The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

They were all neighbors who had watched Jasmine grow up. They were genuinely happy that she had become the most reliable nun in the neighborhood. They also placed great trust and expectations on her.

Because healing magic can only work on one at a time, there was no need for multiple nuns to go together. So the other nuns who couldn't go quickly prepared medical supplies for Jasmine: bandages, disinfectant, gentian violet... After everything was prepared, Jasmine set off with the peasant woman.

However, Jasmine overestimated her abilities and the villagers' emergency response capabilities, given their lack of medical knowledge. When she arrived at the farmer's house, she discovered the situation was far more serious than she had imagined.

A boy lay motionless on the bed. Even when the peasant woman leaned close and whispered in his ear, "Udak, Sister Jasmine has come to treat you," he showed no response. He was in a semi-comatose state, somewhere between dreaming and waking.

"Excuse me..."

Jasmine lifted the blanket and pulled back the boy's clothes, revealing three bloody holes on his right waist, each several times thicker than a chopstick. The peasant woman's "treatment" consisted of simply wrapping the wound with gauze. For such large wounds, this not only failed to stop the bleeding but also caused a widespread infection. If left untreated, the boy would die within a few days.

Jasmine quickly disinfected the wounds and used healing magic, which finally reduced their size. However, the infected parts were healing extremely slowly. Even with all her efforts, Jasmine couldn't completely heal the three bloody holes. The boy hadn't regained consciousness either. But at least this was much better than the previous approach, which was tantamount to ignoring the injured boy. However, Jasmine couldn't make any promises about what would happen next.

"Auntie, is your husband home?"

"No, he's not here... He went to find herbs for the child yesterday, but he hasn't come back yet."

"is that so..."

From the moment Jasmine entered, she only saw the farmer's wife. Some things are best said when the boy's father is also present. But since the farmer's return is uncertain, Jasmine can only speak to the farmer's wife for now.

"I'm so sorry, Auntie. I've done my best. But this is all I can do right now. The child's infection is very serious, and we were notified too late. If Sister Jessie could return in the next couple of days and we could leave the child to her care, the child might still be saved. Otherwise..."

In the end, Jasmine couldn't bear to continue. The peasant woman understood why she stopped talking. Tears welled up in her eyes.

"How...how could this happen! Udak...it's all my fault..."

This peasant woman was the aunt who had cared for Jasmine since childhood, and now Jasmine was about to say something to her that would be unbearable. Jasmine bit her lip painfully. But still, out of good intentions, she gave her advice.

"If I could, I wouldn't want to say it either, but if I don't, then I'm failing in my responsibility to truthfully convey the patient's condition. That would be a taboo for a nun... Please prepare yourself, Auntie. In case something happens, don't panic... I'm so sorry to have to hear such ominous things."

"No...you don't need to apologize, Jasmine...it's not your fault..."

"I'll be coming back to check on things in the next few days... Goodbye."

Jasmine bowed deeply to the peasant woman and left with heavy steps.

As if in response to the peasant woman's mood, the previously sunny weather suddenly changed, and a torrential downpour began as Jasmine stepped out of the house. But Jasmine didn't hurry home. Instead, she strolled along the muddy road, letting the rain soak her to the bone.

"What kind of nun am I... what kind of saint am I..."

Even if the peasant woman didn't blame herself, Jasmine was still deeply mired in endless self-reproach. For her, who dreamed of becoming a saint and saving more lives, there was no greater blow than having a living person right in front of her, yet being able to watch helplessly as his life was destined to end.

She had once vowed to help everyone. But when faced with a real crisis, she found herself powerless. Could she truly fulfill her promise? Even if her elders didn't blame her, could she earn their approval, or disappoint and sadden them? Jasmine couldn't answer. She could only lament her helplessness. Although she had cultivated for many years and was hailed as the head nun by some newer nuns, Jasmine discovered she was far less learned than she had imagined. Ten years had passed in the blink of an eye, yet her dream remained elusive. How many more decades did she have left?

"Am I really not suited to be a saint...?"

Jasmine lowered her head dejectedly, muttering to herself. She constantly doubted her own abilities. In her despair, she paid no attention to what was happening around her. Then, as she walked, she suddenly bumped into something in front of her.

"ah!"

The moment she hit it, Jasmine had the illusion that she had crashed into a wall of steel. She immediately lost her balance and landed hard on her bottom in the mud. Mud and rain splashed all over her. Her black nun's habit was covered in unsightly brown spots.

"Ouch...W-what?"

It was certainly wrong of her not to look where she was going. But Jasmine couldn't recall any roadblocks or anything like that blocking the way on this main road. She assumed it was someone coming from the opposite direction, like an older man who hadn't been paying attention. But when she looked up, she saw something exactly like the nun's habit she was wearing. A petite figure was standing in front of Jasmine, wearing that same habit.

