Chapter 50
With the academy entering summer break, the Saint Reina was set to return to her hometown, the town of Eggbell.
She rode in a carriage provided by the shrine, surrounded by Temple Knights on horseback as they headed east.
"～～～～～♪"
Inside the spacious carriage, Reina was grooming a plushie with a comb.
She was in an unusually cheerful mood, humming a tune with a buoyant expression.
Drawn by the Saint's singing voice, Holy Spirits glittering and floating gathered around the carriage.
Their forms could not be seen by ordinary people... but if they could, the sight would surely have captivated them like winter night illuminations.
"My, the Saint seems to be in quite a good mood."
"Yes, it's a good thing."
Looking at the carriage from which humming could be heard, the Temple Knights guarding the area chatted with warm smiles.
"The Saint is always busy with studies and sacred duties. At least during summer break, she should relax in her hometown."
"But is it really okay for the Saint to have only five guards? I think we should have brought at least a full unit."
Only five cavalrymen belonging to the shrine were riding around the carriage.
For someone as important as the Saint, second only to royalty, the number of guards felt insufficient.
"Hmm... all those present here are elite. It seems the Saint herself requested not to have an overly extravagant escort, which is why it's just us..."
"Well, isn't that a good thing? Fewer rivals."
"Rivals? What do you mean?"
One of the Temple Knights grinned with a vulgar smile.
"I mean, we get to spend a whole month with the beautiful and noble Saint, right? Opportunities like this don't come often."
"Wait... don't tell me you're aiming for the Saint?"
Another knight frowned at the young knight's words.
While being glared at by his colleague, the knight shrugged.
"I'm not saying I'll assault her or anything. But just living together might lead to some sweet chances. If the Saint herself approaches me, who knows what could happen?"
"That kind of thinking is disrespectful! Know your place!"
"Exactly. The Saint would never look at low-ranking knights like us..."
Even as they said that, the other Temple Knights couldn't help but imagine it.
Perhaps... for example, if an accident occurred during this journey, it might bring them closer to the Saint.
Maybe Reina would fall for the one who saved her from bandits...
"N-No, no, no! That's way too convenient... Besides, a proud Temple Knight shouldn't be wishing for trouble..."
"Hyah-ha! You lot, stop right there!"
"W-We were just imagining—wait, bandits!?"
Suddenly, over a dozen men appeared on the road ahead of the carriage.
All of them were armed and clearly ruffians, making their bad intentions obvious.
"If you value your lives, hand over the woman in that carriage!"
"If you give her up quietly, we might just spare your lives!"
"These guys... do they know this is the Saint's carriage!? Who the hell are they!?"
They knew there was a woman in the carriage... could it be they knew she was the Saint and were trying to kidnap her?
A Temple Knight drew his weapon and prepared to face the bandits standing before him.
"Dying here? What a pity for you! Hyah-ha!"
"Time for a bloodbath! Everyone except the Saint in the carriage, you're dead—Guh!?"
'Meow~'
As the ruffian charged at a Temple Knight, a cat plushie suddenly appeared and uppercut the man from below.
Then, a fox and crocodile plushie leapt out and began pummeling the bandits one after another.
'Konkon'
'Waniwani'
The plushies politely tossed the bandits to the roadside, clearing the path for the carriage.
The carriage continued down the road without stopping.
"U-Uh... what should we do now..."
"F-For now, go get reinforcements from the nearest town. Have them send someone to detain these guys."
One of the Temple Knights, still bewildered, rode off to call for reinforcements from a nearby town.
Meanwhile, the carriage carrying the Saint continued forward without slowing down.
From inside the carriage, the same humming could be heard, with no sign that Reina had noticed the commotion outside.
"Um... shouldn't we stop the carriage for a bit...?"
"W-Well, the Saint said 'don't stop unless it's something really serious'..."
'GYAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!'
"Wha...!?"
Yet another incident occurred.
A massive shadow suddenly fell to the ground, and a jet-black dragon appeared in the sky.
The dragon, at least twenty meters long, looked down at them with red eyes full of hostility.
"Tch... a monster attack!"
"Get the carriage out of here! We'll hold them off and buy time!"
'Neighhh!'
The Temple Knights tried to sacrifice their lives to help Reina escape... but then, the neighing of a horse echoed.
Flying above the dragon... appeared a muscular angel with a horse's face, who kicked the dragon hard on the back.
'GYAON!?'
The dragon screamed and was blown away, crashing into a distant forest.
Confirming that the threat was gone... the horse-faced angel nodded in satisfaction, spread its wings, and disappeared into the rift in space.
"............"
"............"
"............"
"............"
The Temple Knights stood stunned, etching the miraculous—no, comedic—scene into their minds.
"Um... was it really necessary to have five guards?"
"...Probably not."
What are we even here for?
The Temple Knights, completely lost, continued riding their horses around the carriage without doing anything.