Stepping forward with bare feet, her Saintess's robe billowed despite the lack of wind. Luo Li gripped the greatsword with both hands and swung it down toward the wooden dummy!
Crack!
With a sharp sound, Luo Li froze in place.
A throbbing numbness surged from the blade, instantly invading her entire arm. Both her hands lost all strength. Although she wanted to keep gripping the hilt, her powerless hands could no longer exert any force.
Clang! The two-handed greatsword fell to the ground. Her body involuntarily staggered back a few steps, and her legs gave way, causing her to slump onto the ground again.
She looked at her hands.
In this moment... it felt as if these hands didn't belong to her.
She had lost all sensation, leaving only waves of aching numbness filling her arms.
"As expected, is Your Highness's strength still a bit too premature for a wooden dummy like this?"
She looked up at Cain. He was rubbing his chin, seemingly lost in thought.
"Cain... can this really be used for training?"
She felt a bit lost. Could she really lift a weapon and fight enemies?
She couldn't even split a wooden dummy.
Was Cain trying to discourage her on purpose?
She looked at the dummy. Both swords had been swung with all her might, yet neither had caused any damage, leaving only two white marks—one deep and one shallow.
"Yes, Your Highness. On the battlefield, swords often clash. If you do not have the resistance to withstand the counter-force, your weapon will be easily knocked aside. At that moment, what awaits you will be the enemy's sharp butcher blade."
Cain walked over to Luo Li. He didn't help her up, but instead extended his arm.
Her eyebrows twitched slightly as she glanced at Cain. She understood his meaning; as a knight, he followed the rules of hierarchy and would not touch her directly with his hands.
With effort, she used her numb arms to lean on Cain's forearm and stood up.
"Cain, tell me the truth. What kind of weapon am I actually suited for?"
After two setbacks, the small excitement she felt when first picking up a weapon had vanished.
Only calm rationality remained.
She knew her own strength best. With her current stats, it was indeed difficult to use heavy weapons.
Cain pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.
"Your Highness, in terms of sword classification, they are divided into single-handed rapiers, single-handed broadswords, two-handed greatswords, and two-handed heavy swords."
He paused slightly.
"Based on Your Highness's physical condition, two-handed swords can basically be excluded. It is not my intention to discourage you, but rather to let you know that while two-handed swords are better for explosive power, if you lack the strength to control them, you will be burdened by the sword instead. The losses would outweigh the gains. Just like that swing earlier—with a single-handed sword, at least you would still have one arm free to move. But if a two-handed sword is parried, you lose all opportunity to attack or defend."
"Your Highness, it is not that I have any discrimination against women, but the vast majority of women cannot use two-handed swords. Of course, Guardian Knights like Hilda are the exception. Her strength is outstanding even among Guardian Knights. That is natural talent, something that cannot be reached through effort alone."
Unreachable? If she put all her attribute points into strength, could she change that?
But if she put everything into strength, wouldn't that be a waste of potential?
Given her current physical state, she was clearly more suited for a healer or buffing role rather than a direct combat class.
"So you mean I should use a single-handed rapier?"
Cain shook his head.
"No. While Your Highness is better suited for a single-handed rapier, which relies more on technique than strength and is better for one-on-one situations, you will likely never encounter such a scenario. Therefore, we must prioritize weapons that can withstand enemy attacks. Thus, I recommend a single-handed broadsword."
Cain took two swords from a nearby weapon rack and placed them alongside the two Luo Li had just used. He pointed to the rapier on the far left.
"The single-handed rapier relies on technique and skirmishing, looking for a single opening during an exchange. With just technique, the blade can easily pierce skin. By utilizing the blade's elasticity, one can exert explosive force to pierce internal organs or arteries."
As he spoke, he picked up the rapier. While holding the hilt in his right hand, he pressed the tip with his left, bending the entire thin blade into a crescent shape like a spring.
He looked up at the wooden dummy.
"Watch, Your Highness!"
With a sharp shout, Cain's figure suddenly lunged forward. His speed wasn't overly fast, but his final step landed precisely in front of the dummy.
At that same moment, the rapier suddenly snapped back from its crescent shape. The instant the blade returned to being straight, the sharp tip plunged into the wooden dummy.
There was a 'whoosh'—the sound of air being whipped.
Thud!
The sword tip, like a nail, had pierced through the entire block of wood.
Cain pulled out the rapier and performed a flourish before looking back at Luo Li.
"This is the key to the rapier: utilizing the blade's elasticity to increase force. This method also allows for attacks from special angles. Because the blade is flexible, it is more versatile, but it is very difficult to parry with."
