Chapter 119

“Priest, you’re pretty tough, huh… It’s already past midnight, you sure you don’t need a rest?”

“Oh, I’m fine. I keep using healing magic on myself, you see. That way I can force my body to keep going. Once we reach the northern encampment, I should just continue northward on foot, correct?”

“…You’re something else. I don’t even follow any god, and yet I can’t help but be impressed. You could just rest a night at the camp before heading out…”

“No, that I cannot do. Even now, there are many soldiers suffering from their wounds. For their sake, I cannot allow myself to stop.”

We depart from Lindblum, swaying in the back of a wagon on the way to the northern encampment.

It isn’t the very frontlines, but it serves as a major supply hub. The abundance of provisions gathered here makes it possible to sustain the front for long periods—or so I’m told.

Still, I expect that by tomorrow around midday, the Golda side will already begin their withdrawal.

In other words, they’re moving into the stage of preparing to end the war.

That’s exactly why I must hurry. I need the circumstances of “during wartime,” when attention is naturally drawn.

And so, under a slightly clouded night sky with fewer stars, darker than last night, we travel down the road.

Upon arrival at the northern encampment, I state my purpose to the officer in charge. He lets out a cheer like a child.

As expected, the number of healers is vanishingly small—only two even within the knight order.

Apparently, only those who complete a pilgrimage on the continent where the Elkud Church’s Holy See resides, and receive blessing from the Pope himself, are granted the ability to wield such miracles. It’s said you might only see a traveling healer once every several years.

I see… That explains the high market price of medicine. And why the knowledge of Melt, that girl protected by the Master, is so valued.

Still, it seems that every Elkud church normally has at least one healer. For instance, the female knight of the Thirteen, the one Master saw in the royal palace—she introduced herself as Cyan—apparently serves double-duty as a healer.

…How troublesome. She may well become an obstacle to my final plans.

“Hey, Squad Leader! Is it true a healer’s here!?”

At that moment, a man barges unceremoniously into the tent where I was speaking with the officer.

…What a fated encounter. Even knowing it’s inevitable, I can’t help but feel that way.

The intruder is Vias, one of the Thirteen Knights of the Mercenary Guild.

“…Yes, I am a healer. Is there a patient here who needs me?”

I show nothing on my face. I betray nothing in my voice. Never let others see the wavering of my emotions.

And yet—

“No, that’s not it. A scout. You’re a healer, right? A free agent. How about joining our clan, once this war’s over?”

“Please leave.”

…For once, I think I understand the urge to bite straight through a candy.

“Fine, fine, no need to glare like that.”

“Oh? I wasn’t glaring at all.”

“…Not glaring? You’re radiating killing intent, aren’t you?”

“…What a strange thing to say.”

“…I won’t push it further. But you… you’ve killed a lot, haven’t you?”

“Now now… I wonder what you could mean.”

I see. Now I understand a little better why the Master called this man “the most dangerous.”

He must be extraordinarily sharp—on a level far beyond normal intuition.

Best I stay away from him.

“Well then, I’ll head for the field hospital now.”

“Ah! Yes, please, Father! I’ll arrange an escort right away!”

“Hah? No need. Not a soldier here could lay a hand on this priest even if they all rushed him at once.”

“My my… such high praise embarrasses me…”

“…Truth be told, I’d like to go with you myself, but I’ve got to keep watch on the west. Hey, what’s your name?”

“I am called Stil. Just a humble missionary… though also a priest.”

At that, Vias leaves the tent.

…Strange, isn’t it? Compared to the others, I’d say my appearance is rather distinguished. And yet, the reactions I receive from the strong are never favorable.

I leave the northern camp.

Apparently, it’s customary for both armies not to launch attacks during the deep night.

Still, there are always soldiers conducting sabotage missions at such hours.

I can even spot figures moving through the distant forest now—though they belong to the Lendia side, so it’s no problem.

Even so… though only a day has passed since the war began, skirmishes have already broken out at the frontlines. That’s surprising.

Which means Golda was prepared to attack at any time as well.

“…What a fascinating world. People so free, so foolish, slaughtering each other like this.”

Everything is different from when I lived in that fabricated world.

