The Fake Saintess and the Elf Warrior

What she saw was no longer the town, the bustling crowds, or the natural scenery, but an endless abyss of darkness. She didn't have the courage to die. She simply searched for a glimmer of hope, its whereabouts unknown, within the endless darkness.

But no matter how hard she searched, no matter how far she walked, darkness remained. Light never appeared. She felt thirsty, exhausted, and her legs had gone numb. But she kept walking. If she didn't keep going, the light of hope would never appear.

She walked for one day, two days, three days... and before she knew it, a week had passed. Having eaten, drunk, and rested for a week, she finally collapsed on a main road.

That main road led to a huge cultural center. Many people passed by every day. Someone saw her and, fearing she would be run over by a carriage, moved her to a tree by the roadside. They gave her a sip of water and then left. Such a person could be considered kind-hearted.

Of course, it wasn't just kind-hearted people who traveled this road. Before she regained consciousness, a group of oddly dressed, menacing-looking thugs also passed by. By sheer coincidence, they found her collapsed under a tree by the roadside.

"Oh? Looks like we've got some work to do today."

The leader smiled and approached with his two henchmen. They were three thieves. Lacking the skill of highway robbery, they only dared to skim a little something from someone like Tatia, who was unconscious.

"Since you're going to die soon anyway, we can use what's on you..."

As he spoke, the chief began searching Tatsia's pockets. However, he found nothing.

"Boss, this guy doesn't have a single penny on him, just this junk."

The henchmen who searched her bag only found some changes of clothes, rags, a dagger for self-defense, and other worthless items.

"What a penniless wretch! But at least he's carrying weapons; those might fetch some money."

The leader glanced at the scabbard on Taqia's back. As long as her weapon wasn't too bad, the three of them would have a meal tonight. But when he pulled out that shabby sword—so bad no one would even bother picking it up from a garbage dump—he flew into a rage.

"What's wrong with this penniless guy! He doesn't even have anything worth a gold coin? I've been doing this for years, and even beggars on the street aren't this stingy! What bad luck! A terrible start to the day!"

"Boss, how about this? We'll tie him up and sell him to slave traders in a nearby town. His belongings aren't worth much, but he seems to still be breathing, so he might be worth something."

In a moment of desperation, one of the henchmen came up with a most vicious plan, even though they had never done such a thing before. But the leader, looking at the deeply unconscious and immobile Tatsia, ultimately agreed to his suggestion.

"Alright. This is the first job I did today. I won't be able to swallow this anger if I don't even get a feather. Third brother, tie him up with a rope."

"Okay!"

The man known as the third brother pulled out the rope he had used to tie the sacks from his pocket, climbed onto Tasia's back, grabbed her hands and tied them together, then cut the rope with a knife and continued to tie her feet.

"that"

However, just then, a woman's voice suddenly rang out beside the three of them. Only then did the leader realize he had forgotten to check his surroundings before starting work, and he immediately looked over nervously.

The eldest brother was stunned when he saw the source of the voice. His underlings, belatedly realizing what was happening, were also stunned. Even the third brother stopped tying up Tatya and stared blankly at the speaker.

It was a graceful young woman dressed in a pale white ruffled dress, her hands adorned with various exquisite jewels, holding a blue parasol. Beneath the parasol, her snow-white arms, which were incredibly alluring, were revealed. As she slightly raised her hand, her delicate and beautiful face was glimpsed through the edge of the parasol. On her head, she wore a crown inlaid with vermilion jade. Her exquisite figure left the three men speechless with astonishment.

The three people before her were engaged in some shady dealings. Anyone else would have found it suspicious and dared not approach. But this girl smiled, gently lifted her long skirt, bowed in greeting, and asked innocently...

"Excuse me, do you know how to get to Vado town?"

The author's words:

Because there were so many words, it took me so long to upload this... I originally thought this chapter would be around 15,000 words, but when I finished writing it, I was shocked to find it was 23,000 words. It really startled me.

