The Savior of Cartia
"Noah? What's with that look?"
"Y-yes...?"
"Is the walk no good?"
"Ah, n-no... It's fun."
Rubia chuckled softly and tugged my hand along.
"Why? You said that, but then you don't do anything, so it feels weird? All empty and disappointed, is that it?"
"W-what are you talking about! Th-that's not it at all!"
Despite Rubia's teasing, suggestive words, we were genuinely enjoying a wholesome stroll.
I wasn't feeling empty or disappointed.
It was just... just that I'd been wound up tight, and then it all suddenly let go.
Definitely not that.
"Hmm, is that so? Then let's just keep walking. Hehe."
Rubia gave my head a light pat and started moving forward again.
"Mm, I was going to tell you earlier, but I missed the timing..."
"W-what is it...?"
"You're curious why the people of Cartia praise my name instead of Erden's, right?"
"Uh... y-yes!"
I was curious.
No matter how much Rubia had saved people from the plague, normally they'd still praise Erden.
But the residents of Cartia had called out Rubia's name, not Erden's...
And... well... I wanted to know about the parts of Rubia's past I didn't know.
Everyone else knew, but I didn't, and that... that bothered me a little.
"Mm, how should I put this gently..."
Rubia tapped her lips for a moment, choosing her words, then drew a small breath and spoke.
"When the plague first started spreading, the priests of Erden came to Cartia. But... instead of curing anyone, they just got sick themselves. Some of them even died."
Her steps gradually slowed.
"Time passed and passed... and by the second month, the Empire made a decision."
"A decision...?"
"The massacre of Cartia's residents."
"H-huh...!"
This is... the gentle version?
"It wasn't highly contagious. Actually, it was lower than most plagues."
"Huh...? Wh-why...?"
Her slowing steps finally came to a complete stop.
"Because they all died. They died before they could spread it, so the infection rate stayed low. The plague that hit this city was the same."
"Uh, uhh..."
The topic had turned heavier than I expected, and my grip tightened.
I want to ask how the disease kills people.
But since she's not describing the symptoms... better not to hear it, right...?
Yeah... if I hear it, I'll have nightmares tonight...
"Anyway, the Empire couldn't tell who was infected, so they finally resorted to the extreme measure of wiping out the residents."
"B-but... everyone's still alive."
"Yes. When I heard the news, I came to Cartia myself."
"You did, Rubia...? Alone...?"
She nodded, swallowing a bitter smile as she continued.
"Imperial knights had surrounded the Order's buildings, and the Order itself had practically locked me up, but I managed to escape in the end. Hehehe... it was incredibly thrilling back then."
"Th-thrilling...?"
"Well... we'll skip that part. After escaping, I stole a horse and some food and made it to Cartia. I hadn't washed for three whole days—I felt so gross..."
She rubbed her arms and gave a little shiver, then started walking forward again.
"In the end I couldn't even wash before I started healing people's plague one by one. But it turned out to be nothing special. High-ranking priests had swarmed in and decided it was incurable... yet I could do it right away."
"Because you're the Priestess, Rubia... is that why?"
"I don't know. At the time I thought so, but... well. Looking back now..."
She trailed off with a strange expression, then turned to me with a proud smile.
"Anyway, the one who saved this city—abandoned by both the Empire and Erden—was me. Not Priestess Rubia. Just Rubia. I saved this city."
"Oh... ohhh...!"
So that's why.
If the Empire and Erden both gave up, and Rubia came alone and saved everyone, of course the whole city would revere her as a hero...
Even Urusphier treats me like... ugh.
"I used the Priestess's power, sure... but the important thing is that I did it because I wanted to, right? Hehehe..."
"Th-that's true..."
"That's why when Sirin asked me to come, I could agree without hesitation. I thought... if it was this city, maybe they'd believe in me and help if something went wrong."
Her proud smile faded into a self-deprecating laugh.
"But that wasn't the case. Even Noah right beside me doesn't trust me. If something big happens... I can't expect any help."
Through our joined hands, I felt Rubia trembling.
"Umm... Ru-Rubia... c-could we sit for a second?"
"Hm?"
"L-like this, crouch down."
She tilted her head with a look that said why all of a sudden, but at my urging she finally crouched.
I approached her with an incredibly awkward smile and pulled her into a tight hug.
Normally my face always ended up buried in Rubia's chest, so it never felt like I was the one doing the hugging.
But right now, it actually felt like I was holding her.
