Chapter 213: Matters Resolved, Departing in Style

Though her heart was uneasy, Princess Philomina could not reveal a hint of timidity or laziness now that she stood before others. She took graceful steps to part the crowd and, surrounded by deferential subordinates, faced the mysterious visitors directly.

In an instant, their appearance was unveiled before the Saintess.

It was a seemingly unremarkable duo, their looks close to that of humans.

One of them was strikingly handsome, with a jade-like face, appearing to be in his twenties, dressed simply in gray cloth. His short, unrestrained hair danced lightly in the breeze. Though he bore no weapon, his ethereal aura left a deep impression upon first sight.

From this person, Philomina sensed a faint, unusual aura similar to that of a demon, distinct yet not as apparent as a genuine demon’s. This gave her a sense of foreboding while simultaneously leaving her baffled.

The crux of the matter was… the Saintess could see through neither the strength of her adversaries nor discern their true nature; it was as though she was gazing into elusive mountain mists or the unfathomable depths of tumultuous waves beyond the Eastern Sea.

Extremely dangerous.

Almost instantly, Philomina’s keen eye for assessing individuals produced this judgment.

As for the companion, a man in his thirties with grayish-black hair, clad in a luxurious robe and carrying an ornate long sword, he seemed rather unremarkable.

As the Redeeming Saintess, the sole dedicated supporter among the three Saintesses, Philomina was particularly sensitive to various auras emanating from living beings, allowing her to immediately conclude that this swordsman was simply an ordinary human.

However, the elusive aura naturally swirling around him indicated that he was likely a legendary power. This unique characteristic stirred memories of someone or perhaps an entire school of thought in Philomina’s mind.

Deep in thought, yet the elegance befitting a Saintess kept Philomina from revealing her musings on her face. She raised a hand to signal her subordinates not to act rashly, gazing steadfastly, unfaltering and fearless, at the two.

“I am Princess Philomina Lambert, the 23rd Redeeming Saintess of the Holy Empire and the temporary leader of this army. Who are you to dare intrude upon the stronghold of my holy nation?”

Although she proclaimed these grand words, a stirring of anxiety began within her. To her surprise, the two mysterious arrivals inclined their heads slightly in respect before the gray-clad youth with an indecipherable expression spoke with a smile.

“Greetings, Your Highness. I am Min Chen, an ordinary traveler with no background or identity. This is… um, my traveling companion, Nickles.”

“We mean no offense; it’s just that your army abides by strict discipline and maintains tight security. During these times of war, it has been quite difficult to meet with you, the Saintess, so we resorted to this strategy. We hope you can forgive our audacity, Your Highness.”

I see, is that so? Phew, what a relief…

Though not dropping her guard just yet, hearing their explanation and genuinely friendly demeanor put Philomina somewhat at ease.

If this person were truly an enemy sent by demons to assassinate her, it would indeed be perilous.

After all, this was the first time she had seen Little Seven, seemingly invincible, display such a tense attitude since she took up the mantle of Saintess. Though she convinced her maid with confident words, Philomina knew well that if a real fight broke out, the vast army would be of limited use against true powers.

The Redeeming Saintess was, after all, the weakest combatant among the three Saintesses, and besides natural replacements, she had the highest non-natural mortality rate among them.

Whether through assassinations or great battles, any clever enemy would surely know to prioritize eliminating a support character who could endlessly provide aid yet was incredibly fragile.

Hadn’t you seen? I’m already the 23rd; the Saint of Bright Light next door is only on her 8th!

Of course, despite their claims, Philomina could not immediately respond with a cheerful, “No problem! As long as you’re not an assassin, everything’s fine!” Even if she wished to, she had to maintain her dignity as a Saintess, pretending to thoughtfully shake her head.

“Intruding upon a military camp is a serious crime, and you know well the gravity of your situation. In wartime, I do not wish to instigate unnecessary conflict, so if you are not our enemy, prove it through your actions… Now, what brings you here?”

“Your wisdom is admirable ~”

The gray-haired youth, calling himself Min Chen, smiled and lifted a hand. Such a trivial motion sent the Temple Knights surrounding him into high alert, instinctively raising their swords and shields, as if ready to counterattack at any sign of odd behavior.

After all, this was before the Saintess herself.

Philomina did not halt her subordinates’ actions, as everything had been merely Min Chen’s one-sided claims. Although the Saintess felt uneasy about the depths of their abilities, she was certainly not about to forgo her defense and place all her hopes on their good intentions.

Just then, while the Saintess was nervously waiting and her guards gripped their weapons in vigilance, Min Chen suddenly threw something from his sleeve. It spun through the air and went straight toward the blonde girl standing before the Saintess!

“Stop it!”

“Watch out, Your Highness!”

Several Temple Knights shouted, rushing to intercept, but a short-haired maid in a black and white dress moved even faster, instantly appearing before the Saintess, quickly grasping the object wrapped in black cloth as if pulled by an unseen force, allowing it to land safely in her palm.

“Everyone, stand down.”

Philomina called out to halt her subordinates, who were ready to charge at the duo while fury and shock flared on their faces. She turned to her maid, who had quietly arrived by her side but did not once conceal her presence.

“Little Seven…”

“Based on the power carried and the angle of its trajectory, I can rule out any intent to attack. Additionally, I did not detect any unstable energy or potential explosive reactions. Your Highness, this item is safe.”

“I see…”

Listening to her maid’s unwavering analysis, the Redeeming Saintess finally nodded and, with a glance, beckoned her to proceed. Understanding immediately, Little Seven began to unwrap the concealed object right in front of her.

Inside was a silver gem, slightly larger than the slender palm of the maid, faintly sporting black blemishes.

The remarkable energy radiating from it made Philomina, as a Saintess and a divine descendant, instantly judge that it was at least a magic crystal of level five.

No… considering the slight distortion emanating from it, like the waves of an unstable space… is it level six?

A level six magic crystal, equivalent to a spiritual treasure, such rarity…

Furthermore, Philomina could confirm that she had never encountered a high-tier magic crystal that exhibited such shape and aura before.

“What does this mean?”

Seemingly unfazed by the hostility from the surrounding Temple Knights, Min Chen remained relaxed, lightly speaking.

“A few days ago, I happened to pass through a city on the brink of collapse, beset by both internal strife and external dangers… Out of pity, and motivated by certain reasons, I decided to lend a hand and helped over a hundred thousand residents escape from the danger.”

“However, with the rampant plague in that city, although I wished to assist, I lack the necessary expertise to eradicate the root of the issue. After much contemplation, it seems only you, as the Redeeming Saintess—the world’s foremost expert in healing—can resolve this matter. Entrusting them to your renowned name allows me to feel secure.”

“…?”

The young man chuckled, as if waving off trivialities.

“Once the matter is resolved, I’ll take my leave, opting for anonymity in deeds and renown ~ Haha! We bid you farewell, Your Highness!”

The moment his words fell, Nickles, the middle-aged swordsman who had not spoken a word until now, abruptly raised his hand.

Gales howled.

Suddenly, an inexplicable tempest surged, knocking the soldiers off balance, making it hard to even open their eyes, with gasps and footsteps echoing throughout.

When the storm finally calmed over ten seconds later, they looked again…

The duo, whose presence had been so profound moments ago, had vanished without a trace.

   

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