Final Volume: Chapter 6: Legend

What's Achieved

Legend

"I see... The hero Aleph fought against the Demon King..." 

The king who rules this country muttered this with a sad expression on his face.

When the Saints entered the royal capital, the people who saw them instantly started to get excited, and by the time they reached the royal castle, the people there had already heard that they had returned. They were then immediately ushered into the King's audience chamber.

"Yes, it was a very brave end... He and I joined forces and fought the Demon King with all our might... but in the end, I... was unable to save Aleph..."

The Saint was stumped mid-sentence, and tears welled up in her eyes.

The surrounding officials could not bear to look at the pitiful sight and kept their heads down.

"...You have done truly well. The fallen heroes and you all... are truly worthy of being called the saviors of this world. Saint Christina. And Sword Saint Aria. As the king of this country, I offer my heartfelt thanks."

The king bowed his head while still sitting in his chair, and Chris bowed politely in return. 

Aria had a complicated look on her face, but eventually she followed Chris and bowed. Reno just stared at Chris without even glancing at the king.

"Come now, Saint Christina, Sword Saint Aria, and the young girl who accompanied the Saint. The people are waiting for you. Let's bring about an era of peace together."

With that, the King stood up and urged the three of them to head to the balcony.

At last, the speech announcing an era of peace...Chris's long-cherished wish to give a speech as a man (or now woman) who created a legend was about to begin.

"I understand, Your Majesty. Nee-san, Reno... let's go."

Chris smiled softly at the two of them, and both Aria and Reno nodded with smiles.

The three of them headed out onto the balcony where a large crowd of people were waiting.

When Chris and the others reached the balcony, the king stepped out onto the balcony and began his speech. Even though the king did not have much support from the people, for today only an overflowing crowd had gathered at the royal castle to watch the king.

"My beloved citizens, the saints who set out to defeat the Demon King have returned! Thanks to those heroes brave actions, the incarnation of evil that has tormented us for so many years, the Demon King, has been defeated! Today, peace has returned to the world!"

As the king loudly proclaimed this, the cheers of the people could be heard.

There was a loud cheer for a while, but then the crowd calmed down and the King continued speaking.

"Then, let's have those who have accomplished great deeds come forward! The Saint and the Sword Saint! And the girl who accompanied the Saint, please come forward too!"

The king shouted and stepped back, and three people stepped forward in his place.

Everyone knows who is at the center: Christina, known as the Saint of Devotion.

On either side of her stood a small black-haired girl and the sword saint Aria, who had lost one arm.

As the three of them stepped forward, the crowd suddenly became quiet.

There may have been some who felt pain at the sight of the Sword Saint with one arm missing.

Perhaps they were shocked by the fact that only three people survived.

Perhaps it was because there was more sadness than joy on the saint's face.

In any case, no one wanted to make a fuss right now.

Then, as if representing the three, the Saint in the center took a step forward, drawing the attention of the overflowing crowd. The Saint closed her eyes for a while, then slowly opened them and began to speak quietly to the crowd.

"...There have been many sacrifices. So many sacrifices so far... Many irreplaceable people have been tormented by the Demon King's army."

It was as if she hadn't even won, and she looked as if she was about to burst into tears...

That was the voice.

"It was the same this time... Thirty-four people. That's the number of people who were there when we headed towards the Demon King. We were the only ones who returned... In exchange for defeating the Demon King... thirty-one brave lives were lost."

Saint Christina gritted her teeth and spoke with difficulty.

The ecstatic people finally realize that she has lost her comrades... and that she is grieving over the people who have died up until now.

"The members of the Royal Knights risked their lives to pave the way for us to defeat the Demon King. Each and every one of them was very brave... yes, they all had the heart of a hero."

Among those listening to the Saint's speech were the wives of a deceased knight of the kingdom. Hearing her words, they muttered, "Ah, that man... tried so hard for peace," and trembled with tears. They felt comforted, as if the Saint was telling them that their husband's death had not been in vain.

"And... those who are said to be hero of salvation also risked his lives for a peaceful world."

When talking about hero, the saint's voice begins to tremble.

The Saint suddenly looked down and silence continued. The people watched with bated breath.

As if she had made up her mind, the Saint raised her face, and tears were in her eyes.

"I .... I love the hero of salvation!"

The people began to murmur in excitement. Although the love story between the saint and the hero had often been speculated in the royal capital, this was the first time that it had been told by the saint herself.

"After defeating the Demon King, I intended to spend the rest of my life with him... But that will no longer be the case."

The saint's sweet love ends in a tragic separation by death.

Many people burst into tears, saying that this ending was too harsh for two people who had worked so hard to save the world.

"I will no longer love anyone other than him. So I want to spend my life as a saint... for those who were hurt by the Demon King and are still suffering."

Even with tears in her eyes, the saint smiles and speaks to the people.

Her nobility, the depth of her love, and her tragic determination to remain faithful to one man for the rest of her life.

The people are left speechless by the saint who prioritized the people over her happiness as a woman.

"The Demon King has been defeated, but there are many people who are suffering. Those who have lost something important, those who have had something stolen from them, those who have lost the meaning of life... You can't get back what you've lost. But it should be possible to heal them. I want to continue to heal those people... I want to help them."

The saint smiles at the people with a calm face.

Then the saint closes her eyes, clasps her hands as if praying to God, and begins the final touches.

"As a Saint, I hereby declare that an era of peace has arrived. May all people continue to enjoy eternal peace and tranquility..."

With the Saint's official declaration, the people erupt in joy.

The cheers that resounded were so loud that they were incomparable to the King's declaration earlier.

---Long live the Saint of Devotion!

---Saint Christina Banzai!

The crowd erupted in cheers calling for the Saint. At that moment, the Saint became a legend.

Naturally, among the cheers were tributes to the Sword Saint and the fallen heroes.

However, it could be said that the trend was almost entirely dominated by cheers for the saint.

The saint was able to capture people's hearts with her heartfelt words.

While the people fervently praise the saint, the saint continues to pray.

(Aaaaahhhhhh! It feels so good!! Foolish people!! More! Praise me more!! I am!! The noble, beautiful, precious, fleeting, kind, and transcendentally amazing legendary saint!! Hahaha... fuhahahaha... gohahahahahaha!!)

---Her self-esteem was so full that her mind was constantly traveling...

For now, I guess she has achieved her goal.