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I was once a hollow saint – chapter 5

「…Jeez, all bark and no bite,」

I muttered to myself, softly clapping my hands to clear the dust.

I defeated all the men in just ten minutes. A few tricks would be plenty to deal with these people, even with my current level of magic power.

On the other hand, Marielle and the empire’s knights were still staring at me with shocked expressions on their faces.

「Are you okay? I’ll heal the injured, so come over here.」

They exchanged glances before hesitantly approaching me.

「A-As expected of Saint-sama…!」

「I thought Saint-sama could only fight monsters, didn’t know they can also fight humans」

I attended to the wounds while hearing their puzzled voices

Compared to the other magic attributes, being – fire, water, wind, and earth – the holy magic used by the saint was quite distinct in a sense.

Therefore, most saints were accustomed to the holy magic, and they couldn’t use other attributes.

It goes without saying that someone in my position should be able to handle all of these attributes, but perhaps it’s natural to be surprised.

「I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.」

「It’s alright, it seems like they were after me in the first place. I’m the one who’s sorry for causing trouble.」

The knights looked at me apologetically while I was healing them. Though it’s their job, ultimately they were hurt because of me. I hope they don’t worry too much about it.

「Okay! That should be everyone, right?」

I took a deep breath once I successfully healed them, and started racking my brain as to what to do next.

My magic power had completely dried up again. It should take several days for it to recover.

(In all honesty, I want to go back to Fallon Temple right away and beat Sylvia to a pulp, but in this condition, doing so would be the same as committing suicide. I won’t be able to hurt her in any way.)

When I was living as the Great Saint Else, Sylvia was my subordinate and a friend, and a saint with average ability. But for some reason, now she had the power to be revered as the Great Saint.

(How did she gain that much power? The current Sylvia is the worst kind of villain, but she used to be gentle and kind. She wasn’t that kind of person…)

Seventeen years. Is that enough to change a person that much?

「Hmm… I guess I’d better keep going.」

I had no place to return to in Fallon Kingdom. no money either. I was completely in a pinch.

I may as well continue traveling to the empire because Marielle and the knights were with me.

Above all, the Reavis Empire was an important homeland for me in my previous life. It’s much better than Fallon Kingdom, where I had no good memories and no place to stay.

(I can use magic now, even if just a little. Even if I’m incompetent, I shouldn’t get into trouble immediately.)

「The horses seem to be safe. Shall we move on?」

「Y-Yes!」

And so Marielle and I hopped on the carriage, and we set off again for the empire.

Looking out the window with my chin resting in my hand, I kept thinking about the “unpleasant sensation” I still felt, as if my magic power was being sucked out of me.

(In the first place, why did my magic power suddenly return? It’s also quite strange how my memory has returned.)

I had made it through by using my instinct and momentum, but I was still unsure of the cause. I considered myself to be rather knowledgeable in magic, but I had never seen anything quite like this.

I cocked my head to the side in thought and saw Marielle looking at me.

「Lady Tiana. Thank you very much for earlier.」

「Oh. Don’t worry about it.」

She had already thanked and apologized to me many times.

「Also, you seem to have changed somehow…」

「Ah.」

Tiana was definitely timid and hesitant. Mixed with Else’s personality, or more like my personality as Else became stronger after regaining my memories, I could see myself acting like a completely different person this whole time.

Anyone would be puzzled and confused by this sudden change.

But how could anyone believe me if I said, 「Actually, I regained my memories of when I was the Great Saintess!」

I had never even heard of someone regaining their past life’s memories.

「Well, ummm I was anxious the entire time, I guess… So after that terrifying experience, I’ve sort of moved on.」

Although the excuse was too flimsy even for me, Marielle no longer questioned me.

Rather than that, she folded her hands, eyes sparkling in wonder.

「Anyway, your magic was wonderful! It was amazing!」

「T-Thanks?」

It was so frail in comparison to my golden age that it embarrassed me, but I doubt Marielle had ever seen a saint on duty before. That would account for her response.

Marielle opened her mouth once more, a bit uncomfortably this time, after gushing about my splendor for a while.

「…Actually, I was informed that Tiana-sama couldn’t use magic. That’s why I was surprised.」

「What!?」

It appears that neither the knights nor anybody else was aware of it. Only Marielle, my personal maid, was given access to the information.

(The Reavis Empire knew that I couldn’t use magic…? If that’s the case, why do they treat me so well and even make me their empress?)