Chapter 31
The walls of Yueqing City crumbled with a deafening crash, scattering debris into the moat, nearly filling it entirely. Only a small section of broken walls and ruins remained intact.
The Saint wasn’t allowed to wear shoes, but fortunately, her white cloak was long enough that Miki could step on its edges, though it couldn’t prevent her from getting wet and filthy in the muddy water beneath her feet.
She weakly leaned against a wall, her breathing growing faint.
A collapsed storefront canopy nearby provided some shelter from the rain, blocking a bit of the wind. This was a small, hidden corner, unnoticed by the wild elephants, for now.
However, Yueqing City was almost completely destroyed. How much longer could she hide? Probably only a little longer.
Despite the dire situation, Miki showed no sign of distress on her face.
She slowly sat down, using the clean part of her white cloak to cover her legs, and gazed at the black muddy water flowing toward her from the distance.
It was a small harbinger of the approaching storm.
Perhaps no one would believe it, but despite the terrifying disaster unfolding before her, Miki felt an odd sense of happiness.
Because, for once, she was alone.
From the moment she was born, the days when the Saint was left unguarded were few and far between. When she was a child, while learning music and literature, the Saionji clan feared she would slack off and constantly monitored her. Even when she slept, there were people watching to ensure she went to bed on time.
“If Lady Saint sleeps late, her face will lose its beauty, and the Queen won’t like that,” they would warn her.
In truth, what child understands concepts of beauty or ugliness? But with the Saionji clan’s constant nagging, Miki gradually internalized this belief.
A Saint should be beautiful and beloved. If her looks faded, she would become an object of ridicule.
As she grew older, Miki was allowed to move freely within the confines of her small courtyard.
She was happy then, thinking she had finally gained a bit of freedom. But when she poked her head outside the courtyard, all she saw were rows of guards standing vigilantly nearby.
The freedom she had celebrated was nothing more than an illusion.
When she was twelve, Miki did something incredibly bold—she meticulously planned and evaded all eyes to sneak out of the estate.
The Saionji clan’s security arrangements followed a predictable pattern. With the Saint’s intelligence, deciphering their routines was simple. The only real challenge was her frail body.
With such a weak constitution, how far could she go, even with a flawless plan? If caught, the next round of surveillance would be even stricter.
By blood, the head of the Saionji clan, Ichiro, was Miki’s cousin. He was a kind person and treated her well, often going out of his way to bring her whatever she desired.
Despite this, Miki still felt a distance between them. Whether it was Ichiro, the other young masters, even the girls her age… regardless of their attitudes or blood ties, she could never see them as family.
So, even knowing they would be furious, Miki was determined to find an opportunity to escape.
For an entire month leading up to that day, she forced herself to eat more, just to build up her strength.
Finally, Miki made it to the lake on her own, but she had no strength left to return. She tried to push herself, but her body refused to move, completely exhausted.
Yet, she never once felt regret. Sitting alone on a rock by the lake, although the cold cut to her bones and was nothing like the warmth of her room, she felt an exhilarating sense of freedom from her burdens.
It was as if… she was no longer the Saint, but just an ordinary girl.
Especially on that day when she had met Wakako. That dirty little child had carried her back to the small path leading to the Saionji estate. They had walked and talked, feeling completely at ease.
Before parting ways, Wakako had told her, “When you’re alone, you should wear shoes. You’ll catch a cold.”
Of course, Miki wanted to. With her feet bare all day, the cold would spread from her feet throughout her entire body. She also longed to wear warm shoes and socks in the winter like normal people, but she couldn’t.
It went without saying during her childhood at the Saionji estate, but even after arriving in the Eagle Kingdom, the people in the royal palace constantly watched her, leaving her with nowhere to escape. She could only survive by replaying those few cherished moments of comfort in her mind.
“TRUMPET—”
The angry bellow of a wild elephant in front of her yanked Miki’s attention back from her memories.
The elephants rampaged through the city, trampling countless people into nothing more than broken flesh, destroying every small restaurant and tavern in Yueqing City, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake.
The guards sent by the Eagle Kingdom to protect her were long dead, their bodies piled up into a small mountain of corpses.
Let it all be destroyed, the more thoroughly the better.
It would be best if this whole continent fell into ruin along with it.
Miki’s beautiful eyes held nothing but cold indifference as she quietly watched the destruction unfold.
The Saint’s pheromones carried a faint cherry scent. Although mostly masked by the rain and the stench of blood, it couldn’t escape the keen sense of smell of the wild elephants.
Soon enough, one of the elephants caught wind of her scent and began lumbering toward her, each heavy step making the ground tremble.
Before it, Miki’s figure seemed so small, not even half the size of its hoof.
The elephant bellowed loudly, raising its right foot high. If nothing unexpected happened, the white cloak would be stained red as soon as it came crashing down.
Miki closed her eyes in slight annoyance. She didn’t want her cloak to be stained with blood.
But the expected impact never came. She opened her eyes in confusion and saw a familiar figure standing protectively in front of her.
