Yona didn’t have a very good image of nobles and the so-called high-ranking folks.
For most commoners, or the lower class of this era, nobles didn’t see them as equals, and even being a priestess like Yona didn’t earn her much better treatment.
Amidst all this, Yona met Ceres, a high-ranking official and noble, Ceres Olkamain.
Yona had a wonderfully good impression of her.
With her abilities and the way she handled various tasks, anyone would think the same.
“Have you been well, Grand Deputy?”
Yona approached Ceres with a rare bright smile.
Ceres also came forward with a smile on her face, and soon the two women stood close enough to face each other.
‘…Were those two really that close?’
Alex felt a strange vibe watching the two.
Ceres was indeed warm-hearted, and it was true that Yona, along with Alex and Kaiyak, had greatly contributed to the defeat of Vervaria, but was it really a crime to be confused by how excited they were to see each other?
“Yona, you look even prettier! What are you eating that’s making you look better every time?”
It wasn’t the first time they’d parted and then met again, but saying she looks prettier every time was like they saw each other regularly.
Alex’s discomfort didn’t stop there.
“I heard you were coming to the Church Region through Alebians. That’s why I came to greet you.”
“I see…!”
Ceres kept stroking Yona’s arms, from her shoulders down to her wrists, even her fingers with her right hand.
And there was something strange in Ceres’ touch.
Alex simply watched in silence.
There was something suspicious, but it was vague enough that he didn’t know how to point out what was odd.
“Alright, let’s switch to the carriage now. If you ride in my carriage, we can skip all those inspections and whatnot.”
Ceres was all smiles.
“That sounds great! Hey, Alex! Kaiyak! Let’s go, hurry!”
They boldly got off the Alebians’ carriage and transferred to Ceres’ carriage.
He still felt uncertain, but Alex decided that he must have seen wrong.
He thought maybe there was a way women communicated that he didn’t know about, and he was aware that Yona was feeling pressure about entering the Church Region.
Just the fact that they could safely pass through the inspections at the entrance of the Church Region was going to be a huge help for Yona.
It will be done.
Thinking like that, Alex suppressed his slight unease and boarded the carriage.
There were three inspections at the entrance to the Church Region.
While the inspections became stricter and more thorough as they progressed, the fact that they could pass through without a hitch, as Ceres had confidently stated, turned out to be true, allowing them to breezily enter the Church Region.
The Infura Church Region had an overwhelming presence just by its existence.
With a gigantic celestial statue standing in front, buildings were arranged in a round shape, resembling pure white angels surrounding it.
The straight road was so meticulously maintained that not a single stain could be found on the pristine stepping stones, which were perfectly placed, offering a riding experience on the carriage that was so comfortable and quiet it felt like floating.
“You’re trying to erase the tattoo?”
Ceres responded to Yona’s words from inside the carriage.
Tattoo, the very same inscription that had been used in the era of echoes, was etched on Yona—now she wanted to erase it.
Though Yona’s intent was well-known, it was somewhat unexpected that she had returned so quickly to do so.
“Uh, well, I need to check the condition first, so let’s talk in my room later. By the way, what do you mean there was a problem at Lizardden?”
Lizardden.
As soon as that word was mentioned, shadow crossed Yona’s face. Kaiyak, sitting next to her, cleared his throat awkwardly, and Alex just washed his face dry while cautiously glancing at Yona.
“I had mentioned James’s village before, right?”
“Yes, I remember. The one where the black goo was oozing out from the sacred tree.”
“It was somewhat similar to that.”
Yona, who had been explaining, suddenly fell silent. Just as the bear had appeared in the story about James’s village, a mermaid also showed up in the tale of Lizardden.
The difference was that while they had managed to handle the bear quite well, the mermaid was a whole different story.
How could Yona even mention that Vervaria, who resided in her left arm, had dealt with it, right in the middle of the Church Region?
While Yona hesitated, the carriage continued to roll on.
It drove past the road that cut through the center of the Church Region toward the main hall.
Inside the carriage, a sudden silence fell.
