* * *

    Joanna Thule laughed.

    It was a bitter laugh born from disbelief.

    Even as she dragged the Saintess to the boys’ dormitory, she earnestly believed that there was something special happening between the Saintess and Cheon Yeomyeong.

    After all, having fought side by side, trusting each other with their backs, both in Manchuria and at the academy, it was naturally bound to happen.

    And it was only inevitable for their hearts to grow closer after having faced death together.

    When a young man and woman, both hot-blooded youth, were drawn to each other—what came next was obvious.

    Like the first followers of the Green God, they would have moved according to their hearts and instincts.

    Since it was an irrefutable assumption, the priests of the Holy Nation had nearly accepted the relationship between the Saintess and Cheon Yeomyeong as an established certainty.

    Even Cardinal Madal, who had summoned Joanna, was convinced that the Saintess had lost her chastity, so what more could be said?

    Of course, Joanna simply let the cardinal’s words in one ear and out the other.

    How pure was the Saintess? Chastity or whatever—at most, they probably just kissed.

    When even the chastity of a priest was subjected to debate, a kiss was nothing.

    Having arrived at the academy with such light thoughts, the reality she faced was harsh.

    Joanna Thule was wrong. Cardinal Madal was wrong. Every priest in the Holy Nation was wrong.

    The Saintess’ feelings were far beyond their expectations.

    And in the worst possible way on top of that.

    * * *

    Worried that the two might pretend that there was nothing between them, she paid close attention to the Saintess and Cheon Yeomyeong’s reactions the entire time she was persuading Cheon Yeomyeong to become her student. ????a???Ё?

    Whether there was the slight tremor in their eyes, an elevated heartbeat they couldn’t hide, or even the warmth in specific areas—it was all unseemly for someone her age, but Joanna was dead serious.

    Just like when she roamed the battlefield, she sharpened all her senses, scrutinizing and rechecking the reactions of the two young people.

    However, the truth that Joanna had arrived at after her surveillance lay in a realm beyond her conjecture.

    The only one with romantic feelings among the two was the Saintess.

    The excited breath, the fidgeting fingers, the reddened earlobes, the pounding heart.

    All the responses displayed by the Saintess were those of a girl in love, but Cheon Yeomyeong was different.

    Almost none of the reactions he displayed indicated that he was in love.

    Although he did show occasional concern or fondness, strictly speaking, it was closer to friendship or camaraderie.

    To be precise, their relationship seemed closer to that of a veteran dealing with an annoying private.

    Though Cheon Yeomyeong would be appalled if he knew Joanna’s thoughts, it was a somewhat reasonable suspicion from Joanna’s perspective.

    A young man his age showing no interest in the Saintess? Did that even make sense?

    No matter how devout a person was, any normal person would feel their heart start to race at the sight of the Saintess’ beauty.

    Her skin was like silk made from melted pearls, her hair was even whiter than her skin, and her features were so perfect, that even a blindfold was unable to conceal them completely.

    And her physique? The Saintess’ curves, which had just begun to blossom, were like a divine gift that could make even the greatest artists fall into despair.

    While the priests of the Holy Nation didn’t express it openly because they prioritized inner beauty, none of them would hesitate to call the Saintess the most beautiful woman in the world.

    Joanna turned her gaze to the Saintess conversing with Yeomyeong.

    Cheon Yeomyeong was scolding the Saintess, calling her foolish and trying to advise her after flicking on the forehead, while the Saintess was holding her forehead and trembling.

    Seeing that, Joanna had no choice but to acknowledge the fact that it was the Saintess who had unrequited love for Cheon Yeomyeong.

    Unlike the blunt Yeomyeong, the Saintess didn’t even take her eyes off him throughout the conversation.

    And with her ears turning beet red as her hand poked Cheon Yeomyeong’s thigh, she looked just like a girl in love.

    Compared to that, Cheon Yeomyeong’s response was…

    Without any warning, Cheon Yeomyeong’s reaction changed.

