Me, the Weakest Member of the Hero’s Party? I’m the Villain Though? - Chapter 83
Elonen turned his gaze toward where screams and shouts were erupting. Before he knew it, the priests had come out wielding weapons, risking their lives as they faced the black dragon.
Beyond them, he could see the vineyard engulfed in pitch-black flames. The peaceful scenery that had been waiting only for harvest had been twisted into something horrific.
“B-But we have to protect the sanctuary…”
“Leave the sanctuary to the other priests, and just make sure you survive!”
Elonen spoke in a trembling voice, but Dane answered firmly as he dragged him toward a secret passage.
When they reached the secret passage, several young priests were already gathered there, sniffling and crying.
“Listen carefully, Elonen. You have to get these young priests out safely. Do you understand?”
Dane said as he firmly grasped Elonen’s still-dazed face. Coming to his senses too late, Elonen clutched Dane’s arm and clung to him.
“Aren’t you coming with us?”
“You’re a priest blessed by God. You must survive and bring about God’s miracles.”
“But…!”
Elonen cried out, his face pale, but without a moment’s hesitation, Dane shoved him into the passage and shut the door.
“Dane, Dane! Open this, please!”
Elonen shouted as he pounded on the tightly closed door. His voice echoed through the dark passage.
* * *
“…lonen, Elonen!”
Lost in his past thoughts, Elonen flinched at the sound of someone calling him and turned his head.
Sharp red eyes were staring straight at him, and his heart dropped. Then he realized it was Lysian and rubbed his chest in relief.
“What were you thinking about so deeply?”
Elonen glanced past Lysian’s shoulder at the party following behind them.
“Ah, I’m sorry. I was thinking about the past for a bit. By the way, why did you call me?”
“You looked like you were in pain, so I was wondering if the injury from earlier had gotten worse.”
At Lysian’s gentle concern, Elonen regained his smile.
“I’m fine. But what about you, Lysian? You’re not hurt anywhere, right? I was worried I might’ve asked too much of you earlier…”
“Too much? Not at all. If anything, I was grateful that you trusted someone like me who doesn’t have any abilities.”
Hearing Lysian, who rarely showed his emotions, thank him first made Elonen feel awkward for no reason.
It felt strange, yet not unpleasant, to be having a conversation where he and Lysian praised each other like this.
“What do you mean you don’t have any abilities. Lysian, you have excellent judgment. You thought of finding the life vessel in the dungeon and using it to get information. Thanks to that, we even learned about the sacred relics.”
Ever since hearing about the sacred relics from the lich, Elonen had kept recalling events from the past. He wondered what kind of connection existed between the Black Flame Dragon and the relics.
“What do you think the Black Flame Dragon was trying to do by collecting those relics?”
“…I don’t know either.”
“I really want to find the Black Flame Dragon and take the chalice back.”
Elonen had to reclaim the chalice from him, no matter what. After taking the chalice back, he had to avenge his brothers against the Black Flame Dragon.
Only then could he return to that monastery and pray proudly before his brothers’ graves.
“You’ll definitely get it back. I guarantee it.”
Lysian said with great confidence, placing a hand on his chest. At his reassurance, Elonen smiled softly.
He always acted indifferent, but to Elonen, Lysian was thoughtful and quite kind. He felt glad to have become companions with him.
It hadn’t been long since he’d started traveling with Lysian, but just as Kyle had said, Lysian had already become an important presence in this hero’s party.
* * *
Before long, the Grand Duke, now fully freed from the curse, treated us lavishly. My eyes widened at the table laden so heavily with food that it looked like it might collapse.
“Eat a lot, Lysian.”
Kyle said as he placed a huge chicken leg onto my plate. Not to be outdone, Derek put a thick steak onto my plate as well.
“Eat this too.”
Watching that, Kyle filled my cup with a drink. Seeing that, Derek slid a plate piled high with fruit toward me.
“T-That’s enough.”
I panicked at the food stacking up in front of me to an overwhelming degree.
“Yeah, he’s not a baby. He can eat on his own. Just leave him be.”
Thanks to Gerard’s welcome intervention, I was finally able to eat in peace.
