Chapter 228: Ambush In The Castle’s Garden (1)

[ Name: Ren Arken

Age: 14

Race: Human

Strength: 400,000 (+4,300,000 [Mana])

Agility: 500,000 (+7,300,000 [Mana])

Vitality: 1,000,000 (+10,200,000 [Mana])

Mana: ~~~

Spiritual: ~~~

Intellect: 700, 000

Unique Skills:

-Magic cards -Appraisal -Evil gaze -Strengthen -Leap -Basic magics -Magic mastery -Grimoire of death -Real Clone [Heavenly Slime] -Eye of Wisdom -Sword God -Fenrir Arken -Reo Arken -Predator of the sky -Wild Beasts Skills -Knight’s soul -Defiler of the banished, Ataraxia -Slime Soul Diversion -Slime technique: Split -Tarot Emperor -Master of The Dragon King, Atlas]

—————————_———————–_—————————–_————————-_—————————–_——————————————

“Hm… That turned out rather anticlimactic… I’m sure he’s going to make a strong reaction like Alfred did, though…” (Slime Tarot)

After discussing and relaying the important things he wanted to convey towards Peter, Slime attempted to slip out of the royal castle stealthily like how he entered the place in the first place.

(Well, It’s supposed to be a good thing, though. I guess I shouldn’t get too bothered about it) (Slime)

As Slime passed the guards and was about to leave flee towards the royal garden, Slime sensed a presence of a figure standing idly there.

(Oops! I guess I need to take a detour-) (Slime)

“Sir Slime Tarot of Tarot Empire. I know you’re there. Show yourself,” A melodious voice entered Slime’s ears as he stopped in his tracks. 

“……” Slime decided to stay silent for a while as he decided to observe the situation first.

(That is… The saintess from the Holy Empire, huh…? Is what she’s saying is a bluff, or does she actually notice my presence?) (Slime Tarot)

“I know you’re there. There’s no need for you to hide from me,” Once again, Saintess Elvira spoke out. She’s staring into the beautiful moon with a mesmerized expression, but her eyes are emitting a strange light.

“…What a coincidence to meet you here, lady saintess. Are you here to enjoy the beauty of the night as well?” said Slime as he decided to show himself up since it seems that his presence had already been noticed by the Saintess Elvira.

Hearing Slime’s voice, the lady saintess strangely turns her head in an exaggerated manner as her expression lights up.

(Huh?) (Slime Tarot)

Slime Tarot flinched as the expression Saintess Elvira is wearing is not the one he’s having inside of his mind.

Her eyes widen and her pale face suddenly changed as if she’s a blooming flower.

As if she didn’t expect that Slime will actually appear before her.

“Lady saintess…?” (Slime)

“Yes! Ah!” The lady saintess appeared as if she suddenly remember something, and her expression immediately changed into her usual dignified and graceful appearance.

“What do you mean by enjoying the beauty of the night as well? I believe that people who are about to enjoy the beauty of the night won’t be wandering around the royal palace stealthily, though?” Saintess Elvira snorted.

(Even if you snort now, it won’t make me forget your happy expression when you saw me, you know that?) (Slime)

“Some people just have their own preferences regarding enjoying the beauty of the night, lady saintess. Just like how I love to enjoy it stealthily, aren’t you enjoying it by waiting for a certain someone’s presence as well?” (Slime)

“You sure know how to joke, Sir Slime. But unfortunately, even though it’s true that I’ve been enjoying the beauty of the moon, my main objective by coming here is to wait for your presence,” said Saintess Elvira as she closed her eyes.

(What a farce, even though you’ve surely spilled the beans by showing that happy expression before, it’s plainly obvious that you yourself didn’t even expect that I will actually come out here) (Slime)

“I see, then I hope you’ll meet that person you’re searching for soon, lady saintess. Have a good night- Hm?” Just as Slime is about to leave, a delicate hand caught his right wrist.

“Um… I’m sorry, lady saintess. But if other people saw us in these circumstances, it will very much tarnish your reputation as the holy-” (Slime)

“Three years ago,” (Saintess Elvira)

“Eh?” Slime flinched and stopped his sentence as he heard Saintess Elvira’s words.

“Three years ago, the army of 10,000 demons that appeared should have destroyed several cities and killed countless lives,” (Saintess Elvira)

(She’s talking about the deed the original body did…?) (Slime)

“I’ve heard about it as well. I heard that it’s a rather young hero that sacrificed himself to kill those demons. I couldn’t help but admire that young man, it is such a shame that I won’t be able to meet him… Directly…” Slime Tarot got even bewildered as he saw the expression the Saintess Elvira is wearing on her face.

