***
Over the past week, an unprecedented sight unfolded at the Academy-Affiliated Infirmary.
The Saint in the Crow Mask, who rose to fame during 'The Spring of Those Who Could Not Return' incident, personally reached out his hand to the graduates this time.
This paper had the honor of recording that week from the closest seat, and wishes to introduce that Miracle to you believers.
=====================
The Academy's religious newspaper,
Over the past week, what decorated the headlines of that newspaper was none other than the news about The Black Saint.
On the first day the Saint visited the Academy, the Dawn Newspaper announced the Saint's Mercy.
Up until this point, the citizens of the Academy Territory did not show much interest in the article.
The heartwarming story of him bestowing Mercy upon someone was inevitably pushed out of their interests.
Especially since those with weaker faith were naturally uninterested in such news.
It was from the third day that the Saint's Great Performance began to attract interest.
That article title, claiming he created a human ear out of ribs, was the start.
At the time, people didn't even pay attention to the article, saying that the religious newspaper was jumping the gun again.
Because it wasn't a rare occurrence for a religious newspaper to be blowing things out of proportion regarding a religious person's miracle.
Nevertheless, people checked the article, thinking 'just in case'.
And—
"Good heavens..."
From then on, the atmosphere began to reverse.
After that day, other newspapers besides the Dawn Newspaper also rushed to introduce the Saint's Miracle on their front pages.
At least once a day, and in some cases, multiple times.
With Miracles pouring out without rest, the people of the Academy Territory began to wait for the next day's Miracle to be introduced.
It wasn't simply because it was a world lacking in entertainment.
The Academy Territory was a territory where countless Mercenaries and heroes gathered.
As such, there were bound to be countless Backstories, and it was a place where countless Tragedies held their breath.
In this territory where one could find a person harboring scars in their heart just across a bridge,
the Miracle happening at the Saint's Fingertips was naturally not felt like a distant Miracle belonging to someone else.
In the middle, there was a minor Happening where an article Drawing Aggro from people was taken down in a few hours along with a stern warning from the church, but
the Conclusion was that thanks to the Saint's Great Performance, Vigor began to return to the Academy.
The interest towards the Saint naturally led to a certain event.
The Academy's Department of Healing Arts Entrance Ceremony.
The day the Saint's sole Disciple, the girl called The Saintess of the Lamp, was matriculating.
Those who wanted to rely on the Saint's Miracle began to snoop around the Department of Healing Arts Entrance Ceremony Hall from early Dawn.
And Ayla, The Saintess of the Lamp who was at the center of all this interest, was...
Click, clack.
A pair of black Dress shoes stepped down from the carriage and calmly trod upon the gravel path.
"Have a good trip, Ayla."
Inside the carriage, Ayla's Mother carefully waved her hand.
"Yes, Mother. I'll be going."
"Wrap your Shawl tighter if you're cold. And make sure you eat Lunch."
"Yes!"
The Saintess of the Lamp smiled brightly.
Ayla's Mother looked at the Saintess's face with eyes full of Overwhelming Emotion.
This whole situation felt like a dream.
The night she visited the Nihilrit Family for dispatch duty as usual.
She had cast Divine Magic on the Young Lady suffering from the Demon Disease, and a Young Master had covered up that mistake.
Afterwards, Silencing someone from that day led to the Connection of being a Scholarship Student, and that Connection continued on—
"Do well, our Saintess."
Her younger daughter became The Saintess of the Lamp.
As Ayla's Mother, it was an unparalleled happiness and Honor.
She too was a Religious Person.
There was no reason for her not to be happy about the fact that the daughter she bore had received the gods' favor and awakened the Talent of a Saintess.
It was to the point where she even thought all the trials up until now were for this Grace.
Sob.
"...Mother, why are you crying again this time?"
Ayla's older sister, Valeria, who was leaning diagonally against the Car window reading a Book, threw in a short comment without turning the Page.
"Haa... Ayla. Don't be nervous. You'll do fine."
"You too, Unnie."
"Never use the word 'lacking'."
"Haha... I'll put in the Effort."
Ayla's older sister Valeria was currently enrolled as a Third Year in the Hero Department.
There was one reason.
"Haa... I need to graduate as soon as possible so I can protect you by your side or something..."
It was to protect her family.
During the Academy Kidnapping Incident in the past, the Academy aided and abetted her kidnapping despite her being the Student Council President just because she was a commoner.
Saddened by that fact, Valeria keenly felt the need for power, and from then on began to dream of becoming a Hero.
And as Time passed, now that her Younger Sister had become a Saintess.
Valeria had gained a desperate reason to become even stronger.
"Do well on your Freshman Representative Speech too, Unnie."
"Don't Worry about me."
Valeria replied bluntly and dropped her gaze back to her Book.
Even though she said that, her finger remained unmoving from that one line on the page.
She was embarrassed, so she needlessly averted her gaze to the Book.
