The Priest Wants to Retire

EP.232 A Song for the Remaining Vessels (3)

The fierce flash that stole my sight returned to its original roundness in the blink of an eye.

No, to be precise, that statement was incorrect.

For that light had taken nothing from me from the very beginning.

Right after the Saintess’s voice flirted directly in my head, a vast barrage of swirling light unexpectedly swept up everything around without leaving a trace.

The reanimated corpse that returned from death and the empty shell of the hero it summoned.

The perfectly battle-ready Hero.

And the Saint Candidates rushing in from all sides.

The bombardment of light that indiscriminately covered everyone present did not spare even a single soul.

Except for one person—me.

“Hero! Are you okay!?”

Just before the rising dust could settle, I urgently called out.

I had reflexively taken out Bawngwi and commanded it to protect the Hero just before the light struck.

But I couldn’t relax until I confirmed with my own eyes that the Hero was unharmed.

“Priest─!”

“Ugh!”

However, all those worries were promptly cleared by the Hero’s sudden headbutt that came at me like a rocket.

“Are you hurt anywhere!?”

It’s just appeared in my lower back, actually.

I held back that response.

The face of the Hero, clinging tightly to my waist while whimpering, was clouded with an indescribable depth of sorrow that far surpassed what I had felt.

Pat pat.

I soothed and comforted the Hero, who had landed squarely on my waist, slowly helping them up.

Though it felt awfully stiff, it seemed they weren’t broken anywhere, thankfully.

“I’m fine. But are you really okay, Hero…?”

“Yes! I’m completely unharmed! But Priest! Are you really okay?! You don’t look well!”

Was my pale complexion from the pain in my back really that pitiful?

The Hero’s actions grew more frantic.

Whiiing.

At that moment, a wind blew from beyond, revealing the blue scenery that had been concealed by the dust cloud.

“·····!”

My eyes widened in shock as I confirmed the state of affairs.

The woman, who had been approaching me while regenerating her broken body, stood frozen in place, spewing black smoke from her mouth.

The former hero summoned by her was barely maintaining his balance, with his sword stuck in the ground, threatening to topple over at any moment.

The group of Saint Candidates surrounding me was hardly faring any better.

Where had that fiery spirit that rushed toward me with blazing determination gone?

Their vacant expressions showed no sign of resolve.

The expression “divine punishment” could not have described this situation any better.

Just then, such random thoughts brushed through my mind.

Boom!

The ground shook with a deafening explosion.

Immediately after, the blue eyes of the Hero, which had been trembling with worry for me, began to flicker with sharp hostility.

“·····”

It wasn’t hard to guess the cause.

Surely, the Hero had already anticipated the source of that explosion with their keen senses.

I figured they had already inferred who was responsible for this series of tragedies.

“Hehe·····.”

An amused exhale slipped from my dry lips.

Having experienced something that could make one gasp in shock for a hundred years all at once, I had thought I wouldn’t be surprised any longer today.

But the entirely unexpected arrival of a completely unanticipated character left my mouth agape.

“Hey, brother. Hello.”

The Saint waved at me brightly while perched on the large shoulders of Bigtim.

For a moment, I took in the nonsensical scene before my eyes, and my brain came to a complete halt for about five seconds.

◈◈◈

The first emotion I felt at that moment was intense relief.

I had already heard from Apis that the Saint would be safe.

But just that alone was not enough for my mental strength to entirely let go of the string of worry I held for her.

No matter how top-notch Bigtim was, leaving the Saint, whose mental age was akin to a child, unattended in a dungeon fraught with dangers was undoubtedly dozens or hundreds of times more perilous than leaving a child by a river.

What if something happened to her?

That vague anxiety weighed down on the corners of my mind like a stubborn stain that wouldn’t wash out.

No matter how much I had once tried to throw off that role, I was undeniably the saint’s guardian priest.

I had the duty and responsibility to ensure her safety, even if it meant trading my life for it.

If even a tiny scratch were to mar the Saint’s body…

It was certain that the enraged Sister Beltein would not let me off the hook.

That was why, even while engaged in a life-or-death battle, the compulsion to confirm the Saint’s safety constantly flickered within my retina.

I never dreamed such a long-cherished desire would be fulfilled this way.

“Hey, brother. Hello. Hello. Hello.”

Was the Saint unhappy that I was dazedly staring into space during her greeting?

Her waving became even more vigorous.

Though her face remained expressionless as usual, the sight of her frantically flailing her arms high up was indescribably adorable.

“Um·····”

With an expression of obvious embarrassment, Bigtim suddenly turned his head.

“Bigtim!”

The indecisive behavior of Bigtim intensified when the Hero called him out in an agitated tone.

I could guess why the Hero reprimanded Bigtim in that way.

What the heck have you been doing until now!?

I was only barely managing to restrain myself here.

The Hero’s quivering lips looked prepared at any moment to yell at him.

Bigtim, sweating profusely as he turned away from the Hero, probably felt the same way.

“Hmph!”

The Saint, who gently hopped down from Bigtim’s shoulders, strode up to me.

At that moment, the Hero’s piercing gaze, which was directed at Bigtim, abruptly shifted to focus on the Saint.

“Growl!”

In an instant, it felt as if I heard such a phantom sound as the Hero’s reaction became alarmingly wild.

With arms stretched wide, they stood as a formidable barrier between me and the Saint, reminiscent of a wolf facing its prey.

“Huh? I see there’s a puppy too? Hello.”

“I warn you! Don’t come any closer! If you do, I swear I’ll chop you up!”

Was it just my feeling?

The Hero’s imposing voice felt infinitely sharper compared to just moments ago when they were battling a foe.

It seemed like they intended to say, “I’ll kill you,” but switched to “I’ll chop you” at the sight of me. But honestly, to me, it sounded the same.

“Hero, p-please calm down…”

With an aura so sharp it seemed to cut, I cautiously held back the Hero, who already had a hand on their sword.

It was then.

The Saint, who had been ignoring the Hero’s threat, leaped gracefully toward me.

Thump!

“Ugh!”

“Saint!?”

I couldn’t avoid the Saint who had launched herself with all her might, so I ended up catching her.

“·····”

Swish.

Seeing the Hero’s eyes dim and draw their sword at that sight made my head spin.

Snatch!

“Bigger sister, p-please calm down.”

Thanks to Bigtim who shot out just in time, the Hero was restrained, or else there would’ve been another chaotic sword fight.

“Saint, remember our promise not to do this in front of the Hero…”

Rubbing rubbing.

Regardless of whether the Hero drew their sword or not, or what I was saying, the Saint was preoccupied with rubbing her face against my body.

It was a relief to see no signs of injury, but being like this next to the irate Hero would undoubtedly cause chaos.

Slowly and cautiously, I separated the Saint from me.

“Saint, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Yeah, Welna is fine. How about you, brother?”

“As you can see, I’m… haha, not exactly fine…”

“·····”

I patted her head as we exchanged pleasantries.

Squish! Squish!

At the same time, strange noises came from the direction of the Hero, but I was too scared to look over there.

How long did that heart-thumping tightrope walking last?

The woman who had been spewing black smoke finally called out to the Saint.

“Saint──!!!!”

As that anguished roar echoed all around, the other Saint Candidates who had been lost in a trance gradually began to regain their senses.

Creek! Creep!

Like dolls waiting for winding, the former Hero, whose movements had previously been sluggish, regained energy in an instant, responding to the call.

But in that moment, I could sense something.

Their futile struggle would ultimately come to nothing.

“Saint…”

“·····”

It was a realization that was evident just from looking at the ominously igniting red pupils of the Saint, like oil on a flame.

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