The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

"Oh, it's you, sis! Where were you just now? Why did you crawl out from under the table? And who was that woman? Did you bring her home?"

"Well... this..."

Due to the effects of the magic, Luthus was unable to utter words like, "She's the Demon King, run!" She also feared that, unaware of Naka's identity, Luthus's words might offend Naka and lead to her being killed by the cruel and ruthless Demon King.

Even though her body had become a puppet obeying the Demon King, no longer human and fallen into the demonic path, the desire to protect her loved ones still sustained Luthus as she dragged her repulsive body to life. She hastily stepped forward to stop Luthus and Naka from continuing their conversation, fabricating an excuse.

"Um... I was just picking something up from the floor. I dropped my pen... Also, this is my colleague from the adventurer's guild. We've been given some missions lately, so we've been having a secret operations meeting at home."

"Colleague...?"

Lutis tilted her head slightly, a hint of doubt in her eyes, and looked at Naka behind Luthus. Naka was leaning against the bookshelf behind the table, arms crossed. No matter how you looked at her, Naka's baby face made it hard to believe she was a member of the royal adventurer's guild, a group only the elite were allowed to join. However, because she was wearing the special nun's habit reserved for saintesses, Lutis tentatively accepted that she was a saintess in the royal adventurer's guild. There was indeed a piece of paper covered in dense writing on the table, seemingly some kind of plan. The current situation didn't contradict what Luthus had said. Lutis stopped thinking about it.

"I don't care about the work you guys are talking about... but sis, I'm hungry, hurry up and make me some food."

After casually tossing a commanding remark to Luthus, Luthus rudely pulled out a chair and put her feet up on the table. However, Luthus didn't immediately obey, but instead asked anxiously...

"No, that's not the problem... Ruth, are you alright?"

"Huh? What do you mean, 'Is something wrong' or 'Is nothing wrong'?"

"You haven't been back for almost a week... What have you been doing? Why didn't you even say hello to your sister? And what kind of attire are you dressed like? How indecent a girl should dress like that..."

"Hey, I've already said I don't interfere in your work. Where I go is none of your business! Are you my mother? And what right do you have to talk to me like that?"

Ruth's disheveled appearance seemed to bother Luthus a lot. But Ruth suddenly pointed to Luthus's hair, which was pointing at her. Before leaving the house, Luthus had blonde hair, but now it had turned silver-white.

"Sis, you also dyed your hair silver? I really didn't know you were such a trendy person!"

"..."

This silver hair wasn't something Lucia liked that made it this way. But she couldn't tell Lucia the truth. She was rendered speechless by Lucia's rebuttal. In the end, she could only bite her lip and softly say...

"...I'm just so worried about you. You haven't been home for so long, I've been wondering where you've been, how you've spent the night, and whether you've gotten enough rest..."

"Instead of worrying about me, you should give me some food. I'm starving. Hurry up, I need to eat before I go out."

"You just got back and you're already going out again? Where are you going? When will you be back?"

"...Aren't you annoying me?!"

Lucius's well-intentioned question only angered Ruth. To Ruth, Lucius's concern sounded like endless nagging and complaining.

"You never tell me where you go, and I don't need you to tell me where I go! I can come back whenever I want! Now get me some food! If I'm late, are you going to compensate me?"

"....All right"

Lucius's feelings didn't reach Ruth. Ruth, in an almost tantrum-like and unreasonable tone, yelled at Lucius, urging her to get her something to eat. In the end, Lucius relented and silently turned and went into the kitchen.

"..."

Naka simply watched quietly. The two seemed oblivious to her presence as an outsider, and began arguing and bickering. However, Naka understood that Lucius's actions were all to protect the girl. It was clear she truly cared for Lucius. As a female knight, and as family, Lucius's actions and concern for Lucius were beyond reproach.

But this girl named Lutis not only didn't appreciate it, but also went to great lengths to be capricious and selfish with Lutis, making demands without any regard for Lutis's feelings. Even though conversations between family members might sometimes be casual and lack respect, such rudeness was quite rare. This made Naka's first impression of her very poor.

Such an unreasonable and domineering person would displease Naka even if she were made a slave. However, judging from the conversation just now, Rudis seems to be frequently away from home. This saves Naka the trouble of figuring out how to deal with her. As the Demon Lord, she has no intention of bothering with such a petty, street-smart character.

Naka simply lowered her head and refocused her gaze on the plan, considering her next course of action.

However, Naka had no intention of getting involved with her, while Lutis, feeling extremely bored while waiting for her food, spotted Naka at a glance. Naka exuded a very strange aura. Unlike the serious and righteous Lutis, and also quite different from the people Lutis encountered on the street, Naka seemed like a quiet and well-behaved student, yet she revealed a sense of profound depth and unwavering composure. After observing her for a few moments, Lutis became very interested in Naka.

