Banishment is Fine: As a Genius Saint, I Can Shine Anywhere. - Chapter 3

The Neighboring Kingdom and the Role of the Holy Maiden:

“The northern neighbor, Durandix, is the closest kingdom to this new one. Since long ago, we’ve maintained contact with them through Magic Pigeons.”

Seated on a bench in the town square, Meteora explained to the gathered children. Their eyes sparkled with curiosity as they listened intently.

The moment reminded her of her days at the Central Temple, teaching young apprentice maidens. A nostalgic smile naturally formed on her lips as she continued.

“Durandix has neither Holy Maidens nor clergy. Instead, they have people called magicians.”

“Magicians?”

“Yes, that’s right. Just like Holy Maidens, they can use mysterious powers.”

“Wow!”

The children looked at one another in excitement.

The idea that beyond the mountains, people lived a completely different way of life was foreign to them. It must have felt like listening to a fairy tale.

“Can magicians heal injuries and sickness like you do?”

“I’m not entirely sure… But they can purify water and imbue the land with a prayer-like energy to support their people. In that sense, they are quite similar to Holy Maidens.”

“They’re kinda alike!”

The children exchanged delighted looks.

“I never knew there were countries without Sacred Trees. Grown-ups never talk about this kind of stuff.”

“Many adults don’t know either. Besides, unless you ride a Magic Pigeon, you’d have to cross monster-infested lands. Most people never leave the country they were born in.”

“Hmm…”

Even among the nobility, very few truly understood Durandix. Perhaps the royal family or the temple’s upper ranks were exceptions.

Occasionally, Magic Pigeons would be sent to exchange crop seeds or seedlings or to share updates, but such exchanges happened once a year at most.

In general, people lived within the reach of their Divine/Sacred Tree or the magicians’ power. Beyond the national borders lay the world of monsters—an inhospitable realm where no human belonged.

Even the belief that there were five Divine Trees across different nations was based solely on ancient mythological texts. No one had ever confirmed their existence firsthand.

Perhaps, as time advances, Magic Pigeons will evolve and be able to travel even farther…

However, even among nations that shared a Divine Tree, there was no telling if their people would be friendly to outsiders. Language barriers and differing lifestyles could also pose challenges.

Thus, venturing beyond one’s homeland was a rare and unlikely prospect.

Rather than looking outward, we should focus on the problems within.

Though the children were now fully healed, their malnutrition remained unchanged. Without proper meals, even the blessing of healing would fade within six months.

The land’s prayers and the protective talismans distributed to households only lasted about a year.

If their situation didn’t improve within that time, they would once again be plagued by hunger and disease.

My duty as a Holy Maiden is to protect and save those before me.

Meteora clenched her resolve as she gazed at the children’s frail arms.

A vision from a fever-induced dream suddenly surfaced in her mind.

—”Why are you even alive?!”

That hysterical voice tightened around her heart.

But she smiled and nodded at the children as they eagerly spoke to her, answering silently in her mind.

—I live to save these children and the people of this kingdom.

That is why I was granted the power of God’s grace. I won’t let anyone say I should never have been born.