After the War Ends (2)
The sounds echoing nonstop as I left the infirmary and headed downstairs were loud enough to penetrate the building itself. Quite the commotion was brewing.
Along the way, I ran into a priest.
"Ah, Saint. Are you feeling alright?"
He clasped his hands and bowed upon seeing me. A familiar face. He was the head priest from Justia Holy Kingdom's support forces.
"Yeah, I'm managing."
"That's a relief. Still, could you spare a moment for me to check? I did my utmost to heal your body, but your soul was too badly damaged for me to handle."
Apparently, he'd been the one treating me. Makes sense—no ordinary priest could have managed it.
"Sure, go ahead."
I agreed readily. I could afford a quick check before heading off to meet Evan.
"Right."
He approached cautiously, as if handling a king or emperor. I got it. To Justia's faithful, the Saint and Saintess held that kind of status.
Whoosh!
Light bloomed from his hands. Holy magic enveloped my entire body. It carried divine power that felt unpleasant, but I endured. Now wasn't the time to nitpick.
The pain gradually ebbed. My soul was mending, if only a little. Impressive for something most couldn't pull off.
But the treatment didn't last long. He'd run out of holy power. Sweat poured down his face.
"Hoo…."
He exhaled a breath laced with heat. Exhausted, plain as day. I told him,
"That's enough."
"This is my limit. I'm sorry."
He stopped the holy magic and bowed his head, eyes full of regret for not doing more. But there was no need for apologies. Fully restoring a damaged soul was a feat for gods or saintesses alone—beyond human reach.
"No, it helped."
I knew that well, so I expressed my thanks. The pain had noticeably lessened—a big relief.
"It's nothing compared to your hardships, Saint. You moved more than anyone in this war."
"Yeah, well…."
Typical follower of the God of Light. Even the embarrassing praise flowed easily.
"Still, please take care of yourself. You have no idea how shocked we were when Cloi carried you in yesterday. Everyone was worried sick. It must have been something important, but…."
"Hold up."
I cut him off and asked,
"…Everyone saw?"
"Yes, the capital, Tianis, and all the returning personnel—they all witnessed your injuries."
That wasn't what I meant, but….
'Damn it.'
Everyone saw me cradled in Cloi's arms? Mortification hit hard. If we dwelled on this, I'd die of shame, so I swiftly changed the subject.
"I'll be careful. Anyway, what's going on outside? Sounds like Evan's voice, but he's not the type to stir trouble."
"Ah, well…."
He hesitated, looking troubled, but soon replied.
"It's hard to explain—better if you see for yourself."
With that, he led me downward.
The Student Council Hall outside was still in chaos. He opened the door for me, considerate of my condition.
What I saw: two opposing groups at a standoff, surrounded by a crowd of onlookers.
"It's all resolved now! Why kill it?!"
"That's just temporary. It's a bomb waiting to go off."
One side: Evan. Not alone—someone I knew was with him. Where'd he go? There he was.
The other: representatives from the support forces. Professors, imperial knights, kingdom alliance—all participants in the war, Justia excluded. They'd stayed neutral.
I instantly grasped the dispute. The massive wolf cowering behind Evan. The Monster Season boss.
"That's not certain!"
"No, it's fact. Historical records show monsters tricking humans this way before. No record of a human ever taming a leader like that."
They countered Evan's words, but he only shielded the boss more fiercely. A professor chided him gently.
"Plus, it wields some strange power. You know that well, don't you, Evan?"
"But…."
Evan faltered, lost for words. The crowd nodded in agreement. They'd experienced that power firsthand—no human could withstand an outer god's madness. Evan had purged it, but the terror lingered deep.
"Wait."
Elena interjected then.
"It's only been a day. Do we need to decide so hastily?"
"You say that because you don't know, Lady Elena. It… can't be spared."
The responder's face paled. Everyone who'd faced the boss shuddered. The air grew heavy in an instant. Elena faltered at the shift, as did the onlookers.
