by Park Saenal
***
In front of the room where the dukes were lying, each retainer expressed their opinions.
“The empress must be behind this event.”
“That’s correct. It doesn’t make sense that Edan would do these things to the dukes just to cover up the truth. How could he do these extreme things without being completely insane? It is hard to see that Edan did this on his own.”
“His Majesty has been giving power to the Five Pillars. Maybe he is using this opportunity to oust the dukes and increase the power of the imperial family…”
“This is an unreasonable assumption. How will he handle the resistance of the nobles after touching the families of the founders? The emperor has been somewhat depressed since the empress died, but it is impossible for him to do this.”
“That’s correct. Now is the time to worry about His Majesty. Maybe Prince Edan has already sinned against His Majesty. That’s why he could do this without any fear.”
“What can Edan do to His Majesty? Edan’s talent is excellent but His Majesty is already complete, and he has the protection of the Five Pillars.
“The pillars might’ve betrayed the empire. The problem is the grandmaster. We need to know if he has given any strength to Edan.”
Whisper whisper.
The retainers were speaking in low voices, but the dukes’ hearing capabilities had reached the highest limit. Morse lay in bed, listening to the voices outside and not missing a single word of the discussion. “Kukuk, it’s funny. No one knows that Edan is a completely crazy guy.” Their explanation was also lacking. It was too hard to give a laborious explanation. Honestly, it was hard to stay sane.
“…Shit.” Morse looked down at his trembling limbs. No matter how hard he tried, there was no strength in his fingertips or his toes. It was natural since all the tendons were destroyed.
“…Hat.” He could only laugh. He didn’t want to think about anything. He hadn’t expected to lose the use of his limbs one day. How could he have imagined that he would end up like this?
“Shit… Shit…”
The most disturbing point was that he was too helpless. Despite having fully grasped the weakness of the magic machine in the Berith raid, Morse hadn’t been able to cope with their ambush. The genes of the dukes who had served the royal family for hundreds of years were imprinted with the nature to submit at the right time.
“Dammit!” Morse, who could only move his neck, hit the pillow with the back of his head. He honestly wanted to bury his head somewhere and die. Did he have to live as a vegetative person for the rest of his life? It was better to die. He had heard several rumors about the Saintess, but he wasn’t expecting anything. Even divine power that had risen to the highest level couldn’t cure permanent disabilities.
While Morse was cursing, Grenhal lying on the opposite bed was just silent. “…”
He was also feeling complicated.
‘It is shameful.’
Why had he been loyal to his country and the imperial family? Was it true that he was loyal? If he were a true loyalist, he should’ve seen that the bloodline of the royal family was moving on the wrong path and held him to the right one. Yet that didn’t happen. He had been incompetent from the time he couldn’t protect Piaro. The wounds on his body weren’t as noble as heroic medals.
“Shit! Shit! Kuaaaaak!”
“…”
Morse’s craziness gradually grew worse, and Grenhal’s expression steadily darkened. For both of them, reality was hell. Then just as they were going crazy… in this terrible despair…
“Purification.”
A bright light that was warmer than the sun surrounded the two people, and a calm feeling came over them. The spirits of the two men—intertwined with anger, resentment, pain, and futility—were instantly refreshed. Morse came to his senses and turned to the side with wide eyes.
“Hello?”
A beautiful girl with black hair was smiling.
“…Ah.”
Would there ever be another intense encounter like this in the world again? Morse glimpsed a halo from the girl. The darkness restraining his body melted in front of the light. However, this impression was short-lived.
“…?”
The girl waved her wooden staff. Her staff started to beat Morse’s limbs like a scarecrow at a training camp.
“S-Saintess?” The retainers were shocked by the unexpected development and didn’t know what to do.
“Huup! Uh! Uhit!” Then as he let out reflexive groans, one of Morse’s fingers moved. It was real and not an illusion. Everyone saw it. Grenhal’s retainers witnessed the miracle and sucked in a breath.
