Chapter 69 - Saint Bernice

"First of all, since we're meeting for the first time, it's better to introduce ourselves. The saintess, my name is Bernice. This is Ines, the leader of the Knights of the Silver Wings."

Bernice was sitting on her reception sofa, drinking her tea, and Inès was standing next to her, keeping her still.

"...My name is Anthony."

They all knew each other, but there was no one-sided ceremony.

Bernice looked at Anthony closely before opening her mouth.

"Aaron Creville...Was executed."

"Aaron... The high priest...?!"

Anthony wanted to bite her teeth at the name that made her disgusted just by hearing it, but since the saintess was right in front of her eyes, she held back her wrath with utmost courtesy.

Aaron was the one who framed Antony and drove him out of the kingdom.

"It's not even a name worth exalting. Before he died, he was stripped of all titles as a priest and a nobleman. Strangely... There was no one in the Creville family with clean hands. The Creville family no longer exists in this world. ."

Bernice gently put down the teacup and put some rather bloody words into his mouth.

Hearing her story, Anthony seemed to have an intuition about what had happened.

But something important remained.

Anthony doesn't show his emotions on his face and asks questions in a calm voice.

"...That's it. Why did you come to visit me at this late hour...? It's only right to thank such an insignificant merchant for personally stepping out and visiting me... I'm not even a person of ."

"While investigating Aaron, I also found out what happened between him and Anthony. I wish I had noticed it earlier... It took me so long to find out about the situation before I became a saint. I'm sorry. "

"No... I firmly believed that Aaron would be given the mace of the Lord one day."

"... I heard that Anthony's daughter was seriously ill, but Aaron was interfering with her treatment. As soon as she heard this news, she hurriedly moved from the Holy Land... Emilia Fortunately, he looks healthy."

"... It is true that Emilia was ill. It is also true that she had a difficult time receiving treatment. She prayed to the Lord and endured day by day. One day, she met a nobleman. It's done."

Anthony sighed and recited her story of a blind acupuncturist, a mysterious figure who used acupuncture while blindfolded with her bandage.

A blind acupuncturist who healed the rare disease of mana exhaustion without divine power.

However, Anthony did not mention that he felt like a 'saint' from him. It was also in front of the saintess, and it was only because of her mood that it was close.

"Blind acupuncturist... No name mentioned..."

Anthony's story ended, and Bernice murmured.

Bernice tilts her head slightly, her silver hair twitching.

Saints become saints and gain many abilities.

Although each saint's power was different, near-infinite divine power was always included.

The power that Bernice acquired as her saint was the ability to distinguish lies when conversing with people.

The saintess could not find any lies in what Anthony had just said.

This was not because Anthony was suspicious, but because she was a force that even the saintess herself could not control, she could not help it.

She said, "She seemed like someone who didn't really like to show off. I remember her trying to get paid less."

"It's interesting. If you're not rude, it might be okay to take a look at Emilia's physical condition. I'll have to check it myself, I think I'll feel at ease a little bit."

"... It would be an honor for the saintess to take care of me. She should be sleeping in her room by now. Please follow me."

The saintess followed Anthony's guidance and moved to the room where his daughter Emilia was sleeping.

As she approached Emilia's room, she heard a thud and a thud behind her door.

Anthony immediately opened the door.

"...Emilia?"

The light in her room was turned off, but Emilia was lying on her bed without a blanket covering her eyes.

She said, "She was eavesdropping. She told me to sleep..."

When Antony asked in her kind voice, Emilia, who had her eyes tightly closed, suddenly stood up and shouted in a booming voice.

"The acupuncturist did nothing wrong!!"

"Eh, Emilia?"

Anthony is taken aback by Emilia's sudden cry.

Bernice didn't care much about this.

He cautiously approaches Emilia, who is fighting her back, and pats her.

"I didn't come here to catch the acupuncturist. I was just curious about who cured Emilia. I wanted to thank her."

Saying so, the saintess confirmed her condition with Emilia.

Mana exhaustion was a disease she knew.

She could hardly understand how she was able to heal so neatly without using her divine power.

Even Bernice did not have much knowledge about acupuncture.

"Then... Why did you bring the knight...? Didn't you really come to catch the acupuncturist...? That brother was really nice..."

Emilia asked, glancing at Innes, who was standing behind Bernice.

"Hehe... It's because of the knight. The knight came to protect me, isn't he the one who hunts down bad people?"

