Taming the Evil Saintess

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Ophelia heard the news the day after Elliot departed from the Melt Rune.

“What on earth has he vanished to?” Ophelia anxiously asked, searching for Elliot since morning, and it was Sword Saint Albrecht who informed her of his whereabouts.

“Elliot has left for Nua Diel.”

“Why on earth did he go there?”

“It seems he has something to find out about Mereba.”

“So why did he go?”

Left behind.

That one phrase was something Ophelia, with her strong pride, couldn’t bring herself to add.

And her fury escalated when she realized that Erwin was accompanying him on the journey to Nua Diel.

“Damn.”

Ophelia muttered curses as she chewed on some unidentifiable greens served for breakfast.

“Those damned Ear Demons, eating something so tasteless. Are they herbivores? If that’s the case, they might as well just snack on weeds.”

Ophelia grumbled, clearly upset, and a few elves reacted to her words, but when she shot them a sharp glare, they quickly averted their gazes.

For the past few days, the name Ophelia had become somewhat of a taboo within Melt Rune.

It appeared she was referred to as the Saintess whose name shouldn’t be uttered.

“Haha… Ophelia, it seems Elliot has his own reasons…”

“I know, I know.”

Ophelia waved her hand dismissively at Emily’s words.

Of course, she knew.

Mereba. That guy, Erwin’s sibling, had become a Possessor, and she knew he had to be killed.

It was Ophelia who opposed Elliot’s plan to kill him without a sound.

She believed it was the right thing to do.

That thought hadn’t changed.

However.

“That old hag who’s over a hundred years old, how dare she repay grace with enmity?”

“What does that even mean?”

“I don’t know. Anyway, that’s it.”

“That’s it?”

“It’s bullshit.”

Bam.

In the end, Ophelia decided to flip the bowl full of greens upside down and return to her room.

Archery Master Erwin.

He was certainly beautiful, and had a nice figure too.

“Figure, huh…”

Ophelia stood in front of a full-length mirror and began to touch various parts of her body.

Just weeks ago, Elliot had seen her bare body while she was asleep. But the next morning, nothing happened to Ophelia.

Nothing at all!

Could it be that the reason lay in her somewhat slender figure? Ophelia naturally began to think such thoughts.

“No, it can’t be.”

Elliot had definitely mentioned that he preferred younger girls.

Of course, a plain Jane like Emily wouldn’t stand a chance. Elliot had a dirty personality. That was true of Ophelia as well. In other words, only she could put up with Elliot’s nonsense.

She promised herself that, but the anxiety lingered.

That bitch Erwin could do anything.

She was a cunning fox over a hundred years old.

If that hen, or rather that old hag, felt threatened and did something…

…

“I’ve decided.”

Ophelia gently rubbed the Star of Dawn Ring on her ring finger and left her room.

Knock knock.

“What’s the matter… huh?”

Golden Lion Azar was in the room.

It appeared he was tidying up his weapon, as the room was filled with the smell of oil.

“Hey, Golden Lion.”

“Saintess? Do you have business?”

Ophelia fixed her gaze on the shiny shield placed in Azar’s room.

Then, she nodded and began to speak.

“I want to learn Shield Technique.”

…

Azar’s eyes widened in response to her words.

*

“This outfit… I still can’t get used to it.”

“Everyone says that.”

The second visit to Nua Diel was no different than before. It felt closed off and eerie. The scantily clad Dark Elves eyed us with a mix of surprise and suspicion.

For the record, Ophelia hadn’t brought anyone along. Bringing her would likely cause a major catastrophe. Just imagining Ophelia’s notoriously foul personality facing off against Titania was enough to make one shudder.

…

Shivers ran down my spine.

I didn’t even want to think about it.

“Who is this? The Hero, right?”

One thing to note about this visit was that I didn’t have to seek out the ruler of the city myself this time.

Since the Hero and the Vinheim Tribe leader had arrived, Dark Shaman Titania showed herself directly before us.

“Titania, it’s been a while.”

“We’re not that friendly to greet each other like this, are we? Though, of course, the Vinheim Tribe is the exception. Welcome.”

With a smirk, Titania stepped out from the Sorcerer Guild, looking just as I remembered her.

She was the current chief of the Gemaule Tribe.

The person who had leads on Mereba.

What an ironically tangled relationship.

“I have something to ask you about Titania.”

Thus, we were guided to the reception hall within the guild.

Wuzmund was left outside.

