"...Well, as expected of Sariella! You've completed a new miracle cure!" (Fia)
Seeing Sariella's gloomy mood, I tried to brighten her mood by speak in a happy voice.
In fact, we had a newly developed miracle cure right in front of us. Even in the dimly lit cave by torches, a sparkling glow could be seen rising from the bottom of the potion.
"That's right. I'm happy that the miracle cure has been completed," Sariella replied quietly, then she lined up small cups on the table, one for each patient, and went around carefully pouring the miracle cure into them. After pouring all the medicine into the glass, she placed her hand on her chest and looked at the miracle cure with a deep emotion.
"I divided the miracle drug into 52 equal parts. The children's medicine is half the amount of the adult medicine. I was able to distribute it all without leaving a single drop of the Great Saint's precious miracle drug behind... I think even I can do this much." (Sariella)
After saying that, Sariella looked down dejectedly. Even though the miracle cure had only just been developed, Sariella looked depressed. While I was wondering what to say to her, she suddenly looked up. It seemed like she had pulled herself together in just a short time, and I felt relieved to see a little brightness returning to Sariella's face.
"I am very sorry, Great Saint. Even though you have prepared such a precious medicine, I have been feeling down and acting like it was my own problem, and I apologize for that." (Sariella)
"Of course, that's fine. When you're feeling down, you should look down. But, you know... who made this medicine? ...Is it okay if it's Sariella? Well, I don't have the power of a saint after all..." (Fia)
Even though I was the one who mixed most of it, there's no doubt that Sariella also channeled healing magic into it when she made it. So I thought it would be better if Sariella took the credit, so I made this suggestion. However, realizing that this might be a difficult proposition for Sariella, who didn't think she had contributed to the creation of a miracle drug, she hurriedly continued speaking.
"Of course, if Sariella doesn't like it, I won't say that Sariella made it. It's common for mysterious forces to create new miracle cures before we even know." (Fia)
Sariella looked at me with a slightly exasperated look on her face, then began to speak quietly.
"This may be common among those around the Great Saint, but I have never seen a new miracle cure created without the power of the Saint. …If I had that kind of power, I would kneel down before God in gratitude and never hide my ability." (Sariella)
"………………" (Fia)
…Ah, what, is she criticizing me for trying to hide my Saint's powers? I didn't want to be misunderstood by a hardworking saint like Sariella, so I opened my mouth to explain as much as I could, but when Sariella continued speaking, I quickly closed my mouth.
"...When faced with a sick person, the Great Saint did not hesitate at all to create this new miracle cure. In other words, the Great Saint's spirit is undoubtedly that of a saint." (Sariella)
"………………?" (Fia)
…Your voice is gentle, and it doesn’t feel like you’re being reproachful, right? Wondering what that meant, I decided to stay quiet for a little longer and listen to what Sariella had to say.
"Despite this, the Great Saint has consistently said that she does not have the power of a saint. I, for one, cannot fathom the reason for this, but I believe the Great Saint has a reason for keeping her identity as a saint a secret. ...While possessing both the heart of a saint and the mighty power of a saint, she must keep everything secret and limit her powers...I can only imagine how restrictive that must be." (Sariella)
Seeing Sariella choking on her voice in anguish, as if it were her own fault, I called out to her in a panic.
"Um, well, you see, Sariella..." (Fia)
Well, maybe I was not as inconvenienced as Sariella though. That's because, when the need arose, I often forgot that I was hiding my powers and used them as a saint.
Since Sariella had created a wonderful statue of the saint, I couldn't bring myself to ruin her dream, so I tried explaining it to her in my head, but naturally, it didn't get through to Sariella. So, with a very serious look on her face, Sariella slapped her chest.
"If I, Sariella, can be of even the slightest help to the Great Saint, I will be happy to play the role of either a covert or a capable Saint." (Sariella)
"Well, well, thank you! That's a big help!" (Fia)
I was so happy that Sariella offered to help, so I grabbed both of her hands and squeezed them tightly. Sariella blushed slightly and smiled happily.
Then, Sariella and I placed the glasses containing the miracle cure on a tray and returned to where the sick man was lying. Captain Curtis came over quickly and took my tray in his hands. Erial had picked up Sariella's tray.
...Wonderful. Not everyone is a gentleman.
I nodded in satisfaction and went around giving the miracle cure to each patient. The three seriously ill patients were in a state of confusion, so they were given their medicine while lying down, but the other patients managed to sit up and pick up their own glass. At these times, the residents acting as guards to help the sick person to get up and support them so that they did not fall.
The sick people picked up their glasses and all looked intently into them. At this moment, a sparkling light rose from the bottom of the glasses, and when they notice that it was tinged with red, they all squinted their eyes in a dazzling manner.
"It's the Great Saint's red.... I haven't been able to give anything back in 300 years, and yet I have received your kindness once again. Ahh, I am truly grateful."
As he said this, they raised the glass, bowed deeply to me, and downed the medicine in one gulp.
Then, when they had finished drinking, the sick people bowed deeply to me again. It was as if he was giving thanks for saving their life.
