The Empire’s Princess (4)

The moment I grasped the Holy Sword, a familiar warmth spread through my fingertips.

“Hero-nim…”

Seraphin’s trembling voice reached my ears. All eight of her wings unfurled at once. A holy light filled the cathedral. The Holy Sword that heralds the dawn and the angel’s wings – we were always this combination.

“That’s far enough.”

The Imperial Guard Captain stepped forward. His silver-white armor gleamed coldly like moonlight. His sword sliced through the air, aimed at us.

“This is your last chance, Hero. Do not defy the Empire’s will.”

Tense air filled the cathedral. The Guard Captain’s silver sword glowed with red aura, and magic swirled at the tip of the Court Wizard’s staff. The Head Maid’s dagger gleamed subtly.

The Empire’s superhumans. But we were no pushovers either. We were the best partners, forged by five years of trust.

With the sound of magic exploding, the Court Wizard moved first. Magic swirled and surged from the tip of his staff.

In response, Seraphin’s wings spread. Pure white wings fanned out, creating a holy shield.

Magic as hot as lava collided with the holy shield. But Seraphin’s divine power didn’t waver in the slightest.

The flames vanished as soon as they touched the pure white wings. Like a spark falling on snow.

“Thank you, Saintess-nim.”

“It’s only natural! The Hero-nim and I…”

Before Seraphin could finish speaking, the Guard Captain’s sword sliced through the air. A red trail was drawn towards my neck.

I raised the Holy Sword. The holy energy flowing along the blade shimmered beautifully like an aurora.

I barely managed to block it, but a terrifying impact traveled up my arm.

‘This is the Empire’s strongest knight…’

Before I could even think, I felt a cold killing intent from behind. The Head Maid’s dagger approached like a shadow.

I twisted my body to dodge, but the hem of my clothes was torn.

The Guard Captain’s sword flew in again. This time, a decapitating strike aimed at my waist. The moment I blocked it with the Holy Sword, the Head Maid’s dagger targeted my blind spot once more.

“For the prosperity of the Empire.”

Red aura enveloped the Guard Captain’s sword. Energy that burned as red as blood surged from his blade.

Eisen’s sword sliced through the air, drawing a red trail. The aura-clad sword flew towards my neck at the speed of light.

I barely managed to block it with the Holy Sword, but the impact shook my entire body. The red aura dug in as if to erode my gray aura.

“The real fun starts now.”

The Head Maid’s voice brushed through the air. A colorless aura bloomed from her dagger. A dangerous energy with no form or presence.

‘This is…’

A chill ran down my spine. Her aura disrupted my senses. My sense of direction was thrown off, as if I were fighting in a fog.

“If you let your guard down…”

The formless aura sliced through the air. In a fleeting moment, ten daggers flew in simultaneously.

I swung the Holy Sword to deflect the daggers, but in that instant, Eisen’s sword was aimed at my heart.

“Keuk…”

I barely dodged it, but it grazed my side, and blood splattered. The perfect combination created by the Empire’s superhumans. The Guard Captain’s overwhelming power and the Head Maid’s dazzling assassination skills meshed exquisitely.

I glanced back at Seraphin. Dazzling magic and divine power were colliding in the air.

“The laws of nature are in my hands!”

Flames bloomed as if dancing, then instantly transformed into ice spears. The ice shattered, and lightning burst forth, and the lightning became a typhoon that raged. The four elements erupted in an instant. The nickname “Ruler of the Elements” was no empty boast.

“Oh sacred light…”

Seraphin’s prayer began. The flames died down, the ice melted, and the lightning scattered. Even in the face of the elemental storm, her wings remained unshaken. All elements were neutralized before her holy light.

“You don’t have the luxury of looking away.”

With a cold voice, the Head Maid’s dagger sliced through the air. It was a strike aimed at my neck.

I barely blocked it with the Holy Sword, but in that instant, the Guard Captain’s sword targeted my heart.

The pressure created by the two people’s auras grew stronger and stronger. I had no choice but to focus solely on defense.

“In battle, a moment of carelessness leads to death. Have you forgotten?”

The Guard Captain’s cold voice echoed. His sword was dyed red, and he unleashed a barrage of attacks.

I knew he was strong, but facing him in person was completely different.

A continuous barrage of sword strikes without a single gap flew in relentlessly.

“Not bad. You’ve improved a lot since before.”

The image of them teaching me when I first fell into this other world five years ago flashed through my mind.

“But you’re still full of openings.”

While I was busy blocking the sword, the Head Maid’s dagger targeted my ankle. I barely dodged it, but my balance was broken.

Eisen’s red aura exploded. His sword plunged down like lightning.

‘Dangerous, in this posture…’

As my body swayed, the Head Maid’s shadow moved. Her formless aura shook my senses.

“You let your guard down. Excuse me.”

The Head Maid’s cold voice.