"Hey, hey, I'm talking to you..."

"....."

"Hey you! Are you deaf?"

"...You called me?"

Rudis's first call received no response from Naka. She continued looking at her plan. So, upon calling out a second time, Rudis ran directly to Naka's side and grabbed her clothes forcefully. Only then did Naka notice her.

"Nonsense! Who else could I call in this room besides you!"

But my name isn't you.

"...So what's your name!"

My name is Naka.

"Naka... Hmph, you're quite interesting..."

In just a few words, Lutis became even more certain that this seemingly young girl was by no means a kind soul. The way she answered her questions was just like the obedient children Lutis remembered—merely reciting scriptures, and displaying the same identical expression and reaction to everyone, completely different from the saintess. This only intensified Lutis's interest in her.

She brought her mouth close to Naka's ear and whispered...

"Since you're just killing time anyway...would you like to chat?"

"..."

Ruth's obvious attempt to ingratiate herself made Naka shift uncomfortably to the side. She didn't answer Ruth's question at all. Just giving her her pseudonym made Naka regret her decision.

She felt ignored and disliked, which clearly displeased Ruth, her eyebrows twitching violently. If someone dared to speak to her like that outside, she probably would have punched them immediately. But this time she held back. Because she had something else to say to Naka.

"First published on 705u.com - Book Club"

Ruth suppressed her anger, forced a clearly fake smile, and draped her arm over Naka's shoulder.

"Oh, don't be so formal. You seem to have quite a personality. I have a job here, would you like to do it?"

"..."

"You saints, so tightly controlled by the church, aren't you always being taught things like to be chaste, virtuous, and spotless—things that don't really make sense? I can understand if you think I'm not a good girl... I know I'm not some chaste and virtuous woman. But indulging yourself is much more interesting than this kind of ascetic life that stifles your self-control."

"..."

"I suppose the Saintess doesn't earn much money, right? After all, it's just a job where you stand behind others, casually heal them, and then spend the rest of the time watching the show. I bet the salary the palace gives you and the commission from your tasks aren't very good either... But I know a job that can quickly earn you a lot of extra money..."

"...Hey, can you stop putting your arm around my shoulder like that? It's disgusting."

No matter what Rudis wanted to say, Naka intended to remain silent. But upon hearing this, Naka could no longer tolerate it. Before Rudis could finish speaking, Naka forcefully shoved her arm off her shoulder.

"Also, don't come within three meters of me. Thank you."

After saying that, she brushed off the spots where Ruth had touched her.

"you...."

Naka was treating her like something untouchable and dirty. This made Ruth feel personally insulted, and she was immediately enraged. Ignoring whether Naka was an acquaintance or a guest of Ruth's, she raised her hand to strike the girl who dared to provoke her so.

"...Don't move, if you don't want to die."

But before her hand could even fall, a gleaming dagger was already pressed against her neck. Naka gripped the hilt with her right hand, her voice a low warning laced with rage.

Ruth's anger was instantly replaced by fear. She hadn't seen when or where Naka had drawn the dagger. She only knew that by the time she reacted, the cold touch of the blade was already on her neck. This seemingly defenseless saint possessed extraordinary agility and decisive judgment. If Naka had wanted to, Ruth would probably be dead already.

Although Naka did not take any further action, Ruth knew that her carotid artery was pressed by the dagger, and that she would die immediately if she made the slightest movement.

Driven by her survival instinct, Ruth's body froze, unable to move an inch. She could only manage a forced laugh.

"Ha, hahaha... No, don't get so worked up, I was just joking with you... Don't show off such a dangerous thing, what if something happens..."

While trying to fool Naka, Ruth slowly lowered her fists and put her hands behind her back to show that she had lost her hostility. Only then did Naka put her dagger away.

When she rolled up her trouser leg, the scabbard containing several daggers strapped to her leg made it clear to Rudis. Rudis then realized that this saintess was no pushover. Immediately, as Rudis had instructed, she took a large step back, creating a distance of about three meters between herself and Naka. Naka stopped looking at her and continued to ponder her plan, which Rudis had abruptly interrupted.

"Dinner's ready! Come on, let's eat!"

Soon, Lucia returned to the living room carrying a steaming bowl of rice. Meanwhile, Lucia, who had been complaining of being hungry, suddenly changed her tune.

"Why did it take you so long to finish! I'm almost late! I'm not eating!"