‘W-What will happen?’
‘Will the duke’s eyes have to be hit with that staff?’
Why the eyes…?
Their hatred for Edan grew even bigger. Grenhal’s retainers shed tears of blood. Additionally…
“…Gulp!” Grenhal trembled with fear. He might’ve lost his eyes, but he could guess what was happening thanks to his developed senses. Grenhal fidgeted and eventually started snoring. He intended to buy time until he was ready by pretending to be asleep.
Then another girl, who appeared to be the Saintess’ companion, poked his cheek with her finger. “This uncle is cute.”
“…”
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Chapter 1072
“This uncle is cute.”
“T-This disrespect!”
Even if the mantle of duke were stripped away, Grenhal’s power had accumulated over generations and was great. He was one of the best in the West Continent. If the imperial family abandoned Grenhal, he still had the power to build a nation if he could safely return to his territory. Yet this girl dared to poke their respected master’s cheek with her finger? It was a blasphemy that they had never imagined.
“Daring to poke Duke Grenhal in the cheek…!”
“Get your hands away immediately! You might be in the Saintess’ party but you should show the basic manners!”
Some of the retainers roared. It felt like they would draw their sword at any moment, and all types of notification windows appeared in front of Sexy Schoolgirl.
[You have fallen into the ‘fear’ state.]
[You have fallen into the ‘oppressed’ state.]
[You have fallen into the ‘chaotic’ state.]
[The passive skill ‘Defender of the Miracle’ has allowed you to resist the ‘fear’ and ‘chaotic’ states.]
[The effect of the passive skill ‘Person Who Put a Foot in the Miracle’ has reduced the duration of the ‘oppression’ state. Transfers the ‘oppression’ to the target for as long as the reduced time.]
[The target has resisted.]
[The target has resisted…]
“…!” Grenhal’s retainers were stunned. She didn’t shrink back and even confronted their momentum…? This weak-looking girl actually contained a powerful force.
‘She is a great talent. There is a reason she is accompanying the Saintess at this early age!’
This was a country that hadn’t succumbed in the war with the empire. The Overgeared Kingdom was small but powerful. The retainers admired her, but it was only for a moment. They were still furious as they looked at Sexy Schoolgirl. Sexy Schoolgirl stuck out her tongue and laughed. “I’m sorry. This uncle is just too cute. Please excuse my rudeness.”
“Eek…! You keep saying he is cute, cute! You know who he is yet you keep talking nonsense!”
“What if I don’t know?”
“…”
She didn’t know…? The retainers didn’t know what to say and were at a loss for words. It didn’t matter. Sexy Schoolgirl Yerim stroked the hand of Grenhal who was lying asleep. It was a hand full of deep wounds.
“I think you’ve been through a lot. It must be hard. Get some rest.”
“…” Grenhal’s eyebrows trembled. Maybe it was because of this extremely harsh situation, but a few words of comfort from an unnamed girl stimulated Grenhal’s
weakened heart. The imperial family, whom he had devoted his entire life to, had threatened him and turned a blind eye to him. Yet the king of a distant country protected him while its people comforted him. This was…
“…” Grenhal’s eyes twitched slightly as he bit his lips.
An existence who reigned at the top… It was only after being protected that he realized he was also an ordinary person.
All sorts of thoughts shook his mind.
***
‘They’ve become friends.’
At first glance, Sexy Schoolgirl Yerim was surrounded by imperial nobles. Ruby had felt anxious when she heard why she suddenly had to return to Reinhardt from hunting, but that mood had dissipated.
‘They will soon become closer.’
Saintess Ruby had a bit of a shy personality. She didn’t get close quickly to new acquaintances, so she was still unfamiliar with many Overgeared members. On the other hand, Sexy Schoolgirl was different. She always faced people with curiosity and was straightforward and bright. Thus, she quickly became friends with others. WIthout her, Ruby might still have yet to adapt to Satisfy.
