Volume 2 Chapter 30 Cynthia’s Intentions
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
She muttered casually, “Hmm. I’m bored,” but no one answered.
Someone nearby was listening, but since she said nothing more, no conversation could start.
Hours—maybe tens of hours—passed since she had been locked inside the iron room. The magic interference worked perfectly; her Unique Skill showed no sign of activation. She hadn’t tried using magic, but it was probably blocked. Meals came regularly, yet she had nothing to do except count time, bored almost to tears. Later, she planned to complain thoroughly to whoever had put her here.
She wondered aloud, “I wonder what Klock’s doing right now. I hope he’s not fooling around with some other girl while I’m gone. Or maybe… Saint Cynthia?”
She glanced at the girl leaning against the wall beside her. Cynthia’s long white hair had a faint red tint, and her thin frame was hidden beneath tangled locks—a far cry from the image of a savior of humanity.
Saint Cynthia had disappeared from the Theocracy after being kidnapped. Until recently, she’d acted calmly among bandits. She was rescued when Hermine recognized her face, but Cynthia ignored Hermine completely.
No matter what questions Hermine asked or how hard she tried to reach her, Cynthia refused to meet her gaze or respond. Not a single gesture, no sign she even listened. It was baffling. Hermine, the hero party leader and imperial princess, stood confused just minutes earlier.
Now, Cynthia was even more distant and prickly than when she was with Klock. The cheerful Adelina who once ran up eagerly was nowhere to be seen. It was surprising this girl was called a saint, but her powerful skill was undeniable.
They failed to connect, so Cynthia stayed silent in the room with no progress. But the next morning, when Hermine brought breakfast, Cynthia finally shifted.
She handed Hermine a crumpled note—her only way to communicate. The message froze Hermine in place.
”If Klock dies within a month, she won’t fulfill her role and will die in battle.”
Was “she” Anna? When Hermine asked, Cynthia said nothing.
After thinking briefly, Hermine quickly teleported away. She planned to see Anna immediately. Since Cynthia was here, she must have contacted Anna too. They probably intended to meet and hand Cynthia over, but something changed suddenly.
If Klock died, Anna died. Failing her role seemed part of Anna’s fate as a hero. There was no other explanation. If Klock died, Anna would become useless.
Thinking back to when Anna first met Klock in the royal capital, it made sense. Anna still held grudges and unresolved feelings. At that time, she wanted to cut ties, but maybe that would have destroyed an important part of herself. Perhaps it was a mistake, but that was the truth.
By now, Hermine must be trying to stop Anna from doing anything reckless. Though she was cautious about Klock, Hermine couldn’t ignore what the saintess said. Cynthia’s warning made dealing with Klock impossible, and now she had to prevent Anna from taking violent action.
Could it be true? Was it just a tactic to keep Klock from moving? But this information came after Cynthia saw the future—there was no way she could have written it down here without preparation.
She spoke, “Hey, Cynthia. Why did you tell me this now? You could have said it when you met Hermine. That might have protected Klock better. What are you playing at?”
She wanted to speak up, so she tried talking to Cynthia, but the saint ignored her. Their relationship was never good or bad, but since coming here, Cynthia hadn’t even looked her in the eye.
The future Cynthia wrote was a “what-if” scenario. If she wasn’t lying, she could see what might happen if she acted. If Klock lived or died, she knew all the possibilities—when and where.
Maybe Cynthia saw the future when they first met, or later here, or at dawn. She must have chosen the most convenient future to reveal. Her ability was beyond normal.
It wasn’t human.
But with all the magic she had, it was hard not to believe she could make it true.
She straightened up and stepped closer, speaking firmly without threat—just closing the distance with words. “…Hey. Stop ignoring me already. I’m not that patient. Being stuck in a closed space like this makes me restless. If you really are a saint, at least tell me what’s going on.”
Still, Cynthia didn’t react. If anything, she gave a brief, annoyed glance.
Did she hate her?
She asked herself, “How did you get close to Klock? What really happened during the kidnapping? What have you been doing all this time? And you—”
Did Cynthia even care about saving humanity?
That question felt rude, so she stopped herself. A saint should guide people away from conflict. But whether Cynthia wanted that role didn’t matter—her past and current attitude said enough. Anyone could guess from her tired eyes and worn appearance. Hermine must have noticed too.
