I suddenly had an urge to pin this goofball down and make her pay for the damages.
But I couldn't.
Because this young woman was definitely a formidable fighter.
Unlike me, a Saintess who had been suppressed for about a year, Lina had become a Saintess from a young age.
She was often the center of attention on the battlefield against the dwarves.
This young woman truly lived up to her title as the Saintess of War; no one could stand against her wherever she went, and her legends had already spread throughout all human kingdoms, including the Kingdom of the Moon.
Judging by the rumors, she was at least level fifty or sixty.
And most crucially, she had the terrifying boost of the Saintess title!
This was enough to bring about earth-shattering changes for her.
"Your Highness Lina, how did you..."
I suppressed my anger and feigned surprise, covering my mouth.
From the first time I met her, I knew she was a goofball.
When others were still suspicious, she was the first to step forward to help me.
Although this was perfectly in line with a warlike and innocent young woman's personality.
"Hiahiahia~ Didn't expect that, did you~"
Lina put one hand on her hip, her ponytail swaying behind her, a look of pride on her face!
"I secretly ran away from Grandpa Scott!!"
She was so self-righteous even though she had done something wrong.
Truly... wonderful!
Scott was the current ruler of the Kingdom of the Highlands, Scott Polite, a cunning old man.
When Lina wanted to go on an expedition to help me, he was the first to object.
This man was very cunning and selfish.
I really wondered how such a man could raise such an innocent and kind young girl.
Perhaps... she was also influenced by the Saintess title?
I didn't know when it started, but I also began to genuinely care for the Kingdom of the Moon from the bottom of my heart.
Was it the influence of the Saintess title, or the influence of memories?
Perhaps... I really should find some time to think it through properly.
"Your Highness Lina's arrival alone is worth a hundred thousand troops!"
Regardless of her strength, I would definitely drag this little lass along on this expedition.
Once that cunning old man Scott discovered his granddaughter had been 'abducted' by me, he would undoubtedly spare no effort to help me.
Although the Kingdom of the Highlands was somewhat poor, its military strength was rarely matched among human nations in contending with foreign races.
Among all the Eight Nations of the Holy Church, only two countries frequently experienced war.
One was the Snow Country, situated atop the northern mountains.
Because it bordered the Beastmen Empire, conflicts often arose, and small-scale wars would occasionally break out.
The other was the Kingdom of the Highlands, the only human nation that directly faced the Dwarven Kingdom.
Between these two nations, although the Kingdom of Sand also shared some territory with the Snow Country and the Dwarven Kingdom.
However, as a commercial capital of the continent, the Kingdom of Sand became a place for the three races to trade with each other.
And precisely because of this, neither the human race, beast race, nor dwarf race would wage war there.
Because once war broke out there, the cost would be too great.
Nations exchanged goods and services; if that exchange point were severed, a large portion of the entire nation's commerce would stagnate, which would be extremely detrimental to national development.
Correspondingly, if the Kingdom of Sand fought with the Beastmen Empire and the Dwarven Kingdom, then the recuperated Snow Country and Kingdom of the Highlands would inevitably develop rapidly and thoroughly pummel the Beastmen Empire.
Therefore, although the Kingdom of Sand was located at the junction of the three races, it was paradoxically the safest place.
"The Saintess of the Moon flatters me!"
Although she said this, the joyful expression on her face was not hidden in the slightest.
Clearly, she enjoyed the flattery?
'This little wild horse is quite easy to tame.'
I really had to thank that cunning old man for raising such an outstandingly alluring daughter.
That's right, very alluring.
When I met her before, it was through 3D projections, which mostly showed only her upper body, rarely anything below the waist.
But now that I met her in person, I saw that the young woman before me was truly dressed quite coolly.
She wore black stockings on her long legs.
On her feet were silver high-heeled combat boots, reaching just to her knees.
The knee armor had a crescent-shaped sharp point extending outwards, with the outer side looking as sharp as a blade.
Her slender waist was exposed; it seemed to ensure fluid movement, there was no armor covering her entire waist, and one could even see her clean little belly button.
