“I want to be a healer…”
“What are you talking about? Do you even know how bad of a job being a healer is?”
“I want to be like you, sis.”
“I told you I’m not your sister.”
“But you are my sister.”
Alex let out a small sigh as he watched Yona and Rubina engage in this bizarre and, to him, pointless argument.
It had already been two weeks since he left the village with Rubina.
At just 10 years old and small for her age, Alex was worried about whether Rubina might faint from exhaustion on their journey.
But it seemed that his worries were unfounded, as Rubina kept up quite well.
Even Kaiyak, pretending to be indifferent, was subtly taking breaks and looking after Rubina.
However, Yona was in a constant squabble with Rubina every single day.
“I told you, you need to be a priest!”
“I’m going to be a healer.”
“Healers are terrible.”
“I want to be like my sister.”
“I said I’m not your sister!”
“But—”
While walking, Alex couldn’t help but finally speak up to Yona.
“…Yona, this conversation is never going to end. It’s not like just because Rubina wants to be a priest or a healer it’s going to happen.”
It all depended on what the results would be on Judgement Day.
No, even before that, they didn’t even know if Rubina had any divine power.
Yet despite that, Yona was getting worked up over Rubina saying she wanted to be a healer, acting just like a ten-year-old child.
“Why would she choose to be a healer when there’s an easy life to live?”
“Then why did you say that?”
“Did you think it would end up like this?”
Yona trailed off, her words faltering.
It seemed like Yona’s performance against the Gnoll pack they encountered just the night before left a lasting impression on Rubina.
– This big brother is a healer. A very capable one. I’m the one healing so that Mr. Lizard Head, Mr. Pig Head, and Mr. Baldy can fight without worries!
She was proudly puffing out her chest, and that’s how it ended up.
Rubina’s future dream became to be a healer.
“…I guess it’s my fault. Yeah, definitely my fault.”
“Now you know.”
Despite their bickering, they continued on their path, and James, who was leading with a map, suddenly stopped and called the others.
“Beyond that hill, there should be a small town. How about we rest there for a bit before heading straight to the Duchy of Kapatia?”
“Sounds good. We should wash up and let the kids clean up too.”
Yona’s statement got nods of agreement from both Kaiyak and Alex.
Yona looked frustrated about it, causing Rubina’s cheeks to puff a bit in defiance.
Plus, as if protesting, she was holding Alex’s hand while walking, making Yona sigh heavily at the sight.
Yona sighed as she watched them holding hands and walking together.
There’s a reason she’s disgusted like this.
In any case, it’s only on the Day of Judgment that we will know, and while there’s the issue of Rubina’s divinity, if she becomes a healer, it feels like Rubina will jump right into adventuring.
Being a healer isn’t just about the shortcomings.
In terms of growth rate, healers are definitely superior to priests. That’s because priests are cooped up in cathedrals, receiving training and education among themselves, but such training can never be as desperate as the healers who directly risk their own lives.
Moreover, in terms of using divine power more efficiently, healers certainly outshine priests.
Priests can’t selectively heal just the injured parts.
To put it extremely, even if a cut from bumping into a rock heals, priests have to perform a full healing, whereas healers can just touch the area and it gets better.
So the downside is that priests consume divine power much faster than healers.
In other words, healers excel in sustainability.
Moreover, party members preferred healers over priests.
Since healers are always right there, ready to heal immediately whenever something happens, having a healer around feels more psychologically stable than having a priest.
But what good are these advantages?
Priests look down on healers.
For that reason, Yona had no choice but to try to dissuade Rubina from wanting to become a healer.
“So why do you want to become a healer?”
Alex’s voice was heard.
At that remark, Yona perked her ears, waiting for Rubina’s answer.
She was sure it wouldn’t earn her any points, but somehow it felt like it should be like that.
“If I become a healer… I can heal sick people right away, just like my sister…”
“Wow.”
That’s quite a commendable statement.
Yona almost yelled at Rubina, reminding her that priests can do the same, but she barely held back at Alex’s glance.
“Alright, let’s hurry. We should arrive at the Duchy of Kapatia in about three days.”
At James’s shout, Alex scooped up Rubina.
Yona quickened her pace as well.
*
“Nice to meet you, Ludvik. Or should I say Hero?”
Ludvik was taken aback by the sudden visit from a guest.
Her pure white hair sparkled with a glimmer, and her red lips were impressively bright even without makeup.
Overall, she was very—
‘…Did she say Alebians?’
Yeah, she looked just like that fairy.
And she was that much of a beauty.
“I am Ceres Olkamain.”
She looked so much like an identical twin that it was almost unbelievable, flashing a warm smile while greeting him, and Bishop Paleo, who was standing in the middle, added an explanation for Ludvik.
“The Regent of the Duchy of Kapatia and the Chief Elder of the Church of the Celestial God’s Kapatia branch, he is.”
