Chapter 24
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 24
Chapter Title: Baldrgran's Saint
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Due to the monster invasion, the outer perimeter beyond Baldrgran's south gate had been a scene of fierce combat through the night, and even after the sun rose, the heat showed no signs of fading.
War doesn't end simply with defeating the enemy.
Everyone, even the lowliest common folk, knew that cleanup was just as crucial as the fighting itself, so Baldrgran's soldiers had been bustling about since morning.
"Hey, you there! Stop dawdling! You think you'll finish half of this before chow time at that rate?!"
"You think you can just collapse because you're tired? Can't you see your fallen comrades' bodies cooling beside you?!"
"Quit complaining and move it! Who knows when the monsters might come charging back?!"
Commands rang out from officers everywhere. Soldiers with exhaustion etched on their faces loaded the dead and monster corpses onto stretchers and carried them off.
"Ack!"
Suddenly, a short cry rang out, followed by a crash. One of the two soldiers carrying a stretcher had dropped it and tumbled over.
The senior soldier who fell with him clutched his forehead as he stood.
"Argh, damn it. That hurts like hell. Hey, rookie. Can't you do anything right?"
"S-Sorry!"
"This guy's hopeless. How many times has it been today already?"
"I'll do better next time!"
"Next time? That's the fifth time you've said that already. You know that?"
"Sorry!"
As the curses dug in, the rookie Tom bowed his head deeply and squeezed his eyes shut.
His mind went blank. He kept zoning out. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help it. This blood-soaked nightmare was just too much to adjust to.
"You think you're the only one suffering? No, we're all suffering. Everyone's in the same boat. So you do it like that?"
"Sorry!"
"Why'd a worthless punk like you end up in our squad... Ugh, forget it. My fault for saying anything. Hey. Lift it again."
"Y-Yes, sir?"
"I said lift it again. Didn't you hear me the first time?"
"Sorry!"
Tom picked up the stretcher again and resumed carrying the body. He didn't drop it after that, but it was truly grueling. If he had to describe it, it felt like walking on thin ice.
His legs trembled. His hands felt like they might tear. His face was caked in blood, and a foul stench of mingled blood and sweat wafted from his body.
What was this place like? Yeah. Hell. It felt exactly like hell.
How could anyone survive in a place like this? Or even endure it?
"Take a break!"
At the officer's command, every soldier collapsed in place. Tom slumped down, gasping for breath, when the senior soldier approached him. Tom flinched.
"Idiot. I'm not gonna hit you. Why are you flinching just because I came over?"
"S-Sorry!"
"Ugh, enough with the sorrys already... Here, eat this."
"G-Gasp! Thank you!"
It was a hunk of bread. Tom bowed his head and wolfed it down. The senior soldier smirked at the sight, then threw an arm around Tom's shoulders.
"Rookie. Tough, huh?"
"N-No, I'm fine. Not tough at all!"
"Bullshit. Like hell it's not. I'm dying out here too."
"......"
"Tough or not, just endure it. What else can you do?"
"Got it!"
"Look over there. Even that big shot's gritting his teeth and getting it done."
Tom's gaze followed where the senior pointed.
About twenty meters from where they rested, amid a pile of corpses, a robed man stood with eyes closed, hands on a body, praying.
"Wh-Who's that...?"
"That's Senior Investigator Ian from the Imperial Magic Bureau's Magic Management Division."
"H-Huh?!"
"Pretty amazing, right? He's been out here every day for a week straight. No complaints, no grimaces—just shows up, hauls bodies with us, and even prays like that."
"......"
"If even a guy like that grits his teeth and pushes through, should we show any weakness? Don't we owe it to him to do better? Huh?"
"......"
Tom didn't reply. He couldn't. The senior's words weren't registering.
His eyes and ears were fixed entirely on the praying man.
-May the light receive you...
He bowed his head. A brief moment of silence, then prayer. Maybe it was his imagination, but light seemed to leak from those hands. Tom let out a soft gasp.
"Ah."
That sacred figure burned into his eyes.
"A saint."
"What?"
"He's a saint..."
Tom murmured. A saint. Who could look at that and say otherwise?
No trace of hesitation in that sorrowful expression as he caressed the corpse.
How could he do that?
How could he throw himself so fearlessly into that pile of corpses that made him want to vomit just from the smell?
Veteran soldiers numb to monster battles still recoiled from it, yet this high mage showed no sign.
Maggots writhed, crows and rats swarmed greedily, but the man paid no mind. Even as maggots clung to his hands and crawled on his face, he silently comforted the fallen soldiers' souls as if it were nothing.
'Incredible.'
Tom's eyes sparkled.
In that instant, a dream was born in the heart of a man who had drifted through life.
'I want to be like that.'
If he could become that...
"Squad Leader Matt! I'll work hard!"
"What?"
"How can trash like me whine about being tired when the saint's working that hard?!"
"What the... Did you eat something bad?"
"No!"
The senior stared in bewilderment, but Tom just gazed at Ian with shining eyes, oblivious.
300.
