Banishment is Fine: As a Genius Saint, I Can Shine Anywhere. - Chapter 4

The old man’s eyes had grown empty; his speech was inaudible beyond recognition. And yet—he still recognized Meteora.

With a trembling hand, he reached out to her.

“…He…help… me…”

A moment later—

His legs crumbled away, disintegrating like charcoal burned in a fire.

The girl restrained by the knight screamed in horror.

Meteora instantly raised her staff, but Lionel shot out a hand to stop her.

“It’s too late. Even you can’t—”

“…!”

She didn’t need Lionel to tell her that. Even if she were in perfect condition, there was no saving him now.

The poison had spread too far. His legs were already gone, and his skin, mottled with dark spots, was rapidly deteriorating.

“Agh… ghh… ah…!”

Even so, the old man was still alive—still conscious.

He was being burned alive from the inside out.

Meteora exhaled shakily and focused every last ounce of healing magic into her staff.

“…Ah… ah…?”

A flicker of relief softened the old man’s face.

The agony that had twisted his features faded, and his trembling ceased.

“It’s okay. Look at me.”

His head creaked as he turned toward her, black tears spilling from his hollowed eyes.

Even as his body fell apart, Meteora smiled gently at him, clutching her staff.

“I’ll take away the pain. You’ll feel better soon. So don’t worry. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

He didn’t respond.

Even if he tried, his voice was no longer comprehensible.

His face was losing its shape, slipping away piece by piece.

But—

His eyes slowly drifted shut.

The old man was no longer moving. His face was barely human anymore and somehow seemed peaceful in death.

“…Grandpa…?”

The girl—who had stopped crying at some point—simply stared in silence as she slipped from the soldier’s grip.

She collapsed to her knees.

Chuli a pained expression, reached out to comfort her.

But—

“Murderer! You killed my grandpa!”

Tears streamed down the girl’s face as she glared at Meteora with burning hatred.

Not just her eyes—

She grabbed a stone from the ground and threw it with all her might.

“Stop!”

Lionel barely deflected it in time.

The rock fell harmlessly to the ground.

But Meteora—

She stood frozen, paralyzed.

“You call yourself a saint who can heal anything— but you couldn’t save my grandpa!
You liar!
Murderer!
Bring him back!”

The girl screamed and thrashed at her while sobbing uncontrollably.

The knights quickly restrained her, dragging her away.

Some scolded her—“How dare you speak to the Saint like that?!”—but their voices were drowned out by her grief-stricken cries.

The air was unbearably heavy.

Chuli turned to Meteora.

“Lady Meteora… you need to rest. You’ve already pushed yourself beyond your limit.”

Though exhausted herself, Chuli took Meteora’s hand and helped support her.

Lionel clenched his jaw, then gave out orders to the remaining knights.

“You two, take Meteora and Lady Chuli to the inn. The townspeople will gather in the central plaza. Keep the protective charms in place. The rest of you—split into patrol teams and search for any stragglers.”

His voice faded into the distance.

Chuli urged Meteora forward—“Come, my lady.”

But Meteora could no longer move a single finger.

She heard Chuli’s worried voice—but before she could respond, exhaustion claimed her and…

She sank into darkness.