Until the Substitute Saintess is Loved: The Sister Sent to the Convent as the Villainess Heals Everyone's Hearts with Her Healing Powers - Chapter 28

“Lupina, wake up!”

Shaken by the shoulders, I jolt awake.

Before me stands Vetta-san, her face etched with urgency.

“It’s an emergency. Don’t leave my side.”

The area around the tent is in chaos.

“Have monsters appeared?”

“Yes.”

“Tch, then we must leave immediately!”

I hurriedly throw on my clothes and check my bag.

The bag is packed full of antidotes. If anyone gets poisoned, I must use these to perform antidote treatments I could never manage myself.

Steeling myself, I leap out of the tent with Vetta-san.

Instantly, we’re buffeted by a fierce gust of wind.

At the last moment, Vetta-san stops it with a barrier.

Numerous shadows crisscross overhead.

Illuminated by moonlight and the camp’s torchlight, several large creatures are flying through the night sky.

(Monster birds? These many strays?)

Not just one or two.

The monster birds arriving one after another seemed to be moving in coordination.

The knights desperately fight back against the monster birds diving to attack.

But something’s wrong. Why are some knights attacking their own comrades?

“Lupina! Get back inside the tent!”

Lord Landrick, who had been fighting, notices us and runs over.

“Lord Landrick, what’s happening?”

“Monster birds are attacking. The monster king this time probably evolved from monster birds. If you hear their cries, cover your ears.”

“No, just covering your ears won’t be enough. Our resistance has been dropping significantly. They must be emitting demonic voices.”

“Vetta! If you knew that, why did you bring Lupina outside?!”

“Because I judged the casualties would increase otherwise. While I specialize in defense, I can’t protect a single tent forever amidst a completely wiped-out extermination force.”

“But!”

Even as we speak, monster birds attack. Lord Landrick cuts them down without even looking back.

The monster bird that had been diving to attack from behind is sliced clean in half and falls to the ground.

But not from that monster bird—from somewhere above, a cry resembling a scream echoes through the area.

Knights who hear it freeze for a moment, and then some begin swinging their swords at their comrades.

The knights who remain sane can’t fight properly against their frenzied allies.

Unlike monsters, these are their comrades.

Unable to cut them down, they can only focus on defense.

“Lord Landrick. Please let me fight too. While I cannot attack, I can at least heal everyone.”

Every knight is supplied with recovery potions or magic stones.

But since that isn’t enough, a saintess is dispatched.

Moreover, being driven mad like this was probably unforeseen.

“I’ll handle the demonic voices. Lupina’s barrier will weaken but become localized. Otherwise, we’ll be wiped out by the demonic voice damage.”

Ignoring Lord Landrick’s orders, Vetta-san lightly waves her hand toward the night sky.

A wide-range barrier softly envelops the surroundings. But the monster birds pass right through it as they descend.

I understand it’s not meant to block intrusion, but to counter the demonic voices.

From somewhere, the cry echoes again, but no one shows any reaction.

However, I see someone’s shoulder get gouged by a monster bird.

“Hurry, heal him!”

“Hey!”

Shaking off the restraint, I run to the knight.

Placing both hands on the shoulder of the knight who was gouged and slammed to the ground.

Stopping the bleeding, regenerating the lost shoulder flesh. I tell the groaning knight that he’ll be okay.

“Don’t move on your own accord!”

Lord Landrick expresses his anger while cutting down a monster bird targeting me.

But I can’t back down either.

If I’m just protected and watch, there’s no meaning to me being brought here. A saintess who can’t heal is just dead weight.

“Please, I beg you, let me heal!”

I look up at Lord Landrick through my veil.

Contrary to what I thought was an angry voice, his expression looks pained.

“…Alright. But don’t leave my side. You’re too defenseless while healing.”

Avoiding my gaze as he says this, I nod emphatically.

Protected by Lord Landrick, how many knights did I heal?

Far above the monster birds rampaging freely through the camp, it reveals itself.

Passing through Vetta-san’s barrier with apparent irritation, enormous wings large enough to cover this entire land.

Its falling shadow completely envelops the camp, and its black tail writhes with purpose.

“The Monster King…”

Someone mutters quietly.

Instantly, the Monster King that likely evolved from monster birds lets out a bizarre shriek.

The sheer volume makes me dizzy.

“Tch, it’s crying quite violently, isn’t it!”

Vetta-san grimaces, clutching her own arm as she glares at the Monster King.

Vetta-san’s barrier intensifies enough to be clearly felt on my skin.

“The demonic voices strengthened and drained my magic power all at once! A prolonged fight will be disadvantageous.”

If everyone falls to the demonic voices and goes mad, we stand no chance of winning.

With all its might, the Monster King inhales.

“Tch, evade!”

Lord Landrick pulls me and the fallen knight aside as he leaps horizontally.

But one knight who couldn’t escape in time turns to stone.

Seeing this, another knight shouts “Cockatrice!”

“Of all the worst monster birds, a Cockatrice evolved into the Monster King? You lot, be on your guard!”

Lord Forthner raises his sword and encourages everyone. Lord Landrick also shouts orders to the royal knights.

The Monster King Cockatrice seems capable of petrification in addition to demonic voices. Thanks to Lord Landrick staying close by my side without leaving, I can heal petrification too.

The mages gather magic power and launch fireballs, staggering the Cockatrice.

Meanwhile, monster birds continue descending from above one after another, leaving no time to catch our breath.

