The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

Tatsia paid no attention to such idle gossip. She simply focused intently on the exit, waiting for that figure to appear.

She was usually an early riser, but today she was unusually late. However, Tatia waited for her. She decided not to move an inch until she saw her and confirmed their feelings for each other.

"Hey? Isn't this kid? What are you doing here?"

The first familiar face to emerge wasn't the person Tatsia was waiting for, but rather that person's friend: Jasmine. Jasmine rubbed her eyes and approached Tatsia, softly reminding her...

"Are you waiting for Naka? She just got up, I reckon she won't be out for a while... People in the girls' dorm are talking about you right now, you'd better leave for a bit. Otherwise, I'm afraid the dorm supervisor will come after you."

"..."

Jasmine kindly reminded her, but Tatsia remained silent. She didn't even look at Jasmine, acting as if she didn't exist.

"Hey? Kid? Are you even listening to me?"

Jasmine realized she seemed to be ignored. She waved in front of Tasia to see if she hadn't heard her or had fainted.

This action, however, elicited a response from Tatia that Jasmine had never seen before: a cold and ruthless reply.

"You're so noisy, Jasmine. Can you move away from me?"

"Huh?"

Tatsia's sudden outburst startled Jasmine, leaving her frozen in shock. At first, she thought she was hallucinating. But upon further reflection, she realized that this boy, who had clearly received much kindness from her, was speaking to her in such a rude and hostile tone. Jasmine couldn't recall doing anything to offend her. She was completely bewildered.

"What's wrong with you, kid? Why are you talking so rudely? Are you in a bad mood?"

"..."

But when Jasmine asked her questions again, she began to ignore her. No matter what Jasmine said or called out to her, she remained unmoved. Finally, Jasmine had no choice but to leave, being rather tactless.

Jasmine, of course, had no idea what Mittian had said to Tatia the night before. Nor did she know that after hearing those words, Tatia no longer saw her as a close, familiar older sister, but rather as a sworn enemy in love. While Jasmine didn't mean it that way, the somewhat erratic Tatia didn't see it that way.

After waiting a few more minutes, Tatsia finally appeared at the door, her eagerly awaited figure.

"Ugh...so sleepy..."

Yawning repeatedly, Naka slowly descended the steps. She hadn't slept well, having spent the entire night researching at the museum. She'd only managed a brief moment of rest before dawn.

As soon as one foot touched the ground and the other was still on the step, Tatia rushed over impatiently.

"Sister Naka!"

"Wow... Tatia?"

Still half-asleep, Naka initially didn't notice the person standing in front of her. She was startled when the person called her name in an unusually loud voice and came closer. After recognizing the person, Naka asked in confusion...

What are you doing here?

She came to find her early in the morning, and Naka wondered if something unexpected had happened last night. Perhaps her identity was almost exposed, or she had clashed with Oz again. But if that were the case, Tatia would have a wronged expression and speak in a resentful tone. In fact, Tatia was currently very serious.

Taqia cleared her throat and stated her purpose directly.

"Sister Naka! Please answer my question truthfully."

"What?"

"Sister Naka! What do you really think of me?!"

"..........ha?"

Please answer truthfully!

Why are you asking this?

Please don't hide it from me!

"..."

Naka was caught off guard by this question. Moreover, Naka had no idea what her mother's intention was in asking her this question.

To be honest, Naka didn't know the correct answer either. Rather, she had been avoiding the question. She didn't know the specific name, only that it was an emotion she had never felt while still in the Demon King's castle. In other words, it was an emotion a Demon King shouldn't have. Therefore, her pride as a Demon King and the dignity she was supposed to possess prevented her from admitting it. Faced with such questioning, she could only give vague answers.

"No... I don't have any opinion."

"nothing?"

"Yes. You are you. You are my travel companion, although you were very unreliable at first. But now... you're alright, I guess."

"..."

"I sent you here to study because I felt you could become even stronger. That way, my upcoming trip will be easier... That's about it."

"..."

"Takia?"

She had already answered honestly, but Tatsia remained silent with her head down. When Naka asked, she suddenly looked up, her face filled with an unnatural smile.

"Yes, is that so! I understand... Then I definitely won't let you down, Naka-nee, I'll definitely become stronger to show you!"

"Oh, oh... it's good that you have the desire to work hard and improve."

"Thank you, Sister Naka! I'll be going now!"

After saying that, Tatia abandoned Naka, who still had many questions, and ran away without looking back.

Before their parting, Tatia's smile still appeared as bright as ever. But Naka knew very well that it was no longer the smile that had once swept away the murderous intent and cruelty in Naka's heart, gradually melting her cold soul. Behind it all, something profound and dark seemed to be manipulating Tatia down a path of no return.

In just about a week, Tatia had become like this. Naka vaguely sensed that something terrible was happening to her.