Due to the limitations of the setting, the plot development in Volume Two was very inconvenient, making it quite challenging for me to write. Many readers probably weren't very enthusiastic about this volume, for which I sincerely apologize. Starting with Volume Three, the story will return to an open-world adventure, unfolding through multiple storylines from the dual perspectives of Tatsia and Naka. While this is very difficult to write, I'm willing to try this new style. The new character who appeared at the end of Volume Two will also play a crucial role in Volume Three. Readers are encouraged to speculate on her true identity. I hope everyone will share their thoughts; thank you.

# Volume 3: The Elf Warrior and the Demon King's Princess

Prologue: The Last Day of the Former Demon King

In the desolate lands of the demons, ruins and rubble are everywhere. For a nation, this scene is truly tragic.

Most monsters can only live in tree hollows and caves. They are homeless and will eat anything they can get their hands on. There are no laws, no rules, only the most primitive law of the jungle: the survival of the fittest.

From afar, the corpses of monsters—those who had starved, been killed, or been devoured—lay scattered across the mountains and fields. Even though this place bore the name of "demon," it was a hellish scene that even demons could not bear.

And in this desolate, undeveloped land, stood a massive, solemn, and magnificent palace. Unlike the nameless monsters whose lives were utterly insignificant, this was the residence and strategic center of the Demon King, the king of monsters. While most monsters suffered outside, the Demon King enjoyed wealth and luxury within. Delicious food, treasures, beautiful women... these were all items he acquired from human society as bargaining chips under his so-called policy of "peaceful coexistence." The profits from trade with humans were not used for construction by the Demon King; they were entirely monopolized by him and his cronies.

Logically, such rule shouldn't have been sustainable and would inevitably have led to a counterattack from the monsters. However, to prevent this, the Demon King had long ago bribed highly intelligent monsters to serve him. The remaining monsters, with lower intelligence or no intelligence at all, were left to their own devices. Even if the less intelligent monsters attempted to rebel, their low intelligence and inefficient fighting would be swiftly crushed by the Demon King's minions. Gradually, the voices of resistance dwindled. The monsters lived in this miserable state for over a thousand years.

However, even a throne that has stood for a thousand years must eventually be replaced. Repeated suppression could never completely extinguish dissenting voices. On this day, two demons who had long plotted to overthrow the Demon King broke through numerous obstacles and finally arrived before the Demon King's castle.

The two demons were a man and a woman. The female demon in front looked up at the towering palace that seemed to reach into the clouds, clicked her tongue, and cursed.

"That fat pig has been hogging such a good place for so many years? What a waste!"

"That's true. So let's change the owner of this castle today."

"That's what the elderly male monster who was following behind said." He walked to the female monster's side and patted her on the shoulder.

"Karenra, are you mentally prepared?"

The female monster called Karenla smiled dismissively. Looking at her scarred hands, she clenched them into tight fists.

"If I hadn't been prepared, I wouldn't be here, Father. I've already killed two of that fat pig's most trusted generals. Even if I wanted to escape, he'd come looking for me anyway."

"When you were little, those two imprisoned and abused you. They deserved to be killed by you. But I doubt this guy cares much... Kalena. Remember this. We endured so much suffering and hardship for this day. To help you overthrow this tyrant, I poured all my heart and soul into you... Once you enter the Demon King's castle, there's no turning back. This journey is one of success or failure. Don't be careless, understand?"

"Don't worry. I've already obtained the strongest power, reaching the limit of Lv 100. That fat pig is only at 91, he's no match for me."

The female monster confidently patted her almost bare chest. Although she was challenging the Demon King as an ordinary monster, she was completely unfazed. Perhaps it was her astonishing talent, her quick comprehension, her scientific training methods, and her tireless efforts that had somehow allowed her to acquire power surpassing that of a Demon King, despite not being one. Now, while she was not the Demon King, she was already the strongest monster in the country, without a doubt.

However, the elderly male demon did not completely let go of her feelings because of this. What makes a demon king a demon king, besides his immense power, is something that other demons, no matter how hard they try, cannot obtain.

"Don't be arrogant! Karenla, I told you, the Demon King possesses seven special abilities that are neither magic nor martial arts. You must be very careful, otherwise..."

"...careful!"

The male monster kept telling the female monster to be vigilant, but he himself was completely oblivious to what was happening behind him. Sensing something approaching at incredible speed, the female monster instinctively pushed her adoptive father away. Between them, the thing simply darted past with a "whoosh."

