I Became a Childhood Friend With the Villainous Saintess

40 – Sanctuary of Hybras (7)

After training with Edwin, many changes occurred in my sword.

First, we decided on a clear strategy.

I usually fight based on technique or speed rather than strength.

It has only recently become more aggressive.

It was a kind of transition period.

Because I was still just a boy.

To clash swords with sturdy knights, you had no choice but to rely on technique rather than brute force.

But now things have changed. My sword skills were too destructive to rely on technique.

A power that gnaws not only at my enemies but also at myself.

After learning how to control sword energy in earnest, even Edwin could not use my sword energy carelessly.

It is an energy forged with extreme murderous intent. Because it was aggressive like a hungry beast, it could not be defeated with simple destructive power or a power struggle.

“If your strength is a burden on your body, don’t use it for a long time. Practice using your sword only when necessary. Either that or aiming for a short-term decisive battle.”

“Because I’m not a person who listens well enough to turn it on and off at will. “I’ll try, but it probably won’t work.”

“Then the only way is to finish it quickly.”

Short-term decisive battle.

Like Razen in the novel, my sword changed to a form that only increased aggression.

Instead of giving up defense to some extent, it was a way of forcing blood on the opponent.

And he changed the sword he used.

It was a much larger straight line than the one I used before. The length of the blade became about half as long, and the width was a little less than a span.

If I were to exaggerate a bit, it was the size of a great sword, but somehow it could be wielded with one hand.

Because I had to use my shoulder and back muscles, the movements became a bit larger. Instead, the blade through which sword energy flows became larger and its destructive power doubled.

“If this is going to be the case, wouldn’t it be better to just use a great sword? “I don’t see why I need to use this with one hand.”

“If you hold the sword with both hands, do you plan to put down the sword and use it? I guess I’ll have to find a polite enemy. “I will have to wait while you make the hand sign.”

“A paladin with a sword like this. It’s kind of funny. “I can’t imagine.”

“That’s nothing to worry about. What is important is that you accepted divinity even when you became a Sword Master. Although it is common for a Paladin to become a Sword Master, the reverse is very rare. “I’ve been blessed with a body, so it would be a shame not to use it.”

Just as there are rare magic swordsmen in the world, there are also rare knights who use sword techniques.

Sword masters were often unable to use magic or divinity, and even if they could use them, it was only at a weak level.

Although there were cases where a paladin reached the level after training, his level as a pure swordsman was weaker than that of other sword masters.

However, after first becoming a sword master, I was baptized and received divinity.

Even though I was half a penny, it was something that I had to look for precedents in history books.

In this case, the growth limit is different from other paladins.

“I assure you. As far as I know, this is unprecedented. “If you don’t become complacent, soon the world will fear you.”

“Even if you suddenly praise me like that, I have nothing to give you.”

“There is no need. No matter what I said, all you have to do is take good care of the saint. “I also help grow the church community.”

“I will do it even if you don’t ask me to do that.”

Edwin was the best sparring partner for me.

A partner who can give your all without pressure is always valuable. In a normal sparring match, the two had to keep their hands together for fear of injury.

Edwin had no worries about that. He was a powerhouse of a much higher level than me. So much so that I don’t know where such a strong person came from.

I didn’t have to worry about getting hurt even if I did my best, and such a strong person even gave me lessons.

Thanks to this, my skills were rising sharply.

A sword strike with all its might. As the attack went back and forth, I steadily modified my sword path.

He tried imitating Edwin’s sword skills, and also powerfully encroached upon him.

“It’s better to give up the idea of trying to imitate me. “It’s not something that can be easily imitated.”

“I think this can be done if we do it well.”

“It must be difficult.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s impossible.”

I clearly distinguished between what can be done and what cannot be done.

Just because you don’t want to rely on technique doesn’t mean you’re going to completely abandon it.

There was a clear difference between not writing and not being able to write.

I do that every day.

I swung my sword with Edwin for hours.

Surprisingly, he hung out with me as much as I wanted.

* * *

Melissa bowed her head politely.

“There is a little time left before the ceremony, saint. In the meantime, please say hello.

“Thank you. I’ll be going soon.”

In front of the only temple in the sanctuary.

A dark night fell over the temple.

There were several lanterns hanging in front of the gray temple.

