Chapter 92

The Guardian Knight of the Saintess is a being who protects and guards the Saintess.

The Saintess can choose her Guardian Knight through a sacred vow, and the chosen knight receives two special abilities.

The first ability is **Sacred Sublimation**.

Sacred Sublimation is the ability to convert mana into sacred power.

With this ability, the Guardian Knight can use sacred magic by converting their mana into sacred power.

However, since the conversion process rapidly depletes mana, past Guardian Knights rarely used this ability.

It was simply more efficient to protect the Saintess using their own mana.

The second ability is **Sacred Leap**.

The Guardian Knight can instantly teleport to the Saintess’s location upon receiving her will.

No matter where the Saintess is, the knight can leap through time and space to her side.

Thanks to this ability, the Saintess is always under the protection of her Guardian Knight, even in emergencies.

The legendary Holy Knight Aleric once said, “The Guardian Knight of the Saintess is like a beam of light, piercing through darkness to protect the Saintess.”

The Saintess can only choose one Guardian Knight in her lifetime, and this choice is made through a sacred vow.

Once made, it cannot be undone.

A bond is formed between them until death.

Therefore, the vow between the Saintess and her Guardian Knight must be made with great care.

“How about it, Ariel?”

After finishing her explanation, Revena looked at Ariel.

“I’d like you to be my Guardian Knight. Of course, this is just my personal request. If you refuse, I’ll still go heal that dragon… but I’d really like it if you accepted….”

Revena spoke cautiously, fidgeting with her clothes.

Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glistened slightly.

As the Saintess, choosing a Guardian Knight was her destined duty.

Usually, the most outstanding Holy Knight in the Cathedral was chosen, but Revena wanted to choose her own Guardian Knight if possible.

Revena could intuitively sense Ariel’s goodness.

Ariel was the kindest being Revena had ever met.

And she was strong.

Even the most outstanding Holy Knight in the Cathedral wouldn’t be able to match Ariel.

Ariel had already easily subdued two Holy Knights guarding Revena’s room, so there was no need to discuss it further.

Moreover, there was one decisive reason Revena wanted Ariel as her Guardian Knight.

It was Ariel’s appearance.

To Revena, Ariel was incredibly cute.

In other words, she desperately wanted to spend her life with her.

“……”

Meanwhile, Ariel had already made her decision.

Ariel decided to become the Saintess’s Guardian Knight.

*

Being the Saintess’s Guardian Knight was a huge advantage for Ariel.

Converting mana into sacred power to use sacred magic?

That meant she could use all the sacred magic Revena had used earlier, right?

If she could use the purification magic **Purification**, she wouldn’t have to bother washing herself.

Of course, Ariel liked bathing, but sometimes it was just too much effort.

‘If I use that magic then….’

A smile spread across Ariel’s face.

This was the true use of magic. Magic wasn’t just about setting enemies on fire.

If magic could improve her quality of life, there was nothing more she could ask for.

“I’ll become your Guardian Knight.”

At Ariel’s words, Revena’s eyes widened.

“R-Really? Ariel, thank you!”

Revena hugged Ariel tightly.

Ariel, still in Revena’s embrace, spoke.

“But I have a request too.”

“A request? What is it? Tell me, Ariel. I’ll grant any request of yours.”

“That.”

Ariel pointed her finger.

“I’d like you to sell me one of those.”

What Ariel was pointing at was the dragon doll from earlier.

Revena immediately nodded.

“Sure. They’re my favorite, but I have three of them anyway. I can give you one. Take whichever one you want.”

“Thank you.”

Ariel used telekinesis to lift the middle dragon doll.

She made it flap its wings and fly toward her.

“That one’s name is Sparki.”

Revena pointed at the dragon doll and spoke.

Ariel gently touched the doll’s nose and whispered, “Sparki.”

She couldn’t wait to show Sparki to Rakia.

‘Look, it’s your friend,’ she’d say.

Anyway, now that the matter was settled, it was time to proceed with the vow.

“Oh, Ariel. The vow between the Saintess and her Guardian Knight is made by holding each other’s ears and kissing while facing each other.”

“……”

Ariel narrowed her eyes at Revena’s words.

Her gaze seemed to say, ‘That doesn’t sound right.’

Of course, it wasn’t.

Revena, who was bad at lying, quickly blushed and apologized.

“…Sorry. Actually, I just need to kiss your forehead. That’s all.”

What she had said earlier was just her dark desire to touch Ariel’s pointy ears and, while she was at it, kiss her.

“You can hold my ears.”