She looked like someone from a poor town or slum. Someone who had lost all hope and only knew pain.
This girl was the kind who hated humanity and the world. A deep outcast pretending to be a saint.
She was also curious about the person who could kill Anna, and many things didn’t add up. How long had they known each other? Why did Cynthia only get along with Klock? There were so many questions, but with her attitude like this…
And why did Cynthia wait so long to tell Hermine?
She was definitely hiding something.
* * *
”U-ssu. Sorry, soldier. I have a question,” Klock called out to the two soldiers patrolling near the imperial castle, raising his hand to stop them. “One of my wife’s injured. She fell while fixing the roof. I’m looking for a healer—any chance there’s one who can do it cheap?”
The soldiers exchanged looks. “A healer? Cheap’s hard to promise. Healing magic usually costs a lot. Everyone wants it cheaper, but once the price drops, no one will accept higher fees anymore.”
”You can’t pay?” Another soldier asked.
”I’m short on money right now—just bought supplies. She broke her leg, so I can’t work either. I hoped you might let me pay later, but I guess you don’t trust me.”
They nodded in understanding. It made sense—merchants sometimes had money, sometimes didn’t. If he was telling the truth, payment wouldn’t be a problem later. Klock kept his merchant act going smoothly, calculating his next move.
”Alright then. I’ll introduce you to the healer in our unit.”
”R-really? The military doctor?”
”This is a one-time special favor. So, what will you do? Since she can’t walk, should I come to you?”
”No, that’s too much. I’ll bring her by carriage. Just a quick visit, if that’s okay.”
The lie passed without a hitch. The soldiers led Klock to the barracks and told him to wait outside. After a while, another soldier appeared alongside the first.
”I’m in charge of medical care here. Heard your wife broke her leg?”
He introduced himself only as the military doctor—no full name, showing wariness.
”Thank you for this chance to meet. If it’s alright—”
”No need to say more. If you’re in trouble, we help each other. Bring your wife right away.”
He decided quickly. His gaze lingered more on her clothes than her face, clearly interested in money. He didn’t bother with introductions and made decisions fast—probably used to expensive treatments. Klock could almost see the smirk behind his eyes.
”Thank you, thank you,” Klock said, bowing deeply and gripping the man’s hand with both of his. Quietly, he activated his skill—Bandit (Plunder).
When the meeting ended, Klock left without looking back. He’d probably never meet this man again. Sometimes, when trying to con others, you get conned yourself. He’d call this a lesson learned. The doctor likely wouldn’t even realize he’d been robbed—he’d just think the high price was normal.
Now, Klock had the healing magic, but the real problem was when and how to use it.
The magic was meant for Suzette’s treatment. If she couldn’t walk, carrying her was impossible. Healing was the only choice—but it came with risks.
First, using healing magic would make it look like Klock was the one casting it. Second, if he explained to avoid suspicion, it might reveal his Unique Skill.
Neither option was good. Revealing his skill was out of the question. Using magic openly would raise questions—why didn’t he heal her immediately? Also, what if he couldn’t use the magic again?
He could steal from someone else the same way, but it was risky and offered no real gain, especially since Suzette’s suspicion could grow.
On the day of the escape, he’d heal her without hesitation and take her away. Until then, he’d have to leave her as she was.
No other choice existed.
Considering the magic’s limited effectiveness, the risk of discovery, and the escape window, Klock wanted to board a ship today or tomorrow at the latest. If the Imperial Capital was sealed off while they hesitated, they’d be trapped. With Suzette present, thorough searches using magic sensing would detect her, so time was short.
It was still evening.
There wasn’t much time before the curfew began. Klock wanted to check the harbor—see if ships were arriving or leaving.
The chance that ship traffic had stopped was low.
If merchant ships stopped, the economic damage would be huge. Unless something serious happened, ships would keep moving. There might be strict security, but Klock was ready for that.
Well then, time to go.
Notes:
• Hermine – A companion and friend of Anna. She is pragmatic and encourages Anna to focus on her duties as a hero rather than her personal revenge.
• Adelina – The slave girl.
• Anna – The legendary Hero, chosen to defeat the Demon Lord. Her past life is Sylvia Croce. She is described as a heavenly being with overwhelming skill and a merciless attitude.
• Suzette – The older maid from Viscount Fennec. The head maid at the Viscount Fennec’s villa. She is confident, clear-spoken, and professional.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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