Chapter 165: Newfound Freedom

No, I don’t know anything about this! What are you talking about!? I don’t know anything about such a ritual. I’ve never met His Majesty the King, and I only heard about Shangguan Wan’er for the first time today!

Qiu Nuoya desperately denied everything Sherria was saying, but neither Sherria nor the Cardinal made any attempt to hide their suspicious expressions.

"Then why did you disappear from before me three years ago, Qiu Nuoya? Was it because you were afraid that your identity as the hero would be discovered?"

"That’s not it at all! I only ran away because I didn’t like you calling me Divine Child and the First Saint. Back then, I had just started a new life and had only recently become an adventurer. I had finally gotten the chance to start a new life, and I didn’t want someone else deciding my future for me and forcing me down a path I had never chosen. That’s why..."

"I never intended to bind you to a predetermined future, Qiu Nuoya."

"But you did declare in front of all those adventurers that I was the reincarnation of the First Saint and try to take me to the Church, didn’t you!?"

Sherria seemed to have some recollection of the matter and spoke somewhat evasively. "At the time, I had just witnessed your power up close, and I got carried away."

"Even after that, you put out search notices for me all over the country and kept chasing after me, didn’t you!?"

"That was because there had never been anyone as extraordinary as you among those recognized as Saints! Even now, you have accomplished yet another remarkable feat by making a dragon your tamed monster. You truly are the reincarnation of the First Saint..."

"I hate that!" Qiu Nuoya could not help raising his voice, causing Sherria to blink at him in surprise. "But being a Saint is one of the highest positions within the Church, you know? You would be guaranteed a life free from hardship and given the opportunity to bestow blessings upon the common people. You could lead a wonderful..."

"I’m not some great person like that! And what do you mean by ’bestow blessings’!? I have absolutely no desire to live a life where I stand above others, hand out charity, and receive their respect. I don’t want that kind of life! What I wanted after coming to this world was a life where I could do whatever I wanted without being bound by anyone or anything. That’s not the kind of life I’m talking about. I want to live my own life freely, where I could putting my own desires first!"

At Qiu Nuoya’s outburst, the Cardinal narrowed his eyes. "Freely, putting your own desires first, huh?" Saintess Sherria, he is not fit to call himself a Saint. Someone who has no regard for others cannot possibly become a Saint. The same applies to the Saintess in question. Just because she possesses the necessary qualities does not mean she is suited to hold that position. I was thoroughly disappointed to discover that the Saint you were searching for was nothing more than such a selfish boy."

"How could you say that, Cardinal..."

"You are not the hero summoned through the Hero Summoning ritual in question. Is that truly the case?"

"Yes, it is. I can say with absolute certainty that I am not."

"Then, do you know of the Divine Sword Velikorya?"

"The Divine Sword? If you mean Velikorya, I thought that was the name of this country. Is there actually a sword with that name?"

When the Cardinal Heard Qiu Nuoya answer, he shook his head slightly and said, "Then I have no business with you. We are leaving, Saintess Sherria."

He rose from his seat and urging Sherria to follow him.

Huh? That’s it?

The man had backed down so easily that Qiu Nuoya was actually caught off guard.

"Um, that hero who ran away, did he do something that caused people to go after him?"

"Well, that is..." Sherria suddenly became hesitant.

At this point, Qiu Nuoya wished she would simply tell him everything. Had that hero really done something so terrible?

"That is not something I need to discuss with an unrelated outsider. If you’ll excuse me."

Unrelated outsider? This guy really is rude! You were the ones who came here looking for me even though I never wanted to meet you in the first place!

Qiu Nuoya swallowed those words.

Sherria rose as though following after the man, but before leaving, she looked at Qiu Nuoya as if she still wanted to say something. Then she bowed her head politely.

"Thank you very much for taking the time to speak with us today. And I sincerely apologize for the repeated disrespectful behavior of my subordinates."

"It’s fine. Well, as long as you don’t bother me again..."

"Qiu Nuoya, are you truly satisfied with the life you are living now?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"You possess the qualities of someone capable of standing above others, yet I cannot help feeling that it is such a waste for you to live among ordinary people."

"That is a matter of personal values. I have no complaints about my current life. I have no desire to climb the ranks, either, so I have no interest in standing above others."

Sherria still seemed to have something she wanted to say after hearing Qiu Nuoya’s words, but she merely pressed her lips together, bowed her head, and left the room. Kinana and her tamed monster, Baekho, followed her out, leaving an atmosphere of relief behind.

"You’re finally free now, Nuoya." Igor patted Qiu Nuoya’s head, and when Qiu Nuoya looked up, he saw Igor grinning broadly.

"Free..."

"From now on, you can go wherever you want and do whatever you please without anyone or anything getting in your way. You can go on as many adventures as you want, too."

"!!"

That’s right! I am free!