Everything is different from when I was bound to serve the story forced upon me.

Now, I am allowed to act against my own will.

Now, I am allowed to act in accordance with my own will.

I can choose whichever I prefer, for myself—

“You’re a healer, aren’t you!? What a blessing! Please, come quickly—there are wounded resting in the great tent next door!”

“Of course. Lead the way.”

The field hospital had been set up about an hour’s walk further north from the encampment.

From there, you could just make out the camps of the frontline soldiers spread across the scorched canyon.

In other words, once fighting resumed, wave after wave of wounded would be carried in here.

Normally, a field hospital would never be set up so close to the frontlines, considering the risk of a breakthrough.

But the fact that it had been placed here anyway, at what could even be called an audaciously forward position, told me something at a glance—

That the people here put their faith in the power of the people that protect them.

“Are you the healing priest who was dispatched here? Thank you for coming all the way to the very front lines. I am Sian, a church knight belonging to the Lindblum Church of the Elkud Faith.”

“My, my… It’s a pleasure to meet you. Though the teachings of Elkud are not those I myself was raised in, I cannot help but feel reverence toward a fellow who has devoted their life to faith. My name is Stil. I look forward to working with you, Lady Sian.”

This woman, called Sian—
The power she carried upon her was not ordinary.

Not merely her own strength, but as though power was being constantly poured into her from the very world itself.

The Elkud Faith, I’d heard, was a religion that worships the god dwelling in the earth.

Meaning their belief… truly manifests in tangible strength.

And what’s more, granted directly from the earth they worship.

How enviable. How hateful. How… grotesque.

A faith with a guaranteed return like that—such a thing could never be compatible with me.

The Elkud Faith… it seems there is much I need to investigate.

“My, how marvelous! To manifest healing powers from an independent faith of your own…! Please, would you look at these patients?”

Even though it was midnight, this woman radiated an atmosphere far too bright for the night.

And I sensed she would inevitably oppose what I intended to do, leading to conflict.

When I was led into the tent where the critical patients lay, it reeked of blood and medicine.

Though bandages had been applied in makeshift treatment, the tent was filled with people groaning in pain.

“Cyan, have you already attempted healing arts?”

“Yes. It is shameful to admit, but my aptitude for healing is very low. Even the weakest elixirs fail to respond to me. The injuries here… are already beyond my ability.”

From my eyes, it was clear: all the people suffering here were in a state of only their surface wounds sealed shut.

Their skin and flesh had closed, but blood vessels, nerves, and bones remained grievously damaged.

Some had even lost the function of their internal organs, slowly stepping closer to death.

…So that was it.

“An explosion, then? The Golda side had prepared a wide-area weapon or magic? And from quite an early stage, lying in wait?”

“…! As expected of a specialist. Yes, exactly so. Most likely… they had anticipated this war from long before the official declaration.”

“I see. So a truly ‘war-like’ battle had already begun.”

I began examining each patient laid in the tent.

Then I stopped before the man who seemed to be the worst case.

His complexion was ashen. Both legs were shattered in complex fractures—ordinarily, amputation would be the only choice.

Worse, his internal organs were failing. He was already a step away from death.

I activated Holy-Evil Reversal, thrusting my fingers again and again into his body.

To an onlooker it would seem cruel mockery, tormenting the wounded.

But each site struck by my fingers glowed faintly, and his color swiftly returned.

His injuries and ailments, all visibly, steadily healed.

“A-Amazing…! Incredible, Sir Still!”

“Yes, I am incredible. …And that is precisely why this power requires a price.”

I then approached another patient.

And—

“The price is life.”

I struck down that patient on the spot, silencing their groans forever.

“!!! W-What are you doing!?”

“That is my question. Why is there a Golda soldier lying here?”

Indeed, even Golda’s soldiers were being sheltered here.

Was this mercy? Or some Elkud doctrine?

Faith is supposed to be noble, but this—this was not faith.

Faith may sometimes trample others, yes, but only when it cannot be helped.

If a clash can be avoided, then avoid it. But if it cannot, then mercilessly crush—that too cannot be helped.

But this? To lay them side by side in the same tent? While killing each other? While our faiths clash? It only sullies both sides.

