Phase (4)
The princess, who had been silently waiting for the people leaving, opened her mouth only then.
“Are you afraid to name them?”
“Why do you ask that question?”
The saint replied with a slightly tired look to the princess’ sudden question.
Seeing the saint like that, the princess bit her lip and continued as if pursuing the saint once again.
“When those kids asked Saint Ronan to name him, he was obviously delighted. But he doesn’t seem very happy now.”
The saint did not express either affirmation or negativity to the princess’ words, just staring in the direction the people had left.
“I won’t tell you not to leave. But please don’t forget that if Saint Ronan disappears somewhere, at least I will follow Saint Ronan.”
The saint’s eyes trembled slightly, probably because he hadn’t thought of it.
As if hearing an unbelievable sound, he turned his head toward the princess.
“Did you really think you’d go unnoticed when you always seem to be reluctant to get involved more deeply than necessary while reaching out to others first?”
It was the same way when I met the woman who had left her husband at a memorial service.
As if he wanted to comfort the woman but was afraid to have a relationship, he rather induced the conversation to hate himself.
When that didn’t work, he eventually showed a desperate look, but at the end, when the woman strengthened her will to live and asked for a name, she looked around with a puzzled look and now was exactly the same.
“It’s not like that. I think there’s some misunderstanding.”
Even at the saint’s embarrassing words, which were not common, the princess answered firmly.
“If it’s all my fault, please don’t act like I’ll have to leave everyone one day. I’m afraid every time Ronan Saint acts like that.”
Azalea did not like seeing Ronan like that.
It’s like he’s trying hard not to feel the vacancy he’s left so that one day he won’t feel so great. Then, at some point, it’s like he’ll really disappear like a mirage.
For now, I had no choice but to threaten to follow her wherever she went, even if she disappeared like that.
“Azalea-sama.”
As if he noticed the princess’s feelings, the saint erased his embarrassment and called the princess’ name in a quiet but comfortable voice as usual.
“Don’t worry too much. It’s just… It’s just a pity that many people endured the inconvenience just to get a name from me. It seems a bit burdensome.”
“Is that really all?”
“Yes. That’s why the pressure came belatedly. I’m really happy too.”
Unfortunately, Azalea could now filter out some of Ronan’s speeches.
Sadness can be true to some extent, but hasn’t Ronan proven several times already that he’s not the kind of person who feels burdened by such things?
In addition, Ronan never denied the fact that he might leave someday.
Azalea felt sorry for Ronan’s attitude, but couldn’t find anything to say and kept her mouth shut.
If I asked if it was real, the same answer would come back, and it was absurd to offer words of comfort.
Because I know that consolation without understanding is nothing more than simple self-satisfaction.
When I talked with Ronan just before leaving the palace, Ronan joked that there was no burden he was carrying, and that if he did, he might be crushed to death.
It was sad rather than funny that a person who seemed to be carrying more burdens than anyone else in the world would make such a joke, but even then I couldn’t find the right words of comfort.
It was difficult for Azalea, who couldn’t guess the weight of the burden Ronan was carrying, to speak out prematurely.
“Shall we go back now?”
Azalea stared at Ronan for a long time as he started to drive his horse as if to end this topic after seeing Azalea who was silent.
Today, Ronan’s back seemed to be dwarfed.
purr.
Even the horse Ronan was riding was constantly touching Ronan’s back with his tail moving as if to encourage his master.
* * *
Belarus, we may have to run away sooner than expected. If that happens, take care of us.
As soon as I thought that, I was beaten again by the tail.
Please stop hitting me with your tail. It hurts more than I thought!
When I heard that the princess would chase me to the end of the continent if I ran away, I was truly stunned.
You weren’t just misunderstanding, you were seeing right through my heart.
When I first heard that I was asked for a name, I was happy to finally figure out why my affiliation was leaving blank and realized that there was no problem with my abilities, and the reason I was depressed after that was because of my futility, but it was also because I was told to name the group. did.
Obviously, when I first formed that organization, the purpose was to suck honey.
While creating an opportunity to solidify the position of the poor who have a high affinity for me, I am also working on a prestigious work.
I didn’t spend my money anyway, and most of all, I didn’t work, so I didn’t do it because there was no risk.
However, the picture became strange as the Duke of Thorpe declined and the church did not swallow it.
An organization that doesn’t belong to anywhere, and was founded according to my will. Even people say they want to get a name from me, so I still don’t have a name.
This is my private organization no matter who sees it.
At first glance, it sounds good because I have my own power, but at the point when people recognize this group as mine, the responsibility for what the group does becomes mine.
Does this mean that with great power comes great responsibility? Uncle Van continues to win again today.
Besides, most of the actual authority would belong to the young lady, so in fact, it was only mine on the surface, and in reality, it was the same as the young lady’s.
Come to think of it, it’s not a lot of power, but it’s a great responsibility. How did this happen, Uncle?
It’s exactly the opposite of what I expected. Did you read this far and drew this picture?
That young lady also had positive feelings for me, so I want to believe that’s not the case.
