Meanwhile, on the other side…
The members of the First Guild and the Second Guild began holding a victory celebration, setting up dozens of tables, filled with laughter and cheerful conversation.
But Samimi didn’t feel much joy from the victory.
As the biggest winner, she sat in the seat of honor, looking down at the crowd who were calling each other brothers, a gentle smile on her face, like a goddess statue.
This was the final task for “Priestess.”
Because she knew that the [Demon-Hunting Nun] was about to truly reappear in the world.
Because she understood that the adventurers’ “playing house” was over, and what they would face next was a brutal life-and-death battle—against the leader of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Abyss, [Magic Sword Red].
No wonder no one believed she was the Demon-Hunting Nun.
If the Demon-Hunting Nun didn’t hunt demons, who would believe it?
Fortunately, she knew all of Magic Sword Red’s mechanics. As a Transmigrator, this was her greatest cheat.
For the survival of the Human Race, she had already done her utmost.
In the original plot, the Southern Adventurers Guild Alliance was merely background fodder, serving as cannon fodder for Magic Sword Red and the Abyss Vanguard. Everyone she knew here, before they could even make an appearance, was slaughtered by the Abyss.
And after she arrived at the Sea of Ten Thousand Forests, she discovered that a near-perfect Human Race defensive line had been constructed here.
Hundreds of large and small, sturdy military camps supported each other, resisting the attacks of Abyss Magic Beasts day and night, forming the Human Race’s super defense line in the South.
There wasn’t a single bad person among the adventurers here.
Everyone was chivalrous and righteous.
Even the large guilds no longer bullied the weak like they did in the outside world. Everyone advanced and retreated together for the future of the Human Race, no longer fighting for personal gain.
Even a troublemaker like Samimi, when she came here, no one actually wanted her life.
From her observations, there were at least ten permanently stationed S-Rank Adventurers in the entire South, each possessing strength close to that of the Hero Sword Saint.
But they kept a low profile, not seeking power or vanity, silently guarding the order of the South.
All of them were the best of the good.
However, precisely because everyone was kinder and stronger, the sense of foreboding in Samimi’s heart grew stronger.
Because—
The stronger our side is, the stronger the enemy must be.
Halfway through the victory banquet, after Niubao had eaten her fill, Samimi took her and left.
After all, the other adventurers would probably drink until dawn, and she wasn’t going to keep them company.
Returning to the Weapon Workshop, she collapsed onto her beloved long sofa, feeling both lingering fear and exhaustion, along with a flicker of excitement.
‘Thank goodness I was more skilled! I was almost killed in a combo by that gray-haired Lailei!’
Samimi slapped her thigh and laughed heartily.
The true joy of victory could only be released at home.
Although a divine skill like the [Substitution Technique] could only be used once on the same beautiful former female teammate, once was enough.
Because she clearly sensed that The Hero of the Gale’s strength was still rapidly increasing.
That was just the beginning of her Battle Aura awakening; many of her moves weren’t yet proficient before she was forced onto the stage and thoroughly beaten by her.
She only needed to win once, and then she could simply refuse to fight afterward.
No matter how strong she became in the future, it had nothing to do with her.
Samimi didn’t plan to have any further involvement with those women.
Her goal had been achieved; she had fought who she needed to fight and cooperated with who she needed to cooperate with. Next, she just needed to wait for the final day of the operation.
And so, in the following days, Samimi practically holed up in the Weapon Workshop every day, researching the Knight Mecha with Shao Nv Kui.
The Knight Mecha prototype was complete.
Samimi had redesigned the cockpit into a circular structure, similar to a Gundam cockpit, and added a comfortable seat, greatly improving the experience.
Next was the startup and practical operation phase.
As a Magic User, Samimi could input her magic power into the mecha as a power source—simply put, acting as a power bank.
But a new problem arose—
Sitting in the cockpit, she couldn’t see anything.
How was she supposed to pilot it?
This was a Game World, not a sci-fi world. There were no holographic projections or operating systems.
It was pitch black inside. What could you do sitting in there?
‘Heheh, this can’t stump the great Samimi!’
As long as the direction was right, there was no problem magic couldn’t solve.
Shao Nv Kui was responsible for forging the physical structure; next, magic was needed for polishing and driving.
This Knight Mecha was the result of the two of them working together.
It couldn’t be completed without either one.
To solve the control problem, a special type of magic had to be used—[Rune Magic].
Just like her Rune Staff and the runes on that lace eye mask.
Rune Magic could store magic power and utilize it efficiently.
