The Seven-Year-Old Village Chief in Exile - Chapter 68

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 68
In truth, what Nema was really worried about was something else entirely.
It was Hebennia, whose fever still refused to break.
“Havi is…….”
“The fever will come down soon.”
Verity wiped the cold sweat beading on Hebennia’s forehead with a handkerchief.
Thanks to Healing Magic, her complexion had returned, but the persistent cold sweat was nothing more than a symptom of a fever that simply would not yield.
The power of a Heretic Inquisitor was formidable.
Olive had borrowed some basic medical supplies from the station attendants and checked her temperature—it held steady at 38.9 degrees and showed no signs of climbing further.
“A fever of this degree poses no serious threat to her life, but we must restore her consciousness as quickly as possible.”
The Holy Knight who had accompanied them advised that she be given water regularly to prevent dehydration, and that her body be kept cool.
When the Holy Knight stepped away for a moment.
“Nema.”
Verity spoke up quickly.
“The young lady has gained strength as the reward for surviving her ordeal. It’s only that she is still young, and accepting that power as her own is proving a bit overwhelming for her.”
“Then…….”
“In time, the fever will naturally subside. There’s no need to worry.”
Only then did Nema place a hand over her heart, visibly relieved.
Just then, Ian returned.
He had just come from what amounted to interrogation by Olive.
“Goodness, why that expression? Did someone confess their love? I hear the Inquisitor’s smitten with you?”
Verity had only thrown out the remark to lighten the mood, but Ian’s expression was far from ordinary.
“I heard something similar.”
“I’m sorry……?”
Verity’s eyes widened in shock.
Nema’s hand flew to her mouth.
‘So Libi’s sister confessed to Ian!’
To the pair caught in such a misunderstanding, Ian said this:
“She asked whether Havi has a betrothed.”
The misunderstanding swelled to unstoppable proportions.
Ian swallowed dryly, as if fighting back nausea.
He had just encountered the most loathsome creature in the world, and the damning fact was that this thing shared blood with someone who felt like his younger sister—a despair he could barely stomach.
“That’s no ordinary madman. He said it would be problematic if Havi already has a betrothed, and he’s asking us to give him a chance to talk alone with her once she wakes.”
The burning hunger that blazed in his eyes had seemed entirely sincere, and Ian shuddered.
“Such a crime against Heaven and man!”
“His sister is perfectly decent, but his own blood could produce something like that, such a……!”
“Wouldn’t it be better if he simply disappeared? If that creature knew his sister was like him, she’d be devastated too. We could make it look accidental and let her keep only the good memories…….”
Meanwhile.
“A……a Holy Maiden, you say?”
“Shh.”
Olive, for his part, was swallowing hard, struggling to suppress the misunderstanding.
“It seems she may be suffering from an Awakening Fever.”
“Yes, yes! Now that you mention it, I remember!”
The Holy Knight’s long green hair swayed as she nodded.
Those chosen as Saints or Holy Maidens sometimes suffer from an Awakening Fever for extended periods—a condition that even Healing Magic cannot cure.
‘Then that would explain why a fever so resistant to Healing Magic was being so stubborn!’
They were now all but certain that Hebennia was a Holy Maiden.
“According to the consistent testimony of the rescued victims, a young girl created a transparent Protective Barrier and sheltered them all.”
“A Protective Barrier…….”
Olive recalled the Holy Magic she had learned during her years of training.
Healing, Purification, Strengthening.
Three forms of magic that could be mastered by those who overcame the trials and hardships sent down by angels.
‘If it’s a Protective Barrier, it must have been created by adapting Strengthening Magic.’
If that were the case, it was likely she had awakened to Holy Magic from childhood and received separate instruction in it. There might well be someone connected to a Sacred Shrine in her household.
Holy Magic can often be wielded by those who are neither priests nor Holy Knights.
The most prominent example was Prince Aidellos.
The young prince, who had overcome hardship at an even younger age and gained Strengthening Magic as his reward, frequently undertook pilgrimages as a result.
Common opinion held that, given his humble birth and the impossibility of ever claiming the throne, he would likely take vows at a Sacred Shrine when he came of age.
‘An angel descended when that prince was staying in Deste Territory.’
Surely at that time, the young girl must have received the designation of Holy Maiden as well.
The mysterious group he’d met at the Research Institute was insisting on heading to Deste Territory. It seemed they had a home there.
‘Judging by their attire and retinue, they come from quite a wealthy household.’
Olive turned his gaze.
It settled on Ian, Verity, and Nema, who were huddled together with grave expressions.
The three felt Olive’s attention and stiffened, then quickly looked away.
“……We must persuade them carefully.”
Olive suppressed his emotions as much as possible. The Holy Knight accompanying him bit his lip, swallowing his sympathy.
From this moment on, they would have to inflict a great wound upon these people.
“It is an ancient custom for Saint candidates to dwell in the Central Main Temple, and a long covenant between the Empire and the Main Church.”
It would be an unbearable change of circumstances for a young child.
* * *
The first train of dawn happened to be bound for Trans, a transfer station.
“I’ve procured the tickets, so please come along.”
