I meet eyes with that black-haired saint, Philine, and she smiles sweetly. Even though shes smiling, her mouth movements just before definitely sent a chill up my spine. I didnt hear her voice, but I get the feeling she muttered found you.
What does that mean?
Without a doubt, it cant possibly be a development like The cool black-haired man from that time. We didnt speak for long, but to think I would meet you again so soon in a place like this!.
True, we did meet once before I entered the beauty contest plaza, but it wasnt an especially romantic conversation. As for what we talked about at that time, it was just that we had the same hair color and confirming that Im a healer. Its not remotely possible.
Besides, saying found you means that that Saint-sama was searching for me.
Well, its not like I dont have any idea why the saint of the church would be looking for someone, though. Most likely, its the person who used that large-scale healing magic on the city at the time of the Krankheit Turtle incident. I mean, the city is referring to it as a miracle from god.
The one who cast that large-scale healing magic on the city was me. In other words, Im the one she was searching for.
And she found me.
How did she find me? Back when I treated Ruruka and the others with EX Heal, she shouldnt have been able to see me since Yuel set off that smoke bomb. And there were plenty of people within the smokescreen other than me.
I wonder if she happened to have some sort of magic tool to circumvent the smokescreen?
No, maybe thats not it?
That saint called out to me before the beauty contest. This is just a guess, but that saint might have already known that there was a powerful healer in this city.
And she talked to me before the beauty contest because I was already under investigation as one of the excellent healers in this city, or something.
Thinking about that situation, a smokescreen was set up and everyone under it was cured of their petrification. And within that smokescreen, only one of the excellent healers that she had marked was present.
Looking at it from the saints perspective, even if its not definitive, theres a very high probability that shed conclude its me. Thats likely what happened.
Yeah, recklessly firing off EX Heal was unwise after all, huh? Well, whether or not there was a smokescreen, I was going to heal Ruruka and the other contestants. As a man, theres no way I could have allowed those big-breasted beauties to die before my eyes.
My healing magic ability wouldve been discovered either way.
Besides, thinking about it any more isnt going to change the fact that I was found out.
Whats essential right now is that the Saint-sama of the Church of Medine, this countrys state religion, has been searching for me for some reason. Depending on her intentions, my actions from here on out will change.
There are two main options: do I run away immediately, or do I give up and go quietly?
-And, as Im considering the options.
My goodness, Saint-sama. I had received word of a monster attack, but
A middle-aged man in priest robes approaches the saint and greets her. His physique is on the plump side. To put it less kindly, hes as chubby as an Orc. A procession of muscular guards in priest garb follows behind him.
I dare say this guy holds a high position in the church as well.
Archbishop Darnaud.
The priest, whom the saint addressed as Archbishop Darnaud, glances at the collapsed temporary stage and the scattered monster corpses while he surveys the premises. After that, his attention fastens on the unconscious Earth Dragon.
Then, eyeing the traces of petrification spread out along the ground, he speaks.
An Earth Dragon, hmm? The treatment of the petrified looks to be finished already. When I received word of the monster raid, I thought of lending my humble ability to aid with the treatment, but it seems there was no need. As expected of Saint-sama, naturally.
Nay, you flatter me. Were the knights and guards not present, who knows what might have come to pass.
Saying hed help with the petrification treatment, I wonder if that means that this Archbishop Darnaud or whatever priest can use EX Heal too? Well, I did hear from Eris that archbishop is the top position in the church for this city. It wouldnt be strange if he could use it.
In other words, what I need to do now is negotiate.
It will become a battle against this saint to establish my rights as best I can.
Even now, the saint approaches. Shes not giving me any more time. I gather my resolve and prepare to speak to the saint, when-
-she passes right by me, without a single glance in my direction.
The saint and her guards pass directly by my side and exit the plaza. Theres no sign of her coming back or even looking behind her. Most likely, theyre heading to the lords manor.
Huh?
A magnificent snubbing, as if she wasnt even conscious of my existence. We even talked a little, she could have at least thrown me a brief glance if she was gonna walk so close by me.
I mean, Id rather nothing happen if at all possible, but for nothing to happen after coming this far makes me feel uncomfortable in its own way.
Dont tell me that found you was my misunderstanding? No, but, I definitely saw it. And our eyes met, plus she was looking over here for a long time after that, not to mention that smile ever since. She mustve had some sort of reason.
As Im pondering, I suddenly meet eyes with that Darnaud or whatever archbishop.
Ah, maybe hes the reason? When I think about it carefully, the saint is still young. She has talent with healing magic, but she might not be able to decide the important matters.
That archbishops serious expression. Those sharp eyes, that seem to see through everything. His appearance makes me feel like no matter what kind of lies I tell, theyll be exposed.
Taking over for the saint, that middle-aged archbishop is going to discuss whats going to happen to me from now on. I wonder if thats what it means.
No, thats not it either.
The archbishops focus is a bit off. Now that I look closer, hes not watching me.
The archbishop is looking behind me, at Eris. At her sensual body, covered by that habit.
I see, so what hes seeing through are Eris clothes, huh? That sharp glint in his eye must be him squinting to try and perceive Eris a little more vividly. His serious expression too, that must be him trying to imagine whats underneath Eris clothes with all his willpower.
Well, its not like I dont understand that feeling. And Eris is a beauty. Im probably looking at Eris in that exact same way every day.
But since hes concentrating on licking Eris all over with his eyes, hes not paying attention to me. The archbishop and his escort priests dont show any sign of coming to talk to me either. Besides, now that I think it over, neither the saint nor the archbishop have said a single word about me.
Was it really my misunderstanding? But I could have sworn
No, in reality, the people of the church arent aware of me. Even though it really looked that way, it only looked that way.
It must have been my mistake.
Guess I should go home. Its not like the beauty contest can resume anymore.
And when Im about to head back, I realize once again.
I was preoccupied with the saint so it unintentionally slipped my mind, but all that stuff happened with Ruruka. Whats more, Yuel and Eris were watching it.
Now that I get a good look, while Aria is clearing away monster corpses in the distance, shes staring daggers in my direction. It doesnt look like she can abandon her duty to come over here, but shes totally focused on me. I guess Aria was watching at that moment, too.
I forgot. Theres still this awful mess.
I lower my gaze, and Yuel is right beside me, silently looking down.
Oh yeah, I get the feeling shes been tightly clenching my clothes this whole time. The situation being what it was, I unintentionally ignored her, though.
She seems depressed. First things first, how am I going to soothe her feelings?