Hush Now, Saintess! - Chapter 103

Chapter 103

Translator: Yonnee

—

‘Is, is he… really on the verge of rampage?’

Despite my uneasy feeling, I decided to trust Jelly for now.

What else could I do in this situation?

As Jelly said, Hildeon’s party was not far away.

Seeing figures through the leaves, I hurried my steps in relief. Then, in the next moment,

Whoosh—

A sword swung above my head, raining corn leaves down on me.

A near-death experience was a complimentary service, it seemed.

Anyway, back to the present.

When asked what brought me here, I answered.

“I came because I was summoned.”

“Summoned? You mean, you received a prophecy?”

At Hildeon’s mumbling, Hans—or rather Hestin, now that his real name was revealed—sighed and poked his side.

“Your Highness, what else could a summon be to a saint but a prophecy? That’s a pointless question.”

Well, there is another type…

Not a prophecy, but a silly summon?

As I chuckled softly, Hestin straightened up and looked at me.

“You’re truly remarkable. To receive a prophecy twice. So, what was the oracle this time that brought you here?”

There was a hint of probing in his flattering words.

He was quite skilled at subtly probing without offending.

I pretended to ponder for a moment.

Although I had prepared my words in advance, a bit of hesitation would make it seem more genuine.

‘I had a dream of a black dragon. It scratched its back furiously, and black scales erupted. Then it went on rampage, tearing up the cornfield. When I came to my senses, I thought of this place and rushed over. We must leave immediately.’

That was the excuse I had prepared.

Just as I was about to speak,

Ding—!

An ominous notification bell rang out for the first time in a while.

‘…Why now?’

The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

But whether I liked it or not, a mission window had already appeared in mid-air.

〈 Hidden Mission: Eliminate Misfortune! [NEW]

– Content: Multiple bugs have been detected in the warehouse beyond the cornfield.
It’s full of misfortune that surpasses bad luck!
Eliminate them quickly before they evolve into a disaster!

– Bug elimination conditions: Find the original illegal documents / Sprinkle holy water on the bug-infested people

– Mission perks: 10 bonus stats will be awarded upfront!

– Mission success reward: Reputation +10 / Bonus stats +5 / Rare item (???)

– Mission failure penalty: Reputation -20 / Misfortune evolves into Catastrophe (causing multiple casualties, Hildeon goes on rampage) / Severe injury or death

※ The holy water needed for the mission is stored in the item storage. You can summon it through the real-world pocket.

※ Time limit: 2:00:00
(Time left until Misfortune evolves into a Catastrophe.)

※ This mission is linked to the next mission.

※ This is a compulsory hidden mission. 〉

Ding—!

〈 The perks of the hidden mission ‘Eliminate Misfortune’ have been awarded!

Bonus stats +10 〉

Ding—!

〈 Hidden Mission: Prevent Bugs from Swarming Hildeon! [NEW]

– Hildeon’s curse attracts bugs.
If bugs swarm, Hildeon will go berserk.}
Prevent bugs from swarming to stop Hildeon’s rampage!

– Condition: Physical contact with Hildeon
(The body part doesn’t matter.)

– Mission success reward: Bonus stats +5 / Hildeon’s curse weakens / Preserve your life

– Mission failure penalty: Hildeon’s rampage / Disaster situation / Severe injury or death

※ Time limit: 2:00:00

※ This mission is linked to the previous mission.

※ This is a compulsory hidden mission. 〉

…Why do my uneasy premonitions always come true?

‘Severe injury or death. Disaster. Hildeon’s rampage.’

There wasn’t a single word that didn’t unsettle me. Regret flooded in like a tidal wave.

‘I should’ve just paid to bring Hamelle.’

If I had done that, none of this would have happened in the first place.

However, regretting things too late was worse than not regretting at all.

For now, the priority was to think about what needed to be done.

‘First, the plan to leave the cornfield is dismissed.’

If I left here now, I would fail the ‘Eliminate Misfortune’ mission and Hildeon would go berserk.

In the end, there was only one way left.

“The prophecy I received…”

At my words, the two people directed tense gazes at me.

I opened my mouth with as solemn a face as possible.

“Your Highness and I need to join hands, thoroughly raid the pawnshop beyond the cornfield, and find the illegal documents. And we have to do it within the next two hours.”

* * *

“This way.”

“…Yes.”

With a stiff reply, Hildeon moved awkwardly.

In this crucial situation tied to a prophecy, he couldn’t focus at all.

It was all because of the warmth he felt in his hand.

Unlike his own stiff hand, it was small, soft, and warm.

It was none other than Roella’s hand.

‘Who would have thought that joining hands was meant in a literal sense?’

Hildeon’s nape turned bright red.