Find the One Who Abandoned Me - Chapter 96

“It’s all right. You’ve already found two of the Heroes, haven’t you?”

Indeed, the Saintess had already located the second Hero within the Imperial Palace. None other than the Empire’s Crown Prince its brightest star, Ansgar Babilium.

To have two Heroes emerge from the Empire was considered a great honor. Historical records from five hundred years ago noted that the previous Heroes were born in different countries, and it had taken over a year just to gather them.

With three Heroes discovered already, including the Saintess herself, the situation wasn’t bad. Yet, the Saintess shook her head.

“That’s not what worries me.”

“What is it that troubles you so?”

“It’s what I’ve been seeing…”

Clementia had become the Saintess of the Empire due to her rare ability to see far-off places—and more importantly, to show others what she saw. It was an extraordinary gift that allowed her to witness the state of distant lands without leaving her seat.

Though not entirely under her control, this power had once allowed her to show an ailing child in a remote province, helping stop the spread of an epidemic, and to display cracked earth that foretold a drought, enabling early preparations.

“My power is not one that sees the future. It only reveals what has already occurred. And yet…”

She slowly removed the hand that had been covering her face and looked once more toward the heavens.

“Why… why is it showing me what has not yet happened?”

Lately, the Saintess had been tormented by strange visions. She saw herself traveling to a kingdom bordering the Empire to the east, meeting someone there—someone who would become a Hero. And then—

“Ah…”

—she saw someone die during the subjugation of the Demon King. She let out a sigh. Clementia knew—knew that she would find a Hero in that kingdom. The vision was hazy, but she had seen it clearly: she was knighting someone, appointing them as her champion.

The vision then swept through a scene of fierce battle. And at its end, the Hero from that kingdom—died. That image continued to haunt her.

“Is this a new trial bestowed upon me by the Divine?”

“It must be a new blessing, given by the gods who love you so,” replied Wolfgang, as he knelt reverently on one knee before her. Clementia looked down at him, his faith unwavering, and gave a bitter smile, furrowing her brow.

But how can I calmly bring in a Hero whose fate is already sealed?

She had not told anyone the full truth about her visions—not yet. She had tried to interpret them on her own, and with time, the once-blurred images became clearer. She now knew which kingdom would present the fourth Hero.

But if the vision of that fourth Hero’s death continued to appear—what then? The Saintess held her breath for a moment.

“Sir Perta.”

“Yes, I am here.”

She revealed to him a truth known only to those within the Temple.

“If you were destined to slay the Demon King, but were also fated to die at the end of that campaign… what would you do?”

Her voice trembled. Wolfgang, placing his right hand over his heart, looked up at her calmly. Without hesitation, he replied with unwavering conviction:

“I would gladly die.”

“Why?”

“Because I will have protected you.”

“…I see. That is just like you.”

Clementia shook her head and began walking slowly down the corridor. Wolfgang rose and silently followed. Even on her way back to her chambers, she couldn’t hide the shadow cast over her expression. She asked the man following behind her:

“Sir Perta, do you know how many Heroes there truly are?”

Wolfgang answered quietly, though with a hint of puzzlement. The Temple had told the Heroes there would be four in total. With three already found, once the final Hero was discovered, preparations for the Demon King’s return could begin in earnest.

But the Saintess knew the truth. She revealed what should have been told long ago.

“There are five.”

“…I beg your pardon?”

“The Temple lied to you—to persuade you. There are, in truth, five Heroes.”

“Why such a lie?”

“Because the final line in the records from five hundred years ago was damaged. It made finding the fifth Hero impossible.”

“And if one Hero is missing… what happens to the subjugation?”

The Saintess let out a deep sigh. Then, as if she had just broken the surface of deep water, she took another long breath.

“The Demon King’s subjugation will proceed as planned. However, survival cannot be guaranteed.”

“…I am not afraid of death.”

“Yes, I expected as much. With four of us, we may indeed be able to defeat the Demon King. However…”

She had arrived at her chamber door, but instead of entering, she turned to look at Wolfgang, who had followed her. He stood solemnly, his posture reverent, as though in the presence of a god.

“But if one of us must die, then the story changes.”

