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The Sun Maiden Can Fall in Love Too – Part 05

The Four Eastern Stars, Azure Blade Nebula, Kinga Wolf, and the Einbiest soldiers with Gerhardt returned to the surface two days later. Lower-ranked adventurers had also entered the dungeon but had already returned to the surface.

When Gerhardt emerged into the bright daylight, temple guards and Einbiest’s Beastman army were waiting. A herald had announced their return beforehand.

“We’ve been expecting you.”

The one at the front was Jillarte, the Deputy Leader.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Gerhardt said. “I need you to take care of the fallen.”

“Understood.”

They had to inform the families of the deceased soldiers and arrange compensation. Out of the hundred Beastmen soldiers, thirty-four died, and several were severely injured, their future as soldiers uncertain.

However, the Beastmen didn’t blame their leader for the deaths. They agreed to enter the dungeon and believed those who died were weak. In that sense, Gerhardt’s concern for the fallen soldiers was unusual. In Einbiest, where many different tribes of Beastmen lived, being the leader meant dealing with all sorts of individuals. Gerhardt’s concern perhaps came from being exposed to different perspectives.

“Selyse!” After greeting Gerhardt, Jillarte approached Selyse’s group. “Thank you for rescuing our leader.”

“No need to bow. We were just doing our job.”

“I heard from the messenger about your efforts. It was a close call. I think our leader’s life would’ve been in danger without you.”

“Really? Then I expect a hefty reward.”

“…”

“What’s wrong? I was just joking.”

“It’s just… you seem different somehow.”

“Do I?”

Selyse smiled broadly. She had always appeared calm, but now she seemed more relaxed and genuine, free from any pretense.

Jillarte wouldn’t realize it was because of Silver Face until later. In fact, she didn’t even know Silver Face had been in the dungeon.

I heard they had a fierce battle with a chimera. She must have grown through that fight.

Her assumption was completely off the mark.

“Anyway, how are things here?”

“Well, thanks to you, the number of monsters spilling from the dungeon have decreased significantly. We’re planning to do a sweep through here with minimum force and form a separate unit to chase the monsters that escaped to the forest.”

“The forest, huh…”

“Of course, it’s impossible to exterminate them all, so we’ll just do what we can. And don’t worry, we won’t give you additional commissions, so you can rest easy.”

“That sounds good. We might need a little break ourselves.”

“Miss Sophie!” An elderly priest dispatched from the holy city of Agiapole arrived. “I heard of your recent exploits. Remarkable work.”

“Uh, well… It wasn’t just me. Einbiest took down most of the monsters.”

“I heard it was Lady Selyse who rescued the leader. Truly amazing!”

Seeing the priest rattle on while ignoring Sophie, Jillarte came to a realization.

They didn’t want Einbiest to take all the credit for clearing the dungeon and dealing with the demon-type monsters. Bios had already suffered greatly from the war with Einbiest, so forking out more for rewards would be devastating. Hence, they wanted to emphasize the contributions of Sophie, a human and member of the Church—that is, the side of the Theocracy of Bios. Specifically, the Four Eastern Stars where she belonged.

“Reverend, we’re a bit tired, so we’d like to excuse ourselves.”

Selyse, too, seemed to notice the priest’s intentions and tried to wrap up the conversation.

“Of course! We have accommodations ready in the holy city, so you may head there. And of course, all the other adventurers are welcome too.”

“Understood. Thank you for your hospitality.”

With the risk of worsening relations with the Church and possibly being demanded to return Sophie, Selyse gave in.

“Miss Jillarte, until next time.”

“Yes… until next time.”

The words next time didn’t hold much meaning. Selyse and her team were high-ranking adventurers who operated mainly in the Kingdom of Ponsonia. They had been summoned to Agiapole for a commission, and they wouldn’t meet Jillarte again once she returned to the Confederacy of Einbiest.

Come to think of it, Jillarte worked with Silver Face before, Selyse thought as she walked away.

Jillarte had a feeling she would see Selyse again.

If there were any connection between them, it would only be through Silver Face, but neither of them knew it.

When Paula saved the life of the old man, the church became sparkling clean. That was fine.

Not only did it become clean, but it grew more luxurious every day. That was also fine.

People began flocking to the church daily. That was… well, acceptable.

“Wh-What is this?!”

A few days had passed since Paula, the Wandering Saint, was revered as the founder of the Society of Wandering Light, and revealed her search for elemental magic stones. The church was filled with various colorful elemental magic stones, brimming with magical energy.

The stones gathered by the believers ranged in size, from rugby ball-sized—which Paula didn’t even want to think about the current market value for—to as small as marbles. Even late at night, small children offered elemental magic stones to Paula.

Paula, sitting in her usual seat in front of the altar, found herself surrounded by heaps of elemental magic stones.

“How is this, Your Eminence?”

The old man she had first healed smiled proudly, while the believers looked at her expectantly.

“Uh, well, I…”

She never expected this many stones. Despite not wanting to, she couldn’t help but wonder how much money had exchanged hands.

“I, I can’t accept this—”

“Nobody move!”

A group dressed in deep green uniforms stormed into the church.

“We are special investigators directly under the city’s governor! We are here to arrest the members of the Society of Wandering Light and the woman known as the Wandering Saint on suspicion of market manipulation and artificial price setting in the trade of elemental magic stones. Surrender quietly!”

“What…”

Paula stifled a scream. No, she really wanted to scream, but before she could, a voice came from behind her. There was only an altar there.

“Come on, now. Isn’t this a bit too much?”

A person stepped out and stretched. Paula recognized the deep, gravelly voice.

