When Grannia hurried into the Temple with a letter in hand, I knew something had gone wrong.
I took the letter and read the specific details written inside.
My heart skipped a beat.
"Your Highness, what does the letter say?"
Lola asked with concern, likely noticing that my expression had soured.
I handed the letter to her and turned to look at Grannia.
"Thank you."
"You are most welcome, Your Highness. It is only my duty."
Grannia stood before me without a hint of intimidation.
Based on this alone, I could tell he was no ordinary person.
Even if an ordinary person could maintain their composure when facing a ruler, it was impossible for them to maintain an air of equality as he did.
I was quite curious about this.
"Mr. Grannia, I was wondering... how did you end up in the Temple's communication room?"
Grannia seemed surprised that I had suddenly shifted the topic to him, and he froze for a moment.
However, he reacted quickly and responded.
"Replying to Your Highness, I was simply... looking for a job. This place happened to be hiring, so I came over."
I nodded. Looking at him, he did not seem to be lying. Was he truly so devoid of ambition?
"Mr. Grannia, I wonder... what are your thoughts on the Mage Association?"
"Well... to be honest, I do not like the Mage Association very much. The people there are far too pragmatic and profit-driven."
Grannia was very honest, his almond-shaped eyes looking directly at me without flickering for a second.
If he was not some high-level actor with deep schemes, then the only possibility was that he truly was the type of person with few desires.
The ancients said it well: "The sea is vast because it admits all rivers. A cliff stands tall because it is firm without desire."
The reason he could face me without feeling like a subordinate was probably because of this lack of desire, right?
"Mr. Grannia, I wonder how strong you are. You do not need to be nervous; I am simply curious."
Such a person was either truly without desire or had suppressed their desires.
If his strength was low, it would prove he had likely suppressed his desires to become detached.
But if his strength was great, then this lack of desire was truly part of his core personality.
"Is the Saintess asking about my strength, or are you trying to ask something else through this?"
Grannia had no intention of hiding anything and spoke plainly.
"Although I cannot see my own attributes, I did have them tested at the Mage Association once. That was about five years ago... I was around level forty."
Level forty. Such a level was already considered top-tier among ordinary people, a sign of outstanding talent.
However, compared to a genius like Hilda or a monster like Sir Nar, who reached the Guardian Knight level at only fifteen, he was merely considered a high-grade asset.
Is this a three-star card?
I looked into his eyes and pondered for a moment.
"Do you... mind if I take a look at your attributes?"
Grannia glanced at me and shrugged.
"Please, feel free, Your Highness."
"I see. Then, Mr. Grannia, please do not be surprised."
As I spoke, I reached out and grasped the air, and a sword hilt... appeared out of thin air beside me.
In the next second, the Sword of Fidelity was drawn from the void, manifesting before everyone's eyes accompanied by a flash of light.
The evolved version of the Sword of Fidelity—the Holy Cross Sword.
"Is this the legendary Sacred Treasure, the Sword of Fidelity?"
Grannia's eyes were filled with curiosity. I nodded and raised the sword, pointing it toward him.
"Mr. Grannia, I do not have eyes that can see through attributes. I can only check your attributes by placing this sword on you. Is that alright?"
"Of course, I do not mind."
Since he said so, I did not stand on ceremony and placed the blade on his shoulder.
In that instant, an option suddenly appeared before me.
'Query the attribute interface of the human, Grannia?'
When I clicked 'Yes' with my consciousness, a floating interface suddenly appeared in front of Grannia.
【Name: Grannia】
【Level: 59 (70%)】
【Race: Human】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 27 (Adult)】
【Class: Lightning Mage, Adventurer】
【Title: None】
【Attributes:
Strength: 288
Agility: 297
Endurance: 276
Recovery: 299
Mana: 2098
Attribute points: None】
Holy... damn!
He's a level fifty-nine powerhouse who is about to break the human limits!?
