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Chapter 30
Azure Sky, Spring (1)
The Azure Sky of Spring.
The Vast Sky of Summer .
The Clear Sky of Autumn .
The Upper Heaven of Winter .
The “Four Skies” referred to the seasonal heavens and also denoted the four high-ranking demons directly under the Demon King.
However, currently, both the Demon King and the winter sky, Sangcheon, were absent. On top of that, Mincheon had gone overseas to the western continent, which meant only two demon lords remained.
And even those two—Changcheon and Hocheon—weren’t exactly the sociable type. Then again, demons weren’t known for their friendliness.
“Your subordinate’s just as useless as the rest. Weren’t you supposed to take over Terra within ten years? What the hell is this mess?”
“Oh my.”
At Raven of Hocheon’s provocation, Haru of Changcheon smiled sweetly, eyes narrowing.
“Who was it again that got thoroughly wrecked by the Saintess ten years ago and ran off to Hydrangea?”
“…That was just a strategic retreat. I wasn’t going all out. I figured I could take care of her later.”
“Sure, sure.”
The crow before Haru’s true body trembled. It was a fragment of Raven’s consciousness, cut from his main body and shaped into a bird.
“Don’t underestimate the Saintess. I never imagined she’d wipe out the plague I spread in just two months.”
“Maybe your plague was just weak to begin with?”
“Hmph, believe what you like.”
The crow scoffed.
“If I reveal my true power, there’s no way some little girl could survive.”
“Hmm…”
Haru shrugged.
At that, the string draped around her shoulders slid down, revealing a breathtaking figure. The kind that would draw any man’s gaze without fail.
But not Raven’s.
“Well, I suppose so. Not like you can kill the Saintess right now anyway.”
“Yeah. In her eyes—”
“Hocheon, one moment.”
Haru narrowed her eyes.
She turned her head toward the communication orb, which had turned red. A subordinate’s voice came through.
=Lady Haru, Ricardo, who was overseeing the slave market, has sent an emergency distress signal. It seems the Saintess has discovered his identity.
“…Ha!”
Haru let out a dry laugh.
“Seriously, every subordinate I pick up late turns out useless.”
“Or maybe you’re just that weak.”
“Shut up.”
Haru smashed the crow with her fist.
The formless crow crumbled and turned into blue mana—an attempt to return to Raven’s main body.
“……”
Haru froze for a moment, fist still on the table.
=Lady Haru?
“There’s no reason to bother with such worthless demons.”
=What do you mean…?
“Remain on standby.”
Her body transformed.
Her black hair and eyes changed to a charming shade of pink, mesmerizing enough to bewitch anyone.
The barely-there outfit turned into a plain brown dress like that of an ordinary girl from the Earth Kingdom.
Standing up, she smiled.
“The Saintess is visiting the Earth Kingdom for the first time in a while. I should at least say hello, don’t you think?”
Her target, of course, was the Saintess.
[Cedric is impressed with you.]
[Good Deed Points +20]
[Izumi is impressed with you.]
[Good Deed Points +25]
[Deold feels deep gratitude toward you.]
[Good Deed Points +15]
…
I looked down at the accumulating notifications.
Before me knelt Duke Via and the other captured nobles.
All of them bowed before Deold, now free of his brainwashing.
“Your Highness, please, have mercy!”
“Silence. You will all be strictly punished according to the laws of the Earth Kingdom.”
With surprising swiftness, Deold—now of sound mind—took command of the soldiers.
He had set aside his royal pride and offered sincere apologies.
“I want to apologize for all the harm I’ve caused. But just this once, would you stand by me?”
The soldiers were stunned. A crown prince, bowing to lowborns?
The result spoke for itself.
‘He’s a smart one.’
He knew exactly how to win people’s hearts.
Deold wasn’t as sharp as Liliana, but anyone could see he was the more suitable heir to the throne.
‘If only I had broken the brainwashing a bit sooner…’
By now, Deold could’ve been a beloved successor supported by the whole nation.
That bitter thought left a bad taste in my mouth.
“Saintess.”
As the nobles were rounded up, Cedric approached, his outfit tidied up.
“I’ve returned.”
“Sir Cedric.”
Of course, I’d sensed him coming.
I put on a deliberately solemn expression.
“I’m sorry for burdening you with such a tough task.”
“…It wasn’t hard at all. If anything…”
His lips moved slightly.
