The Great Sword is not the Main Body!-Chapter 99: Carthia (5)

"Noah? Why does your face look like that?"

"Y-yeah...?"

"Don't you want to go for a walk?"

"Ah, no... it's fun."

Rubia chuckled softly, pulling my hand as she led me forward.

"Why? Do you feel weird because you said something like that but then didn’t do anything? Like feeling empty or regretful or something?"

"W-what are you saying! I... I don't feel that way at all!"

Despite Rubia's teasing words, we were genuinely enjoying our walk in a wholesome way.

I didn’t feel empty or regretful. It was just... just that I had been tense, and now that tension was releasing, that’s all.

It’s definitely nothing like that.

"Hmm, really? Well then, let's finish the walk. Heh."

Rubia ruffled my hair lightly before starting to walk again.

"Um, I was going to tell you earlier but missed the timing..."

"What is it...?"

"You’re wondering why the people of Kartia are praising my name and not Erden’s, right?"

"Uh... yeah!"

I was curious. Even though Rubia had saved people infected by the plague, normally it would be Erden’s name that was praised.

The people of Kartia were calling out Rubia’s name instead of Erden's...

And... hmm... I also wanted to know more about Rubia's past. Everyone else seemed to know, but the fact that I didn’t... it made me a little... a little uneasy.

"Hmm, how should I phrase this..."

After tapping her lips for a moment, Rubia took a small breath before speaking.

"When the plague started spreading, the priests of Erden came to Kartia. But... instead of healing anyone, they ended up getting infected themselves. Some of them even died."

Rubia’s steps slowly began to slow.

"As time passed, and after two months, the Empire made a decision."

"Decision...?"

"To exterminate the people of Kartia."

"Gasp..."

Is... is this what she meant by 'softening' it?

"The infection wasn’t that contagious. In fact, it was less contagious than other diseases."

"Huh...? Why, why is that...?"

The pace of our walk slowed to a halt.

"They all died. They died before they could even spread the disease, so it didn't infect anyone else. The plague in this city was the same."

"Uh, uhh..."

The subject was much heavier than I expected, and I tightened my grip.

I wanted to ask what kind of disease causes death like that. But, considering she hadn’t mentioned the symptoms... maybe it’s better I don’t ask about it, right...?

Yeah... I think I’d have nightmares tonight if I did.

"Anyway, the Empire couldn’t distinguish who was infected, so they ended up taking the drastic step of exterminating the people."

"But... but they're all alive, aren’t they?"

"Yes. I came to Kartia after hearing that news."

"Rubia...? By yourself...?"

Nodding, Rubia swallowed a bitter laugh and continued.

"The Empire's knights surrounded the Church's buildings, almost locking us in, but I eventually managed to escape. Heh... that was really thrilling."

"T-thrilling...?"

"Well... let’s leave that aside. After I escaped, I stole food and things, and arrived in Kartia. I couldn’t even wash for three days, so you can imagine how uncomfortable that was..."

Rubia lifted her arms and shivered a little, then started walking again.

"After that, I didn’t even wash, but immediately began healing the infected people. But honestly, it wasn’t that hard. High-ranking priests went in droves and decided they couldn’t heal them, but... I could do it right away."

"Is it because you're a priestess...?"

"I don’t know. Back then, I thought that was the reason, but... I’m not sure now."

Rubia wore a mysterious expression and swallowed the rest of her words before turning to look at me with a confident smile.

"Anyway, it was me who saved this city, not Erden, not the Empire. Just me, Rubia, not Priestess Rubia. I saved this city."

"Wow... wow...!"

That’s why. If the Empire and Erden both gave up on the city, but Rubia came alone and saved everyone, the entire city would definitely regard her as a hero...

Ursphere, for instance... uh, uuuh...

"Although I did use the powers of a priestess... but still, it’s important that I did it because I wanted to, right? Heh..."

"Y-yeah..."

"So when Sirin asked me to come, I didn’t hesitate. If it was this city... I thought maybe, if anything went wrong, they’d trust me and help me."

Her confident smile faded, replaced by a self-deprecating laugh.

"But it wasn’t like that. Even Noah, who’s right beside me, doesn’t trust me. If something big happens... I can't expect anyone’s help."

I felt Rubia’s trembling through the hand I was holding.

"U-um... Rubia... um, do you want to sit down for a bit?"

"Huh?"

"Let’s... let's sit down here."

Rubia tilted her head with a look that seemed to ask why, but after my insistence, she squatted down.

I smiled awkwardly and moved toward her, wrapping her in a tight hug.

