He Became the Only Ally of the Abandoned Warrior

Yours always, Mr. Lee.

A bee... how romantic.

Just as Lucy had hugged her letter, Naidrian pressed hers to her chest and let out a warm sigh. To the high elf, who was not just an elf but also a botanist, Lin’s simple metaphor carried immense significance. In fact, she found romance in every aspect of their correspondence, from his handwriting to the very nature of their relationship, which existed only through letters.

Naidrian, who struggled with basic communication and had no experience with romance, found herself increasingly captivated by Mr. Lee. It was a straightforward and predictable development.

The archer read the letter over and over before finally sitting down at her desk to write a reply. Starting with a greeting and gratitude for the investment, the letter soon became filled with unwarranted praise for Lin's metaphor about the bee, which she found so romantic, and an expression of how his support was what allowed her to endure and get this far.

When my research is complete, could I perhaps meet you in person?

But writing that sentence took an enormous amount of deliberation and resolve. What if she met him and didn’t find his appearance attractive? But that wasn't her concern at all. Even if he were one-eyed and crippled, Naidrian wouldn’t mind. Her worry was the opposite: what if Mr. Lee didn’t like her? What if he got frustrated because she couldn’t communicate properly?

But those worries no longer held her back. The anticipation and joy of writing to him, of expressing her thoughts clearly and openly, had made her more eager to take that step.

I would very much like to thank you in person, my benefactor.

And I hope we can deepen our bond.

“Kyaa~!”

Unable to write that last part, Naidrian squealed in delight, imagining meeting Mr. Lee and, perhaps someday, even having grandchildren together. She hugged herself, her cheeks flushed red, and paced excitedly around her room.

Meanwhile, someone else was just as entranced by a letter.

“To my beloved Lucy… To my beloved Lucy… To my beloved Lucy…”

Whether it was by chance or intent, the mage might have advised Lin to use this phrase repeatedly, knowing Lucy's unstable mental state. Whether accidental or deliberate, it had certainly prevented a catastrophe.

Why are you only reading the first sentence...?

Had the mental conditioning worked too well? The Chasm, exasperated, pointed out the issue, and Lucy finally began to read the letter properly. The contents were quite ordinary—Lin asked how she was doing and praised her for holding up well in his absence. That alone made Lucy happy, but the next part of the letter made her eyes widen, and she had to read it again.

I’ve been blessed by the Goddess and have now advanced to the class of ‘Item Master.’ As a combatant, I’ve become much stronger, and I finally feel like I can fully contribute to the Hero’s party.

Also, despite some difficulties, Tigrea has had her unique item enhanced by the Goddess as well. It’s a great sign that our strength is increasing to prepare for the fight against the Demon Generals.

“Lin has gotten stronger? And so has Tigrea?”

The fact that Lin casually mentioned Tigrea’s name filled Lucy with a disturbing suspicion that something had happened between them.

“That thieving cat…!”

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Oh! Isn’t it good news that Lin has become a combatant?

“Don’t be ridiculous! There are already so many people after him, and if he’s out fighting, he could get hurt even worse than before!”

He got hurt even when you were there, didn’t he? It’s fine. Now that the mage has powered up too, you’ll have more options for fighting in different formations.

“What do you mean by different formations?”

Well, I’m not sure exactly what an Item Master does, but it should be someone who supports the saint, the archer, or the mage, giving you more opportunities to shine…

“Lin!”

Lucy cut off the Chasm, emphasizing each word.

“Lin should only be by my side. There are no other formations. Understand?”

The Chasm chuckled darkly. It was so easy to get the reaction it wanted with just a little push. The other members of the Hero’s party were digging their own graves; there was no need to bother with them. As long as the Hero, the only real variable, remained under its influence, everything would proceed smoothly. Thanks to Lin, this was all too easy.

But even the Chasm couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt towards Lin. The pain he was enduring was comparable to that of Tiana, the First Hero, who had become the Demon King.

Our revenge has only just begun, hasn’t it?

When the Illusionist visited her on the Zramon Archipelago, she handed over a concentrated essence, most of the power the Demon King had deliberately withheld. Understanding the Demon King’s intentions, the Chasm immediately absorbed the power and began its activities.

In other words, the Demon King that the Fourth Hero’s party defeated had been far from his full strength. The moment he realized that his death was the first step toward the next phase, he had taken action. People had forgotten, but the Demon King was never to be underestimated, even in death.

I will make everything in this world regret its existence.

Even the Goddess and the Demon God, if necessary.

Hiding its true intentions, the Chasm whispered to Lucy.

Don’t worry. If the mage tries to take over your role by getting stronger, you can just weaken her again, right?

“How?”

Break the unique item given by the Goddess, or leave her half-dead.

“Would Lin like that?”

What are you talking about?

The Chasm felt frustrated.

Of course, you’d have to do it secretly. Do you want him to hate you?

“Yes, I’ll do that. I have to.”

Lucy nodded vigorously, lost in her thoughts. To her, no one mattered anymore, not as a companion, except for Lin.

“You called for me, Commander?”