Jasmine knew who she was. That height, that build, that short white hair, and that face Jasmine didn't want to see—it was all so familiar to Jasmine.

"Na, Naka?"

"Um?"

Unlike Jasmine, who had her head down, Naka kept her head up, looking at the sky. Therefore, she didn't notice Jasmine walking towards her. It wasn't until Jasmine fell and made a sound that Naka noticed someone in front of her. Only then did she look ahead and see Jasmine on the ground.

"Who are you...?"

Moreover, she seemed to have forgotten Jasmine, who had recently taken her on a tour of the village. Jasmine, already feeling down, interpreted Naka's question merely as a simple provocation.

"I'm Jasmine! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!"

"Jasmine? Oh, you're the one from a few days ago..."

"Did you just remember?!"

It seemed she wasn't pretending not to know her. She genuinely didn't. This infuriated Jasmine even more. But after yelling a couple of times, Jasmine remembered that this saintess was a violent individual who could pull out a weapon at any moment. Yelling at her was tantamount to suicide. She had to suppress her anger. Jasmine said irritably...

"What are you doing here? Didn't you say you had something to do today? You even skipped work because of it... Are you just standing here daydreaming?"

"No, that's not it."

"And what is it then?"

"None of your business"

"....."

Naka, who could kill a conversation in just two sentences, was still the same person who didn't know how to communicate. Since she didn't want to talk, Jasmine was too lazy to argue with her anymore. Whether she was sleeping in at home, spacing out, or had some urgent matter that was none of her business, it was best to avoid getting involved with her.

"Really? Then you can continue contemplating life. I have something to do, so I'll be going now."

"Wait a minute"

Jasmine tried to run away, but Naka wouldn't let her pass. She stepped in front of Jasmine, blocking her way. Her petite body possessed an inexplicable strength; Jasmine's body, though pressed against hers, couldn't budge her an inch. Instead, Jasmine felt as if she had bumped into an invisible wall once more, easily pushed back.

"What? Didn't I already say I wouldn't interfere in your affairs?"

"This isn't my problem, it's your problem."

Naka points her right index finger at the first aid kit in Jasmine's hand.

Where have you been?

"Why should I tell you if you won't tell me?"

"Hey, I told you to watch the tone of your voice when you talk to me, didn't I?"

She was reluctant to tell others about her own affairs, but when her questions were rejected, Naka immediately showed a very dissatisfied expression. At the same time, she reached behind her back...

"Hey, you, don't do anything reckless..."

"Then tell me the truth."

"You, you're really being unreasonable..."

"What?"

"No, no, no, there's nothing there..."

Jasmine had never seen such a double standard in her life. Selfish and greedy, she was quick to resort to violence at the slightest provocation. Jasmine couldn't understand why her peaceful and honest village, which had nurtured her, would attract such a person. Even worse, not a single person in the village was willing to intervene. Jasmine had no choice but to avoid direct confrontation and reluctantly answer the truth.

"I..."

"Hey! Jasmine! What are you standing there for? Hurry up and go home!"

Just as she was about to answer Naka's question under duress, a voice rang out like a savior. Jasmine's mother called out her daughter's name and walked towards her.

Because of the sudden downpour, the villagers working in the fields had to finish their work early and happened to be passing by. Not only Jasmine's mother, but the other farmers also set off for the main road.

"mom!"

Jasmine quickly left Naka's side and rushed into her mother's arms. The mother, unaware that her daughter was actually seeking refuge, looked at her with suspicion.

"What's wrong? It's been so many years since I've been this close to Mom."

"actually..."

Now her mother, and several familiar middle-aged men, were all here. No matter how violent Naka was, Jasmine didn't believe she would dare to use force under these circumstances. She wanted to confront them and explain Naka's actions in detail. But before that...

"Hmm? That young lady over there is wearing the same nun's habit as you. You said she's the new one, right...? Ah, Jasmine! Look at you, how did you get so dirty?"

Jasmine's mother noticed Naka, who had been silently watching them from a short distance away. Looking down, she also noticed her daughter was covered in mud. Before Jasmine could speak, she began to nag.

"You silly girl! You've always gotten yourself covered in mud and dirt when you fight with boys since you were little. You're seventeen years old, how can you still be so unruly? Did you trip and fall while walking? How can a girl be so careless! Come home with me right now and take a good bath!"

"No, I..."

"Oh, and you too!"

As a mother, she wasn't just concerned about her daughter. Jasmine's mother then spoke to Naka again.

"I remember you live alone, right? It must be so hard for you to clean up your wet clothes all by yourself in this rain. Want to come over to my place? You and Jasmine can take a shower together. I'll wash your clothes for you both!"

"Wh...what!?"

Jasmine screamed in disbelief at her mother's decision to invite the most dangerous person in the village, and the person Jasmine disliked the most at the time, to her home.

