The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

Jasmine's words contained not only anger towards Naka, but also anger towards Tatsia. However, Tatsia, at this moment, didn't understand what Jasmine was angry about, and was naturally completely bewildered. Although Tatsia hadn't witnessed Jasmine's actions firsthand, she believed them to be true.

"Sister Naka..."

Tatsia slowly stepped down and gently helped Naka's body from the floor to a chair. She felt that this was more comfortable than kneeling on the ground.

"..."

Naka still hadn't woken up when she sat down in the chair. She was simply too exhausted. After a long day, she could finally get some rest.

Tatya didn't disturb her sleep. She simply watched Naka's peaceful sleeping posture silently.

"While I was sleeping, Sister Naka did so many difficult and dangerous things for me..."

Including this sudden illness, how many times has Tatsia troubled Naka? She's lost count. She only knows that no matter what she messes up, whether it's her own mistake or unforeseen circumstances, Naka is always by her side, uncomplainingly helping her through difficulties, helping her improve, saving her life, and supporting her wholeheartedly when her parents died, giving her hope for life. She even shoulders her hatred and her desires, willing to fight alongside her to kill the despicable demon king who stole everything from her... Now, Tatsia owes her another favor she doesn't know how to repay.

Even calling her a "benefactor" would be an understatement. Taqia didn't know what Naka really meant to her. But looking at her sleeping face, and thinking about having her by her side, filled her with an unprecedented sense of happiness.

Having lost her kingdom and home, Tatia always considered herself an unfortunate elf. She desired nothing more than to survive. Happiness and a bright future were unattainable dreams. But with Naka by her side, she no longer thought that way.

"Ah, Naka-nee, I'm such a lucky guy to have met you in this vast world..."

Tatiana pulled Naka's left arm, the one that had just killed a soldier, and hugged it tightly to her chest. A blissful smile, unseen by either of the two saintesses, appeared on her face.

"So warm..."

Later, the daily newspaper of Isad reported the following news.

"On the XXth of this month, an unusually heavy rainstorm occurred. This rainstorm resulted in the deaths of thirty people. One of them was a soldier directly under the city's command. He suffered a sudden illness while on patrol and died of cardiac arrest. After official confirmation, this was an unfortunate accident..."

I've written up to chapter twenty and realized I haven't written any interludes for volume two yet. So, this time, I'll finally write a long-awaited interlude chapter.

Actually, I had already planned this interlude story at the end of the first volume. I also prepared some foreshadowing for it. However, as I was writing, I suddenly wanted to add a side story in the next volume about Naka and Jasmine's journey from acquaintance to friendship, and I couldn't remember the interlude story at the time. This time, the main storyline of the second volume focuses on the major change in Tatsia's character, so I'll just fill in this chapter with the turning point in Tatsia's view of Naka.

direct confrontation

Since that strange exchange that morning, Naka hadn't seen Tatya for many days. Tatya, who usually rushed to her with a smile whenever she had a chance, had unusually remained absent. And her attitude that day had been particularly strange.

According to Jasmine, Tatsia seemed to be in a very bad mood at the time and said some unpleasant and vulgar things to Jasmine, who was older than her. But Jasmine didn't remember doing anything to provoke her and felt extremely wronged.

Naka sensed that something was happening to Tatsia that she didn't know about. Therefore, Naka was very worried about her. Since Tatsia wasn't coming to see Naka, one day after class, Naka secretly slipped away to the location of the Hero Class: the Simulation Training Hall.

This was her first time at the venue, and the sheer size and complex terrain left Naka somewhat disoriented. After much searching and asking around, she finally found the location of the Advanced Hero Class.

It was a relatively spacious training ground. The female warrior instructor, Wolse, stood at the forefront, directing the warriors in front of her as they wielded wooden swords. Tatsia was among them.

"Thighs tense! Waist muscles engaged! Tatia! Oz! Especially you! Since you're planning to give up magic, you need to hone your close-combat skills even more! Five more sets!"

"yes!"

"Takia responded loudly," she replied, her wooden sword flashing as she continued to slash. She was drenched in sweat, but her movements showed no sign of slowing down. Her focused expression showed she was completely absorbed in the lesson. Her performance was in no way inferior to Oz's.

"Looks like nothing serious happened."

