Succubus cannot be a saint

——When did those monsters mutate, and how long can they survive?

Logically speaking, a normal creature should die immediately after growing those horns. Even if those magical beasts possessed extraordinary vitality, they would have difficulty maintaining it for long, and reproduction was even more absurd. Their attack on Yuequan Town was more like a suicide attack before their death.

But... what if these magical beasts were "created" temporarily? That would explain it. A mysterious force within the forest was "creating" these disposable magical beasts, and given that they were impaled by their horns and unable to move for long, the "manufacturing location" couldn't be deep in the forest.

And now, Sharlelei already has five or six catapult magic crossbows, and has also verified their lethality on the werewolf Nannide. With its help, the mountain hunters will be able to fight even if they encounter monsters in the forest.

However... things are far from that simple.

After Durenna left, Sharlele played with the small medicine bottle thoughtfully. The lingering spicy smell was still pungent, pulling her thoughts back and forth in a thick haze.

The strange power that creates monsters in the depths of the Black Forest, the mysterious organization trying to rebel within a limited time, the Volo family of Greystone Town, and Duke Dravi who sits in the western border of the kingdom...

She could vaguely sense that, with the letter to the mountain folk as a trigger, a sinister web had slowly unfurled over the western border of the Stag Kingdom. Moon Spring Town was merely a tiny, insignificant insect within it.

The only variables in this giant network are one's own time travel and the pink UI spirit that exists in one's mind.

"What a world full of crises..."

..............................

The next afternoon, Sharlelei arrived at the parade grounds on the edge of town. Armed with wooden shields and spears, the guards in leather armor stood in a straight line behind Durenna, their chests puffed out. The sunlight shone on their faces, casting a bronze glow.

Salares stared at the faces of these soldiers. Not long ago, many of them were just farmers, or in the words of the nobles, "mud legs who had been digging for food in the fields all their lives."

But now, after experiencing several attacks from demon beasts and head-on confrontations with those terrifying monsters, the timidity and cowardice of farmers on their faces have completely disappeared, and in their place is the perseverance of warriors and the piety of believers.

Although they don't know it - the one they believe in, worship and are loyal to is not a real saint, but a group of succubi.

At the end of the guards stood a row of mountain folk. In contrast, they seemed somewhat timid, looking anxiously at Charlere as she approached them. These were the mountain hunters who had recently participated in the night raid on Nanned and had been conscripted into the guards.

"I'm sure everyone has heard that the Saint has developed new weapons." Durenna, wearing chain mail, walked past the guards. The sunlight cast a layer of shining silver on her armor, making the female knight look even more heroic.

Her blonde hair fluttered in the wind, her hand was on the hilt of the sword, her blue eyes were as sharp as an eagle. She just stood there, as if she was a sword drawn from its sheath, so sharp that it was difficult to look at her.

"And it was these very weapons that killed the demonic beast that revived in the Lord's Mansion the night before!" Durenna sternly declared, raising the catapult magic crossbow high in her hand. In the sunlight, the blue crystal on the crossbow mechanism shone with a dazzling and beautiful light.

The guards held their breath at the same time, their eyes fixed on the strange crossbow without a string, their eyes flashing with shock, envy and admiration.

Although Sharlele had forbidden the spread of news about werewolves, the news about the Catapult Magic Crossbow was not among them. She even secretly instructed Durenna to let all the guards know about the existence of the Catapult Magic Crossbow and publicize its extraordinary effectiveness.

This order even had an effect beyond her expectations. After the mountain hunters were incorporated into the guards, the guards surrounded these "experiencers of the catapult magic crossbow" and excitedly asked them questions. As for the ostracism, bullying, and discrimination that the mountain people had imagined...none of it happened.

"Next, the Saint Lady has decided to form an elite crossbow squad. During this time, the mountain hunters will train you in archery. Those with the most proficiency will be assigned to the crossbow squad, receiving the Saint Lady's blessing and the qualification to operate the magic crossbow!"

Durenna waved her hand violently and shouted, "—Where's your response!"

The guards opened their eyes wide in anger, and in unison, they punched their left chests with their right fists, shouting in unison: "——We are loyal to the Saint Lady!"

The mountain people were a little slow to realize what to do next, but just as they were about to shout, a deafening wave of noise suddenly erupted. The uniform movements and shouts blocked their voices in their throats, leaving them staring blankly at the scene in front of them, standing there at a loss, feeling extremely embarrassed for a moment and even more horrified in their hearts.

You have to remember that these guards were just ordinary farmers not long ago. After completing their training, they would return to farming. One hunter even saw a few of them at the mountain people's market. At that time, they were dressed in farmers' clothes and had the simple smiles of farmers on their faces.

