Today, two volumes of the book have been released. I sincerely hope you enjoy them.
The journey to Sutherland was far worse than any of the knights accompanying us had imagined.
This was because Lady Seraphina had only five days to prepare for the entire journey to Sutherland.
We traveled along the route used by the messenger horses.
Preparations were thorough, and Lady Seraphina had arranged for more horses than usual at the points where the messenger horses would change.
However, the number of horses Lady Seraphina ordered was only enough for half the number of knights originally scheduled to accompany her, and considering the actual number of people accompanying her, it was clear that many more horses would be needed. I want to commend the stable master for preparing so many horses.
In front of Lady Seraphina, I placed a large, skilled horseman.
By having the knight ride ahead to shield Lady Seraphina from the wind, she would be less tired, and by following the same path as the knight, we could ensure a safer route.
Surprisingly, Lady Seraphina hardly rested at all.
During the horse changes, she would quickly drink water or eat a light snack, and as soon as the saddles were switched, she would set off again.
Even though she is the Great Saint, her physical strength is that of an ordinary young lady.
It was a journey that no one should have been able to endure, yet Lady Seraphina did not utter a single complaint and continued to grip the reins tightly.
We arrived in Sutherland near dawn on the second day.
We were told that all those who had contracted the Yellow Pattern Disease had been gathered in the lord's manor to prevent the spread to others, so we headed straight for the manor.
The large courtyard in front of the manor was filled with residents who could not fit inside.
The residents, hearing the unusual sound of hooves, began to rise anxiously.
It's not common for anyone to ride horses at night, so the sound of multiple horses would naturally cause unease.
As the residents rose one by one, looking anxious, the manor gates opened, and several horses entered.
The few torches and bonfires set up in the courtyard would not have been enough to see the faces of the knights.
Before anyone could speak to calm the crowd, Lady Seraphina gracefully dismounted her horse.
She then reached out to a baby who had started crying in the unusual atmosphere.
The baby's mother looked at Lady Seraphina in surprise but, seeing the princess's gentle smile, handed over the baby.
Lady Seraphina held the baby tenderly and spoke in a singing voice, "Oh, you've done so well, being so small and brave. You're a strong and hardworking baby."
The mother, hearing these words, was instantly moved to tears.
"Thank you, thank you. In the mainland, they said the disease was contagious, so no one would hold my child..."
At that moment, several residents approached with torches in hand.
The light from the torches illuminated Lady Seraphina's red hair, making it shine.
"Is it... the Great Saint!?"
"Could it be...?"
There were a few other women with red hair, but everyone knew that the clan leader had requested the Great Saint's presence, and the unusual situation of someone arriving on horseback at night made everyone think of her.
A wave of surprise and confusion spread through the crowd.
By then, everyone was awake, sitting up or standing, looking at Lady Seraphina with hope.
Lady Seraphina met all their gazes with a smile and spoke.
"Yes, I am the Great Saint, Seraphina Nave. I have just arrived in Sutherland."
She then kissed the cheek of the baby she was holding.
Instantly, a bright light shone from the spot, and the yellow pattern that had spread over the baby's body disappeared.
"Wh-what? It's... cured...?"
The mother, in a daze, took the baby whose pattern had disappeared.
Everyone was stunned and silent, and Lady Seraphina raised her arm high and spoke with a clear voice.
"Fertile and abundant land of Sutherland, grant your power to the honest and obedient people of this land. Let fire purify, let wind sweep, let water cleanse, and let earth contain. โโ 'Eradication of Disease'"
As Lady Seraphina's words ended, a bright, shimmering light began to emanate from her raised fingertips.
In the darkness of the night, illuminated only by the bonfires, torches, and stars, a red, shimmering light suddenly appeared and spread over the heads of the stunned residents.
"What? What is this...?"
The residents, surprised, looked up at the night sky and watched in awe as the shimmering light particles slowly descended.
It was a mystical and overwhelming scene, as if the shining stars were falling from the sky.
As the light particles began to touch the residents, they exclaimed in surprise.
"It's warm..."
