As a result, my plan was successful.
No one noticed that I had brought the Ogre into the forest, and I also perfectly fixed Dannes’s eyes as promised.
I can’t confirm it, but since I sacrificed myself, it would be strange if he didn’t get healed.
‘Is it called Resurrection…?’
The highest level healing magic.
It’s a technique that is said to be usable only by bishops when gathered, or by a saint, or perhaps the pope, which can resurrect someone who has recently died.
In the game, it is a skill that can resurrect dead party members.
Of course, it’s not the true Resurrection… It only mimics it.
If it’s a healing spell infused with divine power, then that’s the Resurrection.
If I became a Saint, I would possess a sort of “power” that could easily resurrect anyone from any wound or illness, even those who have recently died, by inflicting wounds upon myself in exchange.
‘Hah…’
What I did was nothing special.
I just squeezed out all the healing divine power I had.
When it comes to sealing, purifying, or burning a Demon with divine power, it consumes the divine power in distinct forms.
However, healing someone with divine power… is practically the same as transferring my life force.
That’s why, in the game, healing as a priest or nun is reflected as consuming health points.
And I transferred my entire life force to Dannes.
In other words, I became a sacrifice while still alive.
‘It felt good…’
There was no pain.
That’s the disappointing part, although since it wasn’t forcibly ripped out, but rather pulled from my own power, I felt a unique kind of pain that transcended mere exhaustion, so I was somewhat satisfied.
If I had to categorize it, it might feel like the sensation of severe blood loss without experiencing the typical pain.
A feeling of being anesthetized while blood is being drawn out in real-time.
Yeah, to put it simply, I felt like I was dying in real-time.
It felt as if something vital, a significant part of myself, was leaving my body.
I’ve never experienced severe blood loss, so I can only guess if that’s accurate, but in terms of meaning, it’s probably the closest comparison.
It felt so good that I even experienced an ecstatic sensation.
Well, it’s meaningless to say since I lost consciousness before that feeling peaked.
But…
‘It seems I have succeeded since I can think.’
And the overwhelming divine power coursing through me…
Perhaps because of that, while before I could only barely perceive the space, now I was able to sense the surroundings with great detail.
Not only that, but controlling my thoughts also became incomparably easier, enabling me to hear sounds from beyond this room.
‘Is this the power of a Saint…?’
Though my eyes are still closed and I can’t hear anything, it felt to me as if my eyes and ears still existed.
One drawback, though…
‘I can only sense the space.’
Lacking color, it’s as if my surroundings are meticulously crafted as a 3D model that hasn’t been rendered yet, and that model is reflected in my mind in real-time.
Most importantly, the range of my perception had significantly widened, providing great comfort.
‘No wonder they are being offset.’
I had been curious how the demerits of being blind and deaf could be offset in the game, and this resolved all my questions.
As I was thinking in my mind, a satisfying smile emerged on my face, and I sensed four people approaching me.
No, they’re familiar faces.
– [I wonder when he will wake up…]– [The Priest said he will wake up soon, so don’t rush it, Melina.]– [That’s right~ Since he’s a Saint, he should wake up quickly, right?]
Hmm.
It wouldn’t be strange if I woke up now, so I guess I’ll stay like this.
Creak
“Dannes, seriously… It’s concerning that he’s been asleep for so long… huh?”
Melina, who had been speaking to Dannes with a tone of disbelief, turned to me and froze.
“… Has he awakened?”
“[Is that you, Brother Dannes…? And you all…]”
At my words, Dannes smirked and spoke to Melina beside him.
“Tell the Pope that the Saint has awakened. And…”
“Got it~ I just need to bring some fruit, right?”
Melina, appearing as if she already knew everything, turned to leave, and Dannes turned his gaze back to me.
Previously, I could only sense that there was a person there, but now I could see the expression on Dannes’s face clearly.
And…
‘My eyes… they are fixed.’
I can sense it.
That his eyes have been perfectly healed.
“[I’m glad I could keep my promise.]”