Seeing that Tatsia was still energetic and healthy, Naka breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn't come to see her these past few days; she was probably busy practicing. As long as Tatsia was working hard, there was nothing to worry about. Before Naka was discovered, she quietly left the simulation training hall.

As soon as I stepped out the door, a sickeningly sweet, cloyingly saccharine woman's voice, sounding like she was in heat, drifted in from beside the doorway.

"Seriously, Naka, didn't you agree to have a private tutoring session with me after class? Why did you leave me behind and come here?"

"So, I still couldn't dodge it..."

Naka sighed and rubbed her forehead in exasperation. No matter where she ran, her homeroom teacher, Mitian, could always pinpoint her location immediately. Since she'd been found, Naka had no choice but to go back with her.

"Let's get this tutoring done quickly. I want to go home early today."

With that, Naka walked ahead towards the teaching building where the Saintess Class was located.

However, seeking tutoring from Naka wasn't Mittian's only purpose. She followed slowly behind Naka, speaking deliberately.

"Naka, what are you doing at the training hall? This is a place for combat professionals to have classes, not a place for a saintess."

"I came to see Tatia, is that not allowed?"

"Why are you looking at Tatia?"

"...I'm his girlfriend, can't I come to see my boyfriend?"

"Hmph...boyfriend, huh?"

On the first day of class, Naka lied and claimed that she and Tatia had that kind of relationship. Although it came from Jasmine, Naka didn't deny it. At the time, Mittian genuinely believed her, thinking she was the one who had Tatia's secret to herself. But now, that lie no longer works on her.

"That's really strange. How could Tatia be your boyfriend? She's clearly a girl."

"!"

Mitian deliberately uttered these startling words in a casual tone. Naka immediately stopped in her tracks upon hearing this. She turned to look at the teacher behind her, whose face was filled with a malicious smile.

"you..."

"Naka"

Just as Naka was about to ask a question, Mitian interrupted her.

"What I said in public might be overheard by some strangers. If it gets out, it won't affect you, and it's none of my business. But it's a different story for Tatsia. How about... we talk in private?"

After saying that, Mitian spread out her hands and gestured for them to enter.

"..."

It wasn't surprising to Naka that Mitian knew Tatsia was a girl and an elf. Naka was well aware that Mitian already possessed this information. However, Naka consistently acted as if she knew nothing about Tatsia's identity, causing Mitian to misjudge the information Naka possessed and making her hesitant to act rashly.

However, she now casually revealed to Naka the information that "Takia is a woman," something Mitian believed Naka should not know. This forced Naka to immediately become wary of this woman who had somehow seen through her lie. She had initially intended to prolong the conflict and delay Mitian's meeting with Takia as much as possible. But due to the exposure of the information, Mitian now switched from defense to offense, directly confronting Naka and forcing her to clarify her stance.

Completely unprepared for how quickly things had developed, Naka was now in an extremely passive position. However, her reaction had been observed by the other party. Lying and claiming ignorance would no longer work.

"That's fine..."

That being said, Naka's avoidance of the question didn't mean she was afraid to confront it. If Mitian wanted to bluntly address the issue, Naka naturally had no reason to refuse. She didn't believe a mere saintess could do anything to her or Tatia. Therefore, Naka readily agreed to Mitian's request and followed her to a place where no one would disturb them.

Their final destination was an office in the teaching building. It was Mitian's personal workspace, about the size of a dormitory room. She locked the door tightly as soon as she entered. Furthermore, the school's walls were made of materials with excellent soundproofing. Whatever they said next would be kept secret.

Following Mitian's instructions, Naka carefully sat down on the guest sofa, her eyes fixed on Mitian.

"Come, make yourself at home. Would you like some tea?"

Mitian placed a steaming cup of tea on the table. But Naka shook her head. In the current situation, not accepting anything from Mitian was the safest course of action.

"Hey, Naka, you're so cold. I didn't put anything in it."

"Then I won't drink it either."

"Seriously... I'll drink it myself then."

In the end, Mitian took the cup of tea, blew on it a couple of times to cool it down, and then sipped it slowly.

