Chapter 185: Are You Really Trying to Assassinate the Saintess in Front of Me? The Demon General… Krulu!

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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BANG!!!

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A bone-rattling, mind-numbing crash shattered the air.

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There was no warning—not the faintest whisper of danger—just as Yalis, slow to react, finally turned around.

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Reflected in her eyes was a face contorted beneath a savage mask, blood-red eyes blazing with madness.

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Razor-sharp claws, glinting like the edge of a blade, arced high and crashed down onto an unseen barrier. Golden holy light rippled outward, scattering like stardust. All that lingered was a murderous aura that seemed to split the very sky.

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“Watch out, Lady Saintess!”

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City Lord Tawatz’s heart nearly burst at the sight.

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The daughter of a duke, the Holy See’s own Saintess—attacked and perhaps even slain in a border city?

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Judgment. Execution. A scandal that would echo for a thousand years.

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The words flashed through his mind in a dizzying whirl, spurring his body to action before thought could catch up.

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It didn’t matter that the attacker was cloaked, their identity concealed, or that the gap in power was painfully clear.

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If something happened to the Saintess, nothing else mattered.

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If she died today, so would he.

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If she survived… perhaps he’d escape the noose for dereliction of duty.

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CLANG!!!

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Without hesitation, Tawatz gathered mana into his palm and hurled himself at the attacker with reckless abandon.

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When his immense energy collided with those claws, a sharp metallic ring echoed—as if steel had struck steel—sending a chill down every spine.

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“It’s… it’s a demon!!!”

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Only now, as chaos erupted, did the surrounding refugees realize what was happening.

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In battle, demons could freely shift into monstrous forms, but in daily life they suppressed their traits and mingled as humans.

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But those claws, that body impervious even to mana—there could be no mistake.

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Panic and shrill screams swept through the camp. What had been a tense but orderly crowd of refugees instantly dissolved into utter pandemonium.

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“Damn Holy See lapdogs!”

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A guttural, incredulous snarl echoed from beneath the black cloak.

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Even as one of the Four Heavenly Kings—crippled, unable to muster even a tenth of her former strength—

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To be blocked by some little girl? Unforgivable!

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“Out of my way!”

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With a casual sweep of her arm, she sent Tawatz flying.

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Then the demon’s claws lashed out in a frenzy, her crimson eyes radiating killing intent so intense it seemed to warp the very air.

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Black blood oozed from her shoulder and abdomen, making her appear all the more monstrous.

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But none of that mattered now. All her focus was fixed on the figure before her.

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She was more than ready to tear Yalis apart, piece by piece.

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“Lin… Lin Wei!!”

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The barrier shielding Yalis shimmered, clear and fragile as glass, trapping her inside.

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But with terror so close she could feel its breath, silvery light flickered and twisted at the edge of human perception, as if space itself threatened to tear open.

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Even the ever-adventurous Saintess was seized by instinctive fear.

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Eyes squeezed shut, she reached for the only presence that brought her comfort in moments like this.

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The next instant—

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THUD!

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A heavy impact. A wet, guttural cough of blood.

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Lin Wei, riding a current of holy energy, landed before her and kicked the demon attacker clear across the camp.

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He stood, cold and steady, staring at the figure hidden within the black cloak.

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Every fiber of his being screamed to unleash the Demon Lord within, but with so many witnesses—and the Saintess herself present—he forced himself to hold back, his gaze locked on the enemy.

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“Is this all demons know—ambush and sneak attacks?”

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“Even when it’s the Saintess of the Holy See, you’d stoop to assassination?”

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“So what if I kill a Holy See lapdog? Haven’t you humans preyed on the weak whenever you get the chance? I’ll wipe out every last one of you—huh?”

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Suddenly, the demon’s crimson eyes froze.

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A figure stood before her—someone who should not be here.

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Yet there he was, silent and immovable.

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A pressure like a mountain descended; Lin Wei’s eyes, deep as the starless night, shone with a calm that was almost unnatural—like a tranquil ocean, hiding a thousand-foot storm beneath the surface.

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“You… you’re—”

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Shock, then excitement, then a flash of primal fear—all in an instant. Before she could drop to her knees, a warning glare from Lin Wei stopped her cold.

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The message was unmistakable, even though his lips scarcely moved.

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The demon didn’t hesitate. She spun and fled.

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In a blink, she vanished from sight, leaving only a furious, unwilling roar echoing across the camp.

