"Stop bothering Blake, he's busy right now!" Erika suddenly jumped into the conflict to stop Elizabeth and Seth (mostly Elizabeth) from getting in my way.
Chris, Eric, and Erika had been helping everyone else as well. Chris helped at carrying the bodies while Eric and Erika were good at healing spells as well, so they used them to help the wounded recover faster. I had taught Eric and Chris healing spells too, but Chris wasn't good at them. Eric was naturally good as he had a strong affinity with Life and Nature Elements.
Meanwhile, Erika shouldn't even be good at healing but her Dolls can turn into an army of small Priests that can conjure small healing spells, when they all combine their might, they become as competent as a talented healer. And because they're small and can float around, she can distribute them between many wounded at the same time.
"I-I am not bothering Blake, am I?" Wondered Elizabeth. "I-I just want to know how he did it, he was just way too cool!"
"W-Well, yeah! I have to agree with you in that, he was pretty cool. Blake is always amazing. He taught me how to fight and grow stronger too!" Erika said.
"Hey don't go saying everything now. I told you these things were our secret." I sighed.
"Gah…! S-Sorry!" Erika quickly realized she was talking too much, and apologized.
"Y-You've been trained personally by Blake?! So unfair! I also want to be trained!" Said Elizabeth. "You're pretty good at magic, papa can't teach me everything because he's old and tired so maybe you should teach me too!"
Elizabeth got all pumped up about the idea of being taught magic and how to fight by me. And to say the truth, I was also thinking about it for a while. Everyone can potentially grow stronger through the cultivation of Ki and various other Breathing Techniques. The Chris, Eric, and Erika trio are overwhelmingly strong due to this reason. I have truly made them into powerful warriors.
"I have already thought about it, you're amazing at magic already, let's leave it to the old man. But I will teach you how to fight with your fists and staff, so you're not so defenseless when your Mana runs out." I said with a confident nod, although my mind was still too grim to smile.
And despite everything surrounding her, Elizabeth smiled brightly, like a morning sun. Her eyes shone as bright as stars, she was truly a very adorable and dazzling girl.
"Thank you Blake! I-I will work hard… I will give punches too if I can! BAAM! And PUM! And… WACHA!" Elizabeth began punching the air with her tiny fists and then gave out a kick, which was very badly coordinated, making her lose her balance and almost fall to the ground.
However, Erdrich quickly came to her rescue, holding her from behind and stopping her from getting all her clothes even more dirty with blood and dirt.
"You almost fell, Elizabeth!" He sighed. "I don't know if you got the knack for fighting…"
"W-Well, everyone starts somewhere!" Erika said while defending Elizabeth. I knew it, Erika is way too gentle for her jealously to make her hate Elizabeth, she's already getting fond of the little priestess.
"Well true, but I have to say, I can't picture her fighting." Said Seth who had been observing our conversations in silence.
"Shouldn't you be healing the people too, mister priest?" I asked him.
"I am out of Mana… Give me a break! You're the only crazy child with so much Mana to go around healing everyone constantly…" Sighed Seth while reprimanding me with his usual tone of voice that shows his clear roots with nobility.
I guess after I've reached Level 10, my Mana is considerably large. Despite taking so long to level up, each level up increased my stats a lot, perhaps as a compensation.
Aside from that, I've been training every day using Mana Breathing Technique, Mana Manipulation, and Mana Flow Techniques, which allow me to slowly absorb Mana from the environment, make it flow across my body, and also constantly manipulate mana so it obeys my will more precisely.
Thanks to all these things and my level ups, I have a considerable amount of Mana. However, to save more I also use Ki, combining it with Mana while using spells, make it so I can save more of this source of power.
"Maybe you should train your Mana Manipulation if you want to increase the maximum amount." I said with an expressionless tone of voice, Seth quickly raised an eyebrow.
"Eh? I had no idea such a thing could be done…" He said.
Seriously, people in this world rely too much in Leveling up, so they many of the commoners and even nobility have no idea about techniques that can slowly raise your stats over time without having to rely in the direct boost of the unreliable level up.
"You're a failure of a priest and noble."
"Eh?! Don't get cocky now because you've defeated the demon… I am still a higher authority, Blake! Also, what with your name? Will you finally explain to us your two lives?"
"Later. Also now that Jake is resting, you seem to have taken his role as an annoying brat…"
"I am older than Jack… And I am no brat!"
Seth has truly become more confident about speaking with me now. He never showed this face of himself before. I guess over time he had grown fond of me to the point he can let loose of his pretentious noble personality and he's getting out the more annoying core that loves to complain.
"A-Anyways, Blake, we should continue this in the church. I came to tell you that Ellergest said we should gather there, we'll have a big feast to celebrate our victory, your friends are also invited. I think your father might be there recovering as well." Said Erdrich.
"Oh, I see. Then let me heal these people and we are on our way. Hurry up as well, Erika." I said.