I Picked up a Corrupted Heroine (The Secret Boss), and When I Spoiled Her, She Became Uncontrollably Affectionate With Me - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: The Saint of the Moon Decides to Meet

I pointed at one of the items.

It was a small pendant with a clear red stone like a ruby set in it.

“Red… Is it the same color as Ria’s eyes?”

“Yeah.”

It matched the color of Ria’s eyes, and red would go well with her black hair, so I thought it would look good on her.

“I think it’s a really nice choice. I’m sure Ria will be happy…!”

Sia smiled happily.

“Then I’ll take one of these.”

“You got it! Need anything else?”

“Anything else…”

I glanced at Sia for a second.

Come to think of it… maybe I should get something for Sia too. She came on this trip with me even when everyone else hated the idea.

It would be nice to give her something as thanks. But—

“…I’m good for now.”

“Alright! Come back anytime if you need something else.”

I bought the pendant and left the stall.

――◇――◇――◇――

“Alright, it’s about time for the guild meeting.”

It was already around midday. We grabbed a quick meal and headed to the meeting with reps from the other guilds, which was the real reason for the trip.

“…Excuse us.”

I nervously stepped into the assigned room. Inside, all kinds of people from muscular macho guys to young women sat around a round table.

“Hm, looks like everyone’s here.”

The meeting started after an older man who seemed to be in charge gave the signal.

Even though it was a gathering of guild reps, it was just a regular meeting. The content was basically just sharing information. There wasn’t anything I needed to pay special attention to.

But there was one thing that caught my interest.

“—By the way, I heard the hero’s party came to this city.”

Right as the meeting was about to end, a young woman spoke up like she just remembered.

“Seems so. Isn’t the hero still training at the academy? Why is he in the port city of Kairos?”

The muscular guy asked, and the woman from earlier answered.

“Who knows? But from what I heard, they’re going around asking about the ‘Saint’s’ whereabouts.”

Huh, so that’s what he was asking the guards about yesterday.

…Hm?

“The Saint’s whereabouts!? Isn’t the Saint supposed to be with the hero…?”

I accidentally spoke way too loud.

“Y-Yeah… that’s right…? It’s not well known among regular people, but Saint Alicia is currently missing.”

“…”

Right then, the event where the Saint gets kidnapped flashed through my mind.

That event was supposed to happen… a little earlier than now, I think. Plus, it was supposed to take place in the capital, and the hero should be searching for her there…

“…Why is the hero searching in the port city instead of the capital?”

“Hmm, sounds like they couldn’t find her in the capital. So they came to Kairos and figured they’d gather info while they were here.”

The one who answered my question was the female guild master of Kairos.

“I-I see… Thank you.”

It’s fine… right?

The hero’s party had cleared every event properly so far and followed the game’s story. That’s why I had stayed away from Saint Alicia. This time should be fine too… probably.

“Asta? What’s wrong? You don’t look so good.”

Sia whispered with a worried look.

“A-Ah… I’m okay.”

That was a lie. I was not okay at all.

Other events could be fixed somehow even if they went wrong. But the event where Saint Alicia gets kidnapped absolutely could not fail.

Because if it failed— Alicia would become corrupted and the world would be destroyed.

The meeting ended right after that. I stepped outside and took a deep breath.

“Haa…”

I need to calm down first and gather more information.

To do that, I should find the hero and…

“—Um, excuse me for a second?”

A young man’s voice came from behind me.

When I turned around, there stood a good-looking young man—the hero I had just been thinking about finding.

I didn’t expect him to come to me before I could go looking for him.

“Sure. What is it?”

“Actually, I’m looking for Saint Alicia… a silver-haired girl in priestess robes… Do you know anything about her?”

The young man sounded genuinely worried.

“Sorry, I don’t know anything.”

“I see… What about you, miss?”

“……Yes.”

Sia frowned a little, then shook her head.

“I see… Then she probably isn’t in this city… Where could she be…”

The young man looked down, disappointed.

The hero really was seriously searching for Alicia. …In that case, he should normally find her according to the story…

“—Hey, Rai. Let’s take a break already? We’ve been asking around all day.”

The one who spoke was the female swordsman next to the hero.

Her name was Luna. One of the sub-heroines.

“……But…”

“It’s no use. We’ve searched this city more than enough.”

Luna gently pulled the hero closer. They looked just like a couple… A couple…?

There’s no way the sub-heroine and him should be together this early—

“…Sorry to ask, but could you tell me what you two were doing the night right before Alicia disappeared?”

Right after I asked, I heard what sounded like Sia holding her breath.

The hero hesitated—

“Well… that is…”

The hero and Luna looked at each other and their faces turned a little red.

…I see. So they were having a secret meeting that night. This might be bad…

Normally, the hero was supposed to visit Alicia’s room that night. Then he would notice she was taken and start searching… and find her.

That was how the story went.

If it got delayed even by one day… it would be too late.

“Then, Alicia’s family home—”

Right then, a beautiful white hand stopped me.

“—Asta, it’s okay now.”

“Sia…?”

Sia turned toward the hero and Luna and gave a small bow.

“You two, we’ll be going now.”

“O-Oh. Sorry for bothering you.”

The hero and his party left with apologetic looks.

“…Sia, what was that about all of a sudden?”

“…Saint Alicia doesn’t want to go back to them.”

“How can you say that?”

“…Actually, I met Alicia after she went missing. She said she didn’t want to return to the hero.”

“Eh…!?”

No way.

When would those two have had a chance to meet…?

There was nothing in the story about Alicia and Sia having any connection…

“—You look like you can’t believe it.”

“Well… yeah.”

“Then I’ll let you meet her.”

Sia smiled mysteriously—

“—Saint Alicia.”

She said.