She is not the same

Jasmine was incredulous, and Naka initially tried to refuse. But at Jasmine's mother's repeated insistence, Naka was eventually taken to Jasmine's house.

"Honey, I'm home!"

"You're back so early?"

"Yeah, it was sunny this morning, and we thought it wouldn't rain. Who knew it would suddenly turn out like this..."

Upon entering, Jasmine's mother immediately tossed aside her tools and began chatting with her husband, who was reclining on the bed, about their day's farm work. She seemed completely oblivious to the stares of her daughter, Jasmine, and the invited stranger, Naka. Jasmine was used to her parents' behavior, but seeing them so clearly was still somewhat embarrassing. Jasmine coughed lightly, reminding her parents to be mindful of their image.

"Jasmine's back too? She's a little later than usual today... Who's that behind you?"

Jasmine's father, who rarely left home, naturally hadn't heard about the new saintess like his wife had. So he asked Jasmine about it.

Jasmine really didn't want to talk about Naka anymore, so she answered very simply.

"She...she's my colleague, her name is Naka."

"Oh, it's Miss Naka. Are you also a nun? My humble abode is truly simple; please excuse its simplicity."

"You live in this kind of awful place? I thought my current place was bad enough, but I never imagined it could be worse."

Jasmine's father was just being polite. Naka, however, spoke her mind without any reservations. Jasmine knew that this house was just a makeshift place to live. But it was, after all, her only home, a place that held countless memories for her, and to be belittled like this by others made her feel immediately unhappy.

"Do you think everyone lives in a grand castle like you, Your Highness? This is how we commoners are. If you don't like it, you can leave."

"Hey, Jasmine, how can you talk to a guest like that?"

The mother sensed the barb in her daughter's words and stopped her. Although Naka's words were unpleasant to hear, they were true. Jasmine's mother smiled apologetically at Naka.

"I'm sorry, my daughter always speaks without thinking. This house is a bit small and run-down. But it's small but perfectly formed. This way, Miss Naka."

As she spoke, she pushed open a door. It was a tiny bathroom. There was no bathtub, no tub, only a rusty showerhead. There wasn't even enough space to sit inside; it was just big enough for one person to stand and shower.

"Hurry up and take off your wet clothes and go take a shower. I'll bring over Jasmine's extra clothes later; you can wear these for now until they dry."

"Hey Mom. You really dote on your daughter. You let strangers shower and change first, leaving your daughter waiting outside soaking wet, and you even lent her my clothes without my permission."

"Jasmine, the way to treat guests, the way to treat guests."

"...well"

Her mother had always been so warm and generous. Not just to Naka, but also to acquaintances from the village who came to visit, she would often give guests priority. Naka was from outside the village, and perhaps in her heart, her mother felt she should be even more considerate and helpful, so that Naka would leave a good impression of the village. Although Jasmine didn't think Naka deserved such high-level hospitality, she could only go along with her mother's wishes.

Naka seemed hesitant as well, not immediately following her instructions to go take a bath. She stood there awkwardly, unsure what to do. Jasmine thought to herself, "So she does know what it means to be embarrassed."

"Alright, alright, don't be so formal. Go wash up quickly. You'll catch a cold in the department if you keep wearing soaking wet clothes."

Naka refused her offer of help, so Jasmine's mother simply pushed Naka into the bathroom and closed the door, giving her no time to think or refuse.

Let me know when you're done washing, and I'll go get you some clean clothes.

Faced with such enthusiasm, Naka probably felt too embarrassed to refuse any longer. Through the door, Jasmine heard the rustling sound of clothes being undressed coming from the bathroom. It seemed she couldn't resist her mother's insistence either.

Jasmine could only go in to shower after Naka finished washing up. To pass the time, she turned and went to her father's bedside, helping him lie down. She then inquired about her father's health, whom she hadn't seen all day.

"Dad, how are you feeling today? Are you feeling any better?"

"I'm feeling better. The herbs your church sent a few days ago were quite effective. If you see Sister Jess tomorrow, please thank her for me."

"As for Sister Jeunesse, it will probably be a few more days..."

"Hey, Jasmine."

They'd barely exchanged a few words when Naka's voice, which should have been coming from the bathroom, rang in her ears again. Jasmine impatiently replied while turning her head away.

"What are you doing? Weren't you washing... Waaaaaaah! What are you doing?!"

Turning around, she saw the same obnoxious nun, completely naked as she had been at birth. She walked out of the bathroom without a care, having stripped herself naked. Jasmine screamed in terror.

"What's wrong, Jasmine?"

"Nothing's wrong! You, come here!"

Taking advantage of Naka's current indecent state before her father, who was lying in bed, and her mother, who had gone to another room, noticed, Jasmine grabbed Naka's hand and pushed her back into the bathroom. She then sternly lectured the strangely behaving girl.

"I can't believe it! Don't you have any shame at all?"

"What's wrong? We're both women, what's there to be ashamed of?"