‘I would’ve been hiding behind my brother’s back and not become interested in the game.’
Although Ruby didn’t want her as a sister-in-law, her friend was really great. Ruby smiled while thinking this.
“Uh…! Uit…!”
She was still hitting Morse and continued to do so with the wooden staff in her hand.
“M-Morse…” Morse’ retainers were restless. They thought they should stop the Saintess from assaulting their master but couldn’t because the Saintess wouldn’t commit senseless violence. A Saintess…
It was the empire who interpreted the Saintess as the ‘agent of the goddess of light’ in the famous legend. For the empire, the Saintess was an incarnation of a god and an existence to be worshipped. There had long been rumors among the nobles of the empire about the Saintess who carried out many good deeds and miracles in the Overgeared Kingdom. It wasn’t yet clear if she was a legendary Saintess or heretic, but the person who recommended her was the Overgeared King. They had more trust than doubts.
“…” In the tumultuous room, Ruby was quietly focused. In her vision, she saw a ‘red dot’ attached to Morse’s body. It showed the damaged body parts and was an effect derived from the skill ‘Regenerative Healing’ that Ruby gained when she reached level 180.
[Regenerative Healing Lv. 3]
[Activates the ‘Hand of Kindness’ to promote the regeneration of wounds with abnormal physical conditions.
* If the target is a player:
The moment the Hand of Kindness touches the wound area, the wound is restored. If the physical injury is a ‘cut’, the Hand of Kindness must touch the body for at least 10 seconds.
*If the target is a pet or a player’s pet:
The Hand of Kindness must touch the wound for 3 seconds for the wound to recover. If the physical injury is a ‘cut’, the Hand of Kindness must be in contact with the body for 20 seconds. The health of the target will be restored while the Hand of Kindness is in contact with the target.
* If the target is a NPC:
The Hand of Kindness must touch the wound several times for the wound to recover. The number of touches depends on the severity of the injury. If the physical injury is a ‘cut’, it can’t be healed with the current skill level.
Skill Mana Cost: 3,000 per second. Or 3,000 per use.
Skill Cooldown Time: None.]
A skill that could only be activated through touch was a bit difficult to use in combat. Furthermore, the mana cost was very large, especially for players who used a number of skills. Therefore, Ruby wasn’t able to take advantage of the skill. It was a skill that could only be used during her daily quest ‘Good Deeds.’
However, that story changed after the Berith raid. The extraordinary reward obtained for annihilating Berith’s soul was to evolve the Wooden Staff one step further.
[+7 Wooden Staff]
[Rating: Unique (Transcendent)
Durability: 830/830 Attack Power/Defense: 733
* All stats apart from intelligence increased by 200.
* Intelligence increased by 300.
A staff made of unidentified wood. It is very hard and can’t be cut by a sword.
*All healing effects +7%.
* Grants a random buff to two party members every 5 minutes.
* Deletes a party member’s debuff every minute.
* 10% reduction in the resource consumption of all skills.
* Hand of Kindness can be given. Damage can be eliminated when Hand of Kindness is used.
* 10% increase in the effect of Hand of Kindness.
Conditions of Use: Saintess.
Weight: 180]
It had a very ordinary name and appearance, but it was the only weapon of the Saintess. Grid had enhanced it to +9, but this was lost after Ruby tried enhancing it further. After learning that the enhancement value was reset every time the rating evolved, she became satisfied with a +7 enhancement.
This staff originally only had one option, ‘increase all stats.’ However, like other players, Ruby had grown. She had gained many achievements from the repetition of her daily good deeds, and she had gained hidden pieces from doing hidden quests and leveling up. She had also destroyed the souls of the great demons Belial and Berith.
Every time Ruby grew, so did the staff. The staff now had seven options including the stats upgrade, all of which seemed like treasures. If anybody who knew the game saw these fraudulent options, they would suspect that Chairman Lim Cheolho was the grandfather of the Grid siblings.