“…Huh? Did I ask something strange? Why is everyone so quiet?”
Suddenly, everyone went silent, leaving Ceres with a puzzled expression.
Seeing this, Yona cautiously opened her mouth.
“…Did you happen to catch Vervaria? Any idea where she might be?”
“Ah—Vervaria. That one, huh…”
Ceres let out a long sigh.
From her demeanor, Yona could roughly guess the situation.
How could she possibly explain that the Vervaria they were chasing was actually residing in Yona’s left arm?
Moreover, how could anyone say that it’s not just a clone but her real self, the same Vervaria who almost destroyed Lizardden, now chilling in the Church Region?
“I’m currently tracking two of them. Vervaria and the vampire Semetas. The cathedral knights are diligently trying to capture and kill these two, but they are both completely elusive. Honestly, I’m almost at the point where I’d want to request Yona and Alex’s help.”
“Wait, isn’t the hero party around as well?”
That was a rather unnecessary comment. Yona already knew from Alebians that the hero party wasn’t in a situation to help.
She was also aware that the Dark Association had appeared in Evian and that they were tracing signs of the association coming from Kapatia Port.
“They’re having their own complications right now. It seems the Dark Association has deeper roots than expected. Plus, the ones who summoned Vervaria last time have been spouting strange testimonies…”
“Strange testimonies?”
“Well, this is confidential, but since they were the ones who managed to repel Vervaria, I suppose it’s okay to share.”
Ceres pretended to look around.
After all, they were just inside a carriage, and the only people there were Yona’s party and Ceres.
“When I say strange testimonies, they’re all just saying bizarre things.”
“Bizarre things…?”
“Basically, um, ‘On the day the rightful saint arrives, the celestial beings will finally return.’”
“Er, what…?”
Yona’s eyes went wide.
On the day the rightful saint arrives, the celestial beings will finally return—
The term ‘rightful saint’ made Yona instinctively clutch her chest in surprise.
When she heard ‘saint,’ she was reminded of what happened just a few days ago: the ritual world where Vervaria had practically kidnapped her, which she referred to as the Demon World.
In that place, Vervaria told Yona,
“Become the Saint of the Demon Realm.”
What Vervaria said to Yona,
were the exact words all the Dark Associations echoed.
Yona felt a sense of rejection towards the common term “Saint”.
At least, the Saint in her head – a tiny, tiny, but feisty red-haired Saint.
She felt that this Saint would be something entirely different.
*
“Sisissississ!!!!”
As soon as she stepped off the carriage, a shadow rushed towards Yona.
The black hair shone like never before, smooth and flowing like a curtain cut from darkness, and her plump lips and rosy cheeks radiated a warmth typical of a child.
“Rubina!!!”
Seeing the little one charging at her, Yona broke into a wide grin and hugged her tightly.
Rubina, who could barely reach Yona’s chest before, now seemed to have grown significantly, bumping around her hips.
“Sis, sis!”
“Oh dear, Rubina! Were you doing well?”
Managing to pry off the wildly clinging Rubina, Yona knelt down in front of her and looked into her face.
It was obvious that she had been eating well, sleeping well, and receiving good care. Rubina appeared much healthier than when she was with Yona and wore a cheerful expression.
Her big eyes sparkled with starlight, like the black night sky, and her face overflowed with longing for Yona.
That longing, which usually turns into resentment, was completely absent; it seemed Rubina was just genuinely happy to see Yona standing right in front of her.
“I’ve been doing great! Sis, how about you?”
Yona silently smiled and scanned Rubina from top to bottom.
So beautiful.
She remembered their first meeting when Rubina wore rags.
Then there was Kapatia, who had dressed her in a brown dress that at least looked human.
Now, compared to then, Rubina’s dazzling and ornate dress, black velvet with white lace, was both cute and charming.
“Sis, you really have been well. That’s why I came to see Rubina, right? You kept your promise. Am I right?”
Yona smiled brightly.
Just seeing Rubina again filled her heart to the brim with joy.
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