The story of the black silk female knight

"Here... this is the gift your instructor wants to give you. Do you like it?"

With a flash of cold light, Valensa pulled out a short sword with a blade only about 30 centimeters long and placed it in front of Lian.

“This is… amazing!”

Lian's eyes widened instantly, and she subconsciously reached out to touch the blade, but her fingers were cut by the sharp edge as soon as she touched it, and blood flowed out.

Lian didn't care at all; on the contrary, she became even more excited.

"See? I knew you little fool would hurt yourself."

Valensa smiled indulgently, then used her other hand to cast a divine spell, healing Lian's fingers.

The gift she was going to give to Lian was the trophy she had obtained from the beast hunter—the Dragon Fang Short Sword.

The Dragon Fang Short Sword is indeed very sharp, but it's too short and too light. Valensa, who is used to longswords, has always found the Dragon Fang Short Sword a bit awkward to use.

Previously, she lacked offensive capabilities and often needed the Dragon Fang Short Sword to break through her defenses; there was no other way.

But now that Valensa has the Moon Kiss and Cross-Handled Lightsaber, whose sharpness has completely surpassed that of the Dragon Fang Short Sword, the Dragon Fang Short Sword is practically relegated to storage.

Now is the perfect time to take it out and give it to Lian.

Anyway, Lian's swordsmanship basically needs to be trained from scratch, so switching to short swords shouldn't be a big problem... Plus, Lian is relatively short, so short swords are very suitable for her.

"This sword is a bit short, but it's made from the fangs of a Moon-class Black Dragon. Most armor and weapons are no match for it... So, do you like this gift, Lian?"

Chapter 17 The King's Audience

"I love it! I love it so much... Ouch!"

Lian nodded happily, trying to reach out and take the Dragon Fang Short Sword, but was cut again.

She was already being very careful this time.

Lian then realized just how sharp the Dragon Fang Short Sword was. While overjoyed, she also felt somewhat conflicted and embarrassed.

"Is the gift... too expensive, Instructor?"

"it does not matter."

Valensa smiled and shook her head. Seeing that Lian still looked embarrassed, she continued:

"Although I don't really care... because I feel a strong connection with you, Lian. Even if this Dragon Fang Short Sword would be very expensive if it were auctioned off, I'm just giving it away."

But if you really feel embarrassed, Lian, then you should practice even harder.

"To be honest, I personally recruited you to be a paladin, so you'll definitely be working for me in the future. And won't this sword still be fighting for me then?"

"...Okay, I understand. Thank you, instructor."

Lian then carefully took the Dragon Fang short sword and nodded seriously to Valensa:

"Don't worry, Instructor, I will definitely work hard to improve myself and share your burdens in the future."

"very good."

Valensa smiled, then rummaged through her storage space and found a short sword that was about the same length and size as the Dragon Fang Short Sword.

This was one of her previous finds from blind boxes at the Dimensional Hardware Store: a rare purple weapon that she had kept in storage ever since.

"bring it on."

After swinging the short sword around in her hand a few times to get a feel for it, Valensa struck a pose:

"Let's begin our training now, starting with the most basic uses of the short sword, Ren!"

"Yes, Instructor!"

. . . . .

After successfully recruiting Sophia and Lian, Valensa once again spoke at length about her plans at the Iris Girls' Academy reunion the following evening and extended an invitation to the girls.

Many girls were quite interested, but not impulsively, and all said they needed to think about it.

However, after learning that Sofia had agreed to Valensa's recruitment, many girls who said they would think about it quickly made up their minds.

Two more days passed. After the girls hesitated, thought about it, and communicated with their families, a total of 19 girls, including Sophia and Lian, finally accepted Valensa's recruitment and chose to join the church.

Of the girls who didn't agree to the recruitment, more than half were already engaged and were getting along well with their fiancés so far, so they decided to arrange a marriage.

