“Abbess… you… Why are you here?”
Xue La forced a smile.
But she couldn’t fake it—what kind of nun was so unruly, clinging to a stone pillar like a monkey?
The old lady didn’t say anything. She just reached out—
“Come up, child.”
Abbess Catherine looked like an ordinary old woman, but her arms were strong.
With one pull, she lifted Xue La onto the monastery’s spire.
Xue La landed beside the crescent moon stone carving.
“I never thought I’d give up my favorite seat for a young one.”
Mother Superior teased.
“You restless little nun—no sooner are you healed than you’re hopping around—in the blink of an eye you scurried up the spire. What are you trying to do?”
“Nothing…”
Xue La said.
“I’ve been lying in bed too long, I’m suffocating…”
“Same here.”
Catherine said, showing a sympathetic expression.
“A child like you… being a maid is a waste of talent.”
Huh?
Xue La suddenly realized—maybe she was saved?
If the Mother Superior was also someone who couldn’t stay put and loved to run around, then… could she take me as a disciple? Then I could learn divine magic and not have to listen to mother’s orders and be the Third Princess’s cannon fodder maid?!
“Yes… I, I really want another test. I’m very willing…”
“But you really have no talent for divine magic.”
The Mother Superior said bluntly, dousing cold water.
“I’ve heard about it—you killed a Manticore, but you relied on a dagger.”
This Mother Superior seemed like a hands-off boss, but she knew everything in her heart!
“And after that, look at what you’ve learned… interesting skills.”
Catherine counted on her fingers.
“You can cook, you use pebbles to deal with crows stealing apples, and you dash around everywhere.”
“Making you do servant work is a waste of talent. Your heart isn’t that kind of person.”
Xue La wanted to nod, but she didn’t dare defy the monastery’s leader, who might very well change her destiny.
“I’m willing to study divine magic…”
“Studying divine magic is the art of serving the Goddess. Becoming a maid and learning weaving and sewing from Sister Mo En—that’s the art of serving people.”
Catherine said.
“Your father’s family is the Leoncote Marquis family, great nobles near the Royal Capital… Strictly speaking, sending you to the palace for a good future is also normal.”
“I don’t want to be a maid…”
“But the spirit of service is the same.”
Catherine spoke deliberately.
“Whether serving the Goddess or serving a master, the thing you need is the same: sincerity.”
“In this world, there aren’t many things you truly want to do, because trying to bite off more than you can chew won’t work.”
The Abbess no longer looked at Xue La, but gazed at the setting sun, sighing.
“Finding something you’re truly willing to do is more important than anything.”
Xue La wanted to say something, but hesitated.
Regardless, what Abbess Catherine said was right.
What do I truly want in my heart?
For a leisurely life in another world?
But the Demon King’s rise and the Demon Realm’s rampage aren’t baseless rumors…
But becoming a companion to the Brave—my mother’s arrogance cut off that path.
Xue La didn’t know.
“You’re still young, the road is long. Choose slowly for yourself.”
Catherine comforted her.
“If it weren’t for your lack of skill in divine magic, I would indeed have thought of taking you on as an Exorcist Nun—not the kind who stays in the church, but one who travels around, solving problems for people everywhere.”
“There will be more suitable people in this world.”
Xue La spoke up.
“I know…”
“But attitude is far more important than ability. Don’t lose heart, little lass of House Linde.”
Catherine changed the subject:
“I can give you… an extra chance—do you want it?”
This was exactly what Xue La had been hoping for—she was too eager to improve and get special treatment.
If she could latch onto a powerful backer, she’d have succeeded!
“I… I’m willing to learn!”
Xue La stuttered in surprise.
Mother Superior reached out and grabbed Xue La:
“Don’t be scared. Don’t let go later…”
Huh?
What!?
Xue La watched helplessly as Mother Superior’s body changed.
When did a pair of pure, flawless golden wings sprout from her back?
[Advanced Divine Magic: Light Wing Technique – A flight and protection skill bestowed by the gods upon devout followers]
Only a seasoned elite Exorcist Nun could possibly cast such a powerful divine spell.
Flying through the air, gliding down from the top of the monastery…
“So that’s how the Abbess flew up there, looking down on Privet Town all alone?”
Xue La thought.
Abbess Catherine might have quite a few secrets.
This old lady isn’t simple…
Xue La vaguely remembered that the name “Maisonlogi” should ring a bell. In the game forums of her previous life, everyone called it the “Moon Temple,” because it was indeed a temple dedicated to the Moon Goddess, and an important plot point in the Brave’s adventure.
Unfortunately, in her past life, she liked to fast-forward through the story, so she had completely forgotten the specific name.
Could the Abbess be…
The truth wasn’t far off.
As soon as they landed, the Abbess led her to the monastery’s secret basement.
The monastery was huge, with a warehouse in the backyard for supplies.
In the basement were stored other, rarer things than ordinary grain.
The key creaked open, followed by the sound of bronze gears turning, slowly pushing open the bronze door.
Don’t forget, Maisonlogi’s predecessor was the Elven Empire’s sanctuary. The so-called “Great Emperor Frank,” praised in human history, might in the eyes of the pointy-eared ones be just a “usurper” and “warlord.”
The power that established the Human Kingdom’s order was also the force that destroyed the Elven Kingdom’s order.
Such is the ruthlessness of the wheels of history.
She didn’t know who created this exquisite underground landscape, but stepping inside, one could feel the scent of history.
The underground world had its own hidden realm. Strange symbols were carved on the rough stone walls, as if they were memories of an ancient race.
“Just old paintings.”
The Mother Superior said.
“They tell the story of the Moon Goddess Lu’anna—you’ve remembered quite a bit from copying scriptures daily.”
Their destination was the center of the winding underground cavern.
A ray of light filtered through a crack.
It shone precisely on a crescent-shaped mechanism, made of a material that was hard to identify or feel.
The patterns on it were also quite strange, seeming as ancient as the era of the paintings on the stone walls.
Very similar, very… resonant.
“This is a Magic Device left by the ancient Elven Empire.”
The Mother Superior explained, clearing Xue La’s doubts.
“It draws the blessing of the Goddess Lu’anna from a thousand years of moonlight, turning it into holy water. Only one drop per month… condensing enough for a cup takes ten years, or even longer.”
Catherine prepared a silver cup. It had no complicated patterns, but the craftsmanship was still exquisite, with simple yet not simplistic curves.
When most of the water from the device was taken with the silver cup and placed before Xue La—
Her face turned pale.
It all matches!
Maisonlogi Monastery was the Moon Temple she knew from the game forums in her previous life.
And the most important quest item here was the “Ambrosia of the Moon”!
When Xue La uttered that name, even Abbess Catherine had to nod in admiration.
“Good girl, you know quite a lot. Its effects are…”
Xue La knew that the most important ability of the Ambrosia of the Moon was to unlock and enhance divine magic.
In the original game timeline, this Ambrosia of the Moon should have belonged to Asuna.
That girl, one of the official heroines. Bali Saihe’s granddaughter, Roy’s childhood friend.
Blessed with the Moon Goddess Bloodline, drinking the Ambrosia of the Moon would naturally yield twice the result with half the effort.
Later, changing class to High Priest, Exorcist Nun, or wielding a sword or hammer as a Paladin—all were excellent choices.
The Ambrosia of the Moon was the top pick for speedrun players.
But the problem was—
Xue La, a cannon fodder maid, should she take something that belonged to someone else? Did she deserve to drink it?
She was not Asuna.
Nor was she necessarily the woman who would stay by Roy’s side forever.
At least, that was what she herself believed.