Ch.561561. The Saint’s Debut (1)

In the County of Sianella’s office, mother and daughter had gathered after a long time.

Ainel had been focusing on investigating the old castle they had recently conquered. And Siabel had been conducting joint operations with the Beastkin Special Forces who had visited the County.

Though both were performing quite heavy duties on the front lines, neither showed any signs of fatigue.

“You’ve been practically living in the lands undergoing purification lately, but your complexion looks much better than I was worried about.”

Setting aside Ainel, who had already reached the Master level and gained even more resilient stamina than before.

Siabel had been living practically submerged in paperwork. She used to always have sunken eyes.

But now, Siabel looked even more energetic despite handling equally heavy, if not heavier, responsibilities. She was overflowing with vibrant energy.

“The Beastkin Special Forces have such intense fighting styles. Every time I join operations with them, I feel so stimulated that it reminds me of when I first held a sword. How could my complexion possibly look bad?”

As if to say that she, who exists primarily as a knight above all else, never tires.

Facing her spirited firstborn daughter, Ainel could only offer a warm smile.

“Well, you must have been having so much fun that you didn’t even send a single word after entering the purification zone.”

“Ah, Mother, that’s…”

“It’s fine, I didn’t bring it up to scold you. You just returned this morning, so I was wondering if your news from outside would be delayed.”

“News from outside, you say?”

“Yes, you must know that we sent our county’s intelligence department to the Baron.”

“Yes, I know that much, along with news of the territory war. Which means—”

“The Baron succeeded in bringing down the Archion Viscounty.”

“Ah.”

Soon, both Ainel and Siabel’s lips curled up almost simultaneously.

“Our brother-in-law has done something remarkable.”

The relationship between the Archion Viscounty and the County had never been particularly good.

From the day the Empire’s spy was discovered, relations with the Viscounty had soured and subtly changed. And after the head of the family became friendly with Amelie, their relationship had grown even more lukewarm.

Based on information gathered during a period when they had deployed their intelligence department to investigate, they had long been wary adversaries lurking beneath the surface.

“Moreover, he found the family head’s crimes and beheaded her in front of everyone.”

“…Really?”

“The charge was collusion with the Empire and the Society. According to the kingdom’s strict laws, she was summarily executed for her crimes—”

“Which means we need to make our own preparations. Is that what you’re saying?”

“Precisely.”

A useful way to handle the problematic Viscounty.

“The Baron has sent a letter suggesting we prepare for this together.”

An heir to become the new head of the Viscounty that had lost its leader.

Since the Baron, who had punished the evil, now had significant influence in verifying the selection of the successor.

They could attempt to install a submissive—or rather, highly cooperative—successor as the family head and manipulate them.

“If things go well, this will be a great blessing for everyone.”

What better situation could there be for drawing out the lifeblood of the Viscounty and growing even stronger?

After discussing this matter for a while.

This time, Siabel brought positive news.

“I’ve also brought news that should be quite pleasant to hear.”

Siabel continued with a confident voice.

“Through our recent operations, I’ve collected information about the Beastkin’s unique martial arts and received useful advice from them. Given enough time, we’ll certainly be able to create new martial arts suited to us.”

The Beastkin’s martial arts were more passionate than humans’, while sometimes having even more delicate aspects.

Their pride was in their explosive leg strength and superior detection that instinctively sensed momentary openings.

She had gained hope that these could be combined with the County’s formidable swordsmanship.

“Furthermore, I’ve gradually infused our County’s perspective on the Magia Realm into their thinking.”

Even though they belonged to the Church, their roots were in the Beastkin Alliance. Rather than the truths recorded in doctrine and Church history books, they were accustomed to illuminating and confirming things based on their own universal sense of right.

Due to the friction between the Holy Nation and the Beastkin, they already knew that the Church wasn’t simply a benevolent organization.

The more operations they performed together, the more it seemed the Beastkin had developed their own perspectives and opinions about the Magia Realm and ruins.