But when they were on the training ground, they seemed like different people, exuding the perseverance and decisiveness of a warrior from the inside out. Sometimes, the murderous look in their eyes could even frighten hunters who were used to seeing wild beasts.

What exactly did this Saint Lady and her female knights do to these guards to train them into what they are now?

Next, Durenna announced the relevant rules of the archery competition. When she invited the mountain hunters to come forward as instructors, these hunters swallowed their saliva involuntarily, and bathed in the respectful and envious gazes of the guards, they straightened their backs in a rather elated manner - after all, they were the first people present to come into contact with the catapult magic crossbow.

For a moment, they couldn't help but feel a surge of guilt—after all, they had been the ones who had attacked the lord's mansion alongside Nannide. Yet, not only did the Saint not pursue the matter, she even proactively helped them cover up the truth, uniting the kingdom and the townspeople, regardless of past grudges. Even worse...

...and also gave them the honor of operating the catapult magic crossbow and teaching the guards archery.

From this kind and beautiful saint, they felt the trust and kindness towards the mountain people.

——To repay the Saint.

This was the only thought in their minds at the moment.

At this moment, accompanied by a crisp cry of "Hey!", a small figure came running from a distance, dancing and gesticulating. Sallelei looked closely and saw that it was Isadore.

"Why is she here?"

Ever since the little succubus finished speaking to Nanned yesterday, it has returned to its usual cheerful and innocent self, running around and doing this and that like a little sun that shines and gives off heat all the time.

At the same time, the house repair tasks in the lord's mansion and the church were also underway. In order to welcome the children who would come to spend the winter, the servants vacated many rooms that were not used on weekdays, and even cleaned several empty storage rooms.

In these tasks, the young nun demonstrated her extraordinary physical strength and stamina. She could often be seen running around at the speed of light, carrying tables, chairs, and other miscellaneous items that were taller than herself.

Moreover, ever since yesterday, there seemed to be something else in her eyes when she looked at Sallelei. Sallelei often felt someone staring at her, only to turn and see Isadore's eyes. And once she realized she was being looked at, the little thing would quickly turn away and run away.

Even when she went to bed at night, she was unusually distant from him, as if she was keeping a respectful distance from him.

"...Saint, Saint!" Isadore ran over, waving her arms. Her large, emerald eyes were filled with tears. She glanced at Sallelei and then withdrew her gaze, not daring to look at her. "I, I also want to train and fight! Please, please let me train with everyone!"

Volume 1: From Crazy Daughter to Saint: Chapter 93: Sally's Herbs

To Sallelei's surprise, upon seeing Isadore, the guards immediately bowed in unison and shouted in unison, "Lord Isadore!"

"Huh... Hey hey hey?" Not only was Sallelei caught off guard, but even Isadore was startled and let out a cute scream.

"What's so surprising?" Durenna laughed instead. "Don't you know what you've done?"

Upon hearing this, Isadore suddenly realized that she had not only hit a home run by smacking a squirrel with a hammer during the battle with the monster, but she had also awakened the blessing of the Goddess of Light and used her magic to heal the injured soldiers. To the mountain people, she was even more of a benefactor who had saved Nanned's life.

Therefore, in the minds of the soldiers, she has long been the third most important person in Yuequan Town, second only to Saint Sharlelei and Commander Durenna.

"Oh, so that's how it is, hehe..." The little succubus scratched her head a little embarrassedly and laughed foolishly.

"So, Isadore, are you serious about training together?" Salares asked, and Isadore nodded vigorously, while turning her head away shyly, not daring to look her in the eye.

"Lady Saint, Ishado has actually been training with me before, and I even taught her some fighting techniques." Durenna said with a smile. Ishado immediately jumped three feet high, "Ah—Sister Durenna! You bad guy! I clearly told you not to tell!"

Facing the irritated Isadore, Durenna playfully stuck out her tongue. Perhaps only then did she reveal her girlish side.

"...Okay, I allow it, Isadore." Salares thought for a moment and nodded. But before Isadore could raise her hands in cheers, she came to the little succubus and held her head before her eyes could escape.

All of a sudden, Isadore didn't dare to move, and looked at Sallele pitifully like a cat with its neck grabbed.

"Isadore, I allow you to train here and learn combat techniques. But you also have a mission." Salares ruffled the little succubus's hair. "The Goddess of Light's gift should be more than just healing, right? I'll give you the prayer book, but you need to master more divine arts to better assist in battle."

"I... I understand! I'll pray to the goddess for more miracles and beat the bad guys hard!" Isadore clenched her fists.

