Chapter 29
Chapter 29
After finishing the conversation at the dining table, we came out to the village entrance.
The two days spent in Alfheim had been nothing short of enjoyable, but we couldn’t stay forever.
I had to return home, and Rene had to go back to her nest.
As for Rene, I could’ve just told her to fly back, but I respected her wish to travel with me.
Besides, traveling with company was better than being alone.
However, this journey gained even more companions.
“Please take care of us.”
“Please take care of us!”
Rin and her younger brother Ruen joined us.
I tried to dissuade her, saying the journey would be dangerous, but she insisted she would protect her sibling and not be a burden.
Honestly, I was worried.
Still, trusting her abilities, I reluctantly agreed.
“You’re leaving?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a shame. I wanted to speak more with you.”
“If I pass by Alfheim again, I’ll visit.”
“Good. Especially to see Marianne.”
“Sister…!”
“Come on! Say what you need before he leaves!”
Rosemary pushed Marianne toward me.
Caught off guard, Marianne spoke carefully.
“I’ll never forget you… for helping me, for our first date, and for making these days so special.”
“We’ll meet again someday. You don’t have to remember me that much.”
“I will. These two days meant more than anything.”
“If you say so.”
I smiled and lightly patted her shoulder.
Unlike before, she didn’t panic.
Though she still blushed.
“…I’ll be going now. Until we meet again.”
“Please take care…”
It was bittersweet.
But dragging it out would only leave regrets.
So I turned and boarded the carriage.
Goodbye, Marianne. Goodbye, Alfheim.
“Alright! Escort them to the next village!”
““Yes!”””
Right. The elves were still here.
I just hoped the next village wouldn’t mistake them for monsters.
After Bern left, the twin saintesses remained at the entrance, watching the carriage disappear.
Rosemary stood firmly, while Marianne clasped her hands in prayer.
She looked like a woman worried for her lover.
Rosemary smiled bitterly and gently pressed her head.
“You wanted to follow him, didn’t you?”
“…Yes. But I must protect the World Tree.”
“I see. Don’t worry. Your wish may come true soon.”
“…What?”
“Nothing. Let’s go.”
Rosemary walked back, leaving Marianne confused.
“Where are we heading next, Master?”
“Bardel Village. That was my original destination.”
“Bardel Village…”
A shadow crossed Rin’s face.
She seemed troubled.
“Something wrong?”
“No… but I’ve heard rumors. It might be better to avoid it.”
“Rumors?”
“There’s a plague spreading there.”
“Ah.”
So it was that time.
Bardel Village wasn’t human land anymore.
A plague had wiped out its people.
Later, it was revealed a demi-lich had spread it to create an undead army.
A year later, it would become an undead base.
The kingdom would send forces to cleanse it.
Undead were troublesome.
Killing them only created more.
Without holy power, they were hard to defeat.
“So? Should we change course?”
“No. We go.”
“Are you sure?”
“I have a way.”
I already knew how to cure the plague.
The only concern was when the demi-lich would appear.
But with my current strength…
I could handle it.
The Earth Mother’s power flowed within me.
“Cough! Cough!”
“Hurk!”
“Ugh…!”
Inside Bardel Village’s temple—
coughing, blood, and groans filled the air.
People lay on the floor, clutching their chests.
“Sister, we’re out of water!”
“Bring more cloth!”
“Another infected!”
“Lay them there!”
Hundreds of patients.
Only dozens of priests and nuns.
The temple was chaos.
More patients each day.
None recovered.
The only escape was death.
Yet they clung to hope.
Maybel, a novice nun, was among them.
“Please… it hurts…!”
“You’ll be okay! Just hold on!”
“Nun…!”
“Ah!”
Blood splattered onto her.
Still, she didn’t let go.
She held tighter.
But his hand grew cold.
“Sir…? Sir!”
“….”
“Ah…!”
A kind neighbor who had helped her.
She bit her lip to hold back tears.
Too many others still needed her.
“Maybel…”
“Yes!”
“Th-this believer…!”
“Father Allen!”
Even priests were falling.
“Someone help him!”
“I’m fine… treat others first…!”
Still, they didn’t give up.
Even in suffering, they cared for others.
But the plague showed no mercy.
Deaths everywhere.
Maybel held another hand, tears falling.
‘God… why this trial?’
For the first time, she doubted.
Her faith wavered.
“Cough!”
“Hold on! I’ll heal you!”
She tried to use divine power.
But it was weaker.
Doubt weakened her power.
Yet she tried anyway—
until a hand stopped her.
“Stop. That will only worsen it.”
“Ah!”
A masked man approached.
He poured a clear liquid into the patient’s mouth.
A stranger feeding medicine—
she should’ve stopped him.
But she didn’t.
And—
“…!”
The patient’s color returned.
The groaning stopped.
“What are you waiting for? Give this to others.”
He tossed her bottles.
She hesitated, then spoke.
“Who… are you?”
“…I won’t tell.”
“I see…”
“But I’ll tell you why I’m here.”
He made a circle with his fingers.
“One bottle, one gold! Installments available!”
The savior of Bardel Village—
was a merchant obsessed with money.