The incident at the party venue was wrapped up, but Jinzou was still at large.
“Are you telling me the whole city has turned into vampires?”
Jinzou had caused an even bigger incident.
Lars, now a Saint, had a purification spell that was on a whole different level, instantly cleansing the entire city where the Martial Arts Conference was held.
Having lost his last noble, Jinzou immediately executed Plan B, turning the neighboring city into his vassal and advancing towards the Empire.
“The Imperial Army is set to support the defense of the Duke’s Territory immediately. Gothberg—now a Saint. With you and the Hero by our side, there’s no enemy we should fear.”
Receiving the Emperor’s request, Lars, along with Lishe, set out to subdue Jinzou.
Thanks to Lars’s recommendation, Tanya, as well as the Elven archer Valen and Ambrosia, joined in, making this operation effectively the first outing of the Hero’s party.
Just before departure, someone came to meet Lars.
Knock, knock; the knocking sound was unusually cautious.
“Lars, I heard you’re heading to the battlefield.”
Asela’s face was filled with worry.
“Are you… okay?”
She placed her hand on his cheek.
His temperature felt warmer than usual, and his skin was soft.
He felt full of life.
“Of course. To be honest, I’m in better condition than ever. Being treated like a Saint has its perks.”
Lars grinned casually.
In reality, he was thoroughly enjoying the privileges of his Saintly talent.
[Sanctification C (Passive): The area within a 1-meter radius of the caster becomes a sanctuary. In this sanctuary, natural healing is applied.]
Thanks to the passive skill, the demerits were canceled out, and his injuries were naturally healing. As he grew as a Saint, the burden of elevating his medical skills lessened.
Although he had lost alchemy, it was still an incredible benefit. Above all.
‘Spirit Manipulation.’
With this skill to handle souls, he could heal Lishe and Charles.
“…You really do look alright.”
Asela’s feelings as she watched Lars were incredibly complicated.
She should be happy that he had been liberated from his illness.
But to think it was by becoming a Saint.
A Saint, a Saint.
Lars was no longer an ordinary human but had become a mystic chosen by the world.
He now bore the great mission to protect the human realm alongside the Hero.
Naturally, he couldn’t afford to just be the attending physician for a mere princess.
‘…Hah.’
Yeah.
A ‘mere’ princess.
Before the one and only mystic in the world, all distinctions of honor and position made by humans seemed trivial.
Thinking this way, it felt like Lars had gone off somewhere far away in just one night.
And it truly seemed like he might leave her and go to the Hero.
“Your Majesty?”
As Acella cuddles up and throws a useless tantrum in his arms,
he slowly grabs her hand, where a ring just like his is placed.
If even this ring were to disappear, their connection would truly vanish.
“…Lars.”
“Yeah.”
She was about to ask if he was leaving with the Hero but ultimately shut her mouth.
Hearing a ‘yes’ would only terrify her with thoughts of what she might do.
“…Be careful on the battlefield.”
“Understood. Royal Princess, you shouldn’t rush forward like you did when dealing with the barbarians.”
“Got it.”
Acella bit her lip, doing her best to suppress her desire to stay close to him.
*
“Castle wall breached!”
“Undead! A massive undead!”
“Oh my gosh, an undead army launching a combined attack!”
The Duke’s Territory was collapsing sooner than expected.
Not only vampires but Ritch’s undead army was pouring in as well.
This battle was a prelude to the war against the Demon King’s forces.
They had to seize the advantage without fail.
“Only victory lies ahead for the Empire!”
The Emperor bravely swings his sword at the front lines. The Hero’s party supports him alongside the Knights, breaking through the castle wall.
“Your Majesty, I will concentrate the blessing on you.”
“If you have energy to spare, assist the Hero!”
“The Hero fights perfectly fine without my aid. It’s strategically beneficial to provide you, the master swordsman, with it.”
“Hmm…!”
The Hero’s party moved like they had fought together for ages, even in their first sortie. At the core were the Holy Sword wielding Charles and Lars.
With Lars’ blessings, the Emperor felt revitalized like he was in his prime.
The Empire’s forces, having quickly broken through the invading Demon King’s army that had reached the Duke’s Territory, shattered the enemy’s formation and seized victory before sunset.
“The sun of the Empire shall never set!”
“Celebrate the victory!”
“Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”
With a perfect victory, the Empire’s army wiped out the remnants and began the liberation of the Duke’s Territory.
After the battle, Lishe released the resonance and wiped the sweat off her forehead.
“Phew.”
—You worked hard.
“What hardship? That was all my sister. I was so surprised when she took down that giant skeleton just now.”
—Do you remember?
“Yeah. Nowadays, I see it even when my sister is awake.”
With a swift motion, Lishe expertly wielded the Holy Sword. Fighting alongside Charles, she absorbed her techniques into her own experience.