Ayla pretended not to see her sister like that.
"I'll be going."
Ayla carefully closed the carriage door.
Beyond the Car window, her Mother waved her hand one more time.
Giving a small smile in return, Ayla lowered her Veil and slowly turned her body.
"Let us go, Saintess."
She headed towards the east of the Academy's Main Building while being escorted by Holy Knights.
In front of the massive Auditorium built with white Marble, two Escort Holy Knights stepped aside to the left and right to guide her.
"This way, Saintess."
On both sides of the Auditorium's Front door, Apprentice Priests dressed in white Priest's Robes were neatly standing in Formation.
As Ayla revealed herself from between the Holy Knights, the priests in Formation bowed their heads in unison as if they had made a promise.
"Welcome, Saintess."
Fundamentally, outside Social status does not apply within the Academy.
Commoners, nobles, and even the Imperial Family are all equal Students inside here.
However, there was a single Exception, and that was the Saintess.
This was a Result of the specific nature of the Academy's Department of Healing Arts.
"Saintess. I will guide you to your seat."
The Dean of the Department of Healing Arts politely guided Ayla.
Unlike general Departments, the Department of Healing Arts is a Department with strong religious colors.
To begin with, the reason the Department of Healing Arts was located in the Academy and not a Seminary was solely to learn the 'magical' Technique of Divine Magic.
Since Divine Magic required magical Technique just as much as Faith,
it was to teach Healing Magic just as they would teach heroes.
But in the end, the foundation of the Department of Healing Arts was Religion.
That's why in the Department of Healing Arts, the church's Doctrine and order had no choice but to take precedence over the Academy's Egalitarianism.
"...Good Morning."
Ayla greeted the Dean apprehensively.
Even though she participated in the Entrance Ceremony as a Student, here she was a Saintess before she was a Student.
Barely suppressing the Shame that kept rearing its head, she followed behind the Dean.
Receiving the Dean's Guidance, she settled into the Seat of Honor.
As soon as she sat down, the gazes inside the Auditorium focused on her in unison.
A Murmur struck her ears.
"Is she the..."
"I hear she's The Saintess of the Lamp."
"First time seeing her in person..."
"Look at that beautiful figure visible even beyond the Veil."
'Please, stop...'
Ayla swallowed a small Sigh from inside the Veil, placing her two hands neatly on her lap.
She gently closed her eyes, trying hard not to lose her smile.
'So as not to bring shame to my Teacher.'
She waited for the Entrance Ceremony, conscious of being a Merciful and sincere Saintess.
Someone approached her like that.
"E-Excuse me. You're The Saintess of the Lamp... right?"
A girl tightly gripping the collar of her white Priest's Robes, her face heavily flushed.
"...Yes, that's correct. Good Morning."
Ayla stood up from her seat and accepted the greeting by bringing her two hands together.
"I, I'm... um..."
"You can speak comfortably."
"U-Um, last year..."
The girl's voice trembled slightly.
"My mother returned alive thanks to you, Saintess. Last Spring. During... 'The Spring of Those Who Could Not Return'. She said you were there, Saintess..."
Ayla's smile deepened.
She wasn't a girl who approached to form a Connection with a Saintess.
She had only approached to convey her pure Gratitude.
To think that Purity would be this welcome.
Ayla felt like she knew why her Teacher liked doing Volunteer Work in the Limbus Pit.
The pure goodwill received from people, transcending status, held a value greater than a great fortune.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Sister. Then may I ask for your mother's name?"
"Ah, my mother is Garnet."
Garnet, Garnet.
Ayla searched her memory for a moment.
She hadn't memorized every Patient, but she remembered at least a few Patients.
Especially the Patients from during The Spring of Those Who Could Not Return.
Fumbling through her memories, she let out a short exclamation.
"That's right. Ms. Garnet."
She was definitely a Mercenary At death's door due to Sepsis.
The Mercenary who barely opened her eyes after quickly undergoing Excision on the body Part causing the Sepsis, with Ayla constantly casting Refresh, and repeatedly receiving Holy Water and IV Fluid treatments.
Glad to see her, Ayla tightly held the girl's hand and spoke.
"Since this is also a Connection, would it be alright if I ask for your name?"
"It... It's Gwen."
"Sister Gwen, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Ayla reached out her hand.
The advice Director Schun had given in the past came to mind.
That the higher you climb, the more precious the friends who remember your lowest times become.
Because of that, Ayla still cherished her Connection with her 4 friends whom she had been close with since before she became a Saintess.
She was just thinking that it wouldn't be a bad idea to add a pure Child like this to those Connections.
— "Hey, did you hear?"
— "The Saintess to a kid from the Mencia Sect?"
— "To Switch sides from the first day of matriculation. She's a funny kid in many ways."
The Mencia Sect.
At the same time as those words that absolutely could not be ignored were heard,
Gwen's face stiffened.