Chapter 81: Follow Me Closely, Sir!

“Is the wound on Viseliane’s body… a Curse?”

Hilberu frowned. She had just finished listening to Grin’s explanation of why he had appeared here.

Grin turned a pleading gaze toward her and opened his mouth to speak. “Hilberu, if you are the Saintess, there must be a way for you to save her, right?”

Viseliane’s wretched state filled Grin with a sense of guilt. Even though she had poisoned him, she had ultimately risked her life to descend and save him for the sake of Redemption.

Viseliane had at least turned over a new leaf. Grin could see that her heart was in the right place, so he could easily offer his forgiveness.

This was his own perspective, and it did not matter if others labeled him as ‘weak’ or claimed he ‘got what he deserved.’

After all, even Hilberu, who had truly betrayed him, now stood before his eyes. However, with the precedent set by Dolores, the current Grin had already begun to view them separately from their past lives.

Hilberu was somewhat surprised to hear Grin directly point out her status as the Saintess. However, thinking back to Dolores and Alberke, who also knew her identity not long ago, she simply let out a sigh.

‘I didn’t expect everyone to actually know my identity,’ she thought. ‘Even though I received the God’s Blessing in such a hidden place and under such circumstances.’

However, she never intended to keep it a secret. She had planned to reveal her identity as the Saintess in front of Grin anyway, as that was the only way she could treat Viseliane.

She had only recently learned a bit of Holy Arts.

“Dolores previously wanted me to learn Holy Arts for healing the Soul. I have been practicing and trying to learn, and now I have just barely grasped the basics. I will do my best.”

Hilberu did not notice the momentary flash of guilt in Grin’s expression when he heard her words. Then, Hilberu began to cast a spell for Viseliane.

A white halo emerged from her hands, and distant, blurred prayers echoed softly. Flecks of white light, like moths drawn to a candle’s flame, rushed toward Viseliane.

A moment later, Hilberu opened her eyes and spoke to Grin with an apologetic tone.

“My Holy Arts can only briefly stop the erosion of the Curse, and the duration will become increasingly shorter — I will stay by her side to treat her, but this is not a long-term solution.”

“Before I became the Saintess, I was just an ordinary Nun. My knowledge of Holy Arts is limited, and I am not carrying any of the auxiliary materials used for them… and I cannot return to the Monastery to get them now.”

“Thank you, Hilberu. I will remember your help,” Grin replied.

He looked at Viseliane with a complicated expression. Hilberu politely told him there was no need for thanks.

As Hilberu spoke, her gaze suddenly fixed on Grin, and she abruptly said, “Mr. Grin, you seem to possess an item with origins related to God. Its aura is intense yet possesses a healing vitality… may I see it?”

“Perhaps it can be used for treatment.”

At first, Grin could not recall having any items involving God, but upon hearing the effects, he suddenly remembered an item he had obtained through the System.

Grin produced a beautiful golden cup. Upon seeing the vessel, Hilberu’s eyes lit up, and she said that was exactly it.

The Blood Cup of Mercy did indeed have the effect of nourishing the Soul, but its conditions for use were extremely harsh, as Alberke had previously explained.

“This item is called the Blood Cup of Mercy. Its use requires the person providing the blood to harbor love for the drinker. Otherwise, it is poison.”

Grin felt he had made himself clear, but Hilberu took it from him without any hesitation.

“I understand. However, I have my own way of using it. Although I do not have those auxiliary materials prepared, as the Saintess, my blood can serve as a medium and take the place of both primary and secondary materials.”

Hilberu cut a wound into her left hand and applied the blood evenly across the Blood Cup of Mercy. Her vitality began to drain away bit by bit, and the aura of the cup underwent a subtle change.

As her blood flowed, Hilberu spoke her heart to Grin. “Mr. Grin, do you know what I have seen the most during this period of time?”

“What?”

“Expectations, hope, and the eyes of despair… I originally thought that the Capital no longer had any soil for the Holy Church.”

“As it turns out, there are still many believers who hold onto their faith and are praying to God. They view the appearance of a lowly Nun like me as salvation.”

“There are also the wounded and the survivors. They all turn their expectant gazes toward me. I possess the Holy Arts that can heal them, and at the same time, I am a presence they can directly see, someone who can be considered a psychological pillar.”

Hilberu lowered her head and sighed.

“I don’t know how to handle these expectations, nor do I know how to answer their questions. The believers ask me if God will save us. The non-believers who are near death ask me if they can survive.”

“During this time, I have heard stories longer than my entire life. I wish so much that I could help them, so that they would not have to live in such pain.”

Hilberu saw that her blood already filled a small half of the cup. She leaned in close to Viseliane and pressed the Blood Cup of Mercy against her lips.

Grin raised his hand in concern, but Hilberu interrupted him. “It’s all right, Mr. Grin. I am special.”

“Perhaps I do not possess the ‘love’ you spoke of, but I believe I should have developed a bit of ‘mercy’ from my experiences these past few days… at least enough to allow my blood to heal Miss Viseliane’s injuries slightly.”

“This is a bit of a clever workaround.”

Hilberu’s blood was delivered into Viseliane’s mouth through the cup. The aura surrounding her underwent a subtle change, yet she still showed no signs of waking up.

“This method is only possible because I am the Saintess. The effect is probably only twenty or thirty percent of what it should be… it can only buy time for Viseliane, but it cannot cure her.”

“I can continue to study Holy Arts, but that also requires time. Time is exactly what we lack the most right now. So, do you have any ideas?”

Hilberu looked up, turning her gaze toward Grin.

“I remember now. Viseliane said she has medicine that can suppress the Curse at the Royal Palace. If we hurry back from here, we might still make it in time.”

As Grin spoke, he picked Viseliane up in a bridal carry. In truth, he could have carried her with one hand, but subconsciously, he did not want to do so.

At that moment, as time slipped away, the monsters below had already crawled up to them, baring their fangs.

Grin wanted to put Viseliane down to prepare for battle, but Hilberu called out to stop him.

Hilberu suddenly removed her hood, revealing her long golden hair. This was a breach of etiquette.

“Mr. Grin, I don’t think there is any need for me to continue hiding my identity as the Saintess, even though exposing it at this time might be a bit dangerous…”

“But I feel that I now have the ability to protect others, as well as myself.”

“I can see that you are currently in a very poor state, Mr. Grin. So, do not worry. From now on, I will be the one to protect you.”

Hilberu picked up a weapon — a spear tied with a white cloth, with a fluttering white banner at the very tip.

It was a small prop used to match her Symbol, but it was also a flag that could bring hope to people.

Hilberu’s figure appeared slender and small compared to Grin.

She walked ahead of him. As her holy power cleared away the monsters, the fluttering flag and specks of light briefly paved a path forward for him.

The holy power pierced through the monsters, causing their corpses to collapse to the side.

In their dimming eyeballs, the reflection of Grin’s figure carrying Viseliane passed by.

“Follow me closely, Mr. Grin!”