"Fia, where have you been for such a long time? After causing such a commotion this morning and being brought back to the lord's mansion, you disappeared without a trace!"
Commander Cyril approached me with a look of genuine concern.
"Do you know how many hours have passed since then? It's almost dusk."
It was said as if it were a huge problem, but, well, I am an adult, right?
And today is a festival, so every knight was supposed to be free to spend the day as they pleased.
Why am I being worried about like a child by the commander?
Feeling discontent, I glanced up, and Commander Cyril continued as if to confirm.
"Since we don't know how you, with your red hair, would be treated here, I told you that for your safety, either I or Curtis should accompany you."
"Ugh!"
...Indeed, I think I was told something like that.
I had completely forgotten about it until now.
Well, but that was before the residents started believing I was the reincarnation of the Great Saint. The situation has changed, right? ...Does that make sense?
No, it doesn't. I should have explained this to Commander Cyril beforehand and gotten permission to go out alone.
Looking at Commander Cyril, who was frowning with worry, I thought it was entirely my fault.
It's impossible. To argue with someone as eloquent as Commander Cyril, especially in such a bad situation, would be the height of folly!
Realizing it was a losing battle, I bowed my head and apologized sincerely.
"I'm sorry for causing you worry. After leaving the lord's mansion, I walked around the festival with some children. We ate roasted fruit, amber candy, fluffy candy, egg bread, and so on. When the children went home, I was left alone."
To avoid giving Commander Cyril a chance to interrupt, I explained quickly and without pause.
"Then, Ereal... well, he seems to be the chieftain's grandson, tried to kidnap me, but due to his incompetence, the kidnapping failed. I followed him on my own, and then Commander Curtis secretly followed us. Ereal and his group attacked us, and..."
"Wait, Fia! There are several strange things in your story. Why did you follow the person who tried to kidnap you? And what do you mean by Curtis being cut? Curtis should have been more worried than I was and searched for you..."
Commander Cyril interrupted my words, but when he saw Commander Curtis, who had appeared from behind me, he was speechless.
...That's understandable.
Upon closer inspection, Commander Curtis's once white knight's uniform was darkened with blood. Although the bleeding had stopped, the uniform was almost entirely black, making him look as if he had suffered a near-fatal injury.
"It's fine. Just a minor injury."
In response to Commander Cyril's worried gaze, Commander Curtis said it casually, leaving Commander Cyril speechless.
It was unclear whether it was because Commander Curtis, who had always been polite to Commander Cyril, suddenly used informal language, or because he called a clear major injury a minor one, or because the atmosphere around Commander Curtis had changed completely.
However, Commander Curtis ignored Commander Cyril's surprise and turned his gaze to me, as if waiting for my response.
I was startled and looked at the many residents who had gathered around.
Then, Chieftain Radec ran out from among the residents, looking flustered.
"Great Saint, I'm relieved to see you safe!"
While saying this, the chieftain bowed deeply, but when he noticed Miu, who was holding my hand, he looked surprised.
"Miu, Miu. Aren't you supposed to be living in a cave with your father because of your illness? You shouldn't have come back here..."
His words trailed off mid-sentence.
The chieftain approached and knelt in front of Miu, rolling up her sleeve to check her palm and arm.
"The yellow marks are gone..."
The chieftain whispered, his voice rising, and then looked up at the former patients standing behind Miu, stunned.
There, standing were all the members of the clan who had been afflicted with incurable diseases and whom he thought he would never see again.
They were teary-eyed with joy, and there were no yellow marks on their bodies. Not only that, but none of them showed any signs of illness and were standing on their own feet.
"...Great Saint..."
The chieftain turned to me, his voice trembling, and said those words.
"Great Saint!!"
By the time I noticed, all the residents had knelt on the spot, repeating the ancient title with trembling voices.
Standing there were only Commander Cyril, Commander Curtis, and I, and I thought the situation was thoroughly bad. I looked at Ereal, seeking help.
"Ereal!!"
Hearing my words, Ereal stood up, looking startled, and called out to the chieftain.
"Grandpa, no, Chieftain! Fia is not the Great Saint, but... well... um..."
Ereal, flustered, couldn't find the right words and looked at Commander Curtis helplessly.
Commander Curtis, meeting Ereal's gaze, looked around and said,
"Ereal is right. Fia is not a saint or the Great Saint. She is just a knight. ...Understood?"
At that moment, Commander Curtis had an unusual intensity that no one could argue with.
As a result, everyone, including Ereal and the chieftain, swallowed hard and remained silent, though they seemed to want to say something.
However, they couldn't hold back and looked at me, seeking help, as if they wanted to contradict Commander Curtis.
I noticed their gazes but, unable to help, avoided eye contact and apologized silently in my heart.
...I'm sorry. I can't.
You all want me to deny what Commander Curtis said, that I am not a saint, but... I, too, affirm that I am a knight.
"Commander Curtis is right. I am not a saint but a knight. The new special medicine was created because Commander Curtis suddenly had an idea and gathered the necessary materials. Then, Sariella made the new special medicine based on those materials."
"..."
The residents, including the chieftain, continued to look at me, as if they wanted to say something, but when I didn't respond, they bowed their heads in resignation.
"...Understood."
...Good, good. The residents have accepted that I am not a saint but a knight.
I nodded and looked at Commander Curtis in admiration.
Commander Curtis's words just now sounded like a threat, but he is respected here, and his words were persuasive.
It's not that everyone would accept a threat.
There must be a deep trust between Commander Curtis and the residents.
To make them accept that I am not the Great Saint but just a knight with just one word is a remarkable skill.
As I sighed in relief, Chieftain Radec whispered, confirming.
"...So, Fia is not the Great Saint?"
"A, ah. That's right, Grandpa."
When Ereal affirmed, the chieftain raised his gaze and whispered, his voice trembling.
"Even so, to create a cure for an incurable disease and save us, how grateful we are..."
In Chieftain Radec's eyes, I could see gratitude and respect for something beyond his reach.
I felt the overwhelming gratitude of the residents spreading quietly and looked at the chieftain in surprise.
...What! The conversation seems to be off, but it's actually on.
From behind, Commander Curtis muttered.
"...I see. Words are not just words. They are composed of and understood through various other things."
Chieftain Radec looked at his grandson Ereal with a pleading expression.
"Ereal, after receiving such a great favor, can we not even thank the Great Saint?"
"...That's what the Great Saint wishes."
"I see..."
He whispered and looked at me with a deeply sorrowful expression.
I instinctively averted my gaze and noticed that the other residents were looking at me with similar expressions.
Feeling uncomfortable, I shifted my position, and in front of me, the chieftain hugged his great-granddaughter Miu tightly.
"Oh, Miu. Miu. We have received another great favor without being able to repay any of it. What should we do?"
The chieftain's deeply sorrowful words echoed in the silent space.
"What should we do?"
But, standing before the residents who firmly believed I was the Great Saint, I was the one who wanted to ask that question.