He put down the rapier and picked up the broadsword.
"The single-handed broadsword is sturdier and requires more strength. It is primarily used for clashing and is better suited for the battlefield. Since it is more flexible than two-handed versions, it is suitable for someone with less strength to use for parrying. However, because the blade is relatively light, it is best to aim for the opponent's joints."
Cain raised the broadsword and aimed at the dummy. The sound of the blade slicing through the air rang out, and with a 'shink,' the dummy's shoulder was severed.
Next, Cain put down the broadsword and picked up the two-handed greatsword.
The two-handed greatsword looked like an enlarged version of the broadsword, but with a much longer hilt and a blade several times larger.
It was roughly 1.5 meters long.
"The two-handed greatsword is for those with ample strength. It requires flexible footwork. The secret of the two-handed sword lies in the feet. However, two-handed swords are not very suitable for land combat."
Cain raised the greatsword and lunged forward.
With a loud 'crack,' the dummy's head was split in two!
Finally, he put down the greatsword and picked up the two-handed heavy sword.
The so-called two-handed heavy sword was less like a sword and more like a wide iron slab.
The width of the blade was nearly as wide as her waist, and it was at least a palm thick.
Such a heavy sword weighed at least a hundred pounds.
"The two-handed heavy sword is for those with monstrous strength. This weapon does not care about sharpness; the weight of its swing alone is enough to level everything!"
Cain gripped the hilt with both hands and swung it like a baseball bat, slamming it into the side of the dummy.
Boom!
The dummy was snapped at the waist. It wasn't cut; it was shattered by sheer force. Splinters flew into the air and crashed to the ground, with many fragments hitting the walls dozens of meters away with a clattering sound.
"Those are the four basic types of swords. Your Highness needs to choose one style to learn, though I highly recommend the single-handed broadsword. It is more practical and allows for parrying."
She listened carefully to Cain's advice. After all, in terms of melee combat, he was the one with the most experience.
She picked up the single-handed broadsword from the ground and weighed it in her hand.
Although her strength had not yet exceeded the limits of a normal person, nine points of strength was still higher than that of an average adult male.
Seeing his mistress swing the broadsword a few times, Cain nodded in approval.
"Very good. Although Your Highness seems to have no experience with melee weapons, your stance and grip show great natural talent."
Cain casually picked up an iron sword and walked to stand directly opposite Luo Li.
"Your Highness, practicing on a dummy might take some time to get used to. So for now, I will be your sparring partner. I want you to experience the advantages and disadvantages of the single-handed sword firsthand."
Her grip and stance?
Those were just things she had learned from TV shows and movies.
But since they looked good, she would keep using them.
"Cain, then I won't hold back."
"Please use your full strength, Your Highness."
For the next period of time, no matter how she attacked, Cain was always able to easily parry and counter.
Without a doubt, she was truly being given a lesson.
When she returned to her room, her arms had almost completely lost sensation. Her right hand felt waves of aching pain, as if it didn't belong to her.
"Healing."
She used the skill. A warm current flowed through her.
The aching pain in her arms quickly vanished, though the sensation of holding a sword still lingered in her wrists.
Her hands remained in a gripping posture, even though the sword was long gone.
"Your Highness... why do you torment yourself so?"
Nara, who had been by her side, looked at her mistress's pained expression. Although she hadn't tried it herself, she could guess how much hardship her mistress had endured.
"How can this be called torment?"
"Your Highness, you are the esteemed Saintess. You have so many knights to protect you. Why bother learning how to use these weapons?"
This Nara was still a bit too young.
She shook her head.
"Nara, while the knights are dedicated, there are times when accidents cannot be prevented. Only when you grip a sword in your own hand do you have the right to struggle."
Nara looked bewildered.
"What does Your Highness need to struggle against?"
Talking to her was like talking to a wall.
Struggle against what?
She couldn't rely entirely on her subordinates to fight for her.
What if she was ambushed by the demon army one day and her knights weren't around?
Should she just surrender?
No!
Even if she was determined to be a healer and not play a melee role, she at least needed some form of resistance.
Being able to stall for time and avoid being captured in the first encounter was enough.
But if she couldn't even do that, what was the point? She might as well surrender at the start.
Thinking of this, she began to wonder what she should do in the afternoon.
Just then, a call came from outside the hall. Was it Lola?
Shouldn't she be handling administrative affairs at this time? Why was she here?
"Your Highness, the Guardian Knight of the Kingdom of the Sun, Yanagi Musashi, requests an audience."
