Chapter 294: Chapter 293: Levantin Empire (2)

Even though it was just for show, the reaction of the people who witnessed the miracle of the Righteous Radiance was dramatic.

Those who had tried to bribe their way in for a quicker entry cleared a path for us.

The guards who were supposed to watch the gate opened it wide, laying down their weapons and greeting us with reverence.

Although gods were known to exist in this world, instances of a god displaying power directly have been rare in the last 300 years.

Or maybe it was because so many in the Levantin Empire believed in the Righteous Radiance.

Everyone’s reaction was intense.

And Helena’s reaction was just as intense.

“…I’m so embarrassed!”

At the guard station near the castle gate, Helena, seated hastily in the place of honor, stomped her feet.

“It was so embarrassing, Brother!”

“Oh, come on. You say that, but you were blessing each guard one by one just a moment ago.”

“That’s because I felt grateful and sorry that they fully cleared the way for us!”

That’s right. While we used the name of the Righteous Radiance to swiftly pass through the castle gate, we didn’t head straight to the palace. We paused here for a bit.

This, too, was part of showing our respect.

Even though we arrived unannounced, we were here as guests, not as invaders.

By waiting in front of the gate for them to come greet us, we were signaling our intentions… that was the idea.

Since we invoked the God’s name, we couldn’t act rashly, and they couldn’t take us lightly.

It was a perfect gesture that demonstrated both our legitimacy and strength… yet…

“What are you so dissatisfied with, Helena?”

“Are you really asking what I’m dissatisfied with? Do you really not know, Brother?!”

As I tilted my head, Helena, exasperated, rose from her seat. Then, she began a rapid-fire lament.

“If you planned to do this, wouldn’t it have been okay to let me know in advance? Both the Righteous Radiance and you seem to have a habit of leaving me out! I need mental preparation, too!” �

“I just thought of it, so the Righteous Radiance didn’t know either…”

“Is that really the point right now?”

“…Ah, no. Please, continue.”

With a deep sigh, Helena spread her arms wide and began pacing around, as if reenacting the moment I had lifted her.

“And the pose! The pose was just! I understand that you lifted me because I can’t fly, but did you have to hold me up like some animal showing off its young… in front of all those people?!”

“Master always lifts me that way.”

“Stay out of adult conversations, little one.”

“L-little one…?!”

Iris, who had tried to chime in, stumbled in embarrassment. Elisha quickly hugged her and patted her comfortingly, though it only made her seem more childlike.

Perhaps Elisha felt the same way, as she couldn’t deny Helena’s words and simply kept repeating comforting words.

Helena, realizing the implications of her own words, seemed a bit flustered as her voice softened.

“…Even though Brother and I are close, there are some boundaries. At the very least, please consult me before doing such things. The Righteous Radiance as well… after I let it slide when she merged with Brother, it doesn’t mean that my body is just free to use.”

At her final words, her lion ears and tail drooped.

Although Solari seemed to feel deflated, Helena didn’t comfort her, firmly holding her ground.

Watching her anxious expression, I nodded thoughtfully.

“So… what you mean, Helena, is that if there’s something grand to do in the future, you’d like to be informed and consulted, right?”

“Yes. I’m your future wife, after all, and I understand the importance of this task. I’m more than willing to help, just in a slightly different way!”

“Then, how would you have preferred it?”

“…Pardon?”

“Since we’re talking about it now, if we were in this situation again, what would you have wanted, Helena?”

Helena paused at my question, looked off into the distance, and then cautiously reached out her hand.

“F-for starters, maybe just holding my hand.”

“Like this?”

“Y-yes… that’s good. Even if the Righteous Radiance takes on the form of a lion, lifting me up like a cub is a bit much. From now on, let’s make our entrances hand in hand.”

With our hands linked, Helena blushed and nodded. She subtly fiddled with my hand, making her intent rather obvious.

Her ears, which had been drooping, perked up, and her tail swayed lightly, suggesting Solari was enjoying this as well.

It was amusing how both the god and her saintess reacted so transparently.