And neatly arranged abs.
There were two shoulder pads on her shoulders, but they weren't the kind that rested directly on the shoulder; instead, they floated above her shoulders, creating a state that neither hindered movement nor failed to protect her shoulders.
The breastplate only covered her chest.
The back was completely open.
The breastplate straps wrapped around the back of her neck, then around her waist.
Two large, fish-scale-like skirt plates angled outwards along her hips.
Only two short plates of armor, front and back, barely covered her modesty.
A longsword hung at her waist, and in her hand, she carried a greatsword.
Not a two-handed greatsword, but a two-handed heavy sword, and compared to Hilda's greatsword, Lina's was bigger! Thicker! More imposing!
The silver greatsword was almost like a massive iron plate; half of its blade was now stuck in the ground, and the remaining half was nearly 1.5 meters tall.
This greatsword must be about three meters long.
Including the hilt, wouldn't it be about three and a half meters?
How did she swing such a massive sword?
A young woman standing there, just the comparison between the heavy sword and her figure, created a strong visual contrast.
"Is Your Highness Lina accompanying the army this time?"
"Of course! I'll tell you, I secretly swapped out the new recruits Grandpa Scott sent, and brought along all the veterans I personally trained."
Saying this, Lina grabbed my wrist.
At that instant, I felt as if I was shackled by an iron cuff; no matter how much I struggled, it was useless.
She acted as if nothing was amiss, turned, and pulled, and my entire body was practically floating as I was dragged along.
Although... I really was floating.
But I still have weight on the ground!
The fact that she could pull me so easily meant that the strength in her hand could effortlessly lift objects weighing a hundred pounds or more.
"Your Highness Lina?"
Subconsciously, I wanted to stop her, but Lina paid no attention, reaching out to grasp the hilt of the greatsword and lightly lifting it.
The massive sword, firmly embedded in the marble floor, was thus effortlessly... plucked out.
That's right, plucked.
Three fingers gripped the hilt, and with an upward tug, the gigantic iron plate flew directly from the ground with a thunderous roar, flipped once in mid-air, and then landed steadily in the young woman's hand.
The moment the greatsword landed in her hand, a distinct 'crack' of crumbling could be heard from where her high-heeled combat boots met the ground.
��Another piece was shattered.
I hadn't even set off on the expedition, and a simple greeting had already cost me two gold coins.
These marble tiles on the floor, though seemingly unremarkable, were all enchanted.
'Are you seriously here to cause trouble?'
'If I couldn't beat you, I would have already hit you!'
While silently complaining about her, I also felt a sense of secret relief.
If I were the only Saintess, perhaps the allied knight orders of several nations wouldn't be so united.
But with two Saintesses here.
Then they would have no choice.
Even if they didn't want to fight to the death, they couldn't refuse.
Even if they all died, they wouldn't dare let two Saintesses perish in demon territory.
Thus, my chances of victory increased even further.
Leaving aside everything else, Lina's combat power alone was something to look forward to.
Moreover, I still had Hero Creation!
Using Hero Creation on others could at best unleash seventy percent of a hero's power, but if used on a Saintess...
It was hard to imagine what kind of effect it would produce.
"Your Highness Lina, don't rush to see your army. You've just arrived and must be tired from your journey. Why don't you freshen up first, then we can sit down and chat leisurely."
Lina paused slightly, then suddenly turned her head, gazing at me with a serious expression.
"Your Highness Luo Li!!"
"Yes?!"
Startled by her sudden shout, I instinctively stood at attention, staring blankly at her.
Lina's face was solemn.
"At a time like this, you still have the mind to drink tea? I heard on the way that Seaview City seems to have fallen into the hands of the demons, hasn't it? Your people are suffering terribly in your territory, how can you possibly drink tea?!"
"I... I'm sorry."
'Was I just lectured?'
'I was lectured by a goofball?'
Head bowed, I was utterly shocked.
"Mm, it's good that you know your mistake."