Olive sent off the Holy Knight, then asked if Verity would follow him alone—his manner suggested he’d come regardless of permission, so Verity reluctantly acquiesced.
‘Good grief, how did the brother of Lady Libi turn into such a pervert…….’
Verity pondered how to handle this madman.
‘I cannot kill a person, so I have no choice but to seek help from Ian and Nema.’
The four of them sat facing each other in a First Class Cabin.
Nema and Verity sat together, as did Ian and Olive. Ian pressed himself against the window, maintaining the greatest possible distance from Olive.
Hebennia lay with her head resting on Nema’s thigh, her small legs naturally draping across Verity’s lap.
The frail form of the young child, still breathing with difficulty and struggling, was more than enough to stir the sympathy of the adults.
“……y.”
And then.
“Mother…….”
Even murmuring the family title that children most relied upon.
A single tear rolled down her cheek.
“…….”
Nema’s chest tightened, and she quickly wiped away the moisture gathering at her eyes with the back of her hand.
Ian and Verity, caught up in the poignancy, pressed their lips firmly shut.
“……Is this young master the girl’s older brother?”
At that moment, Olive spoke.
The heartfelt atmosphere transformed in an instant into something hostile.
Olive understood fully why they were wary of him. He sensed they had already grasped what he was about to say.
“I asked the knight first, but he chose his words carefully.”
“Because he’s an honorable man.”
Verity replied curtly.
Olive spoke bluntly.
“Why were you in such a place?”
“We have no obligation to tell you that.”
“The Main Church has an obligation to know.”
“My sister is still young.”
Verity delivered this as a genuine warning.
The demon endlessly churned over the fact that this mad Heretic Inquisitor was Libi’s brother.
Otherwise, he feared he might forcibly break his own power, sealed across dimensions, just to kill him.
“……You knew, then, after all.”
Olive spoke, noting that if that were so, the conversation would move quickly.
“Your sister is currently awakening as a Saint.”
Clack-clack-clack-
The sound of the train wheels rolling ceaselessly filled the First Class Cabin.
“……I beg your pardon?”
Verity wore the most vacant, stupid expression he had yet managed in his life.
“I—wait, ma’am, I mean, my sister said what?”
“You know it yourself. Your sister is a Saint.”
“…….”
Huh?
‘Our young lady?’
Verity glanced down at the sleeping Hebennia.
“Young lady! How many times have I told you to take off your stockings properly!”
“Oh, my. As befits a manservant, returning the young lady’s stockings to their proper state would surely be an honor beyond measure, and pfft! Please don’t throw them in my face!”
This brazen little brat?
“Where have you been?”
“The Village Hall. The guests in the Underground Dungeon were getting bored, so I showed them the pelvic dance I learned from Popina.”
How could such a wicked little thing exist?
“Miss, what are you drawing? A chicken coop?”
“An exercise yard for the Underground Dungeon guests to walk in.”
“……Isn’t it a bit cramped? Barely room for one person to stand.”
“Marching in place counts as a walk.”
Our young lady, top graduate of the Torture Studies program at Aidellos Academy?
While Verity’s thoughts stuttered to a halt, Ian reacted first with visible alarm.
Nema, too, was struck speechless, forgetting even to breathe.
“She’s a Saint? What kind of terrible——!”
“Mind your tongue. A Saint is a rare being capable of wielding the great power of the divine—Sacred Force itself.”
“No, our child, I mean, this young lady——!”
In his flustered state, Ian finally grasped the meaning of what Olive had told him.
‘Saints can’t marry!’
The State Church forbade marriage from the moment one took vows—whether as a layperson, a scholar, a savior, a Holy Knight, a Heretic Inquisitor, or climbing all the way to Cardinal and Holy King.
The sole exception was if someone was married before being named a Saint or Holy One.
“So if there’s a betrothal, it has to be annulled……!”
The good news was that Libi’s younger brother wasn’t a deviant after all.
The bad news was that Verity and Nema were glaring at him with resentment.
‘At least that’s a relief…….’
No, wait.
Ian faced a new problem.
“Does this mean you intend to take the young lady with you?”
“Not immediately. There are various procedures first, and even if we live apart, family contact can be maintained at any time…….”
Olive spoke earnestly about how devotedly the Main Church would care for the Saint.
That was when it happened.
Crash!
The train lurched with a tremendous explosion that shook the earth itself.
“Kyaaaah!”
“An, an explosion!”
“The bridge has been blown up!”
Screams erupted from all corners.
The already precarious train swayed even more violently from the emergency stop, and the sounds of luggage crashing and people crying out filled the air.
Fortunately, the train came to a halt without derailing.
“Everyone please remain in your cabins!”
Crew members hurried out to check on the passengers.
“Are you all right——.”
Ian and Verity clung to Nema, who held Hebennia, with Olive huddled among them like a round ball.
Verity raised one hand with a slight smile.
“We’re all fairly hardy folk, so we haven’t taken any injuries. Please attend to the other passengers right away.”
“Ah, yes…….”
The crew member withdrew with an awkward smile.
Click.
A silver gun barrel aimed at the back of the crew member’s head.
A masked woman whispered quietly.
“Hands up.”
Train robbers poured in all at once.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————