Let’s Block the Ruined Route in Advance Chapter 89

The results of the Central Shrine worship application are in.

 

“Only one person actually made it.”

 

“Not even one.”

 

Lucian was the only one who was successful, so naturally, Eileen would be traveling to the temple as his companion.

 

In the carriage on the way to the temple, Lucian asked,

 

“But why do we need to go to the temple?”

 

His face showed concern. He’d been to the temple before, and he’d heard some of the stories, and he was even more nervous about going to a temple with a saint.

 

“Well, I was wondering something. I’m wondering if Star is really new.”

 

The real purpose of her visit was to meet Aire, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it outright, so Eileen fudged it.

 

“I see.”

 

Lucian watched Eileen quietly as she stared out the window. He could see her troubled orange eyes beneath her brown bangs.

 

“If the temple bastards try anything else, I’ll make sure to stop them.”

 

He hadn’t brought his sword with him, but he reflexively put his hand to his scabbard, steeling his resolve. He hadn’t forgotten the oath he’d made the moment he’d first laid eyes on those brilliant orange eyes.

 

“You’ll have to walk from here.”

 

The coachman opened the window and spoke. Carriages and warps were strictly forbidden from the outer walls of the Central Temple to the entrance. Lucian dismounted first and held out his hand to Eileen.

 

Eileen dismounted, taking Lucian’s hand, and looked up. In the distance, she could see a massive temple surrounded by twelve white spires.

 

She looked at the pointed tips of the spires and shuddered for a moment as she remembered the monster’s hand that had lunged at Aire.

 

“Eileen?”

 

“It’s okay, it’s nothing.”

 

Swallowing dryly, Eileen took a step forward. The time had come to check the most important thing.

 

 

***

 

 

Unfortunately for her resolve, Eileen did not meet Aire at the Central Shrine.

 

“The hero is away on a mission.”

 

“Aaah…”

 

Eileen groaned in disappointment and sat down on a bench in the hallway. Lucian scratched his cheek and comforted her.

 

“Well, did you want to meet your hero? Bad timing.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Eileen covered her face in embarrassment.

 

“Why, of course I thought I could meet him at the temple.”

 

A wave of self-reflection swept over her. With a deep sigh, she lowered her hands and looked at Lucian.

 

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry I made you stumble on this important holiday.”

 

“Don’t be ridiculous. It was so nice to go out with you after all these years.”

 

Lucian smiled coolly and sat down next to her.

 

“Maybe next time. Maybe we can get more than one person to sign up this time.”

 

Eileen nodded weakly at that. It was time to lift her heavy body to return to the academy.

 

“Well, well, well, you’re a welcome soul.”

 

A benevolent voice reached her ears. Eileen turned to the source of the sound, and there stood a gray-haired old woman in a pure white dress with an attendant.

 

“The mark on your neck.”

 

Lucian’s eyes fell on the nape of the old woman’s neck. “The mark of a goddess”, imprinted in gold. No Imperial could fail to recognize her.

 

“Saint Rosinia.”

 

“Greetings, Saint Rosinia, the living blessing of the Empire.”

 

Eileen followed Lucian’s lead and bowed.

 

‘Saint?’

 

The woman who had lived the life of a saint stood before Eileen’s eyes. It was an odd contrast to her encounter with Eileen, who had struggled to reject the title of saint.

 

“What do you mean by a welcoming soul?”

 

Rosinia continued to a bewildered Eileen.

 

“I would like to speak with you, alone if possible.”

 

Lucian rolled his eyes at the words, and Eileen whispered softly.

 

“It’s okay.”

 

Lucian nodded, and he and the saint’s attendant exited the hallway. Soon the doors closed on either side, and the elderly saint hobbled to a bench. Eileen helped her sit down.

 

“Thank you.”

 

“You’re welcome.”

 

“Hoo-hoo, come sit with me.”

 

Rosinia patted the seat next to her with a wrinkled hand. Eileen sat quietly beside her.

 

“Do you know Regia?”

