The Romance Fantasy’s Pushover Crown Prince Is No More - Chapter 38

WeTried Translations

Translator/Editor: Arsène

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◈ The Romance Fantasy’s Pushover Crown Prince Is No More ◈

Chapter 38: Saint Candidate (3)

──────

Just before Rowena left the Holy Kingdom.

“Are you leaving?”

“I think it’s rather funny for the person sending me away to ask if I’m leaving.”

The Pope sought Rowena out.

“I thought you were leaving alone, but you intend to take everyone with you?”

“Not everyone. Only those who will suffer once they’re cut loose.”

“Do you not know that they are also brothers and sisters of the Holy Kingdom?”

“Even siblings don’t all get along. Some relationships only survive when there’s distance between them.”

There was much she wanted to say, but the course of the conversation had already been set.

One side insisted there was no need to take everyone, while the other believed they all had to go.

“Do you think the Empire will accept them all? The Empire banned missionary work from the start.”

“They didn’t ban it. They told us not to cross the line. You openly tried to paint the South in the Holy Kingdom’s colors under the guise of gifts, so of course they had to respond that way.”

“Are you defending the Empire?”

“I’m stating facts, not defending them. You used to be wise, but you’ve changed greatly while protecting the Saint.”

“....”

The Pope’s gaze changed sharply at Rowena’s words, which had touched upon his shame.

The kindness vanished from his eyes as he watched the Saintess like a wounded beast whose injury had been exposed.

“You say very unpleasant things.”

“Because you know what you’re doing is wrong.”

“Do you believe everyone can reach the Empire safely? The Holy Kingdom has very few soldiers it can provide as escorts right now.”

“Shouldn’t that be the case?”

Even so, Saint Candidate Rowena’s expression did not change.

She looked directly at the Pope, calm yet resolute, and quietly said what needed to be said.

“If you had simply called it an expulsion, you wouldn’t have needed to think so hard about it. I suppose you were concerned enough about appearances not to go that far.”

“Rowena!”

“Do you truly believe that, just because I won’t be in the Holy Kingdom, the woman the Saint loves can become a true Saintess? I’m not questioning her talent.”

The Saintess was a symbol.

If Rowena became the Saintess, it would be inconvenient, but she would at least remain within the Holy Kingdom.

But what if the woman the Saint loved became the Saintess?

“You would be doing Macelin a great favor. Once word spreads that their country has a Saintess, how much do you think the Holy Kingdom’s influence will weaken?”

“....”

“Looking at your expression, it seems you know exactly how things will turn out. Yet you still have no intention of stopping it?”

“...The times are changing. Besides, you saw it too. Her Divine Power was deeper and more powerful than anyone else’s.”

“That’s an important factor, but by that logic, why not simply bring in any Holy Knight and declare them the Saintess?”

Though the Pope knew this, he closed his eyes.

“That would be improper.”

“What you’re doing now is far more improper. How can your standards be so different?”

“This Saint is special. You know that as well, don’t you? No one in the history of the Holy Kingdom has ever been so deeply connected to God.”

“That’s why I said I understand. I’m simply saying I’ll go my own way, so I don’t understand why you’re acting like this.”

Seeing that the Pope had no intention of even opening his eyes, Rowena had already made up her mind.

What on earth was he trying to accomplish by dragging out this conversation and holding her back?

By tomorrow, they would leave the Holy Kingdom and head for the Empire anyway.

“You may go alone. Leave the rest behind.”

After dragging the conversation on for so long, the Pope spoke bluntly, as though he no longer wished to waste time.

“If I said yes, would you believe me?”

Rowena answered lightly.

“....”

“Now that I think about it, taking everyone with me does seem unreasonable.”

“Is that so?”

“I suppose I should go with them.”

It was wordplay wholly unsuited to the situation.

The Pope started to rise at those words, then fixed his gaze on Rowena again.

“That’s the same thing.”

“You used to say they were clearly different. You’ve changed completely.”

“Do you not know that taking them all will inevitably lead to bloodshed?”

“Then did you think you could happily live with your child without being prepared for even this much?”

With those words, Rowena stretched out a hand and pointed to the door.

The Pope understood that Rowena was dismissing him.

“I pray that your journey to the Empire is peaceful.”

“Words you don’t mean.”

After that conversation, Rowena set out for the Empire with the others.

+++++

“Lady Rowena, many people at the front are exhausted.”

