Arc 3 : Epilouge

[Melissa PoV]

One day after the attack, roughly a third of the city's buildings had been destroyed. My tavern was among those damaged, with part of the roof at the back having been torn apart.

At the moment, I was walking through the city streets toward my tavern to gather my belongings.

Several medical teams could be seen going from house to house, collecting blood donations from the residents to be used for those who required transfusions after being wounded in last night's battle.

There were also countless people clearing away the rubble from the destroyed buildings. Judging by the extent of the damage, it would probably take several months for the city to fully recover.

With this region now in such an unstable state, I suppose our plans would become much easier to carry out.

To be honest, we had already gathered enough data about this area and its surroundings. It was time to return and formulate our strategy based on everything we had learned.

When I arrived at the tavern, the place was eerily quiet, unlike the usual days when it would be filled with townspeople chatting and spending their time here.

Especially that group of men. They must have been busy today.

I began gathering the belongings I needed to take with me. I didn't want to leave behind any unnecessary traces of my presence here.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

The sound of someone knocking on the door reached my ears as I was arranging my belongings.

"Come in."

The door opened, revealing a black-haired man accompanied by a woman from the medical team. The two of them entered my tavern.

"Ah, Captain Raul. Is there something I can help you with?" I asked him.

"You seem to be packing your things, Melissa. Are you returning to your hometown in the Grand Duchy of Wiena?" the black-haired man asked.

"That's right. My father doesn't want me staying here while the situation remains unstable," I replied.

"That's a shame. We won't be able to taste your drinks anymore," the man said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "However, before you leave, could you donate some blood to us? You know that healing magic can regenerate wounds, but it cannot replace the blood that has already been lost from the body."

"Of course. I hope this small contribution of mine can help the people of this city."

Hearing my answer, the black-haired man smiled before ordering the woman from the medical team to begin the procedure immediately.

I sat down on a chair, placed my arm on the table, and allowed the woman to do her work.

Turning my head slightly, I noticed the black-haired man smiling happily as he looked at me.

"What's the matter?" I asked.

"Nothing. I'm just glad you survived yesterday's battle," he answered.

Not long afterward, the blood-drawing procedure was complete. The two of them then said their farewells and thanked me for cooperating.

"I hope you have a pleasant journey to your destination, Melissa," the black-haired man said.

"Thank you. I hope we can meet again, Captain Raul," I replied.

"Oh, don't worry. I have a feeling we won't have to wait long before we meet again."

The two of them left.

I watched the man's back as he gradually disappeared into the crowd filling the city's streets.

Raul de Garcia...

He was the man responsible for causing our team's previous intelligence operation to fail, resulting in more than half of our members being captured by the Empire.

Ever since arriving in this city, I had spoken with him quite often. For some reason, there was something strangely familiar about him, as though I had met him somewhere before.

Rumor had it that he and his team had managed to destroy a base belonging to a group of Demons that had been terrorizing this area.

That meant his strength was certainly not something to be underestimated.

After waiting for a while, the carriage I had rented finally arrived. I loaded my belongings into it before departing the ruined city.

However, my destination was not the border between the Empire and the Grand Duchy of Wiena.

Instead, I was heading toward a residence located in the northwestern part of this region.

After three hours of travel, I stepped down from the carriage and handed the driver thirty Silver Coins before carrying my belongings toward the building.

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From the outside, the building looked like an ordinary family home.

But in reality, it was the headquarters of our intelligence team operating in this region.

I approached the front door and knocked seven times.

Afterward, I spoke the password assigned to each member to gain entry into the building.

"I've brought fish from the sea. Would the master and mistress be interested in buying some?"

"What kind of fish, and how many have you brought?"

A man's voice suddenly came from the other side of the door.

"Six mackerel, sir," I answered.

As soon as I gave my answer, the door opened, revealing a man dressed as a butler who greeted me.

"Welcome, Captain," the servant said. "Allow me to carry your belongings upstairs."

"Thank you, Eddie."

I entered the building and followed the servant inside.

We eventually arrived at a fairly spacious common room. There were already many people gathered there, talking among themselves.

The moment they noticed my presence, everyone fell silent and immediately assumed a perfect military posture.

I climbed the stairs to the third floor of the large house. Not long afterward, I arrived in front of a room. The servant opened the door for me and neatly placed my belongings inside.

"Captain, is there anything else I can assist you with?" the servant asked.

"I'll change my clothes. Inform all the members that they are to gather in the meeting room," I replied.

"Understood. I'll inform them immediately."

After the servant left and closed the bedroom door behind him, I sat at the dressing table and gazed into the mirror in front of me.

I then opened the pendant hanging from the necklace around my neck.

Inside was an artifact given to me by my mother.

I activated it with my Mana, and the artifact suddenly began to glow.

In the reflection of the mirror, my maroon hair slowly began to change, turning black. My green eyes also returned to their original orange color.

I removed the hair tie I had been wearing and let my hair fall freely around my shoulders.

