This story is told from the perspective of the Great Sage.
My name was Otfried.
I was nothing more than a humble, insignificant old man.
Despite that, I found myself summoned to an audience with the Emperor at a summer resort within the Glanz Empire.
An ordinary old man wouldn't normally be called for by name by His Imperial Majesty, but there were many people who insisted on calling me the Great Sage.
Because of that title, I was acquainted with important figures all over the world.
I was really just an old-timer whose only reason for living was traveling with my grandson, though.
The Emperor had arrived incognito at a manor in this city, which sat right on the border of the Kingdom of Gardenia.
Apparently, he was accompanied by the famous Third Consort, the one who was never seen at the Imperial Capital.
The reason the Emperor was known as such a devoted husband was because of her—the Princess of the Abyss.
"Oh, if it isn't Great Sage Otfried. Good day to you."
"Well, well, if it isn't Saint Zelma. It has been quite a while. Has it been since your wedding ceremony with the Hero?"
In the waiting room for my audience with the Emperor, I ran into the Saint of Lamplight from the Kingdom of Gardenia.
It appeared she had also visited this city in secret.
"But why is Saint Zelma here? Does this have something to do with the Empire dispatching troops to Tower City?"
"Yes, exactly. I happened to be visiting a rural town near the border to provide comfort to the people, but when I heard of the national crisis, I acted immediately. My father-in-law, the King, scolded me for being reckless, of course."
Thanks to Saint Zelma's intervention, the Kingdom of Gardenia and the Glanz Empire had signed a peace treaty.
By venturing into enemy territory alone and at great personal risk, she enabled swift negotiations. As a result, neither army suffered a single casualty.
It was said that the voices of the people in the Kingdom of Gardenia were rising in praise of Zelma, calling her a true Saint.
Conversely, rumors suggested the nobility found her to be a nuisance.
In the Royal Castle, she reportedly carried herself as if she were a princess, spending money on herself like water and even meddling in political affairs.
Such selfishness was likely only permitted because she was doted upon by her father-in-law, the King.
Still, it was unexpected to see the King take such a liking to Saint Zelma.
In the past, the King had been extremely fond of Saint Iris, who was originally intended to become his daughter-in-law.
I remembered it well—the look on the King's face when he confessed to me how much he looked forward to the day she joined the Royalty. He looked like the very definition of a doting father.
If Saint Iris had become the Queen, the future of the Kingdom of Gardenia would have been secure.
Not only was she beloved by the commoners and possessed a merciful heart, but her fame resounded across the continent and even reached the ears of the Demon King's Army.
Furthermore, because she possessed extraordinary Light Magic that rivaled the first Saint and had the backing of her family's Ducal House, the country would have flourished.
Yes, everyone believed it to be so—until that tragedy struck. It was a terrible shame.
If I could, I would have liked to see her one more time.
I wanted to thank her for saving my hometown.
Beyond that, although Saint Iris had passed away, I never imagined the King would dote on her replacement, Saint Zelma, as if she were his own flesh and blood.
Their personalities were polar opposites; I truly wondered what he found so charming about her.
Regardless, a Saint was a Saint.
To the people of the Kingdom of Gardenia, who respected and worshiped such figures, a Saint capable of wielding Light Magic was a special existence.
"Since Saint Zelma is here, does that mean you are treating the Third Consort, Lady Hakanaki?"
"Oh, you certainly have sharp ears. That was supposed to be a secret."
With my information network as the Great Sage, discovering such details was a simple matter.
This imperial invasion was triggered by a request from Imperial Princess Freundliche to the Emperor, but I wondered why he had accepted such nonsense.
It likely coincided with the Emperor’s own desire to get back at the Dryades who had cursed his beloved Third Consort.
I suspected he also wanted to show off for the woman he loved, but I never thought he would become a man so blinded by infatuation.
In his youth, the Emperor was a more sensible man with an excellent sense of balance, but the passage of time was a frightening thing.
The sudden invasion of the Kingdom had sparked significant backlash even within the Empire.
As a result, it had been decided behind the scenes that the architect of the plan, Imperial Princess Freundliche, would be forced to take full responsibility.
It was a pity, but that was the nature of such a place.
If you showed a single weakness, someone would sweep the rug out from under you.
Nobles were truly troublesome creatures.
"Lord Otfried, what do you think? Don't you find it beautiful?"
Saint Zelma showed off her red hair.
