"Good morning, Lina."
"You finally decided to wake up?"
With a loud boom, the heavy sword weighing hundreds of pounds was lowered. The girl tossed her long ponytail behind her and raised a hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead. Her face was flushed with the glow of exercise, and her eyes sparkled with sharp intensity.
"I can't compare to you. When did you start this kind of training?"
I was curious. Training like this would have no effect unless it was done for years on end. The fact that she could get up so early suggested she had lived this way for a long time.
"Hmm... I've lost count."
Lina looked upward, tapping her red lips with her index finger as she thought for a moment.
"Probably... for decades?"
"Decades!"
"Yeah, I've been practicing like this since I was a child. I remember the first time was the morning after my thirteenth birthday."
Good heavens, that's impressive.
Lina seemed to recall some unpleasant memories, her face falling as she said to me:
"You have no idea. Grandpa Scott suddenly became very strict that day. I was crying while I practiced, and it took the entire day to finish those three thousand swings."
I could already imagine a young girl who had just turned thirteen, being scolded to tears by a white-bearded old man under the morning sun, struggling to swing a massive sword while sobbing.
I had to admit, I didn't think I could push myself to that extent.
First of all, she had someone to push her, but I didn't.
If I actually started crying, my dignity would be completely gone.
So, even if I did practice the sword, I could never reach her level.
In that instant, any thought of becoming a swordsman vanished.
I definitely couldn't handle that kind of hardship; that path wasn't for me.
Basically, I could confirm that my purpose for practicing the sword was for self-defense and exercise.
As for combat strength, I would lean as much as possible toward being a healer. Although my solo capabilities would drop, my utility in team battles would increase significantly.
Strictly speaking, a healer standing alone on the field really has no combat power. In the eyes of other classes, they are at a level that can be completely ignored.
Even between a healer and a mage of the same level, the difference in output isn't just a small gap.
But when a healer stands on the battlefield, their deterrent power is far more terrifying than a mage of the same level.
The healer class is the irreplaceable strongest in legion-scale warfare.
Furthermore, my class has even stronger skills. Because I am the Saintess, my potential is immense.
If I reach level seventy, I can even directly trigger Angel Descent.
That kind of strength is more terrifying than mages or warriors of the same level.
I don't have a lifespan as long as the elves, nor do I have the spare time others have to develop a second class.
Therefore, I must specialize in one path now.
"I really admire your ability to live like this every day for decades. If it were me, I definitely wouldn't be able to keep it up."
I shook my head, my words carrying genuine admiration for her.
Lina was quite innocent, scratching her head with an embarrassed smile. That gallant smile made one's mood feel lighter without even realizing it.
This was enough to prove how great her personal charisma was.
"By the way, Lina, the armies from the Kingdom of Flame and the Kingdom of the Sea will arrive at the South Gate today. I'll need you to go and take command. Then, get ready; we'll be setting out tonight or early tomorrow morning."
Lina's eyes lit up at the news, and she suddenly turned to look at me.
"You mean, we're going to fight the demon army!?"
"Yes, to fight the demon army."
I nodded with certainty.
"Fantastic! My greatsword has been thirsting for battle!"
Lina looked at the massive blade in her hand, which resembled a door, her face written all over with excitement.
Well, having confidence is good. It's better than going to the battlefield with sighs and gloom.
Even for others, such a confident Saintess would be a brilliant banner to follow.
As expected, the healer class can never claim the spotlight, because they always have to stand behind everyone, doing the most important work and exerting the most power, yet they are the ones most ignored by everyone else.
But it doesn't matter.
My goal was never to become the center of attention, but to truly and freely live my life.
For that goal, I am willing to use everything I have!
"Um..."
Just as I was preparing to head to the front hall, Lina's cautious voice reached my ears.
"Hmm? Lina... is there something else?"
Lina lowered her head, hands behind her back, drawing circles on the ground with her booted foot as she asked softly:
"Where is Astrid?"
"...You haven't given up yet?"
"Of course not! That's a true dragon! If I could ride it for a single flight, it would be worth dying for!"
Lina said something that terrified me with a perfectly serious expression.
Bastard! Don't just raise flags like that!