There were also some girls who, although they longed for freedom, lacked the courage to pursue it. After some internal struggle, they chose to give up the struggle and obey their families' arrangements.

Valensa didn't try to persuade these girls anymore... Just as she had told Sofia at the beginning, she would only give the girls a chance to struggle, and the final choice was up to the girls themselves.

Meanwhile, good news also came from Rika's side.

In the past few days, while Valensa was busy recruiting those girls, Lika also discussed Valensa's idea with several high priests and together they submitted an application to the church headquarters.

The church headquarters responded quickly, and the result was as expected.

Headquarters did not reject Valencia's idea, but it did not fully agree to it either.

Headquarters allowed Valencia to form an experimental team and give each member a formal clergy position, with a trial period of five years.

If Valencia's team can achieve the expected results within these five years, her proposal will be formally adopted and promoted in all church branches.

If the team's performance fails to meet expectations five years later, the organizational structure can still be retained, but the plan will not be promoted... Sophia and Lian will be the first and last team like this.

In terms of social skills, Sophia and her friends have already put in a lot of effort. The next focus of their training will be on knowledge about cults.

In this regard, Valensa still entrusted it to Fran... after all, even her own related knowledge was basically learned from Fran.

Valensa herself spent most of her time in the training grounds, adapting to the power of the Lighthouse level while guiding Lian's cultivation.

A few more days have passed, and with the conclusion of this year's War Academy entrance examination, the start of the new semester is just around the corner, and Tia should be back soon.

This world doesn't yet have any particularly useful remote communication tools. The Linking Crystal Device can function similarly to an email address, but the network hub of Fran and the Sage's Tower are not connected.

Valensa didn't know how well Tia had progressed in her seclusion, but she believed in Tia's talent and abilities.

Tia said she was certain she could reach the Lighthouse level this summer.

Once Tia reaches the Lighthouse level, she should be able to use more spatial linking techniques... I wonder how powerful Tia will become?

While missing Tia and wanting to be intimate with her, Valensa was also somewhat eager to fight her.

When Tia comes back, I'll have a good sparring match with her. Whoever loses will be down there...

"What are you thinking about? Why are you smiling so awkwardly? It's broad daylight!"

Valensa was sipping her tea and daydreaming when she was suddenly tapped on the head.

She looked up and saw that it was Lika, who was usually very busy with work.

"Hehe...Daydreaming is a privilege of young people, Sister Lika."

"...You little rascal, are you trying to say I'm old in a different way? Heh!"

Lika flicked Valensa's forehead again without hesitation before giving the order:

"Stop thinking about those shameless, lewd things. How can you be more sexually insatiable than a succubus like me? Go take a shower, change into formal clothes, and come with me."

"Oh, alright."

Valensa didn't refuse, she was just a little curious:

"Where are you taking me, Sister Rika? Are we going to meet some important person from the church headquarters?"

"No, not many important figures come to the church headquarters...and they rarely leave the Divine Continent."

Lika shook her head and said seriously:

"An envoy has arrived from the royal palace. His Majesty the King wants to see you... It's probably still about the matter of the Iris Girls' Academy and the Abyss Spirit Society."

"Huh? His Majesty the King wants to see me?"

Valensa was surprised.

Although she grew up in the capital and was a noblewoman, she rarely saw the king. Even when she attended the royal banquet this year, she only saw him on a magical projection.

When was the last time I met His Majesty the King?

Valensa curled the hair around her ears and realized she couldn't remember it anymore.

"Don't worry, it's okay."

Seemingly noticing Valensa's nervousness, Lika smiled and comforted her:

"The identity of the Inner Templar Knights is known to every ruler of a human regime... It's likely that headquarters has already informed the royal family about your situation, and the royal family has decided to show you goodwill."

If I'm not mistaken, His Majesty the King will likely use the matter of the Iris Girls' Academy as an excuse to bestow upon you many rewards, perhaps even granting you another title… Just accept it without worry.”