"Kuhm."

Innes cleared her throat at Bernice's words.

It was because she was the one who cut Aaron's head down following Saint Bernice's order.

Bernice was not averse to talking to his children.

The untainted innocence of young children makes the mind at ease.

Listening to Bernice's explanation, Emilia's expression brightened only then.

"Thank god..."

"Emilia, what kind of person is the acupuncturist that you liked so much? Can you tell your sister?"

"Um... The acupuncturist... That's... The castle... What the hell... That's right! A saint, he was like a saint! The saint from this fairy tale!"

Emilia scratched her eyebrows and wondered if she couldn't remember her words, and finally she held her book by her bedside in her hands, and she held it up to Bernice, and she said in a bright voice, .

The book Emilia had read was called 'The Saint and the Princess'.

Bernice was also a fairly famous children's book about the love between a saint and a princess.

By the way, sales are prohibited in the Holy Land, so she couldn't read it either.

Finally, Anthony hurriedly opens his mouth, looking at Bernice's eyes.

"That's because Emilia is still young and doesn't know much..."

However, contrary to Antony's concerns, Bernice's pink eyes did not show any displeasure.

She was smiling kindly at Anthony, who had a rather serious expression on his face.

"I know. He must have been the one who cured Emilia, so he might be a saint to Emilia."

"The book...Because I begged him to buy it..."

"It's okay. This isn't even the Holy Land. Did you enjoy the book, Emilia?"

"Yes!"

Emilia's cheerful answer followed, and Bernice stroked her hair.

Light leaked from the hand of the saintess who was stroking her hair.

A golden sheen fell over Emilia's head.

"Wow..."

Emilia, mesmerized by the brilliance, exclaims her exclamation.

The saintess gave Emilia a 'blessing'.

"Saintess...?"

"Emilia is in very good condition. The only thing I can do for her right now is this. It's late... But can you consider it my apology?"

After the saintess answered Antony's question, she immediately looked at Emilia kindly and opened her mouth.

"Will my sister read me a fairy tale?"

"Really? Great!"

Anthony was at a loss for what to do with Bernice's flowing behavior, but she volunteered to put her Emilia to sleep and had to leave her room.

In a room lit by only one candle, the saintess began to read her book to Emilia in her beautiful voice.

It was near the end of the book.

"... Her saint eventually sacrificed himself to keep her alive. Her princess wept for days and days, begging for his return... But the saint did not return."

"..."

Emilia was sound asleep.

Now she quietly left her room and she had to talk to Anthony, but...

'Is it okay for a children's book to end in such a sad tragedy?'

...Unlikely, Bernice became curious about the contents behind the book.

The saintess read to the end of the book with Emilia, her bird near her, beside her.

Fortunately, it wasn't a tragic ending.

It is said that the Lord Heneris, who took pity on them, revived the saint and they lived happily ever after.

'I think I understand why sales are banned in the Holy Land.'

The saints and saints, who could be called the apostles of the gods, were not forbidden to share love, such as dating or marriage, but the gods did not intervene in human life and death.

The saintess left her book on Emilia's bedside and quietly left her room.

Then she went to the living room where Anthony and the leader were waiting.

"How long have you been talking?"

"Aaron has cleared all the false accusations against him, and I have even told him that a fair reward will be given in the holy kingdom."

Innes gets up from her seat and replies to Bernice.

Soon after, Anthony, who was making a confused expression, opened his mouth.

"I don't know what to do, but..."

"Antony, the Seongguk does not want to lose a faithful person like you. We value your value as a merchant too. Could you please come back to the Seongguk?"

"..."

Anthony could not easily answer Bernice's suggestion.

It was Bernice's plan to bring Antony back to the Holy Land. He was a person worth leaving in a foreign country.

After taking a sip of tea after a while, Anthony opened his mouth.

"There are so many things I felt after leaving Seongguk... Although it is my hometown and it is also my daughter's hometown, I don't feel like going back there again."

"Is that so..."

"However, I was paying close attention to the saintess's actions. Even if I would not return to the Holy Land, I would like to fulfill my duty by helping the saintess. Well, even if I did help, it would be material things like money..."

"That means..."

"It may be a weak force, but I want to support the saintess."

Anthony's voice echoes softly throughout the room.

'Sponsor.'

