A few days later,
I finally returned to the Academy after the hellish Realm.
Just a short while ago, I had been battling monsters in the Realm, yet now I returned to the Academy living a peaceful daily life as if nothing had happened.
Of course, my situation was quite different from that peaceful daily life.
“They said they were alright, so why…”
Evan said this with an incredibly uncomfortable expression.
It was only natural for Evan to react this way since I had been travelling around treating those injured in the battle against the monsters before returning to the Academy.
Most of the people I approached for treatment refused my help, as Evan was saying. Even those who suffered serious injuries, when I tried to get close and treat them, insisted they didn’t need it.
It seemed that receiving treatment from me was quite burdensome for them.
It wasn’t hard to understand why. After all, it was me, a Saint, personally healing them, so it made sense that they might feel stressed about it from the perspective of an ordinary person.
But who am I?
To live up to the title of the Devoted Saint, I could not simply retreat because the injured hesitated due to discomfort.
“[That’s my job.]”
Since I had sufficiently recovered my Divine Power, I treated everyone there as I could see them.
In truth, while I wasn’t unable to perform area healing, if I used my healing power extensively, the return from the power would hit me hard, to the point that I could faint regardless of my will at my current level, so I treated them one by one.
I started with those who were seriously injured, and at first, it was okay as they recovered in an instant. However, as I continued treating them, my body began to deteriorate little by little.
Naturally, the expressions of those watching me weren’t very pleasant.
“…”
Even Evan looked concerned.
His gaze toward me was filled with pity.
This wasn’t the first time such a reaction had happened; it was always quite intense.
Still, it didn’t feel so bad to be worried about.
Initially, I was annoyed wondering why they were acting that way when I was saying I was fine.
But recalling how Evan cried when he saved me made me feel somewhat happy.
This was a day I never imagined my steel-like heart would be shaken like this.
Of course, it’s hard to think that he likes my childlike body, so rather than seeing me as a woman, he probably sees me more like a little sister.
No, maybe that’s better.
Given that I’m a man, it wouldn’t feel great if he dashed toward me just because he liked this body.
Anyway, I couldn’t just brush off how much he worried about me.
“[Um… I’ll be more careful next time…?]”
“… Yeah, that will suffice for now.”
Hmm.
This time, I did have a bit of a rampage myself.
Having treated hundreds of soldiers one by one left its aftereffects on me.
I checked my body with my Divine Power.
The condition wasn’t exactly good.
Even now, if I coughed, I would cough up blood, and my whole body shook like a trembling aspen. My condition was rather poor. Although I was recovering with Divine Power, I had just finished treating people and returned to the Academy, and I needed to rest for a while.
I had treated only hundreds of people, but the speed at which I could heal myself couldn’t keep up with the rate at which I received injuries from treating others, making it both a relief and somewhat disappointing.
If my Divine Power became stronger, I would only feel pain for a moment, but I’d also be able to heal many more people quickly.
Pain isn’t necessarily good just because you feel it continuously.
Essentially, the quality of pain is what matters.
I might seem crazy saying this, but pain is felt differently depending on the area and intensity.
Naturally, there’s the type of pain that is bearable and even enjoyable, but on the other hand, there’s also pain with greater discomfort.
To be frank, I enjoy the admiration of those around me and being in pain while being cared for, but I don’t want to feel disgust from foul or revolting smells or sights.
Of course, if I were to be looked down upon by others, that might feel good in its own way.
Actually, I might want to experience that at least once.
Since becoming this body, I have endured countless pains, but I’ve never experienced feeling pain while being looked down upon or reviled by others, so I don’t really know.
Sadly, that’s not possible due to my character.
Anyway, to more easily experience qualitatively superior pain, I need to strengthen my Divine Power quickly.
Among all moments, the happiest one was definitely…
‘Magic…!’
The feeling of magic entering my body.
I want to feel that once again.
For that, I need to continue treating as many people as possible while also strengthening my Divine Power.
Magic is a double-edged sword.
No, it’s more fitting to call it a highly dangerous drug for me.
How frightening must it be to have a drug that works on a Saint…!
Anyway, if I’m not prepared, I might be completely incapacitated by the very mention of magic, losing my senses.
If that happens, it would really be a disaster.
It’s truly difficult to match the level of enduring pain while resisting magic and still being able to perform with Divine Power.
Last time, since it was just regular high-grade demon magic and I had only been significantly injured once, I didn’t face major issues, but there’s no guarantee it will be the same next time.
‘It’s difficult…’
I must prepare.
This seems like a truly tough challenge.
*
The royal family has been praising the recent monster hunt.
Every reporter was zealously writing articles about the Academy’s students who exterminated the monsters, and the Erlgard Duke family, particularly focusing on the principal, Arhen, the Hero, and myself, the Saint, which filled out more than half of the reports.
Given that the princess, Uriel, was also involved in the monster hunt, this sentiment may strengthen even more.
Moreover, since I personally spread Divine Power within the body of a monster, details weren’t explained, but it was noted that we were able to defeat the monster thanks to me, which seems to have significantly increased the number of people who respect me.
When Principal Arhen mentioned creating a statue of me within the Academy, I was covered in chills.
Fortunately, it seemed he wasn’t being serious.
Of course, I’m just doing what I’m supposed to do, even though the world is making such a fuss about me.
What is that, you ask?
Well… what could it be?
“[If you get injured anywhere in the future, you must come to me?]”
“Uh, how could that be…”
“[Really… This much is fine.]”
This recent monster hunt not only awakened Evan but also laid the groundwork for a harem where we can live happily after defeating the Demon King, so it can be said to have been resolved in the best possible direction.
‘What should I say… it feels a bit off…’
I don’t have a reason to feel that way, yet it feels strange.
Especially when I see Evan laughing and enjoying time with the girls, it evokes these feelings even more.
Moreover, it’s not that I’m seeing it directly with my own eyes; it’s merely something I sense, yet it still elicits such emotions, which is quite odd.
Could it be that I’ve never experienced such feelings when I was a man?
So…
I might be feeling jealous of Evan right now.
Uriel and Stella, with their extraordinary beauty, are not merely thrown in as heroines for no reason.
‘That can’t be…’
What reason would there be for me to harbor jealousy?
Well…
Even if I were to turn back into a man, I would never experience something like Evan, but envying someone else’s good fortune is utter foolishness.
I should just put my mind at ease and prepare for the next crisis.
‘The next crisis will probably be the last exam of the first year…’
Let’s set it as a goal to prepare until then.
And the best way to prepare for that is…
‘Holy Relic.’
Evan’s awakening is complete, and what remains is for me to awaken.
I don’t have an item that helps with awakening like Evan, so my only option is to increase my Divine Power naturally while treating as many people as possible.
And then the holy relic.
An item that will make my healing power even stronger, my very own item.
Even though the speed of healing might be a minus for me, it holds a crucial element, so I must obtain it.
‘Divine Power efficiency!’
It greatly enhances the efficiency of Divine Power.
With that holy relic in hand, I should be able to escape from being in a state where my Divine Power is insufficient and unable to do anything, like this time.
‘I’m looking forward to summer vacation.’
It’s coming soon…
It seems I need to go to the sea to obtain the holy relic.
Oh, right.
I’ll need to take Evan with me as well.
‘I need to help our Hero grow too…’
My plans for the future have been set.
I secretly smiled.
