* * *

    …It was different.

    This was the first thought that came to the Saintess’ mind as she gazed at the Yeomyeong in the Foresight.

    And this wasn’t the first time she had seen Yeomyeong covered in blood.

    She had seen him drenched in blood and flesh back in Manchuria and even at the Academy.

    However, even though he was covered in blood just like those times, the Yeomyeong in her Foresight felt somewhat different from the Yeomyeong of the present.

    Was it because of his longer hair or because he looked taller? No, that wasn’t it.

    His eyes… yes, his eyes were the problem.

    Even though they were the same golden eyes as the present Yeomyeong’s, the emotions in them were completely different.

    There was a sort of darkness that seemed to draw you in.

    Just that gaze alone made the future Yeomyeong feel like a completely different person from the present one.

    The Saintess, who had been observing the future Yeomyeong for a while, averted her eyes. She felt something would go wrong if her gaze lingered on him any longer.

    As she averted her gaze, Yeomyeong spoke. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    “How long before this future comes to pass? Three years from now? Two years?”

    His voice sounded different from usual, somewhat colder. The Saintess managed to stutter out a reply.

    “I’m not sure… maybe about one or two years from now…?”

    “…That’s earlier than I estimated.”

    Saying that, Yeomyeong turned away.

    Was he headed towards Seti? No, ignoring both the future Seti and the present Saintess, he climbed the stairs of the National Assembly building, which was still engulfed in flames.

    Taking a quick glance at the future Seti, the Saintess then followed Yeomyeong.

    “…”

    As she climbed the stairs, she turned her head and saw the burning National Assembly Library—or rather, the burning Yeouido—beyond a collapsed wall.

    A city engulfed in flames covered in a blanket of thick black smoke… it was a scene that brought the hell described in scriptures to her mind.

    As her doubts started to deepen, realizing that Yeomyeong had already reached further ahead, the Saintess belatedly chased him up the stairs.

    On reaching the fourth floor, Yeomyeong stopped at the entrance to the National Assembly’s main conference hall.

    “…”

    He remained silent even as he opened the half-destroyed door and entered the hall.

    And as soon as they stepped inside, the pungent stench of blood struck their noses.

    She had a slight frown as she glanced around the interior of the hall that was utterly ruined.

    The ceiling, which once held 365 light bulbs, was blown off as if it were struck by a bomb, and the hundreds of seats where assemblymen would have been seated were broken and scattered all over the hall. ??Ν?????ê?

    “O-oh my God…”

    The Saintess, who had entered the hall a bit later, covered her mouth at the sight.

    To be precise, she was trembling at the sight of the corpses filling the hall.

    “O Five Gods…”

    All the corpses scattered all over the place seemed to have been struck by the same attack, each one split in half.

    And even though it wasn’t her first time seeing a corpse, the Saintess couldn’t stop trembling.

    Was it out of fear? No, even with her limited knowledge, she could tell how these people were killed.

    Comet Sword—the martial art only Yeomyeong and Freya Cahn could use.

    However, Freya Cahn hadn’t remotely used the Comet Sword since she came into possession of the Holy Sword, so the one who killed all these people must have been…

    The Saintess swallowed the question that wouldn’t leave her lips and looked at Yeomyeong’s back.

    He showed no reaction even as he looked at the corpses that were undoubtedly created by his future self.

    He merely took in the scene, covered in blood and dust, in complete silence.

    The stench of blood filled the silence that lingered for a moment.

    “…Saintess.”

    Yeomyeong spoke, and once again, the Saintess was startled and looked up.

    “Y-yes?”

    “Do you remember what I told you… just before fighting the dragon in Manchuria?”

    “…”

    The Saintess nodded.

    How could she forget? The words he uttered, saying that he couldn’t risk his life because there was something he had to do.

    To be honest, she was able to recollect that entire day when Yeomyeong said those words.

    His back as he left after saying that he had something he must do.

    And yet, his courage as he returned and faced the dragon alongside her.

    Even the look on his face as he let out a small sigh, without a hint of pride, after defeating the dragon and the Demonic Human.

    All those memories overlapped with the man standing in front of her.

    Cheon Yeomyeong.