With a cold killing intent, the dagger pierced my chest. A stinging pain flashed through me.

“…!”

But I didn’t fall down just like that. Her dagger had only managed to make a scratch on the surface of my skin.

Moreover, even that shallow wound instantly glowed and healed.

Eva’s eyes were filled with shock.

“Impossible…”

For the first time, the Head Maid’s expressionless face wavered.

‘The Empire’s top forces aren’t just for show.’

The Guard Captain’s sword was imbued with S-class strength, and the Head Maid’s movements were imbued with S-class agility. Moreover, the power of the magic that Roy was pouring out from afar was considerable.

Their main skills were probably SS-class. Trying to fight these masters at the same time, I was bound to be on the defensive.

But my body had long since surpassed the limits of humans.

[Status Window]

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Name: Shin Haru

Class: Hero

Titles: ‘Owner of the Holy Sword’, ‘Savior’, ‘Otherworlder’

Stats

Strength: A

Agility: A

Durability: SSS

Magic: A

Mental Strength: S

Luck: SS

Equipment: Holy Sword ‘Dawn’

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The result of five years of time. The Hero’s body was combined with the Goddess’s blessing, and the experience gained from countless battles was accumulated.

Moreover, with the hidden pieces I found using my knowledge of the original work, my durability stat had reached the realm of legends before I knew it.

‘This isn’t just a coward’s choice.’

Just because the game has become reality, it’s not like ‘I don’t like getting hurt, so I’m going all-in on defense’.

It wasn’t because I was afraid of death or hated pain, but simply because it was the most efficient choice.

From the start, my build didn’t consider solo play. It wasn’t meant for fighting alone, but rather a choice to maximize synergy with party members.

And that means…

“Saintess-nim.”

One word was enough. Seraphin’s purple eyes sparkled.

The trust created by five years of time. It was a moment where we could read each other’s intentions without speaking.

“Just do what you always do.”

“Of course, my Hero-nim.”

“No. Go easy on them. The opponents are humans, not demons.”

Seraphin smiled softly. Her eight wings shone even brighter.

A familiar prayer echoed, and divine power enveloped my body.

Like moonlight, subtle, but the power contained within was as intense as the sun.

‘Yeah, that’s why I went all-in on durability.’

The Saintess’s blessing is so strong that most people can’t withstand it for long. But I, with my SSS-class durability, was different.

The Holy Sword ‘Dawn’ shone like the light of dawn. Gray aura and holy energy became even more intense along the blade.

Power overflowed throughout my body. The gray aura resonated with the holy energy, becoming even more intense.

“T-this is…!”

The Court Wizard’s eyes widened. He was horrified by the sight of two different forces intertwining.

“A resonance of aura and divine power… An impossible feat… Aura and divine power are like water and oil, forces that cannot be mixed!”

This method was the optimal efficiency proven by years of combat. When the Saintess’s divine power and my aura combined, the two of us became so powerful that no one could stand against us.

Well, that might be why I ended up running away from the party. Because I only focused on my durability stat, it was difficult to withstand the party members’ obsession in a 1-on-1.

“To think this is possible…”

“This is… the Hero…”

But now I’m with the Saintess. That fact alone meant that victory was as good as decided.

The Guard Captain raised his sword. Red aura surged along the blade.

But his aura was no longer threatening at all.

I lightly swung the Holy Sword. A trail of gray aura and divine power sliced through the air.

Jjaeng-!

With an ear-piercing burst, the Guard Captain’s aura shattered. The sound of silver armor breaking echoed through the cathedral.

“No… way…”

His voice trembled. The red aura gradually faded and died down.

“Is this what they call surpassing your teacher?”

I asked, slinging the Holy Sword over my shoulder. A playful tone now came naturally.

I felt a cold killing intent in an instant. It was the Head Maid. Her dagger approached like a shadow.

But now I could see her movements clearly. Her speed now seemed slow, like slow motion.

The Holy Sword’s trajectory deflected her weapon in one strike.

“Keuk!”

She lost her balance and retreated. The white skin revealed through the torn maid uniform caught my eye, but I didn’t bother to look. Her bewilderment was a more interesting reward for me.

The Court Wizard poured out magic and created a giant flame, but all the magic disappeared with a single gesture from me.

“Still want to do more?”

I asked, slinging the Holy Sword over my shoulder. I glanced at Iris, and she bit her lip tightly as if she was resentful.

“Is this the power of the Hero’s party… The Empire’s three superhumans are so helpless…”

The Guard Captain knelt. His silver armor was shattered and scattered on the floor.

The Head Maid seemed to have already lost her will to fight. She retreated to the corner, covering her torn clothes.

The Court Wizard’s staff trembled. His magic seemed to be completely exhausted.

The situation was reversed in an instant.

‘Well, isn’t it obvious?’

If the Empire’s power was stronger than the Hero’s in the first place, there would be no need for a Hero. They would have already beheaded the Demon King themselves.