Her strawberry blonde locks somehow seemed to shimmer as if infused with Light Magic.
Had I finally grown senile?
"This luster and brilliance are thanks to this Saint Hair Tonic currently trending in both the Kingdom and the Empire. Even you must think it's beautiful, Great Sage?"
It was certainly lovely.
If a product called Saint Hair Tonic could make such a difference, I thought I might want to get some myself. I could already see the joy on my old woman’s face.
So, the bottle Zelma was holding was the Saint Hair Tonic. Good, I made a mental note of it.
I decided I would buy some as a souvenir on my way home.
"To think such a thing was being manufactured in the frontier. I fell behind the trend because I was busy touring those rural southern towns. How frustrating."
Saint Zelma stared at her reflection in the mirror, looking quite entranced.
I didn't quite understand the appeal, but she clearly adored that Saint Hair Tonic.
"Hehe. I think I'll ask my Hero to order a massive shipment. But honestly, having it transported all the way from the countryside is such a bother."
She shifted her gaze to me, a seductive smile playing on her lips.
If a younger man had been standing there, his heart surely would have been stolen.
"So, I had a wonderful idea. I'll just extract the manufacturing secrets and produce it right in the Royal Capital! While I'm at it, I can ban production in Tower City so all the profits come to me. Don't you think that’s a grand idea, Great Sage?"
Zelma was originally from an orphanage managed by the Glanz Emperor’s consort.
When the Hero appeared in the Kingdom of Gardenia, she was hailed as a merciful Saint who volunteered her service to the Kingdom to aid him.
However, the Saint standing before me didn't look like she possessed a single drop of mercy.
I wondered what had changed her, or if she had been hiding her true nature from the very beginning.
A short while later, I was granted an audience with the Emperor alongside Saint Zelma.
I owed the Emperor a debt of gratitude for gifting me the Empire’s finest honey two years ago.
Though, Armin hadn't been satisfied with that nectar.
"Otfried! I am glad you came. Come, closer."
My friend, the Emperor, called out to me, sounding as lifeless as a man twice his age.
I couldn't believe he was only in his forties.
I had asked him many times if he was unwell, but he insisted he was perfectly fine.
However, a person who was clearly far more ill than the Emperor lay on the bed beside him.
The Third Consort, who was usually kept hidden away in the Detached Palace, lay there today, sleeping as if she were dead.
Her body was emaciated, and her skin was entirely hidden beneath layers of bandages.
Saint Zelma had remained here for a long time to treat the Third Consort's ailment.
The fact that there was still no sign of recovery meant that she couldn't be cured.
Even with the power of a Saint.
"My consort is suffering from a Spirit's Curse. Great Sage Otfried, perhaps you might be able to shed some light on this?"
I had always found this consort to be frightening.
Ever since this girl became the Third Consort, the Emperor had aged rapidly, as if his youth were being drained away.
Conversely, the consort seemed to grow more radiant and youthful. I had often wondered if she was literally stealing his life force.
Furthermore, she reminded me of her.
My former companion who had died fifty years ago.
Urged by the Emperor to examine the Third Consort, I peered at her face.
"This is... a plant."
Branches and leaves were growing from the consort's right eye. They were laden with small fruits.
Her right eyeball was completely gone.
I could also sense mana flowing from her body into the vegetation.
Moreover, her once-supple skin had become wrinkled like that of an old crone.
Her hair had turned as white as snow.
She looked just like the girl I had encountered two years ago in a village near the Dryades' Forest.
"A curse involving plants... only a Dryades could be capable of this."
However, I had heard that the Dryades of the Demon King's Army had been subjugated by Saint Nina.
Since the remaining Dryades' Younger Sister was supposed to be a recluse in the forest, I didn't think she would do such a thing to an imperial consort.
"Otfried, do you know? In the Dryades' Forest, there lives a monster called the Crimson Flower Princess Alraune. It was that monster that cursed my consort!"
"Then, would it not be best to send the Imperial Soldiers to exterminate this Alraune?"
"This hasn't been made public, but four thousand Imperial Soldiers were neutralized by the Alraune in an instant. It happened exactly as the General warned—that Alraune cannot be defeated."
If that report was accurate, then the Crimson Flower Princess Alraune possessed power on the level of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's Army.
It was shocking to learn that such an extraordinary monster lived in that forest.
