Clearing an Isekai with the Zero-Believers Goddess

“Priest-san, you’re pretty tough, aren’t you…? It’s already midnight, and you’re not even taking a rest?”

“Yes, I am using healing magic on myself. That way I can force myself to keep moving. Once we reach the northern encampment, we just continue northward on foot, correct?” (Still)

“You… Even someone like me, who isn’t a follower of any faith, can’t help but be moved by that. You could just rest at the camp for the night before heading out, you know…”

“No, I cannot. There are countless soldiers still suffering from their wounds. For their sake, I cannot allow my legs to stop.” (Still)

We departed from Lindblum, rocking in a wagon as we made for the northern encampment.

It wasn’t the frontlines, but it functioned as a crucial supply base. With the abundant resources gathered here, the front could be maintained for long periods of time…or so the story went.

But I estimated that by around noon tomorrow, the Golda side would already begin their withdrawal.

In other words, the preparations to end the war would begin.

That is exactly why I had to hurry. I needed the attention-drawing environment of wartime for what I sought to do.

And so, under a night sky with fewer stars than usual, clouds blotting out even more light, we pressed on along a road darker than yesterday’s. —————-

When we arrived at the northern encampment and I explained the purpose of my visit to the officer in charge, he cried out in joy like a child.

As expected, healers were in very short supply. Even within the Knight Order, there were only two.

I was told that only those who completed a pilgrimage to the main temple of the Elkood Church on the central continent and received the pope’s blessing could wield such miracles. Traveling healers appeared only once every few years.

I see. No wonder the price of medicine is so high. And no wonder the knowledge of Melt-san, who is under My Lord’s protection, is so valued.

Normally, at least one healer would be stationed in every Elkood church. In fact, among the Thirteen Knights seen in the royal castle, the woman who called herself Shian also doubled as a healer.

…How troublesome. She may become an obstacle to my final scheme.

“Hey, Captain! Is it true a healer has come!?”

At that moment, someone barged violently into the tent where the captain and I were speaking.

Truly, fate ties us together. Even knowing it is inevitable, I can’t help but feel it.

The intruder was one of the Thirteen Knights of the mercenary guild, a man named Vias.

“…Yes, I am a healer. Is there a patient here as well?” (Still)

I showed no expression. No emotion in my voice. Never revealing the tremor of my feelings.

And yet…

“No, not that. I’m scouting you. You’re a healer, right? A free one. Why not join our clan after this war’s over?” (Vias)

“Please leave.” (Still)

…In that moment, I thought I might finally understand how it feels to crunch down on a candy.

“Alright, alright, no need to glare.” (Vias)

“No, I’m not glaring at you.” (Still)

“…Not glaring? You’re practically radiating killing intent.” (Vias)

“…What an odd thing to say, good sir.” (Still)

“…I won’t press further. You…You’ve killed a lot, haven’t you.” (Vias)

“Now now, what are you talking about?” (Still)

I see now why My Lord called this man “the most dangerous.” His instincts are razor sharp…beyond normal limits.

It is best I kept my distance from him.

“Well then, I’ll head to the field hospital.” (Still)

“Yes! Please, priest-sama! I’ll arrange for an escort at once!”

“Hah? No need. Even if all the soldiers here attacked at once, they wouldn’t stand a chance against this priest-sama.” (Vias)

“My, my… What an exaggeration… You’re making me blush.” (Still)

“…Honestly, I’d want to go with you myself, but I’ve got to watch the west. Hey, what’s your name?” (Vias)

“My name is Still. Just a humble missionary. Though also a priest.” (Still)

Vias left the tent after hearing only my name.

…Strange. I take pride in my looks, even when compared to the other characters. Yet the reactions from the strong are consistently poor.

We departed the northern encampment.

It was customary for both sides not to launch full-scale attacks at night.

But of course, saboteurs and infiltrators would move under the cover of darkness. I could already see soldiers moving in the distant forest. They were from Lendia, so it wasn’t an issue.

Still…I was surprised that skirmishes had already broken out on the frontlines, even though only a day had passed since the war began.

That meant the Golda side had been fully prepared to strike at any moment.

“…What a delightful world. For humans to be so free, so foolish, killing one another…” (Still)

Everything was different from when I lived in a fabricated world.

Everything was different from when I was forced to live out a story.

Now, I was allowed to act against my will.

And I was allowed to act according to my will.

I could choose whichever I preferred…

—————-

“You are a healer-sama, are you not!? What a blessing! Forgive me, but there are wounded resting in the large tent beside this one. Could you please go at once!?”

“Yes, of course. Please lead the way.” (Still)

The field hospital had been set up about an hour’s walk further north from the encampment.

It was so close that you could see the frontline encampments around the Scorched Earth Ravine in the distance.

In other words, a position where injured can be carried to one after the other.

Normally, such a facility would never be placed so near the front… If the enemy broke through, it would be doomed.

But the very fact it was stationed here spoke to their faith in the one guarding this place.

And the moment I saw her, I understood.

“You must be the healer-sama we were waiting for-desu wa ne? Welcome to the frontlines. I am Shian, a templar of the Elkood Church’s Lindblum branch.”

“My, my… A pleasure to meet you. Though I do not follow the Elkood faith, I cannot help but hold reverence for a fellow devotee. I am called Still. I look forward to working with you, Shian-dono.” (Still)

This woman called Shian radiated extraordinary power.

Not just her own strength…she looked as though the world itself was constantly pouring power into her.

The Elkood Church was said to worship a god dwelling in the land.

So faith truly manifested directly into strength.

And what strength… Bestowed directly by the land itself.

How enviable. How detestable. How revolting.

A faith with tangible returns… Such a thing could never align with me.

