Chapter 49: Complete victory

Mary had been feeling uneasy lately.

“What’s wrong? With Brother Green away, are you not even hearing your mother’s words anymore?”

Her mother sighed helplessly as she set the ladle down. “Aiya, clumsy girl, you’re not a child anymore—how can you still fumble even with the simplest ingredients?”

Mary responded with an absent-minded “Mm.”

“Hey?”

A trace of worry flashed in her mother’s eyes.

She quietly walked over to Mary and spoke gently, “Don’t worry. Brother Green is sure to be victorious. I heard from Messengers coming from all over that our Land of Hope’s army is invincible wherever it goes.”

That’s right.

Brother Green would definitely win.

Ever since the day he rescued her from the claws of the Light Church’s lackeys, Brother Green had never lost.

But… why was her heart still shrouded in worry?

“Alright, never mind. Since you can’t focus all day, why don’t you take a break from helping in the kitchen?”

Her mother untied Mary’s Apron with deep concern in her eyes. “Why don’t you go see Lady Sophie and work on some research in her laboratory?”

The laboratory, research…

That was Mary’s favorite work.

Spending her days by Lady Sophie’s side, joining in on great Inventions that could change the Land of Hope, even humanity itself.

But…

For the first time ever, Mary felt a strange reluctance to head to work.

Wh-why?

“Invention.”

Mary was momentarily lost in thought, Sophie’s sickly face from that day flashing in her mind.

“Green, Green…” In Sophie’s eyes there was only despair, even worse than the time she was misunderstood and betrayed by the townsfolk.

What kind of eyes were those?

Mary could not even begin to describe them with mere words.

“Immortality.”

Suddenly, Mary realized where her resistance came from.

Brother Green would not like this.

Mary could fully understand Sister Sophie’s thoughts—in some ways, she even hoped Sophie could invent some miracle elixir to prolong life.

However, Mary knew very well.

There were certain fields that Sister Sophie absolutely should not touch right now.

Or perhaps, it was that one should not tread into that domain through the Bloodline Source—the very “God of Light” worshipped by the Light Church, yet also desperately denounced by them.

“No, Mother, didn’t you say the kitchen was short-handed today?”

Mary made up her mind at once.

“Besides, the dwarven envoy is coming. I’m curious to see how they live their daily lives too.”

She put the Apron back on and busied herself around the bustling kitchen.

It was typical hard labor—soon enough, Mary was drenched in sweat.

Yet she found joy in it.

Maybe, among the nobles within the Light Church’s dominion, they would be astonished that a noble spellcaster would stoop to manual labor, especially the dirty chores of a lowly cook.

But Mary didn’t mind at all.

In fact, most mage professionals in the Land of Hope were like this.

For in this new world founded by Green, anyone had the chance to become a professional.

Bloodline didn’t matter; anyone who could realize their own potential could gain extraordinary power.

The privileges that once belonged solely to spellcasters and Clerics had been broken.

“Alright.” Her mother shrugged helplessly. “When the bread’s out of the oven, take the tray to the hall.”

“Okay!”

Mary replied cheerfully.

Crack.

The oven sizzled and soon filled the air with a delicious aroma.

“Milk Bread.”

Gurgle.

Mary suddenly felt hungry.

“Hehe, just in time to eat some at the banquet.”

She picked up the tray and placed the freshly baked, fragrant bread on it, then carried it out of the kitchen at a steady pace.

The Governor’s mansion was brightly lit.

The latest Magitech Chandelier illuminated the entire hall as if it were broad daylight.

Over a hundred people were gathered, showing no trace of the anxiety one might expect before a great battle.

If this were the wastelands of a decade ago, war between lords would surely bring famine and leave many peasants displaced.

But the Land of Hope in Falling Leaf Town was different.

Even with Green waging wars year after year, the territory continued to flourish.

In fact, as Brother Green put it…

“War can bring prosperity,” Mary softly recited that profound phrase. “So long as you’re fighting a real war.”

Mary didn’t understand the difference.

But she had witnessed with her own eyes how Falling Leaf Town grew from a small town of barely ten thousand into the massive, ever-changing entity it was now.

“Even other races hostile to humanity have come, after hearing of Brother Green’s achievements, to ask for his advice on development.”

Mary bounced on her feet, excited to meet the representative of the dwarven clan.

The first to form an alliance with the Land of Hope had been the elves. To this day, no one quite understood why the long-eared ones, so proud of their long lives and dismissive of all short-lived races, would hold Lord Green in such high esteem.

But no matter who, everyone saw how the elves had actively responded to Green in the epic war between the Land of Hope and the Light Church.

With the elves taking a stand, other races soon extended olive branches as well.

Now, the Land of Hope welcomed many non-humans.

