Chapter-08 · EP-127

Episode 127: The Saint of the Theocracy

"…Let me start there."

Susa began explaining in a calm tone.

"The Saint of the Theocracy. That's what they call a girl from the Holy Remedios Theocracy. It's no wonder you don't know. I had to look into it again after Josh mentioned it."

Saying that, he took out his smartphone and began reading aloud the information he had looked up.

"A small country in Southern Europe, the Holy Remedios Theocracy. It's also known as a holy land for healers, with patients coming from all over the world for treatment of injuries. It's said to have many excellent healers, but the treatment fees are exorbitant. It also takes in and trains healers from impoverished countries, which some say is human trafficking. The UED, the American explorers' organization, strongly condemns this. That's probably why Josh and his team were so familiar with it. Japan has taken a hands-off approach to the theocracy, so it's not widely known here."

While listening to Susa, I also took out my phone and searched for the Remedios Theocracy.

It was located along the southern coast of Europe, a very small territory to be called a country.

And I was confused, mixing it with my past life memories. I was sure a country like this didn't exist in my past life.

Japan's history had been completely different from my past life memories for about a hundred years, and overseas was also very different from the maps I knew.

A chill ran down my spine at being thrown into an unknown world.

Unaware of my thoughts, Susa continued his explanation matter-of-factly.

"A few years ago, a girl appeared in that theocracy. Her name was Aurelia, a girl from its poor class. She possessed a Healing Magic skill, but there was one thing different about her: even though her Explorer Level was 1, her Healing Magic was Skill Level 2. The priest who found her, Krishna Sabath, took her under his protection. Krishna also possessed a Healing Magic skill, but after protecting Aurelia, his Skill Level suddenly began to rise. At a rate of about once a year. Now, Priest Krishna's Healing Magic is Skill Level 5. He is the world's highest-level healer. He is even rumored to be a candidate for the next Pope. And it is said that this is thanks to the blessing of Saint Aurelia."

"…Does the Saint's Skill Level also increase every year?"

"No, the only one whose Skill Level has increased is Priest Krishna. Because of this, there is an endless stream of people wanting to receive Aurelia's Healing Magic in order to gain the saint's blessing."

"An ability to raise other people's Skill Levels?"

"In short, yes."

Listening to the story, I was missing information and didn't fully understand.

Healing Magic at Skill Level 2, and the ability to raise other people's Healing Magic Skill Levels?

Was that related to the saint's Healing Magic? Or did a separate skill exist that raised other people's Skill Levels? Could healers influence each other and raise Skill Levels?

Various speculations came to mind, but without asking the people involved, I couldn't understand the mechanism.

"There's not enough information to understand. It's hard to tell if the priest's Skill Level increase really has anything to do with the saint…"

"That's true. I myself don't know how much of this is true and how much is fabrication or misunderstanding. But it is certain that the UED wants to know about the saint. Therefore, the UED is targeting you, Hayasaka-san, who has the same abilities as the saint. I want to protect you from America. I am not your enemy; please believe that."

Susa said he was not an enemy.

But something about his words bothered me.

Hmm?

"Susa-san…"

"What is it, Ichinose-kun?"

"This is just my guess, but Yuno is not the saint."

"Why can you be so sure? Her exceptional Healing Magic ability and her Skill Level — she's clearly different from an ordinary healer, isn't she?"

"No, Yuno's Healing Magic is certainly amazing. But she's amazing, that's all. She didn't have Healing Magic at Skill Level 2 from the beginning like the saint."

"Huh?"

"I mean, Yuno's Skill Level only increased a few days ago. And it increased because she fulfilled the conditions for raising it."

That's right. That was the main reason.

The so-called Saint of the Theocracy supposedly had Skill Level 2 from the beginning. If so, then Yuno was different.

Yuno started at Skill Level 1 like normal. She only raised her Skill Level by healing slimes, as I suggested. With this method, theoretically, anyone should be able to raise their Healing Magic to Skill Level 2, regardless of their Explorer Level. It wasn't some innate special power like the saint's.

"But how did she raise her Skill Level? It's not something that increases so easily!"

Susa, unaware of slime healing, couldn't accept what I said and pressed.

