Chapter 163

(6)

13.

[Name]: Delia Arpen

[Age]: 17 years

[Grade]: SS

[Trait]: Blessing of Mana

[Characteristic]: Genius, speed reading, memorization, fairy blood, animal affinity, obsession, High Mage, Knowledge of the Stars, Heart’s Eye

Noa’s eyes widened as she carefully examined the status window of Delia that appeared before her.

She quickly realized something was off and her shocked expression reflected it.

‘H-High Mage?!’

Originally, Delia was a “Mage.”

For it to have changed to “High Mage” meant she had reached that level, which was an insane rate of growth.

This had never happened in the original story, not even with the Abyss Worshippers’ attacks.

‘What on earth happened…?’

Had she really reached the level of a High Mage already?

Her eyes were filled with curiosity and questions.

But there was no immediate way to resolve this mystery, so Noa brushed off her thoughts and looked back at Delia.

‘Well, it makes sense that her body has grown too.’

One of Delia’s traits, fairy blood, comes with additional effects like magical talent and affinity for mana.

‘And one more.‘

There was a unique effect that if mental growth occurred during the process of gaining insight, her physical form would grow as well.

Surely, this trait must have manifested, leading to her physical growth.

‘Next…’

There was also a newly added trait.

Knowledge of the Stars and Heart’s Eye.

“Knowledge of the Stars” was a trait that already existed in the original. It was inherited magical knowledge from the Arch Lich, which would serve as the stepping stone for Delia to reach the realm of the High Mage.

‘But now it doesn’t really matter, does it?’

For some reason, Delia was already a High Mage.

Noa, having lost interest, focused on the next newly added trait.

‘This one wasn’t in the original either.’

Heart’s Eye, which pierced through the mind.

It was similar to the Reflective Eye but slightly different.

While both had the ability to discern truth from falsehood, this one didn’t have the power to penetrate the essence.

After grasping the changes, Noa frowned.

‘Why did such a trait suddenly appear?’

More questions arose repeatedly.

There was so much she wanted to ask, but all she could do was wait for Delia to wake up.

Just as she was finishing her thoughts quietly, Ulan suddenly spoke up.

“Now we just need to move to the castle.”

“Huh? The castle?”

“I mean the Arpen Royal Castle.”

Ulan replied calmly, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Noa, however, looked awkward.

“Uh, that could be a problem?”

“What? Why?”

“Think about our situation.”

Currently, the two had crossed the duchy’s border without normal entry procedures, in simpler terms, they were illegal immigrants.

That by itself was a crime, and adding that they showed up with the recently missing Delia? They’d most likely be suspected as the culprits.

“Sure, if Delia is awake, there’s no problem. But if she’s unconscious, heading to the castle blindly will surely get us arrested.”

There wouldn’t be anyone to explain the situation to them.

Ulan nodded silently at this detailed explanation. Once he thought about it, it made sense.

“So, let’s go to a safe place first, and if Delia wakes up, then we can head to the castle together.”

This was probably the best course of action.

Noa concluded this. On the other hand, Ulan suddenly shook his head.

“That seems a bit difficult.”

“Huh? What do you mean…?”

He had just expressed agreement, so why was he suddenly saying it seemed difficult?

When she tilted her head in confusion, Ulan’s eyes widened.

“…!”

Shortly after Ulan’s words ended, they heard hurried footsteps scurrying through the valley.

Numerous presences surrounded them.

As her complexion turned pale, soldiers dressed in military uniforms appeared.

They were Rangers from the Arpen Duchy, armed with swords and crossbows.

“To the traitors!”

“You are surrounded. There’s no place to escape, so give up and surrender!”

In an instant, the Rangers tightened their encirclement and aimed their arrows at Ulan and Noa.

The tension weighed heavily on their shoulders.

Noa asked with a stiff face, “…When did you know?”

“Know what?”

“That the Rangers were coming!”

“If we’re talking about presence, I noticed it the moment you were wildly blinking your eyes.”

He must have realized while checking Delia’s status window. Noa frowned in disbelief.

“Why didn’t you say anything before?”

But she didn’t get to finish her question.

As they whispered, an arrow flew at them as a warning.

Crack!

Obviously, Ulan crushed it.

Startled by the sudden warning shot, Noa hid behind Ulan, while the Arpen Rangers raised their voices again.

“We warn you once more.”

“Release the princess and surrender!”

