I eventually spent the night and greeted the morning sun with nobody else
in the inn.
Even though my heart is foggy, the sky itself appeared to be disgustingly
sunny.
I tried to recall what happened yesterday.
[If you got hurt, just give it all up and just go back to the village.]
…Seriously. I hate myself for the things I brought up on my own.
It went exactly as what Vince just said.
Emmy only needed her non-dominant left hand to hold her shield and
prepare herself from my strike. Without a weapon on the other, there were
no counter attacks that can be done.
As Emmy kept that stance as I gave my all in that previous strike, she
probably used some skill which caused me to be blown away.
And I fainted just like that. It must have been amazing how I got blown
away and fainted with the white of my eyes on full display.
Especially to Emmy. I just don't know what face to make if we'll meet
again.
She's a kind person. It must be hard for her choosing what words to say to
comfort me.
Well, things that were likely to happen actually happened. I have no words
for that.
It eventually happened. Though I have anticipated it vaguely.
Coincidentally, it just had to happen today.
After spending a bit more time in the inn, I left and walk into the city
bustling with people.
I gripped my chest together with the white robe I am wearing with a sense
of unfamiliarity.
Inside there should have been a silver tag which shows the identity of my
adventuring party but it is now gone.
It should have been obvious but I'm not allowed to use it anymore so they
can't just leave it with me.
As I make my way into the southern gate, I pass by in front of the church.
Now that I think about it, this is where I had my selection ceremony.
I can still remember it like it just happened yesterday.
[This! This is such an incredible bestowal!]
Even the priest in charge was surprised.
Up to that point, it was known that the classes bestowed to us are really
special.
[Even the child who will carry the church for this generation, the [Saint],
has appeared! It really is such a day worthy of celebration!]
The one in front of me was the [Saint] who was active from twenty years
ago.
He is quite a famous person so when I heard that I myself can be like that in
the future, I became proud… I was proud.
Just as I finally thought of going in, I saw a stained glass magnificently
standing in front of the door, and I decided to just leave the place quietly.
The Goddess.
The stained glass reflects the image of the Goddess.
Though it just seemed like cut-out pictures of different colors mixed
together which made it a bit vague, a figure of a woman with long blonde
hair wearing a chiton can be seen on it. When it is exposed under the
sunlight, it manifests different colors of light inside the church.
The Goddess… I wonder what she is all about.
Why would she give me the class [Saint] when I've been using a sword all
that time?
I wonder… If I did not pick up the tree branch and just read books all along
with Jannet instead, will mine and Emmy's class would have changed?
The church, along with the Goddess, remains and will always be the same.
It's just that, inside of me, one thing has changed.
I started to hate the Goddess.
After buying all the things I need to travel, I headed to the south gate to go
back to our home village.
The last time I was on this road, I was full of hopes and dreams. But now,
those days felt so far away.
After all, once I stepped out of the village, I have never thought of coming
back there.
As I keep on walking on the road for a while, I found a child crouching at
the corner.
Isn't that? If I'm not mistaken, she's the daughter of the owner of the bean
fields back in the village.
Isn't she supposed to be just around four years old? It's dangerous for her to
be alone in this place.
[Is something the matter?]
.
As I speak, the girl looked up to me with her eyes brimming with tears.
[Uhhhh. Uuuu. Uhhh]
[Did something happen?]
[Mom is!! Mooom is!!!]
After she said that, she started to cry loudly.
I don't really get it but… Guess there's no other choice. The number of
people walking around is kind of little too so maybe I should listen even
just for a bit.
After waiting for her to stop crying, she started to calm down and bowed
her head.
[I'm… I'm so sorry for suddenly-]
[I don't mind. Anyway, what happened?]
The girl started slowly to explain what happened.
It appears that the girl's mother is sick.
She got all the way here alone while avoiding the eyes of the gatekeeper to
ask for someone's help.
Well, she'll eventually be punished by the gatekeeper later on anyway.
[What is your father doing?]
[I… don't have a father…]
An illness with an unknown cause and a home of mother and daughter who
can't afford to hire a priest to visit them.
I get it. So that's why she decided to ask for anybody's help alone without
planning at all.
[I am from Adoria village too. Look's like you're one as well. I am
planning on getting back into the village from here. Why don't we go back
together and let me have a look with your mother?]
[Uhm… Uh… Will you heal her?]
[Don't know. But I can use recovery magic. It's better than having none
don't you think?]
[…We don't have money…]
[Well, color me surprised. I don't plan to ask anything that you don't have.
Also, brats like you shouldn't worry about money.]
It is pretty expensive to hire a priest for treatment.
That is why it is normally impossible for people to ask for healing for free.
I might have said it myself but remembering everything that had happened
in the village, I have some mix feelings inside.
But… I just can't let someone I grew up with in the same village die and let
this child be an orphan.
Besides… Lately, I am not using the recovery magic of my [Saint] class at
all. At this pace, it might just rot in my hands if I won't use it even
occasionally.
And so, along with the girl, we head back to the village.