saint ch38

Curse (4)

Many things had happened while I was unconscious.

Apparently, I was out of it for a whole five days.

Seriously, I almost crossed the River Styx, but they were celebrating with nosebleeds.

I didn’t plan on sleeping that long.

I could have been dragged back to the Order headquarters while I was out.

The Princess calmly began to explain what had happened.

First, immediately after I collapsed, the Princess sought out healers.

But every healer who examined me said it was beyond the scope of medicine and that Divine Power was the only hope. After much deliberation, the Princess summoned the dwarf captain of the royal guard, whom she deemed the most trustworthy.

The captain of royal guard said that my body was in a critical state, with not a single drop of Divine Power left, and that transferring Divine Power between different races was extremely inefficient, so a human priest was needed.

…So, using up all your Divine Power is dangerous?

They tried to bring priests from the Order of Orion, but most of them couldn’t be located immediately, so the Princess and the captain of royal guard had no choice but to gather all the priests from other races and pump Divine Power into me.

Only after the priests of other races had poured in Divine Power to the point of near exhaustion did the situation stabilize. Then, the priests of the Order of Orion, who had finally gathered, were horrified to see me collapsed.

Realizing that it was because I had healed the young lady, they were flustered and reported the situation to the Order headquarters.

They failed to heal her, but I fixed it, so now they must realize that my abilities are different from what they thought.

The Order demanded my transfer, saying that since the Saint had been left in critical condition, I could no longer stay at the Academy and that treatment would be best done by the Order.

The Academy argued that it was an unavoidable accident that occurred while the Saint was healing someone, and since it was not the Academy’s fault, the Order could not arbitrarily cancel the Saint’s admission to the Academy.

Furthermore, the Princess stated that the Saint’s condition was indeed critical, making it difficult to move even a step, so if they really wanted to treat me, they should send their own priests.

A nobleman from the Thorf Dukedom argued that his sister, whose treatment had been abandoned by the Order, was able to be healed thanks to the Saint, and that he suspected she had been cursed.

He also issued a statement expressing his deep curiosity about the Order’s intentions in not only failing to identify his sister’s curse but also trying to suppress the person who identified and healed the curse with the term “Probationary” Saint.

Finally, even the priests of other races chimed in, saying that in their view, there was absolutely no problem with the Saint’s qualifications, and therefore they suspected that the young lady whom the Saint had healed at the risk of their own life had actually been cursed. They also questioned whether the Order of Orion was truly showing the Saint the respect they deserved, given the behavior of their priests at the time of the incident.

The Order, having been attacked from all sides by everyone involved in the situation, claimed that it was an absurd slander and that the term “Probationary” was their speculation based on the altered Sacred Imprint, a difficult-to-judge will of God, and that they had absolutely no other intentions. They persistently demanded the Saint’s transfer, and the situation spiraled out of control.

I’m so glad I woke up here.

I really could have been dragged back to headquarters while I was asleep.

I’m truly grateful that they presumed it was a curse and protected me from the Order while I was unconscious.

I was originally planning to wake up, tell them that it was difficult to say, but it seemed like the young lady had been cursed, and try to guide the situation that way.

But when I think about it, it’s too early to relax.

Nothing was resolved while I was asleep.

However, this time, an environment has been created where I can definitely strike the Order, so I can wield my sword properly.

“Saint Ronan…”

After finishing the story, the Princess looked at me with a worried expression for a moment, then hesitated to open her mouth.

“…It’s nothing. Please rest comfortably.”

What?

What is it?

It’s obvious that you had something to say, but you gave up because of my condition.

“Please tell m—”

“Young Saint! You’ve finally awakened!”

Before I could finish my sentence, people I didn’t particularly want to see right now started pouring in through the door that had reopened.

“How could you use up so much Divine Power? Huh?”

The dwarf captain of royal guard.

“I’m glad you opened your eyes. In the end, the problem was Divine Power depletion, so you’ll recover quickly.”

The elven princess.

“You never cease to amaze me.”

The acting physician of the beastmen.

“I’m really, really glad you opened your eyes.”

Even a Cardinal.

Ah, I suddenly feel dizzy again.

The Princess, her expression hardened, stood in front of them, blocking their way.

“Saint Ronan needs absolute rest right now. Let’s talk later.”

Ah, is that what you were going to say?

“Divine Power depletion is our specialty. Now that you’ve opened your eyes, there’s no big problem.”

“It won’t take long.”

“I hope Princess Azelia understands that this is an important matter and we have no choice.”

