Having walked for so long, the three had even forgotten the time. It was difficult to distinguish in a place without day or night, not to mention they were all so full of vigor that they hardly needed to sleep or rest.
During this time, they had of course rescued a large number of victims from the sinners.
Unfortunately, they were short-staffed. No matter how much they scrambled, they couldn't possibly care for the roughly one thousand victims, so Frieren had no choice but to summon all her Spirit Ashes to guard them. Still, the roughly 30 spirits were severely lacking.
The silver-haired girl looked at the many Numen sleeping, chained to the ground, and sighed. This was truly difficult.
The surrounding Spirit Ash warriors bustled about but couldn't move them.
Melina quietly tapped her on the shoulder and reminded her, "Look, aren't those warriors very quiet and proactive?"
"Indeed, but why?"
"'Mother,' I can feel they have a certain affinity for you," the Mimic Tear was happy to incorporate them into the rescue team. They were better than mere minions.
"That's strange. Could it be they also know Alexander?"
"It's likely because you just displayed the healing power blessed by a Great Rune. Creatures of The Lands Between always yearn for Grace."
Humm! Frieren proactively released a wisp of energy, and sure enough, the warriors leaped for joy.
These unique creatures were very perceptive, especially to this aura that contained the essence of countless noble warriors. And the other party had generously released a wisp of Grace.
Even a hint of that aura was better than this sunless prison; it was beautiful beyond compare.
They had noticed it earlier during the large-scale release of Healing Magic, but most of them had limited consciousness and had only instinctively drawn closer.
Now, all the warriors followed her lead.
"Consider this a partial advance on your wages. Help me stand guard here and take care of the Numen."
"After this is done, I will grant you another Grace."
Hearing this, they nodded like garlic being pounded. Besides, they already had a certain affinity for the Numen, so she could rest assured.
The reason was rather dark; their births were inextricably linked to the sinners, so a connection was inevitable.
As for the Spirit Ashes, they had no objections. It was simple work, and a chance to get out and be active was a good thing.
A temporary medical team was formed.
Having a demigod like the Mimic Tear stand guard was certainly not a problem. According to the original, it was good to stay here a while longer to avoid any fish slipping through the net. They had to be eradicated root and branch.
They had arrived in a hurry, merely clearing out the minions along the way, which was far from enough.
Frieren trusted the strongest Spirit Ash as she trusted herself, naturally entrusting it with this great responsibility.
"Alright, you stand guard here while we go to Castle Ensis for reinforcements. You should have copied the basic healing magic, so you can handle some situations. And I'll set up a seal for an extra layer of insurance."
Melina then said, "While we're at it, I'll cast Erdtree's Aegis again. Wait just a moment."
As soon as she finished speaking, she began to perform the incantation.
This time, it was a specialized treatment for those in more serious condition, incomparable to the previous super-large-scale, one-time recovery. It was tailored to their specific needs.
Frieren wasn't stingy either. Since they were all gathered, she didn't have to worry about stray minions interrupting the magic. She simply activated her Grace.
Three Great Runes materialized, casting down a radiant light that enveloped the many Numen lying on the ground.
Grace of Benevolence!
The incantation learned from Miriel, the tortoise pastor, became the perfect medium for Grace in her hands, causing a rain to fall within the cave.
It actively responded to Melina's Minor Erdtree, descending together with the healing light.
The faces of the Numen illuminated by the light all relaxed. Some even regained sight in their damaged eyes, and their abnormal, fleshy forms recovered slightly. This was exactly what Frieren had hoped for—pre-operative preparation.
Together, they saved some of the critically ill, but some did not make it. They were on their last breath the moment they left the jars and ultimately passed away in the warmth.
The bodies of the unfortunate dead would also be collected.
They couldn't be buried here. She would find an auspicious resting place for them; perhaps the Witcher Village would be a good choice. Although it had likely undergone severe changes, it could be rebuilt.
"Thank you, Frieren," Melina said sincerely, catching a falling droplet. "None of this was your concern, yet you've given so much."
"If it concerns you, it concerns me. Just consider me a meddler."
From the beginning, in the Undead Asylum, in Sen's Fortress, in Blighttown, she didn't know how many times she'd wanted to give up, but in the end, she had always pushed through.
If she hadn't promised the knight who saved her from prison that she would fulfill his mission, she probably would have never embarked on that arduous journey... She believed that in the future, another Chosen Undead would link the fire, but that would absolutely not be her story.