"It hurts... W-what happened?"

The male monster seemed oblivious to the change in situation, asking with a puzzled expression. Meanwhile, the female monster's gaze locked onto its suddenly approaching target.

"Gurgle... Roar..."

Appearing before the Demon King's castle gates was a hairless, reptilian monster encased in a hard, bluish-black hide. It resembled a lizard, yet it wasn't. It possessed wings, claws, and sharp teeth—features absent in lizards. Its red-glowing eyes stared at the female monster, emitting low growls.

Since raising the banner of rebellion against the Demon King, they have fought countless battles against the demons he has sent out. All sorts of demons are commonplace. But this is the first time they've encountered a female demon like this. She kept a close eye on her opponent's movements, while quietly asking her foster father...

"Father, what is this thing? It doesn't seem to be the same as the lizard-like monsters."

The male demon, finally noticing the object's existence, rubbed his eyes and answered solemnly.

"have no idea"

"..."

She always puts on an air of being knowledgeable and well-informed, but her adoptive father always lets her down when it comes to crucial moments. This leaves the female monster speechless.

In the instant her emotions wavered, the monster suddenly attacked the female monster. It was not only swift but also possessed the intelligence to judge its opponent's weaknesses and strike accordingly. Now was, in its opinion, the opportune moment to defeat the enemy.

However, the gap between the two is still too large.

"Pfft"

A dull thud echoed as flesh, organs, and bones shattered. The abdomen of the long-tailed reptile was pierced by the female monster's fingers. Blood flowed continuously.

"While the movements are swift, they're too straightforward and predictable. If I had to rank them, they'd probably be around level 30. For me..."

The female monster abruptly pulled her arm back and lightly shook the blood off her hand.

"...just a small fry."

On one side was a Lv100 powerhouse, unmatched anywhere in the world, while the other was merely an ordinary Lv30 monster. The outcome was decided in that instant. The lizard-like monster swayed and collapsed.

Looking at its corpse, the female monster said in surprise.

"Is this guy also an assassin sent by the Demon King to obstruct us? But isn't he a bit too weak? The ones who have come knocking recently are at least level 50 to 60. What's he trying to do by sending out a level 30?"

"Who knows. But it's good that we've defeated them, let's keep going, Karenla... Hey! Karenla! Watch out behind you!"

"Um?"

The female monster was about to turn and leave, but her foster father looked on, pointing behind him with a look of utter disbelief. Naka turned around and discovered something unbelievable.

"roar!!!"

The monster, which should have been dead, stood up again, raised its claws, and slashed fiercely at the female monster.

However, at the last second, the female monster dodged the attack with incredible speed, her claws slamming only onto the ground. The shattered ground erupted, sending up countless fragments of sand and dust. From within the dust, the monster slowly emerged. Only then did the two realize that the pierced chest wound had completely healed.

"What happened? It's still alive?"

"It seems to be a monster with regenerative abilities."

"Tch, what a nuisance... I hate fighting these kinds of guys the most!"

Among monsters, there are also regenerative monsters that can quickly recover from injuries to other parts of their bodies as long as their core remains intact. Although they are not numerous, the two have occasionally encountered them. These monsters often hide their weaknesses very well. They are virtually impossible to find without careful searching. Fighting them always takes a lot of time.

However, recently, female monsters have discovered the simplest and most convenient way to deal with this kind of monster.

"Since we can't find its weakness, we'll just destroy its entire body!"

A ball of blazing fire suddenly appeared in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, she threw the fireball at the monster that was crawling towards her.

Although it appeared to be just a tiny fireball, smaller than a child's toy ball, it instantly devoured the monster upon contact. Then came a massive explosion, with flames shooting straight to the top of the Demon King's castle.

The explosion's flames had a radius of tens of meters. The power of this attack was enough to completely annihilate a Lv50 regenerative monster. After the flames subsided, the spot where the monster had stood was reduced to scorched earth. The two who had evacuated to a safe area before the explosion slowly walked back. Looking at the place where no living creatures could be seen, the female monster dusted off the ash from her hands and said with her usual disdain...

"Alright. That way, that guy is finally saying goodbye to us... Honestly, having to use a top-tier spell to kill a level 30 piece of trash is such a waste of mana."