"Is it a communication?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Where is he?"
Upon hearing this news, her eyes, which had been tired from a morning of training, suddenly widened.
Great, it seemed the next step could proceed. She just didn't know if this Yanagi Musashi was a sensible person.
This was her first time so blatantly scheming against someone.
She felt a little nervous inside.
"Reporting to Your Highness, he is still at the border, within the territory of the Garnet family."
When she stood in the communication room and looked at the 3D image before her, she was momentarily stunned.
Appearing before her was a man in samurai armor with a katana at his waist and a serious expression.
"I, Yanagi Musashi, Guardian Knight of the Kingdom of the Sun, greet the Saintess of the Moon."
As he spoke, Yanagi Musashi knelt on one knee and held his hands high in front of him.
"Please rise, Sir Musashi."
Looking at Yanagi Musashi, whose style was completely different from her own Kingdom of the Moon, she wasn't sure how to react.
But on second thought, it made sense. The territory of the Eight Nations of the Holy Church was vast.
It was possible that the style of other holy nations was different from her own.
That certainly made things more interesting.
"I thank the Saintess of the Moon."
Yanagi Musashi stood up, but he kept his head bowed and his eyes forward, appearing very solemn.
"May I ask, Saintess of the Moon, what important matter has caused you to summon me?"
"Sir Musashi, it is nothing urgent. I simply wanted to ask if the Garnet family has neglected you in any way. After all, you led your army to reinforce us. If you have been mistreated, I would truly feel guilty."
"Everything is excellent. Your country's Garnet family has taken very good care of my army. I thank the Saintess of the Moon for her concern."
"Sir Musashi, is there really not even a little bit of trouble?"
She emphasized the words 'little bit' while staring intently at Yanagi Musashi.
Yanagi Musashi looked up, confused.
"This... there is nothing wrong?"
As soon as those words left his mouth, the Saintess of the Moon's face turned dark.
Yanagi Musashi suddenly felt a chill down his spine and instinctively changed his tune.
"There is... perhaps a little bit... that is not right?"
In an instant, the Saintess of the Moon revealed a gratified smile.
Even though Yanagi Musashi often saw the sudden changes of the sea, they could never match the speed of this Saintess's facial expressions!
Yanagi Musashi suspected that this Saintess of the Moon had some kind of switch on her that could instantly adjust her expression.
"Oh? That is truly terrible. To think that the soldiers of the Kingdom of the Sun have suffered such a humiliation! Do not worry, I will certainly reprimand and punish the Garnet family severely!"
"No... well, Saintess of the Moon, the Garnet family has really been good to us. They even went so far as to distribute meat to every one of our knights."
"What? The Garnet family actually didn't give you food? Are they planning to rebel?!"
Yanagi Musashi touched his mouth, then his ears.
It seemed... he hadn't said anything wrong?
How did it sound completely different by the time it reached this Saintess's ears?
"Well, Saintess of the Moon, the Garnet family is really..."
Yanagi Musashi wanted to explain, but at that moment, he suddenly felt a surge of coldness in his heart.
He instinctively looked up at the Saintess before him.
He saw... the Saintess of the Moon's face was filled with a gentle and elegant smile, but... for some reason, Yanagi Musashi could feel a chill erupting from her gaze.
'No! This is bad! If I continue to praise the Garnet family, I will die! I will die! This Saintess will definitely kill me!'
A powerful sixth sense forced Yanagi Musashi to instinctively change his words:
"It is really... really terrible!!"
The moment those last two words left his mouth, that life-threatening sense of crisis vanished without a trace!
"It seems it truly is so. Sir Yanagi Musashi, please rest assured. I will certainly reprimand and punish the Garnet family strictly to give your army from the Kingdom of the Sun an explanation."
At this point, a look of confusion suddenly appeared on the Saintess of the Moon's face.
She seemed to be talking to herself, but every word entered Yanagi Musashi's ears clearly.
"Oh my... is your army from the Kingdom of the Sun so spineless? You were mistreated and yet you didn't even resist?"
"Who dares say such a thing..."
Hearing his subordinates insulted like this was almost equivalent to a slap in his face. Yanagi Musashi instinctively wanted to retort, but he suddenly seemed to understand something!
"Yes! Saintess of the Moon, on behalf of my subordinate army, I lodge a serious protest with you! The attitude of your country's Garnet family is simply too atrocious! Please, Saintess of the Moon, give us an explanation!"
"Sir Yanagi Musashi, you truly are a smart person."
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