The journey to Sutherland was worse than any of the knights who accompanied them had imagined.
Lady Serafina only had five days to complete the journey to Sutherland.
We took the route used by messenger horses.
In a well-prepared move, Lady Serafina had already arranged for more horses than usual to be prepared at the point where the fast horses were to be exchanged. However, the number of horses that Lady Serafina ordered was only half the number of knights that were originally scheduled to accompany the event, and I would like to praise the stable staff for preparing so many horses, as they thought that Lady Serafina would probably not actually be able to accompany half that number.
In front of Lady Serafina, a large knight who was skilled in horsemanship was placed there. The knight running in front acts as a windbreak for Lady Serafina, helping Lady Serafina to avoid getting too tired, and by running in the same position as the knight running in front of him, Lady Serafina could ensure a safe route.
Surprisingly, Lady Serafina got very little rest. When changing horses, the riders were given a quick drink of water and a snack, then once the saddles were changed, we were off. No matter how great a saint she was, her physical strength was only that of an ordinary young lady.
It was hardly an easy journey, but Lady Serafina kept a firm grip on the reins without a single complaint.
——We arrived at Sutherland on the second day, close to dawn.
We were told that all those infected with yellow spot disease had been gathered at the manor house to prevent the disease from spreading to others, so we headed straight for the manor house.
There was not enough room for everyone to fit inside the mansion, so many of the residents were spread out in the large garden in front of it.
The residents, hearing the unusual sound of horse hoofs, rose to their feet in anxiety. Not many people would take such a risk as riding a horse at night. However, hearing the hoof-beats of several horses in the middle of the night would make anyone uneasy.
The residents rose one by one and looked on anxiously, as the gates of the mansion were opened and several horses entered. The light from the few bonfires set up in various places in the garden would make it difficult to make out the faces of the knights. Before anyone could speak to reassure everyone, Lady Serafina slipped off her horse.
Then, someone reached out a hand to the baby, who was startled by the unusual atmosphere and begins crying. The baby's mother looked at Lady Serafina in surprise, but when she saw the princess' gentle smile, she handed the baby over to her.
Lady Serafina muttered in a sing-song voice as he carefully held the baby in her arms.
"Well, you're doing really well considering you're so small. You're a patient and hardworking baby, aren't you?" (Serafina)
Upon hearing this, the mother instantly burst into tears.
"Oh, oh, thank you. But no one in the mainland would hold this baby because they said it would spread disease and keep him away..."
At that moment, some of the residents approached with torches in their hands. In the light, Lady Serafina's hair color shined.
"Great Saint?!"
"No way..."
There were several other red-haired women besides Lady Serafina, but everyone knew that the chief had requested the Great Saint to come out, and in the unusual situation of her rushing in on horseback in the middle of the night, everyone seemed to think of the Great Saint.
A murmur of surprise and confusion spread throughout the room. By that time, everyone there had woken up. They each raised their bodies or stood up as they pleased, gazing at Lady Serafina as if expecting something.
Lady Serafina received all the gazes, smiled, and spoke.
"Yes, Great Saint Serafina Nav, we have just arrived at Sutherland." (Serafina)
And then Lady Serafina kissed the cheek of the baby she was holding. Suddenly, a brilliant light shone from that spot, and in an instant the yellow markings that had spread all over the baby's body disappeared.
"...Huh? Is it healed...?"
The mother was stunned as she received the baby, whose spots had now disappeared.
While everyone was stunned and speechless, Lady Serafina raised one arm high and spoke in a dignified voice.
"Fertile and bountiful land of Sutherland, grant your power to the honest and obedient people of this land. Let the fire purify, the wind blow away, the water wash away, and the soil embrace. —— [Eradicate disease]." (Serafina)
As Lady Serafina finished speaking, a sparkling light began to emerge from the tips of her fingers.
Bonfires, torches, and starlight.
In the dark night with only that faint light, a reddish, sparkling light suddenly appeared and began to spread above the heads of the residents, who were standing there in a daze.
"...Huh? Wh-what..."
The residents looked up at the night sky in shock and stared in amazement at the particles of light slowly falling down.
——It was a mysterious and overwhelming sight, as if shining stars were falling.
Eventually, one by one, particles of light began to fall and touch the bodies of the residents, causing them to let out cries of surprise.
"Ah, it's warm..."
When the particles of light touched the bodies of the residents, they disappeared as if they had melted into the air. From there, an indescribable warmth began to spread throughout the residents' bodies. Before long, the residents began to gaze intently up at the sky, hold out their clasped hands as if to scoop up water, and catch the sparkling light pouring down from the sky.
