Training

"Lola, is this the... heavy sword you found?"

I looked at the object before me. It was no different from a normal one-handed sword. Weighing it in my hand, it only felt like it was about five or six pounds.

The thin blade wasn't even sharpened, making it look almost like a toy sword.

As both the Saintess and the ruler, I rarely had a moment of peace. After discussing major affairs in the morning, I decided to visit the training grounds before noon.

Strength had to be improved. I had learned from Hilda that the only ways to grow stronger were through training and combat.

Furthermore, it seemed that in this world, no one besides the Saintess and the Pope could see the information interface.

However, following the usual tropes, people of other races who held positions similar to a Saintess or Pope could probably see it as well.

Knights could only roughly sense each other's strength and judge their standing based on their titles.

As for who was truly superior, they would only know after a direct confrontation.

Although this setup felt very game-like, this world was a reality.

Personal mental states, physical conditions, and external factors could all influence performance.

The possibility of killing someone at a higher level existed, but it was incredibly slim.

Lola looked at the unsharpened iron sword in my hand and nodded seriously.

"Yes, Your Highness. Your swordplay is not yet sufficient, so a sharp blade is unnecessary. Moreover, this weight is perfectly suited for you."

I checked my five attributes.

Strength: 9

Agility: 11

Endurance: 11

Recovery: 21

Mana: 43

Free attribute points: 22

Based on my current attributes, I was indeed not very strong. The limit for an average person was ten, and one only became a powerhouse after exceeding that.

I looked up at Cain standing opposite me. Since I wanted to practice swordplay, I needed someone like an instructor.

Cain and Hilda were the most suitable for this role.

Cain was on duty today, so he naturally became my instructor.

"Cain, how do you all level up? And... how do you distribute free attribute points?"

I had never asked anyone about improving strength before. I had only asked Hilda once, but according to her, her skills were obtained through prayer at the Statue of the Angel.

Her strength was also built up bit by bit through her own efforts.

It didn't seem to have anything to do with attribute points.

"Your Highness... what are attribute points?"

Huh?

"You... you don't even know what attribute points are?"

A flash of confusion crossed Cain's face.

"I do not understand what Your Highness means."

"Then how... how do you increase your strength?"

"Through training, naturally."

Cain's decisive response made me realize that the ordinary people of this world likely had no idea about attribute points.

It was even highly probable that they couldn't control their own attributes at all and could only improve through physical training.

"As long as one trains, miracles will descend upon everyone."

Cain's tone was incredibly devout, and his expression was solemn.

Clearly, he firmly believed that training alone was enough to increase one's strength.

"However, if Your Highness wishes to know a specific level of strength, it is quite simple. You only need to find someone with the Eyes of Scrutiny."

"Eyes of Scrutiny?"

"Yes. Those with the Eyes of Scrutiny can judge a person's general strength and see their level."

Eyes of Scrutiny?

By that logic, did I have them too?

As if sensing my surprise, Cain shook his head.

"Your Highness is different. You are favored by the Gods and possess the protection of the Gods. Naturally, you can see a person's strength, though this requires the other party's consent. For example, me... Your Highness can see my strength now because I will not refuse you."

I can see his strength?

After a moment of hesitation, I took a step forward.

"Then... how do I see your strength?"

"Your Highness, please hold the Sword of Fidelity."

I pulled the Sword of Fidelity out of my storage space. At the moment, it still felt like a Western rapier, as thin as a piece of wire.

"Like this?"

"Yes."

As he spoke, Cain stepped forward and knelt on one knee before me.

"Your Guardian Knight, Cain, is here. Please rest your Sword of Fidelity on my shoulder, Your Highness. That way, you will be able to see my strength."

Wow!

Even just checking attributes required so much ceremony?

Is this... what do they call it?

A sense of ritual in life?

I rested the Sword of Fidelity on his shoulder. Just as I was about to ask how to trigger it, an interface like a game prompt suddenly appeared before me.

No... it wasn't right in front of me, because no one else around could see it. Only I could.