In particular, Ruby liked the Hand of Kindness option. In addition to Regenerative Healing, Hand of Kindness was activated with the skills ‘Strengthening Healing’ and ‘Waves of Punishment.’ When using Hand of Kindness directly, it was difficult to actually utilize it because the premise was that she should approach the target. Now that the staff could be used as a mediator, a distance of 2 meters was secured, and it was relatively easier to use.
‘Who did this…’
Despite using Hand of Kindness with the staff to touch his wounds dozens of times, the red dots imprinted on Morse’s body didn’t fade away. This meant that Morse’s wounds were deep, and Ruby’s heart grew heavier. Just imagining how much pain Morse might have suffered caused her to be in distress. If she didn’t restrain herself, she would be crying tears of fear.
“…” Morse was staring at Ruby.
Why was she making a face like she was going to cry? He was just a stranger. Why was she grieving for him?
‘This is… a Saintess…’
…A person who gave lifelong service and devotion to others. Morse hadn’t liked the legendary Saintess very much. She seemed like a so-called pushover. Life was short, and one should live for themselves and their family. Why should they take care of others? He even laughed at those who admired the Saintess, but that wasn’t the case anymore. Her kindness was healing the scars of his heart.
“…”
He felt like he had fallen to the hell of despair and was then pulled up. Her goodwill was saving his life.
‘Now… I understand…’
This was why so many people admired the Saintess. A smile appeared on Morse’s face at the realization. His eyes that were as sharp as a beast’s became gentle. He declared, “If I recover, I will surely—”
“…?”
“I want to protect you by your side.”
“Huh?”
What was going on all of a sudden? The confused Ruby’s hands fell. The staff missed the red dot it should’ve hit.
“Eek!” Morse’s piercing scream rang through the room.
“Drung…” Grenhal, who woke up from his thoughts, started snoring again.
“…” For a moment, an awkward silence swirled around the room.
***
[Regenerative Healing was successful!]
[The target’s wound has been fully recovere
d!]
“That’s it!” Ruby exclaimed with joy. Her thin neck, collarbone, and face were covered with sweat. It had taken six long hours. She had repeatedly rested and healed the two dukes, so it was natural to be exhausted.
“Waaahhhhhhhh!”
“Congratulations on your recovery!”
“Thank you! Thank you, Saintess!”
The retainers cheered. Grenhal’s eyes, which had been covered with dark scars and lost their light, reopened while Morse’s limbs were restored to normal. Everyone present had witnessed a miracle. Even though their masters might not recover completely, the retainers were happy as long as their masters could see and walk on their feet. They felt so grateful to Ruby that they had an urge to pull out their gallbladders and everything else to give to her.
Ruby felt just as much joy as them. It was an indescribable happiness to be able to correct the misfortune of others.
‘If my brother had met someone like that in the past…’
Notification windows were rising continuously in Ruby’s vision.
[You have healed the great noblemen of the empire, strong representatives of the current age. It is an achievement that will remain in history!]
[Reputation throughout the continent will rise by 8,000.]
[You have become a very important person. You won’t fall down easily. The special reward has increased your maximum health by 10,000.]
[Affinity with Duke ‘Morse’ of the Saharan Empire has reached the maximum.]
[Morse is willing to live for you.]
[Affinity with Duke ‘Grenhal’ of the Saharan Empire has reached the maximum.]
[Grenhal wants to give you many things.]
She didn’t know about anything else, but it was really good to improve her health. It seemed that she wouldn’t die easily now. Then someone stroked Ruby’s hair.
“Thanks for the hard work.” It was Grid. He was smiling as he watched his sister from afar, not wanting to disturb her. “What do you think about healing Duke Basara?”
“Her wounds are different, so I think I need to look a bit more closely.”
Facing the gazes of those filled with anticipation, Ruby approached Basara who was lying down, staring silently at the ceiling. Then Grenhal and Morse approached Grid and bowed to him.