The original Alios was in the 180s [cm tall].
Perhaps because the original was like that, the female Alios is also over 170 [cm].
On the other hand, since the original Ceres was delicate, even as a man, I have a small build.
When Alios holds me, I fit snugly in her arms.
Right now, Alios was using that fact, holding me and simply lowering her head to smell my hair.
Shit, this is creepy!!!
Her behavior was so unpleasant that even though she was a blonde beauty, I wasn't happy at all.
It's only because she's a woman that I'm tolerating this much; if she were a man like in the original, I would have immediately thrown a fit demanding she let go.
"...Stop that.”
“Ah, sorry! Ceres's scent was just so nice..."
Only when I spoke did she pull back as if realizing her mistake.
But her expression was clearly full of regret.
I wanted to escape her side immediately, but I needed her for transportation, so I had no choice.
If this happens again later, maybe I should bring a wheelchair and make her push it?
“Stop doing weird things and just take me to the next place.”
Forcing myself to shake off the unpleasant feeling, I continued what I was doing.
“My daughter hasn't been able to move her lower body since injuring her back.”
“My mother has been constantly bleeding since injuring her abdomen at work!”
I visited the homes of the remaining two people and healed them.
“My goodness, even the priests had given up!”
“Lord Ceres, we will never forget this kindness!”
This should be enough, right?
I healed them as they wished, and seeing their reactions, they're clearly grateful to me.
Witch... no, since I'm a man, would it be a warlock?
Anyway, it seemed unlikely I'd be framed for something similar now.
“Let's go back.”
“Yes.”
Relieved, I returned home carried by Alios. As she carefully laid me down on the bed, I told her,
"I'm going to sleep, so you can go home or do whatever you want."
“Ah, then could I perhaps sleep here too? It's already late night from all the moving around.”
“...When you say sleep here, you mean use an empty room in this mansion, right? Not my room.”
"I meant an empty room, but this room is nice too.”
“...I'm tired.”
I chased out Alios, who was talking nonsense, and fell asleep as if dead.
And the next day.
“Please call Young Master Ceres.”
“We need his help!”
Yet more people came asking for help.
I had resolved one issue and done a good deed. I felt somewhat proud as I fell asleep, but this is the situation I woke up to.
"Countess, please show mercy—"
"Don't be ridiculous, just go!"
Just like yesterday, Ares shouted at the people kneeling in the front yard to get lost.
There were even more than yesterday. Nine people in total, three times the number.
"What is going on?"
"Well..."
To my bewildered self, Alios, who had slept over at our mansion and just woken up, spoke awkwardly.
"Perhaps yesterday's events became a rumor. It seems they've come asking for treatment for themselves too.”
“Then do I have to treat these people too?”
“That's up to you, Ceres. If you don't want to heal them, you don't have to."
What do you mean, 'up to me'?
If I don't, my reputation will suffer, and I'll get screwed over!
“Alios, please help me out again today.”
“...Don't push yourself too hard.”
Supported by Alios, I followed the new group of people.
“My son is completely healed!”
"It was just like the rumors!"
“This man is truly a Saint....”
“It's not much, but please accept this.”
I went and healed people who couldn't even move, and everyone expressed their gratitude.
Some even gave me money, but I couldn't feel happy.
The situation was turning strange.
I had an ominous feeling, and I was right.
"Is Young Master Ceres here?"
“Please help us!”
A few days later, more people came, and I treated them.
"Saint Ceres!"
“Please bestow upon us the grace of God.”
And a few days after that, more seekers of help appeared.
“I knew this would happen!!!”
As it repeated continuously, Ares threw up her hands in exasperation.
"I knew if we helped one person, they'd ignore our circumstances and endlessly ask for help. They only see their own pain, not that my child is sick!"
“We also know Young Master Ceres is sickly! However, my family member is on the verge of death, so we had no choice…”
“Shut up. From now on, don't let anyone like this appear before me. Anyone who disobeys this order will be dealt with as well!”
The enraged Ares spoke chillingly, and while I appreciated the sentiment, I had to let them in.
“Mother, I'm alright.”
“Ceres…….”
Ares looked at me with pitiful eyes.
“What do you mean, alright? You can barely move, yet you've gone outside several times? This is why I wanted to hide it!”
Her frustrated tone reminded me of the original Ares.
When Father Ares first saw Ceres use her healing ability, he tried to hide the fact.
The female Ares tried to hide it just the same.
