Thus, while the individuals from the allied forces dwelled in their own thoughts and cleaned up after their recent battle, the people on Steelwallâs side also got to work.
âPlease get us some bandages!â Lubellaâs pure white clothes that symbolized her Saintess status had been dirtied by blood and dirt a long time ago, not leaving a trace of their previous sacredness. It was the same for her face. Her hands were soaked with blood while her dainty face was blotted with red. Her hair which fell down like a waterfall was also in the same state. If anyone saw her, they would have misunderstood her to be one of the wounded.
Even a random homeless person wandering in a downtown market would have looked cleaner than her, but Lubella didnât care a single bit about her appearance. As always, Weig was standing next to her. He would have usually maintained a distance while walking beside her, but it was different in this state of emergency.
Crunch!
âAhhh!â The wounded person beneath him screamed and turned his body, but Weig used his other leg and pressed down on the patient harder.
Crunch! Another chilling sound resounded, and the bone that had penetrated out of the soldierâs skin returned to its original position.
âGood, itâs done! You endured it well!â Weig said. The soldier didnât endure anything at all and shrieked as much as necessary while he was contorted, but Weig complimented the soldier for enduring the pain and patted his shoulders.
Lubella and Weig were at the place where they treated the injured Steelwall soldiers. Although the Steelwall side had fewer casualties than the winners of this battle, they still suffered a significant number of casualties. Naturally, Lubella healed the injured with her outstanding skills, but even as the Saintess, she had her limits. The fact that she was still young and hadnât allowed her full talents to blossom yet also played a factor, but Lubella refused to rest even after she ran out of holy mana.
Karuwiman priests learned other methods of healing besides using holy mana and magic. When Lubella ran out of holy mana, she used her knowledge in various fields to continue treating the injured. Weig respected her decision and helped her by staying by her side. Karuwiman holy knights couldnât use healing magic, but they also learned basic treatment methods. Furthermore, since his occupation meant that he was injured on a regular basis, he also had professional knowledge in treating bodily traumaâthe way he had just fixed a soldierâs protruding bone was a result of this.
Yet, even as Weig respected Lubellaâs decision, as the Saintessâ protector, he needed to stop her from overexerting herself. Weig took Lubella and went out of the barracks where the soldiers were.
âWhy donât you take a break now, Lady Lubella?â
âIâm all right physically. I have trained myself after all,â Lubella said. Then, she bent one arm like she was trying to show her muscles. A smile formed on Weigâs face at this inspiring sight, but he quickly fixed his expression and turned away.
âNo, you have to rest. Other people are also working hard, so it will be fine even if you leave for a bit, Lady Lubella. Moreover, other people have already taken their breaks. Youâre the only one who hasnât yet.â
âButâ¦â Lubella started, but one voice stopped her.
âSir Weig is right.â
Both Lubella and Weig turned their heads. Zich was approaching them.
âSir Zich!â
âYou both have done so much,â Zich said.
âWe only did what we were supposed to do as Karunaâs servants.â
âI know that, but isnât it another matter to express my gratitude for the hard work you both have done?â Zich said and then looked at Lubella. âLady Lubella, I really think you should rest as Sir Weig said.â
âI can still move,â Lubella retorted but Zich shook his head firmly.
âOne of the most important things that a healer should be careful of is their own condition. If a healer gets sick, then thereâll be no one who can treat people. The sick wonât be able to do anything then. Is that what you want to happen, Lady Lubella?â
ââ¦I understand. I will rest a bit.â
âThank you, Lady Lubella.â
Weig smiled, satisfied. Then, he said, âI will stay here a bit longer and help treat the soldiers. Will you be able to go to your lodging by yourself?â
âIâm not a child. Besides, are you seriously telling me to go rest when you are going to continue helping here?â
âThatâs just the way it is, Lady Lubella, since holy knights have overwhelmingly better stamina and priests. If you want to change your position from Saintess to a holy knight, I am willing to show you the ropes though,â Weig joked.
âNo, thank you.â
Weig laughed. Then, Zich chimed in, âSince Lady Lubella could secretly head toward where other injured people are, I will guide her to her lodging.â
âAs expected of Sir Zich. Heâs very sharp.â
âThatâs enough, you two.â Lubella looked a bit peeved as she lifted her head.
âOoh my! I donât know how I would handle the aftermath after teasing Lady Lubella! Please guide her safely to her room, Sir Zich.ân/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIâll certainly do that.â
Weig bowed his head once toward Zich and Lubella each and went inside the barracks again. Zich also guided Lubella to her lodging, but while they were heading to the location, Lubella expressed that her feelings were hurt by not facing Zich. Of course, this didnât last long. Even if she tried to act, Lubella was too kind to even act angry for a long period of time.
âHow was treating the injured soldiers?â
Thus, when Zich asked her a question like nothing was wrong when she was thinking about how to better express her anger, Lubella answered right away.
âHonestly, itâs hard. But itâs necessary to work and also save lives. Itâs only expected of me to do it as a Karuwiman.â Lubellaâs mindset was completely opposite of Chelsea, who complained about doing the same work. Lubellaâs bright face as she said these words clearly showed that she was speaking the truth.
