Chapter 8: The Saintess V
The feelings I harbored towards her were not solely ones of disgust. Even though it was our first meeting, I felt an inexplicable nostalgia that tugged at my heart.
The girl gained attention as a remarkable healer after treating the paralysis of a noble lady. Upon hearing the rumors, the Klaatel Church promptly dispatched personnel to recruit her. However, it was hard to imagine that this girl, who would later become the Saintess, would shake her head at the church’s invitation. She was still quite young, and the thought of leaving her family to become a Sister was incredibly painful for her.
Yet, it was true that she was deeply moved by the words of the church envoy, who said, “By studying at the church, you will be able to help even more people than before.”
After much contemplation, the girl engaged in discussions with her family and, driven by the pure motive of saving as many people as possible, she resolved to become a Sister of the Klaatel Church.
From the early days of her affiliation with the church, she possessed an extraordinary amount of Mana and powerful Healing Magic compared to the other Sisters. However, the wise girl never acted arrogantly or let her abilities inflate her ego. On the contrary, she was incredibly humble. Her attitude towards her seniors and juniors alike, and most importantly, her dedication to learning and training, was more sincere than anyone else’s. By this time, she had already become a clergyman known for her “robot-like expression,” as later described by the boy who would be summoned.
Many of the young Sisters affiliated with the Klaatel Church were dispatched to various places, such as guilds and hospitals, where they encountered numerous injured and sick individuals.
They used Healing Magic, Dispel, and Detoxification Magic to heal many people. The church had various intentions behind these actions.
Of course, there were financial benefits from the treatments and the training of the Sisters, but there were also several other reasons. Regardless of the church’s motives, the daily users never ceased, as they provided Healing Magic at relatively reasonable prices.
However, for the Sisters, this training known as the Healing Pilgrimage was fraught with pain. This world was filled with monsters and Seekers, making it natural for many to return to town injured. Thus, most Sisters engaged in the Healing Pilgrimage often used Healing Magic until they were on the verge of Mana depletion.
The closer one got to Mana depletion, the more intense the fatigue became. Once one reached complete Mana depletion, the fatigue could become so severe that standing was impossible. Many who experienced it would unanimously declare they never wanted to go through that again. Considering this, the church had a rule to protect the Sisters: when conducting the Healing Pilgrimage, they had to gauge their Mana depletion line and avoid exhausting their Mana to the limit.
Yet, there was a Sister who, driven by her will to heal the people, broke this rule and used every last drop of her Mana.
That Sister was her.
Even though she would later become the Saintess, her Mana at that time was still within the realm of common sense. No matter how talented she was, if she consumed too much Mana, she would inevitably fall into a state of Mana depletion. However, when someone wished for healing, she would unhesitatingly cast Healing Magic without regard for her own well-being.
Moreover, beyond the Healing Pilgrimage directed by the church, she always accompanied others of her own volition.
As time passed, she was recognized and, after a year and a half, she had risen to become a Sister attached to a Cardinal in a certain region. It was an exceptional promotion, yet she continued her usual Healing Pilgrimage without reducing its frequency. In fact, she even took on some minor secretarial duties, leading a busy daily life.
This is a story from that time, the tale of how she became the Saintess.
Whispers circulated within the Klaatel Church about the Pope stepping down from his position.
There were two potential successors. One was her superior, named Odyssey. The other was a devout follower of the Klaatel Church, known for his strictness and willingness to use any means necessary—his name was Cole.
Both were renowned Cardinals, so it was not surprising that either could become the next Pope. However, an incident occurred.
Cole, the opposing candidate to Odyssey, resorted to extreme measures. Was it scheming? Spreading scandal? There was a simpler method.
The physical elimination of the rival.
If one of the two candidates died, the Pope would naturally be decided—Cole chose a primitive yet effective method.
That said, both were powerful figures. A half-hearted approach would lead to failure. Moreover, if he failed once, it would raise the target’s caution and increase the risk of exposure. Considering all this, Cole’s chosen option was a Forbidden Spell.
Now, in Japan, there exists a form of sorcery known as Kudoku. Originally, Kudoku involved gathering several living beings for use in sorcery, starving them, and then releasing them to cannibalize one another, thereby exponentially amplifying feelings of resentment to complete the curse.
However, what he—Cole—used here as a Forbidden Spell was a hellish torment that forced a pitiful sacrificial animal to be starved, extracting not only food but also Mana.
First, the sacrificial animal was placed in a cage that drained its Mana, and then it was deprived of food. By doing so, the sacrificial animals were forced into a state of both hunger and Mana depletion. After preparing several such sacrificial animals in extreme conditions, they were released into the same cage. The last one to survive the cannibalism would have its throat cut when it let its guard down.
Through this method, Cole created a curse far more potent than mere Kudoku.
In short, the Forbidden Spell in question was a modified version of the popular curse known as Kudoku, brought to this world by a previous transfer student and now widely known in Japan.
Although Cole used the dangerous Forbidden Spell against his rival, Odyssey was not harmed. The girl, who had been on high alert, protected Odyssey with a barrier of a level far beyond Cole’s expectations. No matter how powerful the Forbidden Spell was, it could not breach her barrier. However, this was not the end of the matter. The rebounded Forbidden Spell returned to the caster, afflicting him with even greater force than when it was unleashed.
“Kill… me…”
The hoarse voice came from the old man lying on the bed. No, he was not originally an old man. Just days prior, he had been a stern-looking man in his fifties. He was Cole.
Afflicted by the rebounded Kudoku, he was in a state that could be described as nothing but skin and bones by the time Odyssey and the girl rushed to his side. His arms resembled brittle twigs, and his cheeks were stripped of flesh, with sunken eye sockets, all indicating that it was already too late for him.
Odyssey, witnessing the gruesome sight, covered his mouth with his hand. He felt the inescapable death before him and simultaneously resigned himself to the impossibility of saving him.
“What have you—”
Odyssey, the girl’s superior, saw his subordinate holding the hand of the man lying on the bed, eyes closed.
It was undeniable that it was too late. It was clear without needing to say it.
“God, have mercy and save him.”
As the girl chanted, a miasma seeped from her frail body, eventually taking the form of a wolf and lunging at her. It all happened in an instant. The girl was enveloped in a brilliant light, and both Odyssey and the man lying on the bed lost their sight for a moment. When they finally opened their eyes, they saw the girl collapsed beside the bed.
From that day, she lost consciousness for a month. The girl’s Dispel was not flawless. The Kudoku was far too powerful, and the remaining curse could only be mitigated by her taking it upon herself. Nevertheless—Odyssey reflected—it was a miracle that she was able to dispel it, even if not completely. The light she had unleashed at that moment was more divine than any light he had ever seen in his life.
“She is the one—”
Having successfully become the Pope, Odyssey solidified his resolve to appoint the girl as the Saintess.
At the same time, Cole, who had used the Forbidden Spell known as Kudoku, developed an extraordinary faith in the girl who risked her life to attempt his Dispel.
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The digital version of Volume 1 of the comic has been released.
Yes, the release date is July 16th.
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