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“Just you wait! Once I’ve recovered, I’ll tear you all to pieces!”

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“Damn Holy See dogs, you’re all dead!!!”

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A few seconds later—

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Aside from the refugees still panicking in the distance, the scene settled into a tense calm. Only the lingering traces of mana betrayed the chaos that had erupted moments before.

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“Are you alright, Yalis?”

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So that was the demon bigwig who’d been secretly contacting Afuduo.

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He recognized her now.

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Lin Wei lowered his gaze, suppressing his emotions for the moment, and turned to Yalis, his voice gentle.

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The Saintess slowly opened her eyes; her delicate, lovely face was still tinged with fear.

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Ever since she’d joined the Knights of the Holy See and dedicated herself to training, she’d rarely tasted true danger—save for that one time in the Lotai region’s labyrinth, poisoned by goblins and infiltrating the Cult of the Evil God.

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But a close-up, lightning-fast assassination attempt like this? She’d never even imagined it.

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If Lin Wei hadn’t reinforced her defenses before leaving, she’d surely be dead now.

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“T-that was… really scary, Mr. Lin Wei.”

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Even Yalis, usually composed, struggled to get the words out.

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She’d thought calming the refugees was difficult enough. Who could have foreseen real danger would strike—and that Lin Wei’s intervention was pure fortune? Without him, she’d never have spoken another word.

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Terrifying. Was this the sort of thing adventurers faced every day?

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“Haha, as long as you’re alright, Lady Saintess.”

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“I told you, didn’t I? If you’re going to leave the city and train, you’re bound to run into trouble.”

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“Think of this as experience. Remember, when you’re out here—especially in crowded places—you must stay alert. Don’t let your guard down, understand?”

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All the things that had failed to frighten Yalis before—finally, something had worked!

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Seeing the Saintess so flustered, Lin Wei felt no pity.

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If anything, he relished it—he wouldn’t mind if that demon came back for another round.

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It was no easy feat to rattle someone as hot-blooded as Yalis.

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Bringing her out here was meant to toughen her up—to help her understand the people’s hardships, and the dangers lurking in the world.

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The recent demonic invasion in the Northern Countries had provided the perfect opportunity.

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But with Yalis’s thick skin—and the fact that he’d long since ceased to be a real threat in her eyes—it was hard to balance safety with real experience.

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“Come here—let me ruffle your hair. Don’t worry, Lady Saintess.”

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“Sure, it was frightening, but if anything happens, your Honor Knight will protect you.”

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“As long as you don’t go running off on some wild impulse… hmm?”

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At that, Yalis couldn’t restrain herself any longer. She darted to Lin Wei’s side, pressed her head to his chest, and gripped his cloak, breathing deeply.

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His heartbeat was steady and strong, echoing in her own chest.

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She could feel, so clearly, the reassuring presence of Mr. Lin Wei.

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Thank the Goddess he was here—otherwise, she’d have been finished.

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She clung to him, letting her hidden fears finally break free.

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Of course, as the Saintess, she couldn’t simply break down and cry in public.

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That would be far too undignified—a disgrace.

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But… she truly was afraid.

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The faint warmth of his body filled her with safety.

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Having Mr. Lin Wei here had been the right choice.

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With him at her side, no matter what happened, everything would be alright.

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If only… if only Mr. Lin Wei could belong to me forever.

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Thump~

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Her heart raced so fast she could hear it herself.

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Blushing furiously, the Saintess squeezed her eyes shut, hiding in his arms.

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What am I thinking? That’s ridiculous.

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I’m not even old enough for those kinds of thoughts!

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“City Lord Tawatz, are you alright?”

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Letting the Saintess recover in his arms, Lin Wei ruffled her hair again, then turned to check on Tawatz, who had been sent flying.

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The not-so-slender city lord was no match for the demon’s brute force; he’d been tossed aside like a rag doll.

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Fortunately, it was just a glancing blow. Thanks to his own strength, he’d survived with nothing worse than some injuries.

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“I… I’m alright, Sir Lin Wei.”

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“What about the demon? Did it escape?”

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He clawed his way out of the wreckage of a makeshift shelter, staggering from dizziness.

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Still, the moment he realized the demon was gone, he pressed Lin Wei for answers.

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For his own pride, he preferred to believe the demon had “let him off.”

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But with Lin Wei involved, surely it had been “an even match” or “a draw,” right?

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“Yeah, that demon looked wounded—she had no choice but to run.”