You might want to die, but I don't!
"No! Go wait over there!"
"Eh?! Why did you suddenly get angry?"
I rolled my eyes at this silly woman and turned to walk toward the front hall.
As soon as I arrived, I saw Augus already sitting in the hall. His complexion was clearly much better, and his whole being had become more energetic.
He no longer had that sickly feeling from before; instead, he carried an aura about him.
An aura like a sharp sword being drawn from its scabbard, making one instinctively look toward him.
"Augus, you're here quite early today. Is something the matter?"
He usually wouldn't come to notify me of unimportant matters.
Seeing me arrive, Augus quickly stood up.
"Cabinet Minister Augus pays his respects to Your Highness."
"Rise. It's just us few; there's no need for such conventional formalities."
A slight smile touched the corners of Augus's lips, and he nodded.
"Since Your Highness says so, I will not stand on ceremony."
As he spoke, he sat down and casually took a sip from a teacup.
Wait a minute, I tell you not to stand on ceremony and you really don't?
I was just being polite, and you actually took it literally!
He took a sip of tea, narrowed his eyes slightly as if savoring it, and only then set the cup down.
"Fine tea. Snow Mountain Black Tea."
"If you like it, I'll have Nara send some to you later. By the way, where are you staying now?"
I had almost forgotten to arrange things for him. Up until now, I hadn't seemingly granted him anything.
"Thank you for your generosity, Your Highness. I won't refuse. I am currently staying in the side hall. It is close to the main hall, so I can report any urgent matters to you immediately."
"Hmm... that won't do. How can my Cabinet Minister not even have a courtyard of his own?"
I turned back to look at Nara.
"Nara, I recall the Garnet family had quite a few estates, right? Pick a good one, one close to the Temple. Consider it a gift from me. Have it fully furnished, and the money will come directly from my private treasury."
"Yes, Your Highness," Nara nodded, making a note of it.
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. But those are minor matters. I have a major issue I would like to discuss with you."
Upon hearing the words 'major issue,' my eyebrow twitched.
For a man like Augus to use those words, it was absolute proof that what he was about to say was not simple.
"Knights outside, seal the hall. Nara, the usual protocol."
"As you command."
Nara bowed slightly and waved her hand, signaling the young nuns to withdraw.
Lina, however, didn't act like a stranger at all and walked straight over to sit on my sacred bed.
In terms of status, our positions were equal, so she certainly could sit on the sacred bed, but her level of familiarity was a first.
"This is... the Saintess of War, I presume?"
Augus raised his head calmly, his eyes carrying a hint of distance and coldness. He gave a mechanical greeting without even bending his waist.
"Augus, Cabinet Minister of the Kingdom of the Moon, greets the Saintess of War. I wish you peace."
"Mhm, don't mention it. I know you're not happy about it, so you can skip the formalities with me."
Lina didn't care and waved him off casually before looking at Augus.
Augus, however, had a slightly dark expression.
"Saintess of War, these are the national affairs of our Kingdom of the Moon. As a Saintess of another nation, it might not be appropriate for you to listen in."
"It's fine. I'm just a Saintess, not a King. I don't interfere with your country's business."
Lina waved her hand, then turned back to look at me.
"I say, Luo Li, is this guy always like this?"
I also raised an eyebrow and looked at Augus.
"Augus, is this matter unsuitable for her to hear?"
Augus pondered for a moment and shook his head.
"Not necessarily. It is simply that it is not ideal for the Saintess of another nation to be present during our country's deliberations."
I hesitated and glanced at Lina.
This woman was innocent yet powerful. From my perspective, winning her over would be very useful.
So, in this situation, letting her stay was also a way to express my trust.
"It's fine. Just speak. Lina is not an outsider."
Augus nodded, glanced at Lina, and then began:
"Your Highness, I have discovered certain people in the refugee camps... who are taking advantage of the chaos to commit robbery and profit from the national disaster."
War profiteering?
Someone actually dares to reach their hands out here?
"What exactly is going on? Tell me the details."
"Your Highness, although the million refugees outside the city have settled down recently, many among them are nobles and wealthy merchants. These people owned large tracts of land east of the Great Wall. Unable to endure the hardships, they have begun selling off their land in the Great Wall region. Recently, I discovered... some people have begun targeting the commoners as well."