Lina nodded gravely, then pulled my hand and started walking out.
At the same time, she turned back and instructed the dumbfounded Lola behind her.
"Hey, you, go make some tea. Her Highness Luo Li and I will go see the army and be right back. Oh, and don't forget, I only drink Snow Mountain Black Tea, and add a little sugar."
Lola stared blankly at the impulsive Your Highness Lina, who had just snatched away her own Highness, unable to react for a moment.
She never imagined that this Saintess of War, rumored to be invincible and capable of rivaling holy knights, would be such a person.
Gazing at the empty hall and the deep hole in the floor made by the greatsword, Lola's mouth twitched, and she let out an inaudible sigh.
"Indeed, rumors don't do justice to the reality..."
But I no longer had the presence of mind to care what Lola was thinking.
All the way, no matter what I said, Lina just held my hand and wouldn't let go.
Her immense strength felt like being pulled by a train; no matter how hard I struggled, her fingers remained unmoving.
And clearly, she was intentionally holding back, merely gripping my wrist instead of squeezing it.
Otherwise... with my small arms and legs, I really couldn't withstand her rough handling.
I'd be crippled in a few tugs.
And so, pulling and being pulled, we arrived at the Moon Square.
The massive square was, at some point, filled with people.
Those knights, fully armed, all wore black armor, and their lances were also pitch black.
The black horses they rode were also covered in heavy black armor.
The entire army stood in the early morning sun on the vast square.
So quiet... one could hear their own breathing!
It was hard to imagine an army of ten thousand men being so utterly silent.
Even the black horses they rode made no superfluous movements.
These ten thousand knights were like ten thousand statues, completely motionless.
"Your Highness Luo Li, look! This is my army!!"
Saying this, Lina stepped forward, raising the iron-plate-like greatsword in her hand high.
"What are you standing around for? Greet Her Highness Luo Li!"
The next second, ten thousand knights uniformly raised their lances above their heads.
In an instant, the shadow completely enveloped me.
"Your servants greet Your Highness Luo Li, wishing you holy peace!"
Ten thousand voices roared in unison, shaking the heavens and earth!
"Boom!!"
The black horses' right forelegs simultaneously lifted and then slammed down, as if... even these horses were saluting me!
The ground couldn't help but tremble violently.
Since transmigrating, this was the first time I had seen an army with such immaculate discipline and power.
It was hard to imagine how such a young woman could make these ten thousand knights so utterly obedient.
'Could it be cuddles for compliance?'
Cough cough~ Can't think too much.
Although it's an eroge, she's still a Saintess, she wouldn't mess around.
After dismissing that vulgar thought.
The only possibility for forming such an elite unit lay with Lina, the Saintess of War herself.
To form such an elite unit.
First: the general must win people's hearts, with full marks in personal charisma.
Second: the general's strength and wisdom must completely overwhelm them to earn their complete submission.
Finally: strict obedience to orders.
These three points were essential for an elite unit.
Looking at these black armored knights before me, and then comparing them to my own knights.
A sense of defeat spontaneously arose.
Putting everything else aside, the mere appearance of these two armies side-by-side gave a completely different impression.
Furthermore, the more disciplined an army's appearance, the stronger its military might.
Because discipline represented execution, and execution... was the core essence of an army!
"This... is your army?"
"That's right! This is my army!"
Lina turned proudly to face me.
"They are the Black Armored Knights!"
Ten thousand knights, facing their Highness's pride, let out a heaven-shaking roar.
"Long live Your Highness Lina!!"
"Free movement. Reassemble here in two hours. Everyone listen carefully: no disturbing civilians, no prostitution, no drinking, no forced buying or selling. Violate any single rule, and you will be killed!!"
After showing off her army to me, Lina efficiently dismissed the Black Armored Knights.
Instantly, the once perfectly uniform knight order dismounted, one by one, and removed their helmets.
Only then did smiles appear on their faces.
I had originally intended to interview them and learn about their training methods; even if I couldn't reach her level, surely a third of it would be achievable?
Rate on N.U.