"But even so, it is fine. It is Lady Hakanaki's wish that the monster suffers even a small portion of her pain. If it satisfies my beloved wife, I will send my troops as many times as it takes."
To invade another nation for such a reason... the Emperor truly had grown senile.
Or perhaps he simply loved the Third Consort that much.
The term "kingdom-toppling beauty" was an apt description.
"Is the reason you summoned me because you want me to deal with this Alraune?"
I didn't bother asking why an Alraune in the forest would curse a consort in the Empire.
People of the Imperial family, where conspiracies were constant, were bound to have a secret or two they wanted to keep buried.
"The Crimson Flower Princess Alraune is said to be terrifying and to possess immense power. Declaring war on the city, as we did recently, shouldn't cause direct harm, but the consort worries that if anything happens to the Alraune herself, the Empire will be cursed as well."
It seemed there was no choice but to lift the curse.
I didn't have fond memories of the Dryades' Forest myself, so I preferred not to go near it if possible.
By the way, what exactly had the Third Consort done to the Alraune?
Could it be related to the Saint Hair Tonic that was so popular lately?
I recalled that the label on the tonic Zelma was holding earlier featured a drawing of an Alraune.
Women were obsessed with beauty.
Perhaps she had meddled with the Alraune of Tower City depicted on that label and incurred its wrath.
"Even Saint Zelma could not break Lady Hakanaki's curse. If Saint Iris were still alive—the only one in the long history of the Church said to possess power rivaling the first Saint—I would have asked her. But she is dead, so that is impossible."
I heard that Saint Iris had also been close to the Imperial family.
Since she had lost her life at the young age of seventeen and her help was no longer an option, it seemed the Emperor had sought a friendship with a new Saint instead.
It appeared the Emperor's primary reason for permitting the invasion of Tower City was to secure the loan of Zelma from the Kingdom of Gardenia.
Even if Tower City was at fault for "stealing" the Barometz, the Kingdom of Gardenia had been quite generous to lend out a Saint, a national treasure.
"Aside from Saint Iris, there is only one other Saint in this world who can break this curse. That lady in the Holy Capital. I want you, Great Sage Otfried, to act as a bridge so she might heal my consort."
"That lady... you don't mean..."
"The 'Shrine Maiden of the Goddess' who leads all the churches and Saints in the world. Now that Saint Iris is gone, she is the greatest Saint in existence."
I looked around the room.
Only the Emperor, the cursed consort, Saint Zelma, and I were present.
I was glad I hadn't brought Armin to the palace.
The existence of the 'Shrine Maiden of the Goddess' was known only to a very select few within the Church and to the Saints themselves.
There were exceptions like me, but it seemed the Emperor was one of them as well.
"With your Wind Magic, Otfried, it should be possible to transport Lady Hakanaki to the Holy Capital in her current state. I am asking you as a friend. Please, save my wife."
To travel from the Empire to the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light, where the Holy Capital was located, one had to pass through the Kingdom of Gardenia. Furthermore, the sea had to be crossed.
Using an imperial ship was an option, but the open seas were perilous, dominated by the monsters of the Demon King's Army.
He couldn't bear to put his precious consort in such danger.
I had planned to return to my hometown this winter for the first time in ages, but it seemed those plans were now on hold.
I worried about leaving Armin behind, but I wasn't yet ready to take him to the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light.
The fact that Armin was a boy yet could use Light Magic was a secret I held alone.
That fact must never be discovered by others.
Especially not by the people of the Church, the headquarters of the Saints.
With the travel plans finalized, the Emperor began shouting instructions to his subordinates.
A few days later, the cursed Third Consort, Saint Zelma, and I were to set out for the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light.
Even so, the Emperor remained anxious.
He leaned in and whispered to me.
"Tell me, Great Sage Otfried. If it is that lady, the curse can be broken, can it not?"
"I cannot speak to the extent of her abilities, but if she grants us a portion of the legendary divine medicine 'Elixir' kept by the Kingdom of Myrte Holy Light, then perhaps."
The Goddess's Drop, which could heal any wound or lift any curse with a single sip.
It was as legendary as the Hero's Sword, said to have been forged by the Goddess a thousand years ago.
However, obtaining the Elixir was difficult even for me.
I didn't even know how many bottles still existed in this world.
It was a treasure of that magnitude.
"If the Elixir still exists..."
Then the suffering people across the globe might finally find salvation.
Next time: Imperial Princess Freundliche's secret ambition.