“Now then, choose. My power transfers life from one person to another. Let us save the soldiers of Lendia at the cost of the Golda soldiers lying here.

One saved, one killed. That is the sole condition to rescue all those here. And as luck would have it—there are equal numbers lying in this tent.”

It’s a lie. The truth is, I just want to trample this woman into the dirt.

And I want to make her understand. To make the world understand. That I am… no, that “faith itself is evil.”

Here on this battlefield, I want to be recognized as the most vile, the most accursed existence of all.

From the beginning… I came here for the sake of killing people. I came here to spread my infamy

“!! You—you fiend! Begone! You are the very embodiment of evil!”

“My, my. Is that really wise? By my estimation… about seventy percent of the Lendia soldiers here won’t see the next sunrise, you know?”

That was no bluff. Nearly seventy men already lie beyond salvation.

And even among those who may live, many will suffer lifelong aftereffects.

Conveniently, there are just as many Gorda soldiers lying in this same tent.

“Very well then! I shall respect your decision, Lady Cyan, to ‘prioritize the lives of enemy soldiers while abandoning your own wounded countrymen’! So then, my dear wounded friends, farewell! Oh—my mistake. You’re not well enough for farewells, are you?”

I raise my voice loud, making sure the conscious wounded can hear.

Dangling hope before their eyes, only to cast them back into the pit of despair.

“Wha! That’s not… I didn’t mean…!”

“No, Lady Cyan. That was your decision. And with that—I bid you safe travels.”

A farewell to those about to embark on the journey to death.

…But no. That won’t do. It mustn’t end like that.

Voices begin to rise from all around, refusing that journey.

“Lady Cyan… I… I want to live…”
“If you sacrifice them… we could…”
“I don’t want to die… why… why us…”
“Why must it be us…”

Can you truly cast aside your own soldiers who cry out to live?

Even though the enemy soldiers will die all the same if left alone, you decided not to sacrifice them?

It’s like two halves of an apple. If you gave up one, you could eat the other. But because you can’t bear to part with either, you let both rot away before your eyes. That is the decision you’re about to make.

“Ah… ahhh… I… I…”

Faith wavering, trembling on the verge of collapse.

I quietly walk toward the shaken Cyan. And ever so gently—I push her back.

“…Will you truly let your own soldiers die by your decision? If it continues like this, the Golda soldiers will die anyway. So then—why not let their lives be ‘entrusted to the next’?”

“Entrusted… to the next…?”

Just one more push.

“Yes. With my power, I can take the lives of the Golda soldiers and turn them into healing energy. That energy will dwell within the suffering Lendia soldiers, granting them strength to live on together.”

“Together… to live…”

“Yes, exactly. So command me, Lady Cyan. Say the words: ‘Slaughter the Golda soldiers, and with their lives, save our Lendia soldiers.’”

“M… me…?”

A devout believer, swaying between faith and fear.

Ah, at last… I think I might be able to like you.

“P… please…”

“What exactly are you asking?”

“…Sacrifice the Golda soldiers… and save our country’s soldiers…”

“Very well. I accept.”

Now then, let us bring salvation.

Just as you wished—“everyone.”

“‘Holy-Evil Reversal. Daichimusibamhi.’”

I pour forth my power, healing every single person lying in this vast tent.

Yes, even the Golda soldiers whom she decided would be slaughtered.

Even the Golda soldiers I myself had supposedly killed, now clinging to life by a thread.

Literally all of them—I healed.

“See? Everyone has been saved. The truth is, my power requires no sacrifice at all. But you… you were willing to ‘sacrifice human lives in order to save those you valued more highly.’ Never forget this fact. Carry it with you for the rest of your life.”

“Ah… no… it can’t be… I… I only…”

“Well then… this time for certain—farewell, Lady Cyan of the Church Knights.”

I leave the tent. I leave this field hospital behind.

With the woman’s anguished wails echoing behind me, I take flight once more toward Lindblum.

Surely, my presence has been made known far and wide.

Now all that remains is to witness the consequences it births—
and the greatest “sorrow” of all with my own eyes.

With that, let this mad performance of mine come to its end.

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