#1064 The Saint has been Found

All right, that’s a wrap for this year’s Orkubo’s Castle.

Time to pack up, everyone!

But don’t let your guard down just yet. The event isn’t over until you’re safely home.

Make sure our departing guests make it back without any injuries, so please guide them carefully.

Also, don’t forget to collect all the materials.

Let’s not trouble Lord Dalkish, who kindly lent us this land.

Remember, let’s leave the place cleaner than we found it~

Veil and Letasreit, how did your booths do in sales this year?

Letasreit won again?!

Congrats!

Even though Veil’s gonkotsu ramen keeps improving every year, you just can’t seem to clinch it.

That just shows how Letasreit has been tirelessly working to improve her beans’ quality and expand her reach.

The healthy competition between you two is remarkable!

Well then, I should pack up quickly myself.

I need to devote tonight to some family time.

I gotta get Junior and Norito bathed and give Platy a chance to relax.

“…Hold it right there!!!”

Just as I’m getting ready to leave, someone calls out to me.

Huh? Who could it be?

I turn around to see a somewhat familiar face…

“You’re Hero Momoko, right? What can I do for you?”

We already gave you the prize for conquering Orkubo’s Castle, so all the programs should be complete.

Do you have any other concerns?

“No complaints at all...! The event was fun, and the prize was fantastic! Being bossed around by Princess Letasreit was annoying, but she paid me more than I expected, so overall, I’m satisfied!”

That’s good to hear.

It seems like Letasreit has learned how to manage people.

She’s able to make folks work to their fullest without causing any grumbles. That’s probably why she edged out Veil in the sales competition.

But then, why did you stop me?

Surely there’s nothing else you need?

Why not head off and enjoy the after-party?

Letasreit made a killing in sales, so she’ll probably treat everyone to a lavish feast.

“Absolutely! That princess booked a top-tier restaurant in the capital for the party! It’s like a dream come true for me to eat and drink at such a place, so I’m planning to eat until they run out of food!!!”

If you overdo it, they might not invite you next time…!

But wow, Letasreit made enough to throw a party at a place like that?

Just from selling beans?

She might be richer now than when she was a princess!

“But before that, there’s something I absolutely must confirm! Something I’ve kept close to my heart ever since I became a hero!”

And what’s that?

As a hero, your main mission was to defeat the Demon King.

Now that the Human Kingdom has fallen and you’ve lost your duty, didn’t sparring with the Demon King bring you closure?

“Of course, fighting the Demon King was a milestone for me! I’m even thankful for the battle! But there’s another duty I must fulfill as a hero!!!”

And what duty is that?

And why are you telling me?

“…To find the Saint’s Farm!!!”

…

Well now.

The Saint’s Farm, huh? Where could that be? How does one get there?

How I wish someone would enlighten me.

“Back when the Human Kingdom was still around, I was ordered by the king to find the saint. They thought that if we had the saint who commands dragons on our side, we could win the war instantly.”

Oh, is that so?

So that’s what the king was thinking back then.

...Welp.

No point in avoiding reality now.

“While I was searching for the saint, the Human Kingdom fell, and I became too busy just trying to survive to continue the search. But I always held a passion for finding the saint in my heart. Rumor has it there’s a place called the Saint’s Farm where he lives, so my target shifted to finding that!”

I see…

That’s quite the quest you’ve been on.

Never thought someone was searching for the farm like that.

“Because of that, I’ve noticed something! I saw glimpses of the saint throughout Orkubo’s Castle!”

Say what now?!

Like what?

“The leaders I fought today! First, the Mermaid King said his shield was made by the saint! Then, the Human President I fought next said his sword was also handcrafted by the saint!!!”

Ah, yes.

“Moreover, the natto that the Demon King ate to become super energized! He said that was also directly shipped from the Saint’s Farm! That means the three rulers who practically control this world all have some connection with the saint! And directly, to boot!”

I see.

That’s some detective-level reasoning you’ve got there.

Picking up on casual remarks and connecting the dots to reveal the bigger picture.

Unveiling the truth with deductions that even Holmes would admire, eh, Momoko?

Of course, it’s not just that Orkubo’s Castle has a connection with the saint; it’s a key event organized by a team from the Saint’s Farm.

It’s not like we’re hiding that fact, so people like the Demon King and Arowana casually let it slip.

Orkubo’s Castle has been held for years now, and many people know the backstory, so it’s widely rumored that the Saint is the one organizing Orkubo’s Castle.

I correct that rumor every time I hear it.

Because the orcs started Orkubo’s Castle, and even now, they’re the main organizers.

Still, the Saint’s name carries weight, and no matter how careful we are, his name gets ahead.

They’re even selling ‘Saint’s Buns’ at the stalls.

Who decided to make those, anyway?

So, it’s easy to imagine that the saint is involved in Orkubo’s Castle without any sharp deductions…

“That’s why I realized! The saint is involved in Orkubo’s Castle! No, more than that, it’s possible he’s participating in the event!!!”

Urk.

To notice that... as expected of the great detective Momoko.

Could it be…

Did she come to tell me this because she already knows who the saint is and is choosing not to point it out directly…?

...A detective who corners the culprit step by step?!

“Yes, I know. The Saint of the Farm I’ve been seeking is…!”

Dun dun dun dun…!

The excitement is rising, whether I like it or not.

“...Yes, that child!”

And with that, Momoko points at my Junior.

Junior is currently with his mother Platy, getting ready to head home with his younger siblings.

“I saw that child’s performance in the competition! Playing with little birds, disasters avoiding him on their own, and he can even float in the air! That’s exactly what the saint would do!!!”

Yes, that may be true, but…!

It seems Momoko saw Junior’s activities in the kids’ division and became convinced that he’s the saint.

Well, certainly, Junior does look a lot more like a saint than I do.

Being my own child, I feel a bit embarrassed when he’s praised.

No, no, no…

But as you can see, Junior is still a single-digit-aged kid.

I don’t think such a child could have been controlling dragons and stopping wars ten years ago.

“It’s okay! Since we’re talking about the saint, his apparent age could be anything! It’s possible that he’s set to like a child but is actually hundreds of years old, right?!”

Don’t call it a ‘setting’!

...Sure, there have been characters throughout literary history who look like kids but are actually old!

But I don’t think our Junior is one of those young-looking old farts… right?

He’s not really much older than he looks, right?!

I’m starting to get worried…!

Darn it, this absurd reasoning is making me doubt my own child!

If it comes to this, I absolutely don’t want to tell her the truth!