Chapter 75 – The Great Being (5)
“What does that mean?”
“As you heard and understood. I did not lie. You have talent.”
Despite the shining gold coins given as promised, the person who seemed to be the leader of the trafficking group, who had forcibly trapped her here while she was on the verge of going to the priest, spoke with a startling story. The tale was so astonishing that Maria momentarily forgot that the person she was conversing with, while wearing a hood, was a girl with a similar build to her own.
“That can’t be… That can’t be true. I haven’t healed anyone.”
Of course, she couldn’t believe it. How despairing it had been when she sent the Saintess away yesterday. Watching her father, who couldn’t even get out of bed due to not eating properly, made her shed all her inner moisture as tears.
In a half-dazed state, she came to the city and managed to sell some stitched fabrics for a little money. On the way back, she had merely caught a glimpse of the people gathered around the contaminated relic.
Though the relic had flickered and rolled on the ground due to a strong impact, Maria was fixated solely on the gold coins they offered, without caring why she had reacted to the artifact.
“The power you possess is not the power of healing. It is the power of Phama that purifies all enemies. It is a much higher power. It will destroy everything you deem an enemy.”
The other party clicked their tongue in exasperation at Maria’s incredulous expression.
Maria was too pressed to focus. Even though Iriliana persistently explained, and Lila and Rina, who had been sent up, kindly offered sweet snacks and water, she could not believe or accept the reality.
“It seems like I need to spend some time. The way this child appears, she looks just like exhausted adventurers collapsed.”
Patrick, who had been driven away because his rough appearance was no help, returned to give advice. Iriliana had no choice but to admit Patrick’s words in this regard.
“But we don’t have time. The candidate saintess secured by the Order will formally awaken tomorrow by riding the teleportation circle to the headquarters.”
However, she couldn’t agree with the need to take time and persuade slowly, so in the end, Iriliana decided to use a cheat key. She resolved to reveal her identity, which even the leaders of crime syndicates spreading across the continent, veteran adventurers, noblemen from the beastman kingdom, influential scholars, rigid elves, and the grand priests of the Order could not refuse.
“Ah…”
Maria, seeing Iriliana slowly revealing herself from between her bangs, sighed unconsciously. The brilliantly flowing silver hair and vividly shining red eyes. Above all, a pair of long, pointed ears sticking out through her hair unmistakably indicated that Iriliana, who might look like a girl of the same age with a casual glance, was of a different race.
“This is High Elf Iriliana, the origin of our elf race, who existed long before the Tower of Genesis crumbled, over 10,000 years ago. Thanks to her power, the beginning of the apocalypse, the Erosion, became known to the world, the World Tree revived, and the elf tribe united to form a treaty with the human kingdom, so you, a mere girl, should believe and follow.”
Ariasa, also revealing her blonde hair and ears, introduced Iriliana to Maria with grand embellishment. Certainly, Maria, who lived in a remote rural village, had never seen an elf in her life.
“What is a High Elf?”
“…?”
The problem was that Maria’s knowledge was close to pure ignorance. 10,000 years ago, High Elf. The weight and authority from those two words only meant something to those who understood their value. To Maria, the Iriliana before her was merely a noble girl who looked a bit unusual.
*
“A High Elf is the progenitor of the elf race in this world…”
“Stop, this isn’t a history classroom.”
Just for a moment, I covered Ariasa’s mouth, who was about to explain what a High Elf was by bringing up stories from 10,000 years ago. If I didn’t stop her now, she’d surely go on talking all day.
“If you don’t comply right now, the significant plan that cost over 100,000 gold coins might fall apart…”
“Stop it too. This girl doesn’t even know what our plan is.”
I shut down Lila’s mouth, who spoke of money as if she were the daughter of the target organization. In my view, what this girl Maria needed right now was not anything else.
“Just quietly follow along and listen. Then I will heal your father.”
“Is that really true!?”
At my words, Maria, whose eyes had been filled with emptiness and fear, widened them greatly. Yes, unlike me, who only looked like a novice, the girl before me was truly an innocent girl. If it were Earth, she would just be starting middle school.
