I turned my gaze to Sariella and our eyes met with seriousness.
It seemed that Sariella was staring at me intently.
You see, making eye contact is a sign of liking. I'm sure Sariella and I would get along well, right?
I was so happy that I quickly approached Sariella.
"Sariella, is there anything I can help you with?" (Fia)
"Well, Great Saint! With his father now dead, Erial is the next chief. Since you are using normal speech with Erial, please use normal speech with everyone here as well. Otherwise, the chief's authority will be diminished." (Sariella)
Sariella lowered her eyes in awe and bowed her head.
"Huh? Is that how it works? I didn't know that. So, Erial, can I just say that it was a mistake to change the way I spoke to you?" (Fia)
It felt a little late now, but I looked back at Erial and asked him to retract the change in tone. However, the moment Erial heard what I said, he shook his head with frightening speed.
"No, no, no, it's not possible! It's impossible! There are some events in this world that cannot be undone. And this is it! Seriously, if you speak like that, it's too much of a disgrace, and I will never be able to appear before the Great Saint ever again." (Arial)
"...Umm, I'm sorry for being so persistent, but I am maybe. I am not a Saint, and I have no memories of the Great Saint, okay?" (Fia)
Since my conversation with Captain Curtis was overheard, I felt like I might be suspicious, but I couldn't give in on this point, so I decided to go ahead and be a maybe. However, no one seemed willing to give in when it came to my tone of voice, so I, being the most mature, decided to give in. Yeah, that's a fifty-fifty chance, right?
"Well, then I shall speak in this tone. Sariella, I feel sorry for the elders." (Fia)
"That is outrageous, Great Saint!" (Sariell)
...that's why, even though I think it's "maybe", it's gradually becoming a hassle to correct myself.
I smiled silently and moved closer to Sariella.
"This place has many entrances and is well ventilated. But it's not too windy either. It's a perfect place for a sick person." (Fia)
If the disease were to develop, they would be isolated in this place immediately, so the elderly ones would likely be staying here for several weeks. However, the pajamas looked clean and the air flowing was pleasant. I believed it must be the result of Sariella's thoughtfulness, and I was once again impressed by her excellent hospitality.
...I had heard that the saints of this world were arrogant, but there are saints like Sariella too, right?
While I was smiling happily, Sariella shook her head slightly as if she was embarrassed.
"Your kind words are much appreciated... Our family was saved by the Great Saint. It is my duty as a Saint to pass on her life to the next generation." (Sariella)
"...Thank you, Sariella." (Fia)
Sariella's words made my heart warm.
—— I'm so happy. To think that such a wonderful saint exists...
However, when Sariella heard my words of thanks, she looked sad.
"...No, Great Saint. I cannot say that I have fulfilled that responsibility. Yellow spot disease has periodically spread to this land for the past 300 years. And no matter how many people have contracted it, they have all been cured completely with the Great Saint's miracle drug. However, this time, since the first case of Yellow Spot Disease appeared six months ago, not a single person has been cured." (Sariella)
"Sariella……" (Fia)
From Sariella's pained expression, I could see what was going through her mind, and I couldn't help but murmured her name.
"In the last six months, I have returned several hundred of my compatriots to the sea... No one blames me. 'They must have become so ill that the medicine was ineffective,' they say, knowing that this is not the reason, but no one blames them.... The chief said he accepted it as the fate of his clan. He said that our clan was on the verge of annihilation 300 years ago, but we were only kept alive by the Great Saint's mercy." (Sariella)
"………………" (Fia)
There were many things I wanted to say in response, but I didn't know where to start, so I ended up remaining silent.
As I was thinking that, Sariella continued speaking.
"So we all live our lives as usual. We go to work, eat, take part in seasonal events, and hold festivals as usual. We have come to accept that, like any other disease, if we contract yellow spot disease, we may die. ...But if yellow spot disease actually develops, we will be transferred to this place immediately and will not be able to return home." (Sariella)
Sariella clasped her hands tightly against her chest and continued in a trembling voice.
"...The chief has not said anything, but I believe he is being punished. The family was saved by the Great Saint 300 years ago, but they have not been able to repay her kindness even a little. They promised not to fight with anyone, to help each other, but they are fighting with the lord and the knights. This is their punishment..." (Sariella)
"...An illness is an illness. I don't think there's any reason to feel guilty or guilty about having one." (Fia)
When people were seriously ill, some would try to make sense of it, some would try to think of reasons. But what about the people of this land who considered this a punishment?
