I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

23 – The Continent’s Strongest Mage (3)

“Hahaha, you’ve every right to be surprised! You see, I was born with a constitution that makes me immune to other people’s magic!”

The paladin Wilhelm laughed heartily as he walked alongside me inside the Papal Palace.

Originally, he should have just stopped at a security check, but he seemed intrigued by me and followed behind.

“So, that’s why you were the one picking out the suspicious characters in front of the Papal Palace. No matter what magic they use, you wouldn’t be able to miss their true identity.”

I had heard about Wilhelm’s constitution somewhere. I had seen the research results that showed how those born with a tangled mana circuit are almost completely impervious to others’ magic.

I covered my face with my hand and let out a deep sigh. If I had known this would happen, I shouldn’t have said I was Victoria’s lover.

I just wanted the rumor to spread to her when she returned to the Holy Nation, hoping she would have a hard time dealing with it.

“Yes! And that’s why I could immediately recognize your identity as a mage! I’ve always wanted to meet you!”

Things had gotten out of hand, beyond control.

Wilhelm, smiling brightly and looking at me with admiring eyes, bowed deeply, expressing his respect.

This kind of attention was burdensome. Right now, I needed to meet the Pope in secret and find a solution for Victoria’s flower problem.

“So, about you being the Saintess’s lover, is that true?”

“No, I was just joking earlier…”

“It’s already been a year since she left to subjugate the Demon King. It would be strange if a romantic relationship didn’t develop between a man and a woman!”

“…Shut up, please.”

I bit my lip, suppressing my anger. It was better to deal with this than to get into trouble by causing a scene in the Papal Palace.

“The Saintess is so beautiful and noble that she’s called a goddess. Surely, someone like you, Lord Astal, would be a fitting match!”

I was using an awareness-inhibiting spell to prevent our voices from spreading around, but him continuing to ask questions about me and Victoria was incredibly annoying.

But something was bothering me.

“…I heard there were a lot of men who joined the Paladin Order because of Victoria.”

I knew that there were many people in the Holy Nation who desired Victoria.

Since the head honcho, the so-called Pope, was a pervert, it was obvious what the lower ranks would be like.

But this guy was different.

It felt like he was more interested in me than Victoria.

“Hmm! That’s definitely true! After His Holiness Pope Porcus took the throne, our order has been filled with many lustful men!”

Wilhelm nodded, affirming my suspicions. He spoke about the Pope, who was higher in rank than him, without any hesitation.

“Are you saying that you’re different?”

His appearance was different from the paladins I knew from the Holy Nation, so I couldn’t help but ask him.

“Yes! I joined the Paladin Order because I wanted to be someone who saves others, like Lord Astal!”

Wilhelm gave a thumbs up and a bright smile. His demeanor was full of confidence.

“Like me? I didn’t think anyone would follow me in this Holy Kingdom, besides Victoria.”

I felt a strange sense of déjà vu looking at his demeanor. Though part of his face was hidden by a mask, a person with such a lively personality isn’t easily forgotten.

“Really, you don’t remember me? I’m a little hurt! It’s me, the harmless mage, Lord Astar!”

Then, Wilhelm took off the white mask he was wearing, revealing his bare face to me. A large burn scar was etched where his forehead and eyes met.

It was clear to anyone that it was the work of a demon or monster who had intentionally set him ablaze. Despite the gruesome sight, enough to make one recoil, I calmly dredged up my memories.

“Could it be, back then…?”

I had saved a child with a wound like that.

“Yes! It’s me, Wilhelm, the country kid you rescued back when you were staying at the Blue Magic Tower! It’s an honor to see you again!”

Wilhelm’s face, beaming once more, held the raw emotion of a young boy overjoyed.

* * *

This is how it all began.

After my parents passed away, there was a time when I desperately researched magic that could save people.

That was my only way to atone, the only reason I felt I could go on living.

It was normal for me to stay up all night, poring over magic theses alone. So much so, that I was called a ‘workaholic’ by the other mages.

Whenever the Magic Tower sent me out on missions, I threw myself into saving people. If even one person died, I would empty my entire savings to comfort their families.

“So, are your eyes still unable to see…?”

And one of the kids I saved back then was none other than Wilhelm, right next to me now.

The child who had cried out in pain after a demon burned his eyes with fire, taking his sight, had later tried to put on a brave face, thanking me when I left the village.

“Ah, the Saintess healed them! I can see perfectly fine now! You don’t have to worry at all!”

Wilhelm put his mask back on, smiling as if to reassure me. The gruesome scar was hidden once again.

“But why the burn scar…? Victoria’s miracle would have been more than enough to heal it completely.”

