Chapter 307: Chapter 306: Lindelheit (2)

“It’s not difficult, you see. The story was concluded in a way that benefits them more.”

“Hmm?”

Iris tilted her head in confusion.

Then, as if her balance had shifted, she flailed wildly on my back. It was almost endearing.

Anyway, according to Helena’s explanation, this matter wasn’t something being concealed or downplayed, but rather, something impossible to hide.

“How can you silence every person who was present in the audience chamber? Moreover, even if they’re not fully aware, there will be plenty of people digging deeper out of suspicion.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

If you’re going to lose face anyway, better to handle it with dignity than to act pathetically.

Instead of making it seem like the Empire was fooled, they’d frame it as the cultists being so dangerous that such things were unavoidable.

As always, the Empire would demonstrate its resolve by fighting the cultists to the bitter end.

And with Helena’s help, if Fiona could appeal to the need to unite against the terrifying Apostle of the Evil God, just like 300 years ago…

“If that happens, not only will the damages be minimized, but there’s even a calculation that the Empire might secure the leadership position in the future alliance.”

So they were trying to find an opportunity amidst the crisis rather than leaving it as a mere disaster.

Since cooperation with the Church of Righteous Radiance was indispensable to this plan, they must have confided in Helena first.

Helena, who had explained up to this point, turned toward me cautiously before continuing.

“Uhm…”

“What’s the matter, Helena? Speak freely.”

“Although they haven’t said it outright, it seems the Empire intends to present you as a hero, Brother.”

“Oh.”

Was that it? Lately, I’d noticed excessive praise for me circulating everywhere.

Titles like “Legendary Half-Dragon,” “Adversary of the Evil God,” and “Companion of the Saintess Recognized by the Sun God” were being thrown around.

The blatant admiration seemed odd, but perhaps they were trying to overshadow the stain of the Empress being the cult’s leader by promoting a new hero—me.

Well, gaining fame was inherently a good thing.

In this world, fame was closely tied to authority, and I was more than capable of bearing that weight now, but…

“So that’s why everyone’s been pestering me lately.”

“Oh my, Carla told me something about that. She mentioned that rumors of you being incredibly devoted to your woman have led to nobles trying to introduce their daughters to you, or maids flirting with you at least once every ten minutes?”

“That’s not even all of it. Knights who were in the audience chamber freeze up and flee whenever they see me, as if they’ve encountered a monster. Magicians keep begging me to teach them dragon magic, which I don’t even know. And as for the priests—when they found out I’m not officially affiliated with the Church of Righteous Radiance, they’ve been persistently trying to convert me, following me around and reciting doctrines all day. They’re so polite that it’s hard to be stern with them!”

Without realizing it, I let out a long string of complaints.

Satisfied, Iris perched delicately on my waist, tilting her head again.

“Hmm? At least for the knights, it seemed they were genuinely terrified of their leader, who had gone half-berserk.”

Then, she collapsed onto my back, flattening herself and giggling as her not-so-prominent chest pressed against me.

“Anyway, just accept it. Being famous always comes with such inconveniences.”

“How do you know that, Iris?”

“When I was young, back when high elves were akin to royalty, I was quite the famous figure myself. As you know, I’m particularly blessed with divine favor.”

Iris puffed up with pride, reminiscing about how she was treated like an idol among the elves about 500 years ago.

Indeed, if a child with eternal youth, blessed abundantly by a god, existed among a race, they would naturally be revered.

According to Iona, Iris was treated almost like a princess in the past, and it wasn’t without reason.

But… 500 years ago? Isn’t that way too long ago?

I chuckled briefly at the absurdity. Then, Iris, fiddling with my hair, whispered softly.

“It might be annoying, but don’t reject it too much. Aside from the fame, there are undoubtedly benefits to being well-known.”

“That’s true.”

For instance, the treatment of my companions had changed significantly.

