Chapter 23
So There Really Was a Saint in This World
Apparently, even though it never appeared in the novel, there’s something in this world called a “Saint.”
Normally, curing illness or injuries is the job of healing mages—a profession for those with aptitude in healing magic, often trained at the academy. It’s a well-paying, prestigious occupation.
Healing mages can mainly cure injuries.
When it comes to illness, that’s the domain of apothecaries.
And for wounds tainted by miasma—like those inflicted by monsters—only priests who have undergone rigorous training can purify and heal them.
However, there exists someone who can heal injuries, illnesses, and miasma alike.
That person is called a Saint.
“But… what about that?”
Sitting on my brother’s lap beside the bed where Father was sleeping—his face much less pale now—I listened as my brother spoke.
Being on his lap!
If the Holy Sword and Moko hadn’t been there, I might have crossed the rainbow bridge from sheer joy.
That was dangerous…
“Remember the charm you gave me, Letty?”
“Did it help?”
Since it worked on Father’s wounds too, it must have had some kind of effect.
If that’s true, I’d be so happy.
“The moment we left the capital and entered the highway, we were attacked by gray wolves. Normally, they inhabit regions far from the capital. On rare occasions, a stray might appear near the road, but even then, a competent adventurer could easily handle one alone. For the Rosenberg knights, such a threat should have been nothing.”
Gray wolves… I’m sure they appeared in the novel.
In the story, the protagonist Abel faced one during his first monster-hunting field training after enrolling at the academy.
He wasn’t in the same party as my brother, so I only skimmed that part and didn’t remember the details.
“But for some reason, we were attacked by an entire pack of gray wolves. And then, the carriage door opened, and from there…”
My brother trailed off.
When I looked up at him, his face looked as if he were holding back tears.
I squirmed around and wrapped my arms around him tightly.
He hugged me back and murmured softly by my ear.
“My guard, Vance… he drew his sword at me.”
Eh? Vance—the gentle-looking guard?
Hearing that, my breath caught.
So this was one of the reasons my brother’s heart would later freeze—the betrayal of a trusted servant.
But why?
He had never seemed suspicious, and his family had served ours for generations.
“Why would Vance do such a thing?”
“I don’t know. When he slashed at me, something like a barrier repelled him, making him lose his footing. At that moment, Father threw himself over me and took the injury instead…”
Ah… so Father’s wounds weren’t caused by the gray wolves, but by Vance.
That’s why there was no trace of miasma.
“Vance was cut down by Father’s bodyguard. Why he did such a thing will be investigated from here on.”
From my brother’s tone, I couldn’t tell if Vance was alive or dead.
But either way, a servant who tried to kill his master would face the death penalty if he lived.
“The problem is the barrier that protected me. The only explanation I can think of is the charm you made for me. And it also healed Father’s wound. I believe this is the power of a Saint.”
Wait—so he’s saying I’m the Saint?
No, no, no way.
I have zero interest in becoming some saint who saves everyone.
The only person I want to save is the one who’ll become the final boss—my brother.
“But if you’re a Saint, you’ll have to go to the Temple.”
“I refuse.”
I looked up and blurted that out immediately.
Because going to the temple would mean I’d never get to see my brother again.
“Truthfully, Letty should probably go to the temple. But your condition of excess magic power isn’t fully cured yet. If you went there, you’d collapse right away. I can’t send you somewhere like that. Father would agree with me.”
“I don’t want to go, either.”
I clung tightly to my brother, and he held me even closer.
“Fortunately, only those of us here know about the charm’s effects. If we want, we can keep it a secret. But promise me this—never make another charm again, and—”
“I don’t want to.”
Even if it’s my brother asking, I can’t promise that.
“Because you or Father might be in danger again. If my power can protect the people I love, then I’ll keep making charms.”
If I don’t use it directly to heal, it shouldn’t draw attention anyway.
Someone out there is definitely targeting our family.
Someone manipulated Vance into betraying us.
But who?
The Queen?
Or one of our rival houses?
All I could do was tremble at the thought of this unseen enemy.
