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

“Meteora, set up the biggest and longest barrier possible along the border!”

Covered in the bl00d of slain monsters, Lionel shouted his command.

Meteora, who had been lowered from the knights’ horses, tried to follow his instructions. However, she grew anxious as Lionel kept moving further outside the border, where more monsters lurked.

“You’re already outside the border! Are you sure it’s okay to set up the barrier!?”

“Once I finish taking down the monsters, I’ll jump over the barrier and come back! Knights, take out the talismans from the supplies and place them along the barrier she’s setting up!”

Unlike the flustered Meteora, the knights quickly responded with a firm “Yes!” They ran toward the horses, which had loyally followed them, grabbed the talismans from the supply crates, and dashed off to place them in position.

Meteora looked around and noticed traces of an old stone wall—most likely the remains of the original border. She carefully placed her barrier along that line, reinforcing it with all her strength.

Meanwhile, in front of her, Lionel moved at an incredible speed, effortlessly cutting through the monsters.

(Rather than a battle, it looks like a sword dance. He’s using his enhanced agility to leap from one monster to the next.)

Each time he changed direction, he slashed through an enemy, landing just to strike again before launching himself into another jump. He moved so swiftly, spinning and slicing, that he resembled a spinning top—one that crashed into monsters with sharp, rapid rotations, sending them flying away.

“Captain! We’ve finished placing the talismans!”

“Well done!”

With one final slash, Lionel took down the last monster. He used its collapsing body as a stepping stone to leap high into the air, raising his jewel-embedded sword.

“Seal!”

In response to his command, the jewel on the sword’s hilt shone brightly. The weakened monsters dissolved into a purple mist and were swiftly absorbed into the gemstone.

“Captain, more monsters are coming from deep in the forest! Hurry back!”

The knights inside the barrier shouted in alarm.

Lionel landed, bent his knees deeply, then sprang up once more—just barely clearing the barrier Meteora had set up. He successfully made it back to their side of the border.

As for the approaching monsters, they stopped abruptly upon reaching the talisman-lined barrier. They growled in frustration, prowling back and forth, unable to pass through. Eventually, realizing they had no way forward, they reluctantly turned back.

Once the monsters had retreated a safe distance, Meteora lifted the barrier. The moment the tension broke, exhaustion hit her all at once, and she collapsed to her knees.

“Lady Saint! Are you alright!?”

“I… somehow…”

Even speaking felt like a struggle. Extending a nearly one-kilometer-wide barrier on both sides had pushed even her limits.

“We’ll return to the Fifth Regional Temple for now! The talismans we placed there last time are still active, so it’s safer. No one’s injured, right? Good. Move out!”

“Yes, sir!”

Despite the intense battle moments ago, the knights immediately sprang into action. Meteora was shocked by their stamina.

“You all… are really amazing.”

The knight helping her onto a horse grinned sheepishly.

“Heh. Glad we could show you.”

“The battle on the day we first met you was… well, a disaster.”

“We had to fight a single monster with nearly our entire squad. It was brutal.”

“Back then, everyone was injured, our weapons were rusted, and the talismans weren’t effective. Honestly, we were fighting with a mindset of ‘if we go down, we go down swinging.’”

“You were prepared to die…?”

Meteora held her breath. The knight securing her stirrup chuckled.

“That’s why your arrival was a miracle, Saintess.”

“With new weapons, proper meals from the town, and most importantly, your talismans, we can fight without fear now. Thanks to you, we can battle at full strength again. We’re truly grateful, Lady Saint.”

Seeing everyone around her smiling in gratitude, Meteora felt relief wash over her.

“So… I really was able to help, wasn’t I…?”

“Of course! There’s no doubt about it—wait, Saintess Meteora? Oh no—LADY SAINT!”

The knight’s voice grew distant. The moment she let out a relieved sigh, her vision spun, and exhaustion finally took over.

Meteora lost consciousness while riding on the horse.