âAlthough many died, there are also many who lived thanks to our treatment. When I see their faces, I forget that Iâm tired.â
âAs expected of Karuwimanâs Saintess.â
âYou praise me too highly. But youâre aware of this, right? The people I treated wonât be able to participate in this war anymore.â
âYes, I know.â
Even though Lubella was staying in the Steelwall Estate, the Karuwimans were staying neutral in this war and couldnât help the Steelwalls. Thus, they formed a contract. Soldiers no longer fit to participate in the war would be treated by Lubella, and even if they recovered, they would be completely excluded from participating in the war.
âThey would have died if you hadn't treated them anyway, so the Steelwalls wouldnât have been able to send them out regardless of the contract or not. Thus, the Count decided that it would be better to save peopleâs lives instead. I have nothing to say against this.â
âThen, thatâs good.â Like this, Lubella and Zich approached Lubellaâs tent. Then, they heard two voices.
âSo, thatâs how you went on a journey with Zich?â
âYes, sir!â
One voice sounded annoyed and strained as if they really didnât like the person they were talking to, and the other voice sounded extremely stiff from nervousness. Zich and Lubella looked at each other and quickly headed toward the direction of the voices.
Lubella said, âTheyâreâ¦â
Zich replied, âItâs Snoc and Mr. Dwayne.â It was a funny combination. Snoc and Walwiss also noticed Zich and Lubella.
Walwiss said, âAh, you came back.â
âDid something happen?â Zich asked a question, but judging by how the corners of his mouth were twitching into a smile, it seemed as if he could roughly guess what was happening.
Walwiss replied, âWell, itâs nothing much. I was merely asking questions to this young man here because I was really curious about a few things. This happens when youâre oldâyou get awfully curious for no reason.â Walwiss waved his hand as if he was not doing much, but anyone could see that he was intensely investigating Snocâs background and drilling him with questions; his attitude far surpassed mere curiosity due to old age.
âGrandpa!â Then, a new person appeared.
Walwissâ shoulder flinched as a sharp voice rang throughout the space. In contrast, Snocâs shoulders, which had been stiff, relaxed a little bit and got lower. Elena approached them with an angry expression and shouted, âI canât believe it! Are you bothering Snoc again?â
âWhat do you mean, bother?! I merely had some questions I wanted to ask him, so we were having a conversation.â
âIs that true?â
Snoc nodded at Elenaâs question. It seemed as if he couldnât overcome Walwissâ fierce eyes that were pressuring him to agree with him.
However, smart Elena wasnât asking Snoc. âI wasnât asking you but Nowem.â
Nowem, who was always stuck on Snocâs shoulder, stared at Walwiss, and Walwiss also intensely looked at Nowem. However, the great magical beast of the earth Nowem didnât back down from a mere glare.
Koo! With a short cry, Nowem nodded his head.
âLook at this!â
âIâm going to immediately put this blasted mole on a lab bench!â Walwiss furiously let out his anger like someone whose dirty secret had been revealed. However, he couldnât help lower his tail after seeing his granddaughterâs sharp eyes.
âDonât hurt Nowem! If anyoneâs going to try to put Nowem on a lab bench, Iâll be the first one to do it!â
Koo? She still hadnât given up on that yet?Nowem had been bravely standing up to Walwiss, but he looked extremely betrayed by Elenaâs declaration.
Grandpa and granddaughter fought for a while, and it only ended when Elena dragged out Snoc.
âHow can a granddaughter raise her voice to her own grandpa!â Now left alone, Walwiss grumbled to himself. However, compared to his fierce words, his shoulders looked slightly defeated.
âSir, you donât seem to like Snoc,â Zich said while suppressing his laughter.
Compared to him, Lubella didnât know what was going on, so she asked, âDid he do something wrong?â
Walwiss replied, âThere are some people you donât like for no reason.â
âHowever, there is a reason why you donât like him.â
At Zichâs words, Walwiss became speechless and closed his mouth.
âSeriously, people whoâre always talking about their age always act like little kids.â A new voice chimed in.
Walwissâ frown deepened as he sharply said, âWhy are you eavesdropping on other peopleâs conversations? Where did you learn such awful manners?â
âI didnât eavesdrop. I just heard it because our hearing is way better than humanâs.â Leona leisurely walked toward them, and pointed at her ears.
âHow convenient.â
Leona replied, âIt sure is.â
Anyone could see that Leona and Walwissâ second round of fighting was about to begin. Zich slightly glanced at Lubella. He didnât want to be part of such a useless fight. Lubella understood Zichâs signal and nodded.
Zich said, âWeâll be leaving first since Iâm taking Lady Lubella to her place. Since sheâs been treating the wounded until now, she desperately needs to take a break.â
Fortunately, Leona nor Walwiss tried to stop Zich or Lubella. They only glared at each other and bared their teeth. After Zich and Lubella left, a small quarrel between two natural-born enemies recommenced.