"Well, this medicine was made by Saint Sariella. I... was told by the chief, that I might be the reincarnation of the great saint's soul, but in truth, I don't possess the saint's powers." (Fia)
I explained it one more time, not knowing how many times I had done it already.
The sick people then nodded obediently and said, "Yes, we understand, Great Saint." ...But do you really understand?
Feeling a little suspicious of the residents, I gave the last person the medicine, and it seemed that I had just finished giving Sariella some as well.
I looked around to make sure no one had suddenly taken a turn for the worse, then I walked over to the little girl I had been talking to and sat down next to her bedside. The girl had her eyes closed, but when I got close she opened them and smiled brightly.
"Great Saint, I can breathe easier now!" (Girl)
"Yeah, but I don't think it will work that quickly..." (Fia)
Although it would be a more complicated procedure than creating a fast-acting medicine, making a slow-acting medicine would be gentler on the patient's body. Therefore, in cases like this, where the number of sick people was small and there was no risk to life, I chose to use a slow-acting medicine, so the medicine should not have started to work yet. And yet the girl suddenly raised her torso and tried to stand up even further.
"Really, Great Saint! I feel like I can run very fast right now." (Girl)
"Um, well, that’s probably just a wrong guess, so I think you should stop. …In other words, it’s just a false belief that makes you feel better, based on the proverb ‘all illness comes from the mind,’ and it’s an effect with no basis whatsoever." (Fia)
As I explained this to the girl, trying to dissuade her, Erial and the other residents acting as guards approached. When Erial saw the girl sit up, his body stiffened as if shocked.
"Myuu, Miuu! Can you, uh, get up?!" (Arial)
"Ah, Dad. Yes, the Great Saint's medicine has made me feel better." (Girl)
"No, like I said, this medicine is slow-acting..." (Fia)
As I was about to speak, Erial and all the other guards fell to the ground and started shouting loudly.
"Great Saint, thank you for saving everyone here!!" (x3)
"Huh, ah, no, so the effect is still..." (Fia)
I was trying to give the right information, but no one was listening. On the contrary, Erial spoke as if to interrupt me.
"All of the guards had family members who were ill! They all volunteered to be guards because they were more afraid of losing their families without even knowing it than of catching the disease themselves! We had resigned ourselves to the fact that we would have to say goodbye to our families someday, but we never imagined that the day would come when we would see our family members fully recovered..." (Arial)
Seeing Erial and the others burst into tears of emotion, I blurted out.
"No, like I said, the medicine hasn't taken effect yet! Just look, the yellow markings haven't disappeared on anyone! It should take at least another two hours until they're completely cured." (Fia)
"Oh, how kind of you, Great Saint! I understand. Just to be on the safe side, I will let everyone sleep for another two hours." (Arial)
Although it seemed like we're on the same page, our conversation wasn't coherent at all.
Although I was shocked, I made sure to emphasize this to Erial, as I was not going to give in on this point.
"Erial, you are the next chief and in a position of responsibility, so please understand this. First of all, it was Sariella who created this miracle cure. And I do not have the powers of a saint. Okay? Please convey this to everyone correctly!" (Fia)
"I, I understand! If it is an order from the Great Saint, then there is no way that I, Erial, would not obey it!!" (Arial)
"………………" (Fia)
...I wonder if he really understands?
Although I was worried, I didn't know what else to say so I decided to believe Erial.
Then, two hours later, I left the cave with 52 sick people who had completely recovered, and the 10 guards including Erial, Sariella, and Captain Curtis.
Holding hands with Erial's daughter Myu, we walked while listening to her talk about what she wanted to do when she got better.
As I entered the bustling street, I noticed a noise that was different from the excitement of a festival. For some reason, the residents were shouting something and running around with frightening vigor.
I stopped in confusion, tilting my head in confusion, and the residents who noticed me stopped moving, looking shocked.
Then, after a beat of silence, they all spoke in unison.
"Great Saint!!!" (Residents)
"Y-Yes..." (Fia)
Everyone was so impressed with their energy that I couldn't help but reply.
As I stood there, unable to grasp the situation, a knight in a white uniform appeared in front of me, parting the crowd.
…Well, wearing a white knight uniform, it seemed like a Captain or a vice-knight from somewhere had personally appeared.
Although I knew for sure who it was that had appeared, I deliberately avoided looking at his face, anticipating the sermon that was to follow, and put off the task of determining who it was that stood before me.
However, the person in the white knight uniform, who knew nothing of what was in my heart, clearly spoke my name.
"Fia!"
...Ah, I've been called. Thinking that, I resigned myself to the situation and raised my head, my eyes meeting with a face wearing a white knight's uniform.
"Well, well, Captain Cyril. Is something wrong?" (Fia)
When our eyes met, I tried to smile so as not to look unnatural, but Captain Cyril just stared back at me without blinking.
Author's Note
Thank you for reading!
Today marks one year since I began serializing this work.
Thanks to all of you who read this, I am able to continue.
Thank you very much!