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“And thank you, City Lord Tawatz. You risked your life to save the Saintess… I’m sure the Griffin Duke will remember your name.”

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He might not have changed the outcome, but his courage was real.

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At the very least, Lin Wei would remind Yalis to mention Tawatz to the Griffin Duke back home.

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“T-thank you, Sir Lin Wei. Thank you, Lady Saintess.”

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“I was only doing my duty, truly. This is my city—I couldn’t let anything happen to Lady Saintess, no matter what. Forgive me if I startled you.”

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“But… if demons are already here, then the Northern Countries must be in even greater chaos than we feared! What should we do next, Mr. Lin Wei? Should I send someone to escort you and the Saintess back to the Wall of the Border?”

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The Coalition Army’s campaign against the demons was in its final stage.

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Once the Super Labyrinth Selm was cleared, and the scattered demons mopped up, the Northern Countries would finally know peace again. No matter what mission the Saintess and Lin Wei had, a short delay wouldn’t hurt.

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“Hmm… For now, send the city guards to block off the refugees’ escape routes as quickly as possible.”

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“Tell them the demon was defeated by Lady Saintess and Sir Lin Wei. Have them return at once—the Holy See will keep them safe.”

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“As for an escort to the Wall of the Border, that won’t be necessary. I’ll be taking the Saintess to the City-State of Brook for a brief rest.”

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Tawatz looked baffled, so Lin Wei explained without hesitation.

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“If a demon managed to slip into the Selm Labyrinth and attack the Saintess, it would be an insult to Alicia the Goddess for the clergy to retreat at a time like this.”

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“Yes, the Saintess is precious, but she is also a member of the clergy—she will one day lead the Holy See in protecting humanity. She cannot simply run to safety whenever danger appears.”

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“Otherwise… who would be left to protect the faithful?”

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This wasn’t just for show—Lin Wei truly believed it.

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Yes, Yalis was the Saintess, and deserved to be protected.

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But as clergy, the concept of “shrinking from hardship” simply did not exist in her vocabulary.

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Especially when the enemy might be colluding with the Cult of the Evil God, taking countless hostages.

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And besides… with Lin Wei here, there was no need for Yalis to flee to the Wall of the Border.

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He could guarantee her safety—absolutely.

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“I understand!”

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With things so clearly explained, there was nothing more to say—this was what it meant to be high clergy of the Holy See. Such faith put the border priests to shame.

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Of course, he couldn’t deny… when he’d first met Dorona, he’d been much the same.

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Maybe he really had been corrupted by the Imperial nobles.

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Eh, he didn’t feel he’d changed that much.

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“Everyone, gather outside the city—bring the refugees back!”

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But there were more pressing matters.

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City Lord Tawatz, ever dutiful, dashed off toward the city wall, shouting for the city guards.

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“Tell them the demon was repelled by Lady Saintess and Honor Knight Lin Wei!”

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“Return to the border at once! The Holy See and the Empire will protect you—move!”

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With his task set, Tawatz vanished from view.

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With that man’s help, Lin Wei’s workload suddenly felt much lighter.

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“So, has Lady Saintess recovered?”

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“We need to get moving. After that delay, we’ll probably have to camp outdoors tonight before we reach the City-State of Brook.”

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“After what just happened, the great Lady Saintess isn’t scared off, is she?”

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Yalis, who had been clinging tightly to Lin Wei, finally raised her head.

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Her eyes weren’t red—she hadn’t cried—but her lovely face was still a little pale.

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Clearly, witnessing an assassination attempt up close—especially as the target—had rattled her.

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“O-of course I’m not scared!”

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She’d heard every word Lin Wei and Tawatz had just exchanged.

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As the Saintess, she was meant to stand firm, shielding the faithful and spreading Alicia’s light.

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She’d just been caught off guard, that was all!

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If another assassination came, she would never show fear again.

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“I’m the Saintess—I won’t let something like this stop me from traveling.”

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“Don’t worry, Mr. Lin Wei. I’ll be fine.”

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“Good. I’m glad to see you’re confident.”

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Clearly, she still needed more real experience to grow.

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Watching Yalis’s earnest face, Lin Wei nodded, deep in thought.

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He wasn’t trying to push her too hard—just give her the training she needed.

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Camping out was the best way to work through these things, after all.

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“Tch, so it was you who showed up in the end?”

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“My Four Heavenly Kings… Krulu.”

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Back when you conspired with the others to overthrow your Demon Lord—

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What were you really thinking?