SSS Talent: My Undead Evolve Without Limits

The moment he heard the title, some of Malrik’s inherited memories started surfacing.

The Lumel Temple was one of the most influential powers in the Empire, led by a man everyone knew as Pope Valen, one of the strongest humans alive, having reached Supreme Rank.

His influence wasn’t the only reason his name was so well known. Beside him stood his wife, Lady Morgana, who had also reached the same rank.

Their marriage was different from most unions between powerful families. It wasn’t an alliance between two houses, and it wasn’t arranged for political convenience. They genuinely loved each other, and that was no secret anywhere in the Empire.

Unfortunately, Morgana couldn’t have children of her own.

Rather than let that stop her from building a family, she started adopting orphaned girls who’d lost their families to the wars.

Over the years, the number of girls under her care kept growing, until their presence became a recognized part of Lady Morgana’s public image, even part of the Temple’s own image.

These girls weren’t just children living under her protection.

Every girl Morgana adopted officially became her daughter, gaining both her and Pope Valen’s protection, along with the resources and education their standing provided.

Thanks to that, Morgana’s daughters became some of the most fortunate girls in the entire Empire.

But not all of them held the same status. While every one of them lived under Morgana’s protection, only the most talented among them earned the title of Sacred Daughter.

Over the years, no more than ten girls had ever been given that title.

And now, one of them was sitting right in front of him.

The tenth Sacred Daughter? What the hell is she doing in Blackthorn?

"Who are you, and what’s your purpose here in Blackthorn?"

The girl kept her calm, faintly proud smile intact.

"Oh, where are my manners? Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner. You all seemed rather busy with... more pressing matters."

She smiled gently, still seated, crossing one leg over the other in her own time.

"My name is Shaye. I’m the tenth Sacred Daughter of the Lumel Temple."

She gestured lightly toward the knights standing behind her.

"As for why we’re here, we heard Blackthorn could use some support."

She paused for a moment, then continued. "And since the Baron responsible for protecting this region has left for the north."

Shaye smiled brightly.

"Well... as you can see, my father asked me to come to Blackthorn and offer support."

Malrik gave her a sharp look.

"I understand that, Miss Shaye, but I think you’re mistaken about one thing. Blackthorn belongs to House Vesperion, and I’ve never heard that the Duchy requested any support from the Lumel Temple."

Shaye raised her eyebrows, looking genuinely confused, then tilted her head slightly.

"Are you sure? Because we already received a letter requesting support."

Her gaze drifted calmly toward Kael, and Malrik followed it.

Kael stood frozen in place, head lowered, saying nothing. That was when Malrik understood everything.

Damn it... what did you do, you idiot?

Requesting support from the Lumel Temple was never just a military matter.

Blackthorn belonged to House Vesperion’s territory, and asking for help from an outside power without the Duke’s approval meant, implicitly, that the Duchy couldn’t defend its own land.

Worse still, the Lumel Temple wasn’t a neutral power as far as House Vesperion was concerned.

Kael had asked for help from a party the Duke could easily consider a rival.

That was a direct slap to the Duke’s reputation.

"I see... It seems one of our people got a little ahead of himself, Miss Shaye." Malrik said sharply, his eyes still fixed on Kael.

Then he turned back to her.

"I appreciate the gesture, but thank you. We can defend our own territory without the Lumel Temple’s involvement."

Shaye raised an eyebrow and covered her mouth slightly with her hand.

"Oh?"

She shook her head with exaggerated disappointment and sighed.

"Is this really how you treat guests who came all this way to help you?"

Her tone sounded exaggeratedly sad, but the small smile tugging at her lips gave away that she was enjoying his discomfort a little too much.

"I already told you Blackthorn doesn’t need support from anyone. So I don’t see a reason for you and your knights to stay here."

Shaye smiled calmly, as if his words hadn’t sounded like an order to leave at all.

"Well... unfortunately, I can’t leave quite that easily."

Malrik narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean?"

"My father sent me here to provide support, and I’ve already arrived." She said it simply, then leaned back into her seat.

"It would be a little strange to go back and tell him I left before doing anything at all."

Malrik stared at her in silence. But she smiled darkly and added in a calm voice.

"Besides, we came a long way to get here. It would be a shame to turn around this fast, don’t you think?"

Malrik gave her a sharp look but said nothing.

Ronan and the rest of his group had gone quiet too. Exhaustion showed clearly on their faces, except for Lilith, who looked thoroughly entertained by the whole thing.

Nobody dared step into that conversation. Malrik was the Seventh Banner Bearer of House Vesperion, son of one of the most powerful Supreme-rank figures in the Empire. Shaye was the adopted daughter of Pope Valen, leader of the Lumel Temple, and his wife Lady Morgana, both of whom held Supreme rank as well.

This conversation was simply above their level, and their families could not afford to bear the consequences of interfering.

As for Kael, he stood in a corner of the war room, sweat pouring down his face. He’d finally understood the full scale of the disaster he’d caused.

"Fine, Miss Shaye. You can stay, but you’re not to interfere with anything. You’re guests. Nothing more."

She studied him for a moment, then nodded gracefully and politely. "Of course. No need to worry."

"By the way... those walls outside looked quite interesting."

She lifted her eyes to him.

"Are you the one responsible for them?"

"I heard you awakened the Mage Class. Seems like it’s more useful than expected."

Before Malrik could answer, Lilith’s voice cut in from beside him "No, dear. I’m the one responsible for those walls. Is there a problem with them?"

Shaye turned to her, a curious look crossing her face. "Oh? And who might you be?"

"I don’t recall seeing you before. Are you his maid?"

"Oh, dear. It seems you know quite a bit about him, but your information is a little incomplete."

Shaye didn’t answer. She simply shrugged, the smile still lingering on her face.

"I’m not his maid. My relationship with him is more complicated than that. And I don’t think you need to know the details."

The corners of Shaye’s mouth lifted.

"Oh..."

She threw a quick glance at Malrik, then turned back to Lilith with a spontaneous smile.

"So Young Master Malrik has a mistress? But I heard he’s already engaged."

Shaye rested her hand on her cheek, feigning concern.

"Poor Lady Selene Goldmere... it would be such a shame for her to find out."

A faint smile crossed Lilith’s face for a moment, then vanished. The hint of amusement drained from her eyes too, leaving only a cold, sharp stare.

"I’m nobody’s mistress, little brat. So watch your tongue."

The next instant, the atmosphere in the room changed.

Lilith’s aura spread without warning, pressing down on the room with a weight that made the air itself feel sharper, like everything around her had suddenly taken on an edge.

Kael’s face went pale. Some of his weaker aides took an involuntary step back. Even a few of the Lumel Temple knights’ expressions shifted under the pressure.

Some of them couldn’t hold out for long. They dropped, unconscious.