"..."

Forcing a smile was already the best Tatia could do. She was afraid she would burst into tears if she didn't. In fact, by the time she reached a corner where no one could see her, her face was already streaked with tears. Her body slumped weakly against the wall, and she slid down to sit on the floor.

"Why...why..."

She had decided to stop crying. But now, she choked back tears, repeating the same sentence over and over. Her hope and future had been extinguished by the person she loved most.

Because she was so focused on Mitian's words, Tatia failed to realize that she was being overly enthusiastic and eager. Furthermore, with class about to start, Naka was sleepy, and her thinking and expression abilities were not at their normal level. Her attitude didn't really mean anything. Even the closest people would only give similar responses in this situation.

But in Tatia's eyes, which had been greatly influenced by Mitian's theories, things weren't so simple. Not seeking anything in return meant having no expectations. Having no expectations meant that she was completely unimportant to her.

To Naka, she was merely a convenient tool for adventure. For a saintess lacking strong combat abilities, needing a powerful combat-class teammate was only natural. If Naka encountered a hero stronger than herself, she would probably abandon her. Even though Naka had no such intention, Tatia was already convinced of this.

"Pity me? Are you pitying me? Pitying my weakness? Pitying my helplessness? In your eyes, Naka-nee, am I still just a child you can't let go of...? Then, I'll become someone who no longer deserves your pity, someone capable of standing on my own... No, that won't do. Without pity, Naka-nee will have no feelings for me anymore... Ah, what should I do..."

If she wasn't strong enough, then she'd just become strong enough... But if pity was the last thread holding them together, then what would be left once she became strong enough? This thought led to a dead end. Whether she became stronger or not, she would never be the important person in Naka's heart. Despair gradually consumed Tatya's heart.

"Fine... I'll just pretend to be Professor Mittian's daughter... At least I'll still be an important person in her heart..."

In her despair, Tatia briefly considered giving up and accepting Mitian's offer. Even knowing that Mitian harbored ill intentions, it no longer mattered.

"No...you can't do this..."

But even after that moment, that remaining 1% continued to pound against Tatsia's heart. She simply couldn't bring herself to choose to "give up Naka."

Tatsia knew better than anyone how Naka treated her. Frankly, Tatsia liked Naka. Not as a friend, nor as a benefactor, but as a woman, she liked Naka as a woman. She liked her appearance, her tone of voice, her decisive actions, and her quiet acts of kindness towards herself and others in need… Tatsia liked everything about Naka.

She wanted to hug Naka more, and even wanted to do more and go further with her.

It's strange for a woman to have such feelings for another woman. So Tatsia was unwilling to admit it, nor did she want Naka to know about her burgeoning desire. She also knew that Naka didn't feel the same way about her. She understood everything Mitian said. But she didn't care. Just being able to stay by Naka's side and spend every day with her in the future was the greatest happiness for Tatsia. Even if her feelings couldn't be expressed and remained forever hidden in her heart, that was fine too.

However, if suppressing her emotions and desires only results in Naka's departure, then that's a different story. What if one day Naka loses interest in her and abandons her...? Assuming things only go that far, Tatia wouldn't rule out actively changing the current situation.

Tatia was unwilling to admit that she and Teacher Mitian were actually the same kind of person. She always felt that they were somewhat different, but now she understood that they weren't really different. Just like how Mitian had once pursued her mother, and now she was pursuing her. Whether human or elf, everyone is a collection of selfishness. What's wrong with openly expressing one's feelings?

But Ms. Mittian failed. She didn't get her mother. Nor will she get herself. Therefore, Tasia must never repeat her mistake. What she desires, she must obtain no matter what.

"Oh, right, it's actually very simple..."

A dark emotion, never before seen in the heart of this innocent young girl, was now beginning to sprout.

"It doesn't matter that Naka doesn't have any feelings for me right now... I just need to create those feelings in her..."

Her voice no longer sounded like hers. It began to become unsteady, eerie, and chilling.

"Let's make Naka my own... by any means necessary."

As she uttered these somewhat dangerous words, the corners of Tatsia's mouth involuntarily began to turn upwards.

"Who wants to be an adopted daughter... No matter what happens, I will never leave Naka. Even if Naka wants to abandon me, shake me off, throw me away, or hide from me... I will still follow you relentlessly..."

The tears had faded, and now she smiled genuinely.

"I won't abandon Naka and go with anyone. So, I won't hand you over to anyone either... If anyone tries to take Naka away from me, it doesn't matter if it's Jasmine or anyone else..."

His thin hands were clenched into tight fists. The power poured into them was not hope or dreams, but desire and murderous intent.

"I'll just make them all disappear..."

This sentence did not come from the mouth of the well-behaved, gentle, hardworking, shy, and introverted girl/boy that Naka and Jasmine remembered.

