<Chapter 19>

*  *  *

The moment I heard that a landslide had buried countless people underneath it, I knew.

‘This is it. That comment was definitely about this event!’

I immediately pressed Alice and Kei.

“We need to go to the landslide site right now.”

“What? Why would you head to such a dangerous place? A second landslide could happen at any time. Please, Prospective Duchess, stay somewhere safe.”

“You know the divine oracle I received yesterday? I think it’s related to this landslide. If I go, I might save someone who would otherwise die. Hurry! This is urgent!”

“B-but……”

Alice looked flustered and uncertain, unsure of what to do. However, at the mention of a divine oracle, Kei’s expression changed.

“Understood. I’ll escort you immediately, Prospective Duchess.”

“But if you take her to such a dangerous place and she gets hurt……”

“You know, I’m a Saintess candidate, right? Or rather, I am one.”

It was a fact that I could receive divine oracles, after all.

I confidently thumped my chest and declared, “I’m a Saintess. I have a divine mission bestowed by God. I must go.”

At my bold statement, Alice finally nodded reluctantly.

“……Understood! I will follow your orders, Prospective Duchess.”

Once the two agreed to cooperate, everything moved quickly after that.

We hurried to the stables while figuring out where the accident had taken place.

“I think I know where the accident is. There’s only one road wide enough for carriages to travel between Winstein and Perón.”

The problem was how to get there.

Preparing a carriage would take too long, and riding a horse by myself was… not an option. I didn’t know how to ride a horse.

“Or, Prospective Duchess, you could ride with me. I’ll take you.”

“Ah! That’ll work.”

Of course, even the largest horse could only carry two people. So Alice decided to stay behind.

“I’ll stay here and inform everyone about the Prospective Duchess’s whereabouts.”

“Got it. Make sure to explain everything to Monica and the other maids!”

“W-wait, wait! Sir Kei, Prospective Duchess, are you sure about this? I really don’t think this is a good idea……”

The stable hands were anxious as they watched me wrap my arms tightly around Sir Kei’s waist atop the horse.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. I’ll take full responsibility for everything that happens from now on! Let’s go, Sir Kei!”

“Yes, Prospective Duchess!”

Although I was nervous since it was my first time riding a horse, it was surprisingly not as uncomfortable as I thought.

Kei’s excellent riding skills and the well-maintained road seemed to make a big difference.

‘This is actually kind of fun.’

Maybe after I get married, I’ll have some spare time to learn horseback riding.

With those thoughts in mind, we reached the accident site relatively comfortably.

“There it is……! Oh my God.”

“Whoa, whoa,” Kei calmed the horse to a stop and stared silently at the scene before us.

The ground was littered with bloodied bodies, and the cries of those collapsed around them pierced my ears.

It didn’t feel real.

I stood there, stunned, staring at the devastation. There were only a handful of people working amidst the chaos.

“Se-Senior!”

“Max?”

A young knight, who looked barely an adult, ran up to us.

His entire body was covered in dirt, and even his face bore countless scrapes and bruises.

“Senior, what are you doing here? Has Winstein sent additional support?”

“No, not official support—we came in a hurry. What’s the situation?”

“It’s… dire. You can see for yourself……”

As Max explained the situation to Kei, I suddenly heard a familiar voice.

“Prospective Duchess?”

I turned to see none other than Dr. William.

“Dr. William? Good heavens, what happened to you?!”

One of the bloodied figures lying on the ground was none other than Dr. William himself.

‘Why is the doctor who’s supposed to treat the injured lying among the injured?!’

It seemed he had only just regained consciousness. Dr. William tried to sit up but appeared dizzy, holding his head with one hand and bracing the ground with the other.

Blood trickled down from his hair, sliding past his cheek and dripping off his chin.

The sight shocked me so much that I dropped to my knees beside him.

“I mean, why are you bleeding like this……? Did you hurt your head? Are you fully conscious?”

“Yes, I’m conscious. But why are you here, Prospective Duchess?”

“I should be the one asking! Why is the doctor who came to treat the injured like this? What happened to you?”

“I was dispatched to attend to patients from a carriage accident but got caught in the landslide myself…… Ugh!”

“Enough, just lie down for now.”

As I helped Dr. William lie back down, blood smeared my hands and clothes.

The sticky texture and metallic smell drove home the reality of the situation.

‘Stay calm. I’m here to save lives.’

I forced my racing heart to settle when, suddenly, someone shouted: “Dr. William! You’re awake!”

A knight covered in dirt rushed over, grabbing Dr. William with urgency.

“The situation is critical! There are patients whose lives are at risk if we don’t act immediately. Please, do something!”

Dr. William nodded, breathing heavily.

“Understood. Where are the patients……”

“Wait! Doctor, you’re a patient yourself! You haven’t even stopped the bleeding properly, so where do you think you’re going?!”

“But……”

“No buts! If you really want to treat the patients, then wait a moment. I’ll treat you first.”

“You’re going to treat me? What do you mean……”

“By the way, who are you?”

The knight, eyeing me suspiciously, scanned me up and down.

Revealing my identity at this point would only cause more chaos, so I quickly turned to Dr. William.

“Dr. William. You know who I am, right?”

“Huh? Of course I do, Prospective Du—”

“No, not that. My status back in the capital.”

Just as I was about to confidently declare my past as a Saintess candidate, it hit me.

‘……How do I treat an injured person?’

I had come all this way assuming I could do it, but I didn’t know how to treat anyone.

As my confidence deflated like a balloon, a notification appeared.

Sub-Quest Triggered!

 

*Many people have suffered severe injuries due to a sudden landslide. Heal them to raise the North’s faith in God.

 

Goal: Heal 31 people (Current: 0)

Reward: 1 Divine Oracle Token

Failure Penalty: Damage to your reputation as the Prospective Duchess

 

[Accept/Decline]

‘A quest out of nowhere… Is this God’s way of encouraging me because I can do it?’

‘Well, I didn’t know how to receive divine oracles, but I managed to get them somehow.’

Just as I had prayed for a divine oracle and received one, surely if I prayed to heal the injured, God would take care of it.

I immediately pressed the accept button.

Grasping Dr. William’s hands tightly in mine, I said, “Doctor, close your eyes.”

“Who even are you?!”

“If you’re curious, ask Sir Kei over there later. For now, let’s pray together. Do you believe in God?”

“Huh?”

“This is the time to answer ‘yes’ even if you don’t. Do you believe in God, Doctor?”

Flustered, Dr. William nodded.

“Y-Yes, I do.”

“Good.”

God, I beg you. Please heal Dr. William!  

Flash!

A dazzling light mixed with gold erupted from my palms as I held his hands. The radiance was so blinding I had to close my eyes.

When I cautiously reopened them, the light had disappeared.

Dr. William, still holding my hands, examined his head and body, then sprang to his feet.

“Everything’s healed! I can’t believe it—this is impossible!”

“Doctor, I’ll ask again. Do you believe in God?”

With a face full of awe, Dr. William shouted, “I believe!”  

Northern residents admire God.

Northern faith rises. (+3)

Achievement Unlocked! <First Healing!>

You have healed a wounded person using divine power.

Reward: 1 Divine Oracle Token

‘Yes! This is what I’m talking about!’

“Wh-who are you?! What is this light? Are you a priest?”

Shocked faces surrounded me as murmurs spread among the onlookers.

Then, I heard someone calling my name.

“Inosensia!”

It was the first time I’d heard my name in this world.

Startled, I turned, only to see a shadow rushing toward me, grabbing my hand with a firm grip.
 

<To be continued>

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