This was the perspective of Nina, the novice apprentice Saint.
My name was Nina. I was a newbie apprentice Saint who had recently returned to the Royal Capital from the Tower City.
Winter had ended and spring had arrived, bringing with it an increasing number of warm, pleasant days. Iris-sama, who had been reborn as the Alraune plant monster, was surely spending her days in comfort as well.
As for me, I spent my mornings helping out at the dining hall owned by the merchant Merkel-san. I was busy preparing meals for the orphans who lived in the Slums. Just as I finished the general preparations, a young boy slipped into the shop through the back door.
"Saint big sister, is this enough Saint Nectar for today’s share?"
"Yes. Please distribute it equally so that it reaches everyone."
The boy who had once tried to steal Saint Nectar from me had now become a leader among the children of the Slums. I had enlisted his help to spread the nectar among the poor of the Royal Capital, using it to heal the sick and satisfy the hunger of the orphans. The boy, once a mere pickpocket, had truly turned over a new leaf and was performing his duties admirably.
I noticed a yellow feather tucked into his hat.
"What is that feather for?"
"Hehe, looks good, right? I wanted to match you, Saint big sister."
On the recommendation of the Holy Mother, I had begun wearing the yellow feather of the Four Heavenly King Garudafresvelgr as a hair ornament. It was intended to spread word of my achievement in defeating him. Thanks to the boys who looked up to me, both the yellow feather and my name had become well-known throughout the capital. I truly felt I had much to be grateful for.
However, the boys were not the only ones I appreciated. I had managed to build excellent relationships with the regular customers at the dining hall as well. Usually, we just bonded over our love for Saint Nectar Pancakes, but thanks to their word-of-mouth, news of the nectar eventually reached the ears of the capital’s great merchants.
Merkel-san had been absolutely overjoyed when she signed a contract to sell a portion of the Saint Nectar to one of those prominent traders. What had started on the outskirts of the Royal Capital was now poised to spread among the nobility. It felt as though Iris-sama, who had passed away five years ago, was finally being recognized by the capital once again. It made me incredibly happy; if I told her about this, she would surely be pleased.
"Nina-sama, isn't it nearly time for you to depart?"
"Oh, you're right! I have an important meeting today, so I can't afford to be late. Merkel-san, I'll leave the rest to you."
I hurried past the long line of customers waiting for the dining hall to open and climbed into the carriage I had waiting. Today, I had to attend a critical meeting at the Royal Castle alongside the Holy Mother of the Saint Cathedral.
After meeting up with the Holy Mother along the way, I set foot inside the Royal Castle—the very heart of the nation—for the first time. When we arrived at the conference room, I was struck by the illustrious figures gathered there. The nation’s Prime Minister was present, along with various ministers, high-ranking nobles, the Knight Commander of the Royal Capital, and the Chief Court Mage. Representing the Saint Cathedral were the Holy Mother and myself, while the Archbishop and other church executives represented the Church.
However, the Hero and the Saint of the Lamp were nowhere to be found. It seemed they had not been summoned to this council.
"His Majesty the King is entering!"
At the guard’s announcement, I hurriedly stood up. The King entered the room and took his seat at the head of the table on a raised platform. Following him, a young woman took her seat at the high table.
"The Saint of the Lamp...!"
The name escaped my lips in a whisper of shock. She had married the Hero, the Second Prince, and was now a member of the Royalty. Her seat beside the King indicated that she was attending this meeting as a royal, not merely as a Saint of the cathedral.
The meeting began, and the agenda was exactly what I had anticipated. The Prime Minister, acting as chairperson, addressed the King.
"We shall now share information and discuss countermeasures regarding the new member of the Demon King’s Army's Four Heavenly Kings who has seized control of the Tower City."
"Recently, a certain flyer was scattered across the major cities of the kingdom by Harpies belonging to the Demon King’s Army."
Attendants distributed a single sheet of paper to every participant. The message on the paper, which had been spread by the enemy, could be summarized as follows:
The new Four Heavenly King of the Demon King’s Army, the Crimson Flower Princess Alraune, is preparing to destroy the Kingdom of Gardenia. If you do not wish to be unilaterally slaughtered, come and face her.
Wh-wh-wh-what in the world was this?!
The Crimson Flower Princess Alraune—that had to be Iris-sama!
"This is essentially a declaration of war against the kingdom by the Crimson Flower Princess Alraune, who has recently ascended to the rank of the Four Heavenly Kings," the Prime Minister explained.
Iris-sama... a member of the Four Heavenly Kings? No, I couldn't believe it. I had no idea what was actually happening.
"I have brought a witness who has actually encountered this Crimson Flower Princess. Bring him in."
At the Prime Minister’s command, a man entered the room. To my shock, he was an acquaintance.
"He was the appointed Knight Commander of the Tower City. After the Crimson Flower Princess took control of the city, he managed to escape to the capital alone to deliver this report. Knight Commander, speak."
"As you wish. The Man-eater Alraune... the Crimson Flower Princess is a terrifying monster. She has used the power of plants to brainwash the residents of the Tower City and now rules over them. She is cunning, cruel, and as a plant, she views humans as nothing more than fertilizer. She is an extremely dangerous entity."
"Wait just a moment, Knight Commander! That isn't true at all!"
