Chapter 13. Mars’s Story
The first meeting with the girl had been unforgettable.
“I will cure your daughter. I promise.”
Though he was skeptical at first, the child’s confident declaration was soon followed by a string of professional explanations, and he decided to take a chance on her.
He had nothing to lose, after all.
“Your eyes…”
But the moment he noticed the child’s disability, he faltered.
At first, he hadn’t realized it because she acted so naturally, but her missteps gave it away.
Those unfocused blue eyes—
The girl was blind.
‘…Even if she fails, it can’t be helped.’
Half of him gave up right then.
There was no way a blind child could succeed where countless renowned doctors had failed.
And yet, Mars carried the child on his back and brought her to his home—not because he believed in her, but because he pitied her.
‘She was staying at the inn all by herself.’
Worn and tattered clothes. Barely anything in her pockets. Wandering alone without a guardian.
She didn’t even have a cane for the blind.
It was far too harsh an environment.
Mars hadn’t said anything at the time, but even if she failed to treat his daughter, he had decided to take her in—or at least help her in some way.
But then—
“Daddy, I don’t hurt at all anymore!”
“A-Ah… Amy…!”
The moment the girl solemnly took Amy’s hand, the daughter whose illness had grown so severe she was unrecognizable, was suddenly and miraculously healed.
As the girl became engulfed in a pure white light, Mars was struck with certainty.
‘She’s a Saint.’
A blessed one.
The cherished child of the god Aether, chosen and beloved.
A being buried in legends had descended before his very eyes.
“I’ve been blessed by you, Saint.”
Overcome with emotion, he knelt before the girl.
It didn’t matter that she was less than half his age.
He knew all too well the agony he had endured since Amy fell ill.
And this girl, who had appeared out of nowhere—she was a savior.
“Sir Mars, please take me to where the other patients are.”
And then she spoke like that.
‘Truly noble.’
From that day forward, Mars pledged his loyalty to the girl.
He wanted to witness her miracles from the closest place possible.
But her miracles did not come without cost.
“Cough, hack—”
“Saint, are you all right!?”
“I-I’m fine. Let’s move on to the next patient.”
Each time she healed someone, she stumbled and coughed up blood.
Yet in front of the patients, she would suppress her pain with a gentle smile.
Even without asking, the reason was clear.
‘To keep them calm…’
If the patients saw how much it hurt her to heal them, they might feel guilty.
“Sir Mars. Let’s head out again today.”
“…Yes.”
Even though she moaned in pain every night, she never once complained.
Not even to Mars.
She tried so desperately to hide her suffering, and it pained him deeply.
Yet at the same time, he admired her.
How sacred she was.
How beautiful she was.
To show such boundless compassion even to skeptics like him. To expect nothing in return, and to willingly sacrifice herself for others.
‘That’s why she was chosen by Aether.’
This is what it meant to be favored by a god.
Someone so gentle, yet so resilient. It was no wonder she received divine love.
‘Every Saint in history met a tragic end.’
There had been many Saints.
They appeared one day without warning, offering unconditional love, and were inevitably caught up in calamities.
They were too kind.
Jealousy. Envy. Greed.
When war broke out over who would possess a Saint capable of miracles, one of them had said this:
“If someone must die, let it be me.”
‘I won’t let that happen to her.’
Saints were still human.
And this girl—though incredibly remarkable—was still just a child.
“I’ve come to escort the Saint.”
That’s why Mars was wary when a priest from the Holy Kingdom arrived.
“They say every Pope in the Holy Kingdom is black-hearted. Mercenaries like us might not care about the source of our money, but they warned us to be careful with the Holy Kingdom’s commissions.”
The moment he saw the priest, Mars recalled a warning from a fellow mercenary.
Even without that warning—
When you looked at history, the ones who hurt Saints were always those closest to them.
“All right. I’ll go with you.”
He wanted to stop her.
But he couldn’t speak the words.
‘Even if I tried…’
She wouldn’t listen.
The Saints of the past—surely they knew it would’ve been easier to live quietly.
They knew.
That from the moment they were labeled as Saints, their lives would constantly be under threat.
And still, they stepped forward.
For something greater than their own lives.
“The Saint will be well protected in the Holy Kingdom. Perhaps it’s time for you to return.”
“No.”
Mars refused the Pope’s offer.
“I will become a Holy Knight.”
“Didn’t you say you had a daughter?”
“She will be raised in the Holy Kingdom.”
“Do you intend to raise her as a priestess?”
“That will be her decision.”
He chose not the quiet life, but to leap into the storm with his daughter.
“I want to stay with Sister Yus forever!”
Thankfully, Amy understood her foolish father’s decision.
“You’re highly skilled. Were you a Gold-tier mercenary?”
“You flatter me.”
He discarded the gold badge that proved he was an elite mercenary, and traded his worn leather armor for the armor of the Holy Kingdom.
Through sheer determination, Mars learned to use holy power, and two years later, was officially appointed a Holy Knight.
“Congratulations, Sir Mars. You’ve become a fine Holy Knight.”
“…Saint.”
Yustinas, whom he saw again after two years, had grown a little taller.
Dressed in the pure white robes symbolic of a Saint.
With silver hair cascading over them, and her unfocused blue eyes—
The fourteen-year-old girl smiled serenely, and Mars immediately knelt and bowed his head.
“I wish to remain by your side for the rest of my life.”
“…Sir Mars?”
“Please accept my oath of loyalty.”
The girl looked troubled at his words.
“But that kind of oath… you can only make it once in a lifetime. I don’t think I’m worthy of receiving it.”
“No. There is no one but you I would give it to.”
The Oath of Vow.
A sacred pledge to serve one master for life—if broken, it would crush a knight’s heart on the spot.
But he didn’t mind.
If she was the one holding the leash.
However—
“I’m sorry, Sir Mars.”
The girl refused his oath.
“I’m not someone worthy of receiving your vow.”
“What do you mean? There’s no one more worthy than you, Saint.”
“How can you weigh the value of lives?”
It was frustrating.
He had resolved to devote his life to her, but she wouldn’t treasure herself at all.
“Then let’s do this instead.”
“…Do what?”
“You’re willing to give your life for me, but I have a goal more precious than my own life.”
“What is it?”
“To save everyone.”
Yustinas took Mars’s hand and gave a gentle smile.
“So please, use your precious life not for me—but for others. That would bring me the greatest joy.”
He felt breathless.
Like he was about to cry.
With a choked voice, Mars answered,
“…Gladly. I shall do so.”
And so, he became a true believer of Aether, the god who had chosen her.
“Gladly. I shall do so.”
Meanwhile, watching Mars bow his head, Yustinas couldn’t help but admire it.
‘Skill synergy is amazing.’
The combo of Holy Aura and Kind Voice was just too good.
With a point-farm machine practically rolling in on its own, she was absolutely delighted.