Unlike before, Titania didn’t show me the icy demeanor she once did. Surely, the fact that I was a Hero played a significant role.

“Do you know a name—Mereba?”

…

At those words, Titania’s face lit up with surprise, a smile creeping onto her lips.

“Oh, Mereba? That brings back memories. It feels like I haven’t heard that name in almost 50 years.”

…

Erwin, who had been leaning against the wall beside me, looked visibly displeased at her response.

Seeing that expression, Titania frowned.

“Why the hell are you looking at me like that? I dislike it too, you know?”

“Are you two not on good terms?”

“That’s not true. It’s actually quite good.”

“…Oh, really.”

Thinking back, in the game, Titania and Erwin’s relations were among the “bad” stats.

Half-siblings. Was that the sort of feeling?

Whatever it was, it didn’t seem like an issue for me to get involved in.

“Anyway, that Mereba. What do you want to know?”

I explained the situation, and the words left Titania surprise.

“He became a Possessor? Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’m certain.”

Titania looked genuinely shocked at first, but quickly revealed what I wanted to know.

“His last whereabouts? Well, even up until Mereba disappeared, he had spent more time with our tribe than with Vinheim. He often visited Nua Diel. His personality was good too, so he got along well with the Dark Elves.”

“What did he do in Nua Diel?”

“He did nothing.”

Titania said that in a teasing manner before frowning.

“Well, I did find him hole up in Nua Diel’s library all day long.”

“Library?”

“I wouldn’t say it’s something to brag about, but I can confidently say that the library of the Dark Elves surpasses the one in the capital.”

Titania shrugged.

Dark Elves are known for their insatiable thirst for knowledge. That’s a fact I knew too well.

“He looked a bit desperate… He seemed almost mad just before he went missing.”

…

I exchanged glances with Erwin and then turned back to Titania.

“Do you know what kinds of books Mereba was reading?”

“Of course. Follow me.”

Titania surprisingly nodded without hesitation.

Thus, when we arrived at Nua Diel’s library, it was indeed well-equipped, and it wouldn’t fall short when compared to the Cathedral’s archives.

Titania unleashed a spell and retrieved a thick ledger.

“The library is enchanted with a special magic. No matter how much time passes, it keeps a record of which elf reads what book.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Let’s see… Mereba, Mereba. Here he is.”

Titania opened a page and handed it to me.

The moment I glanced at the list of books listed there, I let out a hollow laugh.

“Erwin.”

“What?”

“It seems like the love for his sister was indeed special.”

“What are you talking about?”

Instead of answering, I handed him the list.

Then I looked at Titania.

“May I see these books?”

“Sure.”

Following the guidance of the Spirit, I pulled a book from the shelf in a corner of the library.

The title read “Intro to Marking.”

The other books were similar. About the natural talents and criteria of Mark Holders, resembling a eugenics-like pseudo-academic study.

Finally…

“Looks like he was trying to find out if marks can be erased.”

All the books contained such content.

Most were about Mark studies, and even a theological text by humans, considered heretical in the Elven society, was among Mereba’s reading selections.

From this, several inferences can be drawn.

Once the marking manifested in Mereba, he must have realized he couldn’t escape death due to his clan.

Thus, he likely sought information on whether marks could be artificially removed in the library of Nua Diel. Upon discovering it was impossible, he may have executed his final plan.

Regardless of the inference, it left a sour taste.

Erwin’s expression was darker than anyone else’s.

“…Let’s go.”

“Are you feeling settled?”

With those words, Erwin glanced at me, a smirk on his face.

“Did you come all the way to Nua Diel just thinking of me?”

“Something like that.”

“What do you think of me? I’m Hero Erwin, the Tribal Chief of Vinheim. I have no intention of settling down.”

“What’s the plan then?”

“We need to kill him. It must be devastating, as he’s taken our brother’s body.”

I turned to Titania.

“Don’t you want to join us?”

“No.”

“Guess so.”

After a moment’s thought, I added,

“Need a cute little brother?”

“What kind of nonsense is that?”

Well, sure.

Titania’s image as a beautiful older sister was a thing of the game.

She didn’t appear the same now.

Feeling a bitter taste, I moved on.

And I realized there was a note stuck in one page of the “Intro to Marking” I had picked up.

[Is the mark truly a blessing from the gods?]

The handwritten question strangely resonated with my heart.

That must’ve been written by Mereba.

I murmured absentmindedly.

“That’s true.”

It doesn’t seem like a blessing at all.