Misunderstood Resolve
What the hell kind of misunderstanding is this? Hames had originally come to see Seres with a light heart. She'd been told to come when the time was right, so she figured now was that time—to investigate if he was truly the saint and get a look at his face. But Hames, who had shown up without a second thought, soon freaked out.
“What are you doing?!”
It was because Seres had suddenly stripped off his top, baring his upper body. Even when she tried to stop him, he just gave her this look like he had no idea why she was objecting, which left her utterly speechless.
Doesn't he have any idea how his looks affect other people?
A man exposing his upper body wasn't exactly encouraged, but it wasn't taboo either. But Seres was different. He was the empire's undisputed number one beauty.
Think about how you look to women. Even the hero Arios next to you is pretending to be embarrassed while staring.
It was already shocking enough for a delicate guy like him to strip in front of women, but then he asked them to touch his back too.
Are you trying to seduce us right now?
It was ridiculous, but since he was asking for it, she had no choice. So smooth. The first time touching Seres's body, the texture was incredibly good—even Hames, who as high priestess had handled all sorts of luxuries, was impressed. And why is it so slender? She could tell visually that his frame was delicate, but feeling it firsthand made it all the more real.
He looked healthier than I thought, but maybe not?
She'd heard the rumors of his frail health. But when they first met, he'd called people in, treated them, and acted so spirited that she'd assumed he was better than the gossip. Sensing something off, Hames discreetly probed Seres's body with a trickle of holy power.
Her expression hardened immediately.
This is a living person's body? How the hell has he survived like this until now!
A tremendous force was crushing his entire body, damaging it and preventing it from functioning properly. At this level, just being alive was pure torment. And yet, he's been treating all those people for days without rest in a body like this?
She recalled their first meeting. Crowds had come, and Seres had treated them all without complaint. All of that... in this agonizing flesh?
“Ngh... ugh...”
As the shock hit her, Seres let out more groans. Of course it'd hurt like hell to keep injecting mana into a body like this for so long. She understood his intent—to recover as much as possible before facing that tyrant. But honestly, she doubted this would do much. It seemed like pointless suffering.
That thought had made her try to bail with some excuse about heading back. But she couldn't resist his desperate pleas and kept going with the painful process—until the incident blew up.
Treating full-body burns in his current state?
Hames frowned at the patient the neighboring count had brought. If Seres, who was already abusing his body so harshly, used enough power for wounds like that... no one could predict what would happen. That's why she was anxious. She even considered stepping in to heal instead, but Seres kept pushing forward.
“Listen up, Seres Huferion! Don't put others first with a body like that. No one's gonna blame you for prioritizing yourself. Live for you!”
The words burst out of her in a shout before she knew it. What the—since when do I say stuff like that? It was shocking even to her. Why? Because it was heartbreaking to see him sacrificing himself with that sick body?
...Anyway, after saying that much, he'll get it, right?
She hoped he'd finally understand, but...
“Seems like you're the one misunderstanding something.”
Seres just grumbled curtly.
“I'm not doing this for anyone else.”
“What?”
“No need to tell me to live for myself—I'm already doing it. This is for me.”
What? Treating others is for himself?
“If you're not gonna help, I'll go alone. Let go.”
“No way!”
Frozen in place, Hames watched Seres and Arios tussle. After a moment, she steeled herself.
“Fine. I'll help.”
“Hames?!”
“Don't worry, hero Arios. I'll use my holy power to assist with the treatment.”
At this point, she figured she'd handle most of the healing so Seres wouldn't have to expend much of his own power.
“Seres. You, you...?”
Ares gaped in horror as he approached the patient, reluctantly supported by the two women.
“I'm fine.”
Seres reassured Ares, then turned to Hurion.
“One promise. If I heal your daughter, you'll forget all the bad blood from today.”
“Of course! If you save her, you're the family's benefactor—why would I hold a grudge? Seres, you and Huferion will be eternal allies!”
With the promise made, he laid hands on Hurion's daughter, whose body was scorched everywhere. Hames placed her hand atop his.
“Like I said, I'll assist with my holy power.”
“...Do whatever.”
Seres grumbled reluctantly, and as his hand lit up, Hames channeled her holy power over it. While helping minimize his effort, she realized something.
This is divine power.
With their hands overlapped and powers flowing together, she could tell. What Seres wielded was a force above her own holy power.
But is divine power supposed to be this ugly? It harmed its bearer, and because of it, he was forced into endless healing.
God above... Is this truly your power? Must someone with it live in lifelong agony, burdened by heavy responsibility? If so, then I...
It had already been three days since treating the neighbor count's daughter. We'd cleared that hurdle, so time to get back to it. All this time, I'd kept pumping mana and holy power into myself, trying to strengthen my body.
“Seres, feel anything yet?”
“Kinda... maybe?”
I gave a half-hearted reply to Arios, who was infusing mana into my back.
“Gonna try now, so check if it's mana.”
I had her pull her hands away and sat up. Recalling the sensation of mana flowing through my body, I guided that faint something along the proper path I'd learned through her. Suddenly, it raced through me, filling my whole body with power.
“Mana! It's definitely mana.”
Arios was stunned that I'd sensed and controlled it so quickly.
“I helped, but you picked it up at an insane speed. Maybe you have a real talent for it!”
“So, can I do body strengthening with mana too? Like you, picking up people like objects.”
“Freshly awakened, you can't go full hero mode yet. But basic strengthening has amazing effects.”
Arios beamed and pointed to the massive coat rack by my bed.
“Try lifting that. One hand.”
“Sure.”
I grabbed the long, heavy thing like a pole and lifted it effortlessly. Impossible for this body before. Incredible—my strength had multiplied several times! This frail frame hid it well, but in my old body, it'd be beast-level.
“Seres, try walking!”
Arios shook her long golden ponytail excitedly now that we'd confirmed the strength boost. I got hopeful too. If my body's this strong already, I'm basically cured, right?
So I got out of bed and took a few steps—then nearly collapsed.
“Seres!”
“You okay?”
Arios and Hames caught me in alarm. Held between them, I stared in shock.
This is insane. It strengthened the sickness?! My body was definitely tougher, but the pain when walking was unchanged. This wasn't right. Come to think of it, in the original story, mana made the original Seres healthy but didn't grant strengthening. Here, I got strengthening on a sick base—something's wrong. Maybe because the mana helper's different? But Arios was my only option.
“No good. Keep infusing mana till I get a proper feel for it.”
“Got it.”
Anyway, I'd awakened mana, so I'd keep trying to protect my body with it. And keep injecting holy power to acclimate to divine power. Make it work dramatically. That meant more time, so the two stayed longer at our estate.
“Hames, thanks for making time for me, but you okay?”
I asked the temple priestess who'd been away way too long.
“Doesn't the temple mind you being gone this long? And weren't you supposed to investigate if I'm the saint?”
In the original, Hames figures out the divine power while hanging out and reports it up top, even knowing it's not all good. Back then, she liked Seres but wasn't in love yet. That kicks off the saint title and real hardships.
But even after all this time with me, no sign of that. Suspicious, I asked while she touched my back—and her hand twitched.
“...Couldn't really tell. But since divine power never showed before, probably not. That's what I'll report to the temple.”