She was even younger compared to Lila and Rina, who were in their late teens. Moreover, having grown up without enough to eat, her body was small, and lacking education made her mind clear. As a result, she appeared younger than her actual age.
“How will you heal him?”
“I would have used holy water, but I used it all on the World Tree, so it can’t be helped. Patrick, go contact Leber and have him rush over here.”
Worried by Rina’s words, I had already thought ahead and made Patrick call Leber. Leber was one of the ten high priests in the Order. Above him was just one pope, known as the grand priest.
Normally, even if offered 100 gold coins, he wouldn’t budge, but Leber had received over 100,000 gold coins thanks to me. Moreover, he held a position that couldn’t be measured by money, as the second-in-command in the Order. He had no choice but to comply.
“Well, he’s a high priest, so he should be better than a freshly awakened novice saintess. If he can’t save her father, there’s nothing that can be done, but it should be fine.”
“The high priest…”
Maria’s eyes sparkled at the idea that she could command the high priest with just one finger. Even without witnessing the direct effects yet, it seemed that if I really managed to save her father, gaining this girl’s trust would be no problem.
“W-What if you suddenly send such an urgent message!?”
“What are you being so sensitive about? Considering what you took from us, you should do at least this.”
Leber arrived late at night. In a hurry, he rode the teleportation circle and, surprisingly, arrived alone. Wearing common priest robes rather than the splendid ones, it was clear he had sneaked out.
It seemed the process of getting out hadn’t been easy for him, as he complained upon seeing me waiting at the meeting point.
“Isn’t this whole hassle because of you? Goodness, telling me to bring the saintess. That task should be handled by someone else.”
“No, that’s…”
When I began to grumble back, Leber looked at me in disbelief. In fact, the root of the problem was that I wanted to enter the sanctuary myself to see the true holy water.
But I didn’t bother to worry about that. Leber was in a position where he should take this kind of treatment.
“I have already secured the saintess. She is set to arrive at the headquarters by the teleportation circle tomorrow morning.”
“Historically, she can be called a saintess as well. However, you may not know this. Originally, those called saintesses in the mythical era were not merely people with healing abilities.”
I moved aside and introduced Maria to Leber. Although she had been washed and changed into new clothes, Leber tilted his head in confusion at the sight of this ordinary girl.
“Are you telling me this child is the saintess?”
“Just like pure holy water differs from regular holy water, the true saintess is different from a saintess. Bring it here.”
I instructed Rina to give the relic Maria held, then patted Maria’s shoulder as we had practiced beforehand.
Leber, as an upper-class intellectual, understood what a contaminated relic was and how to purify it. Countries put tremendous effort into cleansing that “impurity,” which was akin to a curse.
“Oh, no. This can’t be!”
But now, the relic in Maria’s hands was slowly being purified with blue sparks flickering around it.
Of course, since Maria had not fully awakened yet, she couldn’t withstand such backlash. I was helping her by pouring my mana into her body.
“Isn’t this proof enough?”
“Then why did you call me? You could have taken this child to introduce her right away. I can certainly become her guardian.”
“That needs to be done, but I can’t leave the sick father behind and go far.”
I explained to the excited Leber the reason I had summoned him. While he might be hesitant about being told to help just an ordinary peasant, Maria was no longer simply a peasant’s daughter.
She was the next saintess, and also a descendant of the true saintess from long ago, whose line had been cut off.
“Then does this mean my father can actually be saved?”
“Can he be saved? No, it won’t just end there. As much as the candidate saintess cares, she will have much to enjoy.”
Leber led the way with Maria towards her home. I followed behind, frowning.
‘This isn’t the end.’
Leber surely knew well. The factional fights within the Order, which had just been tidied up, could start again at any moment.
Especially with two saintesses and a hero all appearing now, it was perhaps a ripe environment for new disputes to emerge.
In fact, I wanted to leave them to sort things out among themselves, but I couldn’t be sure.
The Erosion would only worsen, but could they grow on their own if I didn’t step in…?
