After parting ways with the Motteburhians, I kept up with my mission of delivering bug spray to the saints in the camp. One thing that I noted is that I couldn't find schedules anywhere. When I first imagined the saints' gathering, I thought it would be like a big board meeting. In practice, it's more like a trade show with different saints grouping together and doing their own separate things.

Though, there wasn't any trade going on. So, it was more like a convention than a trade show. No, wait, trade shows rarely have any actual trading going on. It's more like people showing off their jobs and finding recruits. And conventions have trading. So, it is more like a trade show.

As I was moving out of my thoughts on what to classify the saints' meeting as I came upon two more saints. What truly brought me out of my stupor was a horrible smell. One was a man with a thick, brown beard. He wore clothes that I hadn't seen in this world before but were suited for the ocean. The stench didn't come from him.

The other was a woman wearing Greenrivers' style clothing. She was sitting at an easel and painting various plants from the forest around us. There were several other pictures in her area of the camp, and a smile was on the woman's face.

There was also a squirrel sitting on top of her painting. Looking around to pinpoint where the smell was coming from, I noticed a pair of bears sleeping nearby.

That's when I remembered what I was told about the various saints a while ago. I got a very good idea of who these people were. That idea was cemented when I saw that the insects were only bothering the bearded man.

So, I turned around to leave this area of the camp. I'd just pretend that I never came to this area of the camp, and...

"Well, what brings you here, Saint Sir Gustav, Lord von Blitzburg?" the woman's voice came to my ear.

I turned back and gave them a bow.

"Introducing myself. I see that my reputation precedes me somehow," I said.

The woman gave me a smile.

"We're both Greenrivers saints, and you're the only saint here that I haven't met before. I am Countess Ebba von Skogstad, Saint of Erþō, honored to meet you," she stated.

Then, the man spoke up.

"And I am Sir Elric Loxley of Fire Island and Saint of Mīra. It is an honor to meet you at last, Saint Gustav," he said.

In their past lives, known as Louisa Finch, Countess of Aylesford, and William Dampier. I wasn't surprised to see them both here, considering their mutual interest in nature.

Then, I realized something. Dʰéǵʰom hadn't mentioned talking to Mīra or Erþō. I know they're English, but they might not know that I was from France in my past life.

Neither of their faces indicated that they knew my origins. No hostility, rivalry, or animosity. They might not even know that I reincarnated like they did.

"It is an honor to meet you two," I lied and gave them a bow. "It's pretty good to meet my fellow saints."

Countess Ebba gave me a smile.

"Not many saints have that attitude. At least, they don't after meeting other saints. But you seem to have been going around camp, introducing yourself to everyone," she noted. "That is a sign of a gregarious person."

Ebba shrugged.

"Either that or insanity," the countess stated.

"One or the other," Sir Elric nodded in agreement.

"I'm not just introducing myself," I said.

Then, I pulled out the cans of bug spray. If I wanted to keep them from realizing that I was French, I had to pretend that everything was normal. And I couldn't let Dʰéǵʰom's laughter distract me.

"These cans will..." I remembered that the bugs weren't affecting at least Ebba. "...well, I'm sure at least one of you will find them useful when you're away from this area. They will make a ward around your body that keeps insects away from you. I've been giving them to anyone in camp who needs them."

Sir Elric smiled and took one.

"My thanks, Saint Gustav. This will be quite convenient when I go to the other areas of the camp. As much as I love nature, I could do without the mosquitos," he said.

Countess Ebba placed a finger on her chin. A look of contemplation crossed her face.

"Where did you get these? I don't remember news of anything like this in Greenrivers," she stated.

"They're from Weltai. Drac gave them to me," I replied.

Sir Elric raised an eyebrow while Countess Ebba tilted her head. Both of them were clearly in contemplation.

"Drac...as in, Dracula?" Sir Elric questioned.

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Fuck! Those two would know about Dalv's past life's title! My cover was getting close to being blown! I had to do something to get it back!

My mind raced to come up with something, and then I had an idea. The two of them almost certainly knew about Dalv reincarnating, so maybe...

"Dracula? No, I said Drac. It's a Weltaish name," I said.

"I've never met anyone just named Drac," Sir Elric noted.

"Have you been to Weltai recently?"

"No, I haven't."

I shrugged.

"Then, it's probably a recent name," I said.

"Spreading a nostalgic name like that does sound like something Dalv might do," Countess Ebba muttered to herself.

And by the time either of those two went to Weltai, they'd have hopefully forgotten about this conversation.

"I suppose it is," Sir Elric shrugged.

A pulse of relief flowed through me.

"Still, I do wonder why Dʰéǵʰom of all gods would take someone as a saint? He doesn't like interfering in human affairs," the reincarnated pirate stated.

I shrugged.

"How am I supposed to know how gods think?" I questioned.

"You could literally ask him right now," Sir Elric pointed out.

Then, a thought came to me.

"Dʰéǵʰom, do they not know that I was reincarnated to or are they just fucking with me?" I thought.