    Staring at him blankly, the Saintess asked.

    “Is this… the thing you said you had to do?”

    “Not exactly, but it’s similar.”

    “…Similar?”

    “Yes, if things had gone as per the original plan… I would have used a more ‘sophisticated method.’ But from the looks of it, that plan must have failed.”

    …A sophisticated method?

    Was it because of the corpses scattered around? Just that alone made the Saintess feel like she could almost smell the thick scent of blood.

    “…Why?”

    That one word that contained countless questions. Why, you, Seti, why?

    “…”

    Yeomyeong did not give her an answer. The Saintess clenched her fists, her body trembling all over.

    How did things come to this? This wasn’t the future she wanted to show him.

    “Yeomyeong, tell me. Why… why are you so unfazed even after seeing this future?”

    “…”

    “D-do you… do you really dream of causing such a massacre?”

    Even though she was the one who asked him that, the Saintess did not want to hear the answer.

    Because she wouldn’t be able to bear it if Yeomyeong said ‘yes’.

    However, after silently looking at her for a moment, Yeomyeong suddenly extended his hand.

    Alternating her gaze between his palm and his face, the Saintess placed her hand in his without realizing it.

    Yeomyeong’s hand was full of calluses.

    The warm sensation that traveled through her fingertips reminded her of the former Saintess’ hand.

    “Saintess.”

    “…Yes.”

    “Do you trust me?”

    “…”

    That wasn’t the question or the answer the Saintess wanted to hear.

    Yet despite that, a sense of relief washed over her on hearing those words.

    “…I trust you.”

    A brief, soft reply that escaped the Saintess’ lips.

    “I trust the Yeomyeong who fought the dragon to save the people of Manchuria, whom he didn’t even know.”

    Her tone and pronunciation were reverent, as if she were reading a scripture.

    “I trust the Yeomyeong who stood up to the terrorists to protect his classmates. And…”

    “…”

    “…I trust the Yeomyeong who Seti likes.”

    And with those words, the Saintess lowered her head deeply.

    It was because she no longer had the courage to look directly at Yeomyeong’s face.

    Yeomyeong pondered for a moment as he looked at her.

    Since he wasn’t some clueless fool like the male lead of a romantic comedy, he could vaguely grasp the thoughts of the Saintess when she said this.

    However, understanding and accepting were two separate matters.

    His future was far too uncertain for him to bear the weight of the emotions of this air-headed—no, the Saintess—who carried a burden completely different from his own.

    As always, the simplest solution came to mind, but it soon vanished beneath his subconscious.

    It was a foolish thought. Killing the Saintess—how would he deal with the aftermath?

    And more than anything, he lacked the will to kill the Saintess. This was something that went beyond physical capability.

    Snapping her neck or driving a sword into her chest? Just the mere thought made him extremely uncomfortable.

    Would it be different if it were the Dung Beetle in his heart? He couldn’t be sure.

    In the end, the pondering went on endlessly, and the silence even longer.

    By the time the Saintess was able to raise her head a little, Yeomyeong spoke again.

    “…To be honest, I was caught off guard.”

    “…”

    “All this time… since you said your Foresight couldn’t see Seti and me, I thought you wouldn’t notice. To be precise, I was hoping you wouldn’t.”

    He squeezed her hand tightly and added.

    “…If I were to ask you to pretend that you didn’t see any of this, would you be able to do it?”

    “I don’t want to. Not without knowing the reason…”

    As expected, Yeomyeong smiled bitterly and led her out of the conference hall.

    The Saintess, muttering things like ‘Huh? Huh?’ followed him.

    After a while, using the debris of the collapsed ceiling outside the conference hall as a makeshift seat, Yeomyong and the Saintess sat side by side. It was one of the few places where the scent of blood was faint.

    “Are you sure you’re fine with this? It’s probably going to be… a long story.”

    “…Persuasion is supposed to take time.”

    “And… I can’t tell you everything here and now. Especially the things related to Seti.”

    “…”

    “Even so… will you listen?”

    “…Yes.”

    The Saintess nodded, and Yeomyeong slowly began to recount the events that led to this.

