EP.152 Welna is shedding tears.
Welna couldn’t snap out of her intense confusion.
The fact that the Blessing Ceremony had concluded while she was unconscious was shocking enough.
Contrary to what the public announced, the Blessing Ceremony had not been properly concluded, resulting in the Saint joining the Hero Party, something that was beyond her quick-witted mind to easily accept.
According to the rumors she heard, there were some issues with the Blessing bestowed upon the Hero, so for the time being, they planned to keep the Saint and the Hero together to observe the situation.
Even such a flat explanation made it genuinely hard for her to grasp the proper order of events.
“What’s even happening…?”
She had heard the story from a judge who claimed to be closely watching everything, but he merely kept making self-exonerating remarks, providing no help whatsoever.
To make the Saint join the Hero Party?
It was undoubtedly insane, Welna thought.
No matter how much the idea of the Saint and the Hero fighting together had been passed down since ancient times, that was a story from hundreds of years ago.
From what Welna had investigated, the recent generations of Saints had been so tainted by Holy Power that they were no longer in a condition to fight on the front lines.
Unless one completely forgets how the Blessing Ceremony came about, it was an utterly ridiculous suggestion that should never have emerged.
“Those damn old folks… Do they even have a brain?”
Though her coarse words were far from the pious image she was dressed in, there was no way Welna had the luxury to reflect on herself in this moment.
Keeping the Saint and Regis together could be seen as a boon, but the risks of taking the current state of the Saint along on an adventure were far too great.
To expect that fragile girl, who had grown up like a flower in a greenhouse, to endure the storms of the outside world?
Such a cruel act. Even if the gods allowed it, it was something Welna could never accept.
The Hero Party would be leaving this place tomorrow. Time was running short. She had to find an appropriate solution as soon as possible.
However, it was unlikely that a cunning tactic capable of lifting the Vatican’s decision would come to her immediately.
“Sigh…”
As Welna was lost in deep contemplation, she gently moved her body towards the window to take a breath.
Chwa-reul-leug.
Just then, the curtains that had been blocking the sunlight were suddenly drawn wide open, allowing light to flood into the dim room.
“Ah, hello, Sister…”
“Sister. Hi.”
The shocking sight of Regis firmly pressed against the large window with the Saint on his back unfolded before her.
“──!?”
The chilling scream that escaped Welna’s mouth became a foreboding echo that lingered in the area for a while.
◈◈◈
Having the Saint on his back while sticking to a high window like a cicada. Are you in your right mind!?
Welna barely swallowed down the embarrassing comment that almost slipped out.
Not because of her own pride, but due to her steadfast belief in Regis.
She knew he wasn’t the type to engage in such dangerous antics for mere amusement.
There had to be a compelling reason behind this ridiculous behavior.
That was the conclusion Welna had come to after a long period of reflection.
Of course, such a cold judgment would have been impossible if Regis’s title of “Sister” hadn’t calmed her anger.
“I’m really sorry for barging in, Sister. But the situation was so urgent…”
“Ah, no. I’m the one who suddenly screamed, so I’m really sorry…”
In the awkward silence of the room, Welna cautiously monitored Regis’s face.
His uneven breathing and the cold sweat glistening on his forehead.
His breathless appearance was typical of someone being chased by a threat.
“Uh, what’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s just that the Hero heard about the Saint joining the party, and he… no, caused a bit of a ruckus, so I was a little…”
“Ah…”
Just from that fragmented information, Welna could guess the kind of situation he was caught in.
The Hero’s fixation on Regis was clearly intense.
Now that the decree of the Saint joining the Hero Party had been issued, there was no need to elaborate on how many difficulties and adversities Regis had to navigate to reach this point with the Saint.
But.
“No matter what, to discuss something while accompanied by the Saint, what on earth is this…?”
“Uh, that is…”
It was a valid question.
Even if the matter he was about to discuss had deep ties with the Saint, there was no reason to drag her here, given her current lack of cognitive ability.
Welna’s anxious gaze briefly lingered on the Saint who was clinging to him like a koala.
Just yesterday, she had been locked away in the Meeting Room with no intention of coming out, but now she bore such a joyful expression.
Indeed, the presence of this man was essential for the current Saint.
There was no way she could ever replace him.
Perhaps such a trivial sister figure was nothing but an impurity in the eyes of the current Saint.
Throwing away all vain expectations, Welna thought that there shouldn’t be any space left for despair to writhe.
“Welfina. My leg’s a bit numb right now, so could you stay with the Sister for a bit?”
“Okay. Got it.”
“!? ”
Welna’s consciousness momentarily halted as she saw the Saint dash away from Regis and come running into her arms.
“Uh…?”
The dumbfounded gasp that slipped from the tip of her lips was born of emotions that Welna couldn’t easily decipher herself.
Perhaps it was because the Saint, who had always prioritized her own desires over Regis, had seriously listened to his opinions this time.
Or perhaps it was because the Saint, who had always sought out Regis while disregarding someone like her, found comfort in her embrace.
I don’t know. I can’t know. There’s no way to know.
At this moment, Welna’s thoughts were in no condition to function normally due to the overwhelming tidal wave of emotions that crashed upon her.
“W-Welfina…?”
“Sister. I want a hug.”
Sniff!
In a bid to stifle the rising sobs, Welna quickly covered her mouth with her hand, but it was already too late.
Her face was long submerged in a wave of overwhelming emotion that seemed ready to swallow the sky.
“Whew! Cough! Hmph! Uh!”
“Sister?”
“Y-Yeah, I’ll hug… I-I’m hugging you, my Welfina…”
Welna had successfully postponed her tears for a moment by biting her lower lip as a makeshift dam, but that wasn’t something she could maintain for long.
As the Saint’s concerned voice occasionally slipped out, cracks began to form in Welna’s sturdy facade, but that was simply unavoidable.
“Indeed… ”
Was it because her mind was completely caught up in the turmoil of her thoughts?
She failed to catch sight of Regis, who seemed to nod slightly, as if realizing something.
“Sister. Welfina, I’m suffocating.”
“I-I’m sorry! Cough! Ugh! I’m sorry! I’m sorry… Welfina…”
The apologies that Welna thought were pretty pathetic finally receded when the tears flowing down her cheeks drenched the floor.
“Sister, I have to ask you a favor urgently…”
After noticing Welna’s regained composure, Regis, who had been silent, slowly opened his mouth.
“If you don’t mind, could you accompany us on our adventures for a while, taking care of the Saint…?”
“…… Huh?”
Even though her tears hadn’t fully dried, and her breathing still hadn’t calmed, that shocking question landed squarely in Welna’s ears.
“Ah, right. Sister, please look at this first.”
“Uh? W-Wait! Regis Priest! What are you suddenly doing!?”
It was right after.
As Welna saw Regis suddenly start to unbutton his shirt, she began to fussily flail her arms, shielding the Saint’s eyes.
It was due to an unwanted memory that suddenly flashed in her mind.
‘I will happily serve you no matter the place, time, or circumstance, regardless of what ridiculous desire you may have.’
Even so, in front of Welfina, that was just too much!
As Welna’s face flushed a deep red, that silent inner scream echoed in her heart.
“The Hero’s Blessing. It seems it was bestowed upon me rather than the Hero…”
Regis, dripping cold sweat, revealed a mysterious mark on his shoulder to the world.
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