"If you can do that, I'll make you the chaplain of Moon Spring Town." Sallelei smiled. Isadore, her eyes sparkling, leaped up like a spring, though Sallelei doubted she even knew what "chaplain" meant.

Not only Isadore, but the guards present were also overjoyed. Although they didn't quite understand what a military chaplain did, they understood that this little nun, who could cast divine spells, would guard the wall with them from now on.

After arranging matters for the parade, before returning to the lord's mansion, Sharlelei took a detour to the town's workshop. There, she saw the fruits of the craftsmen's work—the results of the order she had issued the night she discovered the secret of the monster horn.

In the cement-enlarged workshop, Sharlelei saw the unfinished bed crossbow. This war weapon was like an enlarged crossbow, but it didn't shoot ordinary crossbow arrows, but giant spear-like arrows.

In this world without artillery and still in the era of cold weapons, this kind of equipment can be considered a killing weapon on the battlefield.

"Reporting to Her Majesty, the first batch of bed crossbows is expected to be completed in the latter half of the Falling Leaves Month."

A craftsman wiped the sweat from his forehead and handed a report to Shalelei. Behind him, the craftsmen were busy installing the wheel for pulling the string onto the crossbow.

Sharlelei took the report—she had asked them to write it, fortunately most of the craftsmen could read—and asked thoughtfully, "How effective are the demon beast tendons? Is it still effective?"

"...Excellent, Saint!" The craftsman was so excited that he almost stuttered. "After we process it and twist it with rope, the effect is even better than cowhide and tendon!"

"Really? That's good." Sharlelei smiled slightly, but at the same time felt a little regretful - the mountain people had always burned the corpses of magical beasts, and who knew how much horns, leather and tendons had been wasted.

Even after she knew the use of beast horns, she immediately ordered Durenna to collect the corpses of monsters, but these things are still not enough today.

After all, there is no reason to complain about having too many resources.

Looking at the wheel that the craftsmen were assembling, Sharlelei's heart moved again.

A crossbow relies on manual pulling of a rotating wheel to draw the string, firing a projectile or arrow. Therefore, a crossbow often requires multiple people to operate. If there were a powered machine, it could replace manual string pulling, saving a lot of manpower...

But in this world, steam engines probably cannot be made, so are there any other alternatives?

With this question in mind, Sharlelei returned to the lord's mansion and immediately immersed herself in crafting the rune base. Although she wanted to study the small medicine bottle that Nannide had given her, since there were no herbalists in Moon Spring Town, she had to put it aside for the time being. The bottle now sat next to her workbench.

In the evening, someone knocked on the door of the laboratory. Sharlelei buried her head in the carved rune base and casually said "Come in". The door creaked open and Durenna's voice rang out.

"My Lady Saint."

Salare raised her head, and the female knight's somewhat gloomy face came into view.

"What's wrong, my knight?" She put down the carving knife and pointed to the completed rune base beside the table. "I have made another base. Once the craftsman installs it on the crossbow, we will have a new magic crossbow."

"Thank you for your hard work, Saint Lady." Durenna showed a somewhat forced smile on her face. "Thank you for your concern, but... Sally's cold hasn't gotten better, and she's been drowsy recently, so I'm a little worried..."

"Really... I'll go see her after I finish the work at hand." Shalelei nodded, and Durenna's face was filled with joy. She bowed suddenly, accidentally knocking over a small medicine bottle on the table. She quickly picked it up and put it to her nose to smell it.

But at this moment, her movements froze.

"What's wrong?" Shailelei keenly noticed her abnormality.

"Lady Saint... this is... the medicine bottle that Nanned used that night... right?" Durenna slowly raised her head, her face was pale, her eyes were wide open, and the hand holding the bottle was trembling slightly.

"Yes. Did you find anything?" Sharlele's heart stirred, and she quickly stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. The faint spicy aroma from the potion bottle spread in the air, stimulating the two succubi's keen sense of smell.

Durenna trembled and put the medicine bottle to her nose again. Her lips moved for a moment before she squeezed out a few broken words with difficulty.

"This smell... I won't mistake it. This smell... is exactly the same as the medicine Sally took... and the medicine Derek has been using... This is... the medicine prepared by the herbalist in Graystone Town..."

"--What did you say!?"

This news was so shocking that even Sharlelei was unable to react for a moment and just stood there.

The "werewolf potion" Nanned took had the same scent as the one brewed by the herbalist in Greystone Town? How was that possible? According to Ophelin and Durenna's previous descriptions, that pharmacist was the exclusive pharmacist for the Vorlo family in Greystone Town. If his potion was indeed "werewolf potion," every member of the Vorlo family would have been a werewolf by now!

