133 The End Of A Streak (2/2)
Only muttering a suppressed giggling, fitting for her image as a high school girl, Elizabeth thought, 'They call that mitigation? My sides hurt just from thinking of how funny such a silly statement truly is.' Consumed in self-depreciation, Elizabeth wondered how everyone would react if she had chosen the Mid Phase Saint Stage practitioner to be her patient. 'Would their brains give out if they understood what true mitigation looked like? Or maybe they'd directly die of shock if I chose to directly cure the Saint of his ”acupoint corroding illness” as the announcer called it…'
Still, as she knew in her heart that the difference in skill between her and Belle was chasms-deep apart, Elizabeth kept her mockery to a self-indulgent minimum. Though, as she listened on as Belle was interviewed after being crowd Champion, her opinion of her did improve; if only by a slight margin.
After being asked, ”Ms. Delarue, congratulations on successfully defending your position as Medicinal Champion! What are your thoughts on the sudden upset in the Event's progression?” Belle took on a humble approach, to say, ”Honestly, I don't feel like I've earned it… Ms. Ultimatia only lost because she's a better person. After all, with her abilities and previous first ranking position, she could have easily chosen the Mid Phase Saint Stage practitioner to be her patient and probably would have even done a better job treating him than I did. The fact that she took one of the weakest patients in what I can only assume to be pity for the little girl's serious illness, shows she took the competition to come only after the health of her patients. Just look at her results from the Second Stage… After healing fifty people, she could have easily called it a day and won without question. Yet, she chose to heal as many people as she possibly could...”
Hearing her words, people didn't know how to react… Even when Elizabeth lost, she still found a way to make the outcome revolve around her and the fact that Belle played into the situation in favor of Elizabeth's actions only made the people originally against her start to turn. Continuing on with a couple more miscellaneous questions about her background, after the interview concluded, the announcer came back to address the competitors and explain their rewards.
As runner up of the Medicinal Event, virtually all the rewards offered up to her were useless; at least in the context of medical use. Earning herself several vouchers she could use to redeem ”medicinal” herbs and materials, Elizabeth resolved to pick up more materials to feed her beast companions. She also earned the right to learn yet another technique from any style of medicine within the Martial Society. Though, for now, that highest value reward was worthless as she couldn't see the use in learning another healing art.
When the announcer finished announcing the rewards and bestowed Belle with the title ”Healing Saint,” the Event concluded. Elizabeth followed her peers into the department of resources and waited her turn to pick up her rewards. After she picked up a couple more Fire and Death type spiritual materials, she left the tournament arena, heaving a relieved breath as she called for her Clearlight Sparrow to return to her side through their connection.
Having left it to freely hunt in the forests around the village as she participated in the Medicine Event, after being called back, the Sparrow cheerfully landed on Elizabeth's shoulder before rubbing its feathery face against hers. Gauging its cultivation, Elizabeth was surprised to see the bird had Leveled up to Level 5 all by itself in the hour she had left it alone. Very impressed with her companion's remarkable cultivation speed, Elizabeth materialized another Fire Blossom before feeding it to the Sparrow.
She was wondering where would be the best place to settle down as she waited for the Alchemy Event to pass by, when suddenly, a tall and gorgeous woman blocked her path. Giving this stranger the squint of death, Elizabeth asked ”...Is there a problem?”
With bell-like laughter, the woman responded, ”Hahaha… I don't know if there's a problem or not, but I am looking to offer you a deal~”
”Oh?” Smiling, as the mention of a deal was brought up, Elizabeth asked, ”What kind of deal are we talking?” As she tried to probe the stranger's cultivation base, Elizabeth failed which could only mean that the woman before her was at the very least a Peak Phase King Stage Practitioner. However, as Elizabeth took into account the noble aura that surrounded the stranger, she wouldn't be surprised to find out that the woman was actually a Saint or Spirit Realm practitioner.
”Well, you see, I have someone close to me who's been suffering from an ailment for several years now and no one in the Martial Society has been able to treat him. Seeing your performance in the First Stage of the Medicine Event, all of us in the judge's area realized you understand Martial Acupoint to a level far above ours. So… the deal I would like to propose to you is… See if you can cure my friend and I'll give you whatever you want. Resources, fame, power… Anything really… I'll remember your actions and return the favor whenever you need it.”