    No, it wasn’t like he hadn’t fallen in love or was feeling lustful towards the Saintess all of a sudden.

    It was more like the change soldiers exhibited just before heading into battle.

    First, his visage grew darker, followed by his muscle relaxing, and then his mana began to move.

    His shallow breaths grew longer as he tried to suppress his tremors, and eventually, his whole body went taut like a drawn bowstring.

    “…Student Cheon Yeomyeong.”

    Faced with such an overt change, Joanna lowered her hand from her waist and asked.

    “Are you really going to grant the Saintess’ request? Out of the blue?”

    “…I’m sorry.”

    He answered without hesitation.

    What on earth did the Saintess say to him for his attitude to change so drastically in that short period of time?

    Joanna was wondering how to interpret this change, before realizing that there was no need to dwell on it.

    “…You know that it’s impossible to persuade me with mere words, right?”

    “Yes.”

    Joanna let out a small chuckle. Her eyes turned to Cheon Yeomyeong, who was finished with his preparations. The more she saw, the fonder she grew of the young man.

    Just as the Saintess said, he might even be better than her father.

    Well, perhaps not in terms of skill just yet.

    She cracked her knuckles and spoke.

    “The most important requirement for an escort are strength and skill.”

    “…”

    “If you, Student Cheon Yeomyeong, are able to demonstrate that you possess the skills necessary to protect the Saintess… in other words, if you can defeat me, I will step back.”

    That statement was unnecessary. Cheon Yeomyeong already knew that, which was why he had prepared himself in the first place.

    “Shall we move somewhere else? Or would you prefer to do it here itself?”

    “There’s no need to do so.”

    No need? Did he want to fight here, where they could be seen from the boys’ dormitory?

    “Wouldn’t it be better if we fought in the academy’s training room instead? You could use a weapon, after all. I understand that you primarily use a sword.”

    Joanna was trying to be considerate, but Yeomyeong asked a completely unrelated question.

    “Ma’am, is it true that you are willing to back down as long as someone can convince you that they have the required skills to protect the Saintess?”

    “Why? You don’t trust me? Should I swear in the name of Redox?”

    “No. It’s not that I’m doubting you. It’s just…” S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

    Just? As the question crossed Joanna’s mind, Yeomyeong looked up towards the sky.

    “There’s someone else who wants to convince you.”

    Joanna naturally followed his gaze to the sky, where she saw something plummeting through the bright morning sunlight.

    “…A crow?”

    As she muttered, a mass of black feathers enveloped Joanna’s body.

    * * *

    The sound of the giant crow and the old Holy Knight colliding echoed across the ground.

    And the victor of the clash was the crow.

    The muscular old Holy Knight was flung straight to the ground, the pavement tiles cracking open, scattering pieces and dirt.

    The impact was strong enough to instantly turn an ordinary person into mush.

    However, enveloped in mana and blessings, not only did the Holy Knight, endured the impact but simultaneously gathered mana in her fist for a counterattack.

    Joanna’s fist sliced through the air.

    But all it managed to do was scatter a few feathers.

    Seeing that her attack had missed, Joanna immediately sprang from the ground, gathering mana and preparing a prayer for her next move.

    However, the enemy’s next attack never came.

    Covered in dust, she saw the giant crow rubbing its beak against the Saintess.

    “…Corvus!”

    Joanna recognized the crow in an instant. After all, there was only one impudent crow Beastfolk like that in the entire world.

    “This filthy beast dares to…”

    Joanna was about to unleash a barrage of curses but took a deep breath upon remembering that she was in the presence of the Saintess.

    “… Student Cheon Yeomyeong, why is that crow here?”

    “…She’s the special teacher I mentioned earlier.”

    “That beast is a teacher? Are you walking the path of the ‘crossroads’?”

    The crossroads—a term assigned to those who walked two or more of the three paths: magic, martial arts, and divinity.

    Yeomyeong shook his head.

    “…No, I’m not.”