Hearing this, I couldn't help but take a deep breath.
"That's not right. Shouldn't those common refugees have enough support for their basic needs? Is there a need to sell their land?"
Lina asked from the side, and Augus gave a slight smile.
"Indeed, Your Highness Lina has hit the nail on the head."
He paused and continued:
"They indeed have no need to sell their land. However, they are strangers in a strange land. When local thugs want to force a sale, what can those outsiders do? All it takes is a few words, a few threats, and a few fists to buy land that was originally worth several gold coins per acre for just a few silver coins now."
It was war profiteering, plain and simple.
"Does Yuna not know about this?"
"I have not yet spoken to Knight Yuna about this matter. The primary reason is that there are too few knights there. If we alert the enemy now, this fat fish might swim away."
It seemed Augus had his own ideas.
"If you have a plan, let's hear it."
Augus nodded slightly.
"Your Highness is wise. My idea is simple. Do you not wish to reclaim the land? Then this northeast region, which has just passed through the fires of war, is the most appropriate place."
"You mean to completely control the land in the northeast region by buying it back? But for such a vast area, how much money would that require? And if other nobles find out the Temple is buying land, wouldn't that alert them?"
The nobles would lose; that was a certainty. In my eyes, these people were not a major threat.
The key lay in how to ensure a smooth transition for the Kingdom of the Moon.
If I forcibly seized the regions controlled by those nobles, with my title and the army's strength, it wouldn't be a problem.
With Cain's full support, the Dragon King backing me up, and the contract document in hand.
At the very least, these nobles of the Kingdom of the Moon truly couldn't do anything to me.
But doing so would inevitably bring chaos to the region. When the nation prospers, the people suffer; when it falls, the people suffer.
But a person in troubled times is worth less than a dog in peace.
One could imagine what kind of life ordinary people lead under a state of war.
What I, as the Saintess, needed to do was reclaim these lands under the smoothest possible conditions and then develop them.
Augus's idea was good, but how much money would it cost?
A few gold coins per acre, and the entire northeast region had at least two to three hundred million acres of farmland, not counting mountains, forests, and cities.
By that calculation, buying these areas would cost at least ten billion gold coins at the total price!
And that was just one corner of the northeast.
If the whole country were included, it couldn't be done without tens of trillions of gold coins.
Keep in mind, the sale of the document tablets only brought in two hundred million gold coins in total.
Tens of trillions of gold coins... that would almost be enough to pave the entire Brilliant City, wouldn't it?
Where would so much money come from?
"Heh, Your Highness, buying directly is certainly out of the question. After all, if it were in the name of the Temple, we naturally could not exploit those nobles, nor could we force sales."
Augus gave a calm smile, but his words were terrifying.
"You mean... to directly control the nobles who bought the land? Let them do the strong-arming, and then bring it all under the Temple's name?"
Lina was dumbfounded. For such an innocent girl, her first reaction to such news was to suddenly hoist her greatsword.
"To think of such a scheme that harms the people... this person cannot be left alive. Your Highness Luo Li, let me cut him down!"
"Your Highness Lina, please don't be hasty. There is more to be said."
"What else is there to say? You dare to use someone with such a calculating mind?"
Lina's eyes widened, looking at me in disbelief.
But I merely smiled and pointed at the greatsword in her hand.
"Is your sword powerful?"
"Of course. It's forged from holy platinum, sacred mithril, and meteoric iron. There isn't another like it in the world!"
Lina brandished the massive blade with a look of pride.
"Then why do you dare to use it?"
I looked into her eyes with a smile. Lina froze for a moment, her mouth opening instinctively:
"Because this sword is controlled by my hand, so I..."
At that point, she suddenly couldn't continue, because she had already understood what I wanted to say.
No matter how sharp Augus, the sword, was, a sword remains a sword. I am the one holding it.
Lina opened her mouth dumbly, but in the end, she couldn't think of a rebuttal and could only lower her greatsword sullenly.
"Fine. Since you put it that way, I'll see what you plan to do."
What to do?
That goes without saying.
Rate on N.U.