【Would you like to query the attributes of Temple knight — Guardian Knight Cain Winchester, serving under the Saintess of the Moon?】

There were two options below.

【YES】 and 【NO】.

Naturally, I instinctively reached out and tapped it. In an instant, an attribute interface burst into view.

As my gaze swept over the stats, I was completely stunned!

...................

Name: Cain Winchester.

Class: Temple knight, Guardian Knight (Angel of the Moon).

Level: 55+ (15%).

Strength: 334+ (1303)

Agility: 128+ (384)

Endurance: 278+ (1084)

Recovery: 224+ (874)

Mana: 108+ (421)

Free attribute points: None

Title: Guardian Knight (Attribute bonus of 390%, adds random attacks carrying double heavy strike)

...................

Just in terms of attributes, three of them were already over a thousand!

Not only that.

There were no fewer than fifty or sixty skills listed below.

Every single one of them had a bonus from the Guardian Knight title.

The effects brought by these bonuses were nothing short of terrifying!

I picked one at random.

【War Stomp — A knight's formation skill. Emits a shockwave equal to the user's strength, destroying the surroundings while intimidating the enemy and increasing attack power. (Guardian Knight Bonus — Can expand the shockwave range to a hundred-meter radius centered on the user and adds the 'Oppression' skill.) (Limited to mounted state.)】

What the hell!

Is it really that overpowered?

Then why are my attribute points so pathetic?

And why doesn't my title give me any bonuses?

Cain's current strength attribute is a hundred and eighty-one times mine!

To put it bluntly, he could easily pierce my body with a single finger!

Ugh, that sounds a bit strange, but it's the truth.

With his strength, he could easily pierce a hard rock with just a finger.

Let alone my mortal flesh. I seriously suspect he could kill me just by spitting on me.

The title bonuses... were too terrifying!

No wonder they said titles were the most precious things. Such a massive bonus meant that even against someone of the same level, a person with a title could easily crush someone without one.

Unless the opponent was a genius who could achieve explosive attribute growth without a title.

But wouldn't that kind of person find it even easier to earn a title?

In that instant, memories of facing Zuka while charging into the demon army's central command flashed through my mind.

Thinking back on it now, I felt a wave of lingering fear!

The opponent was a level sixty powerhouse who had already broken through the level fifty threshold.

How terrifying would his attributes be?

Surely they were all over two thousand?

And what about me?

My average stats were barely over ten.

This wasn't just a case of an egg hitting a rock; it was like a mantis trying to stop a carriage or an ant trying to shake a giant tree!

The strength of the two sides was on completely different levels.

Luckily, I had special class skills and Authorities. Otherwise, I would have certainly died then!

No... I wouldn't have died, but the outcome would have been far worse than death.

I now thoroughly understood the gap between our strengths.

It was truly the difference between heaven and earth.

No, I couldn't let this continue. I had to start training.

The strange thing was, why did his title have bonuses while mine didn't?

This wasn't right. No matter how I thought about it, it didn't make sense.

Reasonably speaking, the bonus attributes from my title as Saintess should be even higher.

But why had his attributes increased by 3.9 times while mine hadn't changed at all?

Even after becoming a Witch, there was no growth?

Ultimately, this title came from the Pope, since the original document tablet for the Saintess was in his hands.

If he had tampered with the document tablet, he could have completely stripped away the power granted by my title.

Given the Pope's past behavior, this was a very high possibility.

I shook my head and moved the Sword of Fidelity away from Cain's shoulder.

"Rise, Sir Cain."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Cain stood up. He seemed to have no dissatisfaction with the act of kneeling; there was even a hint of pride on his face.

It seemed that although he wasn't much to look at, he perfectly embodied the virtues of a knight.

"Your Highness, how was it? Did you see my strength?"

"Sir Cain, you are truly worthy of the title of Guardian Knight."

"Thank you for the praise, Your Highness. However, that is not the focus today. Please put away the Sword of Fidelity and take up the iron sword. My goal today is to help you familiarize yourself with swordplay."

