Chapter 303
Chapter 303. The Saint’s Anguish
――Liliana headed north along the highway, entering the Tritus Principality.
She planned to head east through this country. Once she crossed the territory of the mountain tribes and the Beastman Federation, she would reach the Elf Forest.
The lack of well-maintained roads made this route exceedingly inconvenient for humans, but for the Forest Elves, it was like their own front yard.
In just a few days, she’d be back home. She’d get to see everyone in the village—thinking of this made something swell in Liliana’s chest.
(…I’m really glad I borrowed some traveling money.)
The brigade of Forest Elf archers had lent her quite a sum. At first, she hesitated, but they insisted, saying, “You’ll need it, trust us.”
In fact, once she entered the Tritus Principality, she was charged far more in travel taxes than she had anticipated, proving their foresight correct. When she asked the soldiers at the checkpoint, they mentioned that taxes had increased since last year.
It made sense, as the Tritus Principality borders the former Defteros Kingdom, now the Demon Lord Kingdom. The nation was in a dire situation—one could say they were on the brink of collapse.
With an influx of refugees from the Defteros Kingdom—rumor has it that most of the evacuation forces from the Evaroti capital have taken refuge in the Tritus Principality—its finances were being strained.
King Tsugiwaiya IV was reportedly cutting down on candles in the palace by a third, liquidating his personal assets, and releasing military supplies, frantically scrambling for funds, which indicated just how tense things had become.
As a result, the atmosphere in the town was grim.
In a certain local city in the eastern part of the principality, there were throngs of people everywhere—the kind of tranquil atmosphere she felt during her last visit was now replaced with a chaotic and grimy tension.
“Prepare for war! Need swords and shields? I’ve got them cheap!”
A merchant was hawking weapons that looked like they’d just been salvaged from a battlefield.
“Man, this soup is like boiled water…”
A swordsman complained as he slurped from a soup stand.
“Hey, big brother, what are you up to after this?”
A brazenly dressed prostitute was openly “working” in broad daylight.
“Please, spare some change…”
Countless homeless people were scattered about.
“Hey there, beautiful Forest Elf lady… could you spare some change for this unfortunate retired soldier…?”
Liliana found herself stopped as well. A human soldier sat on the roadside, a battered helmet laid out as a makeshift plate, pleading.
“You… your arm…”
Liliana, who was walking quickly, couldn’t help but stop. The soldier’s right arm was only elbow-length, wrapped in filthy bandages soaked with dark blood. It seemed like not only his wound but his entire body had never been properly cleaned, and a pungent odor stung her nose—
“Yes… on the front lines, I was torn apart by a demon… now I can hardly work. Please, I beg for your mercy…”
Facing the soldier with a tormented voice, Liliana bit her lip.
Though she was currently disguising herself as a normal Forest Elf, she could heal injuries like this in an instant when she tapped into her true powers.
However, revealing her identity here was not an option.
The “Saint” Liliana was missing. If people thought she might still be hiding in the Demon Lord Kingdom, it would create chaos for that realm and give Alexander more leeway for movement. Thus, she had to continue concealing her identity as much as possible.
Additionally, if she demonstrated her miraculous healing power, it would cause an uproar. The soldier wasn’t the only one; there were multitudes of others around him suffering from similar grievous injuries…
“…I’m sorry.”
――This was not the first time she had been crushed by the gap between ideal and reality.
For Liliana, who naturally excelled in healing power, it had always been a given to heal any injury or ailment she came across.
Even in the Forest Elf village, it was only natural to heal everything from critical injuries to easing the pains of elderly elves or nursing weak animals back to health. She had never felt a sense of “limit.”
But then Liliana ventured beyond the forest and learned about the battlefield—
At first, she tried to heal indiscriminately. But it didn’t work. Faced with hundreds or thousands of casualties, she realized for the first time her limitations.
It was impossible to perfectly heal everyone.
After fainting multiple times from overusing her magic, when she learned that lives that she could’ve saved slipped away in her unconsciousness, the shock was profound.
And that’s when Liliana learned—about making choices.
Should she heal the critically injured veteran soldier who could fight again, or ten lightly wounded new recruits? Conversely, if faced with a dying rookie versus ten lightly wounded veterans, which should she prioritize? Depending on her situation and the battlefield conditions, she had to make selections.
She had no choice.
And for the kind-hearted Liliana, it was nothing short of torment.
“Oh, oh no!”
Even now—this pure, innocent part of her heart was suggesting that she should do what she could to heal this soldier and those around.
But it was impossible. If she did that, it would spiral out of control. People would flock to her seeking miracles, leading to utter chaos. It would be disastrous if, in trying to heal the injured, even more were harmed. Not to mention, how many days would it take if she tried to heal all the wounded overflowing in this city?
She had no room for that now.
In terms of time, magical energy, and politically—
The “Saint” Liliana should not be here.
“I’m sorry… I don’t have any money…”
Liliana whispered as she gently reached for the soldier’s bloodied arm.
A warm light glowed, slightly healing that wound.
“Ah…”
The soldier was taken aback. The tormenting pain in his wound vanished in an instant. The loss remained, but the injury itself was cleanly closed. Furthermore, she slipped a coin into his uninjured left hand.
“This is all I can give…”
“T-thank you so much! Thank you…!”
Tears welling in his eyes, he bowed his head repeatedly, making Liliana feel even worse as she quickly left the scene.
This isn’t enough.
It’s nothing more than self-satisfaction… It doesn’t lead to a fundamental solution.
“Please, spare some change…”
“Oww… it hurts so much…”
“Can anyone spare just a piece of bread…?”
There were still so many suffering from injuries and illnesses.
If only she could unleash the power of the Saint, everyone could be revived…
“I’m so sorry…”
Clenching her teeth, Liliana shed tears as she hurried on.
…Now that she thought about it, this frustration was what drove her onward.
To the Demon Lord Castle.
No matter how hard she worked to support the frontline, as long as the Demon Lord Army kept attacking, the casualties wouldn’t decrease. To truly “heal” them, they had to destroy the Demon Lord Kingdom.
It was just at that moment that she learned of the raid on the Demon Lord Castle, and it turned out Alexander was participating.
That’s why Liliana too had decided to storm the Demon Lord Castle.
The outcome was already known, but still.
The operation to storm the Demon Lord Castle had not yet ended.
(I need to let him know.)
That in that place, in the den of darkness, there exists a hero fighting alone.
(…Alexander)
In order to defeat the Demon Lord Kingdom, to save the allied nations, she too must give her all.
Wiping her tears, Liliana quickened her pace.
――Eastward. Once she passes through the Tritus Principality and crosses the Beastman Federation, the Elf Forest, her homeland, awaits Liliana.
