Chapter 66
The figure of a child gathering an adult into her arms conjured up images of the Holy Mother embracing a baby. The tormented patient’s expression started to ease up. His rough breathing calmed down. The hardened pus covering his body began to wash away. The wounds caused by his scratching were repaired. The patient’s original healthy self slowly emerged.
“It’s beautiful. I’ve never seen such a clear white heroic power on any supporter!” Ereka exclaimed.
“Agreed,” Sungjin acknowledged.
A god’s child had suddenly appeared in his arms, a girl accompanied by a five-colored spiritual lion who the followers of Angramainyu were trying to recapture. Although the mystery surrounding her had not been completely explained, one thing was certain: she could heal the sick.
The patient slowly opened his eyes.
“Thank you, thank you.”
“You’re fine now.” Rachel stroked the patient’s head once more.
“Now, the next person.”
She went to the nearest patient, feeding him the boiled water and submitting a prayer. The benevolent light shone from her once more and saved another soul struggling in its torment. A young holy maiden was here.
“There’s no need to test her any further,” Sungjin ordered the healers.
“Check what plant Rachel has brought and gather it in mass and figure out the details of the healing magic she’s using; make sure all patients are given the treatment.”
“Yes, My Master.”
Sungjin approached the girl.
“Rachel.”
“Yes, brother.”
Sungjing nodded his head lightly.
“I don’t believe in a certain god. I am a realist who makes my own path.”
It was the same even after he had arrived in Valhalla, where gods breathed their powers. He had refused the legendary great devil Lucifer’s offer of inheriting his position; he couldn’t rely on things like prayers.
“But I will show my respect and gratefulness towards this miracle, which has saved the people I could do nothing for. Thank you, Rachel.”
“Ah, it’s nothing. I’m only carrying out the order of the goddess.”
“But that action has saved their lives. It’s your achievement.”
“Ehhehe.”
“Now share your methods with the healers so you can take a break.”
“No! I still have some strength left! We can do it together so that more people can be saved!”
“Okay.” Sungjin ultimately stepped back.
I guess there’s no point.
If she was a normal child, he would have told her not to wear herself out. He would have praised her, saying she had already done too much; then he would have fed her delicious sweets. But she was a holy maiden who had to complete God’s mission to save patients; it was her job. As he had his path towards becoming the ultimate Arc Master, she also had her path.
I should not treat her like a child but respect her wishes.
Still, it was admirable. Despite her pain, she was able to care deeply for others. She was mature and, therefore, more lovable and dear to him. He was proud to protect her from Rupellion.
The healers started to swarm around Rachel questioning her.
“Did you bring the leaf of the Golden Koreensis?”
“What’s the Golden Koreensis?”
“It’s in this book. It’s a branch of the tree family of...”
While the healer spewed out scientific terms, Rachel tilted her head and gathered her hands into a prayer. She closed her eyes and then reopened them.
“Yes,” she said, “that’s the one.” It was as if someone had spoken to her.
“I thought so. To think, this was the only treatment for the epidemic... I suppose it was your skill that enhanced the healing abilities of the medicine after administering it?”
“Yes.”
“Is stroking the head a vital part of the healing?”
historical
Rachel shook her head with round eyes.
“No. I did that because I felt revived when Oppa stroked my head. I thought if I did the same, the patients could get some strength from it also.”
“Pfft.” Sungjin, listening from the side, let his laughter slip.
Oh dear...
He had heard that children mimic adults, but he found the reason behind it comical. They had all witnessed the miracle of her saving a hopeless patient, but still, a child was a child.
“She’s cute.”
“Yes, cute.”
Sungjin agreed with Ereka’s assessment.
“This is not the time for cute. That girl...she has the ability as a supporter. If she is truly the goddess’ child, she may have other talents up her sleeve. We need to find out,” Eustasia declared.
“Ahh. We should figure that out. But let’s wait until she’s done treating all the patients,” Sungjin replied leisurely. She was on a roll, and he could not bear to disturb her.
Those riddled with the illness began to heal. Those struck by the epidemic could now be returned to health once the medicine was administered. Rachel was not a cursed child.
She was a child delivering the cure.
***
They moved towards the temple to confirm Rachel’s level.
“Now, Miss Rachel, you must place your hand here and say that you wish to confirm your information.”
“Yes, Unni.”
Rachel did as Ereka directed and placed her hand on the central spiritual stone. It was already confirmed that Rachel had an ability. What remained was how much she had.
Amid everyone’s curiosity, the Valkyrie’s voice resounded:
Updating Status Information.
Name: Rachel
Class: Supporter
Level: Seven.
When that number was announced, gasps echoed throughout the temple.
“A level seven...”
Currently, the only two level seven’s in Sungjin’s camp were Ereka and Eustasia.
Even if Sungjin had an amazing strategic mind, he was still lacking in high heroic level heroes compared to the other great nations. Discovering Rachel was his third level seven was an amazing stroke of luck.
The supporter class was traditionally lacking throughout the four-country alliance. The current minister of the department of health was only a level four supporter; this new information about Rachel could turn the tides in his favor.
Possessed skills:
Protection of the Earth: Effects—The targeted two allies will have their attack and spell- casting skills enhanced for a certain period and reduced recasting time limit.
Protection of the Wind: Effects—The targeted two allies will have their agilities and movements enhanced for a certain period and harmful effects on the status removed.
Protection of the Sea: Effects—The targeted two allies will have their defense and resistance enhanced for a certain period; all damage will be healed.
Ultimate skill, Protection of Light: Effects—All allies within the limited area will be healed. Unlimited area allowed on the battlefield and in reality...
“Every ally within the battlefield? That’s amazing!” Ereka exclaimed.