I didn’t know that the princess would find out about it.
Was the feeling you were harboring was sad because your business partner was going to eat and run?
It is understandable that even if you tell a high-purity lie to someone who already knows everything, it will not work.
I hurriedly affirmed part of the princess’s words and pretended that I had no intention of running away, but I didn’t seem to completely believe it. It was fortunate that I didn’t question her further.
Do you feel like I won’t be fooled just once seeing you conflict over something and then just move on?
It was really fortunate that the business partner relationship hadn’t broken yet.
In that state, I hurried on my way to the academy to end the situation, and fortunately, the princess let me go without saying anything.
Ugh, what kind of trouble is this with only one step left on the bed?
The academy, which I finally entered after a lot of hard work, surprisingly did not change.
As I expected at first, there wasn’t anything noisy to welcome our party, and there weren’t many people wandering around inside, probably in class.
Well, just because I went through a lot while I was away from the academy doesn’t mean the academy will change.
As soon as I came back, I met the strange group and my alertness was raised for a while.
How nice this peace.
“We will take care of the administrative handling of Saint Ronan and Princess Iris. Do you want the two of you to go back to your lodgings right away?”
“I’ll try to go back. Thanks again.”
After the princess greeted us once more, she disappeared toward the inn where the clergy were gathered, and the Imperial Knights who accompanied us began to busily disappear somewhere.
“What will Saint Ronan do?”
Of course, I wanted to go straight to bed, but seeing the princess leave, I suddenly remembered the people who were staying at the inn.
In the dormitory area… When it comes to devil worshipers, there’s a meddling dwarf who likes to pounce on himself, and a terrifying beastman looking for an opportunity!
However, if you walk around without heading back to the inn, an environment is created where you can re-consider the uncomfortable conversation you just had with the princess.
Should I just go back quietly?
While contemplating which was worse, having a breathtaking conversation with the princess or being captured by different tribes and recounting the expedition all day, I soon made up my mind.
“It’s been a while since I’m back, so I’d like to look around a bit. Is that okay?”
Anyway, if the princess wants to bring up this topic, she will always have to listen to it again, so it’s better to be beaten first.
The princess is not a good shield… but a friend.
“Do whatever Saint Ronan wants. There are no scheduled dates today anyway, and no one will stop Saint from wandering around the academy.”
At those words, I started to walk inside the academy with the princess.
Actually, it came to my mind after I said that I would look around the inside of the academy, but the places I often go to in the academy were the gardens with farming classes, cooking classes, flower classes, and fields with horseback riding classes, so I had nowhere to go.
However, fearing that going straight to the dorm after walking for only a few minutes would make me feel like I had no backbone, I continued to walk around the campus, pretending to be natural.
Of course, he rationally knew that the princess wouldn’t have such thoughts with something like this, but he was cautious because the thief had been caught saying he wanted to run away a while ago.
But the princess doesn’t say a word.
It felt very awkward, perhaps because the conversation developed in such a way that the princess would usually speak first in this atmosphere.
Are you still worrying about that?
I was in the lead, so it was a bit difficult to turn around and check the princess’s aura.
I thought I would suffocate if I continued walking aimlessly like this, so I sat down for a while on a prominent chair nearby.
“Shall we take a break for a while?”
Come to think of it, you don’t have to walk around inside the dormitory. You just need to spend time.
“All right.”
The princess also sat down next to me at a slight distance without saying anything.
Sitting on a chair and looking around, I felt the peace itself, perhaps because there were no people and it was in a quiet state.
Well-organized surroundings. Neat but old-fashioned buildings. Cool weather and the wind that blows accordingly. Ideal as if time has stopped… Boom!!
While I was immersed in the calm atmosphere I hadn’t felt in a long time, smoke rose with a tremendous roar in the distance.
coo…
A dull sound could be heard from farther away.
Um…see you claim that time doesn’t stand still.
“I’m glad it looks unchanged.”
In fact, that was a natural academy scene.
I hear an explosion somewhere, I hear a shout, I hear a loud chatter…
It’s even weirder if the school kids go to is quiet, even in a world where magic and martial arts exist.
“Maybe it’s the scenery Saint Ronan protected.”
Why is the story falling out so much?
“Don’t you want to see it for a long time?”
Is this brainwashing you to feel a sense of responsibility and not even dream of running away?
As a long-time business partner, it must be a big disappointment.
“I’d like to.”
I agreed to the princess’ wishes without saying anything.
I also have no intention of running away if at all possible. I just thought of wanting to run away as a sense of escapism because the composition was just opposite to the direction I intended, and I don’t think I want to run away that often… isn’t it? not.
It was the moment I was looking around, using the intermittent sound of explosions as the background sound.
A group of students came out of the building and approached me, as if some class had ended.
Rather than coming towards us, they were just heading somewhere, and it felt like we were on that path, and they didn’t seem to notice us, so instead of avoiding them, I just stared blankly at them.
The students who moved their steps while talking about wagjajikkeok gradually came this way and were about to pass us normally.