I asked Wilhelm, a sudden thought striking me. With Victoria’s nature, there was no way she would have left a scar like that.

“Ah, that’s because I asked her to leave it! I thought you might not recognize me without it!”

It was a surprisingly absurd reason. He had kept the scar on his face all this time, just waiting for the day he could meet me again.

“Why would you do such a thing…”

I said, looking at Wilhelm with pity. This boy, like me, was one of many traumatized by demons.

The forces under the command of the demon king Ergosum committed atrocious acts of murder and slaughter, making people like him common enough.

“This is also a medal for working hard to survive! Of course, many in the Holy Kingdom find it unsettling, so I cover it up…”

Wilhelm said, pointing to his mask with his finger. Once just a boy from a rural village not too far from here, he had become a holy knight, inspired by me.

“But you didn’t have to go so far as to become a holy knight, you know.”

I felt a pang of sympathy for Wilhelm as I spoke. A boy who didn’t even look like he was of age yet, choosing the path of a Holy Knight to fight demons and monsters.

To be a dog, forced to follow the current Pope’s orders, it must be far from the ideals he’d held. Porcus the Third was such a corrupt b*stard, it made me wonder how he’d even become Pope in the first place.

“I have a messed-up mana circuit, so I couldn’t learn magic. I just had a little talent with the sword.”

Wilhelm said, while fiddling with the hilt of his sword. A constitution that blocks others’ magic also meant he couldn’t use it himself.

“We’re not even that far apart in age, but seeing you save people with magic moved me deeply!”

“……”

“Of course, if it were anyone else, they’d instantly be angry or try to arrest you for being our Saintess’s boyfriend….”

Wilhelm abruptly—*thump*—stopped walking, and once again bowed his back at a right angle, his gaze fixed on the floor.

“But, Astal-nim, you saved my life! So I’d be honored if I could call you hyung-nim!”

And he extended his hand. His eyes, staring intently at me as if asking for a handshake, felt incredibly burdensome.

“Just call me Astal.”

I said, grabbing Wilhelm’s hand, trying to dissuade him.

However,

“Yes! Hyung-nim! I understand!”

He’d already made up his mind, it seemed, calling me hyung-nim.

* * *

Astal and Wilhelm were headed to an audience with the Pope. Victoria was secretly tailing them.

– So, is the Saintess doing well? If you’ve suddenly come to the Holy Nation like this, is there a problem?

– It seems that flower growing in her body needs to be removed.

Victoria, even eavesdropping on the two men’s conversation, kept a constant distance without being noticed.

This was the place she’d spent her childhood, a place she’d explored every nook and cranny of in her attempts to sneak away.

‘I need to listen in to what he’s *really* thinking coming to the Holy Nation…’

Victoria clenched her fists, firming her resolve. She believed that what was said when others weren’t around was the truth.

The Holy Nation where Victoria had grown up had always been that way.

The people who’d revered her as the Saintess, from some point, treated her like a consumable, simply for using her miracles.

Disillusioned with these selfish humans, Victoria had become jaded, spitting out venomous words and adopting a cold attitude.

Yet, even behind this mask, she would sometimes show generosity using her miracles if someone begged her, feeling sorry.

‘Astal-nim, he must definitely hate me.’

That was the survival tactic of a Saintess who’d been hurt by people, and was slowly being devoured both body and soul by the flower.

– Hmm? Hyung-nim? Why did you suddenly look back? Is there something behind us?

– Felt like someone was chasing me. Maybe it’s just my imagination…

Then, as if noticing Victoria, Astal turned around. Her sudden, impulsive move made her immediately hide behind a pillar.

– So, how did you end up dating the Saintess? You have to tell me! I’m dying of curiosity!

– Do I really need to?

– Yes, she’s the pure and faithful Saintess! Someone who seems to know nothing of the world’s filth or darkness!

Listening to Wilhelm’s assessment, Victoria felt a deep-seated shame well up inside her. In the Holy Kingdom, she had been a girl far from vulgarity or licentiousness.

Her saintly robes completely concealed her skin and hair, and she maintained a composed demeanor every day, unless dealing with someone who viewed her as expendable.

‘It’s all because Astal-nim didn’t fall for me…!’

Victoria lightly bit her tongue, annoyed. It was all because of the dense Astal that she started wearing revealingly altered clothes.

Now, her attire could hardly be called clothing, with her under-boobs exposed, and she was always engaging in lewd talk to tease Astal.

She knew she’d be judged harshly. Victoria squeezed her eyes shut, fearful of the future that awaited her.

– She’s too good for me, actually.

‘W-What did he just say…?!’

Unexpectedly, the words Astal uttered were filled with a warm affection for Victoria.

– Victoria is a kind and gentle person. I hope she never has to suffer again.