For instance, today’s dwarven representative was here to negotiate a Trade Treaty and discuss the Quota for Exporting Specialties.

“Greetings, sir dwarf,” Mary politely presented the tray and gave a deep, curtsying bow.

“What a lovely young lady!” The dwarven representative was a burly man with a round belly and hearty demeanor. His ruddy face beamed as he shook his head at Mary. “Little lass, your Land of Hope is simply miraculous!”

He gave an approving nod to the Golden Wheat Ale in his hand. “Take this, for example—this ale, by the gods, how can there be such fine brew in this world, uh… guh…”

Of course, it’s all thanks to my Invention.

Mary smiled inwardly.

Though compared to her mentor’s nearly limitless potential, she was just another ordinary mage.

But this wheat ale before them really was her doing.

Everyone had their use.

Mary remembered Green’s words, “There are no useless talents, only leaders who don’t know how to put the right people in the right positions.”

For that, he even set up a special course on “Management Science” for City Hall officials.

“I hope you feel at home,” Mary said with grace, nodding as she prepared to return to the kitchen.

“Mary.”

A clear, cold voice stopped her in her tracks, and she froze.

That voice was so familiar.

Mary didn’t even have to think—she responded instinctively, “Sister Sophie.”

Why is she here?

Though she had plenty of good reasons for taking leave from the laboratory, the moment Mary saw Sophie, her heart skipped a beat.

No, wh-what’s wrong with me?

This was Sophie, her most respected mentor, that very same Sister Sophie!

“Sister Sophie,” Mary forced a smile as she turned. “Why… why are you here?”

The moment she spoke, she regretted it.

With Sister Sophie’s status as Advisor of the Territory, was there anywhere she couldn’t go?

Thinking this, Mary grew a bit guilty and lowered her head.

“Mary.”

Sophie walked straight to her, leaned in, and asked gently, “You haven’t been coming to the laboratory much lately.”

There was no reproach in Sophie’s voice.

But Mary felt even more guilty.

Sister Sophie was always so good to her. Why—why did she refuse her, back then?

But… but.

Brother Green’s fairy tale still echoed in Mary’s ears.

“I need your help.” Sophie was blunt: “Mary, I know you’ll help me, right?”

Help.

Mary knew what Sophie needed.

Although just an ordinary spellcaster, Mary could never compare to Sophie in research talent.

But she had an advantage Sophie lacked.

Green’s research path.

For witches, the knowledge buried in their bloodlines was chaotic and mostly a matter of luck to grasp.

But Green seemed born with an innate understanding; knowledge that was incomprehensible to others appeared clear in his eyes.

And when Green was away at war and couldn’t accompany Sophie, he had already entrusted a series of research pathways to Mary.

In other words, in some ways, Mary was the key to Sophie’s research.

With her, Sophie could unlock the treasure trove of knowledge.

Faced with Sophie’s request—almost pleading—Mary… fell silent.

“I’m sorry, Sister Sophie, I…”

Drip, drip.

Rain began to pour outside the window.

Bang.

A dusty figure rushed in.

Black Gloves?

Mary recognized the person instantly.

It was a member of the Secret Intelligence Organization from the Land of Hope.

“Lady Sophie, urgent information.” The intelligence agent trembled as he presented a sealed letter.

Sophie deftly sliced the wax seal with a silver knife.

“…”

After examining it, Sophie’s face changed dramatically.

What—what happened?

A sense of dread welled up in Mary’s heart.

“Take a look.”

Could the battle have gone poorly?

Mary quickly picked up the envelope.

“Total victory.”

Huh?

Mary breathed a sigh of relief and read on.

“In this battle, our side won a decisive victory, completely annihilating the main forces of the Light Church’s army. With this, our Land of Hope’s absolute advantage is assured.”

Isn’t that great?

Mary blinked in confusion, then noticed a line of small print at the bottom of the envelope.

“Note: In this battle, Commander Green led from the front and was subjected to a targeted ambush by the enemy. Fortunately, with support from all sides, he suffered no serious harm.”

“But…”

“Perhaps due to magical exhaustion, Lord Green has recently fallen into bouts of sudden unconsciousness. It is hoped the rear laboratories can develop medicine to aid in his recovery.”

“Written by: Deputy Commander Brown.”

Mary’s face turned pale.

Brother Green… was hurt?

Falling unconscious at times?

No, please, no!

“Mary, I truly need you.”

Sophie sighed, “Don’t worry. After thinking about it, the Philosopher’s Stone of Immortality, just as Green said, is not something we should attempt right now.”

“But a soul healing potion, Mary—you’ll help me, won’t you?”

Mary glanced at the letter in her hand, secretly checking its authenticity.

It was real.

Wait, why was she doubting Sister Sophie?

Mary fell into confusion.