Chapter 18 The Council Chamber

After taking a shower, Valensa hesitated for about two minutes between traditional court dress and equestrian attire before choosing the equestrian outfit with silver armor, a cape, a short skirt, and black stockings.

In fact, given Valensa's status as a noblewoman, traditional court attire would have been more appropriate for an audience with the King. However, since she was there to receive a reward, wearing knighthood would have been fine as well.

Of course, in Valensa's mind, the most important reason she chose the equestrian outfit was that the skirt of the traditional court dress was too long and would cover her beautiful black stockings, which she didn't like.

After dressing appropriately, Valensa walked out of the church.

At the entrance, a carriage pulled by four white horses was waiting by the roadside. The carriage looked rather understated, but the materials were all of the highest quality, and there was a golden royal mark on the curtain.

Beside the carriage stood a group of handsome and dashing knights, attracting a crowd of women. The knights, however, remained standing still, their eyes fixed straight ahead.

Only when Valensa approached did a knight with a pale purple cloak step forward and gesture for her to enter with impeccable manners.

“Miss Valensa Bader, please come to the council chamber. His Majesty the King is waiting for you there.”

"Thank you."

Valensa returned the same standard knightly salute before stepping onto the carriage with her long, black-stockinged legs.

As the carriage curtain was about to fall, the guard knight with the pale purple cloak hesitated for a moment before quietly approaching the carriage and whispering:

"In addition, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to you, Miss Bader... my fiancée, with whom I grew up and have a very good relationship, is a student at Iris Girls' Academy."

"You're too kind, Sir Knight."

Valensa smiled faintly:

"As the instructor who provides them with basic military training and teaches them survival skills, it is my duty to protect them from the attacks of evil cultists and gangs."

The guard knight said nothing more, but bowed sincerely to Valensa again, then walked to the front of the squad and gave orders to the other guard knights:

"Go back to the palace."

Valensa then leaned back completely on the soft chair inside the carriage for a final moment of relaxation.

The knight's thanks made her feel quite good and gave her a greater sense of accomplishment.

Moreover, judging from the behavior of that knight in the guard, he and his fiancée must have a very good relationship; it seems that arranged marriages can indeed be based on true love.

Giving young women the opportunity to choose for themselves, rather than using more brutal methods to destroy various arranged marriages, is indeed the right thing to do.

The church and the royal palace were both located in the central urban area of ​​the capital, and the distance between them was not far. Valensa's carriage stopped not long afterward.

"This way, Miss Bader."

The other guards remained in place with the carriage, while the squad leader of the guards who had thanked Valenza earlier continued to guide her.

The two walked through the palace corridors and gardens and soon arrived at the entrance of the council chamber.

There was also a squad of handsome royal guards standing watch here. They must have received orders beforehand; they simply verified Valensa's identity without conducting any further checks or announcements, and then let her in directly.

Upon entering the royal council chamber, one could immediately hear a heated debate emanating from the front.

Valensa glanced around cautiously and found that there weren't many people in the council chamber, which was completely different from the scene she had imagined, with the king in the middle and civil and military officials on both sides.

This council chamber is less like a grand hall where officials meet with the emperor and more like a conference room in a large company.

A long white jade table was set up, with the king and queen sitting at the top facing the door, while the remaining dozen or so people were divided into two groups on either side.

Currently, the two men expressing their opinions to His Majesty the King are middle-aged men whom Valensa is not familiar with, but she knows that they are both key ministers of the kingdom.

The two weren't arguing; they just had different opinions on a certain issue and were sticking to their own views.

The king, who was listening to the two men, remained expressionless. His face, which was nearly 70 years old, was without a single wrinkle, and his skin was fair and smooth, making him look like a well-maintained man in his thirties or forties.

However, he looked too thin, and the dark circles under his eyes were quite obvious, as if he was tired from working hard on national affairs, or perhaps he had overindulged in excessive sexual activity.

The queen, who sat right next to the king, was completely different.