Usually, my face would end up pressed against Rubia’s chest in this kind of hug, so it felt like I wasn’t really hugging her. But now, it felt like I was the one giving the hug.

If you are reading this translation anywhere other than Novelight.net or SilkRoadTL, it has been stolen.

Well... it wasn’t as soft as Rubia, but... still, um... oh, the act of hugging itself must be important, right?

"Mm...?"

Rubia was looking up at me...

I gently laughed as I pulled her head closer with both arms, taking her away from the greatsword.

"It's okay... Even if the world doesn’t trust you, Rubia... I do."

I believe in Rubia.

If Rubia seriously told me the Earth is flat... uh... I-I could believe that. No... at least, I’d try to believe.

Even if she did something wrong, even if she committed a crime.

I trust Rubia.

"So... don't be too depressed."

Just like Rubia always did for me, I slowly brushed my hand over her head and continued speaking.

"As I «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» said before... even if everything in the world tries to kill you, Rubia, I’ll protect you."

"Noah..."

Though I couldn’t see her expression, I could feel her breath on my chest, conveying her emotions perfectly.

"Do... do you trust me...?"

My heart felt like it was going to burst. I can even hear the sound of my heartbeat in my ears right now.

I wonder how loud it is for Rubia, whose head is right in front of my heart... Aah, I feel so embarrassed since there’s hardly any fat on me...

"Ha... Noah."

"Yeah?"

"Do you know why no one can just enter Kartia’s mainland?"

"I... I don’t know...?"

"I’ll tell you now."

Breathing heavily, Rubia slowly stood up.

"You said earlier... you can’t go outside, right?"

"Uh... uh-huh..."

"Then that means it’s fine to go inside, right?"

"...Huh."

So... that’s how it’s going, huh?

"Let’s go."

"Uh, where to?"

"Inside."

"The walk...?"

"We can do that after."

Rubia grabbed my wrist.

"Uh-uh..."

"Stop pretending you don’t like it. You could easily push me away if you wanted."

"W-what... strange words...! I-I just don’t want you to get hurt..."

"Then why are you following me so well?"

"Uhh..."

Tap-tap-

Splat-splat-

Tap-tap-

Swoosh-

"But... where are we going...?"

"Inside."

"Th-there’s no exit here..."

"There are plenty of houses nearby."

Rubia pointed around, indicating the area.

"...But that’s someone else’s house."

"No one lives there."

"What if bugs come out?"

"They disinfect everything. It’s called the Sanctuary, so they definitely wouldn’t forget that."

"Di... disinfect?"

"They clean it up every two days. Very thoroughly."

"Ugh..."

If a spear and a shield fought, the shield would definitely win. I’m sure of it...

Ugh... if it were a greatsword, I would have definitely won...

Rubia was blocking all my attacks and walking briskly toward the farthest house.

Swoosh-

As we walked for a while, a cold breeze suddenly brushed past me.

"Ugh... Rubia... what if a ghost shows up...?"

Rubia halted.

"Ghost?"

She slowly turned her head toward me.

"Yeah... a place like this, it’s bound to have ghosts..."

Swoosh- swoosh-

"That can’t be true. Heh, ghosts? And... Noah. I’m a priestess. Would a priestess be scared of ghosts?"

"Wow... Rubia isn’t scared of ghosts..."

"Of course not. I’m not scared at all. Because I’m a priestess."

"Ah, I see. I’ll... believe in you, Rubia."

Tap-tap-

"Mm... but do you think the ghosts would be scared of your divine powers?"

Splat-splat-

"Well... I’m not sure?"

Hmm... but if that’s the case... would they draw in the divine sense? If they’re not alive, would they not be drawn...?

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Swoosh-swoosh-swoosh-

"Ah...?"

Rubia stopped suddenly and began shaking.

"No, no-no, Noah. Should we just go back home?"

"Mm...? I’m okay. But, Rubia... why are you shaking like this? Is it cold...?"

It couldn’t be cold...

Rubia could warm herself with her divine powers.

Swoosh-swoosh-crack-crack-

"Ah, no... I... I’m running low on energy... heh..."

Creak-

There’s a lot of sweat on her hands...

Could she be sick?

"Rubia... are you okay?"

"Ugh... Noah..."

Tap-tap-tap-

"Yeah...? Rubia, are you crying? Does it hurt? Uh...uhh, what should I do?"

Splat-splat-splat-

"Th-there’s nothing... wrong... I-I just... Noah, you don’t hear this noise, right?"

Creak-

"Yeah...?"