Chapter 115:Saint Yohan

The Barony of Lumerania, located at the southeastern edge of the empire.

Once a place that was constantly visited by merchants due to its fertile land and rare minerals, it quickly turned into a cursed land when two massive dungeons appeared.

These dungeons were quite large as well, both being of the highest grade…..Special Grade. The monsters that appeared from them were at least Grade 2 in strength.

As a result, the Barony of Lumerania was, in effect, a dead land. Only those who could not leave remained, and the Baron stayed behind to protect his homeland and the people still under his rule.

However, that was now a thing of the past.

“Is this the end?”

Yohan raised his head and watched as a magical orb burst in the sky. The blue light cut through the sky, signaling the success of their mission.

“Thank you for your hard work, Minister.”

Eriss handed him a handkerchief and a water bottle.

“Thank you. It’s because you came, Eriss, that things went smoothly.”

“Ah, no…”

Yohan, soaked in sweat, gave a small smile, and Eriss turned her face away, slightly blushing.

“With this, the purification of the dungeons has been successful. There were some unpleasant events, but we’ve sealed off the troublesome dungeons.”

By eliminating the dungeons in the Count Lehern’s territory, they were able to reallocate their forces that had been concentrated there. And the most troublesome one, the dungeon in the Barony of Lumerania, which could have erupted at any moment, was also successfully sealed.

Of course, there were still smaller dungeons here and there, but those could be dealt with later. At most, Grade 3 monsters would appear.

“Are you leaving the dungeons in the central southern area because of the barbarians?”

Eriss asked.

“Right. We’ve fought a few wars with them, but they’ve been quiet thanks to the dungeons.”

While the barbarians were stronger than regular humans, the presence of dungeons was a burden. They had to face both the empire’s army and the monsters at the same time.

“So, this area is finished then.”

“Yeah. We’ll just wrap things up later.”

Yohan gave a small smile and drank from the water bottle. It was lukewarm, but it was enough to quench his thirst.

“Saint!”

Meanwhile, the squads that had been luring monsters from elsewhere returned. They were all tired, but the reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom looked full of energy. In fact, they were filled with joy.

“Thank you for your hard work! To think we’d even seal off a dungeon filled with Special Grade monsters! Truly, you are the Saint! I, Arvela, am so deeply moved that I’ve fallen for you once again!”

Arvela, bloodstained with monster’s blood, said with a bright smile. Her hand gently brushed her cheek, trembling slightly. It was always a mystery how such destructive power could come from those small hands.

Her affectionate advances were also a bit overwhelming.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Yohan asked, and Arvela smiled brightly.

“Aah-! For you to be more concerned about me than the report, what a truly compassionate person you are!”

She responded enthusiastically no matter what was said. This was what made fanatics so frightening—they could interpret even the smallest actions as meaningful and twist them to their own understanding.

“Fortunately, I’m not injured! The other knights only suffered minor injuries thanks to the priests! Even when Special Grade monsters appeared, we were able to handle them with no issues!”

The reinforcements from the Holy Kingdom, led by the Saint, were much stronger than the second-class officials. Thanks to them, they had been a great help. Yohan now understood why the empire continually disregarded the Holy Kingdom’s criticism.

They couldn’t just crush them outright.

“I see. Thank you for your hard work.”

“Yes, Saint!”

Just then, while Arvela was smiling widely, 

“Saint? What do you mean by ‘falling for’ him?”

Francia, who had quietly returned and was listening in, shot a sharp look at her. It was a cold gaze, with a strange hint of hostility.

“What I mean by falling for him is exactly what I said! I, Arvela, am the Saint’s match, chosen directly by Goddess Freya herself! I’m a lucky person to be able to admire such a person!”

Arvela responded clearly, without any hesitation, to Francia’s question. Was she unaware of Francia’s warning gaze, or did she simply not care? Or was it that she was actually aware of it? 

“Minister, you do know that I am engaged, don’t you?”

Francia’s voice was low, but the cold aura within it slowly spread. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips pressed tightly together.

“Of course! But Goddess Freya herself supports the love between the Saint and me! Just because there is an engagement, I cannot give up! I will make every effort to win the Saint’s heart!”

Oh my god. Yohan was at a loss for words.

What she just said was essentially a provocation, like saying, “I’m going to steal your man.”

“Hah? Does the Saint lack any sense of morality?”  

“What do you mean? I have no issues at all!”  

“You’re after someone who is already engaged!”  

“Though it is a love of impurity, it is also a dilemma!”

Francia, utterly dumbfounded, only moved her lips but couldn’t say anything. Not only because she felt guilty for stealing someone else’s fiancé, but also because they couldn’t communicate.  

“Of course, at first, even I, Arvela, doubted the will of Goddess Freya! But the Goddess wanted to see the strong love between the Saint and me! That is why I, too, have decided not to give up on love!”

After finishing her words, Arvela suddenly clasped her hands together and closed her eyes. Then, she raised her face to the sky as if offering a prayer.

“Ah, Freya! Thank you for sending your love to me today as well…!”

Francia blinked in disbelief. She couldn’t find words to say. It wasn’t because she had nothing to say, but because it was so absurd. After finishing her speech, she suddenly starts praying?

