I Picked Up a Saintess from the Ruins

14 – 4. Miracle?

“Lycia.”

“…Ah, yes?”

“If you’re sleepy, you can go up and sleep more.”

Lycia, thankfully, didn’t say anything more about the dawn adventure.

It likely meant that an unspoken agreement had been reached that nothing unusual had happened. I was deeply impressed by her warm-heartedness, a virtue rarely seen in the savage medieval world. I wished she could continue to grow this way.

However, after reaching an understanding with me, Lycia seemed visibly tired thereafter, occasionally even dozing off.

It was probably because it was her first journey, and she couldn’t sleep properly the night before. In that case, wouldn’t it be better for her to rest comfortably in bed rather than uncomfortably straddling the boundary between reality and dream at the dining table?

“So, what will you be doing, sir knight…?”

“As for me, well, I’ll go outside, buy the necessary things… No, I’ll just rest at the inn.”

Just as I was thinking it might be okay to leave her alone for a moment to take care of herself, the innkeeper happened to pass by.

It wouldn’t be a big deal if I took one more day off. What’s more important than that is probably managing the stress of a growing child.

“So, what should I do…?”

“…”

As I was about to ask if she wanted to sleep a bit longer, the girl was already sleeping with her head on the table.

Well, where could she go in this state? I carefully carried the girl to the room and laid her on the bed. Seeing that she didn’t wake up even when I shook my head while climbing the stairs, she must have been quite sleepy.

“Is it broken… or ruined…?”

Lycia didn’t grind her teeth or snore, but she seemed to have a habit of murmuring strange sleep talk.

Seeing her occasionally whispering words like “failed” or “ruined,” I couldn’t help but wonder what kind of dream she was having.

During the time the girl was asleep, I pondered what that sensation I felt before might have been.

Is there really no status window? If not, there might be another breakthrough. The common sense of the 21st century might still have some use. Maybe I just couldn’t filter out the right information from it.

“…System?”

As expected, nothing happened.

*****

Licia woke up around noon.

Regardless of the concerns that plagued countless humans far and wide, the decision for lunch was ultimately left to what Licia wanted to eat. It seemed more enjoyable to do what one desired when coming to a place that felt like a rare journey, rather than what I usually do.

After finishing the meal, we decided to visit the church in this place to acquire relics.

The sad reality of someone whose job is to fight is that they constantly need valuable things like weapons, equipment, and horses. Relics, used like consumables, were no exception.

“Where to now? To the next city?”

“No, let’s spend one more day and go to the church to get some relics.”

Trading is really tough, especially during times like these.

It’s not strange for the prices of goods brought from distant places to skyrocket several times over. The price difference includes the cost of moving and managing the goods, but more than anything, the significant portion is the cost of life. Trading is a matter of risking one’s life.

And people were complaining that there has never been a time when it was harder to wager life on the road. Naturally, the traffic between cities decreased.

In such a world, the items that should not be lost in the middle often stayed where they were made. What’s the point of bringing them elsewhere if half of them will be taken by thieves? It’s better to break them so that they can’t be used, rather than falling into the hands of marauders.

Relics were exactly such items.

If you wanted to obtain them, you had to go to a church with a powerful mage. It was time for the pleasureless responsibility, the time to open the wallet.

“I don’t necessarily have to buy that… No, I don’t know yet….”

“Why are you like this?”

“No, it’s nothing!”

Lisha, who had been muttering alone, looked up in surprise when I spoke. She seemed not fully awake yet.

Originally, the term “Relic” referred to items blessed by adults, but people started loosely using the term for anything enchanted over time.

In that sense, the sacred pinecone I favor so much could also be considered a relic.

Holding Lisha’s hand to not lose her in the crowd, I stepped into the church.

As soon as I crossed the door, I saw stalls set up in the church square, selling relics. It was a sight you wouldn’t see on the boulevard. Father Pippin and others were like that; the place was specialized in healing, so there were many clinics.

“Sir Knight! Do you have anything you’re looking for?”

