Chapter 69: Saint Bernice
“Well, since this is our first meeting, I suppose we should introduce ourselves. I’m Bernice, a saint, and this is Inés, the leader of the Silver Wing Knights.”
Bernice was seated on a hospitality couch, sipping tea, while Inés stood beside her and remained still.
“…I’m Anthony.”
They knew each other’s names, but they didn’t have to say them.
Bernice studied him carefully before speaking.
“Aaron Creville…executed.”
“Aaron…The high priest…?!”
Anthony wanted to clench his teeth at the name, which disgusted him to hear, but with a saint in front of him, he held back his anger with the utmost decorum.
Aaron was the one who had framed Anthony and driven him out of the Holy Land.
“Not a name to be exalted,” she said, “for before he died he was stripped of all his titles, both as a priest and as a nobleman; and, curiously enough… There is no one in the Crevilles with clean hands. The Crevilles no longer exist in this world.”
Bernice set her teacup down gently, her words somewhat murderous and as she spoke, Anthony seemed to realize what had happened but something important remained.
Keeping his emotions out of his face, Anthony asks the question in a calm voice.
“…So, what brings you to me at this late hour…? Is it not proper for me to express my gratitude that you have taken the trouble to come to such an insignificant merchant? I am no longer even a man of the Holy Land.”
“When I was investigating Aaron, I also learned of the affair between him and Anthony. I wish I had realized that sooner… It was before I became a Saint, so it took me too long to find out. I’m sorry.”
“No… I firmly believed that the mace of the Lord would one day fall upon Aaron.”
“…As it happens, I heard that Anthony’s daughter was gravely ill and that Aaron was interfering with her treatment, which is why I hastened from the Holy Land as soon as I heard the news…but thankfully Emilia seems to be doing well.”
“…To be honest, Emilia was ill. It was difficult to get treatment, and I was praying to God to help me get through the day, until one day I met him.”
With that, Anthony rattled off the story of the Blind Acupuncturist, a mysterious figure who practiced acupuncture with his eyes covered by bandages.
The blind acupuncturist cured the rare disease known as mana exhaustion without divine power.
What Anthony didn’t mention, however, was that he felt like a saint as he didn’t want to offend Bernice.
“The blind acupuncturist…You didn’t mention his name…”
Bernice muttered, as Anthony’s story trailed off and she tilted her head slightly, her silver hair bristling.
Saints gain many powers when they become saints.
Each saint gained different powers, but they always included near-infinite divine power.
One of the powers Bernice gained as a saint was the ability to recognize lies when she spoke to people but she could not detect any lies in the story Anthony had just told her.
This wasn’t because she was suspicious of him, but because it was something she couldn’t control.
“He didn’t seem like a man who liked to reveal much, and I remember trying to make sure he got paid as much as possible.”
“Interesting…I wonder if you wouldn’t mind if I take a look at Emilia’s physical condition. I’d feel more at ease if I could see for myself.”
“…I would be honored if you would take a look, Saint, but she should be asleep in her room by now, if you’ll follow me.”
The saint followed Anthony’s lead to the room where his daughter Emilia was sleeping.
As they approached Emilia’s room, they heard a loud banging noise behind the door and Anthony immediately opened the door.
“…Emilia?”
The lights were off, but Emilia was lying on her bed, uncovered, with her eyes closed.
“You were eavesdropping on our conversation, even though I told you to go to sleep…”
When Anthony asked in a soothing voice, Emilia, whose eyes were still tightly closed, suddenly sat up and shouted in a gruff voice.
“The acupuncturist didn’t do anything wrong!”
“Eh, Emilia?”
Anthony was taken aback by Emilia’s outburst.
Bernice didn’t seem to mind as she cautiously approached the sulking Emilia and pats her on the back.
“I’m not here to catch the acupuncturist,” she said, “I was just wondering who cured Emilia and wanted to say thank him.”
With that, the saint checked Emilia’s condition.
Mana exhaustion was something she recognized but she couldn’t fathom how it was treated so cleanly without using divine power.
Even Bernice didn’t know much about acupuncture.
