You Are Dead –
CHAPTER 35…………………………………
The place where people had gathered wasn’t very far from the village.
I could hear their voices.
“So are we all going back?”
“This place is where monsters live. We can’t keep staying here.”
“Even if we go back, who’s going to take us in?”
“If your parents were slaves, their children will be treated the same way.”
“Times have changed a lot, haven’t they? This isn’t something that can be solved just by being emotional.”
“If the king abolishing slavery was enough to solve everything, we wouldn’t be living like this here.”
It was a conversation among the villagers. I felt as though I was overhearing something I shouldn’t have.
I rolled my eyes to the side and looked at Cardin, who was standing next to me.
Since Cardin was royalty as well, I found myself watching him carefully, worried he might be offended.
Their conversation showed no sign of ending.
In truth, it was a problem that couldn’t be easily resolved.
The people living near the border were a mix of citizens from the Kingdom of Nicholas and the Kingdom of Helen. It wasn’t even easy to assume that everyone there was from Helen.
As I listened to their unresolved discussion, I lightly tapped the back of his hand with my index finger.
The man, who had his arms crossed, raised his eyebrows slightly and looked down at me.
“Um… let’s go now.”
It seemed better to postpone greeting them until later.
He guided me down a side path. Unlike the ones I had seen so far, this tent was fairly large.
“Did you prepare this many tents?”
“As soon as we learned of the damage, we informed the rear unit of the situation.”
It was a swift response.
Holding onto the tent flap, he asked me,
“Have you seen the injured?”
Not as a saint—but after your death, I had tended to the wounds of the Grand Duke’s knights.
When I nodded, he closed his eyes briefly, then opened them and pulled back the tent flap.
Thanks to him holding it open, I walked straight inside.
Cardin followed me in.
Most of the people lying on the low beds were wrapped in bandages, groaning softly in pain.
“Did the knights provide first aid?”
“Yes. They did.”
The bandages were neatly wrapped—clearly not the work of someone inexperienced.
Those who were still conscious immediately tried to sit up when they saw Cardin.
“Oh my… Thank you, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”
“Thanks to you, we were able to live.”
“If I hadn’t made it out of there, I’d already be dead. This is all thanks to you.”
“I don’t know how we could ever repay this kindness…”
What Cardin had told me earlier while we were riding here came back to mind.
By the time the Knights of the Kingdom of Nicholas and the Grand Duke’s knights arrived, the monsters were already attacking the village.
They dealt with the monsters quickly, but the village had already been devastated, just as I had seen. From there, they split into groups to rescue survivors.
Most of the people hadn’t been directly attacked by monsters, but had been trapped under collapsed buildings.
As I listened quietly, Cardin furrowed his brow.
Without thinking, I frowned as well when I saw his expression.
When he looked at me in response to my small movement, I quickly turned my gaze away.
“That’s enough, everyone.”
At his commanding voice, those who had been speaking abruptly bit their lips and fell silent.
“Introduce yourselves.”
Their gazes shifted from Cardin to me.
“This is Saint Melissa.”
Their eyes widened in shock, clearly unable to believe it.
“H-how could the Saint come to a place like this…?”
A woman, her eyes reddening, nudged the arm of the man who trailed off mid-sentence.
“See? What did I tell you? I said if we prayed—if we prayed, our prayers would be answered!”
“S-saint… it’s an honor to meet you.”
One person knelt before me and bowed flat to the ground, and before long, everyone else followed suit, forgetting their injuries as they prostrated themselves.
At that moment, the scene struck me once again with a deep shock.
“Please, everyone, stand up. You don’t need to do this.”
“…Lady Gloria sent the Saint to us.”
As the sound of sobbing filled the tent, Cardin spoke in a low voice.
“That’s enough.”
When the people quieted down again, Cardin gave a small nod.
“She is Shallen Melissa.”
Men and women alike glanced nervously at Cardin and covered their mouths.
“I’ll tend to the injured first.”
Those who had been standing immediately pointed toward the people lying unconscious on the beds.
“P-please look at them first! They haven’t woken up for days!”
I nodded slowly and walked to the bedside.
Closing my eyes, I let healing flow.
Color returned to their faces, their eyelids fluttered, and soon their eyes opened.
It was the sight I had once wished to see when I prayed to the Pope.
Suppressing my bitterness, I spoke gently to the person lying there.
“Are you all right?”
The injured man stared at me blankly and said,
“A-an angel?”
“Pfft—”
A stifled laugh came from behind me.
When I rolled my eyes toward Cardin, he was rubbing his lips, barely holding back his laughter.
It felt as though his laughter was somehow spreading to me.
“A-are you an angel? Then… am I dead?”
The people standing nearby cried out in unison.
“Hey, Tollen! You barely survived!”
He turned his head, recognized a fellow villager, then looked back at me.
“How do you feel? Are you feeling better now?”
“A-an—”
Before he could say it again, I hurriedly cut in.
“I’m not an angel. I’m Saint Melissa—Shallen Melissa.”
Even so, I could still hear snickering from behind me.
I bit my lip and shot Cardin a sharp look. He coughed awkwardly, still trying not to laugh.
“S-Saint… why would someone like you help someone like me…”
“I’m the one who was late. I’m sorry.”
I gently patted the man’s hand.
The wounds on his face and body were completely healed.
Smiling faintly, I stood up. I healed everyone inside the tent and bestowed blessings upon them as a saint.
When the people looked as though they were about to prostrate themselves again, Cardin grimaced deeply.
Grabbing his arm, I smiled at them and said goodbye.
“I’ll come again before returning to the temple. If you feel unwell, please don’t endure it—tell the knights without hiding anything.”
I led Cardin outside, but once again, it was he who lifted the tent flap first.
“I told you—when you frown like that, people get scared.”
When he didn’t respond, I lowered my gaze.
Only then did I realize I was still holding onto his arm. Startled, I quickly let go and stepped back.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize.”
“Are you scared as well, Saint?”
“…What?”
He pressed firmly against his own brow.
At his gesture, the corners of my mouth lifted without me realizing it.
“I meant that other people are scared—not me.”
When Cardin stared at me intently, I avoided his gaze and awkwardly rubbed my neck.
“Are you different from everyone else, Saint?”
“…What?”
I couldn’t quite understand his intention.
“It’s because I know it’s your habit, Your Highness.”
Darkness was slowly falling from the sky. I took a step ahead and spoke.
“If we want to meet the villagers too, we should hurry.”
I heard his footsteps only after I had walked several steps forward.
* * *
After meeting the villagers as well and blessing them, Cardin looked lost in thought as he watched them.
With his help, I dismounted my horse, and the area around the tents grew busy.
It seemed the knights who had been fighting the monsters had returned.
As soon as they spotted me, the knights straightened and saluted respectfully.
My gaze lingered longest on the Grand Duke’s knights.
They were familiar faces—slightly younger than I remembered, but recognizable at once.
The knights moved in perfect unison and lit a fire in the center.
The holy knights approached me.
“Saint.”
“Is everything prepared?”
“Yes. It is.”
I glanced once toward their tent.
“There were a few injured knights. Fortunately, none were serious—within what I could handle.”
“Thank you.”
“Are you not tired? You must have pushed yourself today.”
“This much is fine. Um, Captain… may I ask you one favor?”
“Please speak.”
When Alec raised one eyebrow, I gave a bitter smile.
“I think… we really, truly arrived far too late.”
