The Saintess and the Scar
I was carrying Elin on my back as we searched through the mountains. We’d been moving nonstop to gather the trapped students, and we had run into a few groups already. But they, like us, had abandoned the exam to focus on rescue operations. Most of the students we met weren’t traveling in small teams like ours. Instead, they had formed fairly large search parties with quite a few people.
I gave them every piece of information I could. At first, many refused to believe me because of my reputation. But this was an emergency where anything could happen at any moment, so they seemed willing to trust me this time.
‘I can’t help my bad reputation. It’s all Vern’s karma.’
Still, I’d been worried they might stubbornly refuse to listen just because I was the guy with the terrible name. I was relieved they didn’t. At this point, it looked like we only needed to find our own party members. We hadn’t joined any of the rescue teams because we were looking for the rest of our group. The main rescue force would probably gather as many people as possible and head for the summit. I could leave that part to the protagonist and the others.
The current protagonist was strong. So we would find our own people, then stay hidden until he finished handling everything.
‘Protagonist, I’m counting on you!’
Anyway, since we couldn’t possibly search the entire massive mountain, we were simply pushing forward in one direction. If we kept heading east, we would eventually circle around. By gradually climbing as we went, we should be able to meet up with them. With magic sealed right now, I advanced slowly while staying on high alert.
In that sense, unlike me, Elin had excellent night vision. She was scanning our surroundings from my back.
“There don’t seem to be any monsters around here.”
“By the way, Vern, who exactly attacked the academy?”
“It was Requiem. You’ve probably heard the name at least once.”
“Requiem…? I don’t really know them.”
“I see. Requiem is a terrorist organization that suddenly appeared a few years ago. You could call them a cult, I suppose.”
Her eyes widened as if she truly had no idea. Well, since she had lived only in a rural village before coming here, it made sense she wouldn’t know. Requiem had only been active in the capital and other famous cities on the mainland.
But that wasn’t the important part. Requiem was filled with insane demi-humans who killed people for fun, and psychopathic demons who kidnapped and murdered only believers of the holy order. There were plenty of other lunatics besides them. In the end, the group had been created by a man who wanted to kill the gods that arbitrarily decided humanity’s fate. A few members had tragic backstories… but I’d think about that later.
The conclusion was that this terrorist group had declared war on Oasis Academy. The first reason was most likely Victoria, the next Saintess of the holy order. Since the organization was founded by someone who wanted to kill the gods and become the new one, there was no reason for them not to target the Saintess, who served as a divine representative.
But there was a second reason. After going into hiding last year without targeting the Saintess, they had resumed activity this year. It was probably a matter of timing.
The solar eclipse that would appear right around the time the protagonist Ian safely finished his second year and moved on to his third. It was an astronomical event where the moon covered the sun. Yes. On the day of the total solar eclipse, the protagonist would face the final boss.
To prepare for that, they would have needed to start making moves at the academy about a year in advance. Although the group seemed like nothing but a gathering of madmen, their military strength was truly overwhelming. If the current protagonist faced them now, he would probably be killed instantly. But he was the protagonist. He grew stronger with every powerful enemy he fought, and he would eventually defeat the final boss.
So all we had to do was ride the bus he was driving.
‘As for me… once I survive, I need to find a way to go home.’
But right now, escape came first.
“That’s how it is.”
“Th… that’s such a scary group…!”
Using the veteran player skill, Skip Dialogue! After hearing the detailed explanation about Requiem, Elin began trembling as if she were a little scared.
“Don’t worry, Elin. We’re not the only ones here. The academy’s students won’t fall so easily.”
“...”
“And… if it comes down to it, I’ll protect you. We’re a team, after all.”
Besides, she was the first friend I had made since falling into this place. Well, she might not think of me as a friend.
“.....U-um, th… thank you, Vern.”
“Then let’s continue the search.”
....
“Who are you? Are you the one who set up the barrier around this place? Or are you a member of Requiem? Speak your name at once.”
“Priest, there’s someone behind him who looks badly injured. It seems like an urgent situation…”
“No, we cannot be sure. There is currently a barrier on this mountain that seals away magic power. It is most likely the work of Requiem. Therefore, we have no choice but to be cautious in order to protect the Saintess.”
“Saintess! Please save my friend! I beg you! This guy is bleeding too much…!”
“Do not approach the Saintess!”
The man who usually spoke casually to everyone was not rude enough to use that tone with the next Saintess. No, with the Saintess herself. And in a situation where every second counted, Ron’s survival was his top priority.
However, Lloyd, who had frantically searched for help to save Ron, looked just as terrible. Still, the mage who had sacrificed himself for him came first right now.
“I will examine his condition. It’s all right, Priest.”