“...Let’s rest for a while.”

“Yes.”

The journey itself was not especially difficult, but the group was simply too large.

There were elderly people and children among them.

Because they had to walk while looking after them all, their pace naturally slowed.

A slower pace meant they had to pay closer attention to supplies.

And because they were crossing desert terrain, they also had to prepare for the many dangers hidden beneath the sand.

‘There’s too much to worry about... If this were a normal dispatch, the Holy Kingdom should have taken better care when sending us off.’

Who would have thought they would cast them out like this, as if throwing their bare bodies into the wilderness?

She had known it would be bad, but it was worse than she expected.

She never imagined they would assign so few escort troops that they were practically nonexistent.

Nor had she expected the supplies to be reduced to the bare minimum.

‘Have they thrown away even the last of their conscience?’

Should she be grateful that no one had been hurt yet?

As Rowena had that thought,

“Lady Rowena, we heard that... unknown personnel are setting out from the Holy Kingdom toward the Empire....”

News arrived as though another trial had been sent her way.

“Knights?”

“Yes, that is our assumption.”

Who were they targeting?

‘They can’t be targeting me. I’m being dispatched to the Empire, so it makes no sense for them to harm me.’

Would the Holy Kingdom harm a Saint Candidate being sent to the Empire to clear herself of all suspicion?

It was absurd. Forget the Holy Kingdom’s reputation, it could lead to war with the Empire.

‘They were never going to let us leave peacefully, but who are they trying to target?’

Could it be?

Rowena’s eyes flashed.

If her assumption was right, the Holy Kingdom was about to do something insane.

“The people around me?”

Ordinary priests would not have much influence even if they went to the Empire, so they could be left alone.

And if Rowena herself could not be touched, then the range of people they could actually harm became very narrow.

‘The people following me now, those who would have a meaningful impact once we reach the Empire.’

Priests capable of using some Divine Power, and Holy Knights who had trained for many years.

What if they were the targets?

“They’re demanding that I make a choice.”

“Pardon?”

The eyes of a priest, still unaware of the situation, came into view.

Leave them behind? Not a chance.

But if she did not leave them behind, blood would be spilled.

Inform the Empire of the situation and ask for help?

If that had been possible, she would have done it already.

“Pick up the pace.”

“Understood.”

The only thing they could do now was remain together without scattering and head for the Empire as quickly as possible.

If they had more escort troops, they could have advanced without hesitation.

If they ran into even one Magic Beast by bad luck, they could consider that day’s plans ruined.

They already had to be wary of bandits.

And now they had to worry about troops sent by the Holy Kingdom as well.

‘You can do this, Rowena... You can do this. You’ve always done it. Even now, you only have to keep moving forward on your own.’

Muttering that to herself, Rowena silently continued walking.

They had to get as far as possible beneath the Empire’s shadow.

If they could reach even its borders, everything would be resolved.

Holding onto that hope, she walked and walked.

Thududududu.

Then, from far away, came the sound of galloping hooves.

A cloud of sand rose higher, clearly signaling that someone was racing toward them.

“...How far do you intend to fall and rot?”

Sand dust rose from the direction of the Holy Kingdom.

Holy Knights of the Romper Church, their appearances concealed, were approaching them.

“Romper, is this truly your will? Is it truly your will that your children fight among themselves...?”

Rowena looked briefly at the sky before returning her gaze forward.

God existed in the heavens, but humans lived upon the earth.

They could not live forever while looking up at the sky.

In the end, they had to look ahead.

“Prepare to fight.”

“Yes.”

“We will not let them take anything from us.”

She would never submit to something unjust.

+++++

“Shouldn’t we intervene?”

“We do not move without His Highness the Crown Prince’s orders.”

“Gasp! I failed to understand His Highness’s intentions. As expected of you, Master.”

“Hehe, such things are basic for this lady.”

Arveda and Theo watched from the sky as the Saint Candidate’s group moved below.

Perhaps because it was such a large group, they were moving incredibly slowly.

Despite that slow pace, she was trying to bring everyone safely to the Empire.

It was an ambitious undertaking, but it was astonishing that one person was handling it all perfectly.

“She has strong Divine Power.”

“It certainly seems that way. She can bestow blessings on every one of those people each day.”

“Without those blessings, the journey would take twice as long. Even if blessings do not consume much Divine Power... she is remarkable.”