“What do you mean?”

“After we subdue the Demon King, we must seal him. Human strength alone is too feeble to destroy him completely. The only option is to seal him away so that he won’t awaken for another five hundred years. The sealing ritual is recorded in the Temple archives, so performing it won’t be an issue.”

“You mean… there may be a problem with the timing of the sealing?”

“Yes. The sealing ritual requires exactly five Heroes. Their life force must be in perfect balance to complete the ritual.”

“Then… without the fifth Hero, are you saying we can’t even attempt it?”

The Saintess shook her head.

“…The missing life force can be replaced—with the life of a single person.”

“…So, one of us must die?”

“Yes. That’s why. But we don’t get to choose who it is. When the ritual begins, the balance of life force will shift toward the strongest among us. That person will most likely bear the full cost.”

Wolfgang’s eyes widened. The one with the strongest, most sacred power among those he knew was none other than the Saintess herself. Seeing his reaction, she shook her head.

“It’s not me.”

Her brow furrowed, and she looked as if she might cry as she gripped the door handle to her room.

“It’s not me…”

With that whisper, she opened the door and stepped inside, shutting it firmly behind her. A quiet click echoed through the corridor, leaving Wolfgang alone. He blinked slowly.

Not her. Then it meant the one to die would be either himself, the Crown Prince, or the soon-to-be-found fourth Hero. Wolfgang collected his thoughts. As long as it wasn’t her, he didn’t care.

He began walking back through the corridor toward the temporary room provided to him by the Temple.

As long as it’s not her… it doesn’t matter.

✦✦✦

The Saintess’s revelation—that there were five Heroes, and one of them would inevitably die—soon reached the House of Babilium, the Imperial family. The news threw the palace into uproar.

Though the Crown Prince had two younger brothers, the notion that the already appointed Crown Prince could be the one to die was nothing short of shocking. The Prince watched his mother and father argue in chaos, a wry smile forming on his lips.

“How could we possibly send you into something like that? I was against this from the very beginning! It’s not too late—withdraw now! I can’t bear to lose you!” the Empress cried out.

The Emperor roared back, “Compose yourself, Empress! How can the Empire shrink away from a duty that will save the entire continent?”

“He is the child I bore and raised! When the Temple persuaded us, they claimed the sacred texts guaranteed victory despite the danger. And now they say one of the four must die? How could they…”

Seated at the noisy dinner table, the Crown Prince silently and gracefully cut into his steak before setting his knife down with a soft thud. The silver clinked sharply against the plate, silencing the room. Both Emperor and Empress turned toward him.

“I’ve already said I would go, Mother.”

“Son, how can you not understand how I feel?”

“I understand all too well, Mother. But I am the Crown Prince of this Empire. If I withdraw now, what would the people think of me?”

At that, the Emperor exclaimed, “You speak the truth. You are wise indeed!”

Hearing this, the Crown Prince rose from his seat, appetite gone. He walked over to the Emperor and, pretending to massage his father’s shoulders, leaned in to whisper:

“I understand you would rather see another of your sons inherit the title. But please, don’t make it so obvious in front of Mother. Politically, you still rely quite a bit on her family, don’t you?”

The Emperor clenched his fists at his son’s bluntness. But the Prince said nothing more. He merely gave his father’s shoulders a final pat and stepped back.

“You’re the only one who can comfort Mother properly. Please, support her gently—no more shouting.”

“…My son…”

The Empress wiped her tears, touched by her son’s thoughtfulness. The Emperor, stone-faced, dabbed his forehead with a handkerchief. The Crown Prince smiled and spoke.

“I’ve lost my appetite. I’ll take my leave now. Please, have a calm discussion without any more disturbances.”

“…Very well.”

“Go ahead, son.”

With a composed smile, the Crown Prince left the dining hall. But the moment the doors closed behind him, his face turned cold. As he made his way toward his office, an attendant followed closely behind. The Crown Prince gave an order:

“Arrange a private audience with Clementia.”

“I will send word to the Temple immediately.”

“Good. As soon as possible. I need to hear this from her directly. Such critical news and she tells the Imperial House instead of me? No. I think it’s time I ask a few questions.”

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