Well... I'm not as soft as Rubia... but still, uh... the act of hugging is what matters, right?
"Mm...?"
So there are days when Rubia looks up at me, huh...
I giggled, let go of my greatsword, and wrapped both arms around her head, pulling her close.
"I-it's okay... Even if the whole world doesn't believe in Rubia... I do."
I have absolute faith in Rubia.
If Rubia seriously told me the Earth was flat... uh... I-I could believe it.
No... at the very least, I could try to believe it.
Even if she does something wrong, even if she commits a crime.
I believe in Rubia.
"S-so... don't be too sad."
And just like Rubia always did for me, I slowly stroked the head nestled against my chest as I went on.
"L-like I said earlier... th-that... even if the entire world tries to kill Rubia, I'll protect you."
"Noah..."
I couldn't see her face, but the breath against my chest told me everything about what she was feeling.
"Y-you trust me... right...?"
My heart feels like it's going to explode.
I can hear my own heartbeat right now.
How clearly must Rubia hear it, with her head right against my chest...
A-and I barely have any fat there... ugh... so embarrassing.
"Haa... Noah."
"Y-yes?"
"Do you know why no one is allowed into the main part of Cartia?"
"I-I don't...?"
"I'll tell you now."
Breathing roughly, Rubia slowly rose to her feet.
"Earlier... you clearly said we couldn't do it outside."
"Uh... uhh..."
"So that means it's fine inside, right?"
"...Huh."
Does... does it really follow like that...?
"Let's go."
"W-where?"
"Inside."
"W-what about the walk...?"
"We can finish it after."
Rubia seized my wrist.
"Uh, uhh—"
"Don't pretend you hate it. You could easily shake me off if you wanted."
"W-what... weird things to say...! Th-that's not it! I-I'm just not doing it because Rubia might get hurt..."
"And yet you're following along just fine."
"Ugh..."
Click- click-
Pad- pad-
Click- pad-
Rustle-
"B-but... where are we going...?"
"Inside."
"Th-this isn't the way out, though..."
"There are plenty of houses nearby."
Rubia pointed all around as she spoke.
"...Th-those are other people's houses."
"No one lives in them."
"W-what if bugs come out—"
"They disinfect everything. It's called a holy land—you think they wouldn't?"
"D...disinfect...?"
"They even clean about once every two days. Spotless."
"Eek..."
If a spear and a shield fought, the shield would definitely win.
I'm sure of it...
Ugh... if it were a greatsword, I definitely would have won...
Rubia blocked every one of my attacks and strode quickly toward the house farthest in the corner.
Rustle-
We walked for quite a while like that, when suddenly a chilly wind brushed past my body.
"Hyeek... Ru-Rubia... what if a ghost shows up...?"
She froze.
"Gh...ost?"
Rubia's head slowly turned toward me.
"Y-yes... creepy places like this always... have ghosts, you know..."
Rustle- rustle-
"Th-there's no way. Haha, a ghost... and... Noah. I'm a priestess. Is a priestess allowed to be scared of ghosts?"
"Woww... so Rubia isn't scared of ghosts..."
"O-of course not. Not even a little. Because I'm a priestess."
"O-okay. I'll just... trust Rubia."
Click- click-
"Mmm... but would ghosts be scared of Rubia's divine power?"
Pad- pad-
"W-well, who knows?"
Hmm... but then... would they show up on Qi Sensing?
Since they're not alive, maybe they don't appear...?
Rustle-rustle-rustle-rustle-
"Ah...?"
Rubia stopped in place and started trembling hard.
"No-No... Nonono, Noah. Should we just g-go home?"
"Umm...? I'm fine with that. But Rubia... why are you shaking so much? Are you cold...?"
There's no way she's cold...
Rubia can warm herself with divine power.
Rustle-rustle-creak-creak-
"N-no... uh... my blood sugar's low... h-haha..."
Creak-creak-
Her hands are getting really sweaty too...
Is she sick or something?
"Rubia... are you okay?"
"Hic... No-Noah..."
Cli,ck- clii,ck-
"Y-yes...? Ru-Rubia, are you crying? Does something hurt? Uh...uhh what do I do?"
Pad-pad-pad-
"Th-that's... not... it. M-maybe... Noah, can you not hear this sou—"
Creak-
"Y-yes...?"
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"Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!"
"Hyaaaaaaaaaah!!!!"
Startled by Rubia's scream, I instinctively pulled her into my arms and swung my greatsword.
In that instant.
A stupid scream rang out.