Chapter 156
The saint's appearance as she entered the room, her pink hair fluttering, was sacred.
Her hair, the same color as the flower of Lactus, made onlookers naturally accept that she was a saint.
"Hur...ry!"
A blonde woman urged the saint.
The princess groaning in pain on the bed was a stark contrast to her.
The saint, her pink hair tied back tightly, looked down with calm eyes at the princess, who was biting her lip hard to endure the pain.
"That is why I told you to act in moderation, Princess Ravienne."
The saint produced a vial of holy water from her bosom.
She then unhesitatingly uncorked it and poured it over the princess's reddened flank.
Drip, sizzle, hiss.
"Keughhhhh!"
As soon as it seeped into the wound, pure white smoke billowed up as it began to heal.
"Among the holy waters, this is Spear Holy Water, which is even more effective for those who harbor the power of Lactus. Though the pain is excruciating."
The saint stated calmly as she sprinkled the holy water.
"His Majesty the Emperor shows no mercy in his actions. That applies to his children as well."
The princess's wound was a rather large puncture wound.
A wound that looked as though a spear had been thrust into her.
"Keugh, ughhh...!!"
Trembling violently from the extreme pain, the princess rolled her eyes back and fainted.
But that was only brief.
Amidst the agonizing healing process, she opened her eyes again, clenched her teeth, and let out a groan.
But perhaps out of pride.
She did not scream out loud.
She glared with bloodshot eyes.
Her bloodless face contorted, yet she did not scream.
She fought with all her might to endure it.
The legitimate heir of the empire.
It must be the pride of the imperial bloodline.
Seeing her like that, the saint smirked faintly and continued.
"Leading an army against mere Dragon-kin and even bringing along the duchy's princess, yet failing to achieve any results—taking upon yourself a punishment wasn't a bad choice. But you know very well."
The Emperor is a man who knows no moderation.
That holds true for his children as well.
"He must have dealt his own punishment."
From the imperial palace of the empire.
All the way to Voltan, the princess had traveled while enduring the wounds inflicted by the Emperor.
Even though she could have been treated immediately, the Emperor ordered her otherwise.
To suffer in pain from this wound for a long time, and to receive treatment belatedly as a warning to never make the same mistake again.
Still, not treating the princess as if she were dead and allowing her to accompany the saint could be considered his last remaining mercy.
Of course, to the saint, Eiley, it was a somewhat incomprehensible gesture.
Regardless, that was the reason.
The reason the saint had revealed herself in Voltan.
The Garden of Lactus, the only place in the empire solely accessible to the Emperor and the Saint.
Her visit to the garden was because of the wounded princess, and because of the Emperor's command.
"Keughhhhh."
Looking at the princess who had fainted once more, the saint turned her gaze to the scenery outside the window.
This place was Arun, a short distance from Voltan.
A small fortress built upon the plains.
Thus, the saint was also aware.
The rumors of a dragon appearing in Voltan were not something to be easily dismissed.
Moreover, since Arun was also mustering troops to provide support, it was a fact she could not possibly be ignorant of.
Naturally, the local nobles had requested the saint's aid, but she refused.
The primary reason was the princess's critical condition, and the secondary reason was her personal lack of desire to assist Voltan.
Because Voltan was mostly filled with stimulating and distasteful things catering to the nobles.
The saint detested that place.
The Garden of Lactus.
Those suffering within it were not confined only to the garden.
For there were many who were exploited to death for the sake of entertainment, or under the pretext of upholding the empire's majesty.
"It would be better if they were all liberated this time around."
The Colosseum, the slave market, the black market, and so on. It was a place rife with distasteful things.
While the dragon's appearance was a cause for wariness, the saint genuinely wished for Voltan's destruction.
Therefore, just this once, she would feign ignorance.
She would look the other way.
"Please rise slowly. I am still rather fond of you within the empire, after all."
Whooosh.
A warm breeze drifted in through the window, yet the saint's face somehow appeared sorrowful.
* * *
Callius raised two fingers.
