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It didn’t take long for the village’s plague to come to an end. It was largely thanks to the villagers almost entirely following her instructions.

Even among those who were initially uncooperative, not a single person ended up defying Sophia’s orders.

At first, they had to reluctantly comply due to Sophia’s status and authority, standing alongside the bishop, and her overwhelming martial power that seemed ready to cause trouble if they didn’t listen. But later, they were moved by her hands-on approach—handling patients’ waste without hesitation and personally overseeing every detail of their care. One by one, they began to genuinely follow her.

As patients started to recover under Sophia’s command, this trend accelerated. The most decisive event that influenced the villagers was when she revived a child who had clearly stopped breathing and whose heart had ceased to beat.

To Sophia, it might have been absurd, but to the villagers, it was nothing short of a saintly miracle.

The child, who was clearly dead, was embraced by Sophia. With her hands glowing, she gently touched the child’s body and breathed life into them. The child’s heart started beating again, they began to breathe, and soon opened their eyes, coming back to life—or so it seemed.

The villagers, who already believed the village was cursed and plagued, saw the epidemic gradually subside under Sophia’s devoted care. And amidst it all, a dead child came back to life.

In such a situation, not obeying Sophia’s words was, at least to the villagers, akin to blasphemy.

“We were saved by the saintess.”

“Absolutely! If it weren’t for the saintess, our village would have been wiped out long ago.”

“And not just that! Our saintess is so graceful and holy! Even when she’s just standing still, it’s like a halo radiates from her.”

“Well, when she’s just standing still, that is.”

“Who just said that?”

This was the general vibe. Of course, Sophia often spoke in a gruff, old-fashioned manner, and occasionally let out crude jokes, which made some people treat the silent Sophia and the speaking Sophia as two different people. But anyway.

Conra, who had been helping Sophia care for the patients, sensed the village’s mood and began to feel a growing sense of pride. Unconsciously, he felt proud to be her disciple and follower. Of course, that pride was quickly deflated by a swift slap on the back from Sophia when she noticed.

“I’m not dead yet. I’ll be back.”

As if leaving those words behind, Conra’s pride kept trying to resurrect itself whenever it got the chance.

As the village’s patients began to recover one by one, and the last patient was finally examined by Sophia, the village’s medical schedule came to an end.

Sophia was very satisfied that everything had been resolved smoothly.

Though it was a task she unexpectedly took on due to the guidance of the spirit Gabrielle, it was her policy to take full responsibility for anything she decided to do. Especially since it was something she could handle, she believed in giving it her all. Sophia thought this attitude was the true mark of a strong person.

With her duties completed, Sophia had to leave the village again. A Paladin knight doesn’t linger long in one place for matters outside their chosen mission.

“Alright, you’re all better now. But from now on, be careful with water. Boil it if possible. I know I say this every time, but it’s important, so remember it well.”

“Thank you, thank you, saintess!”

While curing the plague, Sophia also treated various pains and chronic illnesses, which led to her being treated like a saintess. She smirked bitterly at the situation. In a time when medical services were scarce, even small acts of healing were seen as divine blessings. It felt like a bad joke to her.

With the last patient sent off, Sophia pondered what to do next. Leaving immediately seemed too rushed, so she considered preparing to leave the next day. Just then, Conra, who had returned from seeing off the patient, spoke up.

“Did you hear, Master? The villagers are preparing a festival to celebrate overcoming the plague and to honor your grace.”

Sophia chuckled at the news.

“Really, now that they’re better, they should focus on recovering and getting back to work. Why bother with a costly festival?”

“They’re probably just happy and grateful. The village has been gloomy because of the plague, so they want to lift spirits with a celebration.”

Sophia snorted at Conra’s words but couldn’t hide a slight smirk. Conra smiled inwardly, seeing that she wasn’t entirely displeased.

“Hmph, fine. So, why did they tell you this?”

“They said they’d like you to attend the festival and grace the occasion.”

“What? How would my presence brighten anything? I’m the one who bossed them around and made their lives difficult.”

“Master… are you serious?”

“Hmph, cough.”

