It Wasn’t Healing, It Was Training Magic

The morning at the church is always lively.
Partly because of the busy preparations to welcome visitors, but

The biggest reason is probably.

“It’s the Saint!”
“How beautiful she is. If only I could be half as beautiful, I’d have no regrets…!”

It was thanks to the radiant presence of the Saint from the morning.
The Saint can be said to be the symbol of the church.

Everyone who sees her doesn’t spare their praise and admiration.

“You’re truly beautiful today as well, Saint.”
“It feels like my eyes are being purified~. What a great blessing to see the Saint first thing in the morning!”

It’s undeniable that the Saint’s appearance is very outstanding,
but the reason she’s praised isn’t just because of her looks.

“I heard the Saint healed my father. I sincerely thank you.”
“To think you saved my sister who had been suffering from a long illness, even though I just mentioned it in passing, you remembered! The Saint’s kindness is as vast as Berchimo’s bosom.”

It was because she exerts a good influence without any compensation.
The Saint responded to their heartfelt gratitude with a bright smile.

“Not at all. We are all brothers and sisters. It’s just the mercy of the One God that guided me.”
“Oh!! As expected of the Saint.”

They can’t help but admire her gentle attitude.
Although she speaks as if it’s nothing,
in fact, everyone knew well.

How excellent and precious the Saint’s healing is.
And how much sacrifice it requires.

The healing magic used by the Saint had one big flaw despite its excellent performance.

That is.

“Cough cough…”
“Saint, are you alright?”

She uses it by sacrificing her own body.
That’s why they keenly felt.
How heavy the weight of the healing magic used by the Saint was.

Amidst concerned gazes, the Saint wiped the flowing blood from her mouth and calmly said.

“This happens all the time. Don’t worry, everyone. Hehe. Now, let’s have an energetic day today.”
“Amen…! May the hand of the One God be with us today as well.”

She skillfully lightened the solemn atmosphere.

“I’ll be going now. There’s a general meeting soon.”

The Saint slightly bowed her head and left.
As she wiped the flowing blood once more, the Saint smiled broadly, but.

In fact, the Saint,

‘Haah… I love it. It’s thrilling…♥︎’

She enjoyed self-destructive self-harm.
And she was a pervert among perverts who enjoyed the gazes she received from it.

“Has the Saint arrived?”

On the top floor of the church.
As soon as the Saint arrived, the meeting began immediately.

The meeting mainly deals with the church’s policies.
They discuss diplomatic issues between countries, the flow of funds, and the church’s schedule.

The meeting progressed quickly,
and only the last topic remained.

It was about the upcoming healer’s exam.
In fact, this topic wasn’t something to discuss at length either.

The exam is always there,
and they just need to conduct the exam according to the established procedures.

However.

“A man has applied for this exam?”

This time was different from usual.

“A male healer? That’s rare.”

The Saint, who had been spacing out during the meeting, perked up for the first time.
It was because she found the story interesting.

“Hmm, isn’t it just another rich nobleman who registered without knowing anything this time too?”
“Ho ho ho, that could be, but would they really approach it so frivolously, wouldn’t they have applied because they can actually use healing magic?”
“If that’s the case… the first male healer?”

They continued their heated discussion.
People’s reactions were split half and half, with some saying:

This must be a deception, we should prohibit men from applying from now on!

No! Even men might be able to use it.

A thrilling debate went back and forth.

“And this is just a side note, but I heard his face is very handsome… Everyone who was there testified to it.”
“Is that so?”
“The sister who conversed with him said she had never seen such outstanding looks in her life…”
“Ah, really?!”

His face is very handsome?
Once again, the Saint’s ears perked up.

They say even strong stimuli become dull when repeated,
and the Saint had been tired of the same daily routine lately.
She felt that even self-destructive self-harm was boring now.

Is this the appearance of a new toy?

It was very mouth-watering content for the Saint.
The Saint, who had maintained silence throughout the meeting, opened her mouth.

“So what’s the name of this applicant?”

This healer’s exam.
For the first time, she had a reason to attend.

If a man can use healing magic and is also handsome,
she vowed to make him hers.

Today is the day of the long-awaited exam.
This nervousness I feel after a long time.
It reminds me of the day I took midterms during my school days.

I finished preparing, putting aside my excited feelings.