 

The words came out in a rush.

 

“What? Yes. She’s the greatest hero who ever lived, the one who destroyed the worst demon two hundred years ago.”

 

“Right.”

 

Rosinia took a small breath. It was a labored breath, like a wind leak, and then she spoke again.

 

“I became a saint at the age of seven and lived as a saint for 213 years.”

 

Those who manifest the Holy Mark live longer than twice as long as normal humans. It was the reason Eileen could never become a saint, and proof that saints were blessed by the living gods.

 

“I was fourteen years old when Regia slayed the demon. Oh, and she was 21.”

 

Only 21 years old.

 

It was a fact she knew from her childhood mythology lessons, but hearing it from someone who was actually a contemporary of the hero had a different weight.

 

“You’re so young, do you have any idea what Regia was like?”

 

“I think she must have been very brave and wise.”

 

“Hoo-hoo, you’re half right.”

 

Rosinia smiled nostalgically as she recalled the scene in her memory.

 

“She was certainly a wise woman, but she was also very timid at first. She didn’t like to be sick, so she would freak out at the slightest cut, and she freaked out at the sight of blood. Oh, and this is a secret, but she was also a terrible eater.”

 

When Rosinia covered her mouth and laughed softly, Eileen’s eyes lit up with interest. The hero that remained in the saint’s memory was far from the iron-blooded hero that was often portrayed.

 

“Such a woman, such a cowardly, sweet woman, fighting for a week and a day to save those she loved. Losing her companions in the first battle, her left eye in the second, her right ear in the third. After losing so much and giving everything, the hero won in the end.”

 

It was a noble story, but the saint’s eyes were dark as she told it.

 

“The hero came back, but she didn’t live long, for her whole body was tainted with demon magic, and when she lost her beloved companion, she stopped purifying herself and chose to die. Ah, but at the end, she closed her eyes in peace.”

 

Rosinia’s eyes closed as she said that, and her expression looked so lonely that Eileen unconsciously placed one hand on top of the other. The saint opened her eyes at the unexpected touch, checked Eileen’s hand, and smiled, folding her eyes like a girl.

 

“She must have been a great person.”

 

“Yes, and that’s why we call her the Hero of the Brightest Light.”

 

Nodding, Eileen silently called out to Star. She thought it would be fun to show the groggy Rosinia her Star.

 

“Chew!”

 

Star appeared and jumped onto Rosinia’s lap. Eileen squealed in panic.

 

“Ouch! You can’t do that! I’m sorry.”

 

Rosinia tilted her head slowly and asked,

 

“For what?”

 

At that moment, Eileen felt a strong sense of disparity that sent chills down her spine. Rosinia’s gaze was not on Star, not even a little bit. She wasn’t looking at the spirit.

 

‘What? What’s going on? The hero clearly saw Star.’

 

Not understanding the situation, Eileen reflexively tried to get up from the bench. The saint’s hand grabbed Eileen’s wrist. The force of her grip was so strong that she momentarily lost her balance and stumbled.

 

“…Saint?”

 

“Don’t be afraid.”

 

“What?”

 

The saint’s dark brown eyes slowly filled with gold. A blurry, golden-eyed saint, out of focus, opened her mouth. The majestic holy woman, a far cry from the compassionate old woman of a moment ago, spoke words that resembled a prophecy.

 

“The world does not want to end, so life will obey your will.”

 

Eileen’s eyes widened. Her heart pounded wildly at the mysterious words that seemed to hold some kind of clue.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Eileen turned back to the saint. As she finished speaking, the golden glow vanished from her eyes in an instant, and her head drooped.

 

“Have you fallen asleep…?”

 

The saint, now in the form of an old woman, was fast asleep, and her attendants came in to pick her up and carry her away. Eileen could only watch helplessly.

 

“I hope you’ll understand that she is very old.”

 

The carriage ride back to the Academy was silent, but Eileen’s heart was pounding. A saint who can’t see Star, a world that doesn’t want to end.

 

There were still secrets she didn’t know.