And from what she heard, their thoughts weren’t entirely beneficial to the Church.

“It seems quite possible to keep the Church in check through the Beastkin Special Forces, as you intended.”

Upon hearing Siabel’s words, Ainel clenched her hands tightly, as if she had been waiting for this moment.

“Finally, the foundation is being laid. If we continue like this—”

Ainel began to laugh heartily.

It was a clean, refreshing laugh, as if a long-held knot had finally been untied.

For Ainel, who almost always maintained cold rationality and emphasized its importance verbally as well.

It was rare to see her mother laugh so openly.

“…Mother?”

Siabel called to her mother with slight bewilderment.

To this, Ainel soon explained why she had laughed.

“The Morning Star of our ancestor that the first family head used.”

Morning Star.

She had thought it was just a technique that could only be used after mastering the Master level.

But through the recent Magia Realm operation, she realized that its power was related to a forgotten religion.

If they could break the Holy Nation’s seemingly vigilant attitude toward that religion, they might regain the old power that the County once enjoyed.

Ainel’s mind was filled with a single subject.

“We might be able to attempt to restore that formidable power.”

How to regain the old power that the County once enjoyed.

* * *

Several days later.

Having recovered her strength, Tasha was staring intently at her clothes, which appeared modest at first glance but exuded an unmistakable dignity.

“…How was this even made?”

Was it because expensive fabric was used? Or was it some magic that made it look beautiful?

Either way, it was clear that many people’s efforts had gone into making just this one outfit.

Dressed in the precious clothes, Tasha soon turned away from the full-length mirror and addressed the siblings who had gathered around her.

“Sister, are you going outside the lord’s castle today?”

“That’s right.”

“Umm…are you really okay?”

“Of course. I played with you three all day yesterday too, didn’t I?”

“That’s true, but…”

Her younger brother’s worried eyes turned to her hair.

“Your hair color still hasn’t returned…”

“Ah.”

As her brother said.

Once faded, her hair color had not returned at all.

So Tasha bent down to meet her brother’s eyes and spoke.

“It’s okay. Even if my hair doesn’t return to normal, I’m really all better now.”

“…”

“Besides, this whitened hair—I quite like it, you know?”

“…Really?”

“Really.”

The snow-white hair had become quite meaningful to Tasha.

The courage she had mustered with thoughts of repaying kindness and proving her worth. Though she had nearly collapsed because of it, she had confirmed the people who affirmed them. From that to the experience of saving countless people when she had only known how to pickpocket before.

This white hair contained all the emotions and experiences that had rushed through in a short time. She thought this wasn’t so bad either.

“Well then, sister will be going now.”

Waving goodbye to her siblings, Tasha soon arrived before two people.

The Baron and Baroness who had become her guardians.

They welcomed Tasha with smiles.

“Tasha, have you finished preparing?”

“Of course. I just need to help people in need…and teach others what I’ve learned so far, right?”

“Mm.”

“I’ve been explaining things diligently to my siblings all along, so I’m sure I can do well.”

Tasha, who had been brightly sharing her thoughts.

She soon carefully asked a question.

“But…Lord, can I really use the title of…Saint?”

From today, she would be active under the title of Saint of the Karfel Barony.

What is a saint? It refers to a woman chosen by God.

Originally, human religions, except for the Church, often had objects of faith that didn’t actually exist. Thus, for humans, the term “saint” was equivalent to the authority of the Church of the Holy Nation, where real gods existed.

Using the title of saint arbitrarily could cause significant problems.

“Of course.”

But Baron Karfel simply smiled and affirmed, as if wondering why she was worried.

“After performing such a miracle, you should rightfully be called a saint. Besides, Tasha, you’ve already awakened Divine Power, haven’t you?”

“But that Divine Power—”

“Don’t worry. There won’t be any problems at all. And even if there are—”

With absolute confidence.

“We’ll just resolve them.”