A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

It did not take long for the village plague to be resolved, thanks to the villagers almost entirely following Sophia’s instructions.

In the end, not a single person defied Sophia’s orders, even among those initially uncooperative.

First, they had no choice but to meekly obey before Sophia’s status and authority on par with bishops, as well as her apparent might that suggested grave consequences for disobedience. Later, they became sincerely devoted to her as she unhesitatingly handled patients’ excretions with her own hands and took the lead in every necessary task to care for them.

As patients gradually recovered under Sophia’s command, this tendency only accelerated further. But what most definitively impacted the villagers was Sophia’s feat of reviving a child who had clearly stopped breathing and whose heart had ceased beating.

Though Sophia would find it utterly absurd, to the villagers, this incident was nothing short of a saintly miracle.

The ostensibly dead child was embraced by the “saint,” who imbued her hands with light and caressed the child’s body, breathing onto them – whereupon the child’s heart started beating again, they began breathing, soon opened their eyes and was resurrected, or so it appeared.

The villagers had already believed the village was cursed, causing the plague outbreak. Under Sophia’s dedicated leadership and care, that plague gradually subsided, and amidst that, a miracle of reviving the dead child occurred.

In this situation, for the villagers to not obey and follow Sophia’s words would have been tantamount to blasphemy.

“The saint saved our lives.”
“Aye, that’s right! Without the saint, our entire village would have perished long ago.”
“Not just that? Our saintly lady is so graceful and holy too! When she is still, an aura seems to emanate from her.”
“When she is still, you say.”
“Who said that just now?”

Sentiments along those lines. Of course, there were some who treated Sophia differently when she opened her foul-mouthed, elderly-sounding mouth and occasionally spouted crass remarks, compared to when her mouth was shut. But in any case.

And Conra, who had assisted Sophia in tending to the patients, began feeling his chest swell with pride upon sensing this village atmosphere, inadvertently taking pride in becoming the squire and disciple of such a person. Of course, that budding pride swiftly wilted under Sophia’s backhanded discipline upon noticing it.

‘I’m not dead yet. I will rise again.’

It seemed Conra’s pride left that declaration, constantly attempting resurrection at every opportunity.

One by one, the village patients arose from their sickbeds, until finally, after the last patient received Sophia’s examination, all medical duties in the village were complete.

Sophia was greatly satisfied that everything had proceeded smoothly.

Even though this task had unexpectedly fallen to her due to the Holy Spirit Jibrail’s guidance, it was Sophia’s policy to take full responsibility for anything she chose to undertake. Moreover, if it was something within her capabilities, it was only proper to give her utmost effort. Sophia believed this attitude embodied the true dignity of a powerful being.

With her duties fulfilled, Sophia had to depart the village once more. As a Paladin knight, she should not linger in one place for duties outside those she had taken responsibility for.

“Alright, you’re all cured now. But be careful with your water intake going forward. Boil it before drinking if possible. I’ve said this repeatedly, but it’s that important, so remember it well.”
“Thank you, thank you Holy Saint!”

Seeing herself treated as a saint after incidentally treating various pains and chronic illnesses while curing the plague, Sophia gave a wry smile. Things that would have been perfectly ordinary if medical services were widely available had become such blessings worthy of sainthood in this era – it felt like a poor joke.

In any case, with even the last patient sent off, what should she do now? It was likely too much to immediately depart that day, so should she prepare to leave the next morning? Sophia briefly pondered this when Conra, who had returned from seeing off the departing patient, said:

“Did you hear, Master? The villagers are preparing a festival to celebrate overcoming the plague and honor your grace.”

Sophia let out an amused laugh and replied:

“Really now, after recovering, they should just rest up and diligently return to their livelihoods. Why trouble themselves by holding an expensive festival?”
“Isn’t it because everyone is happy and grateful? The village atmosphere has been gloomy due to the plague, so holding a rare feast will help refresh that too.”

Sophia snorted at Conra’s words but still had a faint smile on her lips, which didn’t seem outright unpleasant to Conra, making him inwardly chuckle.

“Hmm, I suppose. So why did you inform me of this?”
“They’re hoping Master will also attend the festival and grace the occasion with your presence.”
“Huh? How would my presence there make it brighter? Wasn’t I the one who caused all that trouble for the villagers by forcing them to comply?”
“Master… are you really being serious?”
“Hmm, mmhmm.”