He was a head taller than Paula, with a bulky chest and shoulders. He was wearing formal clothes in a casual fashion. His hair was short now but had been long until it was burned during a fight with his brother Edward.

Paula knew this man—Samal Ballast. She had healed him when he was severely injured and had also healed his father.

“There were suspicions you might be an impostor claiming to be the Wandering Saint, but it looks like you’re the real deal.”

“S-S-Samal?! What are you doing here?!”

“Oh, Your Eminence remembers me? I’m honored.”

“Samal ‘the Brawler’ Ballast!” the team commander bellowed. “To think the Wandering Saint has connections to the underworld. Despicable!”

“What?! Me? The underworld?”

“Perfect timing,” Samal said. “The Ballast family has been lying low in the capital, but now we can make a big show.”

“Attack! It’s just one man!”

“You think I’m stupid?! Men, go!”

Roars erupted outside the church. Samal’s men were here. Samal marched towards the secretary.

“Run! Get out of here!” the old man shouted. “Those who are capable, protect Her Eminence!”

The church descended into chaos. Fights broke out everywhere as women and children among the believers fled.

Paula, defended by the old man and the stronger believers, watched Samal’s battle through the gaps.

“A-Ah…”

Samal’s fists whistled through the air, sending several officers flying. He didn’t care if they had swords. He charged forward without hesitation, as if he feared nothing. He was injured and bleeding in several places, but he didn’t let up.

“Hngh!”

A powerful slash from a sword finally stopped Samal in his tracks.

“I see. Those muscles aren’t just for show.”

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

A thin cut appeared beside Samal’s nose, coloring his cheek red. The commander’s attack had grazed him. He seemed to be a formidable fighter, fitting his position.

Everyone present felt the next attack would decide everything. Sword versus fist. Conventional thinking dictated that a sword would have a clear advantage, but the commander’s cautious stance suggested he didn’t think so.

“Let’s end this!”

“Bring it on!”

They moved simultaneously.

“S-Stop it, please!”

Paula’s voice didn’t reach them. The commander’s downward slash was incredibly fast. Though Samal saw it coming, he couldn’t dodge it in time. He managed to tilt his head, sparing it, but the sword severed his right ear and sliced through his right shoulder, taking his arm.

But Samal’s left fist also reached the commander. While it didn’t send him flying, the punch embedded in his left chest broke ribs and crushed a lung.

“Gaah!”

“Damn it.”

Both men collapsed. The witnesses screamed. Blood gushed from Samal’s right shoulder, and the commander’s face turned purple as he spat blood.

“B-Boss!”

“Commander! Commander!”

Their subordinates rushed over. It was clear to everyone that these two were on the brink of death.

It might sound noble to call it a draw, but none of the subordinates believed that the pillars of the Ballast family and the special investigation team should die meaningless deaths here.

“Boss!”

“Commander!”

The men howled. They knew. The eyes of their leaders were glazed over, and they couldn’t even speak. They were dying.

“Move aside,” Paula said.

“What? Y-Your Eminence—”

“Move! Before it’s too late!”

“O-Okay!”

“Bring me the severed arm!”

As the people protecting her hastily stepped aside, Paula rushed to the fallen men. She knelt beside them and started reciting an incantation.

“O’ God who art in heaven, in your name I ask for a miracle. In my right hand is the gift of life, in my left the blessing of death. Bless us who live in this world. My mana I offer…”

Golden mana instantly emerged from her. It was unlike anything the people present had ever seen from a cleric.

Paula couldn’t hold back in front of people who would die within an hour, or even minutes. She used all her magical power to cast healing magic.

She had 8 points on her Soul Board’s Mana Capacity, more than double that of an average adventurer. Additionally, her extraordinary skill level of 8 in Healing Magic allowed her to harness this vast amount of mana.

Golden light swirled around Paula, reaching the high ceiling of the church.

Samal’s subordinate, with blood-covered hands, held Samal’s severed arm in place. Paula placed her right hand over it. Another man, pale-faced, supported the commander as Paula extended her left hand toward his crushed lung.

The spell activated. An especially bright light seeped into the bodies of the two grievously injured men.

“A-Ah…”

“Impossible.”

“I can’t believe it.”

Samal’s blood bubbled as his cells expanded, reattaching the severed arm. His right ear, which had been sliced off, was not found, but it regrew from out of nothing.

Though not visible through the clothing, the commander’s ribs stirred, and his lung expanded. He coughed up a clot of blood, but his breathing quickly stabilized afterward.

Moments later, the light subsided.

“Phew.”

Paula, sweating profusely, exhaled in the now dimmed church. Chairs were overturned, the floor was scarred, blood was splattered all over. Everything was a mess, but the spell had succeeded.

“They will live,” she said. “But they were critically injured, so they need to rest for a few days, eat nutritious food, and sleep well.”

It was then that Paula realized something. It was quiet. Too quiet.

“Huh?”

There were no cheers for the successful healing, nor the sound of hurried footsteps. Paula, absorbed in casting her magic, hadn’t noticed her surroundings.

“What?!”

Everyone, apart from the two critically injured men, had bowed deeply to Paula, their foreheads touching the ground. This included not just the original believers but also members of Ballast Trading and the special investigators.

Everyone who had witnessed this miracle was now prostrating themselves.

“Dear heavens. The Saint has performed another miracle.”

“It was true. The Saint Boss Samal spoke of really exists.”

“I can’t believe it. Those were fatal wounds that no priest in the city could heal. This makes me want to believe in the Wandering Saint instead of the Central Church.”

Paula came to a realization. She’d messed up. Her magic quelled the commotion, but it also created a much bigger problem.

What should I do, Lord Hikaru?!

In the church, now filled with devout prayers, Paula stood with tears in her eyes.