Of course, there are knights who can use bows, but the numbers are overwhelming.

The camp is illuminated only by torches and moonlight. In such poor visibility, the enemy attacks from the sky. There’s no way we can fight normally.

Even to my amateur eyes, it’s clear everyone is being gradually pushed back.

“Lupina.”

Lord Landrick speaks in a resolute voice.

“No.”

“I haven’t said anything yet!”

“Do you think I don’t know? You plan to act as bait for the Monster King, don’t you? That’s why you’re going to tell me to run to Vetta-san or somewhere else.”

Vetta-san continues maintaining her barrier even now.

When she falls, it’s over.

“I’m staying by your side.”

“It’s dangerous!”

“Either way, if we can’t defeat it, we’ll be wiped out here. In that case, I’ll stay by your side and continue healing!”

――――KYEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The Monster King, wounded by Lord Forthner, scatters both demonic voices and petrifying breath simultaneously.

In the corner of my vision, I see Vetta-san drop to one knee.

There’s no more time left.

(If I heal each petrified knight one by one, it won’t be in time…!)

I recall the sensation when Vetta-san enhanced me.

That feeling of power welling up from within my body, and yet being able to extend magic power over a wide area.

I look up at the barrier Vetta-san has deployed.

Even if I can’t see it, it’s there.

“Lupina?”

I stretch both hands toward the sky.

So that my power can reach the barrier, even just a little more.

(I should be able to do it. No, I will accomplish it…!)

With a surge, I release healing power into the sky, toward the barrier.

To spread out.

To envelop the knights.

“Heal!”

All at once, magic power from my body transforms into healing power and pours into the barrier.

Instantly, particles of light drift down from the sky like snow.

“My body, it’s moving!”

“My injuries are healed!”

“The monster birds are slowing down?!”

One after another, the knights stand up.

And it seems the healing power had the effect of robbing the monster birds of their freedom of movement.

Even the Monster King staggered in apparent distress.

“Now, press the attack all at once!”

With raised morale, the knights shout battle cries and charge at the Monster King.

The Monster King Cockatrice’s wings beat powerfully as it rises.

“I won’t let you escape!”

Vetta-san shouts, her face contorted.

Blocked by the strengthened barrier, the Monster King cannot flee into the night sky and remains above, spewing petrifying breath.

But against that, I intensified my healing power.

From the petrified areas, particles of light scatter and heal.

Enraged that neither petrification nor demonic voices work, the Monster King dives down all at once. In that moment, Lord Landrick lets out a soft laugh.

“There!”

Lord Landrick swings his sword wide, slicing through the wing of the diving Monster King.

With one wing severed, the Monster King screams and crashes into the ground.

Its black tail thrashes violently, struggling.

(No. That’s not a tail? Something black…)

The moment I understand, a chill runs down my spine.

A Venomous Black Serpent.

A massive serpent matching the Monster King’s enormous body—a Venomous Black Serpent—writhes.

“Get away!”

The instant I scream, Lord Landrick leaps aside.

But the Monster King’s final struggle proved one step faster.

The sentient Venomous Black Serpent bites Lord Landrick and, using its momentum, hurls him away.

As if to finish him off, the Monster King’s petrifying breath is unleashed toward him.

Half his body petrified, Lord Landrick falls helplessly into the river.

“Don’t die!”

Screaming, I leap into the river after him.

Clutching the arm I grabbed in that split second, determined never to let go.

Suddenly swallowed by the fierce current, I can’t breathe.

(No, no…!)

I don’t want him to die.

Absolutely not, that must not happen.

Pouring all my remaining magic power into him while desperately struggling not to let go.

How far were we swept?

Suddenly the current calms, and we wash ashore together.

“Lord Landrick…”

Placing my ear against his chest, his eyes still closed.

Thump, thump—the pulsing heartbeat tells me he’s definitely alive.

But the half of his body petrified by the Cockatrice still hasn’t returned to normal. Plus, he’s been poisoned too.

I take an antidote from my bag and pour it into Lord Landrick’s mouth.

I’m glad I learned how to administer medicine to unconscious people at the convent. With just knowledge of medicinal herbs, I couldn’t have done it like this.

Lord Landrick’s throat moves as he swallows, and I can feel the antidote permeating his body.

This should neutralize the poison from the Cockatrice’s tail.

But I can’t heal the petrification.

The only way is to treat it with healing magic.

I prayed fervently, desperately.

(Please, save him…!)

I’m not a saintess.

I lack the rare magic power like Lupina, my sister-in-law, and I can’t treat poison.

But only healing.

Only my desire to heal, I’m sure I won’t lose to anyone in that.

I embrace Lord Landrick’s petrified half as I apply healing.

Lord Landrick, his eyes barely open, tries to push me away.

But I absolutely refuse to let go of his body.

“Lupina…? Stop, don’t use, any more, magic power…”

It’s useless to stop me.

If I stop now, his body will remain petrified forever.

Lord Landrick’s trembling hand strokes my cheek as I continue praying and praying and praying.

Suddenly, magic power surges.

Right at this very moment, Lord Landrick transferred his magic power to me.

I convert all that magic power into healing magic at once, and with every last bit of remaining power, I completely restore his petrified body.

The gray half, the solidified fingertips, return to a beautiful skin tone.

(Ah, now, it’s okay…)

Lord Landrick’s voice calling “Lupina” over and over grows increasingly distant.

My vision blurs, and I’m swallowed by darkness.