Although She is a Blind Saint, She Can See

#8. The Black Death (3)

It all started with the old man from next door.

“My goodness!”

“Father’s skin has returned!”

The family members who witnessed my healing power gasped in astonishment and quickly knelt at my feet.

“This old man owes his life to you, Saintess. Though it’s nothing much, please accept this small token of gratitude.”

“Please, rise. I did not do this in expectation of a reward.”

I smiled while suppressing the pain that returned as a reaction.

There was no need to act.

[Good Deed Points +100]
Wow! Points!

I’m full even without eating!

Of course, the people I healed had no idea about this, so I had no choice but to keep bowing in return.

“Even so, how could I receive such grace and do nothing in return?”

“Well…”

I pondered for a moment.

Saintess. Saintess, huh.

If I want to gain the Saintess title, it would be best to show a devout demeanor, right?

“I am but a humble servant of the great God. I am merely acting on His behalf. How could you continue to offer rewards? Simply keep a heart of gratitude toward the Lord on my behalf, and that will be enough.”

My experience in flattering professors as a graduate student paid off.

After a few words, the old man and his family were so moved that they shed tears.

“We will believe and follow you, Saintess!”

Next.

The third house was where the wife and twin children were recovering.

After hearing all three of them, I gave them a similar speech, and the family also knelt before me.

‘Is this the kneeling culture of this world?’

J-Anime, scary.

Later, will the protagonist make natto and eat it?

Should I introduce the superiority of kimchi as a Korean?

Cough.

Oops.

Reality hit me once again as the sharp pain surged. When I staggered, Mars was startled and quickly supported me.

“Saintess, you should go rest at our home. You can continue the treatment tomorrow.”

“Oh, not yet.”

I trembled and spoke through the shaking of my body.

“I’ll do just two more houses.”

“But—”

Shut up, you guide.

Don’t interrupt my point-earning!

— I couldn’t say that, so instead, sweet words came out of my mouth.

“The Black Death is a fast-progressing disease. If I just stay still, someone might die while I’m doing nothing…”

But, damn, this hurts like hell.

Tears welled up from the physical pain. Mars’ eyes trembled slightly.

“…If that’s your wish. Understood.”

***

It took a full two weeks to treat all the villagers in Mars’ village.

The silver lining was that, as the treatment continued, my patience was increasing.

‘Now, I can easily handle ten people a day.’

Ah, the pain is still there.

I just have to endure it.

‘From tomorrow, I need to pick up the pace.’

The point-earning speed was too slow.

Not ten people a day, but twenty, or even thirty, should be treated.

‘If I want to go home.’

Luckily, thanks to Mars, who had some grand delusion, I didn’t have to worry about food, shelter, or clothes, and the villagers were eager to treat me well.

“Yuse Unni!”

While I was making my treatment plan, Amy burst in through the door.

The girl with her red hair down looked healthier and fresher than when I first met her.

“Dad says to come eat breakfast.”

“Okay, I’ll be out in a minute.”

I answered Amy and, to maintain the concept picked up my cane.

The children’s cane made from carved wood was a gift from Mars when I had been here for a week.

Tap, tap.

The sound of footsteps with a pleasant rhythm was light. Not frivolous, just light.

“You look happy, Unni.”

“Now, there are no more patients in the village.”

That’s my first goal achieved.

From today, I need to work hard and treat twenty… no, thirty people a day… damn it.

‘This is going to hurt like hell.’

I suddenly felt down.

“Unni?”

“Oh, sorry.”

I gave a bitter smile to Amy, who looked worried.

“Now that I think about it, there are still a lot of people outside the village who need help. I shouldn’t be too happy about it.”

“You don’t need to worry about that.”

At that moment, Mars appeared behind me.

He was wearing an apron that didn’t match his burly, bandit-like appearance. Having just prepared breakfast, he gently took my hand and led me.

“Had it not been for the Saintess, both me and Amy, as well as many others, would have lost our loved ones. You’ve already saved countless people.”

“…Thank you, Mars.”

I laughed awkwardly.

Receiving such direct gratitude always makes me feel a little guilty.

‘I feel like a scammer.’

I’m not a saint who does good deeds without expecting anything in return.

The Black Death treatment was solely for point-earning. Nothing more, nothing less.

I opened the quest window.

[Main Quest]
Save 1 billion people.

Current: 1,192

‘…Hmm.’

The goal is to save 1 billion people.

Currently, it’s about 1,200.

Still, 999,800,000 left.

‘I’ll have to work hard from here on.’

There’s a long way to go.

As I picked up a spoon, my body aching, I naturally began the conversation.