The light particles, upon touching the residents, seemed to melt into their bodies, spreading a warm, indescribable feeling.
Soon, the residents, looking up at the sky with their hands cupped as if to catch water, began to catch the shimmering light particles falling from the sky.
โ The warm, pure, compassionate heart of the Great Saint.
The residents felt that they were receiving the compassionate heart of the Great Saint.
The shimmering light particles, upon touching their bodies, brought an indescribable comfort and peace.
Thus, the residents, as if possessed, focused solely on catching the light particles.
When the last light disappeared and the darkness returned, the residents, as if coming to their senses, blinked repeatedly and began to notice the changes in their bodies.
"It... it's gone...?"
"The yellow pattern is gone. The fever is gone too..."
"Unbelievable... Could we really be saved in just an instant...?"
After checking their bodies, the residents stared at Lady Seraphina in disbelief.
No one could believe that she had cured a disease that no one else could in just a short time.
โ Everyone was silent.
The event was so extraordinary that no one could grasp the situation.
Amid the residents' gazes, Lady Seraphina stood with an unchanged smile, but for a moment, her body swayed.
...Ah, she must have used up all her magic power.
As I rushed to Lady Seraphina, I noticed that the back of her dress was soaked with sweat.
Earlier, Lady Seraphina, as usual, did not call upon the spirits to heal the disease.
Healing so many people without the spirits' power meant that her magic power must be completely drained.
Worried about Lady Seraphina's swaying, the residents with torches approached one by one.
In the light, Lady Seraphina's figure faintly appeared in the darkness.
โ Upon closer inspection, Lady Seraphina's appearance was far from neat.
Her dress was dirty from the splashed mud, and after two days of continuous wear, it was wrinkled and worn.
If it were the First Princess, Lady Seraphina's elder sister, or even a noble lady, they would not show themselves in such a state without changing clothes.
But...
Just then, it seemed to be sunrise, and the sun began to rise.
The sunlight illuminated the dark sky, and rays of light began to pierce through, turning the sky a deep red.
Illuminated from behind by the first rays of light, Lady Seraphina's back glowed like a halo.
The morning light mixed with the Great Saint's red hair, blurring the line between the red of the sunrise and the red of her hair.
"The Dawn Saint..."
One of the residents whispered in a trembling voice.
"It's light... beautiful, red light piercing the darkness..."
Another resident whispered, moved to tears.
โ It was truly the image of the compassionate Great Saint standing in the darkness, receiving the light.
The divine sight left everyone breathless.
Like a scene from a myth, the hair on everyone's body stood on end, and one by one, they knelt down.
โ Yes, my Great Saint is beautiful.
Beautiful, compassionate, and saving allโ
Everyone understood.
The islanders were destined to die, and the entire clan was fated to perish.
This Great Saint, alone, tore through that fate and saved everyone, from infants to the elderly.
And this salvation was possible only because of Lady Seraphina's compassionate heart.
โ It was an impossible journey. A distance that would take a carriage nearly ten days, she traveled in just two days on horseback, which is extraordinary.
Yet, Lady Seraphina did not utter a single complaint, gritted her teeth, clung to the horse, and fought against sleep and exhaustion for two days, riding continuously.
She did not consider the danger of falling off the horse and losing her life, driven solely by the desire to save the people of this land.
Her body must be aching and in pain.
Yet, Lady Seraphina, without a thought for her own body, rushed to the people, used up all her magic power, and saved their lives.
By now, Lady Seraphina's consciousness must be hazy.
Her physical strength and magic power are at their limit, and it's a wonder she can even stand.
Yet, she is smiling from the heart.
Happy that she could save them, happy that they are alive and smiling.
โ This is the Great Saint revered by all.
I realized that the hundreds, thousands of residents present were all kneeling.
Some bowed their heads, some wept, and some prayed, all in awe and gratitude to the absolute Great Saint.
โ Ah, today will be the beginning.
The residents of this land will undoubtedly worship Lady Seraphina as a savior for the next 100 years, 1,000 years, as long as their ethnicity endures.
โ The most beautiful and compassionate Great Saint.