Chapter 116

**Chapter 12: Honor and Sacrifice**

Unlike the treatment I received, Glaria and Davi were not called separately.

Well, they were foreigners to begin with, and even royalty at that. I still didn’t know Davi’s exact identity, but she certainly wasn’t someone the Sister Warden could talk down to.

Glaria chose to stay at the convent, seemingly with no intention of seeking refuge elsewhere.

Despite being a guest, Glaria followed the convent’s rules quite diligently. Pretty, a foreign princess, and not even a human—Glaria was rather popular around here, and she managed to be polite too.

It seemed that Glaria was used to such popularity, and above all, the food at this convent appeared to be quite delicious. This was understandable, as they offered a diet rich in vegetables and fruits.

So, even during cleanup time, Glaria joined in and started sweeping.

“Hmm.”

As she swept, Glaria suddenly stopped, as if something had crossed her mind.

“Anna.”

She called me, and I paused, blinking in surprise.

Glaria… seemed to think of me and Ria somewhat fondly, but she wasn’t one to chat with us very often. In fact, there was an atmosphere where she seemed to enjoy the silence more during moments like this.

Having lived among noisy nobles, perhaps she appreciated such a quiet setting.

Well, she was speaking to me now, after all.

“Yes, Glaria?”

“Have I ever told you about Davi?”

“No, not really.”

What I knew about Davi was that she was Glaria’s maid and that there was a vast difference in their social statuses.

For the record, Davi wasn’t here right now. After her last visit, she had come down with a bit of a cold and was resting in her room.

I think Glaria forced her back to bed when she tried to follow her out.

“Should I tell you?”

I looked over at Ria. She shrugged, as if signaling me to go ahead.

“…If you want to, it’s fine by me.”

There must have been a reason Glaria hadn’t spoken about it until now.

After a brief pause, Glaria finally spoke up.

“Davi occupies a rather special position within the Elf Kingdom. If we were to classify her, she’d be considered a commoner, but… if you ask if she’s a commoner, she may not even qualify under that.”

“Does that mean she’s lower than a commoner?”

“That would depend on perspective. If you ask whether she’s treated as a person, it’s ambiguous, but she lives a life that’s much better than that of most commoners.”

Her response sounded like a riddle, and I tilted my head in confusion.

“I actually didn’t realize Davi was in such a position until we all went to the sea. I had my suspicions, but I wasn’t sure until I saw that magic circle.”

“Oh.”

That giant whirlpool in the sea created by the magic circle. It had risen slightly when Davi conjured it, but as Glaria placed her hands on it and infused it with magic, it had grown immensely.

“She’s called a personal magician, but most elf royalty are capable enough that they usually need a dedicated magician on their side, so it’s not like they lack skill or magic power. Within elf royalty and aristocracy, a personal magician means someone who assists with their spells.”

Glaria’s hands started to move again. The sound of a broom sweeping across the dry floor filled the air.

“A personal magician sounds like a rather high position.”

Isn’t that a bit different from what she said about commoners earlier?

“Essentially, they exist to retain magic for their masters. It’s not just recalling it—they inscribe magic circles in their minds, and then they bring them out whenever necessary in any situation. To put it in terms you might understand, they’re kind of like computers or smartphones in this world.”

“…….”

“But since they’re quite expensive to create, they’re trained like moving furniture, as it’s pointless if they refuse when needed. Typically, they choose someone with apparent talent among the commoners of their territory.”

Ria’s face scrunched up a bit.

“But can’t you just use something like scrolls instead?”

“Scrolls are consumables, and when spells grow large, they really lose their worth. If there’s a lot of information, carrying or storing them becomes a hassle, and most importantly, if someone else has them, then you’re essentially letting them steal your magic. You can destroy them when needed and handle that much information in an instant. In fact, ‘personal magician’ is kind of a fancy way of saying it.”

“…….”

Hmm.

This was definitely a story I had never read in the original work.

“Oh, but that doesn’t mean I’ve ever used such beings. To be honest, the reputation isn’t great. More importantly, anyone good at magic should be able to use it themselves.”

Even just explaining it seemed to sour her mood, so it’s clear that even among elves, there are mixed feelings about it. No matter if you’re a commoner, noble, or royalty, you’re still an elf at the end of the day.

“But Davi…”

“That’s what’s a little strange.”

Glaria narrowed her brow slightly.

“If she followed me, I assumed she must belong to the royal family. Moreover, most who are in such… positions don’t even respond unless it’s their master speaking.”

“…….”

“They certainly enforce magical constraints on them. Inscribing magic in their minds is a painful process, and during it, they become somewhat involuntarily obedient to their master. Since they use someone else’s magic, they can draw in poison made from magic…”

Glaria’s voice quieted a bit.

I recalled the moment Glaria and her maid arrived. The condition of the maid had been as critical as Glaria’s. If we had delayed healing her, she might have died.

In the original, various factors must have contributed to that maid not surviving.

“I didn’t think Jane’s network was that bad, but who would protect me while becoming such a being? What on earth did Davi think about me…?”

I see.

The reason Glaria was sharing this with us was embedded in that last question.

Davi indeed tried to follow Glaria anywhere she went. At that point, where she had just been treated, her physical condition was poor, and she seemed frightened every time someone spoke to her, but once she adapted, she stuck to Glaria like glue.

Yet, even with that, Glaria and Davi didn’t seem particularly close. I had seen Glaria initiating conversations with Davi only for Davi to respond shortly.

I had just thought Davi was shy.

There was no one else around us.

Maybe because I predicted this last time, it felt like everyone was staying far away from us, and they certainly wouldn’t have heard the whispers we exchanged.

Glaria probably knew that.

And of course, the fact that Davi wasn’t beside us could have been part of that consideration.

Ria and I exchanged glances.

I pondered how to accept this story and act, but I couldn’t make a proper judgment.

It was a realm I knew nothing about.

—

“Hey, Davi, how are you feeling?”

I was a nun, and frankly, I only had the biological knowledge I picked up in high school.

But Saint Power can heal someone without knowing any structure of healing. It’s simply an unbelievable power. I understand now why healthcare workers were terrified when stories about it spread over a decade ago.

And it was precisely because I possessed the greatest Saint Power that people assumed I could take care of the health of my fellow nuns.

The room where Glaria and Davi were staying.

In there were Ria and I.

“……Yes, I’m fine.”

“You really don’t look fine.”

Her face was still pale.

I understood why Glaria was so worried.

Since Glaria had never employed such beings, she wouldn’t know what happens to someone afterward. Typically, those who used such beings probably wouldn’t even think about their state post-use.

“If it’s really hard, I can use my Saint Power.”

As soon as I said that, Davi’s expression turned wary.

So that ability is related to magic, huh? Well, considering it’s a magic-based profession, it wouldn’t be entirely unrelated.

I hadn’t used my power for a long time after healing her because I thought all the magic in her body had cleared out because of my own power.

“……Is that so?”

I didn’t press further.

I thought it might be burdensome for her to be around too long, so I quietly left the room with Ria.

Glaria was waiting there.

“She doesn’t want to accept Saint Power.”

“Is that so?”

Glaria sighed softly.

“Well then… I see. It’s probably best to keep an eye on her for a few more days. Thank you for your concern.”

“Oh, it’s nothing, really.”

I wanted to help, but honestly, I didn’t know how to go about it.

Seeing Glaria head back into the room, I let out a small sigh.