CHAPTER 68………………………………………………..
Kadiya hesitated for a moment.
No matter how she thought about it, trying to perform both healing magic and purification magic on one person at the same time was simply too much.
Even if two different people poured their spells in simultaneously, she couldn’t be certain it would work.
In the end, the only one capable of such delicate mana control and precise magical calculation was Sierra.
“[Purifying the curse is something I or others could manage together, even if it takes time… but direct healing is better left to you.]”
“[Yeah, I understand. Leave it to me.]”
Sierra agreed without hesitation.
Ashur and the others, aside from her, decided to locate and destroy the source of the curse.
Barel guided them to where the patients were.
Painful groans echoed from all around.
Starting with those showing the worst symptoms, Sierra slowly began healing and purifying them at the same time.
Barel stayed by her side, wiping away the patients’ pus and helping them take medicine.
Before long, news arrived that the curse’s source had been found near the village.
Just like before, it had been hidden beneath the hot spring.
“I guess they chose it because it’s easy to conceal, and people stay there for a long time,” Barel said.
“If that’s the case, solving it in other villages should be much easier.”
“Let’s hope so.”
After answering briefly, Barel quietly watched Sierra as she returned her focus to treatment.
Sierra, devotedly caring for everyone, didn’t notice his bitter gaze.
When all the healing was finally complete, Sierra let out a long breath.
Barel immediately handed her a cool drink.
“You worked hard, Sierra.”
“It’s nothing. It’s what I should do.”
“You’re… truly amazing.”
Barel began speaking plainly, revealing his feelings.
“At first, it was just curiosity… but before I knew it, my eyes kept following only you.”
His gaze dropped to the floor as he fidgeted with his cup.
“But I suppose I’m already too late. …You two look good together. Congratulations.”
Sierra found it hard to respond to his heartfelt words.
Seeing the always confident and gentle Barel so dejected made her feel sorry for him.
No words seemed like they could truly comfort him.
So Sierra decided to be honest.
“Thank you. I’m not that amazing… but Barel, you’re a good person. Someday, you’ll meet someone meant for you. I’m sure of it.”
“…Yes. Still, Sierra. If there’s ever anything I can do to help, I will.”
“Just saying that means a lot. Thank you.”
Sierra replied with a bright smile.
Just then, Ashur came striding quickly from afar, as if the expedition had ended.
Without a word, he wrapped his arms around Sierra from behind and glared at Barel.
“What is it. What do you want?”
His rough voice brushed against her ear.
Sierra flinched slightly at the unfamiliar tone, her shoulders tensing.
But she didn’t pull away from his embrace.
After a brief silence, Barel let out a scoff and turned around.
“We’re done talking. Do your best… if you don’t want to lose her.”
Ashur’s expression twisted deeply as he watched him leave.
“What did that bastard do?”
“Nothing. He just said you should treat me well.”
“…Really?”
One eyebrow lifted suspiciously, but his face soon returned to neutral.
“The job’s finished. We can head to the next village now.”
“It ended faster than I expected.”
“Yeah. Are you okay? Not too tired?”
Ashur asked, carefully checking her complexion.
“I’m fine. Large-scale purification is the hardest part, but the others handled that.”
“I see. You did well, Sierra.”
Ashur pulled her gently into his arms again.
“I’m useless… making you work this hard…”
“You don’t have to think that way. I’m helping because I want to.”
“…Yeah. I’ll massage you again later.”
This time, somewhere with absolutely no one around.
Of course, anything beyond that would still need Sierra’s permission.
At his lowered voice, her pale skin quickly flushed red.
“Okay… when we get back… please do.”
Her voice grew so small it was almost swallowed.
Soon, Kadiya and the others could be seen returning.
Sierra and Ashur climbed onto Kadiya’s divine beast and quickly traveled through the sanctuary.
From Sherzan to Glacien and Erdina…
Nuarel, whom they visited early on, had already healed people on her own, so all that remained was destroying the curse’s source.
“[Water spirits excel at healing and purification. They can’t even be compared to ordinary magic.]”
Leah, whom they hadn’t seen in a while, smiled proudly.
She even lightly healed Sierra’s exhausted body.
A refreshing coolness lingered where the water spirit passed.
“[Wow, thank you!]”
Sierra felt even more energized than before.
Thanks to that, they were able to eliminate the curses planted throughout the sanctuary earlier than expected.
* * *
After such a long forced march, everyone was exhausted.
Even Kadiya’s divine beast was struggling from lack of rest, so the group decided to walk from the village entrance.
“[Come to think of it, this is where we found you, Sierra.]”
“[Really? Should we take a quick look?]”
“[You two go. I’ll stay here.]”
Saying she’d never used so much purification magic in her life, Kadiya shook her head and collapsed with a pale face.
Leaving her to rest against a tree trunk, the two headed outward.
They passed through dense forest paths and emerged beyond the bushes.
There, railway tracks stretched endlessly into the distance.
“Oh… the railroad was right next to it?”
Sierra searched her memory.
She had jumped off the train, but everything had been so chaotic she barely remembered anything.
“Railroad? You mean that?”
Ashur’s innocent expression made Sierra smile softly.
“Yes. That’s where the train runs. It’s a means of transportation for kingdom people who don’t have divine beasts.”
“Transportation?”
“Yeah. It can carry lots of people at once.”
“Really?”
Ashur couldn’t imagine it.
If many people rode it, how huge must it be? The tracks looked so flimsy.
“Ashur, you don’t come around here often, do you? Trains must pass by sometimes.”
They wouldn’t stop, though. This railway simply brushed past the sanctuary and looped back toward the kingdom’s outskirts.
The kingdom people looked down on the sanctuary as barbarian land, yet they built tracks around it so they could admire the beautiful forest.
‘And maybe they dreamed of claiming it someday, too.’
Ashur stared at the strange-looking tracks and answered.
“I guess I don’t really have reason to come this way.”
“So it really was pure luck that you found me.”
What would have happened if Ashur hadn’t?
Her destination was the sanctuary, so maybe she would’ve met him eventually…
But still.
“…Yeah.”
Ashur squeezed her hand slightly.
Maybe he was remembering it too.
“Ashur, what did you think when you first saw me?”
“I thought, what kind of woman is this?”
“What? Hahaha. Me too! I thought, what kind of man is this?”
He stared at her laughing face, then added quietly—
“…But even then, I think I already thought you were beautiful. I just didn’t want to admit it.”
“Reaaally?”
How could he say something so embarrassing so casually?
Her grip tightened unconsciously.
But she noticed his ears were slightly red too.
Maybe he really was shy.
Unable to look at her, his gaze remained fixed on the tracks.
“…Hm. What’s that?”
After a short silence, Ashur pointed.
“Huh? Over there… wait…”
Something silver was glinting between the rails and the grass.
“No way… that’s—”
Sierra hurried over. Ashur followed immediately.
“My gun!”
“Gun?”
“My weapon from before! It survived—wow!”
She hadn’t expected anything after more than half a year, but it was an unexpected treasure.
She had grown used to the bow, but in terms of convenience, a gun was far superior.
She could even hide it under a dress.
“That tiny thing is a weapon?”
Ashur looked doubtful, as if wondering what it could possibly do.
“Hehe. Of course. It’s super useful. I’ll show you next time. For now, let’s head back. Kadiya’s probably waiting.”
“Alright.”
Naturally, he held out his hand.
Just as naturally, she took it.
