The dazzling sunlight poured down, covering the dirt road, full of stones and gullies, in a blinding glow.
After leaving the Demon Domain, and after more than half a month of arduous travel, the merchant caravan’s wagon finally arrived at the Human Royal Capital.
‘Saint Lord Castle,’ a royal city protected by walls built high from blocks of hard, polished white ironstone bricks, gleaming so brightly they could reflect the sunlight, home to the Human Royal Family high above.
It was also the most prosperous and luxurious city in all of the Human Race’s lands.
Here, people were divided into countless ranks, and the chasm between classes was so deep that no amount of effort could overcome it.
During the day, flowers covered the marble-paved streets like a red carpet, marking yet another grand wedding of some palace minister—no one could even remember how many times this had happened.
At night, when the surface bustle faded, the sound of rats fighting for scraps became the main melody of the capital’s darkness.
“Miss Penina, you can already see the shadow of the Royal Capital!”
On the bumpy merchant wagon, the aged coachman turned to remind Penina, who was dozing with her eyes closed inside.
At his words, Penina slowly opened her eyes, shook her head, and came back to herself.
It had been over half a month since she parted with Hualí and was escorted out of the Demon Domain by Lilith’s subordinates.
Perhaps because Penina, as the Saintess of the Light Cathedral, was truly chosen by the Goddess of Light and carried her blessing, she had only just left the Demon Domain when she encountered a merchant caravan also headed for the capital.
What should have been a month’s journey was shortened by nearly half.
Just as Penina was regaining her composure, she suddenly felt the wagon lurch beneath her, and then the sound of a stern shout came from outside.
Penina frowned and pulled open the tightly closed wooden door of the wagon.
“Don’t give me these pointless excuses—I’ve made myself clear. No carriages from outside are allowed into the Royal Capital this month.”
At the city gate, a Human city defense officer in armor spoke sharply.
“But my entire caravan’s goods…”
The city officer glanced sideways at the hunched, humble merchant uncle, spat on the ground in disgust, as if grinding the man’s dignity underfoot.
“Tch! Does your wagon have a capital permit? You want to go in? What a bunch of stinking outsiders.”
Despair clearly appeared on the merchant uncle’s face.
The whole caravan behind him was not only a chance he had saved up for half a year, but also carried the hope for a distant town to escape hunger.
Now, it was all turning to dust.
In that moment of despair, a girl’s sweet voice descended like the light of salvation, dispelling the darkness before him.
“They’re my friends, responsible for escorting me back to the capital. Let the caravan in.”
Penina had at some point jumped down from the wagon, straightened her robe, and walked calmly to stand before the city officer.
Her voice was as gentle as the morning sun, warm enough to comfort everyone present.
For a moment, whether it was the travelers blocked outside the city in frustration or the city officers tired and irritable from work, everyone unconsciously lowered their guard and prejudice.
This was the effect of the Saintess Penina’s smile.
“Sa—Saintess!”
The city officer, seeing Penina’s face, was instantly so shocked he stammered.
“Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be praying in the cathedral?!”
Penina’s journey as the Saintess to the Demon King Castle to bring back Hualí had always been a secret mission, and such movements were not something a mere city guard could know.
The Light Cathedral had publicly claimed, “The Saintess is in seclusion, devoutly listening to the Goddess’s Oracle, no disturbances allowed; she will not meet anyone during this period.”
“You’ve worked hard guarding the royal city. May the Goddess of Light bless you~”
Penina smiled sweetly, raising her staff to cast a Blessing that could dispel fatigue upon the city officers.
As her words fell, a visible golden halo enveloped the group, gradually sinking into their bodies and disappearing.
All physical exhaustion vanished, replaced by a sacred fire burning within, filling them with energy.
Even the stubborn dark circles beneath their eyes disappeared.
The city officers straightened, their eyes filled with reverence and gratitude as they looked at Penina.
After finishing, Penina politely asked again whether the merchant caravan that had escorted her could be allowed into the capital.
“Of course! If they escorted the Saintess herself, there’s no way they could be dangerous.”
As a gesture of thanks to the caravan for giving her a ride, Penina watched from afar as the merchant uncle entered the city without obstruction.
During this time, she took the opportunity to ask the city officers why the capital had suddenly been placed under martial law.
Penina still remembered that when she had left the capital for the Demon Domain, people had come and gone freely.
The answer she received was:
“Sorry, Saintess. This isn’t something a lowly city officer like me would know. All I heard was that some high noble in the royal palace suddenly ordered all city entrances and exits sealed.”
“Leaving the city isn’t allowed either?”
Penina’s brows furrowed as if she’d thought of something.
A moment later, realizing she was now back in the Human Royal Capital, not the Demon Domain, she quickly composed herself.
A gentle smile returned to her face.
“Thank you for explaining. Perhaps, if you have time, you can come to the cathedral for a Blessing ceremony to ease your burdens?”
“Thank you for your concern, Saintess. I was planning to go this weekend!”
Upon entering the Human Royal Capital, ‘Saint Lord Castle,’ as expected, members of the Sunshine Knight Order from the Light Cathedral were already waiting along Penina’s path.
“Saintess!”
“Let’s return to the cathedral. And tell me everything that happened in the capital while I was away.”
***
Time must rewind to about a month and a half ago, when news of the Human Hero Hualí’s defeat and capture by the Blood Queen Sidella Eve Cecilia had just reached the Human Royal Capital.
On that very afternoon, as the Saintess, Penina received an Oracle from the Goddess of Light while praying.
The content was brief, only a few words.
—Bring back the Saint Sword “Phillips.”
Nothing else was revealed.
After meeting with the Human Royal Family and learning of their decision to abandon the Human Hero Hualí, Penina resolutely journeyed alone to the Demon Domain, determined to rescue both Hualí and the Saint Sword.
But the Blood Queen was monstrously powerful, and the rescue ultimately failed.
Now, nearly a month later, upon returning to the capital, it was no surprise that subtle changes had occurred.
“The dead former hero… has revived…”
Listening to the Sunshine Knight Order’s report beside her, Penina’s expression darkened, her eyes complex as she gazed up at the Human Royal Palace, standing solitary atop the highest point of the city, swaying in the wind as if it might collapse at any moment.
***
Night.
The restless wind swept through every corner of the capital’s streets.
Deep within the Light Cathedral, in the Saintess Penina’s bedroom.
After bathing, her damp golden hair hung loosely behind her, droplets of water dripping down to the floor, blooming into ‘gray stains’ on the spotless surface.
Wearing a nightgown, Penina sat at her desk, the dim lamplight flickering as she wrote, her quill scratching crisply across the letter paper.
[Dear Hualí:]
[Have you been well lately?]
[If you’re reading this, it means I’ve already returned to the capital alone. I’m sorry for everything I kept from you in the Demon King Castle, but what I’m about to say is important, so please take it seriously…]