CH 50

‘What is that?’

I examined my surroundings.

That was the fluorescent green debris embedded in cave walls.

It was as if one of these had been removed and placed on Alicia’s body.

“Joan! Alicia…….Oh my goodness!”

An old woman turned her head to us with tears in her eyes and stiffened when she found me.

“That can’t be. Saintess!”

“Hello. Nice to meet you. My name is Irene Grace. Alicia is…… Is it that child?”

The old woman turned to look at the lying girl shortly after, wiping her tears away.

“Yes, yes. you’re right. It is a great honor to meet you, Saintess. My name is Delfina.”

Delfina wiped her eyes with a handkerchief as she introduced herself.

“Our Alicia……She hasn’t opened her eyes in more than a week.”

“It’s been a week.”

I approached Alicia carefully and knelt beside her.

The people who were holding the fluorescent stones on Alicia quickly retreated to the side.

“I thought I had miraculously found a cave full of holy stones…… However, the holy stone has no effect on Alicia for some reason.”

Is a cave full of holy stones?

With a puzzled expression on my face, I looked around the cave.

Are you talking about those fluorescent stones?

“Mother.”

Dame Joan said with her face stiffened.

“Didn’t I tell you? There is no evidence that the stone is a sacred stone. Serving an unconfirmed stone as a holy stone in a cathedral is idolatry.”

“Joan, what do you mean? Idolatry! This is without a doubt the holy stone that God Elune has bestowed upon us.”

With her wide-eyed eyes, Dame Joan’s mother persuaded.

The other man standing next to her nodded.

“Yes, Joan. Beasts that appeared out of nowhere broke into the church and took the holy stone. Didn’t you come across a cave full of stones that glowed like other holy stones in this situation?”

“What would it be if this isn’t a line of salvation from God Elune?”

People nodded and said a few short prayers of gratitude to Elune.

The only one with a serious expression on her face was Dame Joan.

‘Holy Stone.’

I took the fluorescent green stone in my hands.

I remembered the demon’s spitting on the holy stone of Lakeia.

That jewel that shone with a dazzling golden light.

“How do you feel, saint?”

Someone asked in a tense voice.

“Can you feel the energy?”

“Ummm……”

I smiled vaguely.

That was impossible for me to feel.

However, I have already seen two real holy stones.

The Cathedral and Rycallion.

‘They were definitely dazzling the moment I saw them.’

The stone in front of me was emitting light on its own, but it didn’t glow like the holy stones, which embraced the moonlight.

“Now, Let’s cover Alicia in even more holy stone.”

“Mother, please stop.”

Dame Joan stepped forward as if she could not bear it.

“That’s just an unidentified stone. Is Alicia’s condition better now that she’s been buried in the stone for a week?”

“That’s……”

Aunt Delfina was at a loss for words.

She asked as aunt Delfina set the fluorescent stone on the ground.

“Has she improved? Mother.”

“It’s…… There are a few things that concern me.”

Aunt Delphina gently rolled up the blanket over Alicia with a hesitant touch.

She took a small breath after that.

“This is……”

A dark red colour bloomed around Alicia’s collarbone like a bruise.

“It’s getting worse.”

Aunt Delfina said through her tears.

“That’s weird. Many people’s health has improved after visiting this cave…… What happened to Alicia? Huwaa!”

“Mother.”

I said as I put the blanket over Alicia again.

“Did Alicia have a weak immune system as a child?”

“Yes, yes. Right. My family and I were concerned because her body was always weak.”

“Can I tell you my opinion?”

I looked around the cave slowly.

With its softly shining fluorescent green light, the cave appeared beautiful at first glance.

However, chills spread across my back like ice passing through my body.

“Of course, of course. What should we do for Alicia, saintess?”

Miss Delfina looked up at me with her wide-eyed eyes.

As if seeing I am the only saviour.

“In my opinion, Mother.”

A stone was shining in fluorescent colour and Alicia’s bruise.

Some hypotheses come to mind, but it can’t be certain.

If the hypothesis is correct, the people in this cave will face disaster.

I took the aunt’s hand in mine and said,

“I think you should get out of this cave.”

“Yes……Pardon?”

“Right now.”

Aunt Delphina was perplexed.

I shifted my gaze to Dame Joan.

“Dame Joan. Are the demons still out there?”

“The Holy knights have dealt with the remnants of the party considerably. At the very least, the area around here has been cleaned up.”

“Great. Then.”

I made my decision and looked at Alicia.

“Let’s get out of here as soon as possible.”

Having said that, I found two suitable branches around me and moved like chopsticks to pick up a fluorescent stone.

People stared at my movements as if they were witnessing something extraordinary.

“Wow, you have a lot of dexterity.”

“How can a branch be like that? Wow.”

