At this moment, bathed in the morning sun, the complexion of the Militia Captain was so pale as though his face was the color of gold paper, yet he was forcing himself to remain conscious.
"No, with my strength, there's really nothing I can do..."
The person the Militia Captain was speaking to, the Priest of the Church stationed in this village, was also sweating profusely at this moment.
Even the chilly autumn morning breeze couldn't cool his anxious heart.
In the still intact Church, there are now [] injured people lying down
The people who should have been receiving treatment were all groaning in discomfort, but the Priest felt utterly helpless.
"We've already sent for help from the town, but there's no telling how much longer until help arrives," the Priest said in agony.
Goblins are filthy creatures.
Although their claws and teeth aren't considered weapons, those scratched or bitten by them, if of average Constitution, often fall seriously ill.
One would know by asking the village chief's grandma that during times of human conflict, there was also the practice of smearing excrement on weapons and arrows.
It goes without saying what kind of effect the introduction of such Pollution into the body could have just by scratching the enemy.
And the claws and teeth of a Goblin possessed even greater disease-causing ability.
For those of strong Constitution, like a Hero who doesn't even sneeze after sleeping naked outdoors, such effects could be ignored. But to the ordinary residents of the village, this was an unignorable and life-threatening risk.
And now, being late autumn and with temperatures dropping, winter was nearing.
By the time the Priest realized something was wrong, the injured were already sinking into an irredeemable fever.
And though his Divine Arts could cure common injuries, they were largely ineffective against this sort of disease.
He was, after all, just an ordinary Priest, which is why he was stationed in such a remote village in the first place.
The Militia Captain staggered a few steps and collapsed onto a bench nearby.
"We barely made it through, how did it come to this—"
[Church's aid (Advice from the Pantheon Scholar+40,50+arriving soon,50-still on the way)]
[The Church's support has arrived, it is—]
1. Ordinary Priests and Knights
2. It's me, the Cruising Bishop
9. ...Is it her, my successor?
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
Suddenly, the sound of a Chocobo's rushing footsteps came from outside the Church, brightening the Priest's and Captain's eyes.
"Is it the Church's reinforcements?"
But to the dismay of the two men, the one opening the Church's doors was not a Priest or Nun in a Church Robe, but a young girl wearing simple cloth and boots, with jet black hair and Emerald Eyes—
The Hero had taken a slight detour, getting dressed after staying nearby the village overnight out of professional ethic, then directly rushed towards the Church in the village.
The Chocobo, being a mount available for rent, besides the expensive deposit, is known for its homing instinct as a bird species.
Even if a Rider attempted to abandon them somewhere, they were still able to find their way back to the station.
However, the Hero had previously agreed with this Chocobo, naturally, it wouldn't run away randomly. After a night of bored sleep, it carried the Hero energetically, spreading its legs and charging forward.
After last night's disaster, the village was still in shambles, but a quick Perception of the crowd's Vitality was enough to indicate where to first seek information.
The Hero, quickly arriving at the Church and seeing the many injured groaning in agony, couldn't help but change her expression.
[The Hero's Chocobo Riding Skill has improved]
[The Hero's assessment of the situation (Goblin knowledge 41, Intelligence 50, above 9 successful)]
[Is the village chief still alive?]
The Hero dismounted, stepping into the Church.
Her movements were crisp and decisive, and her Riding Skill had indeed improved somewhat after galloping all the way here.
But there was no time for the Hero to be proud of herself, as she gravely surveyed the dire situation inside the Church, reflecting for a while before recalling the description of Goblins in the books.
'Because Goblins have no concept of 'hygiene', people attacked by them are also prone to illness.
And common Healing Skills cannot cure such diseases; instead, they may stimulate the body's immune response, making the situation even worse.'
Her expression grew serious.
She needed to think of a solution—
The girl moved forward, exuding an intriguing Charm that caused the Militia Captain and Priest who wanted to speak to hesitate.
[Militia Captain's Perception (Perception+24, 70+ successful)]
D100+24=d100(37)+24=61
[The Hero's next move—]
2. Bubbles Form: Purifying Water LV3♛
3. Phoenix Form: Light of Vitality LV4
10. Critical Success/Extreme Failure
Although the Militia Captain felt the girl before him looked somewhat familiar, accompanied by a Big Snake, he couldn't place her Identity.
After all, the Gleaming Scale Serpent had been hidden in the dark last night, and the Hero had killed the Goblin Fighter so quickly that most people in the village were still oblivious to who had slain the Goblin chief.
Except for the Militia Captain, who had faced the Serpent Queen of the Woodlands, no one else with knowledge was clear on what the Serpent Queen looked like.
But the Princess who had been covered in Emerald Scales and Tree Skin and the Hero, now properly dressed, although essentially of the same build, presented a completely different image.
Especially those azure eyes of hers, like the ocean, were intoxicating.
[The Hero (Bubbles Princess) LV21]