As Conra looked exasperated, Sophia awkwardly cleared her throat and avoided his gaze. Sophia, who prided herself on being strong, tended to downplay her own achievements. She believed that doing what one was capable of was nothing extraordinary.

So, when someone praised her deeds, she would shudder and show clear discomfort.

“[…?]”

“True. It’s hard to imagine Master boasting about her achievements, Gabrielle.”

Conra had been chatting with the spirit Gabrielle, who had recently become visible to him. Sophia suddenly flared up.

“Enough chit-chat! If you have time to gossip, go pack our things! Gabrielle, you should start thinking about where to guide us next!”

“Yikes! Alright, stop hitting my back!”

“[…!]”

Dodging Sophia’s backhand, Conra and Gabrielle quickly fled outside. But as they left, they heard Sophia’s voice.

“Tell them I’ll attend the festival.”

Conra couldn’t help but smile. His master was truly a good person.

+++++

The festival began late in the afternoon, before sunset. The village women prepared food with fervor, using whatever ingredients were left in the village. The men, led by the village hunter, brought meat from animals caught in the nearby forests and fields.

The village was filled with delicious smells, and cheap, low-quality wines and beers were brought out from every household, spreading a pleasant aroma. Sophia, who had been making alcohol earlier, was baffled at how these drinks had suddenly appeared when she couldn’t find them before.

A large bonfire was built in the village center, and the smell of roasting meat filled the air. Following Sophia’s instructions, the villagers had cleaned and repurposed old furniture as firewood, so there was no shortage of fuel. The sizzling sound of meat fat and the occasional flare of flames added to the atmosphere.

Some villagers brought out instruments they had carefully stored at home.

Some used clay pots and oak barrels as drums, while others played traditional instruments like the braghina from the southwest, strumming and singing. Someone even brought out a pan flute, and though the music was rough, it was lively enough to enrich the festival’s mood.

As Sophia stepped forward, the noisy chatter and music gradually quieted. Conra whispered to her.

“Master, the villagers seem to be waiting for you to say something.”

“Tch, unnecessary… Fine, I got it.”

Sophia frowned briefly but then relented and stepped onto the platform. Her voice, amplified by the Six Harmonies Convergence technique, reached everyone in the village as if she were speaking right beside them.

“Well, I won’t keep you long. You’ve all been through a lot. Illness not only weakens the body but also the spirit. Yet, you endured and followed my instructions, even when I was a nuisance. Now that everyone is healthy again, you’ve all done well. Today, forget everything and enjoy yourselves. Tomorrow, return to your diligent lives.”

“Wooaaah!!”

“The saintess said to enjoy ourselves!”

“Pour it! Drink it! Let’s eat and die today!”

“Who just said ‘let’s eat and die’? Didn’t you hear her say to return to diligent lives tomorrow?”

Regardless, the villagers, who already revered Sophia as a saintess, took her words to heart. They focused on enjoying the festival, eating, drinking, singing, and dancing.

For Sophia, it was enough if the villagers could forget their worries and enjoy the moment. Even if this time seemed frivolous, it would serve as motivation for them to face tomorrow.

Conra, who had initially looked down on the villagers, now mingled with them, laughing and enjoying the festivities.

Watching this, Sophia sipped from a cup of the cheap, low-quality wine the villagers had opened. It was more sweet than flavorful, more sour than acidic, thick and heavy. But Sophia didn’t think this diminished its value.

Only the strong can sustain selfless devotion, but ordinary people also have their own potential and value. Sophia had no intention of underestimating that. She didn’t expect the extraordinary, but she knew that even ordinary people could create miracles.

Miracles are called such because they are not ordinary. In her past life, Sophia had often witnessed such miracles, and their protagonists, even if not inherently strong, deserved respect.

As Sophia lost herself in these thoughts, a commotion broke out at the village entrance. Sophia frowned and turned her gaze toward the noise.

There, a noble’s extravagant carriage, clearly breaking the law, was parked. Sophia, holding her cup, slowly rose from her seat as she heard the coachman arguing with the village youths blocking the entrance.

 

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