As Conra looked dumbfounded, Sophia averted her gaze, repeatedly clearing her throat. Despite portraying herself as powerful, Sophia tended to be rather dismissive of her own accomplishments, as if the deeds she was capable of were only natural and unremarkable.

So whenever others praised and extolled such feats, she would shudder with discomfort and rejection.

[……?]
“Indeed, it’s hard to imagine Master boasting about her achievements to others, Jibrail.”

Conra discussed this with the Holy Spirit Jibrail, who had recently become visible to him as well. Suddenly, Sophia snapped angrily:

“If you’re just going to laze about gossiping with someone in the middle, go out and start packing our belongings right now! Jibrail, you should also start considering where to guide us next!”
“Uwah! Alright, alright, stop slapping me!”
[……!]

Fleeing Sophia’s slaps, Conra and Jibrail simultaneously dashed out the door. However, Sophia’s parting words made Conra grin as he exited:

“Tell them I’ll attend the festival.”

His master was indeed a good person.

+++++

The festival began at a leisurely pace, even before sunset. The village women prepared food with a fervent energy using the remaining village provisions, while the men brought meat from animals hunted nearby in the woods and fields by the village hunter, delivering it to those women.

Delicious aromas wafted through the village, and cheap, low-quality wines and beers that had been reserved were uncorked, filling the air with a mellow bouquet. Catching that aroma, Sophia wondered where these had been hiding when she couldn’t find a hint of them while brewing her own spirits.

In the village center, a large bonfire was built with the scent of roasting meat. Following Sophia’s instructions, the villagers had thoroughly cleaned their old furniture and converted it into firewood, leaving no shortage. The sizzling sounds of grease bubbling accompanied each flare of the flames.

Some villagers even brought out their prized musical instruments kept at home.

Some took pottery jars and oak barrels to use as percussion, while others played the braguinha, a traditional instrument from southwestern Hispania, plucking its strings as they sang. With someone playing the panpipes, the rough but lively music richly enlivened the atmosphere.

As Sophia appeared, the clamorous cheers and music gradually fell silent. Conra told her:
“Master, it seems the villagers are waiting for you to say a few words?”
“Oh, what a needless fuss. …Well, alright.”

Sophia briefly scowled before resigning herself and taking the podium. The villagers, whether near or far, could then hear Sophia’s voice as if she was speaking right beside them, emanating simultaneously from the right, left, front, back, above and below – the “Ascending Hexamerous Voice” technique.

“Well, I have no long speech. You have all suffered greatly in this time. Once afflicted by illness, it weakens not just the body, but the mind as well. Yet you all endured through that, and despite the troubles I caused, you followed my lead, allowing everyone to regain their health. You have worked hard. Today, forget everything and enjoy yourselves. Tomorrow, return to your diligent daily lives.”
“Woooooah!!!”
“The Saint told us to enjoy ourselves!”
“Pour it! Drink up! Let’s eat until we die today!”
“Who just said ‘eat until we die’? Didn’t you hear about returning to diligent daily lives?!”

In any case, the villagers were already revering Sophia as a saint, so they reacted as expected. Rather than that, they focused more on rejoicing that this was a festival acknowledged and blessed by Sophia, eating, drinking, singing and dancing merrily.

As for Sophia, if the villagers could forget their worries and enjoy themselves in this moment, that was enough. Even if this time seemed frivolous, it would become the driving force allowing them to live on tomorrow.

Even Conra, who had initially looked down on the villagers as ignorant folk, had now joined their midst, laughing, chattering and enjoying himself together with them.

Watching this scene, Sophia poured herself a cup of the cheap, low-quality wine the villagers had uncorked and took a sip. Though more cloyingly sweet than exhibiting refined sweetness, and more sour than displaying fine acidity, with a thick and murky flavor, Sophia did not think this depreciated the wine’s value.

It was true that only the powerful could sustain selfless dedication, but Sophia believed ordinary people undoubtedly harbored their own possibilities and intrinsic worth. She had no intention of undervaluing those either. Since they were not a given, she did not make unreasonable expectations of them. Nevertheless, reality inevitably contained miracles wrought by ordinary people.

Miracles were called such precisely because they were not a given. In her previous life, Sophia had frequently witnessed such miracles, and their progenitors deserved respect, even if not born powerful.

As Sophia was lost in such sentiments, suddenly an unpleasant commotion arose from the village entrance. Frowning, Sophia turned her eyes towards the noise.

There, an ornate noble’s carriage had stopped, its coachman having disembarked into an altercation with the village youths blocking the entrance. With a cup still in hand, Sophia slowly rose from her seat.