Coupled with the [Extraterrestrial Meteorite Skeleton] inside the mecha—
As for the principle?
Don’t ask; she didn’t understand either.
Anyway, it was a “magic amplifier” capable of gigantification, similar to her Twin Goddess Statue.
However, this skeleton couldn’t be used directly for spellcasting; it could only serve as an energy source.
And Rune Magic could precisely serve as the driving system.
The two were a match made in heaven.
The theory sounded simple.
But the problem was—
Samimi only had a superficial understanding of Rune Magic herself.
No choice, she had to start learning from scratch.
But the South was a magic wasteland; there weren’t even a few decent Magic Books.
‘Crap… I only know one Magic User.’
Samimi scratched her head in distress.
And so, several peaceful days passed.
The Sorrowful Knife Guild, the Yaoguang Guild, and the Regional Poetry Guild officially announced their alliance.
Afterward, the remaining seven major guilds and a large number of small and medium-sized guilds also joined, forming an Adventurers Alliance Army to jointly subjugate [Magic Sword Red].
At the same time—
The title of [Battle Priest · Valkyrie · Shalum] rapidly spread throughout the entire South.
Samimi’s original plan of “playing the pig to eat the tiger” had completely failed.
Now, even if she said she was Archbishop Samimi, no one would believe her.
Because the fame of “Shalum” was already on par with her Reputation in the Royal City.
Perhaps even stronger.
‘What Demon-Hunting Nun? Don’t know her!’
‘Go to the Third Guild to demand our person!’
‘Niubao, Serina, Miss Meihua, bring them all! We want our legendary priestess Shalum too!’
‘Get lost!’
One day, Samimi gathered her people, preparing to head to the Regional Poetry Guild.
“Serina, how’s your butt doing?” Samimi asked.
“It’s been fine for ages! Don’t ask!” Serina’s face flushed red as she snapped angrily.
Samimi of course knew she was fine; she was just deliberately teasing her.
After all, she was the one who personally treated the injury.
And Serina had already been out of bed training with Niubao for nine days, lively and energetic.
The Shield Axe Hero’s performance in that battle had become a joke among everyone.
Although The Hero of the Gale dominated the early stages, she crashed and burned in the end.
In the end, it was the Battle Priest who gained immense fame.
Serina even earned a new nickname from it—[Turtle Nana].
The Hero of the Gale was called—[Hard-headed Lailei].
Everyone had a bright future.
Serina naturally held a grudge of ten thousand against The Hero of the Gale. Upon hearing they were going to the Third Guild, she immediately joined.
She completely lacked the ability to judge combat strength, but this actually fit the traditional villain setting quite well—
If villains had brains, they wouldn’t go picking fights with the protagonist.
Although the major guilds had already agreed to cooperate, the bet between the Heroes hadn’t been settled yet.
The loser had to work at the other’s guild.
But Bemore and The Hero of the Gale had been hiding and refusing to come out.
If Samimi didn’t go catch them, they definitely wouldn’t show up on their own.
And so, she decided—
Let them rest easy for a few days first, then suddenly show up to catch them.
Soon, the Yaoguang Guild group arrived at the Regional Poetry Guild.
The people of the Third Guild didn’t dare to be negligent. Since that battle, they had been at a disadvantage and hurriedly invited everyone inside.
But Samimi raised a hand to stop them.
“No need for hospitality. I’m here to settle accounts with those two women from the Royal City.”
“Where’s Hard-headed Lailei?”
The guard pointed toward the backyard. “Over there.”
Everyone went to the backyard.
They saw—
The Hero of the Gale, sweeping the floor.
The originally furious group froze on the spot.
Their anger hit a wall.
Serina was about to start cursing, but Samimi covered her mouth.
Her expression was serious as she observed carefully.
The Hero of the Gale had no edge at all. She wore plain gray cloth clothes, her expression calm.
None of her former brilliance remained.
Where was there even a hint of a Hero?
She was clearly just a maid sweeping the floor.
But the more abnormal it was, the more dangerous.
‘Hah… The Hero of the Gale, you can only fool people like Turtle Nana.’
‘Trying to fool me? You’re a hundred years too early.’
“May I ask, is there something you need?”
Seeing Samimi, The Hero of the Gale spoke calmly, even politely.
“Stop pretending!” Serina roared after being released. “According to the agreement, you have to come work at the Yaoguang Guild!”
The Hero of the Gale didn’t refute it.
She walked to the corner and put down the broom.
“I understand. I’ll go pack my things now.”