“So… Why did you bring the knight…? Are you sure you didn’t come to catch the acupuncturist…? He was so nice…”
Emilia asked, glancing at Ines, who was standing behind Bernice.
“Huh… So it’s because of the knight? She’s here to protect me, not go around catching bad guys.”
“Hmmm.”
Inés coughed at Bernice’s words.
She was the one who had struck down Aaron’s head at the saint’s command.
Bernice was not averse to talking to children since there was something soothing about their unspoiled innocence.
Emilia’s face suddenly brightens as she listens to Bernice’s explanation.
“Thank God…”
“Emilia, what was it about the acupuncturist that you liked so much? Can you tell your sister?”
“Um… The acupuncturist was… well… Saint…… what was it… Oh, that’s right! He was like a saint, a saint, a saint from this fairy tale!”
Emilia scratched her eyebrows, trying to think of a word, and then suddenly grabbed a book from her bedside table and held it up to Bernice, speaking in a cheerful voice.
Emilia held up a book called “Saints and Princesses”.
Bernice had heard of the title, and it was a fairly famous fairy tale about the love between a saint and a princess. However, she had never read it because it was banned in the Holy Land.
Suddenly, Anthony caught Bernice’s eye and spoke urgently.
“Well… It’s because Emilia is still young and doesn’t understand…”
However, despite Anthony’s concern Bernice’s pink eyes don’t show any signs of annoyance. On the contrary, she smiled gently at Anthony’s serious expression.
“I know. It was him who cured Emilia, so maybe he’s a saint in her eyes.”
“The book… I asked her to buy it, but she wouldn’t let me…”
“That’s okay, this isn’t a holy country. Did you enjoy the book, Emilia?”
“Yes!”
Emilia replied cheerfully, and Bernice stroked her hair.
A glow emanated from the saint’s hand as she stroked her hair and a golden glow fell upon Emilia’s head.
“Whoa…”
Emilia exclaims, mesmerized by the brilliance as the saint has blessed her.
“Saint…?”
“Emilia is in very good health. It’s all I can do for her now, and I know it’s late… but… Will you consider it my apology?”
As soon as the saint had answered Anthony’s question, she looked kindly at Emilia and spoke.
“Would you like your sister to read you a story?”
“Really? I’d love that!”
Bernice’s behavior left Anthony speechless, but when she offered to put Emilia to bed, he had to leave the room.
In a room lit only by a single candle, the saint began to read to Emilia in a high-pitched voice.
As she was nearing the end of the book,
“…The saint eventually sacrificed himself to save her life. The princess cried for days and days, hoping he would return… but he never did. The saint never came back.”
“……”
Emilia was sleeping soundly.
Now she had to leave the room quietly and talk to Anthony, but…
‘I wonder if a storybook for a child should end in such a sad tragedy.’
…Bernice was uncharacteristically curious about the story.
She read the book to the end, with an excited Emilia by her side but fortunately it was not a tragic ending.
God Henerys took pity on them and saved the saint, then they lived happily ever after
‘I can see why it was banned in the Holy Land.’
Saints and saintesses, the apostles of the gods, were not forbidden to engage in love affairs such as romance or marriage, but the gods were not involved in human life and death.
The saint placed the book on Emilia’s bedside table and slipped out of the room. Then she made her way to the living room, where Anthony and the captain were waiting.
“What have you been talking about?”
“I told him that the accusations made against him by Aaron have been resolved, and that he will be rewarded by the Holy Land.”
Inés replies to Bernice as she rises from her seat and Anthony, who had been trembling, spoke next.
“I don’t know what to do, but…”
“Anthony, the Holy Land does not want to lose someone as loyal as you, and we recognize your value as a merchant, so we ask that you return to the Holy Land.”
“……”
Anthony could not answer Bernice’s request easily.
It was Bernice’s plan to bring him back to the Holy Land since he was too valuable to be kept in another country.
After a long sip of tea, Anthony spoke up.
“There are so many things I felt when I left the Holy Land… Even though it’s my homeland and my daughter’s homeland, I don’t know if I ever want to go back there.”
“Is that so…”
“But I have been following your progress. I may not return to the Holy Land, but I want to do my part by helping you… Well, if I do help, it will be with material things like money, but…”
“That means…”
“I’d like to support you, even if it’s only in a small way.”