“Ahem… If you had transferred to headquarters, you would have been healed much faster…”

“Well… Looking at your level of Divine Power, I don’t really trust you.”

“Are you insulting Orion?!”

“Why are you bringing up Orion when we’re just saying your Divine Power level is low?”

“You…”

What the hell happened while I was out?

The captain of royal guard was scolding the Cardinal like he was catching a rat.

The princess and the acting physician were secretly agreeing with him.

Did I do something that revealed my weakness?

“Well… then let’s just say what we need to say as quickly as possible and leave.”

The Princess shook her head and started to organize the situation, and people started gathering around me.

“How does it feel to come back from the dead, young Saint? Not bad, right?”

I don’t really feel it, so it’s not bad, but it’s not a good feeling either.

I’m never using Divine Power to the max again.

“Did you want to save her even if it meant risking your life? If you keep doing that, you’ll really have a short life.”

No, I really didn’t know!

If I had known it was life-threatening, I would never have done it.

“Belarus misses the Saint very much. I hope the Saint will value their life a little more. For everyone’s sake.”

The acting physician winked at me.

Does “everyone” perhaps mean all the beastmen?

“Saint Ronan. You’ve suffered a lot. I’m sorry that the Order has burdened the Saint with too much. Please go back and rest.”

Yeah, no way I’m going.

From the moment I decided to heal the young lady, I decided that I would never voluntarily return to headquarters for the rest of my life.

Whether I knew it or not, I succeeded in something that the Order openly declared impossible, and I smeared mud on the Order’s face. Do you think they’ll stay still?

I don’t know for sure, but they must be making a fuss about needing to firmly grasp my leash right now.

“Wait. There’s something we need to confirm first, isn’t there?”

The captain of royal guard pushed aside the Cardinal, who seemed to want me to answer that I would obediently return, and said that.

“Young Saint. I’d like you to tell me clearly. Was what you healed a curse?”

The captain of royal guard’s eyes flashed, and the princess shook her head as if she was tired.

The acting physician’s eyes narrowed vertically, and the Cardinal was making a desperate expression as if begging me to say no.

Even the Princess standing in the back was looking tense.

As the Princess explained, the fact that the young lady of the Imperial Dukedom was cursed, and that they had even tried to heal her without noticing it, is a huge situation.

Until now, since I, the person who healed her, was unconscious and hadn’t directly confirmed it, they were cautiously probing each other with stories that were close to circumstantial evidence. But the moment I actually confirm it, it’s a story that could throw the Empire, or perhaps even the continent beyond the Empire, into chaos.

If I take a vague attitude, I can postpone the immediate chaos and buy myself time to build more fame.

It’s not that I’ve confirmed it, but it’s not that I’ve denied it either, so the Order’s position will still be limited, my range of activities will be widened, and my achievements will be recognized.

The option of denying the curse theory and defending the Order is not even on the table.

The Order is not helpful, and it doesn’t seem like they’ll trust me now even if I do that.

Well, then my answer is already decided.

“I’m not sure because I’m still lacking in knowledge…”

The Cardinal’s face brightened for a moment at my words, which seemed to be taking a cautious approach.

“But personally, I definitely think it was a curse.”

The Cardinal’s face began to be filled with despair.

Did you think I was going to play it safe?

Too bad, I’m a heartless person who’s ready to do anything to make even a small dent in the Order!

Now that I have a chance to land a strong punch, not just a small dent, what’s so important about the anxiety about demon worshippers?

Death to the Order!

“Is there a reason why you think so?”

“It didn’t feel like a curse.”

“It didn’t feel like a curse…?”

Everyone’s faces were filled with questions.

Well, today we’re holding a lecture on the nonsense of a cult again.

I don’t know much about curses, so I’m laying the groundwork by saying that it didn’t feel like a curse.

If the things I said about the curse are different from the general characteristics of curses, the credibility of my words may decrease.

Anyway, I’m the only one who saw that curse, so it doesn’t matter what I say.

To be exact, the Order of Orion also saw it, but they didn’t notice it in the first place, so whatever they say is already not credible.

If I lay the groundwork that it didn’t feel like a curse, they might think that this is the only way to survive and agree with my words.

“What comes to mind when you think of a curse?”

“It’s a classic trick of those disgusting demon worshippers. They torment the victim more cruelly than poison and kill them, don’t they?”

“But in many cases, it’s also obvious. Marks appear on the body, or the energy of the curse takes root in the body… even symptoms that are difficult to explain with general medicine.”

“Among our beastmen, there are many who feel the smell of rotting corpses from those who are cursed. That’s what a curse is like.”

I see.