I raised my voice, unable to contain my anger. The Crimson Flower Princess Alraune was Iris-sama. While she had indeed become a monster, she was not a dangerous being who would ever be hostile toward humans.
However, my protest fell on deaf ears. The Prime Minister turned a cold gaze toward me.
"You were the commoner apprentice Saint, were you not? I do not recall granting you permission to speak. Hold your tongue."
The Holy Mother pressed my head down, forcing me to apologize. "I am terribly sorry," I murmured. I knew I would be scolded by the Holy Mother later, but I simply couldn't stand by while Iris-sama’s honor was defiled.
The Knight Commander seemed to notice my presence and continued his testimony.
"The apprentice Saint has been deceived. After all, the Crimson Flower Princess's true identity is not an Alraune, but a Dryades."
"According to the carpenters of the Tower City, she is a Dryades. She is likely a companion of the Spirit Princess Vergissmeinnicht, another of the Four Heavenly Kings."
The nobles in the room began to stir. "The Tower City... isn't that where the Hero was defeated by the Spirit Princess fifty years ago?" "A Dryades being the new King... that sounds plausible."
Satisfied with the reaction, the Knight Commander raised a fist and shouted.
"The Lord of Tower City, the residents, and even the Sisters of the Church have already been brainwashed by that Man-eater Alraune! She likely intends to use the residents as food! To save them, we must exterminate that creature immediately!"
His words, coming from a man of noble birth, moved the hearts of the council. In contrast, I—a commoner apprentice—was not even allowed to speak. I was well aware of how this status-based society worked, but my own helplessness was agonizing. If only I were a Saint who represented the nation like Iris-sama, perhaps I would have had some influence.
The Prime Minister resumed the meeting based on the commander’s testimony.
"The Crimson Flower Princess's invasion has already begun. Just the other day, the Freiheit Great Plains to the east of the Tower City vanished from the map."
The Prime Minister gestured toward the map of the kingdom displayed in the hall.
"During the winter, the plains were transformed into a vast forest. It appears the Alraune’s Forest in the Tower City has swallowed the Freiheit Great Plains entirely."
If the forest continued to spread, there was a risk that neighboring towns would be consumed as well. I was shaken; I hadn't realized things had become so dire. I couldn't believe Iris-sama would attack the kingdom, but the fact remained that the plains were gone. Did she have a reason to do this that I didn't know about?
As the participants argued, the sharp voice of the Saint of the Lamp cut through the noise.
"Silence, everyone."
"Plant-based monsters grow stronger in the summer. It would be wise to exterminate her during the spring."
Her words incited the bellicose nobles to stand. "Let us send the Kingdom’s Knight Order and annihilate her!" "No, she manipulates people. A large army might be a liability." "We should send an Advance Squad first." "Better to send an Elite force to strike her down." "The Saint of the Lamp has experience defeating the Four Heavenly Kings alongside the Hero." "Yes! Let us rely on the strength of the Hero and the Saint of the Lamp once more!"
The council’s eyes turned toward her. However, the Saint of the Lamp replied in an unmotivated, airy tone.
"I find such things terribly tiresome. I have no intention of leaving the Royal Castle, and my husband feels the same."
"But there is no one else capable of standing against one of the Four Heavenly Kings," the Prime Minister pleaded.
"In that case, we have a perfectly good candidate right here. Isn't that right, Nina?"
My heart leapt into my throat as she called my name.
"Nina. I heard you defeated a member of the Four Heavenly Kings. That is quite an achievement."
"I... I am honored, My Lady..."
"You have the skill, and since you were stationed in the Tower City, you have the best knowledge of the area. Nina, I am appointing you as the person in charge of the subjugation of the Crimson Flower Princess Alraune."
What was she saying? She wanted me to lead a unit to kill Iris-sama? I wanted no part of it.
"I am but a humble apprentice of commoner birth. I am not worthy of such a heavy responsibility..."
"Then I shall officially recommend you for promotion to a full Saint. The people of the capital already adore you and call you a Saint, so there should be no problem, correct?"
It was impossible to refuse a royal command. I looked toward the Holy Mother for help, but my superior remained silent, her gaze fixed on the floor. In that moment, I understood everything. The reason she had encouraged my charity work and found me noble backers was all to pave the way for me to become a new Saint. It had clearly been decided behind closed doors long ago.
The Saint of the Lamp gave me a pleasant smile.
"It would be confusing to have two Saints with the same title. Therefore, from this day forward, you shall be known as the 'Saint of the Yellow Wings'."
"The Saint of the Yellow Wings...?"
"Yes. I am aware your followers in the city wear yellow feathers to emulate you. And the dining hall you support is called the Yellow Wing Dining Hall, is it not?"
Merkel-san had chosen that name on her own because she wanted to honor me, but it seemed the Saint of the Lamp had done her research.
"Nina, this is a vital mission to save the kingdom. I have high expectations for your success in this subjugation."
"I understand..."
Oh, how did it come to this? Iris-sama, I am so sorry. I’ve been made the leader of the force sent to destroy you.
I lowered my head, hiding my face from the rest of the council. I had no idea what to do.
Please help me, Iris-sama!
As I prayed in my heart, I secretly took a sip of Iris-sama’s Saint Nectar from my water bottle.
This was the perspective of Nina, the novice apprentice Saint. It was a continuation of her previous perspective as well.
Next time: Newbie Apprentice Saint and the Bustling Royal Capital – Latter Part.