"I understand."

I put away the Sword of Fidelity and picked up the unremarkable iron sword from the ground.

Though it looked plain, it was the proof of my journey to improve my strength.

With it, I could increase my power step by bit.

Lifting the iron sword, I looked at Cain.

"Sir Cain, what... should I do?"

"Your Highness, first, maintain your sword-handling posture. Remember, no matter when or where, you must never let go of the sword in your hand, for it is the only weapon you have to confront your enemies."

"Right!"

I gripped the hilt tightly with one hand. Cain then brought over a wooden dummy from somewhere.

"Cain, what is this for?"

Cain walked in front of me, looked down at the ground, and then suddenly raised a wooden post in his hand and slammed it downward!

A terrifying scene unfolded!

Without any tools, a wooden stake thicker than my waist was driven into the stone-paved ground by Cain's bare hand!

With this strength, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he could crush me with one hand, right?

"Your Highness, from today on, your task is to use the iron sword in your hand to cut through this wooden dummy."

"Huh? Wait... Cain, this sword isn't even sharpened! This..."

"Please look, Your Highness."

As he spoke, Cain reached out and picked up two nearby iron swords and struck them against each other!

With a loud crack, both iron swords snapped!

"I do not need any edge. By relying purely on technique and strength, I can easily break iron swords. And what your iron sword is facing is merely a piece of wood."

I looked down at the sword in my hand and then at the wooden dummy.

Fine, you win.

Since you're the instructor today, I'll listen to you.

When it comes to improving strength, he is far more experienced than I am.

I raised the iron sword and looked at the wooden dummy.

"Your Highness, please do not hesitate. Swing."

Cain spoke calmly, as if he were discussing something trivial.

I felt a bit foolish for a moment. Without any delay, I followed his instructions, raised my hand, and swung the sword!

Clang!

With a dull thud, the iron sword flew out of my hand. An incredible sensation of numbness and throbbing pain spread from the webbing of my thumb throughout my entire body.

"Ah!"

I let out an instinctive cry of surprise. The recoil from the iron sword hitting the wooden dummy pulled me backward, and I fell onto my rear.

"Cain, this..."

I clutched my numb hand and looked at Cain in shock.

"Your Highness, the armor on a battlefield is much sturdier than a wooden dummy. Often, you cannot focus your attack on the strongest part of the enemy's armor. Instead, you must find their weaknesses. No matter how solid a defense is, it has its own vulnerabilities."

I looked at Cain. He didn't seem surprised by this at all.

However, he still walked over, picked up the iron sword, and respectfully placed it before me.

"Please remember my words, Your Highness. Never let go of your sword. Otherwise, in the next instant, it will be the enemy's sword that severs your head."

I bit my lip and stood up.

"I understand."

Using my hand that was still trembling with numbness and pain, I managed to pick up the iron sword.

I looked up at the wooden dummy.

The unsharpened iron sword, even when swung with all my might, only left a white mark on it.

I frowned slightly.

Though I wasn't an expert, I had some understanding of blades.

I gripped the one-handed sword.

"I don't like this sword..."

Lola had prepared quite a few iron swords for me, all of them unsharpened, of course.

Among them were both two-handed swords and one-handed swords.

I casually picked up a long-handled two-handed sword to try it out.

Not bad. This felt right.

"This one feels much more comfortable."

Lola looked at me and asked with some concern, "Your Highness, your strength is not yet enough to allow you to use such a..."

Before Lola could finish, Cain raised his hand to stop her.

"Lady Lola, everyone has things they are suited for and things they are not. But that is not for outsiders to decide. Only the person themselves knows what weapon suits them best."

Then, Cain turned back to look at me.

"Your Highness, you may choose whatever weapon you find more convenient to use. No matter what kind of weapon it is, as long as it feels comfortable to you, that is fine."

"Okay."

I nodded and raised the longsword in my hand once more.

This time, I will definitely split the wooden dummy!