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"Foreign race invasion, future catastrophe?" The well-dressed noble sat in a high position, frowning deeply.
"Do you believe it?" Several leaders of major merchant guilds glanced at each other and laughed out loud.
"There is no higher species than humans. We are the only intelligent life in the universe." A prince from a major country stood up from his seat and raised his arms, eliciting countless cheers from below.
"Utter nonsense! Freya, as the esteemed Radiant Saintess, in order to shelter a criminal, you actually dare to tell such a ridiculous lie that makes people laugh their teeth off!" Members of the same Radiant Church showed indignation.
"Indeed, it seems our Golden Lion Kingdom should reconsider our policy support for your Radiant Temple." The Minister of Finance shook his head while eating grapes.
"Miss Freya, rather, if this catastrophe is real, you should support our warrant for the Hero even more. This way, we can analyze the secrets of the Chosen One and popularize this technology to the masses, so we can better cope with future disasters."
"That's right. Rather than placing bets on one person, why not sacrifice this person and let all of humanity gain improvement?"
The other nobles gathered together, seemingly trying to persuade her with good intentions, but behind them in the shadows were greedy gazes.
Following the old memories stored in the Philosopher's Stone, the illusory scenes Freya saw in her hallucinations became more and more solid, as if they had become reality, the reality of another world.
The bewitched masses took to the streets in protest.
They firmly believed in the Hero's evil deeds.
Holding up banners of extermination.
"Judgment! Judgment! Judgment!"
The indignant shouts were endless.
Glaring banners filled the streets.
"This world doesn't need a Hero!"
"We ourselves are the saviors!"
"Hand over your authority! Hand over your sacred items!"
"That's right. Even if a Hero really exists, he belongs to all of humanity!"
"Hand them over! Hand them over! Hand them over!"
Freya looked at those distorted faces. They were flushed with excitement.
Listening to the roaring shouts, jealous desires drowned out reason.
As the Saintess, she had also become a target of criticism.
Pushed to the forefront by the nobles.
Repeatedly saying the Hero was meant to save humanity.
But humanity had already decided to abandon the Hero.
As the Saintess.
Do you want to go against all of humanity and continue to choose the Hero?
Or join the side of humanity.
Together with them, divide up the Hero, take away his authority, sacrifice the Hero, and use his power to benefit all of humanity.
A cruel choice between two options.
The nobles watched her with amusement, the elders ignored her, and the court officials looked at her with anticipation.
The heat waves from the raging flames blurred her vision, making it difficult to breathe.
In a daze, she seemed to see the Hero with her vision skill.
But by this time, the Hero was already surrounded by other companions.
No longer the Hero who only had the Saintess back then.
So, until the last moment when she was devoured by the flames of judgment, Freya had no regrets. She was very happy.
Very happy that in this world, there were still others who could believe in her Hero and fight alongside him.
But... what is this strange feeling...
Were there still tears sliding down from the corners of her eyes?
The hypocritical happiness was shattered.
Regretful sadness filled her heart.
Freya knew, because from beginning to end, she had never been regarded as a companion by the Hero.
However, the story of the Saintess did not end here.
Just as Freya was about to be thrown into the pit of fire by the nobles to vent their anger.
An ironic and dramatic scene unfolded.
It was a day that all of humanity would never forget.
Huge cracks appeared in the sky.
The trembling earth let out a wail.
Tsunamis submerged cities, hurricanes brought destruction.
Accompanied by world-destroying, transcendent spells.
Countless powerful demons poured out from dimensional rifts.
The defenses of humanity crumbled, like toys in the face of the foreign races.
Money could not bribe the demons.
Women could not please the demons.
Nobles and commoners alike were slaughtered by the demons. Princes and refugees alike began to flee.
The judgment of the Saintess was also left unfinished.
No.
The nobles, terrified to the extreme, finally united. They put on hypocritical masks and began to praise her as the Saintess. They removed her shackles, untied the ropes, cleared her crimes, and let her become the Saintess in the spotlight once more.
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The purpose of all this was only so that Freya, as the Saintess, could help them find the Hero, help them beg the Hero.
No one cared about disasters until disasters truly struck.
"Hero, where is the Hero!"
"Come back, Hero!"
"Hurry back and protect the world, hurry back and protect them!"