    The long story began with a certain janitor in the back alleys of Incheon.

    * * *

    The Saintess did not condone murder.

    All the teachings she had learned throughout her life could be summarized as such: love peace and respect all life.

    However, that did not mean she rejected the notion of revenge.

    Redox, the Red God of Struggle, whom she served, affirmed revenge in both doctrine and weaponry.

    Thus… the Saintess also had a valid reason to affirm Yeomyeong’s revenge.

    The story of how Dung Beetle became Cheon Yeomyeong and a janitor became superhuman, made revenge seem justified no matter how she looked at it.

    Looking back, it all felt like fate.

    It was no coincidence that she had given Yeomyeong the Holy Relic of God Redox back in Manchuria.

    A symbol of the red struggle for those seeking revenge, their fates were destined to be intertwined from the very beginning…

    The Saintess cut off her thoughts before they spiraled any further. It was an absurd excuse.

    An excuse she came up with just because she wanted to side with Yeomyeong and Seti.

    The revenge the two were aiming for had long strayed from Redox’s teachings.

    Killing all the Necromancers and South Korean government officials involved with the Janitor Guild?

    How many would they have to kill?

    There would certainly be dozens, perhaps even hundreds of them.

    And at that point, it was no longer revenge but a massacre.

    An act that only the evil Church of the Apocalypse would commit.

    Being the Saintess and as their friend, she had a duty to stop them.

    She had to try to persuade them immediately and lead them onto the right path.

    Even if they ended up hating her… she had to do it. She had to, but…

    She didn’t want to.

    Why did it matter to her as to what happened to the humans in the South Korean government who had allied themselves with the Necromancers?

    To her, the Cheon Yeomyeong in front of her and her friend Hong Seti were a hundred, even a thousand times more precious than those despicable villains.

    Deep down in her heart, she wanted to help them.

    No… perhaps even using her power as the Saintess to help them was the right thing to do.

    Think about it: rather than letting innocent civilians get caught in the fallout, as depicted in her Foresight…

    Wouldn’t it be better if her help could ensure that only those who were guilty were killed? Wasn’t that the essence of what the Saintess should truly do?

    Yes, she could become an accomplice. Then, beyond just friends…

    The Saintess clasped her hands tightly as if in prayer, trying to steady her wavering heart.

    To be swayed by infatuation and forget the teachings of a lifetime—truly a disgrace.

    She thought of the other Saintess she knew, to be precise, it was the former Saintess.

    Another mother who had taken her in and raised her in place of her biological mother who was hated by everyone in the Holy Nation.

    The one who survived two great wars and wrote a living legend alongside the ‘Margrave’—what would she have said at this moment?

    The Saintess tried desperately to recall her words, but what actually came to mind was a completely different voice.

    The Patriarch, that old man who used to utter this habitually as he confined her to the temple.

    Memories of the days spent confined in the prayer room honing her prayers and Holy Blessing every day, without a single friend her age.

    Recalling the past up to that point, the Saintess opened her eyes a bit and glanced at the seat beside her.

    There sat Yeomyeong.

    As always, he had a calm expression and waited in silence for her answer.

    Their relationship could change significantly depending on her decision.

    She was already happy to maintain their current relationship, but perhaps… their relationship could progress drastically.

    Or they could end up becoming worse than strangers.

    In pursuit of an answer, the Saintess closed her eyes again and delved deeper.

    She struggled to recall the words of the former Saintess.

    But for some reason, none of them came to mind.

    The only thing she could recollect was the regret-filled face of the former Saintess, who guarded her room in solitude.

    The moment that question arose, the Saintess suddenly felt her image overlap with that of the former Saintess.

    Except for the one day a week when she met with the believers, the only people in her life were the attendant priests and people in power begging for prophecies—a lonely life.

    A life without friends or lovers, growing old all alone—that was the life the Patriarch had revered as faithful to their belief.

    The Saintess herself was already living half of that life.

    Once her first and last deviation—the academy life—would come to an end, she would live that life forever.

    It was a fate she had already resigned herself to, but… for some reason, all of it felt unfamiliar at this moment.

    The life she had come to accept as inevitable suddenly felt… unjust and repulsive.