Though it wasn’t confirmed yet, there was talk of clearing Carla’s name and granting Elisha quasi-noble status.

Even as slaves, I expected them to be looked down upon or treated poorly in some cases.

But that hadn’t been the case at all.

Perhaps Carla’s role in calming me during my berserk state left a strong impression.

Rather than treating Carla and Elisha poorly, people would discipline anyone who dared to do so before I even had to intervene.

Once, the son of a count raised his voice arrogantly, only to be dragged off by patrolling knights.

Ever since then, he trembled and fled whenever our eyes met.

Helena nodded in satisfaction after hearing my story.

“Indeed. Brother, you were quite fearsome in the audience chamber. But also magnificent.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Even the Righteous Radiance initially felt uneasy about you. But lately, every time she brings you up, it’s all, ‘What a strong and impressive male!’”

“A… what?”“A ‘male.’ Even just now, during the prayer… No, it’s true after all, so there’s nothing I can do. Wasn’t it you, Lord, who said to live truthfully and not tell lies?“Helena muttered to herself, seemingly in conversation with Solari.

In the past, she needed to pray briefly to speak with Solari, but now their consciousnesses coexisted even during daily activities.

Perhaps Solari’s recent use of Helena’s body to wield vast divine power brought them closer.

As a saintess, this could be seen as growth.

…Though, from a third-party perspective, it’s kind of funny!

Now that I think about it, Helena wasn’t the only one who had grown. It seemed my draconic transformation inspired some of them.

Elisha appeared to gain insight from watching me manipulate dispersed mana and reform it into magic.

Iris, observing how I burned the divine power of the Boiling Silence, had been exploring the next stage of elemental combinations.

As for Carla, she had been working to replicate the original Lintblum Breathing Technique, based on the sensations she felt when resonating with my core.

Once all this realization was gathered, I planned to help Carla unify her core and body through the method I devised.

Even now, I found myself absently watching Carla, who was meditating a little distance away.

I was the one who told her to focus on training and not to let herself get distracted if she felt something significant.

Yet seeing her sitting alone like that made me feel a little lonely.

I let out an unnecessary sigh and shifted from my lying position.

“Ugh!”

Iris, who had been flailing around playfully on top of me, tumbled off to the side. I quickly caught her and passed her to Elisha.

Startled, Iris widened her eyes in confusion.

Elisha gently patted Iris’s back to calm her down, then placed her back on my shoulder.

Squeeze.

Feeling her cling desperately to my head like a koala, I suppressed a fleeting thought about how funny it was.

Just then, Helena, who had been mumbling to herself, suddenly had her chest shimmer with light. In an instant, a translucent figure materialized in midair.

Long, flowing white hair. Slightly furrowed emerald eyes. Softly parted lips releasing a faint sigh—an elegant, weary beauty.

Clara appeared, wearing a fatigued expression, and plopped down into the spot I’d vacated.

“Honestly. This is ridiculous. Sure, the Righteous Radiance can be a bit naive, but Helena shouldn’t be like that too. I mean, a Saintess teasing the God she serves… Then again, maybe the Lord is at fault for stealing her Saintess’s man in the first place… Sigh. Back in my day…”

Clara immediately launched into a tirade without pause.

Well… if you lived inside a medallion, watching this spectacle unfold daily, you might get sick of it too.

Last time, Helena apparently locked Clara in a vault when she had certain, ahem, expectations.

Deep down, I thought Clara’s irreverence toward her God might be the most blasphemous of all, but I kept that thought buried in my heart.

“Now that I think about it, Helena and the Righteous Radiance resemble each other in many ways, not just appearance. But Lady Clara, you’re not quite like them.”

“Hmm. True. My chest is smaller than Helena’s. But my legs are longer, aren’t they? They call this ‘slender,’ apparently.”

“??? Wait, why is the conversation going in that direction?”

“Because Yandel started by looking at my chest?”

“…”

Sigh.

I’ve been caught.

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