CH 78

Then I heard a man’s voice from behind the Spider Queen.

“Long time no see.”

His face was revealed with the sound of footsteps.

A man who must have come from beyond the gate.

He brushed his silver hair back lightly and his purple eyes glowed.

Known as the heir of the Demon King of the Demon Realm, is one of the Demon Princes.

Diego Vester.

And he was the man I ‘used’ to bring down the Empress some time ago.

Diego was looking at me with dry eyes.

I took one more step back.

“…The gate, perhaps you opened it?”

Despite my wary words, he stared at me indifferently without any reaction.

“Nope. My father did.”

“Do you know the terrible chaos this gate has brought about?”

To my words, Diego replied with a puzzled look.

“What answer are you expecting? Should I be interested in humans dying?”

There wasn’t the slightest hint of remorse on his face.

In a way, Diego was right.

He was the heir to the lofty Demon Realm, who didn’t regard humans as much as they did when they had claws, so human lives couldn’t be more important.

“I’m talking about my mental confusion. Do you enjoy tearing down someone else’s hard work?”

Still, I had the right to complain.

“I’m fully reflecting on myself for using you. But revenge brings another revenge, so that’s enough. It’s tough enough.”

At my words, Diego stared at me. As if he was interested.

“I think you’re mistaken, but as I said earlier, the gate was opened by my father.”

He went on.

“Queen Arachne is Father’s henchman. It has nothing to do with me.”

Diego’s gaze was on the stopped spider’s paw.

Although he’s a character (?) that doesn’t appear directly in the original story, I knew from reading the book that Diego’s father was the Demon King, Leto.

Because when Ariel in the original story made a contract with Diego to harm Camilla, there was a part where she asked, “Are you the demon king Leto?” Also, that monster is Queen Arachne, the servant of Demon King Leto.

However, Diego was thoroughly drawing a line between himself and the gate business.

Aren’t all demons on the same side?

“…”

After all, I met him on a single wooden bridge and I couldn’t help but ask the main point.

“Why did you stop time?”

If he wanted me to die, all he had to do was watch.

However, seeing him stop the time and even draw a line between himself and the Demon King, Leto, made me wonder.

No way… Do you want to help me?

“I think it’s good timing.”

His purple eyes flashed.

“To make a contract.”

I was taken aback by the sudden word ‘contract’.

The turning point where Ariel of the original story definitely took the dead route was the contract with Diego Vester.

“You, a demon, are making a contract with me, a saintess?”

Diego continued in a dry voice.

“Don’t you want to live?”

“…”

“If you sign a contract with me, I will spare your life.”

In front of my eyes was the tower-like bridge of the monster queen, Arachne, and time stopped. And he was asking for a contract at the cost of my life.

Behind me, numerous priests and knights had fallen.

If I refuse his offer, it will put me and them in danger.

Demons like to make contracts in exchange for human souls. The contract he made with Ariel in the original story was the same.

“What is the contract about?”

I asked him, keeping as calm as I could.

***

Monsters were pushed out of the mine with a huge explosion. Queen Arachne, legions of spiders, trolls, and even humanoid monsters.

But what shocked people was that all the monsters were corpses.

Along with the heavy explosion sound, countless corpses fell off the cliff and became a mess.

The lord’s soldiers guarding the mine were shocked to see the dead bodies of the monsters.

“…”

I was looking at the reconnected oracle window in front of me with a blank expression.

[The oracle has been activated.]

[The Gods are hurriedly looking at your condition.]

[The God of Justice, Hetuse, blesses you.]

[The God of Benevolence, Oman, blesses you.]

Unlike the Demon Realm, which borders the northern and southern hemispheres, the Gods are outsiders.

Extremely powerful, but unable to manifest as a body like the Demon King, and thus beings with limitations in communicating through oracles…

And I’m the only human being stuck between them (?).

However, the Gods couldn’t see me because the oracle was disturbed by powerful Magi.

Maybe what happened with Diego… They won’t know

“Ugh. Saintess.”

A soldier’s voice came from behind.

“Uuuggghh.”

The priests were also wriggling and recovering their spirits.

Suddenly, however, a loud noise was heard.

“The captives who were taken to the Demon Realm are back!”

“Sir Paladin!”

When a priest pointed to the far end with his index finger, dozens of people were lying where his eyes were directed.

I got up and found a familiar face.

Dwayne passed out among them.

A priest ran up, and I heard that he was breathing. A momentary sigh of relief came out.

“That’s a relief…”

Even this expedition, which wasn’t very good, was profitable. Hearing that he was taken away, I honestly felt uncomfortable the entire time.

Cheers were ringing in my ears.

“The gate… The gate is blocked!”

“The Saintess has recovered the captives!”

“Long live the Saintess!”

“The gate is blocked! Thank you, Saintess!”

Leaving behind the cheers of the people, I trudged out of the cave.

A familiar dialog popped up in front of my eyes.

[Hidden Mission Success]

[Would you like to receive a reward for completing the Hidden Mission?

(Yes No)]

I decided to accept the reward slowly and stood in front of people.

“The Saintess defeated the monsters!”

“Oh! God Hetuse!”

Okay, great news for you guys, but I’m in big trouble right now.

The moment I let out a sigh.

“Ariel.”

Hearing a familiar voice, I turned my head.

I couldn’t help but to be surprised.

“…Your Highness the Crown Prince?”

Red hair resembling the sun and red eyes. It was Kyle.

I took a couple of steps toward Kyle.

Then the invisible hill below was revealed, and the army he had brought was visible. It seemed to be thousands, tens of thousands of knights and soldiers.

It was like watching a scene from a fantasy movie with well-equipped ranks, armor, and weapons that seemed to have been prepared for war.

I looked up at him with a surprised expression.

“I ran straight away, but it seems to be late.”

The moment I first saw the legion behind Queen Arachne, I thought it was the end when the gate was opened and the monsters came out.

But the moment I saw Kyle’s eyes, I knew it would never be a one-sided fight.

Demons are stronger than humans, but the Sword Master, Kyle, is also someone who has surpassed the level of humans. And these armies will slaughter the monsters as they are. Of course, it would cause enormous human casualties to our troops, too.

“Did you block the gate?”

Kyle’s lips twitched.

I looked at him nervously.

The setting sun was dazzling, and his expression was difficult to see.

“It turned out to be easier than I thought.”

I answered appropriately. It was because I thought there was no need to tell the story of meeting Diego.

But at that moment, Kyle suddenly reached out to me.

Startled by the unexpected movement, I stared blankly at him as he raised one of my hands. His ruby-red eyes were burning with various emotions.

Suddenly he shouted like thunder. It was a voice so loud that it shook my shoulders.

“Saintess Ariel!”

At Kyle’s voice, the eyes of many people down the hill turned to me.

“Has stopped the war against the Demon Realm!”

As soon as Kyle finished his words, the shouts of the soldiers resounded like a chorus.

The soldiers, who saw the mountain of monster corpses falling down the cliff, were already excited.

“Oohhh!”

“The Gods bless the Empire!”

“Praise the Saintess!”

“Such a great holy power!”

There were screams so strong that the earth shook.