“It is amazing.”
Hundreds of strategies came to Sungjin at the thought of having Rachel as his teammate.
The Valkyrie’s voice, which was summarizing each effect, had a display that detailed the numbers of each skill. Surprisingly, the numbers were directly proportional to Rachel’s spell-casting ability.
Rachel herself does not have the battle ability of a level seven. But when paired with another level seven, she has power beyond two level seven players; when paired with two level seven players, she would have the battle ability of four level seven players.
That was a simple calculation. Her ultimate skill level was unfathomable if capable of healing all five allies on the battlefield, no matter the distance.
“This is beyond expectations. Ha! Thank goodness I didn’t hand her over to Rupellion.”
Eustasia raised both of her hands in agreement.
“Is it a good thing?” Rachel blinked her eyes; she had no idea what the reaction of the others meant.
“It’s an amazing thing.” Ereka smiled as she held Rachel’s hands.
Kuga appeared beside her and patted her back with his big paws.
“Rachel, listen carefully. You may be still young, but you are a child selected and blessed with power by the goddess. To save other people and release yourself from the cure of the evil god, you must battle Rupellion with your powers. You must be determined to fight with Sungjin in the field.”
“Yes, I understand. I will do my best!” Rachel raised both of her arms and promised.
She then ran towards Sungjin with carefully-gathered hands and shining eyes.
“Oppa, Oppa! Tell me what I need to do.”
Her smile told him she would do anything he asked; he felt another wave of adoration.
I think this might be the emotion to teach one’s younger sister everything.
Sungjin pondered for a moment before deciding.
“Fine. I do anything, like telling you to leave the fight because you are a child.”
His thoughts had now completely changed from when he had first arrived in Valhalla and had denied Ereka from joining the fight.
“Let’s work together so that the evil gods will not be able to harm anyone anymore.”
“Yes, Oppa!”
“There are only five days left, but do you want to join our special training?”
“We’re trying to stop the bad guys, right?”
“Right.”
“Yes! I’m trusting you. Even if it’s the toughest training of all, I’m going to endure everything!” Rachel replied confidently.
“Let’s start today.”
“But Oppa, in return...” Rachel mumbled as she wriggled her fingers.
“Yes?” Sungjin waited.
“If I try hard...and save a lot of sick people... and chase away all the bad guys...then grant me a wish after everything’s over?”
“What is that wish?”
“I’ll tell you when the time comes.”
She looked like a child asking for gifts if she promised to be a nice girl; Sungjin laughed once more.
Well, there was a time when I was excited about Santa Clause.
The problem was he figured out the truth too young. He supposed Rachel still had time to believe in such things.
“Okay, tell me when it’s time.” Sungjin instinctively raised his hand and stroked her head.
The gentle and soft stroking was warm. The other girls looked on with half adoration and half jealousy.
“Yes!” Rachel replied excitedly.
“Ehehehe.”
She kept laughing as she enjoyed Sunjin’s hand. The laughter was so lovable, Sungjin could only smile in return.
Behind him, Eustasia started whispering.
“Do you think that would be a date request?”
Jenna raised her fishtail.
That’s entirely possible!
Only Ereka smiled as if all was well.
“My goodness, Eustasia! What would young Rachel know?”
My Queen, that’s ignorance. Young people can be scary nowadays.
Jenna swallowed back her sigh.
And to think she would be on the same level as My Queen...
Regarding her status, Rachel was not royalty, but as a holy maiden selected by the goddess, she was no less than the royalties in this world; but there were no supporters to rule. It was almost like she was as good as Ereka to be Sungjin’s partner, giving him validity when Sungjin had conquered military and political might by his own hands.
It’s not the time to be laughing so leisurely...
Even amidst Jenna’s uneasiness, Rachel grandly announced to the world her place amongst Sungjin’s team as the goddess’ child who defeated the epidemic.
***
Every undefeatable general exuded impressive power as they hovered in the air. The energy was so concentrated, it was hard to breathe. Amid everyone, the owner laid leisurely. Where curtains normally hung, water flowed. A servant laid, prostrating.
“Rupellion and Sevrantina have clashed, as you had planned.”
Everything went according to his plans. Listening to the report, the servant felt cold sweat dripping down his back. Exactly how far did his owner’s plans reach?
The precious sacrifice of Rupellion did not make it to Sungjin’s arms because she was lucky. Before the protection of the goddess, there was the strategy of the Golden Wise King.
The girl herself would never realize how the secret organizations, planted throughout the state by the Golden Wise King, had backed up her escape.
“The stupid king of Sevrantina immediately bit the feed you sent.”
“Stupid? Hahahahaha! How could that be possible?”
“What?”
“He would have considered the interference of a conspiracy, not only the pure guidance of the goddess. Who else but me to corrode the relationship between the two states? He would have doubted me a hundred times over.”
“Bu...but he immediately accepted the sacrifice’s request for asylum. He even refused the negotiations with Rupellion. There was no outward signs of suspicion...”
“He’s just that kind of person.”
“Even if he...considered that some conspiracy was behind this?”
“Even if there was a conspiracy, if he believed the child’s pitiful story was the truth then he would take her in.”
A man who had no choice but to live that way due to his integrity that was Sungjin.
And...
The experienced way he used Sungjin’s virtue against himself.
A red light flashed beyond the water curtain. The servant shivered in fear.
Although he had not seen it before, according to rumors, the Golden Wise King had dug out one of his own eyes to embed a sacred artifact called the wise gem. It allowed him to read other people’s minds.
Perhaps he had planned all this, having foreseen it through his special eye.
As expected...the winner of this three-front confrontation...would be my king.