Seiden sat on a chair and went through the materials Yevar had sent him. They were the information he had gathered about the demon god book so far.

[80 years ago, Valroc, an alchemist and a mage, had a grandson who was afflicted with an ‘unspeakable curse.’ Valroc roamed the entire continent to lift the curse and eventually found someone with a book that could lift any curse. After several verifications, Valroc was convinced that the book was made by demons and called ‘demon god book,’ and he purchased it for a large sum of money. However, when Valroc returned home, his grandson was already dead. Despairing, Valroc ended his own life, and the whereabouts of the demon god book became unknown again.]

[45 years ago, the only daughter of Count Alkeria of the Alkeria region was struck by an ‘unspeakable curse.’ The count extensively recruited those who could lift high-level curses but failed repeatedly until a mage appeared and lifted his daughter’s curse with a book presumed to be the ‘demon god book.’ The Count’s family enjoyed peace for half a year until the sudden death of Count Alkeria led to their downfall. The whereabouts of the demon god book again became unknown.]

Seiden’s eyes narrowed. 80 years ago and 45 years ago. Not too distant pasts, but it had been 45 years since the demon god book had not shown itself, making it a daunting task to find it.

The cases mentioned in the journal were all similar to Bellota’s situation. An unspeakable curse. Though he didn’t know what it was exactly, it was a curse so shameful that it couldn’t be spoken about or rumored. Moreover, it was a deep and severe curse that couldn’t be solved by any means.

Valroc was a great mage Seiden had heard of; most of the magic stones used in the market were excavated by him. It must have been significant for such an event involving him to be recorded even after 80 years.

Such an outstanding mage had verified and was convinced enough that the book he acquired was indeed the demon god book, which meant that the demon god book truly existed. The ending he faced was quite regrettable, but Bellota would not face such an end.

At that moment of frustration, Seiden felt his chest tighten.

Bang bang!

Someone knocked on the office door urgently and angrily, pulling Seiden’s gaze away from the journal in bewilderment. There was no one in the palace who would knock on the office door like this.

Seiden put away the materials he was holding into a drawer and locked it before getting up and walking to the door. Leisurely opening the door, Seiden froze upon seeing a face he never expected to see here.

“Is it true that you’ve stopped the deployment?”

The one looking at Seiden with a flushed face as if she had just heard the news was Bellota.

“Haven’t you heard about Selento yet?”

Seiden’s breath slowly returned to normal at this unexpected situation. He realized why Bellota had come to him; it was because of news that Selento was under attack by an unidentified monster.

“I’ve heard.”

Seiden answered indifferently, causing Bellota’s pupils to flicker slightly. It wasn’t hard to notice the blame in her gaze for his decision not to deploy despite hearing such news. But even so, Seiden had no intention of changing his plans.

The reason was…

“Is it because of me?”

Yes, that’s exactly right. Of course, all of Seiden’s actions were for Bellota. Always.

“Weren’t we not supposed to talk until the full moon?”

When Seiden skillfully changed the subject with his low voice, Bellota’s face flushed with heat. Biting her lip, she glared at the annoying man before her before speaking in a calm voice.

“If you leave now, you might be able to return before the full moon.”

Despite her calm persuasion, no emotion frosted over Seiden’s firm gaze. Might be, hence impossible. How could he gamble with Bellota at stake? Seiden had thoroughly examined that curse since the last full moon. Therefore, he couldn’t leave Bellota behind to save another.

“It won’t be possible. Selento is located by the coast and is quite far from the capital. And there are only ten days left until the full moon.”

“But Selento’s situation is serious. An unidentified monster is appearing. Your help is needed.”

“Then soon, support will arrive from the imperial palace.”

Then Bellota shook her head with a desolate face.

“The imperial palace has decided not to send support.”

At those words, even Seiden, who had been indifferent all along, slightly furrowed his eyebrows.

“The imperial palace has decided to wait and see the situation. For a month. By that time, all the imperial citizens in Selento will have been attacked by monsters.”

Seiden’s head became complicated at Bellota’s desperate voice.

