Ch.316EP.67 – Parting Does Not Mean Farewell (2)

“…Huh?”

While being crushed under two elephants, Ihan tilted his head as he sensed a familiar presence.

It wasn’t a presence that should be felt here, so why was he sensing it?

As he blinked and turned his gaze toward the source of the presence, sure enough…

“Why are you all here?”

Familiar faces appeared.

“Sir Santa!!”

“……”

…That one’s quite cunning.

How long has it been since he deactivated his Santa form, yet here he was calling out that alias because he didn’t know the situation?

“Sir Santa! It’s been 6 hours, 19 minutes, and 57 seconds!”

“…Anyone watching would think I’m your guardian.”

As Ihan greeted that exaggerated welcome, he realized two things.

One was the strange fact that although he had been here for about two days, barely six hours had passed outside. And the other was…

“I suppose you met the Margrave?”

“Yes, yes! Actually, before coming here, I witnessed his return from afar. The territory is in quite a state of confusion now. Their lord has returned after five years, after all.”

The fact that the Margrave had safely announced his return.

This fellow probably came to this dangerous place because he realized that the Margrave’s return meant Ihan’s victory.

But…

“If I won, I won. Why did you bother coming?”

“Celebrating your victory is one thing, but I came to prevent Sir Santa from leaving right away.”

“……”

“Don’t I know you well enough, Sir Santa? You were planning to disappear like the wind as soon as everything was resolved. If that happened, I’d be left alone to clean up all the messes you made in Wales.”

“…You’re really too perceptive.”

“Thank you for the compliment.”

This is why people who are both perceptive and clever are troublesome.

They don’t let you escape, do they?

“Simon? Guild Association President Simon?”

“G-Greetings, Your Grace.”

“At last I meet the man I’ve heard so much about.”

“I’m grateful for your interest in someone who’s merely from the back alleys…”

“Haha! Who would dare dismiss the youngest Guild Association President as insignificant! I hear your skills are quite remarkable? Expanding the Guild Association’s size fivefold shortly after becoming president?”

“…It’s just a small talent from an unremarkable person.”

“Is that so?”

“……”

Interesting gazes gathered at Jeminia’s remarks.

While they knew of the Guild Association’s existence, they hadn’t paid attention to the capabilities of the person leading it, so this was fresh information.

Even the Duke and Grand Duke turned their attention to him, causing Simon to sweat profusely.

“But why is the elderly maid here?”

“Y-Yes?”

At Ihan’s question, which seemed like a lifeline, Simon quickly turned his head and hastily answered.

“Ah, w-when I said I was going to meet Sir Santa, she insisted on coming along. I think she has some business with you…”

“Huh? Did she come personally to get her items back? There was no need for that, I was planning to return them anyway…”

Whoosh!

While trying to finish his sentence, Ihan’s head suddenly turned backward.

“My, you noticed me this time?”

“…I’m a bit more sensitive now. Otherwise, I might have missed you again.”

“Hoho, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to tease you, I was just happy to see you.”

“Well, that doesn’t matter, but why did you come to this dangerous place? I would have returned the holy relic to you.”

“I didn’t come for that. And I have no intention of taking back the holy relic. It has already chosen its owner, so what use would I have for it?”

“No, treating such a precious item like some secondhand trade… Huh?”

…What’s this?

Ihan suddenly felt something strange.

[[[……..]]]

…The barracks, which had been noisy until just now, suddenly became quiet.

‘Why are they acting like that?’

Even the elephants had become strangely docile.

Ihan was puzzled by what was happening, but soon…

“Um, elder. You seem younger than when I last saw you?”

“Hohoho, you shouldn’t say such things to an old woman. Save those words for young ladies.”

“No, I mean you really look younger? And also…”

—Why is there light in your eyes, and why are flowers and trees growing wherever you walk?

…How mysterious.

* * *

According to historians, about a thousand years ago, the Southern Continent lived through the most barbaric era among all continents.

The most chaotic and immoral land among all continents.

It was an insulting assessment, but with so many historical records proving it, the southerners had no choice but to accept it, however reluctantly.

However, there was someone who first taught morality and order to those living in this dark age—a female healer.

In an era of war, devoid of morality and order, this female healer treated countless people regardless of gender.

She nearly suffered terrible fates at the hands of those she helped and faced numerous life-threatening situations,

but ultimately overcame all these dangers and never hesitated to stand by the powerless throughout her life.

It is said that when she died of old age, countless people gathered to mourn her death and tried to build a tomb in her honor, but her body was suddenly enveloped in light and ascended to the sky, witnessed by a million people according to historical records.

And so, people call her:

The first real historical figure of the Southern Continent, the first user of holy magic in the South, and a female healer said to have saved ten million lives.

A woman who planted “100 million trees” in lands reduced to ashes by war.