Someone like that was only a Saint Candidate?

Arveda could not understand it.

‘Humans truly are impossible to understand.’

Bound by the Covenant, she had watched humans for a long time and thought she understood them somewhat.

Yet rather than elevate someone so capable, they planned to drive her out to another country.

As though that was not enough, they were now trying to remove the people at her side as well.

‘Why?’

As Arveda shook her head, unable to understand at all,

- Are they fighting?

- Yes.

Theo was reporting to the Crown Prince.

- They must be at a disadvantage.

- Are you watching them?

- It is obvious even without watching. Are there any deaths?

- Not yet. Perhaps their units have been split up, or perhaps the advance force sent by the Holy Kingdom is small. For now, the battle is evenly matched.

- Are they truly people sent by the Holy Kingdom?

- They have made an effort to conceal their identities, but they cannot hide their presence. It is characteristic of the Holy Kingdom.

As Theo explained the battle situation,

- Don’t tell me you are coming here?

Theo asked, half in disbelief.

- Of course. What a foolish question.

The Crown Prince replied as though asking why Theo would even say such a thing.

‘His Highness the Crown Prince is coming personally?’

Even though there was a dragon and Theo himself here?

Had Theo not earned his trust yet?

Just as that thought began to form,

- It would be best to keep our forces hidden as much as possible.

- There is no benefit in exposing both an Executioner and the Mage Tower’s successor to the outside world.

Theo’s thoughts changed at once.

‘Hm, His Highness cherishes me.’

Perhaps because he felt so much better,

- Forces to support the advance party are beginning to arrive.

- It appears a full-scale battle will begin soon.

Theo excitedly continued his report.

- Are they targeting the Saint Candidate?

- They are not. They are openly targeting the people at the Saint Candidate’s side.

- Even if the Saint Candidate shields them with her own body, they intend to avoid her and kill the rest.

- ...That’s right. Are you really watching?

- I can see them now.

Now?

Theo knew the Empire was quite far from here.

Besides, this place was filled with Divine Power, making it difficult to set coordinates. Even Teleportation was tricky.

Just how quickly was he moving?

Before Theo could dwell on that question,

“Gah!”

“You held out stubbornly, but you’ve finally reached your limit.”

At last, blood was spilled.

There was a limit to an evenly matched battle.

Knights who had marched with a large group while looking after countless people.

And knights in perfect condition, who had traveled straight here for the sole purpose of killing knights.

The outcome between the two had practically been decided from the beginning.

“At least Lady Rowena...!”

“Can’t you see, after all this time? We did not come to kill Rowena. We came to kill you.”

“...Why?”

“Because it is quicker to kill you than let you become the Empire’s.”

Their conversation was brutally clear.

They could have killed their victims immediately, but perhaps there was still some lingering attachment.

They allowed them a few more moments to breathe.

“Is this the will of the Romper Church?!”

“...Ah, I misspoke. We are only bandits.”

“Aaaah!”

“Ahhh!”

“No!”

“Stop! Save me!”

“Why are you doing this?!”

“Y-you!”

The cries of those who wanted to live mixed with the words of those who wanted to take their lives.

“You will die at the hands of bandits today.”

“Do you think anyone would believe that?!”

Only a few days ago, they had at least known each other’s faces.

They were people who had never had a reason to point swords at one another.

Even now, though the Saint Candidate’s forces were fighting, there was hesitation at their fingertips.

Why did they have to fight to the death against people they had no reason to hate?

When they had simply tried to leave because their paths no longer aligned, they had thought those who remained would bless them on their way.

‘Was even that too much to ask? Was it only a futile wish?’

Slash!

The knight’s leg was slashed, and the knight immediately crashed onto the sand like a puppet with its strings severed.

“Who would suspect anything? If we leave the civilians untouched and say we had no choice but to kill the soldiers protecting them before retreating, what could anyone possibly suspect?”

The raised sword blocked out the sun.

“No! Stop!”

The Saint Candidate begged them not to kill.

“There is no god who will save you.”

The knight said that and swung the blade down at the knight lying on the ground.

At that very moment.

Fwoooosh!

“Arrgh!”

Raging flames engulfed the knight holding the sword.

“Saint Candidate, the road ahead seemed dangerous, so I came. There certainly do seem to be many bandits.”

The sun, once hidden behind the blade, revealed itself again.

The Saint Candidate immediately recognized the owner of that voice.