To this day, Frieren has held to the philosophy of helping when she can, and she always reaps unexpected rewards. Even if she doesn't, the journey itself is worthwhile. For an elf who can easily lose her emotions, maintaining passion is as important as breathing.
"I only know that you are one of a kind."
Melina nodded.
Suddenly, a Numen coughed violently, her eyes shining with light. As she gasped for breath, she gripped Melina's hand and murmured, "You look so much like Marika..."
"So you know my mother! Then what about the Witcher Village?"
"It's destroyed... all destroyed..."
After saying this, her breathing became shallow, her life hanging by a thread. But Frieren couldn't possibly let someone who had just recovered enough to speak die under her watch.
She immediately cast a Sun Healing, but it had little effect.
The excess flesh masses had also absorbed the energy and were continuing to swell, devouring the woman's life force.
"I see. We've oversimplified things. We need to operate sooner rather than later. I'll help clear some of it for you first."
With that, Frieren took up a short blade, its edge as sharp as snow.
Melina, standing beside her, proactively stepped aside.
The next moment, with a flash of the blade, flesh and blood splattered. She sliced off a large chunk while simultaneously depriving that specific area of its life force. As long as it didn't compete with the main body for Grace, a life could be saved.
The excess life force instantly caused the wound to close, and combined with the healing from the Minor Erdtree, it even gave the abnormal body a slimming transformation.
Having finished with this one, the silver-haired girl immediately turned to the second, repeating the process without any sign of fatigue.
Her clean and decisive movements left Melina utterly shocked.
So this was how swordsmanship could be used. And even as a swordmaster, to maintain such precision and power through repeated exertion was incredible.
The incisions were smooth, avoiding major blood vessels, akin to performing micro-carvings on the intricate human body—it was both bloody and artistic.
"Are you going to cut all one thousand of them?" she asked in disbelief.
"Of course. Although a Grafting Artisan will be needed for the final treatment, I must first excise a portion now to ensure they can last until the artisan arrives."
The silver-haired girl said this while quickening her pace.
At this point, all Melina could do was to continue healing them one by one with incantations while the Droplets of Benevolence were still active, giving it her all.
She was fully committed. Although healing itself was also draining, Melina did her utmost to keep up with Frieren's speed of excision.
Then she realized she didn't need to.
Because every time the silver-haired girl finished an excision on a Numen, she would follow up with an individual Sun Healing. It was beyond luxurious; it was pure extravagance. How much magic could withstand such an expenditure?
And yet, she wielded both swordsmanship and magic with an air of casual ease.
Furthermore, her movements became swifter and faster. Even though each person's abnormal flesh growth and fusion were different, she could always find the right incision point.
A difficulty that would make a typical physician faint became a training opportunity in her hands.
Frieren's figure moved among the crowd like a dance, the trajectory of her blade's edge more brilliant than the Waterfowl Dance Melina had ever seen. It seemed to incorporate traces of Beast Claw and Bloodhound sword techniques, a synthesis of many styles.
If it can be used to kill, it can be used to save. This level of understanding of power surpassed that of countless opponents.
No wonder any Great Rune could be used to bestow Grace in her hands.
The former Shardbearers had never thought of generously bestowing Grace, always thinking the complete Elden Ring was necessary. To use a single shard would require a portion of their own power.
But the Lord of Cinder didn't care. Just like the rescue effort now.
Melina clearly saw some Numen with faint life auras being forcefully pulled back from the brink, a true race against time where every second counted.
All she and the Mimic Tear could do was maintain the Minor Erdtree.
Who knows how long this tense rescue operation lasted...
Sheathing her blade. Frieren stopped her movements and let out a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat from her forehead.
That was quite tiring, the most intense and high-consumption activity she'd had since arriving in the Land of Shadow.
But the results were remarkable. The Numen, who had been suffering greatly, were finally calm, their breathing even.
In truth, she had been gambling.
The surgery was too simple and direct—forcefully excising large areas of mutated flesh and then healing them. No one knew if there would be other side effects.
Fortunately, their bodies were just strong enough to endure it after receiving Grace, and they had finally passed the most difficult stage.
At the same time, the victim next to Melina, who had been on the verge of death, regained consciousness and murmured, "What is your name? Child of Marika."
