Chapter 155: Fine, Fine, the Saintesses Are the Best

Under the leadership of Aililan, the entirety of Atester was filled with immense enthusiasm.

After she personally conducted an inspection tour, the response from various places was swift—some received commemorative banners, while others had their homes raided and assets seized.

In short, everyone was “actively” responding to the Saintess’s call.

Some even lamented:

‘The Saintess’s kindness can never be repaid!’

The decree to encourage grain cultivation had originally been issued to the entire Fifth Wing Region, and various locales followed suit in response.

Aililan calculated the accounts.

If there was a bountiful harvest this year, the grain reserves would be enough to support the people’s livelihood for several years, or even sustain a large-scale war.

In truth, there had always been enough food.

It was only because the upper classes exploited the people so heavily that it “seemed” like there wasn’t enough to eat.

Now that the treasury was handling unified procurement and macroscopic regulation, the situation had significantly improved.

At the very least—under Aililan’s rule, no one dared to manipulate grain prices anymore.

She let out a long breath.

“I’ll leave the follow-up of the spring plowing to the subordinates to supervise.”

Then, her gaze turned toward the military.

Reorganizing the army and preparing for war was a matter of extreme urgency.

The ten thousand soldiers who originally belonged to Atester had already begun rotating into the Demon Lands to fight.

Casualties were inevitable.

However, once they had experienced battle and seen blood, they became true veterans.

Even if they were only fighting a steady stream of Imps — it was enough to temper their will to fight.

‘If time permits…’

Aililan fell into deep thought.

‘Those 40,000 new recruits should also go through a round of combat rotation.’

At the same time, the issue of equipment lay before her.

She was temporarily unable to provide iron armor for the entire army.

However, Leather Armor was gradually becoming standardized.

‘Give me one more year…’

‘Making sure the army of 50,000 is fully armored won’t be a problem.’

‘But the problem is—time.’

‘Will the Beastman Royal Court give me time?’

She had no answer.

She simply decided not to dwell on it any longer.

***

That day.

After handling administrative affairs for the entire day, Aililan returned to the Frazier Manor, exhausted.

The moment she stepped through the door, she sensed something was wrong with the atmosphere.

The maids looked nervous, and the estate was deathly silent.

“Yarandale, what happened?”

“Saintess… there is a distinguished guest.”

She pointed toward the hall.

A person dressed in a black robe was leisurely sipping tea, with a longsword leaning nearby.

Aililan’s eyes narrowed.

That sword…

Wait—

“Diligence?!”

She never expected that the person who arrived would be Yegeerlinai.

That little bird who wanted to “build a nest for love” had actually come.

Yegeerlinai looked up, her eyes full of joy, but also carrying a hint of grievance.

“Chastity, do you not welcome me?”

“How could I…”

Aililan said hurriedly, “I’ve missed you so much.”

“But I thought you would be happy.”

“Instead, you have a face full of surprise?”

“It’s not surprise, I just didn’t expect you to be so fast.”

“Didn’t I say it before?”

Yegeerlinai said with a smile, “Once I arranged everything, I would come find you at the first opportunity.”

“But this is too fast, isn’t it? It hasn’t even been a month…”

“It’s about time.”

“After I went back, I personally cleared the Magic Crystal Vein and handled all the powerful magical beasts.”

“I can leave the rest to others.”

Aililan subconsciously looked around.

Even though everyone here was on her side, she felt a strange sense of guilt, as if she were a thief.

Especially Yarandale—she was far too sensible.

With just one look from Aililan, all the maids withdrew in an orderly fashion.

Aililan: ‘…She definitely misunderstood.’

Yarandale: ‘If I don’t understand anyone else, how could I not understand my own Saintess?’

Back at the Holy Land—who was the one staying overnight at other people’s manors every day?

And who was the one constantly taking in “people with nowhere else to go”?

Yegeerlinai finally relaxed and let out a long sigh.

“This maid of yours is not bad.”

“If she weren’t yours, I’d want to take her away.”

She took off her black robe.

Underneath was a suit of form-fitting, Silver-white Battle Armor.

Aililan took a glance.

Whether this armor was practical in battle was hard to say.

But its visual impact was definitely powerful.

“Don’t take it off.”

“Hmm?”

Yegeerlinai paused, then revealed a meaningful smile.

“So, Chastity, you like this sort of thing?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

Aililan said solemnly, “I am a person of integrity.”

“Is that so?”

Yegeerlinai chuckled. “Then let me see how much integrity you have.”

“Not here—this is the hall.”

“This manor of yours is too small.”

“…”

The two of them talked as they walked toward the inner chamber.

It was as if they had cast off all restraints.

The door closed.

The area within dozens of meters outside became a “no-man’s land.”

Yarandale even gave the order to retreat another twenty meters.

“Fortunately, we aren’t at the Holy Land.”

“Fortunately, this is our own territory.”

“Praise the gods.”

“If anyone dares to gossip…”

“I will handle them personally.”

***

At some point, a drizzling spring rain began to fall outside.

The river water gradually rose.

The air was moist.

However, the temperature inside the room was far higher than that of the spring night.

A moment later.

*Clang—*

A piece of silver-white armor fell to the floor.

“This armor of yours… has decent protection.”

“Of course, this is a masterpiece from the Sacred Treasury.”

“How is it?”

“It looks very good.”

“It’s just… now that it’s all over the place, it’s a bit uncomfortable to lie on.”

“And who was the one who threw it everywhere?”

“I… it was me.”

“Hmph, do you know how powerful I am now?”

“Of course.”

“Diligence, you are the most powerful.”

“Chastity, you aren’t bad either.”

Outside the door.

A drowsy Yarandale thought, ‘…You are both very powerful.’