Chapter 13: Saint Tiana, Guiding the Heroes

Saint Tiana, Guiding the Heroes

With Erina and I joining the original Hero Party, which consisted of just two members, we now had a team of members who could be used throughout the game until the end.

Basically, from now on, these four will be the ones to carry the story forward until the end.

Naturally, I'm a strong communicator, so I have great relationships with the other members.

I became especially close with the tsundere girl Asha and the strict princess knight Erina.

The bond level must be at MAX.

No, I don't have a way to check.

Anyway, now they just do what I tell them to do.

Alto has the kind-hearted traits typical of protagonists, so there's no problem leaving him alone.

Rather, he proactively try to communicate with me.

To be more specific, Alto has been constantly inviting me out for drinks alone lately.

To be honest, I find it a little annoying at times, but I like alcohol.

Invitations to drinking parties remind me of the feelings I had as a student or office worker in my past life, so I'm grateful for them.

Even when I was alone with him, Asha and Erina didn't say anything to me.

I'm being given a lot of freedom.　

Recently, all we've been doing is leveling up and making money while taking on requests from the guild.

Perhaps everyone was engrossed in the quest, as the story progressed at a snail's pace.

But it wasn't too bad.

Our contribution to the guild will also increase as we complete missions.　

There is some movement in the story.

We were also able to successfully clear the climax of the first half, which was the impeachment of the lord who was in cahoots with the demons.

A mysterious doping drug obtained from a demon spy.

The lord who drank the medicine gained an ugly, inhuman physique and bestial nature.

The forces we can organize for boss battles are just Alto and me.

A forced battle between just the two of us.

The key point is that if player don't properly level up Alto and Tiana and equip them properly, they will likely lose.

This is what is known as the "first half wall."

I was also very fortunate that Alto was able to fight without any problems.

Even though I was going at my own pace, it seemed fortunate that he had been able to focus on leveling up for a certain period of time.

During an infiltration event, the protagonist is forced to cross-dress as woman, and Tiana, a beautiful saint cross-dressed as a man.

It was also surreal and sad to see the boss being beaten down by these two pervert.

Well, that lord was also a pervert who was obsessed with the young girl Alto, so you could say it was a mutual thing.　

By the way, as I mentioned before, the city we are staying in is more comfortable than other areas.

The people in this town have been very kind to us.

When I go out, I'm treated like an idol.

People passing by turned to me

"Saint! Saint!"

They praises me so much that I get excited and offer them lots of favours.

Even if I openly use a brothel, I am somehow praised for it.

It's true that I do add a tip to the money I pay the girls.

(Of course, it's within my pocket money.)

How much do these guys want to praise me?

Hehehe... Good, praise me more.

Well, I had a lot of fun.

It's about time to move on with the main story.　

One day, I gathered my party members in a room at the inn.

While casting soundproofing magic around the room.　

"I have something to tell you all right now."　

Alto, curious to see me like that, asked me a question.　

"What's wrong, Tiana? You even put up a soundproofing spell..."　

"Everyone, do you know about the "treasure" that has been passed down between humans and demons? It is something that has been passed down since ancient times."

"No, I've never heard of it."

"I don't know either."

"Yes, even I, a member of the royal family, have never heard of this. I have not been informed of anything in particular by my father or mother."　

All three of them have a confused look on their faces.　

"You all know that I have been sent by the church, right? It's not just to defeat the demons who are enemies of humanity. I have another idea, and that's why I'm here."　

"What? Is there another reason?"　

"Yes... but the purpose of the mission is still the church's."　

"It seems like something's up... does that mean you'll tell us?"　

"Yes, Asha-san. I'm sorry, but I was assessing you all to see if you were trustworthy. I'm sorry..."　

Alto looked at me with a slightly suspicious look.　

"So, we've met Tiana's standards..."　

"No one knows what I'm about to tell you except me. Please try your best not to tell anyone."　

"Tiana, what do you mean?"　

Erina asked me.　

"This is the history of the human and demon races that has not been made public."　

I explained to them.

The history of the humans and demons.

Of course, the appearance of the mastermind was cleverly altered.

With a plausible cover story attached.

"So... are you saying that humans and demons once worked hand in hand?!"

Erina, a member of the royal family, was particularly astonished.

That's true, as the education that the royal family provides to their descendants is only what is convenient for the royal family's authority.　

She's probably only been taught about the bitter conflict with the demons.　

"How could a mere priest know something like that? Even if Tiana is a saint, it's still intriguing."　

Alto asked me a natural question.　

"Actually, I'm also a researcher. One day, I went to the church's central headquarters to rummage through research materials. There, I came across special documents that only those with high-level security clearance could view. Using my authority as a Saint..."　

"Sex clearance? You mean a spear? What's that? Hey, use words I can understand!"　

Asha snapped at me for the first time in a while.

Asha has been acting a little silly lately, and she's cute.　

"By chance, I was able to see information that the church had been hiding. Well, it seems it had been forgotten for many years... The documents I saw were already something that no one would pay any attention to."　

I'm not lying.

In the past, I went to the archives at the church headquarters to search for and find the book in question.

I secretly copied it and took it home.

Even if they were to double check it, they wouldn't be found out.

"I see... I understand the history and the existence of this hidden treasure. But what does that have to do with us?"

"Alto-san, even if we were to defeat the Demon King... do you really think the world would become peaceful?"　

"I hadn't even thought about it... Fighting is all I know."　

"I see... Even if we defeat the current Demon King, another powerful person will be born from among the demons..."　

Erina gave an exemplary, excellent answer.　

"That's true. There have also been attempts in the past by the human race to eradicate the demons, but they all ended in failure."　

"So how can we humans achieve peace?"　

"That's where the treasures come in. Legend has it that when the two treasures, human and demon, are gathered and offered on a hidden altar, true peace will come."　

"True peace, hey... what exactly do you mean by that?"　

Asha points out.　

"I don't know... it may be a very difficult path. But! Depending on the outcome of the ritual... eternal tranquility, peace may come to us!"　

"So there are other ways than killing each other... It certainly seems worth exploring."　

"I won't get in your way. You can just do this on the side of your other activities... so please help me."

I plead with them, folding my hands in front of my chest.

I shouted with passion in my voice, and looked at the three of them with moist eyes.

They can't take their passionate gaze away from my eyes.　

"If Tiana says it, it must be true. That's good, right? You two."

"I agree. It's better to have as many options as possible."

"I'll cooperate too, no, I'd rather cooperate!"　

Thank you, thank you...　

"Thank you everyone! Thank you so much!"　

I was so moved that I cried and thanked the three of them.