Chapter 68
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 68
Chapter Title: Each One's Role
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Once what needed to be done was decided, things had to proceed swiftly. There wasn't a single silver lining in the current situation, making it all the more urgent.
Well, if one had to nitpick, the hero party's arrival might be their one faint hope.
Because that was the only sliver of hope left.
Under the firm conviction to save the city, the hero and his companions stepped forward without hesitation, each toward their assigned role.
"Everyone, don't push yourselves too hard. Hmm... we'll meet up again after dinner, into the night."
They all nodded at my words and headed off to where they were needed.
All I could do was sprinkle holy light on others. Behind the grand title of Saintess lurked an immature, pathetic girl with nothing but overflowing holy power.
I was still so unskilled. My abilities fell woefully short of my title. With this abundance of holy power, all I could manage was healing.
Even attacks were feeble, and defenses faltered. Only by scattering holy power recklessly could I make it work, but that path led straight to a cliff-like end.
I had to strive desperately not to fall behind the others. I might be lacking now, but I couldn't stay that way forever.
So for this time, I decided to help the citizens with healing as much as possible—something I had at least some proficiency in.
Separating from the others, I headed to the downtown streets teeming with citizens. I'd acted all composed earlier, but facing them alone was downright frightening. The eyes I'd already glimpsed brimmed with endless worry creeping out.
Thankfully, the sharp-eyed Divine Archer stepped up to help, easing my nerves a bit.
"Divine Archer, let's go help the citizens then!"
"Yes, we'll assist you."
I smiled brightly and took the lead. At least I was older, so I had to be a pillar of support.
Steeling myself like that, we approached the citizens.
"Hello! We've come to help. Is anyone in need of healing or assistance?"
I spoke to them warmly and kindly.
The gazes of those leaning against walls, killing time with weary bodies, turned to me. Their eyes, still filled with gloom, were terrifying.
- No need...
The quiet words came from a cracked voice.
"Even if I don't look it, I'm really good at healing. Not just wounds—I can help with fatigue and other things too!"
I approached without hesitation. There were plenty around me who clearly needed treatment.
- We said no need. Do the high-and-mighty find our misery so amusing?
The response dripped with malice toward us. Their distrustful faces hardened into defensive postures as they snapped aggressively.
The surroundings quickly filled with mutters cursing us, and I forced a smile, pressing forward again.
"Ma'am, let me help you. I'm not asking for money, so no need to worry!"
I smiled and extended my hand toward her.
- Get lost! You just want to pity us for some satisfaction...! After discarding us like trash all this time, now you need us? We don't need you—get lost!
What came back was a rough shove slapping my hand away.
Staring blankly at my stinging hand, dirt and stones rained down on me next. Followed by faces brimming with rage.
Was I too shocked? Or just numbly going through the motions? I stood there dazed, not even thinking to block the barrage.
And the only ones shielding me were the twins who'd followed along.
I'd thought it a place of solitude. The agony of the war we'd endured seemed to linger here still, spreading miserably.
I understood their lifeless expressions and overflowing worries. Word was they'd endured nearly decades like this.
That's why I'd thought to soothe their hearts alongside the Saintess. War's torment broke both body and soul, so we needed to reach out.
Lives worn to ruin were the epitome of suffering, so we'd followed her intent on offering aid swiftly.
But their staunchly closed-off attitudes left a bitter taste.
'Freyr, this is gonna be tough.'
'You knew it'd be like this from the start of this journey—what's with the whining, Freyra.'
We just shook our heads at each other.
We blocked the dirt and stones—and the vitriol—hurtling toward the Saintess who'd stepped forward first.
"Saintess, snap out of it. You knew it'd be like this."
"But..."
We couldn't let her brother see her so deflated, so we took her arm and pulled her to temporary cover.
"No need to feel down, Saintess. You did nothing wrong. We'll approach slowly, more cautiously."
There's still time left, after all.
Our first outing looked set to be quite grueling.
A place thick with the scent of death, yet life's desperate crawl permeated it all.
That was Shiren as I saw it. Once a sturdy imperial outpost guarding the frontier, time had reduced it to a wretched sight.
Ah, but if one nitpicked, it was still holding the frontier—in its abandoned state, stubbornly clinging on.
Parted from the group, I paused to trace a circuit. From the instantly etched lines sprang a single eye.
「Observer's Eye」
The eye faded faintly in the air, drifting toward the streets where the Saintess and Divine Archer headed.
I wanted to check those gloomy streets again, so I shared its vision.
Through the Observer's Eye, the citizens' behavior was as ugly as their ragged appearances.
Brushing off the Saintess and Divine Archer's helping hands so heartlessly, even hurling dirt at them.
Utterly pathetic.
What gain came from saving such people? They'd survived decades without much aid—did they really need it? The Empire had discarded the place anyway.
I pondered briefly, then sorted my thoughts.
These folks, ugly as they were, had clung to life tenaciously.
Nearly decades of scraping by, yet their eyes burned with desperate attachment to life—it intrigued me.
An investment for the curiosity that still remained.
People writhing desperately for survival were always profoundly mysterious.
I wondered how far they'd endure with the hope we offered.
Thinking of it as my first experiment since leaving the mage tower, I scattered mana into the air. A massive circuit etched itself, and the incantation flowed.
「Teleport」
My body dissolved into mana and reconstructed at the nearby mage tower branch.
A habit of doing jobs properly if I was to do them at all—I rolled up my sleeves.
Salvation. A word that didn't suit me at all.
I was just a street thug who could wield a sword well—nothing more, nothing less.
Thinking back, being called Sword Saint and journeying with the hero now was downright laughable.
Sword Ghost.
That childhood moniker meant my place was a dank prison cell, not by the hero's side.
Thanks to a late reformation—and wielding a sword better than anyone—I could live like this. A fortunate life.
Leaving the kids behind, I headed alone to the city's outskirts. Past the streets, at the walls, youths and elders in shabby armor greeted me.
- Welcome, Sword Saint.
"Cut the overly polite crap. Skip it and guide me to the most dangerous spot."
- Understood. Please protect Shiren...
I just slung my sword over my shoulder and followed their lead to the wall's edge.
There, battle was already raging. Weapon clashes inaudible from downtown boomed, mingled with occasional screams in my ears.
What invasion this early in the day? What a pain in the ass.
"I'm going ahead. If you're about to die, retreat on your own."
I drew the sword from my shoulder and leaped down from the wall.
A rough road ahead already. Damn it.
After sending everyone off first, I returned to the earl's mansion. As the hero who'd just left reentered alone, the butler hurried over.
- Hero, what brings you back? Do you need something?
I nodded at his question.
"Yes, do you have a messenger? And I'd like to write a letter."
- Uh... we have messengers and stationery, of course... Shall I bring them now?
"Yes, please."
The butler looked puzzled but soon fetched paper and pen, then stepped away.
Confirming he'd gone, I scribbled without pause, folded it neatly into an envelope, and called him back to hand it over.
"Please send this to the imperial palace in the capital. It's for the Emperor."
- Pardon...? Uh, yes... Understood...?
I bid the stunned butler farewell and headed out. First, to find Sio.
[Your Imperial Majesty, we are in Shiren now. I hear it's a vital frontier city. Yet its state is utterly deplorable. Hmm, we'll resolve the issues and head back to the capital first. So prepare your excuses in advance.]
If there's no decent excuse, I'll reduce the palace to the same state. Brace yourselves.