Anthony’s voice echoes through the room.
‘Patron.’
Now that Aaron, the man who stood in the way of Anthony’s business, is gone, he will have the wealth to be called a patron at any time he chooses and his financial support would be a great help to Bernice in her future endeavors as a saint.
In the end, the conversation with Anthony is settled.
The Holy Land has promised him the compensation he deserves for his injustice, and he agreed to become her patron.
The source of the money was trustworthy, and Anthony’s reputation was assured in many ways.
Leaving Anthony’s house, Inés whispers to Bernice.
“With the backing of someone of Anthony’s stature… I’m sure it will be a great help in our future endeavors against demons.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Destroying the demons that live in hiding across the continent was the task of a saint, and it was what the Lord wanted her to do.
Before Bernice climbed into the carriage, she called out to Inés.
“Inés, the blind acupuncturist, can you scrape together any information on him?”
“Has he piqued your interest?”
“I’m just curious, since he must have met a lot of people, and they described him as mysterious.”
Bernice realized that she would like to have a conversation with him, at least once.
***
The keys to the ultra-luxury cabin, given to me by the chairman of the board, Hubert Graham, were handed over to the manager before disembarking the airship.
Since the tour was over, I had to ‘clean up’ and all sorts of items and unused skill points were waiting for me.
There was no rest for me and the night I returned to the Academy, I had to get on the carriage immediately.
My most pressing need was the Tear of the Dead.
Thankfully, neither Mikhail nor the Allies had mentioned the gem when I was questioned, but it was too dangerous to carry around so I set out to find Deidros, the Gold Dragon and blacksmith.
I approached Deidros mansion, chewing hard on the antler of the Dius I had gotten from Mikhail.
Dius antler tasted bitter. It wasn’t disgusting, but it was hard to chew. Perhaps I should ground it into powder.
I touched the barrier around the mansion and Sierra sensed it too.
[Judging by the barrier, I’m guessing he’s still here.]
“…I see.”
If he had left and changed his identity he would’ve been very hard to find due to the nature of polymorphic magic.
Everything else was the same as the last time I was here except that the door to the mansion opened before I could open it.
Deidros appears in the doorway and looks at me quizzically.
“…First, let me ask you this: do you have good news or bad news?”
“Good news.”
Deidros’ face lights up at my answer and he opens the door wider.
“And for me…?”
I trailed off as I entered the mansion and Deidros’ head tilted as he smiled at my meaningful words.
I nonchalantly closed the open door. Then, turning to Deidros, who was still tilting his head, I took the jewel from my bosom and handed it to him.
“What is it…?”
Deidros took the jewelry and examined it carefully.
“I didn’t make it…I got it after killing the Lich in the North.”
Deidros confirms the gem’s identity and I quickly explain before it begins to radiate with life.
“A jewel of immense life force… The Tear of the Dead, second only to the Vampiric Iron… You seem to have a knack for picking up dangerous things.”
Deidros said, handing the gem back to me.
“Can you explain to me what it does?”
“It grants you immense regenerative powers, but only for those already dead. For dragons, it’s enough to extend their lifespan by a few decades; for humans…As I understand it, you can only avoid death once.”
Deidros said, unscrewing the cap from a flask on the table and as he poured himself a drink, he realized my intentions.
“No way… Zetto, you’re going to use that…”
“…Just in case something dangerous happens. I wonder if I could put it in my body…Is that possible?”
“Embedding the Tear of the Dead into your body… Whoa… You have more outlandish ideas than I, who have lived for centuries. Unfortunately, I’ve only ever embedded gems into weapons and armors, but never into bodies.”
“Hmm…”
In the game, I could have had Deidros do all sorts of things.
I don’t know if it’s because he’s a dragon, or if it’s because he’s done a lot of different things, but… I’m sure he could do something as simple as embedding a gem in my body.
As I stood still, Deidros, who had taken a drink, slammed his glass down with a clatter on the table and spoke.
“I think I can …… do it, but… It’s going to be insanely painful.”
I smiled at Deidros’s casual response and opened my mouth to speak.
“I’ve come prepared for that.”