When we reached shallow water where I could stand, Captain Cyril helped me off his back.
There was soft sand underfoot, and not realising it was sand, I stumbled after taking my first step. Then, Captain Cyril instantly grabbed my arm and let me hold onto the Captain's arm.
Captain Curtis followed me from a few meters behind, almost as if he was guarding me.
As we waded through the water, we came into view of the locals lined up on the sand, waiting for us.
Wow, what a kind soul you have. You were worried about the knight and me who had fallen off the cliff, so you came to see us.
With that thought in mind, I walked through the sea as fast as I could.
Then, it seemed that dawn had just broken, and the sky began to lighten slightly. The bright light of the morning sun began to illuminate the dark sea.
"It's dawn. If it had come a little earlier, it would have lit up the dark sea." (Fia)
"That's a pity," he said to Captain Cyril.
If the morning sun had shone on the sea, the knight who had fallen into the sea would have been easily found, and more than 100 people would not have had to jump into the ocean like this.
Thinking that, I splashed around in the sea. As we got closer and closer to the shore, the water level was already below my knees. When I was close enough to see the residents' faces, I smiled and waved with the hand that wasn't holding onto Captain Cyril. Then, for some reason, all the residents looked at me with shocked expressions.
"……huh?" (Fia)
Ah, maybe they thought it was rude of me to smile and wave?
It all started when I was supposed to be looking for a knight who had fallen into the sea, but somehow I ended up falling into the sea too, I realized, belatedly. As a result, the concerned knights and residents jumped into the sea, distracting us from the ceremony that was in the middle of it all. Well, I wasn't the source of all this confusion anyway. This was no time to laugh and laugh.
Thinking that, I put on a serious expression and took a quick look at the residents.
Suddenly, the residents who made eye contact with me began to fall to the ground, one after the other, as if struck by lightning.
"Huh? W-what happened?" (FIa)
Surprised, I let go of Captain Cyril's arm and ran towards the shore.
Then, the area struck by lightning expanded with frightening rapidity, and the residents began to crouch on the ground, with one flapping motion after another, until there was not a single person left standing.
"……hah?" (Fia)
Wondering what this was all about, I approached the residents and found them kneeling on the sand, as if praying.
"...Ah, Great Saint."
"Just as the legend says, how precious..."
I could hear a broken voice, but it didn't make sense so I could only tilt my head.
——But at the time, I hadn't really thought about it.
Later, Captain Curtis told me that my situation at that time was very similar to that of the great saint 300 years ago when she saved the residents of Sutherland from the yellow spot disease.
The great saint was wearing a light blue dress and smiling with her long, flowing red hair. The first rays of sunlight illuminated the great saint's red hair from behind. 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.
——It was probably a scene exactly like the ones told in stories by the people of Sutherland, Captain Curtis explained. That was why, I believe, when I looked at myself at that moment, the residents saw the image of a great saint.
Later, when I heard an explanation from Captain Curtis, I understood and thought, "I see," but at the time I didn't understand the situation and just sat there shaking my head at the residents' behavior.
However, without paying any attention to me not understanding the situation, a man stood up from among the others and spoke up.
"Everyone, remember this sight! These colors!"
Upon closer inspection, I saw that the person speaking was Chief Radek.
"Hair that blends with the dawn's red, her light blue dress, everything is just as the legend says. This is the Great Saint of the Dawn!" (Chief)
"Wait...!" (Fia)
Surprised by the sudden provocative words of Chief Radek, I tried to stop him immediately, but Captain Curtis, who was standing next to him, bowed his head and asked to be spared.
"Lady Fi, if it's alright with you, please leave the residents as they are and let them do as they please." (Curtis)
"N-no, but, Curtis, this is really...!!" (Fia)
That's too much of an exaggeration, I told him, and as I was about to continue, Captain Curtis put his mouth close to my ear and whispered quietly enough for only me to hear.
"The residents of 300 years ago had regrets about the Great Saint Lady Serafina. ... People's feelings tend to pile up. Because of this, the words and actions of the residents who inherited those feelings became quite exaggerated. If we stop them now, it seems that their feelings will only pile up even more." (Curtis)
"C-Curtis. I understand that you are siding with the people of the remote island, but… isn’t that a threat?" (Fia)
I replied without thinking, and Captain Curtis looked back at me with a puzzled look on his face.
"Threatening you? Threatening me? Never in a thousand years would that happen." (Curtis)
Damn, Captain Curtis is such an airhead. You don't seem to understand that threatening someone doesn't just mean choking them and saying frightening things.