Also unofficially known to have ascended to heaven upon being called by the Light of Radiance…

– The Great Saint (大聖女).

It is said that her eyes always contained the light of radiance, and flowers and grass grew wherever she walked—the first saint of the South.

Among all women called saints after the Great Saint, none possessed power strong enough to manifest the light of radiance in their eyes like she did. The most widely supported hypothesis suggests that certain special conditions must be met to possess this light.

One thing is clear: no one with holy power as strong as the Great Saint has appeared in the thousand years since.

She was undoubtedly the greatest holy person, including both female and male saints. Because of this, there was no one living in the South who didn’t know the legend of the Great Saint.

In a way, she was the one who saved their ancestors and made the South prosperous.

At the very least, anyone in intellectual circles who hadn’t read “The Myth of the Great Saint” or “Introduction to Healing Studies” couldn’t claim to be educated.

Therefore…

“…The light of radiance.”

“A saint… the G-Great Saint has returned.”

“O Light…”

Thud.

People instinctively knelt and clasped their hands in prayer.

This was the return of a legend.

Not to be moved by this would mean one wasn’t a southerner.

Even though the Grand Temple had fallen into corruption and burned down, believers had not abandoned their faith in the Light of Radiance.

That’s why the knights weren’t ashamed to bow their heads.

Because the Great Saint, the child of Light, had returned to this land once more…!

“…Living long enough, I get to witness such glory.”

“The Great Saint, I thought it was just a legend fabricated by the temple… My goodness.”

Even the rulers of Galahad and Lionel, who would disregard even the Emperor of the Empire, couldn’t hide their bewilderment.

In a way, this was more mysterious than even an “Aura User.”

Everyone’s gaze remained fixed on the woman who was causing vegetation to flourish in this lightless world.

And…

“Great Saint? What’s that? More importantly, elder, were you a saint?”

“When I left the temple for my training journey, I was merely a novice nun. Someone like me couldn’t possibly be such a great figure as a saint.”

“…But you clearly are amazing, just look at you now.”

“Pardon?”

“Look behind you, behind you.”

“…My goodness! Why are flowers suddenly…?”

“……”

Ihan watched the elder who seemed genuinely surprised at the flowers and grass blooming behind her.

No, what…

“Why did you suddenly evolve?”

At this rate, she might ascend, that is…

‘She’s not going to transform and ascend to heaven, is she?’

Ihan was seriously worried she might suddenly go up to the sky.

* * *

Though the camp was in shock at the appearance of a saint, especially the Great Saint, the elder didn’t seem to care much about it.

Rather, she didn’t even have…

“I am not such a remarkable person, so there is no need for you all to be so formal.”

…any awareness of being a saint.

Instead, she was the one bowing her head respectfully, which horrified them.

“P-Please don’t do that. I fear divine punishment…”

“Saint, do not show deference. We are mere children of humans.”

“There is no being in this world to whom you should show courtesy. You are the noblest woman in this world.”

These superhuman individuals, who wouldn’t even blink before an army of a hundred thousand or even a million, were flustered before this woman.

Even if she wasn’t yet aware of her identity, she was a saint with the “Eyes of Light” that had appeared after a thousand years.

No matter how noble one’s birth or how superhuman one might be, a mere human cannot assert superiority over a child of god.

Unless one was a fairy or earth deity, there was no one on this land who could claim to be nobler than her.

Therefore…

“…That’s quite a burden. Still, I thank you for your kindness, noble ones.”

The woman expressed her gratitude with a gentle smile, and then…

“-You who are loved by fairies, look around you. What you seek is already by your side.”

“!!”

Duke Blake’s eyes flashed.

“Master of the eternal snow, you seem troubled. But do not worry and trust your bloodline. That bloodline will solve your concerns.”

“…Huh.”

Grand Duke Magnus let out a hollow laugh.

After giving these “gifts” to the two rulers, she turned her attention back to Ihan.

“May we speak privately for a moment?”

“…Who would refuse such a request?”

“Hoho.”

He had no intention of refusing anyway, but Ihan quickly bowed, knowing that rejecting her now would make him universally despised.

She thanked Ihan for his courtesy and climbed on his back, and the next moment.

Whoosh!

They disappeared like an arrow, becoming a mere dot in an instant.

Watching this…

“…At this point, I’d believe it if someone said that fellow is friends with fairies, wouldn’t you, Your Highness?”

“I agree.”

People stared at the spot where Ihan had disappeared, unable to hide their bewilderment.

As if they couldn’t believe he had brought such an overwhelming figure…

And then,

“Simon, was it?”

“……”

“I have something I’m curious about. Let’s have a little chat.”

“…Y-Yes.”

Simon, who had been selected as the next target as soon as Ihan disappeared, responded while inwardly making a tearful face.

‘…I should have just stayed and worked in Wales.’

That day, Simon discovered he had a phobia of important people.