The figure had her long hair tied high, clad in black armor, a headband tied around her forehead. Even through the armor, it was clear their entire body was tense, ready for battle.
Sword in hand, she had single-handedly intercepted the elephant’s stomp, without a trace of hesitation or fear.
Who else could accomplish such an impossible feat but her own loyal guard?
A faint smile tugged at Miki’s lips.
That person had finally become what she was meant to be, a renowned and formidable mercenary, no longer the clumsy puppy who used to follow her around.
But she still couldn’t help but want to call her Little Waka.
Wakako’s sword was sharp, but it couldn’t pierce the thick hide of the elephant. Though unharmed, the elephant was enraged by the unexpected resistance. It backed up a few steps, preparing for another charge.
Even with superhuman strength, she knew it was impossible for a human to kill a giant elephant alone.
Especially when she wasn’t alone. She had Miki behind her.
Wakako’s entire right arm had gone numb from the impact, and she nearly lost her grip on the sword.
“Go!” She made a quick decision, tightening her grip on the sword, taking two steps forward, and pulling the Saint into her arms with her left hand. Then, she leaped onto her horse and galloped away, following the only remaining path.
Everything happened in an instant.
Wakako knew that the Saint couldn’t ride a horse, but there was no other way out now, and there was no time to worry about such things. She could only do her best to support Miki’s waist, trying to minimize the jolting for her.
The mudside flood was closing in fast. If they didn’t escape soon, they would both be dead.
Miki’s back was enveloped in a dirty embrace, her white cloak covered in mud. She was usually meticulous about cleanliness, but now she seemed indifferent, completely relaxed.
Despite the dire situation, she had the mind to turn her head and gently place her hand on Wakako’s right shoulder.
“How stupid of you to try and fight an elephant with nothing but your own body…” Miki sighed softly. “Are you an idiot?”
Wakako simply lowered her eyes and urged the horse onward.
She knew she was being stupid. How could a human be a match for an elephant? But the moment she saw the white cloak, she had no other choice. She couldn’t just stand by and watch Miki get hurt.
Five years ago, when she received the news of Miki’s “death,” Wakako had already experienced that unbearable pain— as if a blade had pierced her chest, twisting repeatedly, then set aflame along with her flesh.
Once was enough. She couldn’t bear to go through that again.
“I am stupid, but you’re no better,” Wakako choked out the words. “A Saint as wise as you, putting yourself in danger like this.”
This was the first time in ten years that she had dared to speak to her master in such a tone.
Miki remained silent.
“The elephant wouldn’t have hurt me. It was just attracted by my scent, wanting to get closer,” she said. “You know the Saint is born with an affinity for animals.”
Yes, Wakako had read the scriptures enshrined in the Saionji estate when Miki forced her to study. Among them were records about the Saint.
The Saint was God’s favored child, beloved by all creatures. Even the horse they were riding seemed to gallop with more enthusiasm carrying her.
Wakako couldn’t describe her feelings. She only heard herself say woodenly, “It seems I’ve interfered unnecessarily.”
She should have known, yet she still made this choice.
“No.” Miki shook her head and whispered, “I’m happy you came.”
Her eyes shimmered with a gentle warmth. It was hard not to get lost in that gaze. “This is the first time I’ve seen you hold a sword on the battlefield so openly… It’s beautiful.”
Beautiful? Wakako caught a glimpse of her reflection in a puddle by the roadside. After the frantic escape, her face was splattered with mud. There wasn’t anything remotely beautiful about her appearance.
She misunderstood Miki’s meaning and muttered, “Don’t make fun of me.”
“It’s beautiful.” Miki repeated, leaning closer to whisper in her ear, the rain muffling their words like a lover’s secret. “I always knew you would be the most skilled mercenary. Seeing it with my own eyes, I have no regrets.”
Then, after a brief pause, Miki’s gaze shifted as she continued. “…Actually, that’s not entirely true.”
She continued to gaze at Wakako, her beautiful face betraying the words she spoke. “I’ve always wanted to tempt you into heat, then deliberately deny you on purpose, just to see you on your knees begging me all night in that state… But the timing isn’t right.”
Only a mercenary of Wakako’s caliber could be worthy of being the dog at the Saint’s feet.
Wakako’s breath caught, and a sudden heat rose to her ears.
“Hold on tight.” She was slightly annoyed by the teasing, mixed with an inexplicable panic. “Why are you thinking about such things at a time like this?”
Miki seemed to enjoy seeing Wakako flustered and smiled brightly, like the morning sun breaking through the clouds and dispersing the gloom.
As they rode on, Wakako was transported back to the elopement they had planned five years ago.
Back then, they had ridden like this, joking and laughing along the way. Even though they were exhausted, all weariness disappeared the moment they saw each other smile.
But in the end, they had failed to escape, forever trapped in this world, unable to break free.
“Head for the mountains, Waka,”
Suddenly, she heard Miki speak again.
“The waters are surging, and the mountain seems like a dead end, but there’s a hidden way out.”
