The mist was ice-cold, and touching it brought a very soothing sensation that quickly invigorated the soldiers.
Before they could wonder if their superiors had given them some kind of powerful drug, Kavier’s voice rang out from the nearby high platform. Truth stood beside him.
“Celebrate, rookies! To think you would receive a blessing from the Ninth Saintess before departing. I hope you do not fail her!”
Kavier signaled Truth to step forward. Her fragile figure looked completely out of place among the burly soldiers.
It was only then that the soldiers realized the Saintess had actually come.
A wave of gasps swept through the crowd, and they immediately dropped to one knee, not daring to breathe loudly.
Although everyone appeared nervous on the surface, they were secretly rejoicing in their hearts:
‘Is the Saintess really here?! They say as long as the Saintess is watching over us, no matter what injuries we suffer, we can be saved!’
The positive effect Truth brought was remarkable. With the guarantee of the Ninth Saintess, the soldiers were no longer afraid of battle.
Instead, they were eager to get started, intending to earn a few medals of merit during this raid.
This was exactly the result Kavier wanted.
There was just one thing he did not understand: why would the Goddess place a Saintess on the Fourth Frontline?
Clearly, the First Frontline needed a Saintess more, as the intensity there was higher, and they primarily faced Intermediate Rank demons.
‘Perhaps the Goddess is afraid that the Ninth Saintess wouldn’t be able to handle the brutality there just yet?’ Kavier thought.
Regardless, he was happy to have a Saintess by his side!
“By the way, Saintess, what blessing did you just give them? I should let the commanders know so they can adjust their strategy later,” Kavier whispered to Truth as she waved to the soldiers.
“Blessing? I haven’t even reached the Second Rank yet, so I don’t have any group blessing skills. What I just cast was only a Healing Spell.”
Kavier suddenly fell silent. Oh, right, the Ninth Saintess had only been “newly manufactured” for a short time.
No wonder the Goddess of Life let her mix with the recruits!
After a long pause, Kavier replied, “I almost forgot you only recently became a Saintess. My mistake. Later, I will have you lead some priests to treat the common soldiers, while Annabelle and the others will handle the Second Rank Demon Hunters.”
……
Twenty minutes later, the first batch of soldiers, thoroughly bathed in the mist, began to advance quickly along the edge of the Deya Forest.
The logistics followed with the second batch of the main army.
On the open carriage that was about to depart, Truth looked at the tactical map and the information gathered over the past few days, lost in thought.
‘So, the demons have already formed their own society? They were all lone wolves fighting for themselves 500 years ago, yet now they’ve become socialized. Based on their nature, a gathering like this should only result in endless bloodshed and deceit…’
“It’s the rules that restrict them,” replied Tia, who was currently organizing the strategic supplies on the carriage.
“According to the records, because low and Intermediate Rank demons often killed each other, they were on the verge of extinction. Then, a peculiar Nine-Rank demon named Sovereign took action. It mimicked human cities to build cities specifically for demons and used the Power of Dominion to set many rules to restrict the demons within the city. There, demons cannot kill or deceive each other; they can only barter or exchange information. You could say they are the demons’ Safe Zones, as well as a good place for them to breed safely.”
“Demons… can breed now?” Truth was shocked. Didn’t demons lack reproductive organs? Evolution shouldn’t happen that fast in 500 years.
“Another Great Demon is behind it. That demon is very mysterious and possesses the means to modify demons. Some say it merged demons with creatures like succubus, eventually creating a ‘Breeder’ that can randomly produce different types of demons.”
“How do they breed? Is it mitosis, or… hammering?” Truth asked.
“Uh… I don’t know. Maybe you can try asking some demon prisoners later…” Tia was stumped by the question. What was mitosis? What was hammering?
“It’s this.”
At that moment, Annabelle, who happened to be passing by, made a strange gesture toward Truth and Tia.
She formed a circle with her left thumb and index finger, then inserted her right index finger into the circle, pulled it out, and inserted it again, repeating the motion.
She hadn’t expected the Saintess to know so much!
“What does that… mean?” Tia looked completely bewildered. Truth, however, let out a meaningful “Oh—” which only made Tia more curious.
What the hell? How could Truth know something that she didn’t?!
“What does it mean? You two should explain!”
However, Annabelle said nothing more. She simply bowed to Truth and left. Since she was in charge of the medical logistics for the Demon Hunters, she could not travel with Truth.
“This question is a bit inappropriate, Tia. You’re still young, so it’s better if you don’t find out too early,” Truth replied.
As the carriage began to move slowly, Tia’s protests echoed continuously. She was getting anxious.
“Inappropriate? I’ve been an adult for ages! And you, you brat, don’t talk to me in that adult tone! Just because you know something I don’t, it’s no big deal!”
She hated the feeling of everyone else knowing something while she remained in the dark!
“Is that any way to speak to the Saintess?” Truth replied nonchalantly, instantly leaving Tia speechless.
“Uh…”
‘Damn it, she’s actually using her status to pressure me? If she dares to use her status now, I can’t even imagine what she’ll do later!’
Tia felt she had seen through Truth’s nature.
She was just a brat whose nature had been suppressed by the Hidden One and the Goddess of Life!
‘Just you wait until I find an opportunity to deal with you!’
……
Deya City, Royal Magic Academy.
Under Gadelia’s emergency plea, Suna had already been rescued by Wilona.
It had been a truly narrow escape; if Wilona had arrived any later, Suna would have begun the Apostle Test…
Well, in truth, no matter when Wilona arrived, it would have been at the moment Suna was about to start the Apostle Test.
Otherwise, Heavenly Fire would have had little reason to let Suna go unharmed.
Furthermore, Heavenly Fire had discovered that Suna seemed quite important.
She had even made that cat use her identity as the “Beast God’s only Envoy” to negotiate, rather than her status in the Northern Royal Family.
‘Mm, it’s quite good. I’ve found a suitable Envoy and gained a favor from the Beast God. It’s a win-win,’ Heavenly Fire thought, feeling very satisfied.
At the same time, Wilona was also very glad she had “made it in time.” In a garden within the Academy, Wilona was chatting with Suna.
“It was really dangerous back then. We never thought you would be favored by Heavenly Fire, meow. Fortunately, Heavenly Fire was in a good mood, and I used my status as the Beast God’s Envoy to save you, meow.”
“Th… Thank you.” Suna, who was not good at lying, did not know how to respond.
She only knew that she absolutely could not reveal her identity as Heavenly Fire’s Envoy now.
‘I feel bad for deceiving a little kitten…’
“Eh? Why do I feel like you’re still a bit scared, meow? Have you not recovered yet? Don’t worry, being noticed by Heavenly Fire is actually a good thing. It means your Fire Element talent is truly extraordinary, meow! Look over there, the Dean is very interested in you now, meow.”
Wilona secretly pointed at Vieno, who was hiding behind a tree not far away.
The latter was staring at Suna with a hazy, mesmerized look in her eyes…
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