The number of soul stones Ian had acquired during his roughly week-long stay in Baldrgran.
'Heh, that's a lot.'
Ian checked his inventory. Every slot was full. Satisfaction welled up naturally.
The only downside was he couldn't laugh out loud. If he were alone, he'd be rolling with laughter...
'How much proficiency did I grind in just a week?'
Ian's 'Attribute Extraction' injection success rate had originally averaged around 30%.
In other words, most attempts failed.
Yet he'd boosted that average by a whopping 30%—from 30 to 60. A massive leap.
'Now common and advanced grades are 100% success. Magic and rare grades usually work too.'
Brushing maggots from his face, Ian stretched his back.
'Proficiency grind's done. Time to get to real work...'
Your fame is rising!
Fame in the Baldrgran region is rising dramatically!
Fame rank has increased!
Acquired new title: 'Baldrgran's Saint'!
"Huh?"
"Eh?"
Ian's eyes widened. What was this?
'Saint? What nonsense is that?'
He couldn't make sense of it. Who was calling him a saint?
Ian soon got his answer.
"I can't thank you enough for coming to our Baldrgran, Sir Ian."
"No need. I haven't done much."
"Nonsense. Do you know how much our soldiers' morale has risen thanks to you?"
"Pardon?"
"They're even calling you a saint."
"P-Pardon?!"
The soldiers had given him the title "Baldrgran's Saint."
"I'm at a loss. A saint? I'm a mage."
"I know that, but what can we do? It's the will of the people."
The will of the people left Ian baffled.
A mage as a saint? Ridiculous.
'Come to think of it, the soldiers have been taking good care of me...'
They kept giving him food and such. He'd thought it was just a friendly town.
So that was the reason?
"It got me thinking. Walking the path of magic and receiving divine love aren't mutually exclusive."
"What do you...?"
"Think about it. There's no law saying a mage can't be a saint, right?"
"Pardon?"
"While we're on the topic, I'll admit I was impressed. I never expected you to lead by example like that."
Ian felt a bit awkward. Baldrgran's lord, Roderick, looked like honey was dripping from his eyes.
'What? That look.'
"Comforting our hard-fought soldiers' souls with such sincerity—it's truly admirable. Even priests don't do that."
'I was just pretending to pray... Can't exactly say it was for soul stones.'
"That selfless devotion, unflinching even with guts and maggots all over! Who wouldn't be moved?!"
"W-Well..."
Ian scratched his head, speechless. They saw it that way?
'Corpses and maggots? What's the big deal? You handle that stuff daily in alchemy research.'
But he couldn't say that outright.
"And that's not all. You even healed our wounded soldiers one by one!"
"H-Healing? What do you...?"
Ian tilted his head. He'd never healed anyone.
'What nonsense. I'm no priest. Healing...? Oh!'
He remembered.
'The healing potions, maybe?'
He couldn't just watch them groan in pain everywhere.
Out of pity, he'd given out some low-grade healing potions he'd made while grinding proficiency. They were extras anyway, not a big loss.
And it led to this?
"Exactly! You thought I didn't know? That you were healing the wounded."
"Ah, that was just healing potions, not..."
"Sir Ian, modesty has its limits. I understand your feelings, but don't reject our goodwill too much."
Roderick patted Ian's shoulder with a honey-dripping smile. Ian couldn't muster a response.
'Hmm.'
He just scratched his head.
'Ah, whatever. Let it be.'
He'd worried the Church of Light might complain about impersonating a saint.
Whatever. Not his problem.
'Did I say that? No. They just decided on their own.'
The next day, Ian informed Roderick he was leaving Baldrgran.
Not returning, but time to do some real work.
Gathering soul stones and grinding proficiency was fine, but he couldn't do it forever.
"Entering the Telian Mountains? That's too dangerous. You know that. Just a bit further south from Baldrgran, and monsters swarm everywhere."
"I know. But I can't just sit idle. I came here to investigate the monster incursions' cause."
"Mm, can't argue with that. Fine. We'll open the gates. But on one condition."
"A condition?"
"I'll assign my knights and guards. Take them with you."
"No need."
Roderick panicked as Ian shook his head firmly.
"What? Alone is too risky!"
"No. Going alone is far safer than leading an army."
"I don't understand. Why?"
"Monsters will see a large human force as an invasion. It could amplify their aggression."
"Mm, is that how it works?"
"Yes. Better if I go alone. Focus on defenses as usual. I'll come back alive."
"Very well. I accept your will. Return safely. I'll prepare a welcome."
"Thank you for your consideration."
Ian bowed humbly, but inwardly grinned triumphantly.
'No way. Am I crazy? Go with them? Those Telian Mountains ancient ruins are a goldmine.'
The Telian Mountains bordered the empire's southwest frontier.
An ancient ruin lay there.
Unknown to locals, but players knew—a hidden ancient ruin.
'It's mine. I'll hog it all.'
In truth, the daily monster attacks stemmed from the ruin over-emitting mana, stirring their aggression. But no need to tell Roderick that.