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

“I have been writing letters to the Central Temple for six months now, informing them that the border stakes are broken and I cannot repair them alone. I need reinforcements, but not a single person came… Monsters kept pouring in, and I had no idea what to do.”

“For six whole months…? The stakes had been in that dreadful state for that long?”

Chuli nodded with a pained expression.

“The first to discover the broken stakes was a Saintess serving at the Fifth Regional Temple. There was no Saintess strong enough to handle it there, so they reached out to me, pleading for immediate assistance.”

Chuli had rushed to the Fifth Regional Temple and, for the time being, had written as many protective charms as she could, placing them all around the damaged stakes.

“But as if mocking my efforts, the next stake was destroyed shortly after. When I finished dealing with that one, another broke… It kept happening over and over, and I couldn’t keep up. The border was being violated more and more with each passing day.”

“In other words, the border stakes lost their power, the protective wall was destroyed, and monsters were able to flood in freely.”

Lionel, who had been listening, confirmed the situation. Chuli lowered her head, looking deeply ashamed.

“I placed protective charms all along the border as quickly as I could, but… I’m not as strong as I used to be. The charms I write now don’t hold nearly as much power as they once did… As a result, just as you said, the stakes continued to be destroyed, the border wall was breached, and not only the Fifth Regional Temple but several villages were swallowed by the advancing monsters…”

Her hands, resting on her lap were clenched into tight fists and trembled slightly. Then, teardrops began to fall onto them.

“I was not strong enough… I can only apologize. Even as the villagers fled, they were attacked by monsters. Many lost their lives. If only I had been stronger…”

Meteora rose from her chair and gently embraced Chuli.

“This is not your fault, Lady Chuli. You did everything you could. I assure you, none of this is your fault.”

“…Ah… ugh…!”

It was clear she had been holding in her grief. Unable to suppress it any longer, Chuli sobbed openly.

As Meteora stroked her back, she murmured with a sorrowful expression,

“I understand your pain, because I felt the same way. Even I could only perform temporary repairs on the stakes. Even a Saintess serving at the Central Temple could not possibly fix them alone and yet, you endured all of this by yourself. You truly did your best, Lady Chuli.”

“To… to hear you say that… It comforts my heart…”

Chuli wiped her tears with the handkerchief that Meteora offered her, then lifted her head resolutely.

“…I apologize for showing such an unsightly display. But truly, Lady Meteora, your emergency repairs have been an enormous help.”

“I simply did what I could as a Saintess. More importantly, I’m relieved that you weren’t injured. If something had happened to you, it would have been devastating—not just for this town but for all the people living in the surrounding areas.”

“You honor me with such kind words.”

As the two Saintesses exchanged words of comfort, Lionel, who had been stroking his chin in thought, muttered in a low voice,

“Still… what the hell is the Central Temple doing? Lady Chuli had been reporting this situation long before Meteora and I sent our joint letter. And yet, they ignored it… Anyone, even someone without temple training, could easily understand what would happen if the stakes be damaged.”