Chapter 5

In the battle against the undead monsters, the presence of clerics and priests is indispensable.

Of course, holy water is necessary for the extermination itself, but any wound inflicted by an undead monster, no matter how small, must be purified, or it will eventually lead to corruption.

When the royal knights set out on the king's orders, clerics from the capital's church accompanied them. However, even the slightest scratch could not be left untreated, and at first, there were not enough hands to handle the workload.

Hearing the rumors of the extermination expedition, clerics and priests from the countryside gathered to offer their assistance. Among them were even apprentices, but everyone was grateful for their dedication and service.

Emily was one of these apprentice priests who rushed to the battlefield.

She began her service on the battlefield not long after the expedition began, about half a year later.

The terrifying appearance of the undead monsters, the tedious extermination process, and the wounds that would rapidly corrupt if left untreated combined to create an atmosphere of deep unease. The knights were worn down by the seemingly endless situation.

In such circumstances, the sight of a young woman with a delicate appearance purifying the wounded was indeed healing for the knights' roughened hearts. Despite being an apprentice and somewhat clumsy, her earnest efforts to run around and her smiles that brought hope to the dark atmosphere were commendable.

Thus, Emily's presence was well-received among the knights. However, Kevin had also witnessed several unsettling scenes.

"Let me do it!"

With a clear, resonant voice, Emily rushed to the side of a wounded soldier who had been scratched by an undead monster's claw. At first glance, it seemed like a warm and dedicated scene.

However, right behind her stood a cleric who had been examining the soldier's wound before her, now standing in a dazed state, having been pushed aside. Perhaps thinking that there was no need to cause a commotion as long as the healing and purification were ultimately achieved, he remained silent, though with a troubled smile.

This was not a place for an apprentice's training but a battlefield. Although there was initially a shortage of personnel, by then there were many clerics and priests, and the situation had become much more manageable. For efficiency, they should have divided the tasks, and there was no need for Emily to run around alone.

"It can't be helped. She's still young, and she's so eager that she doesn't see the bigger picture."

This was said with a laugh by another scene, where an older female priest, who had been pushed aside by Emily during the purification process, found herself with nothing to do.

"That girl is just trying her best, and she doesn't seem to have any ill intentions. So far, there hasn't been any significant harm. I don't really mind."

In terms of purification skills, the older female priest was far more experienced than Emily, but perhaps due to her calm nature as a servant of the goddess, she did not get angry at being interrupted and watched the process with a sense of "all's well that ends well."

Few people in the chaotic battlefield witnessed the entire sequence of such events.

What remained in people's minds were always the scenes of Emily diligently purifying the wounded and the soldiers expressing their gratitude.

Eventually, the knights began to call Emily "Holy Maiden."

This title, which should have been given only to those recognized by the grand church in the capital, spread as a hopeful name amidst the disheartening battle situation. No one dared to dampen the enthusiasm, and no one objected.

The knights' admiration gradually took on a fervent, almost religious quality, but neither the higher-ups nor the clerics tried to discourage it. It seemed they judged that this kind of reverent emotion, similar to faith, could serve as a deterrent to violent mistakes in a predominantly male environment on the battlefield.

Over time, after each skirmish with the undead monsters, a long line would form in front of Emily, waiting for her to purify their wounds. Since the wounds would begin to corrupt after about two days, many knights were willing to wait in line.

"Of course, a young and beautiful lady is better than an old man like me."

Sitting on a large rock, an elderly priest from a major church in the west laughed in a resigned manner. Despite many other clerics being available, he found the scene absurd, as Kevin did.

Kevin, too, initially viewed Emily's dedication favorably.

However, she sometimes abandoned the purification of minor injuries for lower-ranking knights like Kevin and went elsewhere.

It was perhaps natural to be concerned about acquaintances who were injured. These were usually senior knights with significant influence within the knightly order, who praised Emily's efforts and treated her warmly.

Out of sincerity, youth, and a lack of awareness of her surroundings, she moved based on her emotions. Worried about her acquaintances, she might not have noticed the many lower-ranking knights whose faces and names she did not yet know. For minor injuries, she thought she could rely on others.

Each time he heard the justifications from others and her own excuses, his heart grew colder. He was aware that part of this was due to his own inferiority and jealousy, so he did not voice his thoughts. However, from quite early on, Kevin viewed Emily with a cold eye.

"Thanks to the Holy Maiden Emily's dedication, many soldiers were saved."

If one looked only at the results, this statement was indeed true. However, Emily did not possess a significantly higher purification ability than other clerics.

About two months later, when such scenes had become commonplace, Elliott received the holy sword, and the battle situation changed dramatically.

At that time, many knights spoke passionately.

"The prayers of the Holy Maiden reached the goddess."