“Well then, Zick-nim! Have a good day!”
“Thank you, Akasha.”

I headed to the exam venue, receiving Akasha’s energetic send-off.

The exam takes place at the church.
The first part is a written test.
The second part is a practical test, and it all ends in one day.

Arriving at the exam venue, I see a considerable number of people.
As the exam is held once every quarter, the front of the venue was busy.

“You can do well, right?”
“Yes! I’ll definitely pass.”

“Daughter, if you remember the content of the scripture well, everything will work out fine. As the One God said…”
“Yes, mother.”

It was bustling with people who came to support their family members taking the exam.
The crowd was mostly composed of women.

I was the only man.

Perhaps because of that.
I felt gazes gradually turning towards me.
At first, I tried to ignore it, thinking it was just excessive self-consciousness, but.

“Oh my, a man taking the healer’s exam? How could that be…”
“There’s always one. Those who think they’re special. If you’re a man, you should just stay at home quietly and clean, tsk.”
“But his face is quite good-looking…?”

I couldn’t ignore the whispers I faintly heard.

They say it’s not that there have never been cases of men taking the healer’s exam.
However, in all cases, they just fail without passing the practical test.
They say not a single person has ever made it to final acceptance.

So Soho told me that even the application itself is a rare case that happens once every few years.

“I’m here to take the exam…”

I decided to quickly register and enter the exam room.
Only those actually taking the exam can enter the exam room,
so I should receive less attention there than here.

“Yes, please tell me your name… Oh!”

I made eye contact with the staff member in charge of registration and guidance.
Her eyes widened.
As it turned out, she was the guide from when I registered for the exam last time.

She helped me register with a bright smile.
And just as I was about to enter the exam room.

-Why didn’t you come? I was waiting.

She whispered quietly, suppressing her voice.
It was about the note I received last time.

She looked slightly disappointed,
but I could only respond with an awkward smile.

It might just be a stereotype, but
I felt repulsed by the fanatical behavior that the church people often showed in the story.

They all seem to have a screw loose somewhere.
Even the Saint, who is said to be the symbol of the church, was a bit crazy, so that says it all.

Because of that, I had a strong impression that they were dangerous people,
and I was scared of what might happen if I visited even as a joke.

‘They’re not going to make me read the scripture 100 times or something, right?’

Putting aside such worries,
I opened the door to the written exam room, sat down, and started reviewing the scripture.

‘Let it end quickly…’

This tension I feel throughout my body.
I hated this time waiting for the exam.
I’d love to take the written test right away and move on to the practical test.
Because I can use the magic I’ve accumulated freely in the practical test.

It was the moment I looked forward to the most.
Of course, I still need to do well on the written test too.

Just as I was concentrating like that.

“Excuse me, are you from a noble family?”

The woman sitting next to me spoke to me.
Judging by the robe that priests often wear, and the necklace engraved with the church’s symbol, she seems to be a devout believer of the church.

I was so focused that I thought about pretending I didn’t hear,
but since we had already made eye contact, I had no choice but to answer her question.

“I’m from the Barbar baronial family.”
“I see… Right? I thought you must be a noble because you look so handsome. Hehe.”

We exchanged greetings with a smile.
I was relieved, thinking she wouldn’t speak to me anymore now.

“Isn’t the weather nice today?”

“Have you had breakfast? What kind of food do you like?”

“What do you do in your leisure time?”

The questions don’t stop.
Doesn’t this person study for the exam?
I’m bewildered because this is the first time someone has spoken to me so actively.

Even when I try to hint at stopping the conversation by slightly raising the scripture in my hand.

“Oh! You must have studied hard. You’re very devout.”

Instead, seeing my worn-out scripture, she admired it,
and started testifying that she too is a devout believer who believes in the One God.

‘Isn’t there any other topic?’

I hoped her gaze would move somewhere else other than me.
And as if that wish was granted.

“What’s with this batch? Another male healer?”

I felt the exam room becoming slightly noisy.
The reason was none other than someone’s arrival.

“What’s this, why is another man here?”
“Do men use magic these days too? Not just one, but two?”

It was the appearance of another male healer.
He looked around as if searching for something, then immediately approached me.

Then, without warning, he stared at my face and.

“What, is it this guy? What’s so good about a guy like this?”

He started muttering to himself.

“He even looks tacky. Pfft.”

What’s with this bastard?