Ch.279Episode 12 – The Strongest Mage in History

After what could hardly be called a serious concern ended, I continued helping Lucia with her meal.

“Please don’t skip dinner. You need to take care of your health, even while under disciplinary action.”

Since quite some time had passed, the rice porridge I had brought for dinner had gone cold. It was already tasteless food to begin with, and now it was cold too. This was simply unacceptable.

This won’t do.

“Saint Lucia, please have this instead.”

“What is it?”

“An apple. I also have some canned food.”

I handed her the apple and canned food I had brought from the kitchen. Lucia looked somewhat surprised, then began asking where I had gotten them.

“How did you get these?”

“From the kitchen.”

Actually, I stole them. But technically, I did get them from the kitchen.

I omitted the details, and Lucia, unaware of the circumstances, didn’t press for more information.

Instead,

“……”

She simply offered a gentle smile, her lips curving softly.

“Thank you. For thinking of me.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

When I glanced out the window, I noticed the sun was already setting.

Only the edge of the sun remained peeking over the horizon as it disappeared, and stars densely dotted the night sky, twinkling in the darkness beneath the bright moonlight.

“It’s already this late.”

I stood up, hurrying to leave the room. Veronica had told me to return before sunset, and I needed to eat dinner myself, so it was about time for me to leave.

However,

As is often the case in life,

Things don’t always go as planned.

-Swish.

Feeling something unfamiliar covering the back of my hand, I looked down to see what it was.

A small, white hand.

It was Lucia’s hand.

“Saint?”

“……”

I called to her in a low voice, but received no answer.

She was looking down at the floor with an odd expression, her head bowed as if troubled by something.

“…Um.”

“Yes. Is there something you wanted to tell me…?”

“Treatment.”

Lucia said.

“Would you perhaps be willing to continue your treatment today?”

Episode 12 – The Most Powerful Mage in History

Treatment (治療)

When that word came from Lucia’s lips, I thought of something other than its dictionary definition.

“By treatment… do you mean what I received last time?”

“Yes.”

The first thing that came to mind was the unfamiliar room.

I had been moved to the cathedral with the help of inquisitors, barely clinging to life. Having been slashed with a blade, I had lost so much blood that I was completely unconscious.

When I finally regained consciousness at the cathedral and opened my eyes, what I saw was:

The saint, lying naked beside me, looking at me.

I didn’t realize it then, but looking back, it was an incredibly awkward moment. I wondered if I had caused the kind of incident I’d only heard about, and couldn’t imagine the uproar it would cause if the Inspection Office found out.

Fortunately, my concerns were unfounded.

“I can’t say there hasn’t been progress in your healing… but you haven’t fully recovered from your injuries yet.”

As I briefly recalled what had happened a few days ago, Lucia carefully probed my thoughts.

“Delaying treatment isn’t good. So, if you don’t mind, today you should receive treatment before leaving…”

“……”

“What do you… think?”

She glanced at me sideways, gauging my reaction.

Her small, white hands were neatly folded on her knees. Sitting in a modest posture as if in prayer, Lucia kept her gaze fixed on the floor.

At first glance, she appeared normal if somewhat dejected, but the way she nervously checked my reaction with sidelong glances and fidgeted with her fingers on her thigh was definitely unusual.

Restless, perhaps. Or anxious.

One thing was certain:

I had never seen this expression on Lucia’s face before.

*

Since you’re here, why not receive treatment before leaving.

It wasn’t a bad suggestion, but there were a few concerns on my mind.

“Won’t the holy knights guarding you come to check on your safety? If I’m caught here, wouldn’t that create an awkward situation?”

“Don’t worry. The cathedral is the safest place in the North. And since I’m under disciplinary action, the holy knights won’t come looking for me without a special reason.”

Lucia assured me that neither holy knights nor other clergy or monastics would visit her room. She added that according to church law, it was taboo to visit someone who was under disciplinary action or in spiritual retreat. I asked various questions.

Would other people come looking for her? Was I causing her trouble? Did she have the necessary tools for healing? And so on.

I posed various questions to her.

Would other people come looking for her? Was I causing her trouble? Did she have the necessary tools for healing? And so on.

These might have seemed like impolite, almost interrogative questions, but Lucia didn’t mind. She gave me kind explanations and assured me there was nothing to worry about.

“You’re under disciplinary action, so I’m not sure if it’s right for me to stay here.”