"There are two types of holy water in the Empire."
One that anyone can consume. The so-called ordinary holy water.
The other is permitted exclusively to the saints of Lactus.
Holy water permitted only to those whose bodies harbored the divine power of the Spear God, Lactus.
"I believe it was called Spear Holy Water."
The surviving holy water collected by ordering the Ashen Knights numbered eleven.
Seven ordinary holy waters, and four Spear Holy Waters.
This alone could be considered a sufficient harvest for this journey.
The corners of Callius's lips curled upward.
[There are a total of thirty-four Tears of Lactus.]
"I see."
Niol, who had stepped up beside him, organized the Tears of Lactus laid out on the ground and spoke.
Eleven holy waters and thirty-four Tears of Lactus.
An immense haul of spoils.
The absence of these items would drastically alter the landscape of the war.
"But why are you telling me this..."
"You ask the obvious. Aren't you heading to Carpe, Esther?"
"Yes. That's true, but..."
In a forest some distance away from Voltan.
Callius, along with his companions, stood facing Esther.
"Putting the ordinary holy water aside, the Spear Holy Water and the Tears of Lactus are of no use to me at the moment."
Currently, Callius was in no position to easily return to Carpe.
Was not the gaze of the Dragon race entirely fixated on him?
If he stayed in Carpe and suffered a dragon attack, they wouldn't be able to prepare for war, and as long as the Empire wasn't foolish, they wouldn't let such a golden opportunity slip by.
Hence, Callius wanted to entrust these to Esther.
"Go to my mansion in Caladi and deliver this to Beatrice. She might be able to refine the Tears of Lactus or devise a new formula to create holy water that would aid Carpe."
"Is that possible?"
"I don't know. It isn't certain."
Even if she can't, it doesn't matter.
If it's her, she will surely find a way to make use of them somehow.
"At the very least, she should be able to produce holy water from the Tears of Lactus."
A total of thirty-four Tears of Lactus.
Mass production would be ideal, but even if that proves impossible, the holy water that can be crafted from these would exceed thirty. Even if each Master only receives one or two, it could save precious lives in the war.
'If it's Beatrice, she might mass-produce them. Or she might uncover a new formula akin to the Spear Holy Water, and create a holy water that forcefully drags one up to the Paladin realm.'
Spear Holy Water.
A holy water containing several times more of Lactus's divine power than ordinary holy water.
Although he didn't know the exact principles and ingredients, the Empire's production of numerous Masters was partly due to Agathod of the Sahara Holy Land, but the influence of the Spear Holy Water was far greater.
The wall of transcendence is high and distant; even with heaven-sent talent, it is generally impossible to cross without fortune.
But with this Spear Holy Water, the height of that wall could be slightly lowered.
'It's a type of elixir that allows one to easily attain enlightenment through a temporary awakening effect.'
If Carpe could also produce something like this, they would be able to bolster their military strength.
"Still, it's incredible. I've only just risen to the ranks of Master, yet you, Callius, are already beyond that."
Esther's eyes sparkled.
"Dragon Slayer—you are truly worthy of inheriting the will of Saint Stella."
"You're the impressive one. Even I didn't expect you to reach Master in just a year."
"I was lucky. After finding the first holy relic, I gained great enlightenment from its influence and was able to shatter the wall."
She had already partially broken the wall with Sullyvian's death.
The holy relic must have served as a minor catalyst.
"What holy relic did you find?"
"Veria's Ring."
Holy relic.
Its origin is nothing special.
God does not perform miracles like bestowing holy relics upon his followers.
Most of the holy relics in the Order are items forged by saints who sacrificed their lives.
Veria's Ring that Esther spoke of was the same.
"Veria's Ring..."
Veria's Ring is a circular piece of iron smaller than the palm of a hand.
Iron shaped like a hollow ring.
But it is also a holy relic created by the saint Veria, who poured out everything she had.
'To think they named it a ring.'
Veria's holy relic is not a ring.
It's a pair of glasses.