And he's only twenty-seven years old?
This guy's talent is terrifying!!
This isn't just defying the heavens; he's basically the heavens' father!
I stood there in a daze, while Grannia looked at me with a smile.
"Your Highness, have my attributes grown stronger? To tell you the truth, I have not been back to the Mage Association in five years, so I have never been entirely sure how far my strength has progressed."
Calm down!
I need to calm down!
This guy! I must keep him under my control.
This is a powerhouse who might actually break through the human limits!
I cannot mess this up. I cannot panic. I must be calm and handle this rationally.
I took a deep breath and tried my best to maintain my original expression, not letting a single trace of surprise show.
"Mr. Grannia's strength is indeed impressive. You are already level fifty-nine. Congratulations, you are only half a step away from the human limits."
Hearing this, before anyone else could react, Lola instantly understood something. She pushed up her gold-rimmed glasses and scrutinized Grannia from head to toe.
As for me, I looked at Grannia. No matter what, it would be best to keep such a powerhouse under my command.
The problem was, what could I use to make him stay?
With level fifty-nine strength and being on the verge of breaking the racial limit, he also had that personality devoid of desire.
Such a person was the most difficult to recruit!
"I am already level fifty-nine? No wonder..."
"No wonder what?"
Grannia smiled slightly.
"No wonder I have not encountered any difficult problems in the past two years. It turns out my strength has increased again."
Damn it!
You're really humblebragging to me right now, aren't you!
If it weren't for your... great strength, I would've punched the humblebrag right out of you!
"Mr. Grannia, given your strength, I feel that... simply tuning the communication room is a bit inappropriate."
Grannia tilted his head and pondered.
"Then... how does Your Highness plan to arrange for me?"
My brows furrowed involuntarily, and I felt a bit troubled.
Even after learning his true strength, this guy still had no emotional fluctuations. As expected, he really was someone with no desires.
These kinds of people are so troublesome!
"Mr. Grannia, aren't you surprised after learning your own strength?"
Lola seemed to sense the awkward atmosphere between us and stepped forward to ask.
Grannia's answer was quite frank.
"It is nothing much. Strength is merely a means to an end; it is not particularly important."
Lola raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? Then what do you think is more important?"
Grannia said with a smile:
"Thoughts and intent, of course. Strength is like a blade; it can be used to chop vegetables and cook for the benefit of others, or it can become a slaughtering blade for murder and plunder. How it is used depends entirely on the user's intent, does it not?"
This person... is a bit of an idealist, isn't he?
But this was an opening.
"Then, Mr. Grannia, what do you think it means to benefit people?"
Lola asked again. Grannia fell into thought, clearly finding this question difficult to answer.
He scratched his head, a trace of confusion appearing in his eyes.
"This... actually, Bishop Lola's question is exactly what I have been thinking about for the past two years. Saintess, I wonder if you can give me an answer?"
Looking at the sincerity in Grannia's eyes, this question clearly determined whether he would stay or leave.
Therefore, I had to be careful.
"Mr. Grannia, it seems your purpose in coming to Brilliant City was not simply to find work. Your true goal was to find the answer to this question, am I right?"
Since such a person was without desire and an idealist, he clearly had a high level of philosophical insight.
Since he was that type of person, I would just use this method to ask him.
However, his next sentence made me want to take the draft in my head and tear it up to feed the pigs!!
"Eh? Why didn't I realize that before? So the problem I have been seeking an answer to was actually this?"
I... damn it!
It turns out he didn't even know what he wanted to know!
Fine, I'll revise my judgment of him.
This person isn't without desire; he's just a bit airheaded.
To put it nicely, he has a broad mind. To put it bluntly, he's a bit of an idiot!
Damn it!
Are all geniuses so specialized that they lack common sense in other areas?
"This... well, I think I roughly understand why you came here."
Grannia smiled.
"Then, Your Highness... can you give me an answer?"