While she drank her tea, Naka surveyed the office. At the far end was a large desk, and in the center of the room was the reception area where she was currently seated. Behind and in front of her were several neatly arranged bookshelves, and through the glass, she could see some of the books inside. These were all reference books related to the profession of a saintess and the treatment of injuries and illnesses, arranged in an orderly alphabetical order. There was nothing particularly special about them, but rather, they all reflected Mitian's meticulousness and attention to detail.

However, her opponent was, after all, a seasoned veteran adventurer. Naka knew she couldn't afford to be careless. She was prepared to drop her "disguise" at any moment. When she turned back, Mitian had already finished her cup of hot tea.

"Ah, this is delicious. This is top-quality tea shipped directly from the East. Naka, it would be such a waste if you didn't drink it..."

"Teacher, stop with the nonsense. You didn't call me here just for tea, did you?"

"...You're such an impatient child."

Mitian put down his teacup. After a moment of contemplation, he finally spoke, getting straight to the heart of the matter.

"Naka... I advise you to leave Tatia."

This chapter is a bit short. A second update will be posted later today.

Never let go

"You want me...to leave Tatia?"

"Yes"

Mitian nodded.

Mitian took Tatia in as his adopted daughter... To this end, Mitian said many things to Tatia. In the end, just when he was about to persuade her, he was defeated by Tatia's final stubbornness. And that final stubbornness was embodied in this girl named Naka.

Even if she explained all the pros and cons, all the reasons, until she was hoarse, as long as Naka was there, Tatsia would absolutely not agree. Mitian did indeed highly regard Naka's talents as a saintess. However, regarding Tatsia, Naka was an absolute obstacle that had to be eliminated. As a saintess, Mitian wouldn't kill. The only solution she could think of was to persuade Naka to propose parting ways with Tatsia.

"Teacher, I don't know what you're talking about."

Of course, trying to persuade Naka with just one sentence was pure fantasy. Naka completely rejected the idea. But Mitian naturally had a plan.

"Now that there are no outsiders, let's speak frankly. Tatsia is a survivor of the elf race. To avenge herself against the Demon King, she covered her ears, disguised herself as a man, became a hero, and embarked on an adventure... right?"

Mitian's account differed slightly from Naka's. She initially became a hero to buy medicine for her father. However, this was indeed the driving force that helped Tatya overcome the trauma of killing her mother and losing her father, allowing her to continue striving for improvement. Naka nodded in agreement.

"And Naka, I don't know how you found out about Tatsia's identity. But after learning about it, you decided to keep her secret and have been protecting her and helping her grow. Isn't that right?"

Naka herself didn't want to admit it. But in reality, that was indeed the case. Naka nodded in agreement.

Based on these two points, Mitian drew a conclusion.

"Naka, I don't know what your true purpose is. Perhaps you believe that helping the last remaining elf in the world will bring you immense benefits. You're gaining her trust only to betray her someday. Or perhaps you simply want to revel in the sense of accomplishment and superiority that comes from helping this lonely child... In any case, you've presented her with an attitude of selflessness, making her devoted to you. But is this really good for Tatia?"

"What do you mean?"

Naka found herself described by Mitian as either a murderer seeking wealth or a hypocrite. This displeased her greatly.

However, Mitis immediately turned the tables.

"Isn't that right? Then why did you help her?"

"this..."

To sell her to someone else for money later? Impossible. As a demon lord, Naka's vision wouldn't be limited to such a vulgar thing as money.

For self-gratification? Impossible. Naka never felt superior while with Tatya. Nor did she think she was anything special. Quite the opposite, in fact.

She was the Demon King, and she wouldn't regret the orders she issued. To do so would be a desecration of all her subordinates who carried them out. But she also understood that she was the least deserving of Tatsia's gratitude and trust. The more Tatsia thanked her, the more she smiled at her, the more Naka suffered.

So... what was the purpose of that?

If it's so painful, why not leave her? If you don't want anything in return from her, why can't you let go of her? Naka buried her head in her hands, unable to answer.

Mitian noticed her inner struggle. Mitian, of course, didn't know Naka was the Demon King, but she could see that Naka was troubled by feelings she herself didn't understand.

"Naka, someone like you who can't even clearly define his own feelings for her, I don't think that Tatya would benefit from being with you. But my love for her is genuine...love."

