after all.”

Sio smiled pleasantly, and her tail fin swayed side to side like a happy puppy.

“Just like the Saintess said, let’s all eat. This peaceful meal is only for today.”

At Evan’s words, the meal continued.

The lively atmosphere surrounding the meal.

Evan liked that atmosphere.

Although he had grasped a sword instead of a book at the age when his peers began to study, he could think that his current life wasn’t bad at all, thanks to the good comrades he had shared this time with.

*

After the meal concluded, Evan walked alone for a while to help digest the food before they set off.

As he walked aimlessly, he reached the painting he saw the first time he arrived at the shrine.

“….”

A painting of ten gods.

If he turned his head slightly to the center, there was a figure of a god shaped like a gigantic dragon with massive wings spread wide.

The Dragon of Destruction, Infernus.

Two years ago, it was the god who led him to become the Apostle of Destruction that was depicted there.

While gazing at the mural, a question that had always resided in the back of his mind came to the forefront.

Why had the Eternal Dragon chosen him, of all people, instead of anyone else? Why not a dragon or a member of the Dragonkin, but him?

He had pondered this since becoming an Apostle, but ultimately, it remained unanswered.

Even after scouring through books all day looking for records of the former Apostle of Destruction, he found no answers.

Evan stared blankly at the mural before conceding to give up thinking of answers to his questions.

‘Anyway, it’s a question that won’t yield any answers.’

As mentioned in the history books, gods are beings that are difficult for humans to comprehend.

“Evan!”

As he contemplated these thoughts, Evan turned his head toward the voice calling him.

He saw Athena hurriedly running toward him.

“Athena?”

“Where have you been…! They’re saying it’s time to depart now, and I’ve been searching for you…”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just walking to digest for a bit…”

“Hurry up! It’s really time to go.”