Samimi could no longer imagine just how far that Grey-Haired Girl had surpassed her at this very moment.
No, no, no, was she really thinking this again?
What did the Hero have to do with her, anyway? Surely the Hero wouldn’t come all the way here just to kill her, right?
As far as the Hero Lotus Geas in the Hero Party was concerned, he was actually a pretty upright person—not the type to act clever just for show.
So for now, she’d better focus on the present and think about how to get through the coming tribulation.
“Sisters, there’s news.”
The next day, Court Mage Moden Yibi arrived at the Holy Knight Second Company chapel, bringing the latest urgent update.
Everyone gathered in the infirmary, closing the doors and windows, to hear what the Rain Domain Maiden had to say.
“The Evil Fat Archbishop is asking for the Judgment Assembly to be renamed,” said Moden Yibi.
“Rename? Rename to what? Everyone’s already prepared, isn’t it a bit late for that?” Ophika was the first to step up and object.
“He wants to remove the words ‘punishment’ and ‘correction’ from the name,” Moden Yibi explained.
“How can that be!” Xinphika said angrily.
“Wait, wait, don’t panic just yet. We’ll accept this request—it’s actually a good thing. I never liked how blunt the Assembly’s name sounded, but since they’re the ones suggesting it, that’s fine.” Samimi chuckled.
“What do you mean by that?” Xinphika asked suspiciously.
“The more ambiguous, the better; the darker, the better. Let the people witness the Church’s brutal force dressed in a crimson robe,” Samimi said.
“Remove ‘punishment’ and ‘correction’? Wouldn’t that just make it [Witch Judgment Assembly]? I remember that ‘witch’ refers specifically to evil female mages,” Mianluoshi analyzed, not bothering to act like an outsider at all.
“What are you even doing here?” Only then did Moden Yibi realize that the nurse she’d introduced was somehow sitting here among the Kunyan Society Core Team.
“Uh…” That made Samimi a bit hard-pressed to explain.
“She’s one of those who survived the other team. She kicked out the nurse you arranged and took her credentials to sneak in. Your hiring skills are seriously lacking,” Ophika seized the chance to lecture Moden Yibi.
“So, why are you all hanging around here? Non-members, get out!” Moden Yibi grumbled.
“Hold on, it’s not that simple. She’s already joined our plan. She’s an important witness,” Ophika said. “And, what’s even more important is…”
Everyone pricked up their ears, waiting for her to finish, but the graceful Sword Slope Girl just kept her mouth shut, refusing to reveal anything. Only when it was clear the others wouldn’t continue did she finally speak again.
“The most important thing is that this girl has magic talent—she can join our Holy Word Society!” Ophika announced.
Samimi and Moden Yibi both stared at her, searching her expression.
“Are we really that short on people in the Kunyan Society?” Samimi questioned.
“Of course! You think there are plenty of Saint Words Mages like us?” Ophika replied.
“We’re all doing heretical mage work at the Continental Magic Academy. If you think about it, there are only five Heretical Magicians in the whole Magic Academy. That really is too few,” Samimi reflected.
Even though the setting said Heretical Magicians were all half-baked, every Heretical Magician she’d met so far had been incredibly strong.
Strange… It made her feel like the setting of this fantasy story was being contradicted again.
“But if she isn’t a core member, how can she join the Kunyan Society?” Samimi continued to question.
“Even the ones handling surface tasks aren’t all Saints—so long as her heart is with the Sword Slope, that’s enough,” Ophika pointed at Moden Yibi.
“She’s not even human,” Samimi said, gesturing at Keluosi’s ears and her slender figure.
“Qi Qi is a spirit too, and it doesn’t matter,” Ophika said.
“If you keep bringing in random people like this, it’ll blow up in your face eventually,” Samimi commented.
“Bringing you in was already our biggest risk. Whatever trouble the newcomers might stir up, it can’t possibly top what you’ve already done. There’s no way it’ll get more intense than this,” Ophika said with a wry smile.
“Qi Qi… that other spirit girl, is she one of yours too?” Keluosi suddenly asked.
“Of course. Qi Qi is reliable, level-headed, doesn’t talk much, and gets things done—unlike this one here.” Ophika pointed at Samimi’s nose, scolding, “All you ever do is talk big and slack off! Always making plans but never doing any work!”
Watching the way these people bantered back and forth, Keluosi couldn’t help but think of Nanxi.
That always-elegant, dignified elven artillery commander had, overnight, become a cold and merciless Noble Executioner.
After the conspiracy came to light, she hadn’t said a word to Keluosi, just turned and faded away like a shadow—emotionless, as if everything before had been fake.
At that thought, Keluosi found herself with a new goal.
Once she became strong enough, she’d make Nanxi give her an explanation, and ask her why.
It seemed like the whole point of her life was to find someone to blame; even after Samimi’s problems were resolved, the unsolved grudge with Nanxi still kept her stuck in the role of the sickly girl.