She wasn't truly not hungry. Even though she appeared cheerful, her heart was filled with resentment at being suppressed by Naka's sharp warning. She couldn't afford to offend Naka, so she could only vent her anger on Lucius, who silently endured everything she did. Lucius unleashed all her anger on Lucius, using her as a punching bag. After speaking, she immediately stood up and slammed the door shut with a "thump!"

"Lutis! Lutis! Where are you going..."

Lucy's calls went unanswered. The only sound was the ornament banging against the door from the violent impact.

"....well"

Lucis placed the rice on the table and sighed deeply. Her helplessness and sorrow were palpable in that sigh. She hadn't heard anything from the living room while she was cooking. She was only blaming herself for somehow upsetting Lucis again.

This is just a common... perhaps not so ordinary, family issue. As outsiders, we have no right to judge. But Naka still walked over to the dejected Lucia and whispered...

"She's your sister, isn't she?"

"what?"

"This younger sister is acting nothing like a younger sister. I really don't know how your parents raised her."

"this..."

Ruth was utterly surprised that the Demon King, who had committed such a horrific act against her, would come to comfort her at this moment. She was momentarily at a loss for words.

To Naka, Lucy was nothing more than her slave; her feelings and misfortunes were completely irrelevant to Naka. In fact, Naka, who had personally taken Lucy's life and tormented her both physically and mentally, should have been enjoying her misfortune. Yet, Naka couldn't tolerate such an impolite and disrespectful younger sister. She couldn't help but feel sympathy for Lucy. She wanted to become utterly cold-blooded, but she couldn't suppress these feelings. She couldn't help but want to offer Lucy her advice.

"You can't spoil her like this; it will only embolden her and make her less and less appreciative of your care and concern."

"I..."

"If she doesn't listen to you, you should talk to your parents. If this child continues like this, your family will regret it sooner or later."

"..."

Although she didn't understand the Demon King's reasons for saying that, Luce wasn't unaware of what Naka was saying. She didn't want to see Luce like this either. But she simply couldn't bring herself to discipline Luce. Because she was Luce's "older sister"... but in reality, she wasn't. Naka's criticism of Luce's parents' lack of discipline pained Luce immensely, but she had no choice but to accept it all. All of this stemmed from one reason.

"...I can't tell my parents."

"why?"

"Because... this child, Lutis... is my illegitimate daughter, born behind my parents' backs!"

The kinship between "sisters"

The young female knight, Lucius, is seen by her colleagues as a righteous, optimistic, and energetic older sister. Her mentors see her as a diligent and promising young talent, a vital reserve force for the next generation, and hold high hopes for her. Although she still has areas for improvement, everyone believes that with her passion and exceptional talent, she will surely become an outstanding knight who makes significant contributions to the kingdom in the future.

But almost no one knows the painful past of the seemingly radiant and righteous Lucy before she arrived in the capital. Now, she is recounting that history to the Demon King, who holds the power of life and death over her and is stunned by her explosive speech.

"That was when I was fifteen..."

Fifteen years ago, Lucia was just an ordinary girl from an average family. She was neither an adventurer nor did she possess any combat abilities.

She was born in a town called Vado. There, she lived a simple yet peaceful life with her parents. Her father ran a hotel, and she helped her parents with all the big and small tasks. Cleaning rooms, helping guests carry their luggage... Because of these physically demanding tasks, Lucy developed a strong physique and great stamina. Her diligence and hard work earned her the favor and admiration of many guests.

One day, a handsome and well-dressed middle-aged man checked into the hotel.

Dressed in an elegant and luxurious gentleman's suit, he pulled out a pocket watch studded with large gemstones with his hand, which was adorned with ten gold rings, as soon as he entered. He complained that the coachman's laziness had made him late and prevented him from meeting his important client on time. As he spoke, his large gold teeth gleamed.

Judging from this sight alone, Lucy's father immediately concluded that he was an extremely wealthy man. He immediately put on a beaming, almost gleeful smile and went to greet him obsequiously. His blatantly ingratiating attitude suggested that he would have licked the dust off Lucy's shoes for him without anyone doubting it.

As expected, this hypocrite was exceptionally generous. He said he would be staying in Vado Town for a while and, without hesitation, booked the most luxurious suite in the hotel for six months. Louise's overjoyed father personally escorted him to the room, bowing and scraping all the way. He then called his daughter, Louise.

"My dad told me to serve this guest attentively, to fulfill all his requests, and to clean his room meticulously to ensure his satisfaction and happiness. He said that if I did that, the guest might give a generous tip..."

Flattery wasn't Louise's style. But since her money-loving father had given the order, Louise, as his daughter, dared not disobey. Besides, serving customers was part of the job in this line of work. Louise had no choice but to comply.