It’s an expression filled with various kinds of expressions. Anger, gratitude, sorrow, and other types of emotions seem to be conflicting with each other.

Slime Tarot had confirmed before that the Saintess Elvira should not be able to read his mind, but somehow, those pure eyes of the holy saintess seem to be prying into his mind and heart.

“What are you…?” (Slime)

“I saw the scene. In the dream, I saw the scene where the demons cruelly surrounded a city, killed the men, ravaged the women, and ate the children,” The dignified voice of the lady saintess weakens and her voice became hoarse as she remembered the scene inside her dream.

(A dream? A prophecy?) (Slime)

“I firmly believe that it’s a prophecy delivered by the god about the appearance of the demons. But even though I told the church and the empire about it, they set aside the topic easily just by saying that it’s too far and that we should be focusing on our own defense instead…” (Saintess Elvira)

*Drop*

A tear started to drop, and as if the lid that was supposed to block the tears got broken, the lady saintess’s tears started to fall profusely.

“Since then, the nightmare had been haunting me ever since. The cries of the children, the women that are crying for help as they got ravaged by the demons, and the despaired cries of the men that saw their family’s fate…” (Saintess Elvira)

“But…” Saintess Elvira suddenly raised her face as she stared right into Slime Tarot’s eyes that started to waver.

“As if the gods answered my prayers, another dream appeared. Different from before, this time it’s the scene where a young man, surrounded by thousands of demons, standing proudly without showing any sign of fear as he holds firm his staff,” (Saintess Elvira)

(S-She saw me?) (Slime)

“I remember his face, his build, his hair, and his smirk. As he summoned some powerful beings to fight together with him, the intense murderous intent he emitted that made the demons waver felt so warm that I could still feel the warmth until now, but!” Saintess Elvira grips Slime’s right hand even tighter with both of her hands.

“At the end of the scene, rather than a victorious cry or a prideful joy for achieving the glory of protecting the world from the threat of the demons, all I saw from him is that lonely back as he said three words with a self-mocking tone as he stared into his right palm,” (Saintess Elvira)

(What a fool) (Slime Tarot)

“What a fool,” (Saintess Elvira) 

“……” Slime Tarot lost words as he couldn’t think anything to respond to Saintess Elvira as she just stared at her with a surprised expression.

“Ever since that day, I’ve been searching for the identity of the one that saved us from that army of demons that day. And I learned that his name is Ren Arken and the fact that this kingdom issued him as a heretic that conspire with the demons once back then. I’m so angry for that at first, but it seems that the current king is a dear friend of him and he had also erased that issue and cleared his friend’s reputation,” (Saintess Elvira)

(So she knew that much…) (Slime Tarot)

“It seems that you’re interested very much in this person named ‘Ren Arken’ as well, lady saintess. But it seems that you never mentioned that name in front of the Grandarian King nor his comrades, may I know why?” Slime is finally able to launch a question towards the lady saintess.

“I have been taught tact and consideration, I know that he is an important and dear friend for them. I don’t want to end up opening an old wound inside their heart, after all…” (Saintess Elvira)

“I see… You’re a kind-hearted one, aren’t you, lady saintess? Then tell me, why did you decide to tell me about this? Did you perhaps think that I might know about that certain person?” (Slime Tarot)

“It’s because!” Once again, Saintess Elvira holds Slime’s hands tighter as her face got even closer to Slime’s face.

“It’s because… That back of yours seems to be showing the same loneliness as that person’s back… And the both of you have a similar presence… I just… If that person is you… I just want to say thank you… Thank you…” (Saintess Elvira)

Tap!

“Eh?” (Saintess Elvira)

Saintess Elvira widens her eyes because of the sudden warmth emitted from the palm above her head.

*Sigh!*

“I might not be that person, but I believe this is what he will reply to you. Your welcome, I believe your desperate prayers must be the thing that pushed me into action, that’s why, thanks for your prayers, lady saintess,” (Slime)

Slime’s words are not a bluff nor an act. In that sentences, Saintess Elvira notice that it’s the words that came sincerely from him as the smile on his face currently is giving off a different vibe from the usual ones.

That sincere smile on Slime’s face made Saintess Elvira that is looking at his face from a very close distance got mesmerized by it.

“Mr. Slime-” (Saintess Elvira)

Just as Saintess Elvira was about to say something, suddenly Slime let go of her and jumped back as another figure appeared before her.

“Hero Lian!” (Saintess Elvira)