I thought that being praised for playing with chopsticks was after graduating from kindergarten.

I hid my embarrassment by picking up people.

“Let’s move. Hurry!”

“Mother, I’ll hug Alicia.”

Dame Joan was the first one to move.

People who were perplexed by my sudden announcement of my move began to move unsteadily.

After walking through the cave for quite some time, we could see the light outside.

It happened just as we were about to leave for the entrance.

“Irene?”

Ian was just getting off the horse as if he had just arrived.

Because I was blinded by the backlight behind him, I frowned thinly.

‘It’s not fair to get backlight.’

He even received the power of lighting and looked really holy, like a human in the torch.

“Why are you moving already? Do you want to pass out all over again the moment you wake up? Joan. Didn’t I tell you to look after Madam Irene?”

His voice had a delinquent tone.

“I apologize, Commander.”

“Dame Joan is not to blame. I told them to get out of that cave as soon as possible.”

“Why is that… By the way, what is it?”

Ian looked down at my right hand, which was still using chopsticks from the branch.

“And how are you keeping your hand in that shape?”

“Oh, don’t come any closer!”

I moved away from Ian, who was approaching me.

“This might be dangerous.”

“……Irene?”

Ian looked at me with puzzled eyes.

Aunt Delphine asked me anxiously.

“Is there a problem with the holy stone?”

I sighed and confided.

“I honestly have no idea if this stone is holy or not. However.”

Everyone looked nervously at my lips.

I continued to speak while reluctantly looking down at the fluorescent stones.

“If this stone isn’t a holy stone at all, it will bring disaster.”

“Disaster!”

“You mean this stone belongs to the demon realm, Saintess?”

People were screaming in fear.

“You were worshiping the holy stone that the demon had given you!”

“Oh, forgive me, God Elune!”

“Ca-calm down.”

I tried to calm the panicked people down.

Maybe it was because they had been locked up in a cave for a week, and everyone seemed in a very bad state of mind.

“I doubt it’s from the Demon Realm.”

This stone could be useful if this is what I believe it to be.

“So, if I’m correct. This stone can move a tower by itself, and in the future, it will be able to float an island.”

“Oh My God!”

“It’s a magic stone!”

People were startled by my words and whispered.

Someone asked with a raised hand.

“Then, is it a mana stone?”

“Mana stone……Can we call it that as well? However, the answer could be no.”

People wear glum expressions.

‘I can’t help it. I mean, I couldn’t even explain this in detail.’

To put it bluntly, this stone was a mana stone.

Is it a new era in the world of mana stones?

This stone was later named Holy Mana Stone, implying that it is a miraculous object bestowed by God.

‘In the original story, it was discovered only at the time of the abduction.’

The time of discovery has advanced by one year.

Anyway, the most important thing.

This Holy Manastone was not like a blessing from God.

It had to undergo the most extreme refinement to reap the benefits of its incredible performance.

‘If not, the Holy Manastone is nothing more than a chemical terrorism weapon.’

Your body could be damaged if you carelessly approached the unrefined pure holy mana stone.

The human body will be harmed by excessive mana power contained in the stone.

‘The story of the book was also about a couple of the main characters who were sent out to heal a village where they accidentally discovered and worshiped the Holy Mana Stone.’

The side story was produced with super luxurious specifications because the main part of 『The Saintess Doesn’t Know About Love』 was such a success.

Almost every ten pages appear to have an illustration.

Thanks to the illustration, I was familiar with the Holy Mana Stone’s appearance.

‘Also, Alicia’s skin looks like it’s bruised.’

That meant that the increase in mana power had reached its limit.

Alicia might have died if she had stayed in that cave for another hour, bleeding from her body.

Ian said, his brows furrowed.

“Madam. Just now…..Do you know what you are talking about like a medicine peddler?”

I, Ugh, bit my lip.

“I am not entirely sure right now. But if my concerns are true, you shouldn’t be close to these stones.”

“My wife.”

Ian stared at me with a piercing stare.

A persistent blue gaze has been connected, filled with questions and curiosity.

“How do you know that?”

I like the novels you appear in, so I read until even the side story I adored ended and was no longer there.

I couldn’t say that, so I smiled softly.

“Eum. My gut feeling?”

“…….”

Ian furrowed his brow slightly. He seemed to think it was a ridiculous response.

I asked, pretending not to see his expression.

“Is there a magic tower nearby?”

“Yes, there is.”

Dame Joan said and nodded.

“Oh, is it? Is it very close?”

“It’s in the neighboring city.. It will take less than half a day by horse-drawn carriage.”

“Oh, Joan. Do you mean Transcell City?”

Aunt Delphina pretended to know.

I froze for a moment.

‘Transcell.’

It was the name of the hometown of Elliot Grancia, the male protagonist of the original story.