Overflowing Requests and the High Priestess's Arrival
The haters were overflowing. In the original story, Arios was in her 180s height-wise. Maybe because of that canon, even the female Arios towered over 170. Meanwhile, I was the delicate Seres from the original, so even as a guy, my frame was on the smaller side. When Arios picked me up, I fit perfectly into her embrace. Right now, she was exploiting that fact, hugging me and leaning down to sniff my hair in the simplest way possible.
Fuck, goosebumps! Her actions were so creepy that even though she was a blonde beauty, I felt zero joy. At least she's a woman, so this was tolerable—if she'd been a guy like in the original, I'd have thrown a fit and demanded she let go immediately.
"…Stop it."
"Ah, sorry! Seres's scent is just too good, I couldn't help it."
Only after I spoke up did she pull back like she'd realized her mistake. But the regret was plain on her face. I wanted to bolt right then, but I needed her for getting around, so no choice. Next time this happens, maybe I should get a wheelchair and make her push me?
"Quit the weird shit and just take me to the next place."
I shook off the disgust by force and got back to business.
"My daughter hasn't been able to move her lower body since injuring her waist."
"My mother keeps bleeding from her abdomen ever since she got hurt at work!"
I visited the homes of the remaining two and healed them.
"My god, the temple priests had given up on her!"
"Lord Seres, we'll never forget this grace!"
This should be enough, right? I'd done exactly what they asked, and their reactions showed they were genuinely grateful. Witch? Nah, guy's a demon or something? Whatever it was, I wouldn't get chased out over that anymore.
"Let's head back."
"Sure."
Feeling relieved, I let Arios carry me home. As she gently laid me on the bed, I told her,
"I'm going to sleep, so do whatever—go home or whatever."
"Ah, in that case, can I crash here too? It's already late from all the running around."
"…You mean one of the guest rooms in the mansion, right? Not my room."
"I said guest room, but this one's nice too."
"…I'm tired."
I shooed out the nonsense-spouting Arios and passed out like the dead.
And the next day.
"Please call Young Master Seres!"
"We need his help!"
More people showed up begging for aid.
One job done, good deed accomplished. I drifted off feeling pretty satisfied, only to wake up to this mess.
"Countess, please show mercy!"
"Don't make me laugh—get out!"
Ares was yelling at the people kneeling in the front yard, just like yesterday. Hell, there were even more—nine in total, triple the number.
"What's going on?"
"Beats me."
Arios, who had slept over at our place and gotten up with me, shrugged helplessly at my baffled question.
"Probably word got around about yesterday. Once they heard Seres was healing people, they all came begging for the same."
"So should I heal these folks too?"
"That's up to you. If you don't wanna, just don't."
Up to me my ass. Say no and my reputation tanks—cue the haters! I became the protagonist of a reverse harem romance novel with an obsession with men. Gotta play it smart.
"Arios, give me a hand with work again today."
"…Don't push yourself too hard."
With Arios's support, I followed the new arrivals.
"My son is completely cured!"
"It was all true, the rumors!"
"This is the true saint…."
"It's not much, but please accept this."
Healing folks who couldn't even move, they were all thankful. Some even offered money, but I couldn't feel happy. Things were going sideways. My bad premonition hit the nail on the head.
"Is Young Master Seres here?"
"Please help us!"
A few days later, more people came, and I healed them.
"Saint Seres!"
"Please bestow God's grace!"
And a few days after that, more supplicants appeared.
"I knew this would happen!!!"
As it kept repeating, Ares finally snapped.
"Help one, and they'll ignore their own bullshit and demand endlessly. All they see is their own sick—my kid's frailty? Invisible!"
"We know Young Master Seres is frail! But my family is on the brink of death, we had no choice…."
"Shut it. From now on, no one lets these pests near me. Disobey, and you're done too!"
Ares went full bloodthirsty in her rage, but her words rang true—thanks, but I had to step in.
"Mother, I'm fine."
"Seres…."
Ares looked at me with pity.
"Fine? You've been hobbling out multiple times! That's why I wanted to hide it!"
Her frustration evoked the original Ares. Back then, the father Ares had seen Seres's healing power first and tried to keep it secret—no temple reports, no bragging. He figured it'd bring trouble, and sure enough, here we were.
"Seres, refuse them."
Arios, who'd just arrived, saw the mess and hardened her expression.
"Heal 'em, and it'll repeat forever."
True that. Honestly, it was wearing me out. Healing was easy, but constant trips outside burdened my body. As I pondered solutions, a brilliant idea struck.
"How about healing all the sick in the territory at once?"
"What?"
"Do it all in one go—no more frequent trips."
Plus, heal that many, and a few badmouthers won't dent the goodwill. Arios and Ares both gaped at my proposal.
"Impossible."
"You have no idea how many people live here."
I knew—tons. House Huferion was thriving, vast territory, huge population.
"But only a fraction need my healing."
"Even so, you can't visit them all."
"Not visiting. Mother, announce it territory-wide: I'm healing people, so gather everyone in one spot."
"And the immobile ones?"
"Tell those who need help to team up and bring each other."
"…What do you even gain from all this?"
Reputation and safety, duh. I kept persuading a reluctant Ares. When she wouldn't budge, her eyes blazed.
"One week. Got it? I'll allow this nonsense for one week—after that, no matter what you say, it ends!"
Fine by me. That'd squash any haters left.
The order went out territory-wide: For the next week, I'd heal people, so all the seriously ill should come. Venue: the wide plaza near our estate—Ares picked it for my mobility, with plenty of escorts. Dozens of servants and a hundred soldiers guided the crowds.
"Maintain order, please."
"Quick pat-down for weapons."
Keeping lines orderly, checking for threats to protect me.
"Don't worry. I'll be by your side every day."
Arios even showed up daily as bodyguard, shielding me while bringing patients close for easy healing.
"How could a severed finger not regrow?"
"There, regenerated now."
"My leg's necrotic!"
"All better."
Lots of severe cases. Our territory was decent, but this? Other places must be hell. Not just criticals, though.
"Lord Seres, heal my arm!"
"No, it's just a fracture? Give it time."
"Can't wait—miss work, I'm fired!"
Lesser injuries but desperate sob stories got blocked by soldiers.
"Let 'em in."
"But not critical."
"Dire straits count as critical."
Fired? Critical enough. Healed without argument.
"Such mercy!"
"Beauty unmatched, heart to match, immense holy power. The legendary saint!"
"Our young lord's the real saint!"
Newly saved folks hailed me as saint, overjoyed. Five days of this, then—
"Who're you?"
"Hey, you there!"
Soldiers guarding the plaza suddenly shouted. A group of a dozen appeared—not patients. White robes, noble air. Highborn, obviously. Leading was a woman with blue short hair. Tall, great figure, stunning beauty—but stoic, expressionless. She addressed the wary soldiers.
"I'm High Priestess Hames. Here to see Seres Huferion of House Huferion. Lower your spears."
Hearing her name, I froze mid-healing. Hames. Vice High Priestess of the massive Celestial Church. The one with the strongest holy power—originally a man. And the guy who, when Seres got branded a witch, didn't help despite his position. Instead, he egged it on, locked her in the temple basement, and spouted crap like, 'Seres, sorry. I wanted you this badly, even like this.' One of Heaven's Seres's male leads. Now a woman!