“If you don’t want to turn the Arpen Duchy against you!”

Eyes filled with rage, almost exuding killing intent.

This was a clear sign that Delia was a precious existence to the Rangers. Just as Ulan was about to explain the situation…

“O-Oh, it’s a misunderstanding!”

Noa stepped forward again.

She waved her arms to grab everyone’s attention and continued speaking.

“We are Delia’s friends…!”

“Pfft, don’t make me laugh!”

“Who would fall for such a lie?”

As soon as she finished saying friends, several Rangers scoffed.

And shortly after, they made it clear why they deemed Noa’s words a lie.

“The princess doesn’t have any friends!”

“……”

No, wasn’t that a bit harsh?

If Delia had heard that, she would definitely have been furious. But it was the truth, nonetheless.

Noa scratched her cheek awkwardly.

As the conversation broke down, Ulan suddenly set Delia down gently on the ground.

Then he raised both arms, signaling he had no intention to fight.

“Alright, I will surrender.”

“W-What, Ulan?!”

“They are people who serve Delia. There’s no benefit in fighting.”

Upon hearing this response, Noa bit her lip.

It was indeed better than wasting time unnecessarily. After all, once Delia wakes up, the misunderstanding would resolve itself.

“Hah, fine.”

Noa sighed as if resigning, and raised her hands as well. The Rangers swiftly closed in to complete their objectives.

“We have secured the princess!”

“Tie up the traitors!”

Ropes tangled around Ulan and Noa.

They felt like they’d seen this scene somewhere before.

A mix of relief washed over them, knowing these ropes wouldn’t be able to hold Ulan.

‘So if it gets bad…’

Noa decided she could cut the ropes and run if necessary.

Having made her decision, Noa was led by the Rangers without putting up much resistance. The duo was swiftly escorted to the royal castle on charges of kidnapping the princess.

14.

Meanwhile, at that moment.

North Monastery of Eloden Academy.

After morning prayers, and in this sparsely populated place, a man suddenly appeared.

The one called the strongest sword of the Holy Nation.

Paladin Master, Kadel Dun Shanktus.

Creek!

He opened the old door and looked around as if searching for someone. After a moment, he found the person he had been looking for.

“Laurea.”

At the edge of the red rug lay a girl with turquoise hair, quietly seated and praying.

“I heard you were looking for me.”

“Yes, there’s something urgent I need to ask.”

“What kind of request?”

“I need you to hire a mercenary.”

A mercenary? Kadel looked puzzled at the unexpected request. Laurea immediately began to explain the situation.

It was about Sven Isaac, the sniper who was a comrade of Ulan from a previous life.

Of course, she didn’t mention the seven heroes. She simply stated that he was a necessary asset in the fight against the Abyss.

A short while later, as the neatly summarized story came to an end, Kadel nodded as if he understood.

“Hmm, I see. A talent that will help prepare for the upcoming battle against the Abyss.”

Suddenly, a recent report came to mind.

Amid a cultural exchange, a student delegation sent to Arsen Academy had reported on the “Abyssal Rift.”

When it was revealed that Laurea had fallen into the abyss, the Holy Nation recognized the seriousness of the situation.

“We will begin preparations to face the Abyss.”

With the special order publicly announced, the Holy King bestowed powers akin to those of a seated saintess onto Laurea, which allowed her to summon Kadel.

Only the Holy King and the Saintess could give orders to a Paladin Master.

“Of course, I know that you might view me with skepticism.”

Had Kadel’s silence made her uneasy?

Laurea took a step closer and pleaded earnestly, “Still, you’re the only one I can turn to for this. I genuinely have no one else to ask.”

“……”

Kadel remained silent.

An awkward silence enveloped the room.

Just when Laurea was about to speak again, he finally parted his lips.

“It brings back memories.”

“Huh? Memories of what?”

“The time I brought you from that remote village. Back then, you called me ‘Bearded Knight.’”

Laurea’s expression shifted.

Her face clearly reflected her surprise at the unexpected statement, and she quickly waved her hands in denial.

“I-I was just childish back then…”

“True. You caused quite a bit of trouble.”

Kadel nodded in agreement.

“Frequent running away, and you lied as if it was a daily meal, making me think I brought the wrong Saintess Candidate.”

“Th-That was…”

“The knights even made bets on it. They thought you’d be the first to lose your saintess candidate qualification among the three.”