The Saintess with pure white hair—something only about ten students per grade possessed—began checking Ron’s state with her golden eyes.
“The bleeding is severe, and judging by the torn wounds, it’s a miracle he’s still alive.”
“Can you not save him?”
He usually had a bold laugh and a refreshing personality, but this time he couldn’t smile at all. His own powerlessness had gotten his teammate hurt. He hated his weak self. He had entered the academy to become stronger, to become a hero… yet he couldn’t even save a teammate. He despised himself so much.
Then, a voice of salvation reached him as he drowned in despair.
“No. I can save him. Everyone, please step back for a moment.”
Victoria, the Saintess, politely asked Lloyd to move aside and gently took the barely seated Ron’s hand.
"O Mother of Dawn, watch over this young lamb. Grant him the strength to overcome the trials laid before him."
Golden energy flowed from her hands. It was the holy power I had only heard about in stories. A power granted only to those with deep faith—the power of the gods. It was said to be capable of healing patients on the verge of death and even regenerating severed limbs.
The holy power that flowed from the Saintess enveloped Ron’s body. The horribly torn wounds that had exposed bone began to heal rapidly. The flowing blood stopped, and the torn skin and muscle started to regenerate. He stared at the unbelievable sight with a dazed expression.
Once Ron was completely healed, Lloyd expressed his gratitude to the Saintess.
“Haha… really… thank goodness… really…. Saintess, I am truly gratefu—”
Thud!
“Saintess! This person has collapsed too?!”
“Haa… I understand. Please bring that person over here as well! I will treat him.”
“Saintess, please do not overexert yourself yet. Not until you have received the final baptism.”
The golden-haired young man beside her spoke to Victoria in a worried tone.
“It’s all right. This is something I must overcome. And as the Saintess, it is my responsibility.”
“Understood. Then please do not push yourself too hard.”
With those words, the Saintess focused on treating the injured. A girl with the same golden hair approached the golden-haired priest.
“Priest, someone is approaching from the surroundings.”
The girl, who also had golden hair, spoke to the priest who served alongside the Saintess.
“Have you identified who it is?”
“It appears to be a black-haired man and a pink-haired woman coming this way.”
“Haa… black hair… Among the second-years, the only one with black hair is Vern Flame.”
....
“For that reason, you cannot approach the Saintess.”
What the hell? I almost swore out loud in disbelief. I had seen Ron and Lloyd collapsed on the ground and tried to approach, but the priest in white robes stopped me. The presence of a priest meant the Saintess was here. If they had collapsed even after receiving treatment from her, they must have suffered serious injuries.
So we had tried to check on our companions, but the golden-haired priest blocked our path.
What kind of bullshit is this? And can’t he see the injured person on my back? I understood being cautious because of Requiem. But there were injured people here. Why wouldn’t he let us through? Why!
“I am Vern Flame. The one on my back is my teammate, Elin.”
“I know. That is precisely why I cannot allow you near the Saintess.”
“Why?”
“Because you are not the kind of person who would help others. Therefore, I cannot simply take your word and bring you to the Saintess.”
What? Did he know me? Was this another story I didn’t know about?
“Do you know me?”
“Yes. I know you far too well.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen you.”
“Hah, so you don’t even remember? Pia, come here for a moment.”
The golden-haired priest, looking utterly fed up, turned to another priest standing beside him.
“P-Priest…”
“You don’t even remember what you did to my little sister when she was young. How ridiculous.”
The golden-haired priest grabbed the wrist of the girl called Pia and pulled her in front of me.
“B-Brother…”
“Look closely. At what you have done.”
He lifted the girl’s bangs that had been covering her forehead. What was revealed was a shocking sight. On her right eye, hidden beneath her hair, was a scar carved by a blade. The wound ran from above her eye down to her cheek, defiling the beautiful girl’s face. It was probably a massive trauma for her.
But… Vern did that? No matter how much of a scoundrel he had pretended to be, there was no way he would have done something like this…
Fortunately, it seemed her eye itself hadn’t been damaged. In the midst of this bewildering situation, I hadn’t noticed earlier, but the priest serving the Saintess had changed. In the game, it definitely hadn’t been a golden-haired priest. This was different from what I knew.
What the hell was going on? This wasn’t the second round, the third round, or the fourth round. Was this a new route I didn’t know about?
At first I had been stunned and bewildered, but the thought of a new route—an untrodden path—made my heart begin to race with excitement.
Still, I had to say what needed to be said.
“Then at least take care of this girl.”
Elin had nothing to do with me. So they would at least treat her—no, protect her. Since he was a priest serving the Saintess, he would be stronger than me. I could entrust her to him with peace of mind. But first, Elin needed treatment. She hadn’t received proper care since this morning.