“Oh.”
Whether he is a regent or an elder, the truth is, I don’t really know much about that.
But one thing Ludvik could definitely say was this:
Whoever holds a high position—whether they are truly important or not—it doesn’t matter; they are indeed impressive people.
“This is Priest Vigrind. The Celestial God descended directly to choose her.”
“Oh my.”
Her eyes curved into slits like a crescent moon.
Is this what they call an undisguised smile?
Looking at Ceres, Vigrind secretly thought she must be a good person.
“How long has it been? For the Celestial God to descend personally to choose a Saint, this is truly a marvel for the Church of the Celestial God.”
“Well, I haven’t yet been officially ordained in the Infura Church Region, so it hasn’t been publicly declared… No, no, everyone sit down. There’s no need to be standing for this.”
Only after the Bishop Paleo finished speaking did Ceres sit on the sofa first.
Even though Ceres was almost on the same level as Bishop Paleo, as the Chief Elder, she had a bit of prestige as a guest, so only after she sat down did Paleo, Ludvik, and Vigrind take their seats on the sofa.
“It would be best for Elder Olkama to meet before heading to Infura, so I suggested as much.”
Heh heh—an amiable laugh spread through the room.
It had already been nearly two weeks since he arrived at Kapatia Port.
Even if they had left immediately, it would still take two weeks to reach Infura, but unlike Ludvik and Vigrind, who thought it was better to leave as soon as possible, Bishop Paleo requested a few more days to wait, as someone was to be introduced.
It turned out that this person was Ceres Olkama.
Of course, it wasn’t that he was idly waiting around; he had been making rounds within the Cathedral, meeting people, making connections and had quite made his presence known.
“The Celestial God is indeed benevolent. How can he concern himself so much even for mere creations like us, preparing us for the approaching disaster? How will we ever repay this grace?”
At Ceres’ words, Bishop Paleo nodded in agreement.
“Moreover, such a great warrior with an impressive presence, and that immense divine power… Truly, she deserves to be called a Saint, Priest Vigrind.”
“Y-You flatter me.”
Yes—this is it.
Vigrind really liked this Ceres Olkama, who was both a regent and an elder.
Just as she stepped out of the shadows of Avian, always the second-in-command in Yona, someone had finally recognized her true worth.
And not just that, but also praised her as a fitting candidate for a Saint.
“Speaking of which, it seems Ludvik and Vigrind haven’t been active at all since arriving in Kapatia.”
“That’s correct. After all, both of you still haven’t been officially ordained, so making a grand announcement might feel a bit overwhelming.”
“Since both of you haven’t received your official ordination yet, it’s quite the burden to make a grand announcement at this time.”
“Well, hmm—”
Ceres seemed to be pondering something.
And that thought didn’t take long, as she soon bit her lip into a smile.
“Then how about I invite you both to my mansion? Since you’ve come all the way to Kapatia Port, you should really enjoy a proper seafood feast, don’t you think?”
“Whoa.”
Seafood, huh?
That must be fish.
Ludvik might know, but Vigrind has never eaten seafood.
Since Evian is inland, he’s never seen fish and has only heard that there are creatures that breathe underwater in this mysterious place called the sea.
“However… that…”
Bishop Paleo had a somewhat awkward expression.
It wasn’t a bad suggestion, but it wouldn’t look good to reject the proposal from the head elder of the Church of the Celestial God in Kapatia.
The hero and the saint haven’t even received their official ordination yet.
So they haven’t even made an announcement.
Bishop Paleo found it hard to believe that it was appropriate for them to wander around outside like this—
“If the Saint of the Church of the Celestial God has never eaten seafood, wouldn’t that be quite shameful? And we could pair it with Kapatia’s pride, wine, as well. What do you think—”
Ceres looked at Bishop Paleo.
Her eyes were filled with a blossoming smile.
“I think so.”
Bishop Paleo hesitated for a moment.
But really, it felt a bit too excessive to stop this.
Ceres’ words weren’t wrong, after all.
“So, in three days. I will send a carriage. Please come.”
Ceres left those words behind and departed.
“Have you ever eaten seafood, Hero?”
While walking through the garden outside the lodging, Vigrind asked Ludvik.
Though Marlen is also inland, he figured that someone who made it all the way here might have tried it.
“Of course, I’ve tried it. I’ve even seen a whale as big as the sky.”
“A whale as big as the sky?”
What a joke—I’m not that foolish.
Vigrind furrowed his brow at that.
But seeing Ludvik’s face so serious, he couldn’t help but wonder if there was some truth to it.
“…Is there really a whale that big?”
The ocean is vast, after all.
It might actually exist, he thought.
“It was a joke.”
At the sight of Ludvik grinning, Vigrind imagined giving him a hard smack on the back.
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