Elkood Church… More matters to investigate.

“My, how marvelous-desu wa! To manifest healing through your own independent faith…! Please, would you see to these patients?” (Shian)

Even in the dead of night, she radiated a brightness unfitting for the hour.

And I could already sense it. This woman would inevitably oppose what I intended to do.

When I stepped into the tent of the severely injured, the stench of blood and medicine hung thick.

The soldiers writhed in pain even when bandaged, and were packed tightly together.

“Shian-san, you’ve already healed them?” (Still)

“Yes… Shameful as it is, my healing aptitude is low. I cannot even reach the effect of a basic elixir. These men…are beyond what I can do.” (Shian)

To my eyes, their surface wounds were all that had closed.

Beneath, blood vessels, nerves, bones, even organs were failing.

Many were already on the brink of death.

I see…

“Explosions, then. The Golda side had wide-area destructive weapons or magic ready. Prepared long before the war, no doubt.” (Still)

“! As expected of an expert-desu wa ne… Yes. Their efficiency was such, it was as if they anticipated this war long before the declaration itself…” (Shian)

“I see. Then a true war-like battle has already begun.” (Still)

I inspected the patients one by one.

I stopped before the worst off, a man pale as death.

Both legs shattered, beyond saving by normal means. Organs failing. One foot in the grave.

I activated [Holy Evil Reversal], stabbing my fingers repeatedly into his body.

To others, it looked like I was messing around, like cruel torment.

But the points I struck glowed faintly, and his face regained color.

His body mended, visibly and undeniably.

“…What… This is…! Amazing-desu wa, Still-sama!” (Shian)

“Yes, I am amazing… But that’s exactly why this power has a price.” (Still)

I moved to another patient.

And then…

“The price is life.” (Still)

I struck him down, silencing his groans forever.

“!!!! What are you doing!?” (Shian)

“The question is yours to answer. Why is there a Golda soldier lying here?” (Still)

Indeed, even Golda soldiers had been placed in this tent.

Mercy? The Elkood creed?

Faith may be noble, but this…this was not faith.

Faith can trample others when it must. But only when unavoidable.

This was not such a case. At the very least, they should not be placed together.

You are fighting. Faith against faith. And yet you muddy the waters.

“Now, choose. My power transfers life from one to another. Let us save the Lendia soldiers at the cost of the Golda soldiers. One life for one life. That’s the only condition to save everyone here. Conveniently, the numbers match.” (Still)

A lie. All I wanted was to trample her.

To brand myself…the “evil of faith.”

To be known across the battlefield as the most wicked, the most accursed.

That was why I came…to kill, to spread my infamy.

“!! You… Begone! You are the incarnation of evil!” (Shian)

“My, my. Is that wise? From my estimate…seventy percent of the Lendia soldiers here will not see the dawn.” (Still)

That was a fact.

Around seventy were beyond saving. The rest would suffer lasting damage.

And there were just as many Golda soldiers here.

“Very well! Then I shall respect Shian-san’s decision to prioritize enemy lives and abandon her own countrymen! Well then, wounded soldiers! Farewell! Oh, pardon me…you weren’t well to begin with, were you?” (Still)

I raised my voice, loud enough for the waking wounded to hear.

Dangling hope, only to hurl them back into despair.

“Wha…no! I never…!” (Shian)

“No, this is your choice, Shian-san. Now then…a good journey to you all.” (Still) New ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄhapters are published on novel⸺fire.net

A farewell to those bound for death.

But of course, that could not stand. Voices rose, as they must.

“Shian-sama… I want to live…”

“If we sacrifice them…we can…”

“I don’t want to die… Why… Why us…”

“Why must we…”

Can you abandon your own soldiers, knowing they beg for life?

Even as enemy soldiers lie here, waiting to die?

Two halves of an apple. You could discard one to eat the other. But instead, you cling to both, and watch them rot. That is the choice you would make.

“Ah… ahhh… I… I…” (Shian)

Her faith wavered, crumbled.

I approached Shian whose voice was trembling, and softly pushed her back.

“…Will you let your own soldiers die, by your own decision? The Golda soldiers will die anyway. Then, why not ‘entrust their lives to the next’?” (Still)

“Entrust…to the next…?” (Shian)

Just one more push.

“Yes. With my power, I can transform the Golda soldiers’ lives into healing, and pass that life into your suffering soldiers. They will live together.” (Still)

“Together… Live…” (Shian)

“Yes. So command me. Say it: ‘Slay the Golda soldiers, and use their lives to save Lendia’s.’” (Still)

“I… I…” (Shian)

The devout believer was trembling between faith and fear.

Ah, now I might finally come to like you.

“P-Please…” (Shian)

“Please what?” (Still)

“…Sacrifice the Golda soldiers…and save our men…” (Shian)

“Yes. Understood.” (Still)

Now then, let us save them.

Just as you wished…all of them.

“[Holy Evil Reversal]… [The Day the Land Was Corroded].” (Shian)

I healed everyone in the tent at once.

Even the Golda soldiers she had chosen to condemn.

Even those she thought I already killed.

Every last one, fully healed.

“See? I saved everyone. My power needs no sacrifice at all. But you…you chose to sacrifice lives, to save only those you valued more. Never forget that, for as long as you live.” (Still)

“A… A lie… no… I… but I…!” (Shian)

“Well then… Until we meet again, Templar Shian.” (Still)

I left the tent. I left the field hospital.

The wails of a broken woman rang out behind me as I returned to Lindblum.

By now, my presence should be well-known.

All that remained was to witness the results, the greatest “sorrow” I could create.

And with that, my performance of madness would be complete…

——-

(´・ω・｀) …Hate this guy.

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