“By the way, Mars, I’d like to go check the village next door starting today.”

“You don’t need to.”

“If you’re telling me to rest, then forget it. If I think about all the people who are still suffering while we’re having breakfast…”

“…That’s not what I meant.”

He said, flustered.

“Perhaps word has spread to the next village, and patients have come seeking the Saintess’ grace. What do you think about setting up a tent in the village to help them?”

“Ah.”

My cheeks flushed red as I felt embarrassed by my earlier saintly act.

“But… what about the patients who have difficulty moving? I think it would be better if I go.”

“It would be much more efficient than going door to door to find patients.”

“That… does make sense.”

It certainly seemed like this would be more efficient for point accumulation.

I nodded in agreement.

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

An hour later, I realized I had made the right decision.

“The line in front of the tent is long. It looks like at least a hundred people,” Mars said, standing next to me, but since I could see ahead, I already knew.

‘How far does this line go?’

It seemed that every patient nearby had gathered here.

What was even more terrifying was that this was just the tip of the iceberg.

‘Has the Black Death already spread across the entire Terra continent? …Could it have reached the royal family as well?’

A chill ran down my spine.

Lilliana Louise Terrario.

The only chance I had to contact her, the child in the royal palace, was to treat the queen.

But if some stranger showed up at the palace claiming to treat the queen, they’d likely be dismissed as a fraud and kicked out.

‘To do that, I’d need at least the fame of a noble house.’

I looked at the patients lined up in front of the shabby tent.

“……”

If I treat all of them, I’ll be in pain.

‘Well, what can I do?’

I can’t help it.

I leaned on my staff and smiled gently.

“Let’s get started, Mars.”

***

Two months since the Black Death outbreak.

A gloomy atmosphere hung around the Boil family estate.

“Lord, the villagers are suffering from the plague. At this rate, it will be impossible to manage the estate,” said the aide.

“Heh.”

The baron sighed deeply after hearing the report from his aide.

The tiredness in his eyes and slumped shoulders showed he had been struggling with the same issue for some time.

“What are the doctors doing?”

“At first, there were quite a few volunteers, but now everyone is hesitant to go into areas affected by the Black Death.”

“Damn it. Of course, they are.”

He muttered a curse under his breath.

Just as the aide had said.

The plague that startedatn the far end of the Boil Barony quickly spread throughout the entire territory.

As the terrifying sight of patients dying spread, the neighboring territories naturally severed all contact with the Boil Barony.

“Our food production is already unstable… At this rate, all the villagers will starve to death. What if we request relief from His Majesty the King?”

“Right now, Her Majesty the Queen is bedridden. Last year was a bad harvest, and the royal treasury is not in good shape.”

The situation only seemed to get worse the more they discussed it. The baron nervously chewed on his parched lips.

“If only the plague would disappear, the food problem would solve itself.”

The Boil Barony is a small territory by the sea. Many of its residents rely more on fishing than farming, so once the young people leave and start working, they can recover without much difficulty.

The problem, however, was the Black Death.

“Ha, I think I’ll need a cup of tea. Go and fetch some refreshments,” the baron ordered.

“Yes.”

Upon hearing the order, a servant bowed and exited the office. The room was now left with just the baron, the aide, and a new young servant who had recently joined the barony.

“I heard there are quite a few excellent doctors in Suzuk. Should we send a boat to find one?” the aide asked.

“Well… It seems His Majesty the King is searching everywhere to treat Her Majesty, but no one knows how to cure the plague. Unless a genius doctor appears—”

“Excuse me, Baron!”

Both men turned their heads at once.

The young servant, who had suddenly become the focus of the baron’s stern gaze, let out a small gulp.

“I… I received a letter from my sister today, and she said that the grandfather who had contracted the plague has been completely cured.”

“What did you say?”

Before the baron could narrow his brows, the aide quickly scolded the young servant.

“Don’t interrupt the baron with such false claims. Even the royal doctors are helpless against this plague.”

“It’s true! Not only my grandfather, but all the plague patients in our village have recovered!”

The young servant exclaimed, his face filled with frustration.

The baron, who had initially considered dismissing it as a childish exaggeration, paused when he heard the boy’s continued words.

“Where is your family’s village?”

“It’s a village near the harbor.”

“Near the harbor, you say.”

The baron muttered as he stroked his beard.

“If it’s near the coast, perhaps a doctor from another continent arrived at just the right time.”

“Shall we investigate, Baron?”

“Yes, we must.”

The baron nodded after briefly glancing at the aide.

“We’re in a desperate situation now, so we must grasp at any straws.”