This is my true appearance...

The artifact my mother gave me possessed the ability of Shapeshifting. With it, I could alter my hair, eyes, and facial features, allowing me to assume different identities for missions such as the one I was currently carrying out.

I—Siena di Reginossa—had been assigned to conduct an intelligence mission within the Empire, gathering information in preparation for our nation in the event that war broke out with the Aragon Empire.

After changing into the military uniform I normally wore, I immediately left the room and headed toward the meeting room to discuss the results of our operations thus far.

When I arrived in front of the meeting room, the servant stationed outside opened the door for me.

I entered the room, which was already filled with numerous members of our team. They all rose from their seats and immediately assumed a perfect military posture.

At the front of the room stood a table and chair specially prepared for me.

Once I took my seat, everyone who had been standing sat down simultaneously.

They were waiting for us to begin the final meeting of this intelligence operation.

"Very well. Let us begin compiling the report before submitting it to the Central Government as a complete intelligence dossier."

[Brian PoV]

Several days had passed since Sister Lunaria and I went to retrieve the Chosen Saint—who, to my surprise, turned out to be Ariel...

When I met her in that ruined city, Ariel's aura felt completely different from before. I tried talking to her at the time, but she kept ignoring me.

Does she know about the agreement Raul and I made back then?

Only Raul, Princess Elena, and I should know about it.

At present, I was in the Holy City of Notredame, specifically inside the Main Temple's ceremonial hall, where I had come to witness Ariel's official coronation as a Saint—the woman who would lead the teachings of the Temple of Goddess Diana.

I sat in the third row of the enormous hall.

The first row was occupied by the leaders of nations whose people followed the teachings of the Temple of Goddess Diana.

The second row was reserved for important nobles, while the third row was occupied by high-ranking officials of the Temple and the Holy Knights.

Under normal circumstances, I shouldn't have been allowed to stand among people of such status.

However, because I was the Hero who wielded the Holy Sword Excalibur, I had been granted an exception.

An altar stood before the first row.

Vicar Lorentius and four Cardinals were waiting there for Ariel's arrival.

Not long afterward, the doors to the hall opened, revealing a woman with platinum-blonde hair and violet eyes, dressed in a beautiful white Priestess uniform.

She began walking toward the center of the gathering, passing between the rows of distinguished guests before making her way toward the altar at the front of the hall.

Every guest present watched Ariel as she walked gracefully across the red carpet.

The sight was like a painting—one that would surely be remembered by generations to come.

"She's beautiful..."

"She looks like the Goddess Diana herself..."

Everyone praised Ariel's beauty, especially the men in attendance.

Indeed, Ariel looked far more beautiful, dignified, and mature than the last time we had met at the academy.

Her expression was firm and resolute, filled with a confidence that had been absent before.

She climbed the altar and finally stood before Vicar Lorentius, with the four Cardinals positioned on either side of him.

"Everyone, hear me!" Vicar Lorentius called out, clearly preparing to deliver his address. "Thank you all for gathering in this place, blessed by our Great Goddess! Today, we shall officially crown our new Saint, five years after the passing of the previous Saint."

Everyone remained focused, listening intently to Vicar Lorentius's words.

Cardinal Marcus then brought forward a silver-colored crown and handed it to the Vicar.

"With the arrival of our new Saint, there is no longer any need to fear the Demons who may one day invade our world! With our Saint among us, our armies shall always emerge victorious in every battle against the vile forces of the Demon King!" the Vicar proclaimed passionately.

"Now, recite your oath, Saint Ariel."

At the Vicar's words, Ariel nodded.

"I swear that, as a Saint, I shall always uphold the teachings of the Goddess in this world she created! I swear that I shall use my authority as the highest authority of the Temple of Goddess Diana with the utmost fairness! I swear that I shall never abandon any of my duties as a Saint, and that I shall lead humanity in its fight against the Demons who bring destruction!"

Not a single person made a sound.

Everyone remained silent, unwilling to disturb this historic coronation ceremony.

"If I break any of the oaths I have sworn today, then may the Goddess withdraw the blessings she has bestowed upon me, and may my soul remain eternally trapped in the torment of Hell in the afterlife!"

After completing her oath, Ariel lowered her head.

Vicar Lorentius then placed the crown—an extremely high-class artifact—upon Ariel's head.

"With this, you are officially recognized as the twenty-fifth Saint of the Temple of Goddess Diana! May the teachings of love stand ever stronger and flourish beneath your leadership, Great Saint."

Once the crown had been placed upon her head, Ariel turned to face the assembled guests.

Everyone rose from their seats and paid their respects to the newly crowned Saint.

"Long Live... The Holy Saint!" Vicar Lorentius shouted.

Everyone present then joined him in raising their voices.

"Long Live the Saint!"

"Long Live the Saint!"

"Long Live the Saint!"

I joined them in shouting praises for Ariel as well.

At this moment, she was the most influential person in the entire world—even more influential than the world leaders gathered here today.