At first, he acted like a gentleman, treating Louise with great courtesy and politeness, and behaving with impeccable manners. However, after only a month, he could no longer suppress his desires, revealing the ugly true nature beneath his seemingly refined and cultured exterior.

He said he liked me and wanted me to be his mistress...

This man had explicitly stated that he was a married man, not only a married husband but also a father. Lucia resolutely refused to become a third party and destroy someone else's family. Even when the man said he needed a woman's comfort to fill the void in his heart while in a foreign land, and that his wife would never find out, Lucia firmly refused to do such a heinous thing. However, he was obsessed with Lucia's beauty and had lost his mind. He was determined to have Lucia no matter what. Direct communication with Lucia yielded no response. So he simply went to Lucia's father.

"My dad actually prefers his wallet to me... He'd sell out even his own daughter without hesitation if it makes his wallet thicker..."

Under the dazzling onslaught of money from the wealthy man, Lucia's father's fragile defenses quickly crumbled. His resolve to protect his daughter was swiftly overwhelmed by the allure of gold. He ultimately agreed to the wealthy man's demands. One day, he lured his daughter to the wealthy man's room and locked the door from the outside, leaving only the wealthy man and Lucia inside.

That night, no matter how much Lucy cried and begged, her father turned a deaf ear, counting the mountain of gold coins in his room, calculating what he could do with them...

From that day on, Louise became the wealthy man's mistress. Each time she spent a night with him, the man would give her father a large sum of money. Her mother wouldn't interfere in the hotel's business, and Louise herself was warned by her father and the wealthy man to keep quiet. Louise suffered in silence, tormented by both physical and mental anguish. The double torment ravaged the fifteen-year-old girl.

In his pursuit of thrills, the wealthy man never took any safety precautions. Finally, one day three months later, a sudden bout of vomiting made Louise realize her fate.

"I was so scared that I couldn't sleep, and I was trembling all the time... I wasn't mentally prepared to be a mother, so I went to that man and told him to take responsibility, but..."

Upon hearing that Louise was pregnant with his child, the wealthy man suddenly flew into a rage. He physically assaulted the pregnant Louise and ordered her to abort the child immediately. When she went to see her father again, she expected him to at least show some consideration for their father-daughter relationship at this moment, but he uttered words that utterly broke Louise's heart.

"My father told me to give birth to this child. The wealthy man certainly doesn't want his wife and family to know about this. Therefore, he can use this child as leverage to blackmail him later..."

On one side was a beast who only saw himself as a tool for venting his desires, a plaything to be discarded after he was done with him, never considering the responsibilities a man should bear. On the other side was a father who treated his own daughter's chastity, dignity, and grandson's life as nothing more than a money-making tool, worse than a beast. Caught in the middle, Lucy fell into endless despair. Both her father's and the wealthy man's faces disgusted her to the core. Finally, one night, she left the hotel behind their backs. Leaving only an apology letter to her mother, she severed her father-daughter relationship and, heavily pregnant, fled to a distant land.

"I never want to live that hellish life again... I just want ordinary happiness. To marry someone ordinary, to have children ordinary... But with those guys, even that simple wish is a dream come true... Even now, I still hate them! I wish I could kill them with my own hands... But soon after, that child came into my life..."

She didn't know how far she had gone. All she knew was that seven months after she ran away from home, she gave birth in a dilapidated little church. The newborn girl appeared before her sixteen-year-old self. Louise handled all the aftermath herself.

She didn't know how to be a mother. A new life had suddenly appeared before her young child, leaving her completely overwhelmed. She was utterly alone, with no one she could trust. If she left the child unattended, this fragile life would likely perish soon. For a mother, that would be an act condemned by heaven. Even though she was confused and bewildered, she finally picked up the child and, gritting her teeth, set off with her on the road to the next town. She named the child Ruth.

She didn't want her daughter to know she was a shameful illegitimate child. In the human kingdom, illegitimate children were despised, insulted, and looked down upon—a lowly existence. Therefore, Luthus simply concealed their mother-daughter relationship. From the time Luthus was old enough to understand, she lied, claiming to be Luthus's older sister, that their parents were dead, and the two sisters had to wander the world. Luthus believed this story, and thus, even now, she steadfastly calls her mother "Older Sister."

"I think this way, at least Ruth can grow up healthier and happier. I don't want her to bear the burdens that shouldn't be hers, the problems between that damn man and me... She's not an illegitimate child. She's an upright and good girl. She's my best 'sister'... That's how I've always seen her... Because I can't treat her like my own daughter; otherwise, I might give myself away at any time. Even though I know this is just self-deception, I keep convincing myself that Ruth isn't my daughter, she's my sister. Forget she's my daughter, forget that man, just pretend my mom and dad are really dead..."