He Became the Only Ally of the Abandoned Warrior

Before speaking, it felt like an overwhelming tension and fear were crushing her abdomen, making it impossible to breathe.

Even deep breathing did nothing to help.

It only acted as an obstacle, hindering her from saying what needed to be said.

But as soon as she struggled to begin, Arsil felt her trembling subside, and a calmness took over.

"I am from a slum called Sewage Alley, a place most of you probably don't even know exists."

It took a painfully long time to muster those few words.

"The first sin I must confess to you all is that I betrayed the Hero, Luciena Estelle."@@novelbin@@

At that moment, people merely thought that the saintess must have had a falling out with the hero.

Because she's a saintess, a good person—surely it's just a dispute that left her feeling unsettled. That was their fixed assumption.

But what followed was enough to shock everyone.

"Right after defeating the Demon Lord, our hero party severed Luciena’s limbs, claiming her behavior was too dangerous."

"...They severed her limbs?"

Even Airan was stunned.

He’d only heard that she had been betrayed; never in his wildest dreams did he imagine it had taken such a grotesque form as the amputation of her limbs.

So then, what was the meaning of the hero standing here now, perfectly intact?

Everyone except the members of the hero party glanced at Lucy.

"The party members each took a limb. I was responsible for her right arm."

He had to stop the saintess who had betrayed him.

But Reinhold knew that if he intervened here, it would only look like he was confirming her story, so he held back, furious at his inability to act against the betrayer standing before him.