But Shalelei knew deep down that Durenna would not make a mistake. As Shalelei's sister and Derek's close guard, she was very familiar with this medicine.

Durenna's teeth chattered, her face slowly turning from pale to livid. The next moment, she erupted in a wild animal-like roar, turned, pushed the door open, and rushed out!

“—Sally!”

Volume 1: From Crazy Daughter to Saint: Chapter 94: Forced Transformation (Part 1)

Without a second thought, Shalelei rushed out with Durenna. But the female knight was so fast that she disappeared in the blink of an eye. When Shalelei arrived at Sally's room, she was already kneeling by her sister's bed, holding Sally's hand tightly, and leaning over the bed, sobbing softly.

Sally lay in bed, her eyes closed, a strange blush spreading across her cheeks. But to Sally's relief, the pink "?49" on her head remained bright, showing no signs of flickering or dimming. This proved that Sally's life was not in danger.

"Saint...Lady Saint..." Durenna raised her head. The usually strong female knight's face was covered with tears, just like the night when she came to the church with the dying Sally in her arms.

"Don't panic, my knight," Sharlene soothed her softly. She took Sally's cold little hand and silently prayed to the Goddess of Light. As the faint touch of approval lingered in her heart, a soft golden light shone from her palm.

Durenna gazed at the golden light, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. But as the golden light faded, and Sally showed no signs of waking, her face turned pale again. She took two steps on her knees, clutching tightly at Sharlelei's skirt, and tremblingly asked, "Saint Lady... Sally... How is Sally?"

Sally shook her head solemnly. The divine arts she had currently acquired could only heal external injuries, and Sally had no visible wounds on her body. It was obvious that healing magic alone would be ineffective.

"Durenna, are you sure that the medicine was made by the herbalist in Graystone Town?" Sharlelei asked in a deep voice.

"I won't make a mistake! That smell is exactly like the herbs from Greystone Town!" Durenna said firmly. She stood up with a bang, her hand on the hilt of the sword at her waist, her brow filled with cold murderous intent. "I... I'm going to Greystone Town now and capture that herbalist!"

"Come back!" Shalelei shouted in a low voice. "It takes two days and one night to get to Greystone Town. And don't you think about it? If you go like this, isn't that just walking into a trap?"

Durenna, who had already reached the door, was slightly startled. She turned back, her mouth trembling slightly, and the murderous look on her face instantly turned into confusion and helplessness. "Saint Lady... Saint Lady, what should I do now?"

Sharlelei didn't say anything, but frowned and looked at Sally who was unconscious on the bed, lost in thought.

If the herbalist in Graystone Town was the mysterious person who delivered the letter and medicine to Granny, then he had been a pharmacist for the Volo family for so long that he must have infiltrated the Volo family. Durenna could easily imagine what would happen if she rushed in.

Moreover, no werewolves have appeared in Greystone Town so far, and Sally shows no signs of turning into a werewolf... No, not to mention Sally, just Derek, who has also been taking medication for a long time, does not show any signs of turning into a werewolf either.

But according to Durenna, the taste of the medicine is the same, and even if it's not the same medicine, the main ingredients should be the same. So why did Nannide turn into a werewolf after drinking it, while Sally and Derek were fine?

Suddenly, Sharlene's heart moved and she remembered what Granny said.

“Draw nearer to your God.”

Maybe, just maybe, the effect of this potion was simply to bring one closer to a certain deity. For Nannide, that deity was the Antlered Goddess, which was why he became a werewolf. And Sally and Derek...

But at this moment, Sally on the bed trembled all over and began to mutter in her sleep.

"Ah... God, the Supreme God, the ruler of the great dream... the other side of all dreams..."

The girl's voice was vague and erratic. She slowly opened her eyes while mumbling, but they were pale, with only the whites of her eyes visible, not her eyeballs.

"Sally!" Durenna rushed back to the bed, held her hand tightly, and patted her cheek. "Sally, what's wrong with you? Don't talk nonsense. Sally, look at me, your sister is here..."

But Sally seemed to be deaf to all the noise. She opened her eyes without eyeballs and repeated in a strange and flat tone over and over again:

“He will return, He will return, He will return…”

Soon, she began to cough, but even so, she continued to repeat those words over and over again, and bright red blood slowly flowed from her nose.

“He will return, He will return, He will return…”

Even with white foam forming at the corners of her mouth and her mouth dyed pink by the blood, Sally continued to mutter and repeat. At the same time, the thing that Sally least wanted to see happened—the number of desires above the girl's head gradually began to flicker and fade.