The Saint Wants to Rest - vanish into fiction

However, that was exactly why one had to consider the facts. A being like that was always destined to be loved by a countless number of people.

In Lancia, because he had a foul personality and would cut a person’s head off if things didn’t go his way, and because the culture favored worshipping a Saint over a Holy Knight, Ian had been more popular. But things were a little different here.

From the moment Vladimir entered the room, he could not take his eyes off Vermouth.

‘Wait a minute?’

His blue eyes held an intensely deep emotion. Of course, that did not mean he failed to maintain his manners.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. Saint Ian of the Order of Regnasia. I am Vladimir from Russia.”

Vladimir offered his greetings in quite fluent Korean.

“Nice to meet you. You know how to speak Korean?”

Between Alexander and this man, Ian had not realized Korean was such a popular language.

“I learned it because there is someone I like.”

As he spoke, he looked toward Vermouth. Why was he looking there? Even at that simple action, Ian’s heart sank with a strange heaviness.

“You must be exhausted from the long journey.”

“Not at all. It was a pleasant trip.”

Vladimir requested a handshake. However, his gaze was strangely misaligned with Ian. His eyes slid past to rest on Vermouth, who stood like a pillar behind Ian’s back.

Throughout the meeting, while conditions were exchanged, Vladimir’s attitude remained consistent. While he spoke flexibly regarding the unit price and supply volume of the badges, he peppered every gap in the conversation with praise for Vermouth.

It continued that way until the transaction was concluded. Once the deal was done, Vladimir requested a private meeting with Vermouth.

“Thanks to Saint Ian, the world can finally catch its breath. Thank you. If it is alright, may I speak with Mr. Vermouth for a moment? Since I also handle a sword, I would like to seek his advice.”

Since they had traded a significantly large volume, it wasn’t something Ian couldn’t provide as a service. Even so, he strangely did not want to do it. While Ian hesitated, Vermouth nodded his head.

Wait, why are you agreeing when I’m staying still?

While Ian stared at him with surprised eyes, Vermouth whispered into his ear.

“I will handle this quickly and return.”

“…You know you can’t kill him, right? No crippling him, either.”

“I know. I will act moderately.”

Once they stepped outside and were alone, Vladimir did not hide his excitement.

“Mr. Vermouth, your heroic tales have already spread widely across Russia. To see that overwhelming might and spirit in person, which I had only seen through a screen, truly moves me.”

“Thank you.”

Vermouth’s attitude toward him was no different than how he treated anyone else. It meant he was just brushing him off with a standard polite face. Ian wondered if he had worried for nothing. Just as he thought that, Vladimir got to the main point.

“Actually, I am such a devoted fan of yours that I serve as the Russian branch manager of your fan club, ‘Verguard.'”

A fan club? Vermouth knew he had a fan club, but he hadn’t realized there was one overseas. They do interesting things, he thought as he looked at Vladimir. It was a beautiful face. However, to him, the most beautiful person was Ian. Therefore, his heart did not waver.

“All this time, I have felt a sense of pity while watching you, Mr. Vermouth. A sword is meant to shine brightest when it is splattering blood on a battlefield.”

Vladimir whispered softly to Vermouth.

“Does this peaceful and noble Sanctuary not feel like a somewhat stifling cage to someone like you? Guarding Saint Ian is a noble duty, but I think it wouldn’t be bad to occasionally release your true power to your heart’s content on a vast continent swept by harsh blizzards.”

He did not openly belittle Ian, but it was a subtly twisted provocation. He had wrapped the idea that being by Ian’s side was a suffocating “cage” and that Ian was a weak master clipping his wings in sophisticated language.

“Russia worships the strong. If you ever need a new stage, or a broader sanctuary that will fully support your military might, please seek me out at any time. I promise you the highest level of treatment.”

The surrounding air instantly turned frigid.