"It's simple. The people of Sutherland believe what they want to believe. That's all." (Curtis)
After drying Captain Cyril's hair, Captain Curtis sat down heavily on the sofa and continued his explanation.
"The people of this land were saved by the Great Saint 300 years ago. One after another, people from remote islands fell ill with a deadly disease, but no Saint could cure them, and many died. Just when it seemed that the entire clan would soon be wiped out, the Great Saint rushed to the land of Sutherland on her own initiative and singlehandedly saved the entire clan." (Curtis)
"………………yes?" (Cyril)
Captain Cyril exclaimed, as if he truly didn't understand what was going on.
However, perhaps taking Captain Cyril's voice as an indication, Captain Curtis continued speaking.
"For the past 300 years, everyone in this land has had the utmost desire to repay the Great Saint for her kindness. In other words—" (Curtis)
"C... Curtis, wait a moment! What are you talking about?" (Fia)
Glancing over at Captain Cyril, who exclaimed in surprise, Captain Curtis frowned in displeasure.
"...This is where the good part of Lady Serafina comes in, so please don't interrupt." (Curtis)
However, Captain Cyril paid no attention to Captain Curtis's protests and continued to mutter in a daze.
"The Great Saint saved the people of this land? ...I don't recall ever seeing such a record..." (Cyril)
Captain Curtis shrugged slightly and answered Captain Cyril's question.
"It's not official. If anything, the Great Saint abandoned her official duties and rushed to this place. There would have been no official record left behind." (Curtis)
"………………" (Cyril)
While Captain Cyril fell silent, as if deep in thought, Captain Curtis continued speaking.
"…I’ve been living here for three years now. I think I understand the characteristics of the residents." (Curtis)
That's what Captain Curtis explained, but originally Canopus was from the remote island. Of course, he was well aware of the characteristics of the people living on remote islands. I stared at Captain Curtis, wondering what on earth he was going to say, when the Captain began to explain as if it were a matter of course.
"The people of the remote island never forget the kindness that has been bestowed upon them, and will try to repay it for generations to come. Do you know? All the people of the remote island grow up listening to stories of the Great Saint from a young age. Over and over again, they are instilled with the fact that they are here because the Great Saint bestowed life upon them, and the kindness that they owe to repay for that. Over the course of 300 years, the people of the remote island, who number in the hundreds of thousands, are all obedient servants and soldiers of the Great Saint. They would easily sacrifice their lives for the Great Saint." (Curtis)
When I explained that much, Captain Curtis looked at me intently, as if to persuade me.
"——Please understand. This is the nature of the people of remote islands, and it makes them happy." (Curtis)
But of course, I argued. I couldn't be persuaded by such a story.
"N-no, I wonder about that. It was 300 years ago, you know? It seems strange to risk their life when they didn't even receive treatment directly." (Fia)
Hearing what I said, Captain Curtis narrowed his eyes as if deep in thought.
"...So, if there was an injured person gasping for breath in front of you, would you be able to endure that without healing?" (Curtis)
Well, this may seemed like a question about the Great Saint's actions, but it was actually a question about my own actions. Although I suspected that it might be some kind of trap, I ended up answering.
"I-I guess the Great Saint wouldn't be able to bear it." (Fia)
Upon hearing my answer, Captain Curtis nodded as if in agreement.
"It's the same thing. The residents are dying to repay the Great Saint for her kindness. If she is hurt because they neglected to do what they could, they will regret it for the rest of their lives. They will think back on the things they 'didn't do' and be haunted by that guilt until the day they die. And the emotions that haunt them are negative. Lady Fi, that would be a very unfortunate life for them." (Curtis)
"Th-That's..." (Fia)
After looking at me kindly as I was at a loss for words, Captain Curtis turned his gaze to Captain Cyril.
"The residents had been waiting for 300 years to repay the Great Saint for her kindness. This time, Lady Fi appeared, with the same coloring as the Great Saint. From then on, Lady Fi could only be seen as the Great Saint. ...I just found out that the deadly disease that was prevalent 300 years ago has begun to spread again in this land." (Curtis)
"What?!" (Fia)
Captain Cyril cried out in surprise, and Captain Curtis raised one hand to calm him down.
