CH 27

Chapter 27: Astoria

“Hmm…”

When I awoke, I saw a familiar ceiling. I jumped up in a hurry.

“Why?!”

If I’m not mistaken, this place is Astoria. Someone enters the room with a soft knock.

“Mika, you’re awake.”

Garen was the one who walked in.

“Garen, why did you…”

Garen promised to take me back to Astoria, but he wasn’t the type of man who would go to such lengths. When I was perplexed, Galen smiled bitterly.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be so rough on you, but the king ordered it.”

I’ve heard that now that the Saints haven’t appeared, the demons have a significant advantage. Humanity will lose the war at this rate. As a result, the king’s order must have been to bring the “Saint” back as soon as possible.

“We really need you.”

No. The Saint is exactly what you needed. Even worse, I’m not even the Saint. I’m just a little girl with no authority. When I shake my head, Garen laughs.

“No, you’re the Saint, Mika.”

Lies. Garen must understand that I am not the Saint. And that I was executed.

“Hey, Garen——.”

I’m about to say something when there’s a knock and a new person enters the room. It was Marie, the maid.

“Oh, Saint-sama! How helpless you were when the demon abducted you!”

No. I left on my own accord, but they blamed it on demons. When I looked at Garen, he averted his gaze.

“…No. I left this castle of my own volition.”

“The demons threatened you by saying that…! What a tragedy!”

No. Nothing you’ve said makes sense. I sigh. I’m not sure how long I’ve been sleeping, but even with magic, it must be a long journey from Crystalia to Astoria. I should change my clothes. I ask Garen to leave the room for the time being so I can change.

As I had expected, the clothes they had prepared for me were very Saintly. These clothes used to excite me, but not anymore. It’s just revolting. I sigh and pull the sleeves up.

“…I want to go home.”

I want to return to Crystalia, to the Demon King, who referred to me as a friend not because I was the Saint or the Shrine Maiden but because I was Mika.

I’m on the verge of crying and slapping myself on the cheek. — Don’t shed any tears. Do something for yourself.

Take a long, deep breath. Also, recall your time in Crystalia. Lullabies are being sung to me. We slept together, and the “matchmaker under the moon”.

It’s all inside me. So everything is fine.

“Okay!”

Let’s try to get back to Crystalia.