But I couldn't tell him that easily.

"That's related to Dungeon Knowledge, so I can't talk about it casually. It's knowledge we discovered."

"…But"

If I couldn't explain, Susa still wouldn't be convinced.

What should I do?

Should I say nothing, just say "She's not the saint, you have the wrong person," and go home? But then the Americans targeting Yuno might continue to harass her.

Should I tell Susa about slime healing? If I told him, could he then tell the Americans that it was a misunderstanding and she wasn't the saint?

As I thought, Susa looked at us with a perplexed expression.

"Susa-san…"

"What?"

"Can you keep a secret?"

Having talked with him, I felt that he wasn't a bad person.

If so, trusting him and having him protect Yuno might not be a bad choice.

"Okay. I have made neither an audio nor a video recording of our conversation, and I promise that what you are about to tell me will remain with me alone."

Susa looked straight at me.

I was still only fifteen, but with my past-life memories, I had a fair amount of life experience.

And my experience told me that I could trust the look in Susa's eyes.

"I'll explain the method we discovered for raising Healing Magic's Skill Level…"

I told Susa that by healing slimes and defeating them 100 times, one could raise their Healing Magic to Skill Level 2.

Susa's face froze in shock.

After a moment of silence—

"Wait a minute! Is that true?"

Susa, having heard the skill-up method via slime healing, couldn't hide his surprise.

"It's true. My Skill Level is 2 now, isn't it?"

Yuno said cheerfully.

She didn't seem to understand why Susa was so surprised.

The slime healing method I had discovered was revolutionary. If this became widely known, everyone with Healing Magic worldwide would probably quickly raise it to Skill Level 2 and be able to use Healing Magic outside the dungeon.

The number of healers, which was said to be in short supply, would skyrocket. That would be good for injured people as treatment costs would go down, but healers' incomes would drop. In any case, the impact of this information being made public would be immeasurable.

"You say that so easily, but this is an amazing discovery, you know?"

"Probably. That's why I want you to keep it a secret."

"Certainly, if used properly, this information could make a fortune. If it's true, it needs to be handled carefully."

"That's why I'm telling you it's true."

"Even so, I can't believe it right away. The idea that raising a Healing Magic Skill Level, which was thought to be more difficult than other magical skills, could be completed on just the first floor…"

Since he still seemed unconvinced, I disclosed further information.

"It was known that healing the same companion over and over wouldn't raise its Skill Level, right? And that American, Josh, said that to raise Healing Magic to Skill Level 2, you need to heal 100 people's injuries. It seems they figured that out in America. I discovered that it doesn't have to be 100 people; 100 monsters work too."

"Is that true?"

"It's true. So Yuno just raised her Skill Level using that method. She's not a saint."

"No, it's not that I doubt you. It's just that my understanding can't keep up. No, I see. Well then, Hayasaka-san, you don't have any special power to raise your companions' Skill Levels, do you?"

"That's right! It just so happens that my Healing Magic reached Skill Level 2. Maika's Water Magic is still Skill Level 1, and Iori and Shirou don't have any skills. I don't have any saint-like power!"

That was right.

Yuno didn't have Skill Level 2 from the start, nor could she raise her companions' Skill Levels.

Yuno's Healing Magic power was immense, but it was a different matter from the Saint of the Theocracy's special ability.

"I see. I'll believe you. I'm sorry for suspecting you unnecessarily."

"Then, Susa-san, can you tell that Josh person that he's mistaken and not to bother us?"

"Of course. Even if Hayasaka-san were the saint, I would prevent the UED from harassing her."

It seemed he finally understood. And he seemed willing to stop the Americans from bothering us.

I was glad I trusted him and talked to him. As for whether he would really keep the slime healing method a secret, even if it got out, it wouldn't directly harm us. It would just benefit other people.

Satisfied with the discussion, I was pleased.

"Well then, Hayasaka-san, sorry for taking up your time. That's all I needed to ask you. You may go home now."

"Alright, let's go, Yuno."

As I stood up, Susa stopped me.

"Wait, Ichinose-kun. I still have things to ask you."

…You've got to be kidding me.