Saint and the Monster~1!

"Did you find him?"

As Austin returned, Sicily got up and immediately barged for any news about Kyouki.

Austin, whose hair was raven, now signifying that he had used the herb to not look suspicious in the market, shook his head with a sigh.

"A ruckus did occur an hour ago, and from what I have heard, Kyouki must have gotten involved in it."

Austin muttered to the bed as he plopped down beside Luna, who had a solemn expression spread across her face. But deep down, she was extremely frustrated because of Kyouki's action, which definitely would raise problems in the plan.

The air around Sicily oozed with worry and concern for Kyouki as more than the plan or anything else; she was worried about his whereabouts.

As for Austin...

"Well, there's no point crying over the spilled milk. Now we have to think before we move."

He was so calm and collected at the moment, that even Luna became baffled, not to talk about Sicily, who feared to face Austin's rage.

"You...leave it. What do you have in mind, Austin?"

Luna halted her words, before she asked what concerned her most at the moment.

Sicily also looked at Austin in a way like he was her last hope who could help her regain Kyouki.

"Kyouki, despite being not much powerful in comparison to Alex or Sir Charles, was still a hero of light. From what I know, the military of Xylex isn't capable of restraining him. Then the only option left is...."

"The summoned heroes."

Luna completed his words, on which Austin only nodded before he continued with his words.

"Well, in a way, we know that rumours about The Summoned Heroes aren't just rumours. And since that Vitality Thread is still intact, it means that Kyouki has been taken, hostage."

Sicily nearly forgot that she had the thread in her hand, which tells the condition of the other half bearer. Some strings have died down, which said that Kyouki was injured but still in good condition.

She heaved a sigh of relief, as she also plopped down on the chair before she heard Austin continuing.

"Well, I am 99 percent sure that Kyouki has been taken by Capital's guard but to be on the safe side...Luna, can you track him?"

Without responding, Luna went to work as soon as her eyes were illuminated with a cyan hue.

It didn't take long before her oceanic eyes returned, along with a negative answer.

"No, I can't. Something is blocking my senses after a definite reach."

Luna had a profound expression on her face as she said her concerns. It wasn't the first time she was restricted like this, and neither time had she had a good premonition about it.

"Well, that is understandable since Xylex works with demons and their cursed items."

It sounds absurd every time they remember how a nation was able to co-operate with those beings who know no obedience and considers humanity as their nemesis.

Austin suddenly got up from the bed, attracting the gaze of the ladies before he took out something from the inventory and threw it inside his mouth.

"A-Austin? What about tracking Kyou-kun?"

Sicily asked hurriedly as she was suffering from anxiety passing each second.

"Am *nom**nom* af if..."

(A/N:-  I am at it)

Due to the heavy load inside his mouth, Austin's voice became slightly funny, which made Luna giggle. Austin playfully glared at Luna, which the latter ignored entirely.

Sicily, looked at the flirting couple with her eyes twitching before finally, her patience resulted in something meaningful.

**SPIT** 

**GUFUU** 

As soon Austin spat the thing, he was chewing, a white cloud formed at that place. 

Sicily and Luna looked at the scene with curious gazes before a small brown figure emerged out of the cloud.

**Baff*Baff* 

With its short tail wagging left to right, a small dog of the size of fewer than 50 centimeters appeared at the spot as it stared at its master with a joyful gaze.

""Awwwww"" 

If only Sicily would have reacted like this, then it would have been understandable, but Luna being so expressive about something made Austin startled.

Both of the beautiful women went straight to pet the tiny creature, which they hadn't seen until now. 

The little being, too, accepted its master's acquaintance with its eyes closed and tail unstoppably swaying left to right.

Austin rubbed his eyes with a heavy sigh, before his voice reached up to the trio.

"Come here."

The creature, just like a remote control device, left the parts of the two onee-san and marched toward Austin.

Austin looked at the dog before his eyes focused on the two maidens in front, who had their gaze still fixed on the creature like they had found their new obsession.

"Hello, guys? Remember, Kyouki, summoned heroes, Xylex? Does it rings any bell?"

Luna, as well as Sicily, came out of their stupor as they saw Austin's frown, much to their fret.

"Seriously. Anyway, Sicily bring me something which had Kyouki's scent. We will go hero hunting now."

______________________ 

At the same time, when the trio and a newly added member initiated their search for the hero, two peculiar men walked steadily in a dimly lighted hall.

The place was by no mean extravagant or luxurious, which one could expect from a hall built inside the palace.

There were guards aligned by the wall who motionlessly stood at their place even though the Emperor was walking through the foyer.

"You sure that Saintess would come after this defective hero?"

The one who spoke with a sneer was the spiky red-headed, summoned being, Yuuske.

"I don't know if it is true or not, but the saint is in a relationship with the Light Hero, so she must come."

A wide grin spread across Yuuske's face as he thought about the rumored beauty of Saintess, who was the most charming woman in the nation of Gram.

'Well, until Mina doesn't accept me, I might enjoy something fresh and raw instead?'

With such wicked thoughts, the duo proceeded further inside the hall, which, in actuality, was an underground prison where Yuuske have stored Kyouki.

The metal bars showed the figure of a boy in his mid-teens, currently being bound with two chains as his upper body looked completely ragged with tens of blood marks and bruises all over.

"Why did you beat him up? He might become nation's asset in future."

Thannath glared at the carefree man, who shrugged his shoulder before answering.

"That kid ain't any hero. I just did what I felt like."

Thannath soon left the matter since he knew how crazy-minded Yuuske was, to begin with.

Instead, with a profound expression, he almost pleaded the hero with the concern which was making Thannath, worried the most.

"Whatever you do, keep the monster with Saintess alive. He alone handled a whole army of demons single-handedly. So by hook or crook, you have to take him to our side, understand?"

__________________ 

A/N:- Well, let's just pray for the new hero now.