Chapter 12. Unexpected Power②

　─ ─ Even before I was given the holy sword, I knew of the existence of Saint Emily.

　Many of the clergy and priests who gather at the battlefield are, by their nature, elderly and women.

　Even though they’ve personally never met each other, they gathered with a sense of mission and good intentions in a land where the undead, immortal magical beasts, lurk in close proximity. They even had their own sense of adoration toward them.

　Among them, Emily stood out.

　There were several apprentice monks who had rushed to the site as well, along with a few young boys and girls who looked anxious about being in a war zone. Among them, Elliot could often see Emily from afar, smiling with her bright, clear voice.

　He also knew that because of her appearance as a lovely woman who always tried her best to save as many people as possible, she was called a saint and was loved by many of the knights.

　Many of the knights had spoken enthusiastically about Elliot’s holy sword, saying that it was “a blessing from the prayers of the Saint.”

　After acquiring the holy sword, he was constantly fighting on the front lines, which inevitably led to an increase in the number of wounds he sustained.

　Injuries that could be fatal are immediately treated by the clergy who accompany them to the battlefield, but whenever it was Purification , they returned to the garrison, and Emily would often be the first to rush to their aid.

　She was still an apprentice, so it took some time. Still, seeing how hard she was trying, he didn’t mind.

　During the long time it took until the purification was completed, she spoke to the normally quiet Elliott with a smile on her face and no hesitation, which inevitably led to more conversation.

“To tell you the truth, I’m scared of undead beasts too. Look, I’m still shaking. And that’s why the purification is taking so long…”

　She started to confide her shortcomings to him more often.

　Many clergymen from all over the country had already gathered at the battlefield, and it’s at a point where there was now talks of letting the  more experienced and older ones remain behind, while the younger Kids and young women were sent home, but she stubbornly remained on the battlefield.

The garrison, which is the key to the subjugation mission, is absolutely secure. Emily and the others, who never leave the garrison, are rarely exposed to danger, and although they never face the undead, they are still close to the front lines.

　Elliot admired Emily’s courage and dedication.

“Just a little bit, I envy your wife, there in the safety of the royal capital. I bet she doesn’t know how hard you’re working.”

　Wives in the royal capital were often talked about in such a way. The soft-spoken Elliott was wont to reply, “You’re doing your best too.”

　Eventually, Emily began to talk to him more and more, even outside of purification time.

She would say, “Elliott-san, I have something I want to discuss with you. ……”

　One day, Emily seemed sadder than usual and confided her troubles to him.

“… Actually, I think the other clergy don’t like me very much.……Especially for women. ……”

　It’s true that when someone was seriously injured, he would often see the clergy pushing Emily aside to treat and purify them. The clergy are more skilled, so the treatment is finished quickly, but…

Unlike healing and recovery, where you could see the wounds closing up and the pain disappearing, purification didn’t cause any immediate changes that was obvious to non-priests such as Elliott and the others.

　Perhaps that is why, when one becomes accustomed to Emily’s slow, deliberate, and careful cleansing, one cannot help but get the impression that the other Priest’s purification, which takes only a short amount of time to be done, is sloppy.

　Elliott, angered, encouraged Emily.

“Don’t worry about it. We all know your dedication. That’s why everyone calls you a saint. Even this holy sword is thanks to your prayers.”

　At this, Emily’s bright smile returned.

　By that time, he was already attracted to her, who was always so cute and lovely as she went about doing her best.

　 the holy sword in his hands, the elation and sense of accomplishment of being able to slaughter undead beasts one after another on the battlefield. The praise from your peers.

　All of these things were brought to us by Emily.

　As many of the knights said, Elliot also believed so.

　When he was a junior knight, he would usually sleep in the same tent with about eight or so other people, but by the time he was recognized as a holy knight, he was treated like a senior officer, and Elliot was given a tent for his own personal use.

　At night, Emily would often visit him in his tent. Outside the tent, the two of them would talk while looking up at the night sky.

　The conversations were mundane and not noteworthy, such as consoling her about her fear of the undead, praising him for his daily battles, and listening to her trivial complaints and giving some advice . Although there wasn’t much change to what they talked about, his appreciation and admiration for Emily grew stronger with each passing day.

　Naturally he felt guilty, but he couldn’t keep away from Emily’s lovely smile as she drew nearer to give him the holy sword.

　When Elliot had been at the brink of despair after receiving the news from the royal capital, it was Emily who had comforted him.

　It was then that they crossed the line, and became a couple from then on.

　There were probably many knights who had noticed, but the superior officers and high-ranking knights who were around at the time even encouraged the union of a holy knight and a saintly woman, as they should.

　Alone in the room after Marcus and the others had left, Elliott took one look at the report that lay before him and let out a sigh.

　–Unexpected power can drive people crazy, huh?

　He pulled the holy sword out of its sheath once more and looked at it. Here, not on the battlefield, there is no faint light, but the sword is like a companion that has fought alongside him.

　–How many people do you think Emily and I have saved?

　The guilt of betrayal that had been inside Elliot had faded as he confirmed the presence of the holy sword, and now he felt a sentiment akin to anger. 

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter