TFSAWE - Chapter 239: Relieved (Patreon)

"Good heavens."

Carl muttered unconsciously, looking around in surprise. Fortunately, he was alone inside his tent. Carl wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, finding it increasingly difficult to maintain his composure.

Even when he first heard Iris' story, he thought everything would be easily resolved. Once he reached Tryon, a countryside woman eagerly awaiting him as a new saint would be there, and before that, he had no doubt that he could capture Evelina and Latvan and turn them into a delightful spectacle.

But the situation was not unfolding as he had imagined.

The woman named Iris had been kidnapped by someone claiming to be a magician, and the Imperial Knights were hindering Latvan's pursuit. Evelina had attached herself to the side of the Crown Prince, beyond his reach.

Carl, who had been whimpering, envisioned the future he desired. After settling everything, he would return with Iris to the sanctuary and imagine the future that awaited them.

The new saint would be easier to manipulate. Building on Evelina's failure, he would further isolate and brainwash her. Just like Evelina, Iris would have to devote her powers every day for his benefit.

Carl pondered Iris for a moment. The mark on his hand was originally intended to infuse him with power. However, the power had transferred to this woman in a faraway place.

"Why?"

At first, he simply thought a new saint had appeared. Although it hadn't been long, Evelina and Iris undoubtedly both possessed the power simultaneously.

"Is there some connection?"

Carl thought of Evelina's parents. The couple who had wished for their daughter's happiness, clutching his hand and begging him countless times to take care of her after she suddenly became a saint. They were remembered as parents who abandoned her, demanded money, and then disappeared, causing trouble.

While others easily fell for his false facade, the parents who entrusted their child saw through his deceit not long after. The couple begged for their daughter to be returned. Of course, he had no intention and no way to do so. Then the couple begged to be taken to the sanctuary themselves. Perhaps it was from that moment that he felt compelled to kill them.

Carl tried to soothe them with kind words. They pleaded for a little more time, promising to make an effort. After saying that, he returned to the sanctuary and spoke to Evelina. "Today, your parents asked for money again. They said money is more important than you. Poor abandoned you will live comfortably as a saint in this sanctuary."

Soon after that, they disappeared. Carl licked his lips, remembering how he had prepared plenty of delicious food for them. Even if they had survived, the food was poisoned and inedible.

"Since then, there has been no trace of them, it seems they died somewhere."

If they were to reappear, he thought they would have to be dealt with properly. But since then, there has been no news of them.

Lost in thoughts of the past, Carl bit his tongue as he patted his leg. Looking at his leg, which seemed to have become even more crooked, he winced.

After making Evelina pour all her power into him, he finally knew what it felt like to walk properly for the first time since he was born. It was more tempting and addictive than any drug.

Pretending it was Evelina's intention, he deliberately cancelled the events where she had to use her powers for the people. As a result, he was able to fully focus Evelina's powers solely on himself.

"I must find Iris quickly."

Carl looked at the holy scriptures placed on the desk inside the tent.

As long as God bestows a saint upon us, he will obtain what he desires. Just as it had been until now, the saint and the sanctuary would endure forever.

At that moment, urgent footsteps could be heard outside the tent.

"Master of the Sanctuary!"

"What's the matter?" Carl surmised, sensing that urgent news had arrived.

"A messenger has come, claiming to have seen traitors," the words spurred Carl to rise from his seat swiftly.

Though it wasn't the news of Iris, Carl couldn't help but feel relieved. However, he knew that capturing and executing Latvan immediately was essential. Unable to track him properly due to the Imperial Knights, Carl was surprised that someone had come to inform him.

Unveiling the tent's cloth, he limped towards the messenger to deliver his words. The officials who had come from the local temple to meet Carl, instead of the main temple, hurriedly lowered their heads upon seeing him. But soon, cautiously, they raised their heads to observe Carl's movement. Carl could swiftly read empathy in their gazes.

"I wish I could gouge out all their eyes," he thought, horrified by the unfamiliar stares cast upon him.

"If only I had continued to receive the saint's power, perhaps things could have been better," Carl pondered, reminiscing about Evelina. Soon, he caught sight of a man dressed shabbily amidst the camp. As Carl approached, the man momentarily appeared bewildered but soon realized he was being impolite and lowered his head.

"Your, your, your Excellency, I am honored to meet you," the man stammered.

"Yes, I heard from the other officials. They said you witnessed the traitors of the main temple," Carl's anxiety grew. There was no time to respond to the herbalist's greetings. He wanted to grab him by the collar and demand where he saw them.

"Y-yes, indeed. I live in a small village across several mountains. Oh, my! I apologize. My name is Percy. My father deliberately went to a large temple to receive my name. He said it was an adult's name," Percy explained.

"So, where did you see them?" Carl interjected impatiently.

"Oh, yes. Near the village where I live, there are rugged mountains that people can barely access due to sheer cliffs. Consequently, there are many rare herbs. On that day, despite my wife's warning, I set out before dawn. Those that can only be harvested at dawn..."

"So, where did you see them?" Carl pressed further, growing increasingly frustrated with Percy's continuous explanations. The outburst momentarily silenced the camp. All the officials stared at him, eyes filled with disbelief. Carl quickly turned his mask inside out. Immediately, his face reflected a sorrowful and apologetic expression, one that could hardly be believed to have shouted in anger just moments ago.

"I... apologize. I couldn't contain my anger towards those who harmed the siblings of the main temple. I presume you must also feel anger towards those who defied the gods. Please forgive me for losing control momentarily," Carl spoke, bowing deeply. Observing this, Percy promptly prostrated himself, seemingly unaffected.

"Oh, no. No, you shouldn't. Yes, I understand your urgency. As for where I saw that group of knights."

Listening to the herbalist's drawn-out words, Carl maintained his face filled with remorse. On his way back to find Latvan and the others, he planned to push the herbalist off that cliff.

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