The Saint Disappeared with Her Memories — Her Broken Engagement Decided the Kingdom’s Destiny - Chapter 36

“Lady Noella, it’s terrible!”

Emily’s panicked voice echoed through the Association building. I hurried toward the sound.

“Injured citizens have fled to the Association seeking help!”

At the entrance, several citizens lay collapsed, breathless and covered in wounds.

“Leave it to me.”

“Please help us.”

I rushed to their side, taking over from Emily who was providing first aid, and activated healing magic. Warm light enveloped them as their wounds gradually healed.

The emergency treatment was complete. At least their lives were no longer in danger. But what could have happened? I asked them.

“Are you all right? What happened?”

One of the calmer citizens answered in a trembling voice.

“People who looked like temple priests suddenly went berserk in the square! They were destroying buildings, attacking people. It was complete chaos!”

Temple priests running wild? What could possibly be going on? I immediately stood up.

“Everyone, stay here. Protect those who fled. I’m going to check the situation.”

After giving instructions to the Association members who had gathered, I dashed out of the building. I headed toward the square where the incident was reported to be happening, wanting to see with my own eyes.

Pushing through the waves of fleeing people, I reached the square to find an unimaginable scene unfolding before me.

Men wearing familiar priest robes were rampaging like madmen. Injured citizens lay collapsed, buildings were crumbling. The cobblestones were cracked, the fountain destroyed, surrounding buildings had collapsed with debris scattered everywhere. And at the center, figures continued to rage as if they’d lost all reason.

“Those people…”

I recognized their faces. They were the temple’s elder sages. But their condition was clearly abnormal. Their eyes were bloodshot, foam dripping from their mouths. They roared like wild beasts while indiscriminately casting magic.

I hurried to approach the fallen citizens, trying to assess the situation while casting healing spells. But one of the elder sages noticed me and launched an attack spell without warning.

“Kyaaah!?”

“! It’s all right, stay calm!”

A nearby woman screamed. While shielding her, I blocked the attack with defensive magic. But its power was extraordinary. Based on what I knew of their abilities, they shouldn’t be capable of such powerful magic. Yet the approaching spell’s force was threatening. If I let my guard down, it would be dangerous.

“Could this be drug-induced violence?”

I had a suspicion about why their abilities were abnormally enhanced. Their consciousness seemed completely berserk, all reason lost. In this state, even knocking them unconscious would be risky. They might continue rampaging even while unconscious, potentially leading to death.

While protecting the citizens, I continued providing cover so they could escape safely. But there were multiple opponents running wild. Moreover, if I tried to forcibly stop them, their lives would be endangered. This wouldn’t be easily resolved.

Would I have to make the determination to stop the enemies? I might end up killing them, but—

“Waaah!?”

In my moment of hesitation, one of the citizens I was protecting, perhaps confused by fear, broke free from my restraint and rushed out.

“That area is dangerous! Get away!”

The timing couldn’t be worse. One of the elder sages was about to unleash a powerful attack spell, and the citizen was running directly into its path.

“Look out!”

As I started to rush out to protect the terrified citizen, another figure swiftly intervened.

“Alexis!”

Alexis scooped up the citizen and carried them to safety. Immediately after, a powerful magic explosion detonated right where he had been standing. If he hadn’t helped, it would have been disastrous.

“I’ve got this under control!”

Alexis shouted toward me. Then Nadine and Emily appeared behind him.

“Please stop them, Lady Noella! Leave protecting the injured and defending against the enemies to us!”

“Meanwhile, Lady Noella, please focus on stopping them!”

Nadine and Emily’s strong voices rang out. Both held their swords and stances ready to protect the citizens. Before I could think, I had already begun moving.

“Understood! I’m counting on you!”

With my companions here, I could focus entirely on magic. On the spell to stop the enemies. I took a deep breath and concentrated my consciousness.

Facing the rampaging elder sages, I activated an application of sealing magic. A spell that worked on the deepest levels of consciousness, suppressing the violent effects while calming their minds. Their movements slowed, and eventually they collapsed to the ground amid the magical light.

Those who had been rampaging now lay fallen as if asleep. No one had died.

“Phew…”

Silence returned to the square. I had somehow managed to resolve the situation. But the state of the town was terrible. Buildings were destroyed, many people injured. The damage was extensive.

Why had those who went berserk done such things? How much was the temple involved? Attacking innocent citizens was simply too cruel.

“Am I too late!?”

Turning around, I saw Anctuan and Jamel, along with an unfamiliar noble-looking man, rushing to the scene. Seeing the devastation, Anctuan clenched his fist in frustration.

“Anctuan”

When I called out, they approached me.

“Are you unharmed, Miss Noella?”

Anctuan checked on me with a worried expression, so I nodded that I was fine. Then I turned my gaze to the man standing beside him.

“Miss Noella, thank you for resolving this situation. The damage is extensive, but that it ended here is thanks to you.”

When the noble-looking man expressed his gratitude, I responded.

“Not at all. I simply acted because I wanted to help the citizens.”

“I am Viscount Lucius. Actually, I’ve obtained important information about this incident, so I must share the truth with you who’ve been caught up in it.”

The man who called himself Viscount Lucius looked around and continued in a lowered voice.

“This was orchestrated by King Eric.”

“Eh?”

An “it can’t be” feeling raced through my chest.

“The detailed discussion would be better after we’ve finished protecting the citizens.”

“Indeed. Please proceed.”

At Jamel’s words, Viscount Lucius nodded. Then we all worked together to complete the protection and treatment of the citizens.

The men who had rampaged were also captured and taken away.

Afterward, we moved to Viscount Lucius’s mansion to hear the detailed circumstances.

“It appears the king ordered the temple’s elder sages to instigate this incident as their final opportunity. Then the temple members took drugs and ran wild. They intentionally caused this disturbance. And the king likely planned to request the Association’s cooperation afterward, using your achievements as justification.”

When I looked at Jamel and Anctuan, they seemed to understand the situation and nodded. Apparently, this was the truth.

This entire disturbance, from its occurrence to its resolution had been planned. Even the subsequent developments were part of King Eric’s schemes. Hearing this left me speechless. That man would go so far with such elaborate conspiracies.

“He probably intends to place all responsibility on the temple and ultimately bring the Association under his control. It was all part of his plan to make everything proceed according to his designs.”

“The temple involved innocent citizens in such schemes.”

Jamel continued with a stern expression.

“By now, preparations are probably complete at the royal palace to ‘praise the Association’s wonderful achievements.’ And the problematic thing is that the temple members haven’t been completely eliminated. There’s a high probability they’ll cause similar disturbances again in various places. To prevent that, what should come next is an official cooperation request—essentially an order.”

I clenched my fist. To think he would endanger his own citizens just to get his way.

Is this the king’s method?