Was there something wrong with her mind? Francia couldn’t help but wonder.

“Even in the face of hardship, you refuse to give up on love. Truly, a representative of Freya!”

“No matter what, you will fulfill the Goddess’s will and claim your love. Truly, you are the Saint!”

“I, Metein, will follow the Saint’s example and confess to my childhood friend, even though she is already married!”

The holy knights shouted in unison. Francia was in shock. Normally, she would have taken this as a sarcastic remark towards the unreasonable Saint, but these people were sincere.

“Does the Holy Kingdom really have no sense of common sense…?”

Francia had short memories of living in the Holy Kingdom. While most people were eccentric, they wouldn’t have said such ridiculous things. What on earth was going on?

“Ah, everyone! Thank you for supporting my love! I, Arvela, with your encouragement, will surely claim my love!”

Arvela spread her arms wide. The holy knights, tears in their eyes, clapped their hands together.

Clap, clap, clap…

Francia shut her eyes tightly. Yohan was no different.

*    *    *

Sarak. Sarak.  

The maid gently brushed the golden hair.

Rudbeckia lay leisurely on the sofa, enjoying a comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Truly, miss, your hair is so beautiful.”  

“Really?”  

“Yes, it’s even enviable.”  

“Heh heh.”

At the maid’s compliment, Rudbeckia chuckled lightly. Her hair was indeed beautiful. Before her regression, it had become rough and thin, completely losing its current form.

“But Melah.”  

“Yes, miss?”  

“What year is it now?”  

“It’s the year 812 in the Empire.”  

“Hmmm…”  

Rudbeckia touched her chin.  

At this point, she was only twenty years old.

“I graduated from the academy early and joined the civil service, so my service must be finished by now.”

‘It would be fun to see Yohan as he was when he was young again.’

Young Yohan, surprisingly, had no experience with women or love. He was actually extremely wary of them. It was understandable; if he were to get involved with a powerful noble family, his life could be at risk.

‘Yohan…’  

Thinking of Yohan, a wistful look appeared in her green eyes. He didn’t remember her name, Rudbeckia, at all, but she had been in love with Yohan since her academy days when she was just a child.  

Back then, lacking courage, she never had the chance to talk to him. So, she asked her father.  

“Would it be possible to arrange a marriage talk with Yohan Harssen?”

Count Fritsche, known for being a doting father, gladly agreed to her request.  

As a result, long marriage talks were exchanged between their families, and Yohan was brought into the Fritsche family as a son-in-law.

But even after their marriage and spending their wedding night together, and after many years, Yohan still didn’t love her. It was understandable. For him, it had been an unwanted marriage.

Still, Rudbeckia was happy. She was so thrilled just to be with him. And she firmly believed that someday, Yohan would come to love her. She had tried her best to love him too, and she could feel that his feelings for her were sincere. Of course, that happiness didn’t last long.

‘But why haven’t I heard anything? They should be talking about the marriage between our families…’

Rudbeckia suddenly felt a sense of doubt. It was now the season between winter and spring, a time when news from their families should have reached her by now. Yet, there was no word.

‘Something feels off…’

“Even though it’s only been three days, can’t I enjoy some peace and quiet?” Anxiety crept in.

“Melah?”  

“Yes, miss?”  

“Bring me the newspaper.”  

“Understood.”

When Melah handed her the newspaper, Rudbeckia quickly scanned it with her eyes, reading rapidly.

‘What’s this?’  

Her eyes widened.  

‘There’s no mention of the Crown Prince at all.’  

In Rudbeckia’s memory, the Empire’s newspapers were always filled with stories of the Crown Prince. As the perfect heir, he was widely popular among both nobles and commoners.

But there was no mention of him at all.

‘Duke Rahardt is blocking Magul? What does this mean?’

The front page was dominated by a Duke she had never heard of.  

If it were a Duke of the Empire, it should be Ferbache, right?

‘This is suddenly making me frustrated…’  

Just thinking of the Ferbache family made her blood boil. Yohan had lost his life while trying to save Francia Ferbache.

In that process, the Archbishop of the Holy Kingdom, the Grand Mage, and Cassis Renokhonen had died, causing great turmoil.

“Ugh…”  

Rudbeckia exhaled deeply, trying to calm the rising anger. This was now a meaningless story. It had been erased when she returned to the past.

Besides, she had overheard what Francia Ferbache said to Yohan, which had allowed her to return to the past.

She looked back at the newspaper.

‘Everything here is strange news.’  

“But still, there’s so much odd news. Magul blockade? Support from the Holy Kingdom? The purification council, the higher authority for civil servants? What on earth does all of this mean?”  

Cold sweat began to bead on her forehead. The world she was familiar with was becoming increasingly unfamiliar.

‘Have I come to a different world?’

That couldn’t be true. The Fritsche family and the servants in the mansion were exactly as they had been in the past.

‘What is going on…?’

Rudbeckia flipped to the next page, filled with confusion.  

“…Yohan?”

It wasn’t Yohan Harssen, but Yohan Rahardt’s name. And Francia Ferbache, known as his fiancée.