My fork halted an inch away from my mouth, frozen by the intensity of Mira’s father’s gaze focused on me from across the table. It had been a few hours since I’d healed his wife, and Mira had insisted we stay for lunch. Gale and I had played a few rounds of chess while we waited. Arthur, as I was told his name was, had stayed upstairs all the while. He had just walked downstairs looking disconcerted, before joining us at the table. He didn’t eat, only gazed intensely at me, like trying to decipher a hieroglyph. 

My eyes flicked from his face to my fork. It felt inappropriate to eat when it seemed he wanted to talk about something but…chomp. This food was just too good. I put a hand to my cheek, containing the squeal of delight elicited by the heavenly cuisine before me. Mirabelle had asked if we’d had preferences, so I took the opportunity to get my favorite food. I chewed, savoring the muffin topped by ham and eggs. How is this eggs benedict so good? Did I die? Did I die and go to heaven?

I looked at Gale, who idly picked at a salad. “You gotta try this stuff.”

“Do you think there’s a magic to check macros?”

“You’re obsessed.”

“I run a tight ship. There’s a difference. You’re gonna get fat.”

I snorted. Me, fat? Have you ever seen a fat heroine? Impossible.

[Correction. It is indeed possible for the host to gain excess wei-]

“Gale. Even the system says it’s impossible.”

He raised an eyebrow. 

“You two get along quite well,” Arthur said. I looked at him, my cheeks blushing as I realized how impolite we’d been. 

“Oh, I’m sorry! Did you want to talk about something?”

He shook his head. “I had thought tales of saintess’ to be children’s stories, yet here you are eating food at my table. I would deny it had my wife not been healed in front of my eyes.”

“I’m not really a—”

“Not a saintess?” He finished. “Nonsense. I consulted everyhealer, doctor, shaman, and charlatan in the city, yet not one

of them had even a hope, much less a cure. You are a saintess, whether you acknowledge it or not.”

I scratched my head. I couldn’t be the Saintess. I was a fake. Someone like me couldn’t be that important, isekai be damned. I held my objections, fearful of another lecture. I instead turned my attention to the fork in my hand. Chomp. Arthur looked at me, eyes warm like he’d seen a bunny rabbit eat a carrot. I looked behind me — no rabbits. 

Mirabelle leaned forwards and grabbed a lemon cookie from the table. She had said little since we’d begun eating. Her eyes were still reddened, and each time she looked at me I had the uncomfortable feeling that she’d begun to worship me. Her eyes sparkled looking at me, as she chewed on her cookie. A few stray crumbs on her mouth were wiped away by the maid standing behind her. 

My lips twitched. This was the premium grade badass that killed a demon general in front of my eyes? She seemed less a warrior and more a fitful niece. She noticed my look and beamed a smile at me. My eyes shook. Damn! Gale, buddy, you sure you don’t want a different girlfriend…?

The word seemed strange in my mouth. Girlfriend. That’s what I was, wasn’t it? It felt foreign to me. I looked at him, his gloomy face making me smile as he picked at his salad. “Pfft…”

He looked up. “What?”

“Nothing, nothing. You sure you don’t want to eat some of this?” I raised my fork to his mouth, speared with a bite of my food. 

I pressed it against his obstinate lips, before he finally took a bite. His eyes widened appraisingly. I smiled. Haha, bastard, if anyone’s getting fat it’s you first…

“Are you staying for some time?” Arthur’s voice rang out. I jumped, nearly dropping my fork. How did I keep forgetting I was in front of an important nobleman? I blamed Gale. 

“Ah, no, we’ve been planning to go to Elanis for some time. I think we’ll leave soon.” I wanted to check out that magic sword, not to mention it was a city of magic if the rumors were to be believed. I thought of slinging fireballs at Gale if he tried to bite my neck again. Well… maybe I’d give him a break. It did feel kind of nice…

Arthur rubbed his face, as if coming to terms with a decision. “You have done our family a great service. Should you ever find yourself in need, the Leyland family is at your beck and call.”

Mira nodded. “I plan to accompany you, anyhow. This debt cannot be repaid with mere compensation.”

“What?” I said, “No, you don’t owe me anything. I didn’t do anything important…”

“My wife is not important?”

“No— that’s not,  I just—”

“Then there is no issue,” Mira said, smiling. 

Gale smirked at me. “You can just say yes.” ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novｅlfire.net

My face paled. Had I really gained the favor of such a prestigious family? Wait a second. Huh? What? Leyland?

“By Leyland,” I said, slowly, “Do you mean the land, the city or… you?”

“Yes,” Arthur said. 

“You’re a Leyland?”

“Yes.”

“As in ruler of the city and surrounding areas? The Duke?” 

He looked at me. “You healed my wife without knowing whose house you entered? And you decry your status as a Saintess?”