    As soon as she thought along those line, the words of the Patriarch repeated in her mind.

    And as soon as they ended, the Saintess tried to steady her wavering heart. Or, rather, she was about to.

    “Saintess?”

    However, the moment she heard Yeomyeong’s voice… her heart moved on its own.

    Her face felt hot, and it felt like her chest was about to burst. However much the words of Patriarch repeated in her mind, it no longer held any significance.

    “Yeomyeong, I… I’ve made up my mind.”

    “…You took quite some time to decide. Whatever your decision is, I’ll respect it.”

    Yeomyeong secretly swallowed his saliva as the Saintess grasped his hand tightly.

    And what came out of her mouth next was something beyond Yeomyeong’s expectations.

    “I’ll help you two… with your revenge.”

    “…Help us? Not just feign ignorance?”

    Unable to make sense of what she just said, Yeomyeong narrowed his eyes in confusion. Seeing that, the Saintess added defensively.

    “Feign ignorance, you say? What do you take me for? And won’t it be better if I help you avoid killing innocent people like in the Foresight?”

    It was pure sophistry, but the Saintess didn’t care.

    It only took a moment to cross the line, and she had already gone way beyond that.

    “Trust me, I’ll… be your accomplice.”

    “…”

    “I-If you want, you can even use my political position. I’m still a Saintess, you know?”

    And at this moment, the Saintess was glad that she was wearing a blindfold.

    If Yeomyeong could see her eyes, he might have seen the desire within them.

    “Why aren’t you replying? Do you perhaps… not want me to?”

    “No, it’s not that, this is all just so… unexpected.”

    “…So you’re saying it’s the best possible outcome, right?”

    Then suddenly, the Saintess suddenly wondered how Yeomyeong would have reacted if she had tried to stop his revenge.

    Would he have been disappointed? Gotten angry? Or maybe… tried to silence her somehow?

    Well, there was no need for her to ponder over it any longer.

    Because no matter his reaction, it wouldn’t have been more valuable than the smile Yeomyeong was giving her now.

    “Yeah, it is. The best outcome.”

    * * *

    Waking from a Foresight wasn’t that different from waking from any other dream.

    His mana fluctuated, his senses were hazy, and his body felt unsteady.

    Having gotten used to it, Yeomyeong quickly regained his senses, but it was a bit different for the Saintess.

    It was her first time entering a Foresight with someone else, and more than that, it was her first time waking up while holding someone’s hand.

    With all those factors in play, as soon as she woke up from the Foresight, she lost her balance and pulled him down with her.

    And the next moment, the chair and table in the rest area clattered noisily as the two fell to the floor.

    The Saintess fell first, and Yeomyeong fell on top of her.

    Fortunately or unfortunately, Yeomyeong managed to regain his balance at the last moment, so their bodies didn’t end up making contact.

    “…Are you okay?”

    Yeomyeong asked with concern. The Saintess nodded instead of answering.

    The two of them tried to get up immediately. Or, rather, they were about to.

    However, the next moment, the door to the rest area suddenly burst open, and a giant crow stepped in.

    “How long are you two going to… uh…?”

    Yeomyeong, the Saintess, and Corvus all fell silent at the same time.

    A man and woman lying on the floor holding hands in a secluded rest area.

    Before the short silence could even settle, Yeomyeong opened his mouth to explain.

    “Corvus, wait, this is…”

    “…My apologies. I seem to have no sense.”

    However, before Yeomyeong could even offer an explanation, Corvus slammed the door shut.

    The two had polar opposite reactions to the closed door. Yeomyeong shook his head with a sigh, while the Saintess was unable to raise her flushed face.

    “S-sorry…”

    “…It’s okay. There’s nothing to apologize for.”

    Only then did they get up and dust themselves off.

    As they awkwardly tried to leave the rest area, the door opened again.

    And the one opening the door this time was also Corvus.

    “I’m sorry, but as your teacher, there’s something I must say.”

    Ignoring the dumbfounded look on their faces, she clacked her beak and spoke.

    “…Please use protection properly.”

    Before she even completed her sentence, Yeomyeong and the Saintess threw a chair at her almost simultaneously.