Chapter 82 – Master (2)
“Ugh, it’s still far from over… you’re strong.”
The crackling spark was reminiscent of thunder. The flail collided with the sword, producing a thunderous noise as it pushed the sword back. However, unlike thunder, which is inherently destructive, this felt more like erasing everything in its path.
“Impressive. No matter how much one awakens through the holy water, this level would still be challenging for most paladins.”
“That’s not true. It’s all thanks to you, Master…”
Maria gently set down the flail, which was as large as her head, and smiled bashfully. Following the words of the lord of the paladin order, who taught her how to fight, her skills were improving by leaps and bounds.
It was true that she had talent. Thanks to Iriliana, the awakened power of the arcane was dominating either divine power or mana with overwhelming superiority. However, that wasn’t all of her talent. Born as the daughter of a mere peasant, she had inherited the talent for adventure from her ancestors.
‘This is what I’m meant to do.’
As Maria realized her talent, she couldn’t contain the joy of feeling a happiness she had never experienced in her life. Being able to do something she was talented in was something that had never been permitted to someone like her, who came from poverty.
Thanks to that, she felt as if she was flying every day.
More than the luxurious meals and fine living provided by the church, what she loved most was being able to wield a weapon and awaken her inner talent through battle.
“It seems you’ve completely gotten used to it now.”
“It’s all thanks to the High Elf.”
After the training sessions with her masters, they would always head to Iriliana’s room together to wash up. It had become a routine to soak in the warm bath together, where she would relax and practice activating her power with Iriliana’s assistance.
Maria had also become accustomed to watching the water spirit play as it bubbled.
“Ian would find it much easier if he did this.”
“Well…”
The one whom Iriliana could help was not just Maria. The next hero, Ian, would also be able to alleviate his fatigue and improve his training results much faster with Iriliana’s help.
The problem was the method. Even among the impoverished, they understood the differences between men and women.
Maria recalled the time when Iriliana had casually appeared in the bath with Ian. Believing no one was there, Ian had been completely startled and bolted from the room the moment he saw them inside, while Iriliana simply laughed at his reaction, seemingly unfazed.
As she got to know Iriliana’s personality more and more, she began to feel confused about whether that behavior was sincere or just a joke.
“Well, the hero will be taken care of by others. That should be enough. But what about the others? Melissa?”
“She… rejected the offer.”
While yawning, Iriliana mentioned Melissa without much thought, which made a spark of fire flicker in Maria’s eyes.
‘I don’t want that.’
Maria still remembered that moment clearly. Even when she was pleading for mercy, facedown in the dirt, Melissa had refused her with disdainful words and an unreadable expression.
It seemed others were unaware, but Maria had seen it clearly in that fleeting moment. The face of the girl sitting in the carriage, looking down at her with a smirk, could not belong to someone who was sincerely rejecting her plea.
It was a typical face filled with superiority and arrogance. Maria, having lived a life of poverty, was all too familiar with that expression.
It wasn’t only Melissa. Many adults also wore such expressions when looking down at someone they considered weaker. Some even coveted her body in exchange for a few coins.
As if to say, what would it matter if she rejected a few pennies? Of course, her father had always fought whenever such scum appeared.
“What do you want to do with your power?”
“I want to save the world.”
“…The foes that arise along that path may not only be monsters crawling out of corrupted lands.”
Just after she had awakened, Iriliana had asked Maria about her future with a serious expression when they were alone.
What would she do with the overwhelming power she had obtained? Although the world was in crisis, Iriliana also added that such power could be used in other ways.
Upon hearing that, revenge was the first thought that sprang to Maria’s mind.
When Melissa had trampled on her hopes and walked away. When she saw her father lying down, nearly losing her mind. The intense fury that had burned in her heart at that time would surely have erupted in all directions if only she had the power.
Whether it be money or strength, power was essential. It was what divided the miserable lower class from the powerful elite.
And now, that power had been granted to Maria.
“You want to use it for me? No thank you. That’s not necessary.”
In the end, the Maria of that time, who had failed to find an answer, knelt before Iriliana and swore to use her power for her. This thousand-year-old elf was not only her benefactor but also her master. Yet, looking down while fidgeting with her legs, Iriliana scoffed.
“Do as you wish. Live up to the legacy of your ancestors who bestowed that power upon you.”
Instead, Iriliana handed the choice to Maria.
The words about granting her freedom were unfamiliar to someone who had lived at the bottom for a lifetime, but little by little, Maria began to decide what she wanted to do.
She learned to write, learned etiquette, learned about the world, and learned martial arts. The past grievances were fading away, and it was a time where she could take no notice of them.
The true Saintess known to the world was none other than Maria, who had awakened the power of the arcane, and it was she who received visits from the representatives of the church and various factions.
“Endless fortune to you, the hero and the saintess. Likewise to the great High Elf.”
Moreover, Maria’s guardian was now known by everyone.
Seeing the people she once looked up to bowing their heads to her, it didn’t take long for her self-esteem to recover, which had plummeted to the ground.
It was at that time that Melissa, who rarely crossed paths with her, came to visit.
“You wish to see Iriliana?”
Maria set down her teacup in a flat tone. Melissa, looking somewhat gloomy, stood quietly beside her with her hands politely clasped together, bowing her head.
“I inquired separately, and they said I must have your permission…”
Melissa was cautious, glancing at Maria. The nose that had once been so high was now gone. Being perceptive, she had realized who held the true power.
Conversely, having learned what to be perceptive about, Maria began to understand why Iriliana had handed Melissa over to her. It was the message to untangle the past grievances with her own hands.
‘She’s completely become the forgotten one.’
Maria was also aware of Melissa’s plight. Originally, the person who should have been revered as the saintess was Melissa. It wouldn’t have been impossible for her to adorn herself in jewels and enjoy authority and power as she had dreamed.
But not now.
The true saintess was Maria, who possessed the irreplaceable power of the arcane, while Melissa was just a mere healer, a secondary character or second-in-command.
With everyone’s interest waning, Melissa found herself unable to do anything.
“Why do you wish to see her?”
“I have heard that if I learn from her, I can become stronger. It seems my training isn’t progressing…”
“Her teachings aren’t like that.”
Maria held back a scoff. As she continued to improve with Iriliana’s assistance, it seemed Melissa thought that meeting her would yield some results too.
‘Though she’s a bit deflated, she’s still the same.’
And Maria read the flicker of resentment in Melissa’s eyes. In reality, she believed that Maria was preventing her from meeting Iriliana out of jealousy.
‘What should I do?’
Numerous thoughts raced through Maria’s mind.
At that moment, she truly wielded power.
If she wished, she could easily return what was done to Melissa. Just like what Ian had endured, she could squeeze and torment her, or she could ignore and trample her like she had experienced.
The option to kindly advise her was dismissed. In Maria’s view, Melissa had not yet been properly tamed.
The resentment from being raised in poverty and abused by her foster parents couldn’t be erased with this level of humiliation. First, that animosity needed to be drawn out. Maria believed this was not merely for herself but for Melissa’s own sake.
“I think it would be good if we became a bit closer. In a way, we’re comrades, aren’t we?”
“…What?”
Finally, having made up her mind, Maria beamed a bright smile. However, the bewildered Melissa hesitated, even in the face of that beautiful smile.
No one knew better than herself that hideous smile concealing a ‘mask’ was deceiving.
