Fina Nisi left in a good mood.
The woman who could take care of the Saintess’s daily life was gone. Now, that poor, small, and helpless Saintess had once again become a lamb waiting for slaughter.
“Saintess Aililan…”
Feng Aotian, acting lively again, spurred her warhorse to the side of the carriage and said, “Saintess Aililan, Bitman is just ahead. Since it is near the Beastman Great Plains, there is no guarantee we won’t run into danger. But please, you must believe that I will protect you.”
Aililan gave a soft reply. “Mhm.”
In reality, as soon as Fina Nisi left, Aililan grit her teeth. With her senior sisters gone, this Feng Aotian thought she was hot stuff again. Was she that eager to get close to her?
*Hmph.*
The Saintess took a sip of coffee.
She wasn’t just cursing Fina Nisi; she was also cursing the game’s developers.
‘Those damn developers… they gave the founder Saintesses such amazing stats, but when it came to me, they used their disgusting, perverted ideas, didn’t they?’
It felt like anyone could mess with her. It felt like anyone could push her over.
The carriage stopped at Bitman. In the distance stood a mountain shaped like a crescent moon. Because of that mountain’s existence, the howling north winds were blocked.
Finance Chief Grace looked toward the vast plains and sighed with emotion. “Everything about the Beastman Great Plains is fine, except the wind. It’s unbearable when it starts blowing. And those winters are so long they make one fall into despair.”
“Saintess Aililan, if I may speak frankly…”
“Do you really think this place is worth it?”
“Have you forgotten the Church’s 100-year Ban?”
The Church’s 100-year Ban was established back then when both sides were exhausted. They drew the border line and warned future generations not to be bellicose, claiming the Beastman Great Plains weren’t worth the effort.
Now, the 100-year limit was approaching.
The Church was more prosperous than ever. The Saintesses of the past had allowed the people to recover and grow, leaving a rich inheritance for successors like Aililan.
As for why the border was drawn right at the Orcs’ front door, or why the humans had carved out a piece of the Great Plains—why bother worrying about that? Humans had lived in the Fifth Wing Region for a century. Even if the Heavenly King himself showed up, this place had been theirs since ancient times.
Aililan smiled and replied, “Sister Grace, I must remind you of one thing.”
“Whether it is worth it or not should not be judged by us, but by our descendants.”
“The Fifth Wing Region was once called worthless—a useless, desolate land.”
“But look at it now. It has become an indispensable wing of our Church.”
“Not a single inch of Church land…”
“Is extra.”
Grace hurried to bow her head and performed a solemn salute. “You are right. I have learned something today.”
Gareyas approached with a map and praised her. “The location you chose, Saintess, is truly excellent. It can serve as a base for an offensive, or as a nail driven into the path the Orcs must take to head south. If we can build a fortress here, it will at least delay their march by several days, buying us precious time for war.”
Aililan patted his shoulder and said in a relaxed tone, “Relax, Mr. Gareyas. We are here to survey the terrain, not to fight a war.”
Gareyas laughed. “Then I have been impolite.”
“No matter. Is there any danger nearby?”
“Yes. Specifically, a War Pig Tribe has included Bitman Village within their territory.”
“Can we negotiate?”
“That might be difficult. Our main force cannot enter; otherwise, it might spark an all-out war. Furthermore, the War Pig Tribe is a powerful opponent.”
Aililan pondered for a moment before saying, “Then let’s seek cooperation. Gareyas, send someone disguised as a smuggler to deliver a letter to the War Pig Tribe. Tell them there is a big business deal.”
Gareyas asked, “You won’t use your title as Saintess to negotiate?”
“Then they might not come to talk business. Instead, they might come to ‘probe’ this Saintess.”
“They are pigs, after all.”
“Alright, it was just a joke.”
“Wait…” Gareyas hesitated for a moment before asking, “Should we bring more people over? I feel like it’s still not quite safe.”
*Hmph.*
“Saintess, we really have too few people.”
“Relax. Didn’t you see that I brought the Squad Leaders of the Order of Chastity?”
Aililan looked at the knights and said loudly, “My knights are the elite of the elite! My Squad Leaders are one in 10,000!”
She paused. Then, she added somewhat reluctantly:
“And Fina Nisi…”
“As you know, she is the Grandmaster of the Order of Chastity. She is… unbelievably strong.”
Hearing this, the knights all puffed out their chests with pride, their fighting spirit soaring.
The corners of Fina Nisi’s eyes and mouth curled up uncontrollably. She thought to herself, ‘As expected, Aililan recognizes my strength. But… why does this Saintess refuse to admit she’s weak?’
—
Messengers needed time. The War Pig Tribe also needed time.
The small group set up camp at Bitman. Aililan wasn’t worried about something going wrong. With “cheats” by her side, anyone else would feel the same.
The real danger didn’t come from the Beastmen roaming the wilderness, but from the Feng Aotian cheat right next to her.
By sunset the next day, the messenger hurried back.
Behind him followed a group of about twenty Beastmen. Aililan took one look and gave them her respect.
The War Pig Tribe were indeed Pigmen, but they weren’t the fat-covered creatures one might traditionally imagine. Instead, they looked extremely sturdy, with bulging muscles all over. Their fur was like steel needles. They had pig heads, human torsos, and pig tails. The two protruding tusks were particularly frightening.
*Gulp.*
‘Suddenly, the Fox-kin I saw the other day, with their fox heads and human bodies, seem quite refined.’
However, Aililan had to admit that if the entire War Pig Tribe was made up of such sturdy individuals, they truly deserved the word “War” in their name.
“Humans…”
The War Pig Chief, Baccus, exhaled a cloud of white steam from his thick nostrils and rumbled, “I heard you have a big deal? You’d better not be playing me, or none of you will leave here alive.”
Renata stepped forward and shouted sternly, “Presumptuous! Watch your attitude in front of my Lord!”
Baccus gave a cold laugh. “I only respect the strong.”
“You filthy Beastman, can’t you speak properly?”
“Human, you are unworthy.”
*Clang—*
Renata discarded her longsword and delivered a punch straight into Chief Baccus’s muscular belly.
*Urgh—*
Baccus spat out a mouthful of bile.
The next moment, he swung his fist back at Renata. The shoulder armor he struck dented slightly. That was plate armor!
A human and a Beastman began to brawl.
Surprisingly, the War Pig Tribe’s side actually relaxed. They even started cheering. Clearly, they preferred this way of “talking.”
“Chief, crush her head!” the War Pigs shouted.
Aililan joined in: “Renata, beat him! Kick him in the balls!”
*Pfft.*
Hmm?
A “friendly” exchange had begun.