"Of course. Would you like to hear it, Mr. Grannia?"
"I certainly would. No... I am all ears."
Grannia lowered his head slightly, showing his respect.
I pondered for a moment and looked at him.
"What you want to know is simply how to make your strength a means to benefit others, correct?"
"Yes. After Bishop Lola's reminder just now, I realized this. It turns out this was the doubt I always wanted to understand..."
Grannia nodded with a very serious expression, yet he had just answered a question that made him look like a complete fool.
"Well, in that case, I can tell you plainly. The question you mentioned needs to be viewed from different angles depending on the situation to find an answer."
Grannia's smile faded, replaced by a look of sincere devotion.
"Your Highness, can you enlighten me?"
"I can."
I nodded and continued:
"Your intent is good; you want to use your strength to benefit the people. There are two simple ways to do this: one for times of peace and one for times of conflict."
"What are the ways?"
Grannia pressed for an answer.
He was asking such simple questions likely because he never had a mentor or teacher.
The reason he was confused was that no one had ever told him how to move forward.
Since he was seeking this answer, it wouldn't be beneath me to act as his life mentor for once.
"In times of peace, if you want to benefit others, you must ensure that harmony fills those you wish to help. The only way is to transform your strength into a deterrent against evil."
"A... deterrent against evil?"
"Yes. Only then can you use your strength to benefit others. In times of peace, if the crime rate is reduced, will everyone not be happy?"
Grannia pondered for a moment. The expression on his face shifted several times before finally settling into a slight smile.
"Indeed. Using strength as a deterrent against evil is truly a good method."
Having said that, he looked up at me.
"Then, Your Highness, it is clear that the current situation is different from the time of peace you mentioned. What is the second method?"
"It is simple. Use your strength to resist the demons and provide a place where people can live in peace and security."
Upon hearing this, Grannia lowered his head in thought for a moment. Suddenly, he seemed to have realized something and abruptly dropped to one knee.
He looked up at me with burning eyes.
"Thank you for your guidance, Saintess!"
He paused and then added:
"I have a presumptuous request. I ask for Your Highness's consent!"
"Please speak. With Mr. Grannia's strength, you should be able to do what you want even without my help. However, since you have asked, I naturally will not refuse."
I watched him as a look of resolve flashed across his face.
"I am willing to pledge my loyalty to Your Highness and turn my power into a blade that benefits others."
That trace of resolve surprised me, but at the same time, it made sense.
When a person with no desires suddenly finds a life goal, they become even more obsessed with that goal.
"Why me?"
I looked at him with some curiosity. Logically speaking, there were many people he could join. With his strength alone, countless people would welcome him with open arms.
In some countries, he could even easily obtain the rank of a Prince.
Yet he chose to stay with me.
I didn't have any princely titles to give out here.
"Your Highness was able to answer my doubts, so it is clear that you have a profound understanding of this matter. I think... my goal and Your Highness's goal must be very similar. Perhaps they are even the same."
He was right; there was almost no difference. What I wanted was a stable Kingdom of the Moon and happy citizens.
That way, I could live out the rest of my life in peace.
And what he wanted was to benefit others. This was almost identical to my goal. Although our starting points were different, the result was the same.
I said nothing, merely looking at him calmly, and he simply looked back at me.
The entire hall was so quiet that even a needle hitting the floor would have been clearly audible.
"Mr. Grannia, are you prepared? Serving under me is no simple matter. The Kingdom of the Moon is different from other nations. What I face directly... are the demons."
Grannia actually laughed upon hearing this.
"I am well aware. If the enemy were not the demons, I would not have pledged my loyalty to you."
Seeing his almond eyes narrow into slits from his smile, it seemed his intent was genuine.
"In that case, I accept your allegiance. Please rise, Mr. Grannia. As it happens, I have something I need your help with."
"I shall follow the Divine Oracle."
Rate on N.U.