At this point, Mitian, like a female performer in a musical, covered her heart with her right hand in an exaggerated gesture, revealing her purpose to Naka.

"I've said it before, haven't I? In my heart, Tatsia is like my own child. For her happiness, I've decided to adopt her and let her give up the path of an adventurer. If you truly care about Tatsia, don't you think this is the best choice for her?"

"No, wait."

Mitian's words made sense at first glance. Naka was indeed troubled by her feelings for Tatsia. But this didn't lead to the conclusion Mitian wanted.

"Teacher, what does it matter to me whether I leave her or not if you want to adopt Tatia? Why do you want her to give up her identity as an adventurer?"

This difficult girl wasn't so easily convinced. Mitian secretly admired her sharpness and composure. But even with Naka's question, Mitian still had a plan.

"Naka, you are a saint, and you came here to study in order to improve your abilities and embark on longer adventures. You must know why Tatia became an adventurer and a hero, and you intend to support her. But do you really believe that Tatia can defeat the Demon King and avenge her people?"

"..."

To be honest, Naka didn't believe Tatsia was capable of defeating her, the Demon King. Even if Tatsia graduated from here and underwent countless adventures and trials, raising her strength to an incredible level, she would still be worlds apart from her own infinitely powerful self. Mitian understood that the Demon King was invincible, which was why she wanted to save Tatsia from her inevitable death. From this perspective, Mitian's argument was almost flawless.

However, Naka herself is the Demon Lord of Level ∞. If she wanted to kill Tatia, she would have countless opportunities. The fact that Tatia is still alive is the best proof that the Demon Lord doesn't want to kill her. Tatia wouldn't have faced the tragic fate of being killed by the Demon Lord instead of seeking revenge. Mitian's worries are fundamentally unfounded. Therefore, Naka really wants to tell Mitian, "That's not the case."

But if she spoke up, Mitian would retort, "Why not?" How should she respond then? Naka had no idea.

Mitian interpreted Naka's silence as a sign that she was gradually accepting her version of events. So she continued her pursuit, emphasizing the legitimacy of her argument.

"Naka, I admit that I approached you to get to know Tatsia through you. But I also told you that I believe you can become a goddess. This was from the bottom of my heart, not flattery. I don't want you to leave her because you're a bad person; on the contrary, I'm very grateful to you for helping her so much. It's just that the child is still dreaming of something unattainable. You don't need to get involved in the revenge of someone you have no connection with. You're out on an adventure, so you should have your own purpose. I won't pry into your personal life. I just hope you can persuade Tatsia to give up that unrealistic hatred and let her live a peaceful life. The only person most qualified to take care of her is me, who deeply loves her mother, Senior Vilia. I heard that you paid for Tatsia's tuition. After she drops out, I will refund all the tuition to you in full. You can then embark on your own adventure more freely and achieve your own goals. I won't ask you to leave her for nothing; I can arrange for the top scorer of this year's Hero and Warrior class to team up with you. You also want a strong teammate, don't you?"

Mitian used elegant theories and rhetoric to disguise her true intentions. Anyone unaware of the truth would find Mitian's words reasonable and well-founded. Even someone else who was supposed to help Tatia would be persuaded by Mitian's words and agree to her demands.

Unfortunately, the person Mydian is trying to persuade isn't a sentimental, overly kind person, but the Demon King himself. Only she knows that the reasons Mydian is giving are completely unfounded.

"Isn't this better, Your Majesty? Since you refuse to kill Miss Tatia, why not let her go with this woman and live as an ordinary person?"

Even Fan, who hadn't spoken for a long time, now voiced his opinion, siding with Mitian. He knew Naka wouldn't accept Mitian's arguments, so his reasons for supporting Mitian differed slightly from Mitian's.

"Don't forget, Your Majesty the Demon King... Miss Tatsia might also be the prophesied hero."

Tatia won't be killed by Naka. But what if it's the other way around...? If Tatia is truly the prophesied hero, then Naka is essentially carrying a time bomb. Regardless of whether she is or not, as long as she leaves Naka and goes back to being an ordinary person, she naturally won't pose any further threat to Naka. For this reason, Fan strongly advocates for the two to separate.

Caught between the voices from both the front and the Demon King's castle, Naka spoke calmly.

"...It's so noisy."

"what?"

"well?"