—— The warm, pure and loving heart of the Great Saint.
The residents felt that they were truly embracing the great saint's loving heart. When the shining particles of light came into contact with body, they brought an indescribable sense of comfort and security.
And so, the residents, who had been obsessively and single-mindedly concentrating on picking up the particles of light, suddenly came to their senses the moment the last of the light disappeared and the area was returned to darkness. Blinking rapidly, they began to notice the changes happening to their bodies.
"...Did it disappear...?"
"...Oh, the yellow spot have disappeared... And the fever has gone down, too."
"What the... Was I saved in just a moment like that...?"
After checking their bodies, the residents all stared at Lady Serafina in shock.
They simply stare in disbelief at the existence of Lady Serafina, who had cured their illness that no one had been able to cure in just a short amount of time.
——Everyone was silent.
With so much going on, it seemed like no one was able to fully comprehend the current situation.
Under the gazes of the residents, Lady Serafina stood there with the same smile on her face, but for a moment her body began to sway.
…Ah, she must have used up all his magical power.
As I rushed to Lady Serafina's side, I noticed that the back of her dress was stuck to her body with sweat and I thought to myself.
What Lady Serafina mentioned earlier was the usual way of treating an illness, and no spirits were called upon. If she was able to heal this many people without the power of the spirits, her magic must have been depleted.
Worried about Lady Serafina's body beginning to tilt, the residents began approaching her one by one, with torches in hand. Illuminated by the light, the figure of Lady Serafina appeared dimly in the darkness.
——Looking at her again, Lady Serafina's appearance could hardly be described as neat.
The hem of her dress was dirty with mud, and it's wrinkled and worn after being worn for two days. If she was the First Princess and Lady Serafina's elder sister—no, even if she wasn't of royal birth, if she was a daughter of an aristocrat, she wouldn't be able to appear in public like this, and she wouldn't be able to appear in public without changing her clothes.
However...
Just then, it seemed to be sunrise, and the sun began to rise. The sunlight illuminates the dark sky. Rays of light shone in one by one, and the sky began to turn redder and redder.
The beginning of the light illuminates him from behind, giving the back of Lady Serafina a halo-like brightness. The light of the morning glow mixed with the Great Saint's red hair, making it unclear where the red of the morning glow ended and the Great Saint's red hair began.
"Great Saint of the Dawn..."
One of the residents muttered in a trembling voice.
"It's light... A beautiful red light shining into the darkness..."
Another resident murmured, overcome with emotion.
——It was exactly the image of a merciful great saint standing in the darkness and receiving the light.
The sight was so divine that everyone there was left breathless. The scene was like a passage from a myth, and the hairs on their bodies went all over them, and one by one, they all fell to their knees.
——Yes, my great saint was beautiful.
Beautiful, merciful, and saving all――――
Everybody here understood that. The people on the remote island could not escape death, and the entire clan was destined to die.
This great saint singlehandedly cut through that fate, saving everyone from babies to the elderly.
And that salvation was made possible only because of the compassionate heart of Lady Serafina.
…It was an impossible journey to begin with. Traveling a distance that would take just under ten days by carriage in just two days, even on horseback, was no mean feat. Yet, without a single complaint, Lady Serafina gritted her teeth and clung to her horse, fighting sleepiness and physical strength, and continued riding for two days. She didn't care at all about the risk of losing her life in a fall from her horse, she was only interested in saving the people of this land.
Her whole body must be tensed and in pain. However, Lady Serafina rushed to the people's side without any regard for her own health and used up all her magical powers to save their lives.
Lady Serafina's consciousness should already be hazy. Both her physical strength and magical power were at limits, so it's a wonder she could even stand.
And yet, Lady Serafina smiled heartily. The joy of being able to save them, the joy of seeing them alive and smiling.
——This was the great saint worshiped by all.
Before I knew it, the hundreds, possibly thousands, of residents present were all on their knees. As if worshiping a sacred object, some bowed their heads, some shed tears, and some prayed. None of them could speak, and they all simply bowed down before the absolute Great Saint with emotion, gratitude and emotion.
——Ah, today will be the day of the beginning. No matter what happens, the inhabitants of this land will surely continue to worship Lady Serafina as their savior for the next 100 years, 1,000 years... as long as their people survive.
——A great saint, more beautiful and merciful than anyone else.
This was how she became a legend...
Author's Note
The second volume of the book was released today. I hope you enjoy it.