She didn't boast that her child had amazing healing powers, nor did she consult the temple.
She thought something bad would definitely happen to me, and things proceeded exactly as she'd thought.
“Ceres, refuse them.”
Alios, who had just arrived and saw the situation repeating, hardened her expression.
“Even if you heal them, the same thing will happen again, and it will repeat endlessly.”
That's true. Honestly, it's hard for me too.
Healing is simple, but going out frequently puts a strain on my body.
As I pondered what to do, a brilliant idea struck me.
“How about I just heal all the sick people in the territory at once?”
“What do you mean?”
“If I heal everyone at once, I won't need to go out frequently.”
And after healing that many people, even if a few spread bad rumors, it should be sufficiently offset.
When I explained my method, both Alios and Ares were dumbstruck.
“That can't possibly be possible.”
“Do you not know how many people live in this territory?”
I know, there are a lot.
The Whiperion County was extremely prosperous, with a large territory and many residents.
"But among them, only a few will need my treatment."
“Even if it's only a few, you can't possibly visit and heal all of them.”
“I don't intend to do that either. Mother, please spread the word throughout the territory. Tell everyone I will heal people, so they should all gather in one place.”
"What about those who, like you, have difficulty moving?”
“Tell those who need help to all work together to bring them.”
“...What exactly do you gain by going this far?”
What else? My reputation and safety.
I continued to persuade the opposing Ares.
When it seemed I wouldn't yield no matter what, her eyes blazed.
“Only one week. Do you understand? I will permit this charade for only one week, but after that, no matter what you say, I will make you stop!”
Fine by me.
If I go that far, there shouldn't be anyone slandering me anymore, so I have no complaints.
Orders were issued throughout the territory.
For the next week, I would be healing people, so those who were severely ill should all come.
The location was a large square near our mansion.
Ares chose this spot to make it easier for me to move, and she also assigned many attendants.
Dozens of servants and a hundred private soldiers gathered to guide the arriving people.
“Please maintain order.”
“We will conduct a brief body search.”
They made sure people moved in an orderly fashion and checked for dangerous items to prevent any harm from coming to me.
“Don't worry. I'll be by your side every day.”
Furthermore, Alios decided to come every day to guard me.
While protecting me, they also brought patients before me, allowing me to heal comfortably.
“My finger was severed, can anything be done?”
“There, it's regenerated now.”
“My leg has become necrotic!”
“It's all better now.”
There were many people in serious condition.
Our territory is relatively prosperous, yet it's like this; I dread to imagine what other places are like.
It wasn't just people with severe injuries who came.
“Lord Ceres, please heal my arm!”
“Hey, your arm is just broken, right? It will heal if you give it time.”
“I can't wait that long. I'll be fired from my job for being unable to work!”
Those with less severe injuries but compelling circumstances tried desperately to enter, only to be blocked by the private soldiers.
“It's fine, let them through.”
“But it's not a serious injury.”
"Those with serious circumstances will also count as serious cases.”
Since the risk of being fired could also be considered serious, I treated them without argument.
“How merciful!”
“A beautiful appearance, a heart just as beautiful, and immense holy power. He must be a legendary saint!”
“To think our territory's Young Master was actually a Saint!”
The people who received a new chance rejoiced, calling me a Saint.
And so, the healing continued for five days.
“Who's there?”
"Identify yourself!”
While I was healing, the private soldiers guarding the area suddenly shouted.
A group of about ten people appeared at the square, looking nothing like patients.
They wore white clothes and had a noble air.
Individuals who clearly seemed to be of high status had arrived at the square.
The one leading them was a woman with short blue hair.
The woman, who appeared to be the leader, was tall and had a good figure.
Her appearance was quite beautiful, but her face was expressionless and blunt.
The woman spoke to the wary soldiers.
“I am High Priest Hames. I have merely come to meet Ceres Whiperion of the Whiperion family, so lower your spears.”
Hearing the name the woman revealed, I stopped healing and my expression hardened.
The High Priest of the Cheonsin Order, the largest religious organization in this world.
And the 'man' said to wield the most powerful holy power among them.
And...
'Ceres, I'm sorry. I wanted to possess you, even if it meant doing this.'
The bastard who, despite being High Priest, didn't help when Ceres was framed as a witch, but instead instigated it, locked her in the temple's underground prison, and spouted such crap.
He was one of the male leads of Ceres of Heaven. Though now she's a woman!