"And that other benevolent lady, are you perhaps the new Elden Lord? Are The Lands Between still ruled by the Golden Dynasty?"
"My name is Frieren, and I am still some distance from the throne you speak of."
In contrast, Melina confirmed it without hesitation, pointing to the silver-haired girl's left hand. Even the Numen widened their eyes.
A Dark Moon Ring and a Spirit Steed Whistle—endorsed by both the Carian Royal Family and the Golden Lineage. Wasn't she the Uncrowned King of The Lands Between?
So be it. It was better than a king who didn't care.
They had long since despaired over the years and never expected to be rescued.
The pain in their bodies was gone; they felt so much lighter.
One by one, other Numen began to awaken, immediately offering endless thanks, incredibly grateful to Frieren.
Who would be extravagant enough to use Grace on the dying to forcibly extend their lives?
And yet, her unwavering determination saved them. They would never forget it.
The Great Runes she held had already worn away the traces of their former masters, leaving only a shared sense of tolerance, healing, and purity. They were not for conquest, but filled with a restorative Grace capable of turning the tide.
Not for combat!
In other words, the Great Runes she had collected thus far were won through her own strength, with every slash and thrust. An outsider unbound by Grace was instead granting Grace, having defeated countless powerful foes who bore many blessings. Her depth was unfathomable.
Just like Godfrey, who was already an invincible highland warrior before he became king.
"We believe you will surely become the Elden Lord."
"Praise be to Her Majesty, Frieren."
"Since we have received this Grace, we pledge our allegiance to you, my lady..."
The silver-haired girl had no choice but to accept their repayment.
She also informed them of the current situation, from the Numen's present treatment plan to the state of affairs in the Land of Shadow.
They were surprised to learn that Frieren already controlled the resources of the Southern Three Lands and had a large number of Grafting Artisans.
With the added guarantee of her and Melina's healing magic, it was certainly worth the risk.
They couldn't continue living like this, after all. Their mutated flesh had only shrunk; it hadn't been eliminated.
The treatment plan gave them more hope, and the atmosphere grew fervent.
They never expected Frieren to be serious, having even planned a series of follow-up arrangements.
They could either move to live in The Lands Between or wait for the Land of Shadow's isolation to be broken for passage.
"What do you choose?"
"In the eyes of the world, it was the Numen assassins who killed Godwyn, Marika's firstborn, right? She was a pity, too... We are likely despised. It wouldn't be convenient to move about in The Lands Between."
"Don't worry, I will protect you. No one will dare to gossip."
"As for those enemies in the Royal Capital who gossip no matter what I do, you have even less reason to care. Sooner or later, I will crush them."
The Numen wanted to refuse again, but they saw Melina shake her head.
Accept.
Was the title of Lord of Cinder not enough to offer protection? That would be a slight to the monarch's dignity.
Although the silver-haired girl herself lacked this awareness, the witch did not want the king she served to have a record of offering protection and not being trusted. So now, there was only one choice.
"As you command. We will go to The Lands Between, to the domain Your Majesty has governed."
Done.
"However, the treatment will first take place in the Land of Shadow. I will bring the doctors here."
"When?"
"I don't know. I can feel that the Land of Shadow is still enveloped by a powerful sealing force, which even contains the aura of a Great Rune. I'll have to wait for it to weaken before I can bring a small number of ordinary people through the barrier."
Though this was the case, the Numen were already very happy.
A little waiting time was insignificant compared to the long years they had endured.
Most importantly, they saw Frieren's healer's heart.
A person's Rune aura couldn't lie.
Over the years, Her Majesty must have conquered the four corners of the land openly and honorably. Hers was the most legitimate path to kingship acknowledged by The Lands Between, a monarch worthy of their trust.
Melina began to ask, "One of the reasons we came was to trace Mother's footsteps from back then. We wanted to understand the course of events..."
"For instance?"
Frieren's supplement immediately got to the heart of the matter.
The Numen looked thoughtful.
"We don't know the specific principles, but several things happened that were likely necessary factors:"
"A large number of Horned Folk were killed, their flesh and blood piled up at the Spiral Tower. In the end, Marika, in some special form, walked over the corpses and through the Gate of Divinity. She obtained supreme power, the acknowledgment of the Two Fingers, and achieved a body capable of containing the Elden Ring."
"The core step must be at the Gate of Divinity."
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