While everyone else was lost in their own fantasies, Arsil, still in tatters, had been summoned by Ailan. The duke, sitting in the office where the crown princess should have been, waved a fan idly, buried in a mountain of paperwork.

“I heard the Hero caused quite a stir this morning?”

“Well… Lucy suddenly went berserk…”

“Do you take me for a fool? Don’t you think I know that you provoked her, which led to this mess?”

Although Arsil was technically a member of the Church, as a saint, she was still under the command of Ailan Decarrun, the Supreme Commander of the Demon Army Front. Unlike Linasien, Ailan was thorough and charismatic, making Arsil feel like a cornered mouse.

“Arsil, when you first joined as a newly appointed saint, you were a straightforward, honest fool.”

Snap—Ailan flicked open her fan, causing Arsil to flinch.

“After a few battles and attending some meetings, you’ve become a half-baked politician.”

“Are you… scolding me?”

“Let’s see. According to the report, you said to the Hero, ‘Did you really hit a comrade?’”

Snap—The fan closed again, revealing Ailan’s mocking smile.

“The palace report said you tore off the Hero’s right arm, didn’t it?”

“How did you…?”

“Even though I’m a collateral member of the royal family, I’m still a close confidant of the crown princess. I only heard about it after the fact, but still.”

What bothered Ailan more was Arsil’s reaction. The panic she showed when her mistake was exposed marked her as nothing more than a petty, self-serving individual.

“The reason I held you in high regard was because, despite being foolish and selfish, you never hesitated to act for your comrades.”

But now, Arsil had put on a performance in front of the entire palace, hiding her betrayal of Lucy and emphasizing the Hero’s attack on her comrades.

“The only reason you’re still here is that the crown princess sees you as a political partner.”

In truth, she’s just using you as a pawn.

Swallowing the harsh words, Ailan got to the point.

“The whereabouts of the mage and the porter have been discovered.”

“Where are they?!”

“The city of Gillesman.”

The answer came from another source. Arsil turned to see the silver-haired thief entering the office.

“Rabin!”

“Whoa there. Staring at me like that makes it hard to greet the commander properly. Could you please keep your eyes to yourself? I’m worried you might stab me in the back.”

Arsil lowered her head, embarrassed. As much as she hated her, if she had responded arrogantly, Rabin would have immediately drawn her dagger.

“How did you know about Gillesman, thief?”

Since she couldn’t reveal that the Demon Generals had informed her, Rabin improvised.

“I asked the World Postal Service that delivered the letters today about their affiliations and range of activity. They said they’re currently running a golden carriage in Gillesman.”

“I see. I knew as well. The mage sent word to the palace this morning. She mentioned they were in Gillesman and that they would return by teleportation magic this evening.”

So, she was testing me.

If there had been any suspicious details in the information she received, Ailan would have immediately added Rabin to her hit list. Despite being a double agent, Rabin served as the eyes and ears of the crown princess, and Ailan was probing to see if she had fully switched allegiances to Linasien. This same game was being played by the crown princess back on the Zramon Archipelago, making Rabin’s life a living hell.

Rabin pulled out a letter from her pocket and handed it to Ailan. After quickly skimming through the letter, which had been mostly written by Reinhold under Linasien's orders, Ailan nodded.

“This part aligns with my own thoughts.”

She casually tossed the letter behind her and gave a half-hearted pat on Rabin’s shoulder.

“When the mage and the porter return, you’ll leave for the Church the following morning, as you wanted.”

“The morning after they return? But that won’t give the Church enough time to prepare for our visit…”

“There’s a famine; they don’t have any food to offer anyway. The purpose of visiting the Church is to regroup the Hero’s party, so there’s no reason to delay.”

Ailan’s reasoning was sound, so Arsil couldn’t argue.

“And when the porter returns, please heal him, would you? He’s been tainted by the Demon King’s dark magic, and there’s been no report of you using your holy power to heal him since he returned. Please, I’m begging you, Saint Arsil, who cares so deeply for her comrades.”

Snap—The fan opened again as the duke gave a dismissive gesture.

Arsil was confused. She was aware of her mistakes, but she had acted with purpose. Yet, she had failed to achieve her goals and had been reduced to a beggar, relying on the charity of others. What difference was there between this and her life in the Sludge Alley?

If anything, she had only added sin to her burden and lost her way. What would Mr. Lee think of her if he saw her now? Though she hadn’t lived a pure life from the start, betraying the trust she valued most would surely earn his disdain.

“Hey, Rabin.”

“Get lost.”

Arsil wanted to confide in her old comrade, but Rabin coldly ignored her. Watching her retreating figure, Arsil wondered what she would do if that figure weren’t Rabin’s but Mr. Lee’s. Could she bear it?

“Urk…!”

The thought alone made her want to vomit. Forcing herself to recall the ten carriages that had set out for the Sludge Alley, Arsil tried to calm herself.

She would be punished, surely. But if her sacrifice could help them move forward, it would be worth it. Mr. Lee would surely forgive her in the end, even if he scolded her harshly.

That was the last hope and stubborn pride of a foolish saint who had never truly understood sacrifice.