A faint smile appeared on Kadel’s face as he reminisced, while Laurea, the person in question, couldn’t muster a smile at all.

“But I placed my bet on you.”

“Really?”

“Do you know why?”

Laurea pondered for a moment, then came up with a plausible guess.

“Was it because the odds were higher?”

“……”

“Ahaha, just kidding.”

With an awkward laugh, Laurea realized nothing had really changed. Kadel chuckled softly and answered.

“It was during the hardships that you, along with the other Saintess Candidates, were tasked with preaching the doctrine and addressing the sufferings of believers twice a year.”

In the Holy Nation, this was known as a “Trial.”

While the other two candidates diligently completed their trials, Laurea, for some reason, was nowhere to be seen.

“Thus, everyone was certain.”

“Surely, this time she would lose her saintess candidate qualification. After all, she never fit the role.”

“But that wasn’t the case.”

Laurea had indeed gone out for trials.

Only, she wasn’t on the broad path where everyone could see her, but rather in the unseen back alleys.

Kadel closed his eyes, recalling the moment when Laurea tended to the needy without any onlookers in the Holy Nation.

“You looked after the vagrants and the sick, even when no one was watching.”

“Well, that’s just what needs to be done…”

“You were the only one who did what was needed. While everyone walked on their shining paths, you alone remained in the shadow.”

From that moment, Kadel was sure who would be chosen as the future Saintess.

And just as he expected, in the spring of the following year, Laurea was appointed as the next Saintess. Having concluded his reflection, Kadel knelt down on one knee and said, “I swear to the Divine Being that I have never doubted you, Laurea.”

“Shanktus…”

“So please give me any command.”

After bowing respectfully, Kadel’s eyes shone with sincerity.

“I am ready to carry out any duty with joy, irrespective of its nature.”

Laurea’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

As Kadel mentioned, back in her youth, she caused quite a stir with her escapades and lies.

She had thought Kadel would resent her for it, but who would have imagined such a response?

“Thank you for saying that.”

Laurea bowed her head respectfully as well.

After a brief pause, she spoke again.

“Then as the next Saintess, I will give you a command.”

“I am all ears.”

“Please hire the beastman hunter, Sven Isaac, who is active as a mercenary in the Eastern Jungle, and bring him back to the Holy Nation safely.”

This was the formal order given.

Kadel replied with a sign of the cross.

“I accept the Saintess’s command.”

With that affirmation, Kadel rose from his place.

He turned to the distance where his azure-haired disciple was waiting.

“Ian Marcus.”

“Yes, Master.”

Ian bowed his head politely.

He could probably guess what would be said next.

It was bound to be something about keeping a close watch on Laurea while he was away on his mission. But his expectations were shattered.

“I’ll give you exactly 30 minutes.”

“…Huh?”

“Pack your belongings and come here.”

“Belongings?”

As an unsettling feeling loomed over him.

Kadel spoke bluntly.

“You will also come with me.”

“…!?”

This was like thunder out of a clear sky.

Ian couldn’t hide his bewilderment. After a moment, he screamed.

“B-but I never heard that before?!”

“You probably didn’t. I just decided.”

“No, what…?”

“You have the duty to become the Saintess’s sword in the future. So if an opportunity arises to broaden your horizons, it would be wise to seize it.”

In short, he was expressing that it was a chance to gain practical experience.

On the other hand, Ian wore an unwilling expression.

And it made sense. Traveling from the Holy Nation to the Eastern Jungle would take an entire month, which meant spending that whole time with Kadel.

So he desperately refused.

“I sincerely appreciate your suggestion, Master, but I have the duty to protect the Saintess. Therefore, I should pass on this opportunity to someone else…”

“Saintess.”

Kadel suddenly interrupted Ian’s words.

He looked at Laurea again and asked, “Would you allow Lord Marcus to accompany me on this mission?”

“With great pleasure, I will allow it.”

“W-What?! Saintess?!”

Seeing Laurea smiling brightly, Ian wanted to protest, questioning how that was possible.

But he couldn’t find the voice to do so.

“Five minutes have already passed.”

Realizing there was no point in running away, Ian immediately stomped the ground.

He had to prepare in time, just as Kadel had stated.

A while later, at the height of midday, the Paladin Master and his disciple secretly left the Holy Nation.

The destination designated by the next Saintess was the Eastern Jungle.

Chapter 39: The Choice Is Yours.