“… Are you really bringing that up in this situation?”
Dannes said this in a tone as if he had achieved some enlightenment.
More than that, just a little while ago, he seemed to have a darkly resentful voice about the world, but now it sounded like an ordinary, deep masculine voice.
Is it because I resurrected him by sacrificing myself?
‘Hmm… I mustn’t let this be discovered.’
If it comes to light that I called forth that Ogre, it feels like I’d lose the recognition as a Saint.
I’m incredibly grateful that God can’t read my thoughts.
“How is your body?”
“[Um… I feel full of strength… I seem to sense my surroundings better than before… and I can hear voices quite clearly now.]”
Previously, I could only hear the voices of living beings through thoughts, but now I could understand all sounds for some reason.
“According to the Pope, you have become a Saint. Should I now call you Saint?”
Dannes chuckled as he said this, and another man who had been nearby stepped forward.
He was the party leader named Curt, if I recall correctly.
Curt stared at me for a while in silence before bowing his head profoundly.
“I’m sorry.”
“…”
“I shouldn’t have done such a thing, no matter how much I disliked having an apprentice Nun involved in the request; it was foolish of me.”
Oh… I didn’t expect an apology.
‘Well… I have nothing to say either…’
To transition into a hidden class for achieving the highest stats as a Saint… can I say that?
It was really a way to score points based on actions during the period of asceticism or leveling up as a Saint, and granting stats based on that.
But to receive the highest stats as the noblest of Saints, it requires nothing less than my own sacrifice.
I remember that if chosen as a Saint, a special event would occur where I would resurrect on the spot…
‘But I died, so how could I know?’
Looking at the overwhelming divine power coursing through me, it seems that my transition into a Saint has been successful, so that’s all that matters.
“[It’s okay. I understand your feelings.]”
If I were in your shoes, I would have disliked an apprentice Nun who was blind and deaf following along.
It’s a matter of life and death.
“And…”
Curt knelt right there.
Huh?
He’s kneeling?
“Thank you for saving our party, Saint.”
“[W-wait, I mean… It’s really okay…!]”
Why is he kneeling?!
This makes me feel sorry on my end…!
I refused as if it were truly alright, but from the looks of it, it seemed he had no intention of getting up for a while. Perhaps he felt immense shame for having made things difficult for someone he had driven away from his party.
If this continues, it seems like the conversation will just go on, so I turned my gaze away.
Speaking of which, is that a magician I heard? I heard she drank a mana potion with severe side effects.
“[Sister Mirna… is that you?]”
“Huh? Why?”
“[You seem to be in quite a mess… I was thinking of healing you when I saw you.]”
“Oh, the Saint can’t be fooled.”
Mirna awkwardly laughed as she replied.
She seemed to be enduring with a potion she had manufactured, but mana potions forcefully inject magic power into an exhausted body, leading to serious side effects.
In the game, the debuff termed “Mana Addiction” reduces spell potency and causes mild debuffs like nausea and headaches upon the first use, and twice or more makes one’s body feel like it’s falling apart.
But the higher the efficacy of the mana potion, the more severe the side effects.
Assuming it was allowed in the game, she probably needed at least a mid-level mana potion.
Thus, she must have boldly declared that she would take it at a high price.
I could hear her thoughts quite clearly because of the intensity.
Well, if she can use a high-level spell like Lightning Spear, she probably needed her magic power fully replenished.
At that point, she may appear fine on the outside, but internally, she could be seriously damaged.
However, Mirna didn’t seem willing to receive my healing.
“It’s fine. I can recover by taking lower-grade potions and resting.”
“[Still…]”
“I’m someone who has some decency, you know? Of course, if it weren’t for my magic at that time, we wouldn’t have been able to defeat that Ogre~”
Why is she suddenly starting to brag about herself?
I’ve heard that magicians tend to be quite strange.
‘This is tough…’
This is a bit difficult.
Hmm…
Still, since I am supposed to be a gentle nun on the surface, I have to listen to everything.
I don’t feel great about this…