"Don't worry. Everyone has already made a full recovery. However, because we happened to be present when the local Saint was creating the miracle cure, the residents are convinced that Lady Fi created it. ...They believe what they want to believe." (Curtis)
"Why did the residents believe that Fia had created a cure?" (Cyril)
"Lady Fi was helping the local saint create the miracle cure. The two of them compounded it in separate rooms, so the residents must have imagined the invisible parts to suit her own convenience." (Curtis)
"I see……" (Cyril)
As Captain Cyril muttered as if he couldn't gather his thoughts, Captain Curtis pointed to the knight's uniform he was wearing.
"Look at me! My blood-stained knight uniform!! ...I was suspicious of Lady Fi, who was surrounded by the residents, so I followed her, but when I was discovered by the residents, they slashed me without asking any questions. When I asked them why, they said they were trying to protect Lady Fi, the great saint, from me. ...This is completely abnormal behavior. The residents, who are supposed to be peaceful, go crazy when it comes to Lady Fi." (Curtis)
"That is—" (Cyril)
Captain Cyril was about to say something, but Captain Curtis cut him off with a satisfied look on his face.
"But it worked out just as I had intended. With this, just as I had originally expected, the rift between the residents and the knights, and further between the residents and the Duke’s family, will be resolved." (Curtis)
"...Curtis, even now that you have become so arrogant, do you think it is a good thing that the locals still believe that Fia is the reincarnation of the Great Saint?" (Cyril)
Captain Cyril asked with a troubled look on his face, to which Captain Curtis clearly nodded his head.
"That's right. From the beginning, I have been proposing that we should affirm the assumptions of the residents. Even if it goes better than expected, it would be foolish to get scared and give up midway. We need to take our time to listen to the feelings of the residents." (Curtis)
Captain Cyril looked hesitant, then dropped his gaze to his open hands.
"...Curtis, I agreed with your proposal to use Fia as a stimulant for this land, and as a new wind to move the stagnant time, but I was always unsure of my decision. ...Isn't it wrong to try to solve a relationship that has become so strained in the short term? I have always thought that we should prove our sincerity over a period of 100 or 200 years." (Cyril)
"That's typical of Captain Cyril's sincerity, but it's unnecessary this time. If you're worried that taking advantage of the residents' assumptions might result in you deceiving them, then that's a needless worry. ...In any case, there's nothing that can be done now. Lady Fi keeps saying that she's not the Great Saint, but no one believes her. In other words, their feelings have piled up so much that they can no longer accept denial." (Curtis)
After understanding Captain Curtis's words, Captain Cyril seemed to have come to the realization that this trend could not, and should not, be stopped. Still, after hesitating for a few moments, he caught my eye and confirmed it with a concerned look.
"Fia, are you okay with that? Isn't it painful?" (Cyril)
"What?" (Fia)
Not understanding what he meant, I asked him again, and Captain Cyril kindly explained it to me.
"...I apologize if this is disrespectful to you, but let me ask a question. Saints are beings that everyone worships. For that reason... I think that any woman would aspire to become a Saint. However, you were not a Saint. Isn't it painful for you to be seen as the reincarnation of the Great Saint?" (Cyril)
...Oh, I see. I gazed upon Captain Cyril in admiration, as he was concerned about a thought I had never even considered.
...What can I say, Captain Cyril is really meticulousm, right? I didn't think I could survive if I had to worry about each and every member like this. Although I was worried, I answered honestly.
"Well, I do feel a bit troubling, but I'm not bitter. Also... I'd forgotten because of everything that happened, but I originally took on the job because I wanted the residents, the captains, and the knights to become friends. Certainly, things are going better than I expected now, so maybe they'll be able to make up." (Fia)
I looked up at Captain Cyril with a smile, and he stared back at me in shock.
"You are... truly a kind person, aren't you?" (Cyril)
He muttered this with a sigh of relief, but—No, it's Captain Cyril who is the nicest person!
That's what I replied in my mind.