Rather, it was the cruel determination of an elf who had been controlled by a side unknown to herself and had embarked on a different path.

Double update today.

Interlude 04: A Morning in a Downpour

Their first encounter was truly the worst possible.

When Tatsia fought Naka on the streets of Isad, she only thought of her as a meddlesome and hateful woman. But since forming a team, Tatsia's image and identity of Naka have been constantly changing.

At first, she was just a kind person willing to help her without holding a grudge. Later, she became a benefactor who was willing to keep her secrets. By the time her parents passed away, Naka had become the most respectable person in the world in Tatsia's eyes.

But up to this point, Tatya only wanted to repay Naka's kindness. She hadn't entertained any further thoughts.

Just two days after Tatia resolved the mansion incident and decided to head to Sunflower Town, things quietly changed before her departure.

"Huff...huff...huff..."

In the inn where Naka and Jasmine were staying, Tatsia's rapid, weak breathing could be heard. She lay on Naka's bed, her body drenched in sweat, soaking the sheets and blankets. Her face was flushed, and her eyes were tightly closed.

Of course, this isn't something shameful. But it's a very serious matter: starting last night, Tatya suddenly developed a persistent high fever.

The intense heat on Tatya's forehead caused about half of the ice in the ice pack to melt, leaving it sparse. Naka removed the ice pack, emptied the water, added fresh ice, and placed it back on Tatya's forehead.

"Hey, Naka. Is the boy alright?"

"..."

Like Naka, Jasmine was also very worried about Tatia, who was suffering greatly. However, they were only novice saintesses after all, and had no ability to cure illnesses. If they wanted to cure a cold and fever, the only way was to go out and buy medicine and see a doctor.

But the weather turned against us. It was pouring rain outside. The dense, rapid raindrops even blocked the view from the window. The street scene across the street, which I could usually see by simply opening the window, was now just a hazy expanse of water vapor. The trees along the street were swaying violently in the howling wind, and some of the weaker saplings were even snapped in half.

That day was definitely not a suitable day to go out. At noon, the bustling town of Isad was almost deserted.

"This morning, the hotel owner told me he's been running his business here for twenty years and has never seen such heavy rain. Honestly, why did it have to come at this time..."

Looking at the strong wind and rain, enough to stop anyone in a hurry, Jasmine clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction. After closing the window tightly again, she turned and went to Naka, who had been sitting on the edge of the bed, ready to take care of Tatya at any moment.

"The boy is the same. He was fine yesterday morning, how did he suddenly become so sick? Did he catch a cold? Or did he get some kind of infection?"

"It's probably inflammation."

"Where is it inflamed?"

"have no idea"

"well..."

After all that talk, the two saintesses could only offer random guesses. They couldn't offer any real help. Jasmine lamented her own powerlessness.

But the inflammation was just Naka's excuse. Naka still had some clue as to why Tatiya had suddenly fallen ill.

After a month of intensive training, she was immediately thrown into the life-or-death battle of the previous two days. Then came the devastating news of her mother's and father's deaths. Coupled with the immense shock of her mother's death, she remained unconscious for three days and three nights. Taqia's physical and mental state had long exceeded the limits of what a girl her age could endure. Her immune system had significantly weakened. Unaware of this, she hadn't realized it while constantly under immense pressure. The moment she relaxed after everything was over, the overwhelming fatigue that had crushed her countless times over relentlessly assailed her.

It's not that she actually contracted a virus anywhere. It's just a temporary fever caused by her unresolved emotional distress and physical exhaustion. It's not a life-threatening illness. Taking her to the hospital or getting timely and appropriate medication can quickly alleviate her symptoms.

But it seems that fate is not going to let them solve the problem so easily.

"We've studied a little medicine, but we're not exactly licensed doctors... But with this awful weather outside, it's hard to even take him to the hospital... Maybe I should ask the boss if they have any medicine."

"it is good"

The deafening sound of rain, clearly audible even through the window, signaled that they were confined to their room. But sitting there wasn't a solution. Jasmine opened the door and went to ask the hotel owner for the medication they had on hand.

Naka remained seated on the edge of the bed, picked up a towel from the basin of water on the chair beside her, wrung it out, and gently wiped the sweat from Tatsia's face.

Taqia remained in a semi-conscious state. She was very sleepy and longed to fall asleep. However, the aching muscles and burning fever repeatedly pulled her from her dreams. Each time she calmed down a little, she would immediately be tormented by the high fever, her brows furrowed and her teeth grimacing.

Naka was a demon king who had witnessed countless more miserable and painful expressions and would even laugh heartily at them. But looking at Tatia like this, she only felt a heavy, stabbing pain in her chest.

"Tia"

"Na, Naka-nee...?"

Tatsia wasn't asleep yet. So Naka gently called her name. Tatsia slowly opened her eyes.