Ariel spoke nonchalantly.

It seemed Revena really wanted to touch her ears, and Ariel could understand that feeling.

After all, Ariel also wanted to touch a dwarf’s beard whenever she saw one.

It was an irresistible desire.

Besides, her ears wouldn’t wear out from being touched a little.

Moreover, Revena had given her the dragon doll, she’d be able to use sacred magic in the future, and Revena would heal Rakia’s mother. There were many reasons to be grateful.

Letting her touch her ears wasn’t a big deal.

“Thank you, heehee.”

Revena smiled brightly and carefully reached out her hand.

She gently held Ariel’s ear.

Ariel shivered slightly at the ticklish sensation but managed to endure it.

“Wow….”

Revena marveled as she played with Ariel’s ear.

A happy smile filled her face.

After a while, Revena put on a serious expression and spoke.

“Then let’s proceed with the vow, Ariel.”

“Okay.”

Revena closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

A sacred light began to rise around them, enveloping Ariel and Revena.

Revena opened her eyes and looked at Ariel.

“Under the blessing of the gods, I appoint you as my Guardian Knight.”

Revena’s voice was different from before.

It was solemn and reverent.

It felt as if it was directly transmitted into Ariel’s mind, clear and vivid.

It wasn’t just her voice that had changed.

Revena’s entire demeanor had transformed.

The shy girl was gone, and in her place stood a benevolent Saintess who seemed capable of embracing all things.

“Will you swear to be my shield, protecting me from darkness, and my sword, fighting against evil?”

Ariel nodded slightly.

Revena smiled softly and kissed Ariel’s forehead.

It was a warm and gentle kiss.

“From now on, your soul shall be bathed in sacred light, and you shall walk the path of justice as one with me. With a noble heart and unwavering will, protect me and spread the light of mercy and love to this world.”

The sacred light surrounding them seeped into Ariel’s body.

Now, Ariel had been reborn as the Saintess’s Guardian Knight.

“It’s done, Ariel.”

Revena hugged Ariel as she spoke.

“From now on, we’ll be together forever.”

*

The next morning, Havier strutted through the Cathedral with a big smile.

He boasted about how he had defeated the Demon King and protected Saintess Revena the previous night.

“Kahaha! You all probably didn’t see it, but do you know how powerful that Demon King was? If it weren’t for me, our Saintess would’ve been in great danger! But that Demon King, what was his name again? Noctarion, yes, that was definitely his name. He wielded a terrifying demonic sword that emitted a crimson light….”

Havier went on and on about how he had defeated the Demon King and protected Saintess Revena.

His story became more and more exaggerated.

“Later, the Demon King started spewing fire from his eyes. But I blocked the flames with my bare hands and swung my mace with the other. Take this, divine mace!”

Havier swung a cloth mace in the air.

“Ahaha.”

The clergy listening to his story laughed soullessly, saying things like, “Amazing,” and “As expected of Bishop Havier,” but no one seriously believed him.

After all, there had been no intruders in the Cathedral last night.

The sacred barrier was intact, and the entrance was perfectly guarded.

“Hmm, but something feels off….”

Suddenly, Havier muttered with a serious expression.

“Last night, I think I saw a young elf… with silver hair and red eyes….”

Even at this, people just nodded half-heartedly, saying, “Oh, I see,” or “An elf, huh?”

However, two Holy Knights were visibly startled.

They were the Holy Knights who had guarded Revena’s room last night.

They had a good idea who the young elf Havier was talking about was.

They had even fought her.

Well, it was more like they got beaten up.

In any case, the two Holy Knights decided to keep quiet about the young elf.

They had been asked to by Revena.

.

.

.

Meanwhile, while Havier was boasting about his exploits, Revena was neatly dressed and heading to the sanctuary.

Behind her, Archbishop Andersen followed with a worried expression.

“Saintess, are you really okay? You haven’t eaten and are going to pray so early in the morning….”

Revena smiled quietly and nodded.

“It’s fine. What could be more important than starting the day with a sacred morning prayer? Through prayer, I fill my soul with nourishment, and physical nourishment comes later. Feeling the grace of the gods is more precious to me than eating.”

With that, Revena quickly entered the sanctuary and closed the door.

She pressed her ear to the door, waiting for Archbishop Andersen’s footsteps to fade, then opened a hidden floor panel and climbed down a ladder.

‘Ariel.’

Revena called out in her heart.

To her Guardian Knight.

At that moment.

*Flash!*

A brilliant pillar of light shot up in front of Revena.