"No, Karenla..."

The male monster also hoped it would end there. But he had to convey a cruel truth to his adopted daughter.

"That guy... hasn't given up on hunting us down..."

Although it had been completely reduced to ashes, a point of light suddenly flickered at the site of the explosion. The point of light expanded rapidly, growing from the size of a grain of rice to the height of a person in an instant. When the light faded, the monster, identical to the lizard, reappeared there. It was unharmed. Still lying on the ground, rubbing its front paws, it growled at the two of them.

"Why...?"

The female monster was stunned. She firmly believed that this supreme-level fire magic was enough to annihilate its body without leaving a single cell. Even the most regenerative monster should have been forced to retreat here. But it seemed far more troublesome than the two had imagined.

"You damn thing!"

Enraged, the female monster charged straight at it. Raising her right hand, now imbued with magical power, she slashed off the monster's head with a blade of light.

But while the severed head was still flying through the air, it seemed to rewind time and flew back onto its neck. When the female monster looked again, it was still staring at the large head. This inexplicable feeling disgusted her utterly.

But no matter how powerful her attacks, whether physical or magical, were, none could completely destroy it. Even if she annihilated it, a new monster, identical in appearance and abilities, would quickly emerge from the same point of light. Even when the female monster tried to attack the still-developing point of light, it was to no avail. Time and again, the monster would reappear and continue its attacks.

This monster itself wasn't particularly strong. But the relentless, unstoppable entanglement drove the female monster into a state of agitation and anxiety even more intense than when fighting her strongest opponent.

After observing for a long time and in many rounds, the male monster could only come to one conclusion. He shouted to his adopted daughter in the midst of the battle.

"Kalena! If I'm not mistaken... this monster isn't regenerative, it's immortal!"

"Come on! Aren't you an undead too? You don't have that kind of vitality..."

"Not an undead... but an undead type! This monster probably doesn't have the concept of 'death'!"

"What... no one died!?"

All living things are born and die. This is an immutable truth. Even a demon king cannot escape the absolute fate of birth, aging, sickness, and death. How could this mere, not-so-strong demon possibly transcend the law of birth and death? The female demon couldn't believe it. But since it remained vigorous and full of life after taking all her attacks, she had no choice but to accept it.

"No...no, even if you don't die, it doesn't mean I can't deal with you."

At this point in the battle, the female monster suddenly remembered something very important: her target was the Demon King, not this lowly minion. There was absolutely no need to continue fighting him.

Magic gathered once more in the female monster's hands. This time, it wasn't fire, but cold ice.

"drink!"

She unleashed a top-tier ice spell, and a multitude of ice spikes quickly surrounded and froze the troublesome monster. Now it was trapped inside a massive block of ice, unable to move.

"It doesn't matter if I can't kill you... as long as I can control you and keep you out of my way!"

The freezing effect of her ice magic was so strong that someone with only Lv30 strength couldn't possibly break free. The monster trapped in the ice still glared with those somewhat unsettling eyes, but now, it was finally completely incapacitated.

"Phew... I'm exhausted."

After using her ice magic, the female monster plopped down on the ground, wiping the cold sweat from her brow. Fighting such a troublesome creature had left her utterly exhausted, both physically and mentally.

"Karenra! Are you alright?"

The male monster immediately approached her and asked with concern. She waved her hand to indicate that she was alright.

"It's alright. This guy is troublesome, but his attack power is too weak. He can't hurt me at all. I'm just a little tired from using too much magic..."

"Is that so... Then you should rest for a bit. But speaking of which, I didn't expect to get into such a tough fight before even entering the Demon King's Castle... It seems this Demon King's Castle really is a place teeming with hidden talents and dangers."

The male monster looked up at the castle before him. He had initially thought that conquering it would be a sure thing for his adopted daughter, who was level 100. But an unexpected situation had arisen. What difficulties would they face within this castle next? He dared not make any predictions.

The female monster tugged at her collar, which was damp with sweat, and complained unhappily.

"Father, do you really not know what this thing is? Someone with such special abilities should have attracted attention by now, shouldn't they?"

"I'm sorry, I really don't know. Whether it has other relatives or something similar is also unknown..."