Thinking this, I was about to say something back to Captain Curtis, but at that moment, an impossible voice came from my mouth, causing me to stiffen in surprise.
"I thought a night swimming tournament was unusual, but what is this now? Fia, why are you being worshipped?"
"……huh?" (Fia)
Although I heard a familiar voice, the kind that only belonged to the commander, it was the voice of someone who definitely couldn't be present, so I blinked rapidly.
Then, I turned cautiously to where the voice came from, and there, impossibly, was the Commander of the Black Dragon Knights, shining brilliantly in the morning sun.
The one-eyed, handsome man, with his black cloak fluttering about, was riding a pitch black horse and was accompanied by many knights, exuding a majestic presence.
The residents didn't seem to realize who this sudden appearance was, but they sensed an extraordinary sense of intimidation and backed away in fear.
"S-Commander Savis? ...Is it real?" (Fia)
I asked timidly, wondering which was more likely: that Commander Savis was here, or that there was a Commander lookalike out there.
The Commander suddenly laughed and slowly rode his horse forward.
"I wonder? Check it out." (Savis)
I couldn't help but frown when I heard Commander's words.
What are you talking about, Commander? Even if you are feeling liberated from being away from the royal capital, this is going too far.
Even though I thought that, the person I was talking to was my highest-ranking boss. I splashed out of the water and hurried up to the commander.
Commander Savis stopped his horse a few steps in front of me and hopped off. Then, when he noticed that I was soaked from head to toe, he raised one eyebrow in disbelief.
"Swimming at night in a dress? What are you doing? Two of our most esteemed Captains are with you, yet they can't stop you alone?" (Savis)
With a quick glance at Captain Cyril and Captain Curtis, who were standing behind me, the commander unfastened the clasps of his cloak with a click and removed it in one fluid motion.
Wow, as expected of Commander, I was impressed at how well he even took off his cloak, when I suddenly realized that the cloak was being pulled over my head.
"Huh?" (Fia)
Suddenly, the red lining of the cloak came into view, and I blinked in surprise. The commander then let go and wrapped the cloak around my body.
"You'll catch a cold if you stay wet. Go get changed... After all, you are the holy and inviolable Great Saint." (Savis)
Saying this, Commander Savis twisted the corners of his lips into an amused grin.
"Eh, ah, that's...!" (Fia)
I cried out in surprise, but after hearing what Commander Savis said, I began to vaguely understand why the commander was there.
Oh my goodness! I thought that the story about me being the reincarnation of the great saint was only true while I was in Sutherland and would be forgotten once I left this land!
From the looks of it, the case in which I was considered the great saint must have been reported all the way up to the commander. Ah, you're right. Thinking about it again, this is an important matter. I wonder why I didn't realize that this would be reported to the highest possible authority.
And because Commander Savis values on-site contact, as soon as he received the report he galloped on horseback to come here to see it for himself. To arrive at this time, he must have galloped, even through the night.
Oh my, your knights must have a hard time. And I was in trouble because the commander was looking at me with amusement. In fact, I had no choice but to run away from this situation.
I instantly put on a serious expression and bowed deeply to the commander.
"You're right, Commander. Catching a cold and causing trouble for everyone would be out of the question. I'll change clothes as instructed by Commander." (Fia)
And before Captain Cyril and Captain Curtis could stop me, I tried to run away like a rabbit—but the residents called out to me.
"Great Saint, a towel! Please have a towel!"
"Great Saint, are you injured?"
"Great Saint, here's a warm drink! Please take just one sip."
The residents were kneeling on the beach, but they seemed to sense that I was trying to run away, as they rose to their feet in a panic and surrounded me.
"Eh, ah, well... I already have the cloak, so just your kind words..." (Fia)
As I said this, I realized I had the Commander cloak over my head.
What should I do about this? I was thinking of washing it and returning it, but I was afraid if I washed it poorly the fabric would get damaged. Ahh, I'm certainly grateful for the kindness, but when you're treated in a way that's beyond your means, it can be a little troubling.
While I was thinking about this and hesitating, I heard the sound of feet crunching on the sand, and the commander stood behind me.
Ah, so the residents at the front gate are the ones at the back gate? This is bad, I have to get out of here quickly.
Thinking this, I casually looked around for an escape route and realized that I was blocked on both sides.
Ah, no! There's Captain Cyril on the left and Captain Curtis on the right.
Well... isn't this what they call being surrounded by enemies?
Can someone please tell me the way out?