Leyland? The Leylands? I looked at Mira. I’d never seen her smiling so smugly. My body suddenly felt stiff, like a marionette with taught strings. 

“Oh.” I said. 

Arthur stood suddenly. I panicked — had I offended him?! Was he going to execute me? He walked over to me and knelt to the ground, shocking all of us. He took one of my hands in his, placing his other over his heart. 

“I, Arthur Leyland,” He said, “Swear on the honor of my house and the sanctity of my soul, that you shall forever be under our protection.”

My mouth opened, flapping in an attempt to find words. I watched as Arthur’s eyes misted over. “Thank you.” His voice cracked as he said it. 

I stood, pushing back the chair behind me. I put a hand to his shoulder, trying to help him stand. “You really don’t need to…”

He stiffly stood, towering above me, yet his eyes regarded me reverently. “Thank you,” He said again. He pulled me into a tight hug, before suddenly releasing me, flustered. 

“I’m sorry, that was inappropriate.” 

My lips curled into a smile. All of a sudden, he seemed to resemble his daughter. Was his family naturally air-headed? 

I sighed. Should I just accept it? It would be kind of a pain in the ass to let everyone know I wasn’t really a Saintess. I shook my head. I had healed people partly for the Hero Points. It wasn’t altruistic, not born from some holy desire. Hero Points… 

I frowned as I remembered my debts. Situations to gather so many points were rare. Had the attack from the demons left more people to farm? I bit my lip. Maybe I still had time to rack up some points before we left the city. I looked at Arthur. 

“Where are the wounded?”

“You wish to heal them? A guard unit will escort you.”

I stared at him. A guard unit? What was I, the pope?

“Just one will be fine. Gale’s worth ten.”

Arthur smiled. “All men are worth a hundred in their beloved’s eyes. Yes, just one will do.”

…Had he come to some misunderstanding? Whatever. I looked at Gale with a greedy look in my eyes. His face twitched, holding back laughter. Yeah, yeah, laugh it up buddy, see who’s laughing tonight.

The wounded were not so bad as the last attack, and I wasn’t the only one there helping. Had the other healers been released from Arthur’s estate? Actually, wasn’t it pretty much his fault everyone was calling me a saintess? I suddenly felt a bit irritated with the man who thanked me with tears in his eyes. Regardless, I went to and fro popping heals into people like tik-tacs. 

The wounded were gathered in a park, stationed here and there in medical tents that were set up to shelter them during treatment. I went from tent to tent, gold flashing from the entrance as I healed. 

I ignored the giddy cries of those around me and worked. Gale followed close at my heels, stopping people from approaching too close. He worked surprisingly well as a wall — vanguard both on the field and off. 

It was a few hours later when I realized I’d run out of people to heal, yet only received a measly thousand points. I clicked my tongue. I didn’t want the demons to attack again, but if they did… Better not to think that way. 

The cries of those around me still bothered me. I wondered what they would think of their ‘Saintess’ if they realized she was actually a near-thirty year old loser, and a former man at that. I stood in front of a crowd of people who called out, thanking me for my efforts. I suddenly had a very bad case of stage fright. 

I noticed the crowd part in the direction from the road. My brows furrowed as I watched an expensive carriage ride over the grass, approaching us. It was white with gold trim, expensive looking wheels, and two horses leading it. A man sat atop, holding the reins. He gave us a short wave and pulled the carriage to a stop. Had Cinderella come to say hello?

The door opened and a butler stepped out. He turned around, and assisted an elderly man to hop out. The man was regal, despite his humble garb, with a disposition not unlike Arthur’s. Those around us immediately fell into kneels, the crowd lowering like a wave. I felt a bit awkward. Was I supposed to kneel too? 

The man walked forward, stopping in front of me. He gave an appraising look, before regarding me with a kind smile. “The Saintess, I presume. I’ve heard much of your kindness.” His voice was cracking, quiet, yet seemed to permeate the entire area. I had no doubt those at the back heard him, despite the volume of it. 

I smiled awkwardly, and Gale sidled up next to me. The man turned his attention to Gale. He looked him over, a look of surprise on his face. 

“The hero, I have no doubt.”

Gale smiled. “The one and only.”

The man laughed, the sound like tinkling bells. “I have come to escort you to Elanis, on behalf of the Holy Church.”

I looked at Gale. We shrugged at the same time. How could I turn down a free ride? 

“We have another companion,” I said.

“We have sent another carriage to her, have no fear. I merely wished to accompany you during the journey — should it not prove overbearing.”

I shook my head. “No, that’s fine.”

He looked to the people around us, before his eyes landed on Arthur’s guard. “Tell your master the church will provide alms.” 

With that, he turned back towards the carriage, and before stepping up looked over to me.

“We have a long night of travel ahead of us. Best to set off.”

I took Gale’s hand and walked to the carriage.