    It seemed like Joanna was expecting further explanation, but Yeomyeong changed the subject.

    “Regardless, I believe that Corvus’ skills are more than enough to protect the Saintess.”

    “Of course! If old Joanna can do it, then I certainly can!”

    Ignoring the prattling crow in the Saintess’ arms, Joanna brushed the dirt from her head.

    She sighed once and reflected on her thoughts.

    “…So Corvus has been eavesdropping on our conversation from the sky this entire time?”

    “…”

    “Student Cheon Yeomyeong, you drew my attention, and allowed her to strike the moment she saw an opening. Whether impulsive or planned, do you really think I’ll be convinced by this, Student Cheon Yeomyeong?”

    Yeomyeong shook his head.

    “No, I wouldn’t be convinced either.”

    “…”

    “And… it wasn’t planned. Corvus acted on her own.”

    Both Yeomyeong and Joanna turned to Corvus almost simultaneously.

    The crow, burying her face in the Saintess’ belly, cleared her throat briefly and ignored them.

    From the start, her target had been the Saintess.

    As Joanna frowned and glared at Corvus, Yeomyeong spoke.

    “So, as I said initially, I will convince you with my own skills.”

    With that, a murky heat haze made of mana began to emanate from Yeomyeong’s body.

    Even Joanna, who had lived a long life, had never come across a martial art like that before.

    So even without a sword, he had a trick like this up his sleeve?

    “…Still, it would be better if you used a weapon.”

    “If you are unarmed, Gun of Redox, it’s only fair that I fight barehanded as well.”

    Though whether she had a weapon or not did make a significant difference, she didn’t expect her junior to show such consideration.

    Joanna smirked and clenched her fist.

    “Alright… Let’s see what you’ve got.”

    * * *

    The man was known by many names.

    The Wolf of the Yellow Moon, a priest, and now he was John, a laborer in the waterworks.

    Just like the numerous names he possessed, he had many tasks to accomplish.

    His mission was to ignite the flames of vengeance within the academy built upon false peace and wash away the sins of the Earthians with the blood of the innocent.

    But… he had failed. And it wasn’t just a simple failure; it was a disastrous one.

    He hadn’t brought down the academy nor did he dethrone the deceitful principal.

    And most importantly, he wasn’t able to kill the false Saintess, tainted with the repulsive blood of Earth.

    Fortunately, the merciful Church did not hold him accountable for his failure.

    Instead, they even granted him a second chance, saying that no one could have foreseen the horde of zombies hidden by the insane Necromancer would hinder the plan.

    Therefore, he couldn’t fail this time.

    Even if his miserable life came to an end, the truth upheld by the Church had to illuminate the world.

    The waterworks laborer, John, looked down at the phone that finally connected.

    Under the darkness of the sewer, the phone glowed with the name [Minister Kim Kwanhyung] displayed clearly.

    “…Truth.”

    He could feel the Earthian on the other end swallow nervously—The foolish man who believed that his shallow authority represented true power.

    “It… hasn’t failed, yet.”

    - *Ha! That’s just what you want to believe.*

    The minister spoke arrogantly.

    He was one of the most cunning Earthians he had come across. For someone who was licking the Church’s boots not long ago, he changed his stance as easily as flipping his palm.

    Although killing intent surged within him, the man endured.

    After all, the plan was more important than his emotions.

    “As promised… I will… take the sacrificial lamb.”

    “This is… not a transaction. It’s a collection…”

    - *Nonsense! If you go through with it, I will formally file a protest with the Church!*

    The minister’s voice echoed from the phone, resounding through the sewer.

    “With one Black Sheep… as a sacrifice… I will reverse the plan.”

    The man cut the call before the minister could finish his statement.

    “The breeding stallion… then, before she bears a child…”

    After murmuring incomprehensibly, the man raised his head.

    Only the dim glow of the phone illuminated the dark, dank sewer.

    And within the shadows, mingled with a foul stench, skin that had lost its owner flapped ominously.