Selento was an outlying area touching the coast, surrounded by forests and mountains, making it a place frequently attacked by monsters. For a few years now, it has been declining into a slum, unable to cope with the appearing monsters. To make matters worse, since a few months ago, an unknown giant monster began to appear, turning the village of Selento into ruins.

Yet, Selento was not considered important enough for the empire to protect, and thus, the imperial palace decided to wait and see. That meant they couldn’t waste precious troops on such a place and would use Selento as a sacrificial lamb to observe the situation before taking action.

Or it meant that this was their intention, so the cathedral should solve it on their own this time as well. Up until now, all such places had been supported by the cathedral, but this time Seiden had refused to deploy.

“Only the cathedral can help Selento now.”

Seiden understood everything Bellota said. Why she had become so desperate to finally come to him. It was only the knights of Kanbremes who had skills comparable to, or perhaps even surpassing, the imperial palace’s troops. Yet, Seiden could not leave for Selento.

“Since the imperial palace has decided so, we have no choice but to follow the command.”

At his words, Bellota’s trembling breath stopped for a moment. Soon she glared at Seiden with disappointed eyes. But there was nothing he could do. Seiden crossed his arms and leaned against the door, looking down at Bellota who was glaring at him with a hardened expression.

“I promised my subordinates a rest until the next full moon. Regrettably, there is nothing I can do.”

With each syllable Seiden leisurely uttered, disappointment settled deeper in Bellota’s eyes. Yet, Seiden’s gaze upon her did not waver at all. Between the lives of the imperial citizens and Bellota’s safety, there was no need to ponder which was more important.

“If the situation becomes serious, others will step in. So don’t worry too much and go back. The cathedral cannot solve every attack happening in the empire.”

It was a polite refusal. Having lost words and after staring resentfully at Seiden for a while, Bellota soon straightened her disheveled posture and nodded.

“I see. I understand your intention.”

As always, her voice was calm and serene, but the temperature contained within it had significantly dropped.

“There’s nothing we can do about it. Then enjoy your long-awaited vacation.”

“……”

“I will do what I can.”

At those last added words, Seiden’s eyebrows furrowed. What she could do? Given how things had turned out, even Bellota couldn’t do more than this. But what more could she do?

However, Bellota didn’t explain anything further and just turned around and walked away with cold steps. Somehow, Seiden had a bad feeling about this. But since he had no intention of changing his plans, he did not stop Bellota.

Yet that evening, Seiden faced shocking news.

“What did you say just now?”

Seiden asked incredulously. The one who had knocked on the office door was Felton. He sighed and repeated the message he had delivered just moments before.

“The saintess plans to leave for Selento tomorrow.”

At those words, Seiden’s head throbbed painfully. The image of Bellota who had come to see him during the day flashed before his eyes.

“Then enjoy your long-awaited vacation. I will do what I can.”

Damn it. That thing she could do……

“You must accompany her. Otherwise, the next full moon”

Felton couldn’t finish his sentence and closed his mouth. Yet, Seiden understood everything Felton said. Of course. From now on, he had to be by Bellota’s side every full moon. So if Bellota was going to be in Selento for the upcoming full moon, he had to be there, too. Bellota knew this well. That’s why she volunteered to go to Selento herself.

To lead Seiden to Selento. It was a perfect plan.

“The situation in Selento is serious. Everyone hesitates to volunteer because of monsters like we’ve never seen before. They say no attack works against them.”

Felton added, seeming to defend Bellota’s drastic actions. Felton couldn’t help but respect Bellota for not neglecting her duties as a saintess even in such situations.

“Ha……”

Seiden, utterly defeated by Bellota, ran his hand through his hair and sighed in frustration.

“Will you accompany her?”

Felton tried not to show his anxiety as he asked the obvious question. Whether he would accompany her or not.

Knowing there was no way to stop Bellota now, Seiden sighed briefly and answered.

“Don’t ask me obvious questions from now on.”

Then he turned around irritably to inform his subordinates who were still enjoying their undue happiness, of this fact.

Felton swallowed a sigh of relief at Seiden’s back, having been inwardly nervous about Seiden’s possible refusal.

“Obvious questions……”

Felton quietly muttered with a voice mixed with wonder and gratitude before turning around happily to inform Bellota of this fact.