I’m glad I laid the groundwork.

As expected, a curse doesn’t deviate much from my image.

So that curse was really unique.

“I didn’t feel any of that energy from Helena’s body.”

“Hmm…?”

“There was no energy that resisted Divine Power. However, subtle energies that were difficult to notice were causing some kind of action.”

“That subtle of an energy? But how can it resist Divine Power?”

“It didn’t resist, it used it.”

“It used Divine Power…?”

“It made my Divine Power attack Helena’s body. Not by turning into harmful energy or anything, but my Divine Power itself.”

Everyone tilted their heads as if they didn’t understand.

“Is that… possible? What do you think, Princess?”

“I don’t know either. It’s a curse I’ve never heard or seen before.”

“What about you, Acting Physician?”

“I’ve never heard of it either.”

I told them what I knew because I thought I should know it in order to deal with demon worshippers in the future, but it seems like it’s too unconventional of a concept, and everyone is confused.

“Then that’s not a curse!”

The Cardinal, who was listening, suddenly interjected.

What the hell is he trying to say?

“An alien power that can control the Divine Power bestowed by Orion. If it’s not demonic power, then there’s only one answer, isn’t there!”

The Cardinal shouted, looking around with a face full of hostility, as if he had gained a great realization.

“It’s the Divine Power of another race!”

…Can it be interpreted that way?

I have to admit, his ability to come up with such an idea in such a short time is commendable.

Indeed, it seems a swindler’s match is another swindler.

This Cardinal could also spout quite plausible nonsense.

As expected, agitation and fabrication trump truth.

And… fists trump agitation and fabrication.

“Are you saying one of our priests has cursed a human, or something?”

“Can you officially take responsibility for that statement?”

“Such spirit. Are you saying you’ll turn the entire priesthood against you?”

The Cardinal, paling at the leaders’ successive pressure, stepped back.

How could he say such things in front of the people involved?

“What I mean is… it’s not that the priests did it! Yes, I mean it’s possible the priests’ Divine Power might have been used.”

“What difference does that make?”

“Isn’t it possible that those vile demon worshippers have learned how to manipulate even a little bit of Divine Power!”

…Is that what I sound like when I’m talking nonsense?

It’s so embarrassing seeing it from a third-party perspective.

Is it because I can see that he’s just making things up to save face?

Ugh, this is actually kind of embarrassing.

Unexpectedly, the captain of royal guard was taking it seriously.

“If that’s the case, it’s a serious problem…”

“We can’t even begin to imagine what would happen if something like that actually occurred.”

“How would we even distinguish demon worshippers coming in with Divine Power? I can only hope it’s just speculation.”

After pondering, the captain of royal guard turned his gaze to me.

“But young Saint Ronan, how did you repel the energy that reverses the properties of Divine Power without reacting to it?”

Uh…

“By pouring Divine Power into it until it stopped working…”

That’s strange.

It seemed like a good plan when I did it, but I’m embarrassed to tell other people about it.

The captain of royal guard’s face changed strangely.

Not just the captain of royal guard, but everyone’s expression was like that.

“Now I understand how you could waste all that ridiculous Divine Power.”

Waste!

How could you say such harsh words!

“…But it might be the right approach to counteract the properties that interfere with Divine Power, surprisingly.”

Princess, please say that without averting your gaze.

“The problem is that it’s a direct approach that most people wouldn’t even be able to attempt.”

Please avert your gaze when you say that.

I’m always afraid I’ll be eaten alive because of those vertical pupils of yours.

I guess my body really isn’t normal. Just lying here and talking this much is making me sleepy again.

“Saint Ronan looks very tired. Even if you have more questions, please ask them next time.”

The princess, noticing my condition with uncanny perception, said that to the leaders, and they all withdrew readily.

“As a leader of the Orion Order, I must have a private audience with Saint Ronan!”

Correction.

Everyone except one withdrew readily.

I wouldn’t have a private audience with you even if I had one with everyone else.

I was already pretending not to hear and nodding off.

“I absolutely will not allow a private audience for the time being.”

“Saint Ronan is a Saint of the Orion Order!”

“He is currently an academy student under the protection of the Imperial Family and Duke Torf.”

“Saint Ronan! Let’s talk for a moment. It’s a very important matter for the Order!”

“Everyone, please withdraw. I will let you know again when he wakes up.”

Ah, I’m so sleepy I can’t hear anything.

Why am I so sleepy when I’ve slept for five days?

I need to sleep some more.

“Saint Ronan!”

Ugh, so sweet.

Is this sleep-inducing ASMR?