Raising Yanderes to save the world

”Everyone, it is time for us to move to the main hall. Saintess Seraphina will meet us there with her attendants. Let’s not keep her waiting.”

Cardinal Flux gave his word, and everyone moved to head out. Kael did a quick check around to make sure there was no danger before he stood up to follow behind the Cardinal.

Seraphina was already in the room, but she looked a little unstable. Her eyes were hazy, and when Kael tried to meet her eyes, she turned her head away from him.

This was alarming, but when he tried to head toward her, he was blocked by more guards.

Cardinal Flux used this opportunity to stand beside Seraphina and take Neil with him.

”I would like to offer the Saintess my heartfelt gratitude for stopping the war between the Demons and humans. If not for her, who knows how many people would have been sacrificed? Now, with both her and the hero here, I would like to propose a toast and start this celebration.”

There was no mention of Leon anywhere in the Cardinal’s speech, and those who knew of his involvement kept their mouths shut.

As for the commoners, even if they suspected Leon’s involvement, they did not have proof. Since they did not want to lose anything, they kept their mouths shut.

Kael chose not to eat anything, and Leon followed his lead. They both also kept an eye out for trouble, but the celebration passed normally.

The Cardinal had not made a move until now, so it was time for him to make one.

Kael immediately snapped his attention back to the Cardinal when he saw him move.

”It is always an honor to host the Saintess and the Hero in our fine establishment. No one treasures these children of the Goddess more than the temple. I am sure that the Saintess and the Hero feel the same, right?”

Cardinal Flux stressed his words as he turned toward Seraphina to ask that question.

Silence followed his words, and the Cardinal waited, almost as if he wanted Seraphina to say something.

But she simply kept eating and did not even look up at him.

Her unusual behavior started to worry Kael, and he was not the only one who noticed.

The people could excuse Cardinal Flux leaving out Leon’s contribution, but to ignore the Saintess’s unusual behavior was not something they could swallow.

”What is going on?”

”The Saintess is not responding. But she’s still eating, right? That means she hasn’t fainted.”

”Do you think the Cardinal did something to her?”

People began to speculate louder and louder, causing Cardinal Flux to finally look flustered.

Kael was too worried about Seraphina to keep his composure, so he decided to step forward and check on her.

”Cardinal Flux, please step aside and let me check on my student. She might be under someone’s magic.”

Kael reached for her, but the Cardinal panicked and chose to grab his hand instead. He was finally caught in his own trap, but Kael did not feel satisfied.

After all, how could you feel happy about the situation when Seraphina was in danger?

...

’Darn it! What the hell is going on? What is wrong with this stupid child now? She was fine just a second ago. Did that witch’s magic make her go stupid?’

Cardinal Flux was panicking on the inside, but the magic earring he wore did not allow his panic to show openly. People around him were raising their voices in accusation, but he knew that it was not the end.

Rather, it was an opportunity.

Grand Master Kael was sharp and quick-witted, but he was still an inexperienced child who did not have much life experience. If he was pressured, then he wouldn’t be able to react.

So Cardinal Flux decided to blame the situation on Kael.

”Don’t touch the Saintess. Was cursing her not enough? Now you intend to make use of her in this state? I knew something was wrong the second she chose you over the temple. She did not even know you at that time. When did you cast your spell on her?”

The Cardinal’s accusations were getting wild and factually incorrect. But if Kael pointed out their flaws, then it would lose its edge.

However, Leon was still there to correct the false claims.

”Are you lying now? Didn’t you send Seraphina to accompany me and tell Kael he could choose anyone? Seraphina was not even the Saintess at that time, and even the temple did not know. Are you saying that a Grand Master has more knowledge about divine affairs than the temple?”

Leon challenged, expecting an easy victory.

However, the Cardinal did something Kael expected from him—he admitted that he and the temple had made a slight oversight.

”We are just humans, and there is only so much we can predict. It won’t surprise anyone if the Grand Master was somehow able to find out about the Saintess’s awakening before any of us did. Grand Master Kael, can you swear on your heart and say that you were unaware of Seraphina’s potential when you chose her to accompany you?”

Cardinal Flux asked, and Kael felt cornered.

Truthfully, there was no easy way out of this situation for him.

The Cardinal was wording his question in a way that made it clear that he wanted a vow out of Kael. But Kael could not make one because of his circumstances.

If he did not make one, however, then he would look suspicious.

’Fuck! Well, I can do it. I took a lawyer crash course as part of my psychology course.’

”I can swear that I got to know about Seraphina’s awakening as well as her existence as the Saintess at the same time everyone else did. As for me taking her under my wing, I did it because I saw potential in her.”

The magic swirled around Kael before it settled around him, indicating that what he said was the truth.

None of what he had said was technically a lie. He had gotten to know about Seraphina in the past, and it had been when everyone else got to know it. This was a legal loophole he could exploit.

But Cardinal Flux did not look ready to accept that explanation.