“It’s fine. Nothing is more important than saving a life. I’m sure everyone would understand.”

“……”

Lucia spoke as if there truly were no problems, but the most fundamental issue remained.

“Saint Lucia.”

“Yes.”

“Did you actually get permission for this?”

Permission.

The moment I uttered that word, Lucia’s expression subtly changed.

Her face stiffened slightly. Her breathing paused. Unlike her previous demeanor that showed no hesitation, Lucia couldn’t readily open her mouth.

No, it wasn’t that she wouldn’t speak—she couldn’t.

Because what Lucia was doing now hadn’t received permission.

“Saint Veronica once told me a story. It was about a healing technique passed down only through oral tradition among healing priests.”

There is a healing technique handed down among the church’s healing priests.

The healing priest sleeps in the same space as the patient.

Originating from a biblical story, it has theological significance and is known to be remarkably effective, used in urgent situations.

However, because the method is somewhat embarrassing to explain to others, it’s secretly passed down through oral tradition.

While effective, it’s a controversial method, so the church established certain procedures for clergy attempting this healing technique. It’s essentially a safety measure.

“From what I understand, using that method requires consent from the patient, the diocesan bishop, the state council, and the priest themselves.”

“……”

“Saint Veronica doesn’t even know who treated me.”

Using this healing technique requires prior permission based on strict regulations.

If Lucia had followed the procedure for my sake, Veronica would certainly have known about it.

She probably would have confronted me, demanding to know what I’d done to her sister—not just scolding me, but perhaps even pulling out all my hair, regardless of who was watching. Despite her grumbling, she deeply cares for Lucia.

But Veronica didn’t even know who had treated me. She examined my condition and only then guessed that Lucia must have attempted some kind of healing.

Which means,

“You never received permission, did you?”

“……”

This implies that Lucia never sought any kind of permission whatsoever.

There was no need to hear her answer.

She hung her head low, unable to meet my eyes.

“At the time, I had no opportunity to seek permission… it was an urgent situation.”

“……”

“If I’ve put you in a difficult position, I’m truly sorry. I’ll take responsibility and resolve it…”

“No. That’s not necessary.”

I waved my hand as Lucia apologized. I was on the verge of death—what permission could have mattered then?

I don’t know the consequences of breaking the rules, but if this information leaked out, Lucia would be in considerable trouble. It would be ridiculous to criticize her for breaking regulations when she risked so much to save my life.

“Just speak up for me if problems arise later. That’s all I ask.”

“…Are you sure?”

“I’m a diplomat. Even if I break the law, diplomats can’t be punished, so regulations are hardly an issue.”

Having been about to leave the room, I sat back down on the bed.

The sun had completely set now, with only the edge of the horizon still glowing red.

Swish. Lucia’s fingertips touched mine.

Her head was slightly bowed as if embarrassed, her hair falling forward to cover her face, but I could see her blue eyes sparkling in the darkness.

“…Um.”

She didn’t continue.

I had a pretty good idea of what she wanted to say, so I silently held her hand firmly. Lucia lowered her head even more and maintained her silence.

“……”

After a considerable time had passed.

Lucia gently raised her head, carefully brushed back her fallen hair, and spoke.

“Then I’ll prepare.”

She briefly met my gaze, took a small deep breath, and stood up.

Soon came the sound of buttons being undone.

As Lucia slowly unbuttoned and carefully caressed the fabric, her pure white fascia slid down her shoulders.

As her vestment fell, revealing part of her neck, shoulders, and back.

Suddenly, Lucia looked back and whispered in a small voice.

“It may be too late to ask this… but would you keep today’s events a secret?”

I didn’t answer. Lucia didn’t press for a response either.

In truth, there seemed to be no need for an answer.

*

In the dining hall of St. Basilius Cathedral.

After the clergy and monastics finished their dinner and left, busy work continued. The monastics washed enormous quantities of dishes and cooking utensils, striving to maintain cleanliness.

“The officer, you say?”

A monk carrying dishes tilted his head as he answered.

“He did come to the kitchen earlier. He said he would personally take dinner to Saint Lucia.”

“When was this?”

“When dinner preparations were nearly complete… I don’t know the exact time, but he came before the priests, monks, and nuns had their dinner.”

“Oh, is that so?”

Veronica nodded.

“I thought he might have forgotten, but he’s reliable after all.”