Shizuku’s POV*

Before parting with Shina-san, I made cookies for the last time.
There was a new oven in the kitchen.

“I wanted to make cookies with Shizuku-chan, so I exchanged.”

‘What do you think?’ Shina-san, whose eyes shined, was very cute.
In the carriage heading to the royal palace, I see a glass bottle containing the cookies I made with Shina-san.
The center of the perfectly round cookie is in the shape of a mint green drop.
This is a cookie with mint liqueur.
I didn’t know that there are many ways to make cookies, and this one was called an icebox cookie.
Dip butter cookie dough around a drop-shaped stick containing mint liqueur to form a round stick.
By freezing it and slicing it with a kitchen knife, a drop-shaped cross section was created. . .

“This is like Kintaro candy, isn’t it?”

“It’s fun.”

I can remember the two of us laughing as we made it like it was just a moment ago.
I sliced it, but because I’m not good at it, the thickness was all over the place, and the shape of the drop was a bit crushed.
But the finished cookie is like a treasure.

“Shizuku-chan’s favorite color and Shizuku-chan’s favorite shape.”

Because Shina-san was smiling gently.
Every time I see a cookie, I can remember that smile. . .

“It looks like we’ve arrived.”

My chest feels tight all the time.
As I was desperately suppressing it, the person with the glasses muttered.
And with those words as a signal, the carriage stops moving.
The carriage, which had been running without rest for three days, finally arrived at the royal palace.
It’s already night time.
I don’t feel nostalgic about the royal palace after a long time, but the royal palace was different than usual.

“It’s hectic. . . . What happened?”

“There is a report that the barrier is broken! The barrier magic tool is not working!”

Asked by the man with glasses, the soldier’s voice that answered was like a scream. . .
I knew that those words made the members of the Special Squad agitated.

“The barrier magic tool wasn’t working, and while we were investigating the cause, we received a report from the dragon knight Zezgard-sama. There is no barrier. It disappeared. He went back to the northern forest with a few guards to fight against magic beasts.”

“What about Ryleigh?”

“Ryleigh Gran-sama? I haven’t heard anything. . .”

“Chi”

The person with glasses clicks his tongue loudly.
However, he quickly regained his expression.

“Determine the response. Gather the people involved.”

“Haa”

After saying that, the person with the glasses left quickly.
He glanced at me one last time, but didn’t say anything.

“Saint-sama.”

I heard a worried voice from a member of the Special Squad.
I replied in a low voice.

“. . . I’ll put up a barrier. To the magic room.”

“Yes.”

We hurry to the room where the barrier magic tool is placed.
I think I’m walking properly, but somehow I’m strange.
After hearing that the barrier was broken, my vision seems to be distorted.
I don’t even know how it’s going.
Only the presence of the glass jar containing the cookies in my right hand is felt strongly.

. . . . And then, before I knew it, there was a room with the magic tool.

Some kind of pattern is drawn on the floor with a bright red stone in the center.
The pedestal that supported the stone was made of metal, and was richly carved.

This room in the basement is completely silent. . .
The special squad did not enter inside.

“. . . I don’t know this world.”

There are things written on the ceiling, the walls, everywhere.
. . . . These letters, these patterns.
It’s all none of my business.

“. . . I don’t care about this country.”

This feeling hasn’t changed since the beginning.
After all, it doesn’t matter what happens now, I can’t think of wanting to protect this country at all.

But. . . . .

“I want to protect you.”

. . . If I am a saint.
. . . If I am truly loved by God.

“Give me the strength. Power to protect that person.”

I open the glass jar and remove the cookies from inside.
When I put it in my mouth, the first thing I taste is butter.
It was sweet, and when I swallowed it down, only the freshness of mint remained in my mouth.

“. . . . It’s delicious.”

It also has a crispy texture.
A slightly distorted drop shape.

“Absolutely help.”

Shina-san said so.
I wonder how much that saved me.

“So, me too. . .”

. . . Because I love you.

“. . . I will definitely help you.”

A big bright red stone.
I kneeled in front of it and folded my hands in front of my chest. And close my eyes.
I don’t know how, but my heart tells me to do it.

“God. . . god. . . god. . .”

Please give me the strength to keep that smile that I love so much from disappearing.

“. . . [Holy Magic]”

The moment I chanted, light overflowed from the magic tool.

“. . .”

Baffling.
I feel like something is leaving my body.
But I won’t lose.
I don’t want a single drop left.
All the power I can put in. . . . . .

“. . . . . I . . .”

Unable to support my body, I collapse on the spot.
The floor that touched my cheek was cold.
When I opened my eyes, the light that had been there just now disappeared, and instead, the patterns and letters drawn in the room seemed to shine.

“Well. . . did I do it?”

I can’t move my body well.
When I tried to check it somehow, the door of the room opened with a bang.
And then, I heard some footsteps and voices. . .
Before I knew it, someone had woken me up.

“Congratulations. The barrier has been rebuilt.”

Oh, this voice is the guy with glasses.
Even though the tone is polite, that voice makes you feel like he’s making fun of someone.

“As I thought. . . you are the saint.”

At the same time as the laughing voice, I can feel my body being lifted.
I’m sure I will be carried to the room like this.
The room I’ve been using since I came to this world.
A spacious, clean and luxurious room for the Saint.

“Shina, san. . .”

With a body that can’t move, in a dark world, but relying only on those words.

. . . After all, I was the saint.
. . . I was the one who was called to this world.

“I’m. . . . sorry. . . .”

The fact that I’m the one who got you involved.
If you hadn’t bumped into me at that time, you wouldn’t have come to this world. . .

“I’m sorry. . . . . .”

I hopeless fact.

“. . . . . .I’m, sorry”

Even though she’s not here, I can’t stop the words coming out of my mouth. . .

. . .I’m glad I’m the saint.

Because I could protect you.

. . . I wish I wasn’t the saint.

. . . with you.
Because I wanted to be with you.

Shizuku feels so guilty, but Shina would never blame her.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter and thank you for reading!