"It is my duty!"
Nar responded to Luo Li with a slightly boyish voice. The handsome knight wore a solemn expression, but his youthful features made it hard to take him seriously, giving him an almost adorably fierce look.
'He is quite the handsome little guy. He certainly has a bright future.'
"Your Highness the Saintess is too kind."
Yuna also responded, while Hilda shook her head repeatedly, insisting it was only what was expected of her.
"My four knights, I have summoned you here for no other reason than the demon army attack that is likely to occur tonight."
Luo Li felt a bit uncertain about this deduction herself.
In truth, she had simply pieced this together based on her memories of the game. If she were asked to explain the logic step by step, she might or might not be able to articulate it clearly.
However, though the four knights before her looked puzzled, not a single one of them raised a question.
It was clear just how much status the Saintess held in their hearts.
Luo Li breathed a sigh of relief. Regardless of the reason, at least she didn't have to explain something that hadn't happened yet.
"As for how I specifically learned of this, I'm afraid I cannot tell you."
Of course she couldn't. If she did, she would likely be sent to the stake as a fake Saintess.
"Please give us your orders, Your Highness."
All four maintained a serious demeanor while facing Luo Li, which was certainly not their usual state.
Luo Li wanted to get closer to them—after all, these were her soldiers! Having inexplicably become the Saintess with power greater than even an emperor, she wasn't quite sure where to start.
She was unfamiliar with everything. If she interfered recklessly, she might turn the already impoverished Brilliant City into a complete ruin.
"I assume you four have your own confidants. I have received word that a traitor has appeared among the holy knights."
Seeing the four knights about to speak, Luo Li raised a hand to stop them.
"I know what you want to say. I also find it hard to believe a traitor exists within the holy knights, but I am certain of it. Furthermore, this traitor’s strength is significant, being at least the rank of a Fidelity Knight."
Luo Li took a deep breath and stood up, looking down at the four knights.
"I want you to lead your most trusted men and gather at the West Gate tonight, during the peak of the citywide feast."
"We obey the divine decree!"
The four knights knelt on one knee. Their faces showed nothing but absolute devotion, even the grim-looking Cain.
Luo Li turned to Hilda.
"Hilda, do not leave just yet. I have more important matters to entrust to you."
Though confused, Hilda didn't question her. She simply nodded and stepped to the side.
Luo Li looked back at the three Guardian Knights.
"Tonight, the demon army will likely attack the West Gate. I need you to lead your confidants and guard the area near the gate. I have no explicit confirmation, only a deduction, so I cannot be certain. Because our forces are thin, this mission is extremely dangerous. If you are unwilling, I will not force you."
"Wherever the Saintess points her blade, our knights shall charge!"
The grim-faced Cain knelt on the floor without the slightest hesitation.
The trust in his eyes warmed Luo Li's heart.
She hadn't expected to have several knights she could trust so implicitly in this strange world. That was enough!
"For Your Highness the Saintess, I would gladly face ten thousand deaths!"
Nar's youthful face was filled with resolve, clearly prepared to lay down his life.
Yuna knelt with a solemn expression.
"Your Highness, please do not doubt our faith and loyalty to the Gods and to you. No matter what hell lies ahead, we holy knights are willing to crush all suffering for your sake!"
Even Hilda, standing to the side, knelt on the floor.
"Your Highness, there is not a single coward among the holy knights. You need only give the command."
Hearing this, Luo Li couldn't help but feel grateful for the way knights were selected. Anyone who didn't revere the Gods could not be chosen as a knight; even if they were strong, they could only become common mercenaries or drifters.
Setting aside the fact that she was practically a stranger to these four, and that their devotion was technically toward the Gods, it was clear that even if she truly fell into the hands of the demon army, these four knights would fight to the death to save her.
While she had no intention of letting herself be captured, this realization filled her with a sense of peace.
"Very well. Then, my three knights, listen carefully to what I have to say next..."
The Temple fell silent, with only the Saintess slowly describing the various possibilities that might occur.
The doors of the Temple were tightly shut, guarded by loyal knights outside. Not even a fly could have slipped in.
...
About half an hour later, the Temple doors opened. The three knights walked out side by side, laughing and chatting as if they were completely at ease.
Immediately afterward, a divine decree was issued from the Temple.
Starting today, the Saintess would engage in three days of closed-door prayer to repay the Gods for their protection of Brilliant City.
When the citizens heard the news, their faces showed various emotions, though most were filled with piety.
A small number of people showed looks of disdain or disgust.
Clearly, there weren't as many people in Brilliant City who believed in the Holy Church as it seemed on the surface.
Luo Li understood this, and she also knew she needed some nuns to assist her now.
She had to filter out any unfamiliar nuns or those who had been close to the demonized human Martha!
"Hilda, bring me the files on the nuns immediately. I want to look through them."
Though puzzled, Hilda obeyed the Saintess's order. Soon, a thick stack of documents was brought over.
Each file contained a magic portrait of a nun, so lifelike they looked like photographs.
Flipping through them, Luo Li quickly selected ten nuns.
Then, she began her questioning.
By the time she was finished, only three nuns remained.
With everything prepared, Luo Li boarded an ordinary carriage.
Inside the carriage, Hilda sat on one side in her heavy armor. It took the Saintess and the four girls on the other side to barely balance the weight so the carriage wouldn't tip over.
"Your Highness... is this really a good idea?"
Hilda looked at the Saintess. Just after Cain and the others had left, the Saintess had proposed an incredibly bold and terrifying plan.
To leave the Temple and Brilliant City!
"It’s fine. If the demon army truly retreated, we will be safe. If they return to attack, their spies will likely target the Temple first. Leaving now is the safest option."
This was the solution Luo Li had devised.
If the demon army returned to raid Brilliant City, they would certainly coordinate from within to open the gates. They would attack the gates to kill the holy knights while simultaneously storming the Temple to kidnap the Saintess.
At the same time, they would set fires in the city to cause chaos.
If she were in their shoes, that’s exactly what she would do.
Luo Li was certain that if the demon army intended to launch a night raid, the timing would be around three in the morning.
That was when people slept the deepest.
She had seen plenty of war movies and read the classics of strategy back on Earth. She had seen all kinds of schemes and dirty tricks. Did they really think they could show off such amateur plays in front of her?
Ha!
She wasn't targeting anyone in particular, but everyone involved in this plot was a weakling!
They wanted to outsmart her? They should go read the Thirty-Six Stratagems or the Great Epics before trying to play with her!
Luo Li closed the heavy book in her hands and rested it on her lap. On the cover, four large words were written in the script of this world: 'Heroic Legends'.
It was a collection of legendary tales about various heroes.
One of her skills was 'Hero Creation', but since she still wasn't very familiar with this world, she was doing some last-minute research. She didn't want to use the skill and have no idea who she was supposed to summon.
"Hilda, how is the arrangement for your confidants to sneak out of the city?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, my subordinates have already left Brilliant City and are gathering in a village to the south."
"Good. That’s perfect."
The trap was set; now she just had to wait for the guests to walk right in.
Rate on N.U.