“Oh, no, I’m fine. I’ll just take a look around by myself for now.”

Arguing with fools is a waste of time. They first drag the opponent down to their level and then crush them with the experience of rich, foolish arguments.

But it’s challenging to deal with knowledgeable people who have spent a long time in universities or churches. If you fall for their sweet talk, your wallet will say goodbye that day. And I don’t have just one mouth to feed.

I brushed off a few persistent clergy members and moved forward.

Lisha was wandering around, seemingly fascinated by everything. Among them, she stared fixedly at the priests making relics.

“Interested in making relics?”

“If you call it an interest… maybe.”

“You said you wanted to learn theology, right? After finishing theology, when you start learning magic, you’ll have to choose one of several fields. Healing, making relics, offensive magic, and so on. Since you still have plenty of time, you can think about it slowly.”

While Lisha continued to explore her surroundings, she bought some bandages and potions for healing purposes.

Relics related to attack could grant the ability to easily kill several people even for an ordinary peasant. Therefore, there were many restrictions on their sale, but relics related to healing had relatively lax regulations.

Still, I hope the sacred pinecone sells well.

There’s nothing better for one-on-many battles.

“Is this the blessed medicine obtained by the priest who had a great realization at the sacred place?”

“Well, then, how much does it cost?”

“We sell it for one gold coin per pouch, uniformly.”

“Isn’t that price arbitrarily set by the church? If you could give us a little discount…”

“There you go.”

At that time, when both Lycia and I were earnestly negotiating to afford delicious food.

A tired voice came from behind.

When I turned around, there was a person who exuded an aura of high clergy, at least judging by the elaborate attire. However, the person who had been diligently selling goods, upon seeing him, seemed to freeze in place – he didn’t appear to be an ordinary character.

“I am Ghiberto Rao. I haven’t joined the church in this city, but I am staying here temporarily for some business.”

“I am Raven. I am a knight from Vole and came to acquire some relics for a mission.”

“You’re a fighter. Struggling for the well-being of the Empire and Her Majesty is an honorable duty. I commend your efforts.”

“It’s an exaggeration.”

Though he responded when I initiated the conversation, it would be better to get to the point soon.

Being a law-abiding citizen like me—well, not entirely upright throughout my life—it’s not common for me to be approached by a priest I’ve never seen before.

“What brings you here…?”

“That sword. It carries a potent blessing. If it’s alright, could you tell me who bestowed the blessing upon you?”

“You mean this? I received the blessing from a priest in Vole.”

“I didn’t expect Vole to have such a skilled priest. With that level of blessing, the person must be someone well-known around here.”

It was because of the blessing bestowed by Priest Phephin. Indeed, it seemed to be the result of that early morning encounter.

However, wasn’t Father Pippin’s specialty in healing? Or perhaps, are geniuses who defy even me versatile in many ways?

“But it’s strange. Powerful, yet its effects are short-lived. Like…”

“Sir, sir.”

Suddenly, I felt a force pulling my clothes from the side.

Looking around and finding nothing, I finally looked down, and there was Licia.

Until a moment ago, she was wandering around, but now she was by my side.

For some reason, the girl seemed a bit impatient.

“I, I want to see other things too.”

“Huh? Just a moment, let’s finish the conversation and then go.”

“Oh, is she your daughter? Looks like I’ve taken away some rare mother-daughter time.”

“No, she’s not my daughter…”

“Excuse me then. Well, goodbye.”

Father Roberto politely greeted before I could finish speaking, cast a last glance at Licia, and disappeared as he did when he first appeared.

Licia, for some reason, with a more relaxed expression than before, sighed deeply and asked.

“Are there any relics other than those related to healing?”

“Of course, there are items enchanted with protective magic as well.”

“I want to see that too!”

Though there was still a subtle sense of confusion, it seemed understandable since she probably hadn’t seen so many relics before.

Anyway, it didn’t seem like a big deal. I held the girl’s hand again and walked towards the street filled with relics.