Scarlet light flowed like waves over Sirien’s silver hair. Beneath the dreamy waves. Sirien’s hair was neater than usual.

The side of her hair was neatly braided and tied back, and her beautifully combed hair fell down to her waist.

Melissa placed a black veil over her Sirien’s head. A translucent veil covered her wide upper back.

The black cotton thread covered half of her pretty face. I could only see a glimpse of Sirien’s lips.

Sirien put a smile on her lips.

I could tell after looking at that face for a long time. It was a fake smile. She was forcing a smile to hide her trembling emotions.

“They say the ceremony takes quite a long time. “About a month.”

“I’ll wait outside. “If it’s too hard, you can give up.”

“I don’t give up. “What do you think of me?”

Sirien grinned.

Fortunately, it was a real laugh this time.

Unlike the shabby clothes she wore after leaving the castle, Sirien was now dressed in proper saintly clothing.

Her jet-black silk gently wrapped around her body, as if it had been cut straight from the night sky.

Inside her wide sleeve, an evening glove was visible on one finger of hers. So I could feel the texture of silk and skin at the same time in her hand that was holding mine.

Ha. I could hear her catching her breath.

“Razen. It may sound strange to say this out of the blue, but her cousins were with her at the castle. I remember?”

“Of course I remember. “I was worried when you went to the cabin.”

Several collateral families of Ilencia also entered Reheim Castle.

Sirien cared a lot about her younger siblings. From the beginning, Sirien didn’t consider things like social status when she made love to her. She was so worried about her younger siblings even when her own life was in danger.

Sirien’s hand pressed against my hand.

I felt her desperation as if she was grasping a tree branch at the edge of a cliff.

I wondered what she was going to say, but what came out of Sirien’s mouth was something unexpected.

“Those kids. “If I kill you, can you kill me?”

“Besides Count Roxen’s children?”

“Yes. Entire. Maybe there are children who are close to you. “Would you be able to kill those kids too?”

I couldn’t answer right away. It took some time as there were a few faces that came to mind.

However, there was only one conclusion I could draw.

“If you want.”

“…… Thank you. “I had to ask.”

“Suddenly?”

“When you were asleep, I sent you outside to find out the news. “The people who went out came back today.”

Sirien nodded and waited next to the temple.

Two sturdy priests bowed their heads. I couldn’t see his face clearly, but he had a physique I’d never seen before.

It seemed like they were the ones who went outside.

Sirien bit her lip slightly.

She seemed like she was about to say something she didn’t want to say. She sighed for a moment.

“I guess Count Roxen is resourceful. One person was sent to the Grand Duke, and it was said to be peaceful as if nothing had happened. First of all, it seems like that on the outside. The way I see it…… “I guess there’s already been a bloody storm once.”

“It means you prepared for a long time. “I knew something like this would happen, and I planned it thoroughly.”

“Yes. “I think it will be difficult to find allies within the family now.”

The people of this forest would not have suddenly brought back secret information from within the family.

So, only the facts revealed on the surface were brought in. But there was something that could be known just by listening.

Count Roxen has already taken control of the Grand Duchy.

Considering the time we spent in the cabin and the time we wandered in this forest, it might have been natural.

Because he was capable. He must have perfectly planned the aftermath even before successfully leading the rebellion.

If we return to the Grand Duchy now, there will be no allies within the family.

Even if there are, there may be only a very small number or long dead corpses.

That means that if our beloved cousins were alive now, they could be our enemies.

Maybe he was an accomplice from the beginning. Sirien seemed to think it was more likely that he had in fact been a traitor from the beginning.

“And I have something to do before heading to the Marquis of Eloran. They say the grandfather died of illness. “Currently, the minor marquis is awaiting the succession.”

“Are you trying to change your destination?”

“For a while. I will visit someday. We will continue to move northeast. “I have something to see nearby.”

“Which?”

Sirien came right in front of me. Sirien put up on his tiptoes, and I bent one of his knees to match him.

Soon, my forehead touched Sirien. A small voice was heard, like a whisper.

“This one denomination is not enough. “Let’s gather people who will be our strength.”

On the street.

People who have been abandoned and hurt by someone like us.

Animals that have become blind because they have experienced terrible pain.

One month later.

Sirien came out safely after completing the ceremony.

And four years passed.