“Sister, I’m not sure, but… a Saint is someone who goes on adventures with the Hero, right?”
—Yes, that’s right.
“If my sister and Teacher are with me…”
Strength surged in Lishe’s grip on the sword’s hilt.
“I think I can do well.”
Charles realized upon hearing those words.
At this point, she felt she was no longer needed.
Lishe was not herself.
By years, it had only been five years since she met Lars, but during that crucial time, meeting him changed her environment, allowing her to harbor no darkness in her heart as he did.
She even learned the optimal swordsmanship she had repeatedly honed in battles in a short time.
Now, she even had Lars, who had become a saint, by her side.
The negative voice echoing in her mind was sure to be nothing but a distraction.
‘…Lars must find me burdensome.’
Charles felt as if she had lost her place.
She couldn’t even share in Lishe’s growth and fell straight into despair instead. After all, she had repeatedly failed for so long.
Why couldn’t I become Lishe?
Surely, the beginning was the same.
Me too.
‘I want to hold hands with Lars…’
Then, in front of them, no, in front of that one person, he appeared. It was Lars, who had come to look after Lishe.
On the roadside, where the flames of the battlefield had yet to extinguish, and the ruins of collapsed buildings lay scattered.
“We won, Teacher.”
Just seeing his face made Lishe so happy that she couldn’t help but smile brightly.
“Are you uninjured?”
“Thanks to you. But the village… has taken quite a hit.”
Slowly approaching Lars with soft steps.
“If you weren’t here, we wouldn’t have fought like we did.”
“I guess I’m a bit competent.”
“Ehehe.”
Lishe took a deep breath.
Her legs trembled slightly.
“Um, Teacher. I was really scared at first, but… now I understand what my duty is. I will show you that I am a proper hero.”
Lishe reached out her hand to Lars.
With a proud gaze.
“Will you continue to be with me… from now on?”
In that moment.
Lars’s status window shook.
―――――――――――
SDVIMVFoanVzY1YwSVhjamMzUkt1Y2Fqa2VwMStoWWVLcFhxd2I4ME13c2JXVDdZakhndWV2TVNJM2RWZ2M5TQ
Warning
· You are at a crossroads.
· This choice cannot be undone.
[Path of Huata]
· After ■■■, back to ■■ at 47%
[Path of the Hero]
· Hero and Saint 75% → 88%
―――――――――――
An important turning point.
Lars realized that depending on this answer, he would determine whether to remain a doctor or take the path of the saint.
Above all.
‘The people who will stay with me will change as well.’
Would it be Acella, Lishe, or Charles?
‘I need to confirm.’
Lars used the [Ending Viewing Ticket].
He had to check if the ending he desired was in the ‘Hero and Saint’ ending.
His vision shifted.
―The march of the heroes who saved the continent!
In the kingdom’s capital, as the hero party entered through the castle gates, thunderous applause erupted. It seemed the war had long since ended, and everyone was looking splendid.
Lars and Lishe received warm welcomes wherever they went. The festival lasted for a long time.
―It’s a victory celebration after a year. It was an honor to meet you.
Princess Persiya gave a modest greeting to Lars.
A year? Why did it take so long?
After finishing a month-long schedule, Lars returned to the Marquisate with Lishe and visited a grave.
It’s an unmarked tombstone.
―The real hero is my sister, but only we remember her.
Lishe placed a bouquet and hugged Lars tightly.
Lars looked around.
A quiet and peaceful Marquisate. But he recognized very few faces.
Not even Hugo, Chloe, or the doctors were there.
Naturally, Acella was also missing.
Truly, only the hero and the saint remained in this world.
The two held hands, leaning on each other.
―Shall we go, brother.
They moved forward, not knowing where their destination was.
The quiet retirement ceremony came to an end.
“No.”
Lars replied after viewing the ending.
Shock spread across Lishe’s face, not expecting a rejection.
As she tried to take a step back, Lars grabbed her hand and pulled her toward himself.
“We can’t just be the two of us.”
“Huh…?”
“We’ll go together with Charles too.”
At his answer, the uncertainty vanished from Lishe’s face and a smile appeared.
“W-well…! Of course! Let’s bring my sister too!”
Lishe grasped the hilt of the Holy Sword. With a brief flash, her eyes changed, then she panicked, looking at her hand.
“Charles, the three of us will stick together until the end.”
“W-what are you saying? I’m going to stay here…”
“Don’t even think about running away.”
Charles’s lips curled inward.
As she stared into Lars’s eyes for a while, she concealed her slightly moist eyes, shaking her head vigorously in agreement.
―――――――――――
[Good Ending]
· Hero and Saint 86% → 0%
※ Ending has been deleted.
※ Hidden ending conditions have been met.
[Hidden Ending]
· I will meet you from the past tomorrow 92%
―――――――――――
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