Like a monocle, wearing it allows one to peer into another's body, making it possible to cure even those suffering from incurable diseases.
Of course, Veria had made it for that purpose, but in reality, it was not used that way.
Veria's Ring was...
'The only holy relic that could verify another's combat power and potential.'
With it, one could nurture knights with potential, and discern another's weaknesses at a glance.
Naturally, since it was fragile and easily damaged, it couldn't be used during combat, so it would be utilized to assess knights' potential.
'Once I arrive in Carpe, I'll have to ask to borrow Veria's Ring.'
Not right now, but before the war begins.
With Veria's Ring, they might be able to elevate the potential of their knights.
"You attained enlightenment just by looking at it, without even knowing what it is?"
"Do you know what it is?"
"Tell the old fogies of the Order. Tell them to put it over their eyes once. No, actually, I'd prefer you deliver it to the Pope."
If it's Philice, she must be busy teaching the children right now.
Because the entire Order cannot be trusted.
"Understood. I will pass that along."
"Aren't you suspicious?"
"Of whom? Of you?"
"...."
"Ah."
As she tilted her head as if asking whether he truly didn't know, Esther hastily averted her gaze.
Only then did Esther seem to recall the actions she had taken in the past.
It was nothing new at this point.
Esther listening attentively to his words and believing them exactly as they were.
It was nothing new, but thinking about it, it was also a rather curious sight.
Because just a year or two ago, Esther had tried to kill Callius.
"...I haven't forgotten everything. But you are a hero of Carpe, and a noble knight who slew a dragon. The past is simply the past."
And...
"Lady Sullyvian, before she passed, told me to try believing in you once. So I don't believe there's any reason for me to doubt you, either."
For some reason, Esther's face flushed red.
Niol and Garcia, the Sangjanggun, who had been quietly observing their conversation while keeping watch over the surroundings, concealed their presence and stepped a little further away.
"Is that so."
"Yes."
An awkward silence lingered.
Esther's face somehow grew even redder.
Enough to starkly contrast with her water-colored hair.
Callius observed Esther's strange demeanor with curiosity, then handed her the Tears of Lactus laid out on the ground.
Holding the thirty-four flowers in one hand made them look like a bouquet.
Since they looked quite similar to light pink roses, they were fairly beautiful flowers.
"Take them."
"Ah, yes... But Callius. What will you do now?"
"About what."
"This is the Empire. The reason you're entrusting me with this must be because you still have things to do here."
"Right. I still have things to do."
Turning his back on the quizzically tilting Esther, Callius took in the sight of Voltan, and this land.
Realizing his intent, Esther spoke firmly.
"It's dangerous."
Esther was concerned for him.
However, Callius shook his head.
"Did you see them here?"
"...Yes."
Without eyes, without ears, without tongues.
To the Empire, they are convenient labor.
They are defeated survivors of other races, and slaves.
Beings possessing significantly longer lifespans and superior physical abilities compared to humans.
There will be no shortage of people seeking to exploit and use them.
Therefore.
"I intend to take them all in."
"All of them?"
"It is my wish for them all to become one with Carpe."
Elves, Dwarves. And other demi-human races.
Callius was thinking of embracing all of them into Carpe.
To break the Empire, their strength is necessary.
And.
"It is also my atonement."
Callius's ashen eyes grew clouded with a weary resolve.
Esther could not understand his words. What sin could the legitimate son of Zerban have committed against the demi-humans?
But she could not easily dismiss the emotion held within those eyes.
"If that is the case, then I will help you as well."
"Esther. Your priority is to deliver those to Carpe. Time is not on our side."
"But the Empire won't be able to easily produce holy water anymore. So then..."
"Do you think the Garden of Lactus possessed by the Empire is only in Voltan?"
"There are more?"
"There are at least two more. So don't entertain useless thoughts and return to Carpe."
At Callius's unyielding attitude, Esther's spirit dampened slightly.
"You protect them from the inside. I will aid that from the outside."
However, at his next words, a faint smile blossomed on Esther's face.