-Evan did great, but is it safe…?
-What if it attacks us suddenly….
-Grateful for the help, but still….
Even seasoned experts showed weakness, fueling the murmurs. Life-or-death stakes made it sensitive.
"Ugh…."
"……."
Evan bit his lip; Elena fell silent.
"Ah, it's Kyle!"
Rana spotted me amid the crowd. The masses parted around me. Eyes locked on.
'Wanted to watch a bit longer.'
No choice—I moved to the center. The priest followed. Rana and Elraim flanked me.
"Kyle, you okay? Shouldn't you rest more?"
"Young master, as Rana says—rest more. Better than yesterday, but not great."
"I'm fine, don't worry."
They looked ready to drag me back to bed, so I reassured them. Then came greetings: silent bows or brief words mostly.
"Hail, Saint."
"The Saint has arrived."
Some greeted with "Saint," mostly Justia folk. I wished they'd skip it, but let it slide. Couldn't help it anyway. Still irked me.
Meanwhile, Evan gazed at me with teary eyes, pleading for aid.
'Tsk tsk, still got a ways to go.'
Thought he'd grown as the protagonist this episode. Plenty lacking still.
I stood by Evan and addressed the opposition.
"What's the damn problem making all this noise? Can't even rest."
"Ah, perfect timing. What do you think—"
"'You'?"
I glared at the grating word's source. Kingdom alliance rep.
"Ahem… I mean, Saint, your thoughts on disposing of that monster?"
He backpedaled fast, correcting himself.
I eyed the boss. No need to stare long. Its aura was pathetic. Anyone here could kill it on a whim. Hardly befitting a former guardian.
"What's to think?"
I approached slowly.
"Hyungnim…."
Evan whimpered my name. I sighed inwardly.
"Evan."
I called his name, kneeling on one knee.
"You owe me."
Then drew power from my still-healing soul. The boss would've withered and died otherwise—that was its fate.
But if you want to save it, if it's your choice….
'Gotta help.'
You deserve respect. That was what I could do for you—the world's center, its protagonist.
Whoosh!
Light from my hand enveloped the boss. Vast energy rippled outward. The pure white glow affected all around, drawing reactions.
"What is…."
"Such a beautiful sight…."
"Such immense, pure holy power…."
Some gaped in awe; others wept, transfixed. The pinnacle of purity—any living being would feel reverence.
One correction: not holy power. Similar, but distinctly different.
I manipulated the energy, adjusting the boss bit by bit. First, shrank its massive frame. Its biggest issue: body's rank too high.
Once a demigod guardian of humans. Soul, energy, body—all otherworldly. But neglected its form. Never recovered spent energy from endless fights. Filled gaps with soul, damaging it. Soul and energy ranks dropped; body stayed demigod-level. Imbalance.
Healing wounds drained mana, filled with soul—vicious cycle. Monster Season boss role worsened it. Solution: lower body rank, balance all three.
Shrinking steadily. Excess power from downgrade restored energy, healed soul.
Then agony twisted my guts. Cough! Blood spewed—lethal volume. Reactions erupted.
"Kyle!"
"Young master!"
Rana and Elraim rushed over. Evan and Veil followed.
"Not yet…."
Almost done, so I pressed on. But soon coughed more blood; process halted forcibly.
'Too soon after all….'
Priest's treatment made it seem feasible. At least three years stable now—finish later.
"Hurry, the Saint…!"
"Stretcher! Get a stretcher!"
Chaos around me halted it anyway. As strength failed and I slumped—
"A shame. So close. Mind if I finish?"
Someone interjected. Snow-white hair like spun light, striking sky-blue eyes, beauty incarnate.
I knew her instantly. Why're you here? The alcoholic girl.
"Sure…."
"If it's alright, Candidate Saint?"
Saintess Estella. She appeared before me.