Aaron, who was interfering with Anthony's business, is also gone, so if he uses his talent to the fullest, he will always have enough money to be called a merchant.

With his financial support, Bernice will be of great help in the future when she continues her activities as a saint.

Eventually, the conversation with Anthony comes to an end.

Seongguk promised him a reasonable compensation for the unfortunate incident, and Anthony decided to become the saintess' patron.

The source of the money was also reliable, and above all, Anthony's identity was guaranteed in many ways, so there was no problem.

Ines whispers to Bernice as they leave Antony's house.

"If it's sponsored by a person like Anthony... I think it will be a great help when subjugating demons in the future."

"Fortunately, the."

To subdue demons hiding their identities all over the continent.

It was a mission given to the saintess, as well as what her master wanted.

Bernice calls Inès before getting into the carriage.

"Innes, blind acupuncturist. Could you gather some information about him?"

"Are you even interested?"

"I'm curious because Anthony, who has met so many people, would say it's mysterious."

Bernice thought that she would like to have a conversation with him at least once.

***

The key to the ultra-luxury room given by Chairman Hubert Graham was delivered to the manager before getting off the airship.

After the field trip was over, I had to 'clean up'.

All the items I got this time and the unused skill points were waiting for me.

I had no time to rest.

The night I returned to the academy, I had to take the carriage straight away.

It was because of the most urgent 'tears of the dead'.

It was fortunate that there was no mention of jewels even when Mikhail or the Allies responded to the investigation, but it was dangerous to carry them around like this.

So, he was on his way to find Daedroth, who was a gold dragon and a blacksmith.

Just in time, the mansion of Daedroth was visible.

I approached the Daedroth's mansion, chewing on the horn shell of the 'Deus' I got from Mikhail.

Dius's horn shell tasted bitter.

It wasn't disgusting, but the downside was that it didn't chew well.

I guess I should have made it into powder.

The barrier around his mansion touches his body.

Her voice echoed in her head, perhaps sensing the barrier.

[Looking at the barrier, it looks like he's still here. ]

"...Iknow, right."

If he had stopped playing or had left his seat and changed into another person, it would have been very difficult to find due to the nature of polymorph magic.

Everything else is the same, but if there's one thing that's different from the last time, it's that the door to the mansion opened before I even opened it.

ㅡ Kiki profit.

The Daedroth who opened the door and appeared stared blankly at me.

"...First of all, I'll ask you this. Is it good news or bad news?"

"For now, that's good news."

At my answer, Don Deedros, whose face was brightly colored, smiled and opened the door wide.

"What about me...?"

I added a word as I entered the mansion.

Daedroth, who was smiling at my meaningful words, tilted his head.

I calmly closed the open door.

Then, to Dei de Roth, who was still tilting his head, he took out a jewel from his bosom and handed it to him.

"What..."

Deedros, who received the jewel, carefully examines it.

"I didn't make it... I got it by killing a lich in the North this time."

Daedroth confirmed the jewel's true identity and quickly continued his explanation before life could ooze out of him.

"Jewels with enormous vitality... These are the tears of the dead. Following vampirism, they are the tears of the dead... How come you seem to be so good at picking up dangerous things that are hard to see in your life."

Daedroth said as he handed the jewel back to me.

"Can you describe what effect it had?"

"You gain tremendous regenerative powers, but only for those who have already died. If a dragon uses it, it can extend their lifespan by several decades, if a human uses it... As far as I know, it can avoid death once I know."

Daedroth said as he opened the lid of the bottle on the table.

Then I pour myself a drink and he notices my intentions.

"No way... Jetto, you're going to use that..."

"... Just in case. If it's a dangerous item, jewelry would be impossible, so I wonder if I can embed it into my body... Is that possible?"

"You put the tears of the dead into your body... Whoa... You have more bizarre thoughts than me, who has lived hundreds of years. Unfortunately, I have never embedded gems into my body, even though I have embedded them into weapons and armor."

"Hmm..."

In the game, you can entrust the Daedroth with various tasks.

I don't know if it's possible because he's a dragon, or if it's because he's done a lot of different things, but... I believed that he could definitely do the level of inserting jewels into his body.

As I was drooling, Kindade Dros, who had just finished drinking, opened his mouth as he put the glass down on the table.

"...I think I can do it, but... It will be insanely painful."

I opened my mouth with a smile at Daedroth's pleasant reply.

"I expected that much."