Even though I felt that I had done everything I should have done and that I had done nothing wrong, the way I thought of it as punishment was...
"...I think everyone has fulfilled their responsibilities sufficiently." (Fia)
Muttering this to myself, I walked over to one of the sick people.
As for those in a serious condition, I have just cast a spell to halt the progression, so there is no need for immediate treatment. As for the others, Sariella is providing them with extremely attentive care, so I shouldn't intervene, out of respect for her treatment. So, what I need to do doesn't exist here...
With that thought in mind, my feet were drawn towards a certain child. Among the sick people lying there was one small child who caught my eye, but what caught my eye was the frilly grass above his head.
I instinctively crouched down and picked up the frilled grass, and Sariella noticed and explained to me.
"These were brought to us by the children. However, since those who are not infected cannot enter the cave, it was the guard at the entrance who received them." (Sariella)
"I see" (Fia)
Furifuri grass was an ingredient in fever reducers, but it was not used as an ingredient in the specific medicine for yellow spot disease. I guessed some kids, not knowing about it, brought it for their friends. Even going into the forest where there were basilisks...
I remembered the terrified looks on the children's faces when I found them in the forest, and then their laughter as we toured the stalls together earlier.
These lively and adorable children were so eager to save this girl, and it seemed this girl was just the friend they were willing to risk their lives to save. This is, I must cure the sick at all costs. Thinking this, I placed one hand on the forehead of the little girl who was lying with her eyes closed. The girl's forehead was burning hot, indicating the severity of her fever.
I couldn't help but frown, and the girl opened her eyes, her eyelids trembling.
"...Great Saint?" (Girl)
The girl asked in a blank tone as she stared at my hair.
I thought I couldn't deny this question, so I answered in the affirmative.
"Yeah, I guess. How are you feeling?" (Fia)
"...The Great Saint's hands feel so good. I'm so happy. Now that the Great Saint has come, I'll be cured, right?" (Girl)
Looking into the child's serious eyes, I nodded vigorously.
"That's right. Your friend picked some herbs for you. If you make some medicine with them, you'll be cured in no time." (Fia)
The girl closed her eyes happily upon hearing my words.
Maybe it's because she had a high fever that my cool hands felt so good. Thinking that, I stroked the girl's head in silence for a while, and then she seemed to fall asleep, and began to breathe regularly.
Feeling relieved, I sat on the rock again, daydreaming, when I heard a voice call from the direction of the entrance.
"...Lady Fi, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. I've just returned." (Curtis)
I turned around to see Captain Curtis standing there holding one large bag and one small bag.
"...It's no good, my body is out of shape. I have to start training again from scratch." (Curtis)
As he spoke, Captain Curtis handed over two bags.
"Huh? You're back already? I thought it wasn't even halfway through the scheduled time, but were you really able to pick the 'Yellow Wind Flower Petals'? Maybe you picked a different flower?" (Fia)
Tilting my head, I opened the large bag that was handed to me first, and found it filled with real Yellow Wind Flower Petals.
"What? They're real! And there are so many! Wow, you must have climbed a tree to get all this!" (Fia)
As I said that, I thought, "Oh, so that's why he said his body was out of shape."
However, the fact that he picked so many flowers suggested that he must have climbed quite high into the tree, so I didn't think he could be said to be in bad shape.
"Curtis, you said that your body was out of shape, but that's enough..." (Fia)
However, when I opened the smaller bag, my words stopped dead in their tracks.
"C-Ca, Ca, Curtis, th-this, this is..." (Fia)
Then my attention shifted to the contents of the pouch.
"Yes, I encountered a monster on the way, so I only removed the magic stone from its body." (Curtis)
I looked at Captain Curtis, who had made the casual remark, with a terrifying look in his eyes.
"………………" (Fia)
This was because the pouch was filled with dozens of magic stones of all sizes. The larger one looked to be about the same size as the A-rank monster I received from Zavilia some time ago.
In that short time, he had not only pinpointed the location of the unknown "Yellow Wind Flower Petals," but also climbed a tree to gather lots of materials, and even defeated dozens of monsters below A rank??
"Oh, who are you?" (Fia)
I blurted out this, and Captain Curtis answered me with a completely serious look on his face.
"Of course, your faithful knight." (Curtis)
No. This goes beyond the scope of a knight.
...I decided to stop talking about common sense in terms of small things like attitude.
Author's Note
Thank you for reading.
There's only a little time left in this year.
We wish you a happy new year.