“We don’t have time for an initiation exam now. Let’s talk about it after everything’s over,” Moden Yibi interrupted everyone’s wild speculations.
Even though the Rain Domain Maiden seemed easy-going, she was actually quite reliable—definitely more trustworthy than Samimi.
“I’ll send word to the Archbishop that it’s totally fine. We’ll officially change the name,” Samimi said.
“Alright. I’ll go smooth-talk that fat slob. You guys get ready,” Moden Yibi said, spinning on her heel to go deliver the message.
“So troublesome,” Ophika muttered, then left as well.
In the end, it was still her problem. As the chief planner, it was up to her to implement the name change.
Samimi continued to idle away in the infirmary, with nothing better to do than pet Niubao’s head.
But she hadn’t petted for long when Niubao ran off to practice swordsmanship, leaving her alone with Mianluoshi, her eternal rival.
Honestly, even though she’d been hurt by Keluosi, she still couldn’t hate her. Maybe it was because she looked so stunning—no one could resist liking a beauty.
There was no denying it—she was just a shallow beauty-worshipper, through and through.
But she was a person who knew her limits. Right now, she was just using Keluosi. Once Keluosi finished her job as a witness, she’d cut her loose—just like she’d dealt with the White-haired Witch Bemore last time.
Otherwise, if those heroines thought she was easy to push around, they’d just keep taking advantage. None of them were ever grateful.
Mianluoshi, on the other hand, was always quiet and never nosy.
Maybe it was because she’d awakened her Magic Talent, but she’d just sit and meditate with her eyes closed instead of wandering around or making cutting remarks.
When the silver-haired elf was still, she looked like a work of art—so beautiful, even Samimi was awed.
Elves—every single one of them was a beautiful, quiet girl, including Qi Qi, but once they started moving, they were as unpredictable as a tempest.
“I hope that after the Judgment Assembly, you’ll find your true purpose instead of lingering around me,” Samimi sighed.
“I want to know what changed you,” Keluosi suddenly asked.
“You wanted to know my secrets before, and now you want to know what changed me?” Samimi replied calmly. “Have I really changed? I’m still me.”
“The Samimi I used to know was selfish, self-serving, and never did anything good. I honestly can’t believe you’re here helping the Church clean up blood,” Mianluoshi said.
“Is it possible you’re the ones who’ve changed?” Samimi answered coolly. “You thought I was selfish only because you were always on top. I’ve always resisted those in power. Now, the ones I’m fighting aren’t you—that’s all.”
“Huh?” Mianluoshi was briefly confused.
“Do you know what occupational discrimination is? You people discriminated against me because you thought a priest or cleric like me was easily replaceable, so you all banded together to exclude me,” Samimi said.
Even Keluosi was a bit flustered and couldn’t quite process it all at once.
“If you can’t understand, that’s fine. Just reflect on yourself,” Samimi said coldly.
She’d long since figured out that, to hold her ground with Keluosi, she needed to speak nonsense.
Back in the Hero Party, the top dog had always been Nanxi—she’d always used her power to manipulate everyone, no wonder she was so resented. Now, though, everything had turned upside down. It was bizarre.
“We did think you were replaceable, but in the end, it didn’t work out the way we hoped,” Mianluoshi actually believed Samimi’s nonsense.
“Do you know what this is?” Samimi felt the time was right, and pulled from her bosom an ancient Spirit Badge engraved with a faded symbol.
Sometimes she wondered if this elf was too naïve, or just too honest—she certainly wasn’t much sharper than Niubao. If she were, she’d never have let herself be shot by Samimi.
Keluosi instantly understood what it meant and fell silent.
Even if she didn’t recognize the badge, she recognized the mark on it—it was left by her own arrow.
“If it weren’t for my luck—if it hadn’t blocked that arrow for me, I’d be dead now,” Samimi said coldly. “If you’d succeeded, the friendly sisters you just met would all be hunting you down now.”
“I’m sorry, I wronged you,” Keluosi admitted, uncharacteristically humble.
“I’ll forgive you for the money you owed me before. For now,” Samimi said.
“…Alright.”
That left Keluosi feeling oddly disoriented.
She seemed to recall that terrifying Issa illusion, where the fake Samimi had told her: “Bow! Lower your head!”
But the real Samimi never asked for repayment—her mind was always on money and rent.
She really could never become the Demon King Nanxi.
Of course, this was just Samimi’s charm at work, casting a strange, inexplicable spell. It meant she’d already fallen under Samimi’s idol aura.
After all, with Samimi’s personality, she’d never tell someone to bow their head in the street. That fit her character perfectly.
If she didn’t say it now, it was only because the time hadn’t come yet.
“No way, that’s not how it works. One thing’s one thing. Sure, I’m sorry I tried to kill you, but the money I owe you still has to be paid back,” Keluosi refused seriously.
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