As I nodded to myself, Helena, recalling our original purpose, cleared her throat and spoke again.

“Ahem. Now, for the next point.”

“The next point?”

“Just entering while holding hands doesn’t leave much of an impact, you know? Although illuminating the surroundings with holy light is beautiful…”

“It’s hard to use repeatedly. People are creatures of habit, after all.”

“Exactly. It may inspire awe in those seeing it for the first time, but for those who’ve seen it multiple times, it might lose its effect. That’s where I’ll need your help, Brother.”

“Me?”

“Yes. I was thinking you could add a little flair with your magic. Perhaps if you stayed close like this and cast it behind me?”

Helena subtly pressed her body against mine, guiding my hand to rest on her back and waist.

At this point, I think it’s safe to say she’s no longer upset.

Iris, meanwhile, still looked a bit hurt as she rubbed her face against Elisha’s chest, looking quite comfortable.

…She’s hurt, right? She’s not just enjoying herself, is she?

Anyway, I focused on syncing with Helena as she subtly initiated more skinship.

Being so close, I was able to observe Helena’s face more closely than usual.

Her slightly flushed cheeks, her soft, rosy lips, and her golden eyes that sparkled like sunlight, matching her hair.

As I gazed at her in a daze, Helena seemed to sense my stare and turned to look at me.

Even though we were merely making eye contact, I felt as if the distance between us had shrunk.

Caught up in the atmosphere, Helena’s expression softened, and she slowly rose onto her tiptoes.

Our lips were just about to touch.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Eek!”

The sound of knocking from outside made Helena jump back.

Her startled face showed clear disappointment, and even Solari, watching from within, seemed displeased, as her lion ears and tail bristled in agitation.

However, if someone was knocking at this moment, it was probably someone sent from the Imperial Palace. We couldn’t keep them waiting.

Helena quickly composed herself, putting on her saintly expression, and responded to the knock.

“Please, come in.”

Creak.

The door opened the moment Helena spoke, and we all froze upon seeing the person who entered.

His white hair, half-turned gray, was neatly slicked back—a style that could be called old-fashioned, though others might consider it dignified.

He wore a simple uniform, with only a single sword hanging at his waist. But his upright posture, closed mouth, and precise movements made it clear he was no ordinary person.

He was a middle-aged man who, despite being human, exuded an aura as sharp as a well-honed blade.

The only Swordmaster currently on the Eurelia Continent, and in the Levantin Empire, he was known as the “Sword Duke.”

Havel Kalios. He had come to greet us.

I thought we’d only meet him at the palace, but he came all the way here?

Of course, the position of a saintess was not one to be taken lightly.

Although Helena was still developing her powers, she was destined to eventually possess strength comparable to that of an Archmage or Swordmaster.

Even aside from that, she held a role akin to the head of a religious order, and if needed, she could channel a god’s power into her body.

Politically and religiously, she held a position that wouldn’t lose out to a Swordmaster.

However, this was the capital of the Levantin Empire, and we were unannounced guests, which could be seen as rude.

Yet the Swordmaster himself came to greet us?

Could it be that Empress Fiona has already begun her schemes…

“So, you’re Yandel, the magician, I presume. You look like you have a lot on your mind.”

“Huh? Oh… I wasn’t expecting Lord Havel to come in person, so it caught me off guard.”

“Do people these days prepare to fight the moment they’re surprised?”

Wait, did he notice that I’d tensed up a bit?

In the game, the Swordmaster was just an impressive melee character, but facing him in reality, I could tell he was much more than just a powerful fighter.

From his sharp perception to the aura he exuded from the start, he felt like a being who had surpassed human limits.

As I looked at Havel with a mix of emotions, he chuckled and spoke.

“I apologize. I couldn’t resist teasing you a bit since you reacted so well for a magician. I had no other intention, so you needn’t worry.”

“…If you do that twice, my heart might give out.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize I’d reached the level where merely looking at someone could kill them.”

Uh, wait. So… that was a joke, right?

Coming from a Swordmaster, it didn’t feel much like one.