Chapter 245: Saving the Queen 11

As our humble carriage approached Agbad, the journey was surprisingly swift despite its unassuming appearance.

While it may have seemed like an ordinary carriage at first glance, concealed beneath its modest exterior lay a wealth of blessings and protections.

The blessings bestowed upon our carriage rivaled even the most advanced and fortified carriages of the empire, including the esteemed Emperor's personal carriage, which boasted an array of powerful protective spells.

Yet, our blessings were of a different nature, more divine in essence than merely magical.

Even the horses that pulled our carriage were imbued with divine blessings, granting them remarkable speed and endurance, allowing them to traverse great distances without succumbing to fatigue.

They say Agbad is a small village nestled on the outskirts of the border between the Holy Kingdom and the northern countries.

But to call it small would be a misnomer, for even from a distance, one could discern its sizable presence on the landscape.

It seems the Holy Kingdom has a peculiar definition of what constitutes a "small" village.

"Adrian,"

"Yeah...."

Elena's voice cut through the tense atmosphere of our carriage, her hands tightening in a silent plea for attention.

I understood immediately what she was implying, even though her words were subtle. There was an unmistakable aura of chaos and dread, a malevolent energy that seemed to suffuse the very air around us. It was darker and more ominous than anything I had ever encountered before.

As someone who had faced such malevolent energies in the past, I could sense that everyone in our carriage had their senses on high alert. Even the faintest hint of that foul energy was enough to send shivers down our spines.

The reports had initially suggested that this was merely a bandit insurgency, but it was becoming increasingly clear that the situation was far more dire than anyone had anticipated. There was only one race in the entire world capable of emanating such a vile and oppressive aura: demons.

"Tell the others to get ready," I instructed Louise, my voice steady despite the unease gnawing at my insides.

With a solemn nod, Louise relayed my orders to her spirits, who set about warning the occupants of the second carriage, preparing them for whatever dangers lay ahead.

I was confident that Isabella would detect the malevolent presence right away. As someone personally blessed by a goddess, she possessed an abundance of divine power that made her attuned to such dark forces.

However, considering her relative inexperience in facing demons directly, there was a chance she might not recognize it immediately.

Buka and Darius, although seasoned individuals, were likely to find themselves out of their depth against such formidable adversaries.

It was imperative to prepare them for what lay ahead.

Demons were notorious for their treachery and deceit; they would not hesitate to employ any means necessary to achieve their nefarious goals.

Who would have thought that our first mission as part of this makeshift hero party would involve confronting actual demons?

'Right sis?'

Sis just chuckled in my mind.

She really laid out these whole scenarios quite well.

.....

As the morning sun ascended to its zenith, casting its golden rays across the landscape, the anticipation of what lay ahead hung heavy in the air.

"Why did you gather us here, Kid? The village is quite near now, you know?" Darius's gruff voice broke the silence, his gaze fixed on the distant village that lay before us. We were a mere 2-3 kilometers away, perched atop a hillside behind a towering tree, gazing down upon the quaint settlement below.

'Dwarves... haah!'

Whether in this world or my original one, they always seemed to possess the same impatient demeanor.

If elves were known for their haughty racism and arrogance and humans for their insatiable greed, then dwarves were undoubtedly the most impatient of all races. It had only been a short while since I called for them to gather, and yet Darius grumbled as if it were the end of the world.

"You're right, we're close, but we're going to have to leave the carriages here," I explained, cutting through Darius's complaints before they could escalate further.

"Why?" Buka chimed in, his brow furrowed in confusion.

"Because it's too dangerous," I replied loudly, my tone leaving no room for argument.

"The reports may have suggested that only bandits surround the village, but this place is far more perilous than I initially anticipated."

"What do you mean?" Darius's voice rang out, tinged with frustration as he ran a hand through his hair. His impatience was palpable, a reflection of the tension that simmered beneath the surface.

"Demons...." I replied, my voice steady despite the gravity of my words.

"Although it's faint, there are signs of demonic activity here."

While she could excel in any role, her ability to adapt and support others made her an invaluable asset.

By leveraging her versatility in a supportive capacity, we could maximize her impact on the battlefield.

"Louise, since you can send your spirits to gather information, I want you to remain here as well."

Similarly, Louise possessed a similar capacity for versatility, albeit through her spirits.

As her spectral allies conducted reconnaissance and gathered intelligence, her physical presence was not required on-site.

"Elena, you'll stay with me. We'll enter through the front," I instructed, glancing at the slightly nervous Elena...

As for Elena and myself, our roles as saintess and hero intertwined seamlessly.

Our partnership was essential; our combined abilities complemented each other, making us a formidable force.

Separating us would be a tactical error, as our strengths and weaknesses balanced each other out. However, leaving Elena alone—even for a moment—filled me with a sense of unease.

'She might accidentally erase the whole village in one go if left alone...'

Her immense power, coupled with her gentle demeanor, held the potential for catastrophic consequences if left unchecked.

With our roles clearly defined and our objectives set, we moved forward with a sense of purpose, each member of our party ready to play their part in unraveling the mysteries that lay within the village's walls.

"Remember, if you sense even the subtlest signs of demons lingering in the air, just scream my name, okay? I'm the hero Afterall" I said playfully, eliciting chuckles and nods from my companions.

.....

Entering the village proved relatively straightforward. As we passed through the crumpled and broken wooden gates, we were met with a scene that left us all stunned.

Even Elena, who walked directly behind me, couldn't help but gasp in disbelief at the sight before us—crumbling and burnt houses, starving inhabitants, and a grisly tableau of rotting corpses strewn about. Drunken bandits littered the streets, their presence a grim reminder of the village's dire circumstances.

"Doesn't this remind you of the slums, Elena?" I remarked with a hint of levity, but her response was far from amused. She shot me a glare, her expression filled with a mixture of anger and sorrow.

"Sorry," I murmured, realizing too late that the topic was a sensitive one for her.

The memories of what had transpired in the slums weighed heavily on her, and it was only natural for her to react strongly to scenes reminiscent of those dark times.

'I shouldn't have said that... I should apologize again later'

Nevertheless, the grim reality of the situation demanded our attention.

The bandits' depravity was on full display, evidenced by the naked corpses of women strewn haphazardly across the ground.

A surge of anger welled up within me as I surveyed the scene.

Had these monsters defiled and murdered innocent women with impunity?

As we traversed the desolate streets of the village, the grim reality of the situation became increasingly apparent.

Among the wreckage and carnage, we discovered the lifeless bodies of children, their innocent lives snuffed out by the merciless cruelty of the bandits.

It was a sight that filled me with a potent mixture of sorrow and rage—demonic influence or not, the senseless slaughter of innocents was a transgression that crossed every moral boundary.

My thoughts were interrupted by the sudden sound of snoring emanating from a nearby house.

I moved to investigate, intending to silence the sleeping bandit my holy word slowly materializing, when a blinding beam of light erupted from behind me, obliterating the man's head in an instant.

"Elena...?" I turned to see my fiancée, her normally gentle features contorted with anger as she unleashed a powerful burst of sunlight.

To witness Elena—my innocent, kind-hearted fiancée—openly take the life of another human being was a sobering realization.

Yet, in that moment, I understood the depth of her resolve and the strength of her convictions.

'It must've been hard for her....'

The man had met a deserved fate, and Elena had been the instrument of justice.

"Sorry... I was just—"

"You don't need to explain," I interjected, my voice filled with understanding. Elena had acted out of necessity, defending those who could not defend themselves.

Her actions spoke volumes, and in that moment, I felt an overwhelming sense of pride in her unwavering courage.

Elena offered a small, apologetic smile in response to my words.