"I'm pretty sure they don't know," the god replied. "But you could just tell them."

"No damn way am I letting two English people know that I used to be French! I just need to change the subject, fast!"

I snapped my fingers, making it look like I just remembered something.

"On the way here, Dalv and I ran into traps filled with bat guano. Do either of you have any idea who left those?" I asked.

Sir Elric grimaced.

"I ran into a few of those traps as well. Dalv is the one who said they were filled with bat guano, correct?" he wondered.

"Yes," I replied.

"His sense of smell is quite astute. That confirms my suspicions. They were almost certainly made to target him."

Countess Ebba grimaced.

"What kind of childish lunatic would make traps based around bat guano? I mean, that's completely insane," she said. "It isn't the sort of thing an adult should do."

Sir Elric nodded.

"Yes. I have a few ideas on which saint did it, assuming it was one of us, but the sheer effort of gathering that much bat guano just to anger Dalv is incredible. If you could find a deposit of bat guano large enough to make those traps, why not just sell it? There are a lot of valuable uses for bat guano. Whoever set those traps might as well have thrown gold into the bottom of the ocean," he stated.

There was only one conclusion I could draw from all this.

"Whoever did this should have used pig shit instead. It's much cheaper," I said. "Then, they should have drawn bat wings on it."

Then, another conclusion came to my mind.

"And they must also be very rich since they could afford to throw out something valuable like bat guano," I stated.

At that point, I decided that I no longer wanted to talk about animal droppings. Disgust had started to well up in me. It was a delayed reaction but still a reaction.

"Well, I should get going now. I have other people to give bug spray to," I said.

Then, I started to leave.

"Just one moment," Countess Ebba spoke up.

Her words caught my attention. I stopped dead in my tracks and turned to face her. Countess Ebba looked at Sir Elric.

"Elric, do you mind leaving for a moment? I intend to talk to Saint Gustav in private," she said.

"Then, I shall take a walk and observe the local fauna," Sir Elric replied with a bow.

He left, leaving me alone with Countess Ebba. Well, at least there was only one English person here and not two.

"Considering how it's just us here, this is about a Greenrivers affair and not a saint affair, isn't it?" I asked.

"You are correct," Countess Ebba answered. "Tell me, is it true that you're romancing Queen Hildoara of Vandalland?"

I was not even remotely surprised that she knew about that whole thing. Though, the idea that we're dating...

"I'm not romancing Queen Hildoara. His Majesty, King Eduard the Defenestrator, would not allow it. Her Majesty, Queen Eleanor, probably wouldn't either," I said.

Countess Ebba nodded.

"I doubt he'd one to lose any saint, especially not one as accomplished as you, to Vandalland," she stated. "Especially considering how they had poor diplomatic relations with us until an incredibly short time ago."

"I'm not really that accomplished," I replied.

Countess Ebba blinked in shock.

"Saint Gustav, how can you say that? You are the sole reason why diplomatic relations with Vandalland are improving," she said.

"And? How is that a big accomplishment?" I wondered.

Dʰéǵʰom's voice entered my head.

"Here comes the pain," he sighed.

To my surprise, Countess Ebba gave me a light chuckle and a smile.

"You are quite modest, Saint Gustav. It is a rare quality, but one that I appreciate," she said.

I heard Dʰéǵʰom bashing his head against a wall.

"It's not modesty! He just doesn't have any self-awareness!" the god groaned.

"I have plenty of self-awareness," I thought. "But at least you're right that it's not modesty."

"Dammit, Gustav..."

Countess Ebba then gave me a sly smile.

"But let me ask you this question: do you love Queen Hildoara?" she asked.

Do I love her? That's hard to say. I definitely find her attractive, and I have some affection for her. She loves me enough to want to marry me, but I've barely met her. Well, I've barely met her in person. We stayed in touch through letters ever since we met as children. I've also called her a few times on my crystal ball. Queen Hildoara's also someone that I could talk to for a very long time or just have fun with doing whatever.

At the same time as I was thinking, a massive blush had crossed over my face. Countess Ebba gave me a nod as if blushing confirmed anything. Then again, maybe it did? I was single when I died last time.

"That's all I needed to see," Countess Ebba told me.

"If you're suggesting we have an affair, I don't think that would work. Even with dragon flight, I live pretty far away from her," I said.

Countess Ebba placed a hand to her mouth.

"I would never suggest something so scandalous. No, I have a different idea in mind," she stated. "A way for you to openly court Queen Hildoara without His Majesty, King Eduard the Defenestrator, or our queen having any objections."

Suspicion flowed through me.

"Why are you helping me with this? We've never even met before," I pointed out.

"There are a few reasons. The first is that we're both saints from Greenrivers. The second is that I think having a marriage between Greenrivers and Vandalland would benefit both states. The third is that I want to help a pair of young lovers. And the fourth is that I think having some more connections in high places couldn't be a bad thing. Especially since I haven't had many chances to paint the plants found in Vandalland," she explained.

That convinced me. I listened to her plan.