"This is the last one, Rize!"
Khel said to me after getting called by the nun at the door.
"Gotcha."
A young man came in, and from his clothes I can tell that he is an adventurer. His black hair was covered in dust, while he walked with one foot. He approached me slowly.
"Oh, a fellow adventurer. What are you doing here?"
"Emm..."
He lifted his right leg's sleeves. The leg was bandaged, and a slight red colour could be seen on it. He opened the bandage. A long cut, all the way to the bone, can be seen.
"Hiiii-"
Khel was moved back from seeing the large wound. This is the biggest one we have seen so far. The guy is doing great holding the pain, but this must be extremely painful.
"How did this happen?"
I summoned seven balls of light this time. This could take longer than the previous patients.
"Well, it was a dumb mistake actually. I swung my sword wrongly."
"You did this to yourself?"
"Well, no. I was fighting this demon pangolin. I think it was... Purple ranked. But then, I hit its scale a little too hard. The sword bounced back and slashed my leg."
"Ouch. You really should grip your sword harder."
"It was a heavy sword. I couldn't help it."
"Hmm. Alright, all done."
"What??"
He looked at the wound. It's no longer there.
"Wha... Wait, that fast??"
"Yep. That fast."
"Why do you think today's line was quite short?"
Khel even helped me by adding. I guess today was faster than normal?
"Oh... Right. So, you are the Saint Healer?"
The fucking what?
"Yeah, the Saint Healer. Everyone was talking about you outside. They wonder how the healing process got much faster. When they asked the guy who just finished their healing, they said they had met a master of healing art. So the people called this master healer the Saint Healer."
Oh. My. God.
I went to the fucking church and I got a new nickname. Can't I have a normal life here??
"Say, you have that red hair. Have I seen you somewhere?"
"Would you please not tell anyone that I am the so-called 'Saint Healer'? Please?"
"Oh, umm… Sure. You healed me after all."
The guy stood up and tried his new legs.
"Thanks! I won't tell anyone. Don't worry."
"Thank you for keeping this a secret."
The adventurer then quickly left the church. The others are still busy healing, but our station is already finished. Khel looked at me in confusion.
"Why did you tell him to stay silent? You could become big in the world if everyone knows..."
I sat down on the chair. I have been standing up for an hour now, I guess my legs are burning.
"Khel, please. I have way too many nicknames already."
"Oh..."
Khel moved and sat right next to me.
"Thank you, Rize. Today would be hard if it wasn't for you."
"No problem. I liked helping people."
"But are you okay? You did read the letter. People usually get sick after doing the healing."
"But that was because they exhausted their magic energy. I still have plenty."
I summoned thirty four balls of light above my head. The ceiling turned into a sky with stars for a few seconds. Then I released the energy.
"What...? You can use more?"
"If I use more, I will lose plenty of energy, and most likely get sick. I too have to limit my output. Otherwise, I will become like that guy who sent the letter."
"Oh... That makes sense."
She then stopped talking. After being in deep thought, she spoke again.
"Rize!"
"What?? Don't scream, you are right next to me."
"Will you come again, tomorrow?"
"I think so. I wouldn't want to keep on adventuring all the time."
"Haha!"
She was so happy. I guess me being here really did help. I'm glad that I am useful here.
After a few minutes of waiting, the other nuns finally finished healing up the sick ones and walked to me.
"Thank you so much Rize. Without you, this would take all day. And we will have to overdo ourselves and get sick. Now, we are still with energy. Thank you!"
Miss Jen, who taught me the healing magic, came and thanked me on behalf of all the other nuns.
"Ehh... No problem. I did this because I wanted to, that's all."
"I heard from the patients. They started calling you the Saint Healer."
"Please, don't tell anyone that."
"But they already spread it, by now. Though they don't know which one of us is, they know where to find you."
"Yeah, well, let them look. I can still hide my hair, so they won't be able to know."
Now that I have obtained a new nickname... I can no longer just show my face around easily. I have to wear a disguise. But, it can't be a mask, so at least I have to hide my hair.
"Well, today did end quicker than expected. You all may rest."
The elder nun spoke to the other nuns. The rest of the nuns left the church's room and went to the back. I followed Khel back to her room to change.
"You know, Rize. We could really use it, you know."
While I change, Khel is cleaning up her room. I guess she wouldn't want me to come again and again to a dirty room.
"Use what?"
"A symbol."
"A symbol?"
"Yeah. For hope."
"Huh?"
"I mean, that's entirely up to you-"
"I don't really like getting too much spotlight, Khel. Sorry."
"Oh... Yeah, I get it. Sorry."
She focused on sweeping again. I finally finished changing and I bade farewell to her, as well as the old nun outside.
I finally get to see the sun again. Bahhh... That didn't take long.
There are still a few hours until the second bell, so I went for lunch. Then, I'm going to do a mission.
After lunch, I went back to the inn and changed into my usual gray and black adventurer attire. And went straight to the Office.
.
"Rize!! I have a mission!"
"Geez, Klane. It's still in the morning. Don't shout."
It's still quite early, but the Office is already crowded. Most of the adventurers are having their breakfast at the diner in the Office. Some are also searching for missions that they can do later, some are just hanging out.
"Haha, I'm sorry. This one is a little important after all."
She handed me the mission scroll.
I opened it.
'Grab 16 willy flowers under the hill on the northern mountains. Must be in a good condition.'
"So, what's the game?"
"The game? Oh, you mean the encounters. We don't know yet."
"Huh?"
"Based on the sightings by the adventurer who is at the location, it was said to be a giant creature, but they couldn't figure out what it is because they are too scared. One of their friends became a victim, you see."
That's... terrible.
"Oh... Rest in peace."
"Yeah. Though, a Blue ranked adventurer and their team is already over there right now. They should also be searching for the creature."
"A Blue ranked... Another help this time?"
"Well, you did quite well during the last mission. So, I hope you can do better with even better people. Don't worry, he is very capable, and he brought a party of 4 people."
That's... what I was worried about. From my last encounter, I also learned that I don't work well with other people.
"Oh, and near that area, there is a station for adventurers. You might find the Blue ranked adventurer over there, he is probably resting."
"If he is resting, then I won't need my help."
"Geez... Good luck Rize! Be careful!"
"Thanks... I'll keep it in mind."
After that, I left the Office. The northern hills, I have only been there once. It took a hell lot longer if I used the cart on the south-east main road, so I'll take the carriage on the northern main road.
So, I went to the northern main road. I took the eastern road this time. The path there is a little hilly because it's the path to enter the middle castle, where the king and queen is at.
I can see the gate just from the four junctions. The gate is super tall, and there are knights with shiny armour guarding it under the hot sunny day. Sucks to be them, but it does make the castle look important.
I continued my walk while sightseeing for a bit. I walked past a bunch of knights, which made me wonder why there are so many knights here.
The northern main road is just as I remembered it. It's nearly empty, only a bunch of knights can be seen.
If you look at the sun, it's probably 11 AM right now. It's only a little bit until the second bell. The sun is currently at its hottest, but somehow I don't feel too hot anymore.
Perhaps my body finally creates an immune system against the hot sunny day? I don't know how, but I'm glad it did.
The carriage centre is located near the gate. I went to the desk, and requested to go to the hills. It was said a cart was going to the small town nearby the hill, so I could ride it there.
The town where the Office's station was located, eh? Hope this won't take too long.
The cart driver finally announces its departure. Everyone who wants to go to the town is now boarding the cart. There's 5 people including me, and now the journey to the northern hill begins.
.