He had the look of someone with many questions.
From Cedric’s perspective, I must’ve seemed like a god. A figure who saw everything ahead of time, orchestrating every move.
Which was exactly my intention.
I smiled at him, the corners of my eyes softening.
The wind stirred as his blue eyes hesitated. His jaw muscles twitched slightly.
“It’s spring, but the wind is still cold.”
“……”
“Will you… hold my hand?”
I heard him inhale sharply.
To others, he looked as expressionless as always. But I knew.
He was clearly shaken.
“…Very well.”
“Thank you!”
He stiffened like a country boy escorting a lady for the first time. The pulse at the tips of our joined fingers beat fast.
Once I confirmed his reaction, I took advantage of the distraction—Izumi and the others were busy with the remaining nobles—and stood on tiptoe.
Then I whispered in his ear.
“There’s somewhere I want to go.”
My breath brushed his ear.
Cedric froze. Inside that icy face was a boy struggling with unfamiliar emotions.
“Will you come with me?”
“Then once we wrap up here—”
“I want to go now.”
Cedric stopped mid-sentence.
I slowly lowered my heel and dropped my gaze.
“…No. I shouldn’t leave right now, should I?”
Bittersweet smile—check.
The concept I was playing: Yustinas, reminiscing about her first love from ten years ago, nearly acting childishly before a knight who reminds her of him, but ultimately restraining herself out of duty as the Saintess.
After embodying the role for a few moments, I forced a smile and gripped his hand tighter.
“Sir Cedric, you should return and help the others—”
“Where is it you want to go?”
Hm. He took the bait.
“Oh, it’s nothing. I changed my mind.”
Now I take one step back.
“It’s fine. The people of the Earth Kingdom can take care of things from here.”
“But still…”
“It’ll just be for a moment.”
“…Will it?”
I relaxed my expression and smiled.
Mission accomplished.
Cedric blinked.
“This… this is where you wanted to go?”
“Yes!”
As the sun dipped toward the horizon, he stood in the middle of the royal city’s night market, having snuck out with Yustinas.
“Fresh and cheap! Come get it!”
“Fruit juice, only 500 pesos!”
Tents on both sides shouted for attention, while the narrow alleys teemed with people.
It was a joyful festival scene.
But for Cedric, whose senses were hyper-attuned, it was a nightmare. As an assassin trained to maintain distance and stay alert, this crowd made his skin crawl.
To make matters worse…
“There are a lot of people. Please stay close to me.”
“Okaaay.”
His first love now clung even closer than usual to avoid bumping into strangers.
Their skin brushed through the thin fabric between them. Despite the hood, her glowing smile peeked through.
Cedric tried desperately to calm his racing heart.
Calm down. Calm down.
His duty was to guard her.
He had to escort Yustinas safely through the market and back to the palace. No personal feelings could interfere.
…Though that may have already failed.
“Sir Cedric, aren’t you hungry?”
He nearly collapsed at the breath brushing his ear.
“…I’m fine.”
“Don’t be like that. Let’s eat before we head back. We can’t stay out long.”
Perhaps she had grown used to the dark.
Even with this crowd, Yustinas showed no sign of tension. Instead, she tightened her grip on his arm and whispered playfully.
“…Then allow me to escort you to a restaurant. Do you have a preference?”
“In that case—”
She whispered again.
Voice brushing his ear. Small hands resting on his arm and shoulder. The heat of the festival in full swing.
His head spun. It always did, around her.
Cedric lightly clenched and unclenched his hand, then closed his eyes tightly. He was grateful, just this once, that she couldn’t see.
He didn’t trust himself to hide his expression.
“…As you wish.”
Supporting Yustinas carefully, Cedric slowly led her through the crowd, guarding her like she were made of glass.
Finding the eatery she mentioned wasn’t difficult.
A back alley.
It was a bit run-down, but far better than the packed marketplace.
Their distance returned to normal. Cedric exhaled, unsure if it was relief or disappointment.
Then—
“Please, help us!”
A woman’s desperate cry rang out behind them, sending goosebumps down his back.
When…?
Even someone as skilled as him hadn’t sensed her presence before she spoke. Instinctively, Cedric pulled Yustinas behind him.
In front of him, a woman with pink hair collapsed to her knees.
“Saintess, my sister is very ill. Please, I beg you—show mercy!”
Cedric’s eyes widened.