“omg!”
One student who casually looked this way sighed and froze as it was, and the students who turned their gaze under the influence of that student froze on the spot one after another.
Although it was not a strange sight because I usually benefited from the princess’s shield at the academy, it was a new feeling to see it after a long time.
Maybe it’s because it’s been a long time, and it seems that the reaction has become more intense because I’ve lost my familiarity with the princess?
The princess seems to have opened her sixth sense last time, but suddenly she even has Medusa’s abilities… she has a lot of talent.
“Ro, RoroRoronan saint!”
…huh?
“There were a lot of excuses!”
The group of students headed towards us, subtly bowed as if they were focused on me, and then moved away from me at breakneck speed.
…what?
I looked at the princess with a bewildered face, unable to hide my doubtful feeling, and the princess looked at me with a smile on her face.
“Come to think of it, I don’t think I’ll have to escort Ronan Saint inside the academy anymore.”
Why such a conclusion?
“The reason I stayed with Saint Ronan was to publicize the relationship between Saint Ronan and the royal family and to get rid of the goofballs who cling to Saint Ronan.”
That was the main purpose. I already guessed it, but it was also something I already knew because the princess herself mentioned it.
“But now that Saint Ronan’s name is more widely known than I am, I’m worried that I won’t be seen as a half-ass who clings to Saint Ronan.”
Hey, what a joke…
I was trying to laugh at the princess’s joke, which is hard to hear, but I witnessed other students approaching us again, surprised to see us, greeting us from afar and then walking away, perhaps at the same time when classes were ending simultaneously.
Certainly, no matter how many princesses there are, I don’t think they were like that before?
“When His Majesty sits in the middle of the academy, everyone avoids it. Isn’t that how it feels?”
The princess kept smiling as if she was having fun, but I couldn’t laugh anymore.
It’s not the princess… You mean running away after seeing me? Even nobles?
Of course, it could be said that it was rather good as I struggled once because I didn’t want to get involved with the nobles, but I felt something strange.
At this level, isn’t the road to becoming a commoner-friendly saint already closed?
I can’t tell if this is positive or not. Normally, when a famous work succeeds, more people flock to it, and a virtuous circle should be created in which more people gather again after receiving a favorable impression from them.
Is it normal for people to avoid me just by looking at me? Isn’t it usually the opposite?
As I was immersed in such thoughts, the sound of footsteps running towards me awoke my thoughts.
“Ronnanniiim!”
“Cell…”
I raised my head at the very welcome voice, and before I could turn my head fully in the direction of the sound, a strong shock hit me deep inside.
Celia…You’ve become a lot stronger while I haven’t seen you. It was a shock that took my breath away.
“I followed Ronan-nim’s words very diligently! But, as expected, I have to be next to Ronan-nim! From now on, please just take me!”
Before I had time to come to my senses, a voice close to whining came from inside my arms.
To solve this situation, I dropped Celia.
Of course, Celia, who values her identity as an exclusive attendant, said she would go with me, but to be honest, why would she take her there and use it?
It was a priest who knew how to handle a little bit of divine power, but was too much to take.
Of course, I couldn’t say that, so I calmed down and cleared my mouth. Roughly, since you are my exclusive attendant, I have to stay at the academy all the more. .
Of course, the only thing I do at the academy is to take classes, so I just meant to study hard.
I was taken aback for a moment, but then slowly stroked Celia, who was in my arms.
While I haven’t seen it, the childishness has increased. It wasn’t a bad change.
“Yeah, I’ll never leave you apart again. I was wrong.”
Of course, that won’t happen anymore. Even if it happens, I really won’t step forward this time.
It was similar to the realization that you can only cry out for being in the military if you haven’t been to the military, but if you can do anything to get rid of it, it’s better to get rid of it.
As a result of this incident, I raised my reputation quite a lot and formed an active cooperative relationship with the imperial family, so I really don’t do that anymore.
Even if the princess asks, I won’t. Really.
“Uhhhhh! You promised! It is!”
I nodded, looking at Celia, who was still crying.
“Yes. I’m really sorry. Has everything been okay?”
“Yeah, it was fine!”
Celia was so cute when she said that in a confident yet sniffling voice, so I naturally smiled and wiped away my tears.
Well, it’s not that I think so, but objectively speaking, what can a girl who has nothing but the title of a saint’s exclusive attendant do without a saint?
Just like I said, if you study hard and are faithful, it’s natural that nothing special will happen.
“In the course of taking Alter, who had become insane, there was a chance to go back to the headquarters together with volunteers from the trainees, but he made sure that no one but Damian and Lennox agreed with him, and a new priest from the Orion Church’s doctrine department came, and he watched for a few days. I saw it, but I felt relieved because he seemed like a really nice person, and he explained Ronan-sama’s ideology to the organization that Lady Helena founded… Anyway, there was nothing other than these trivial things!”
Wow, really academically… Wait a minute.
After Celia finished her absurd remark, she subtly poked her head in as if asking for a compliment.
No, Celia. Now what?
