Inside the Temple's bathroom.
Luo Li stood before a full-length mirror.
The young girl in the reflection wore a golden crown and a gold-trimmed Saintess's robe. The front of the robe was split, extending from her knees down to the long, flowing train.
Her bare feet rested lightly on the floor. Her slender, soft white toes looked like exquisite carvings, each one distinct and smooth without a single wrinkle.
One could even see the faint blue veins tracing across the tops of her feet.
The girl before her looked like a perfect work of art crafted by the gods themselves.
The tension of the past day and night had left her with no time to worry about her own condition.
Standing before the mirror now, she finally saw herself clearly.
She reached up and unfastened the button at her chest. The Saintess's robe was protected by holy enchantments; no one but the Saintess herself could undo that first button.
Only once the first button was undone would the robe's divine magic cease to function.
The oversized Saintess's robe slid down her rounded shoulders without the slightest resistance.
As the heavy fabric pooled on the floor, she was left in only her undergarments.
The undergarment was a single piece, somewhat like a corset that used the tension at her waist to stay in place.
She untied the ribbon at her abdomen. With the release of that small bow, the undergarment also slid smoothly to the floor.
What was revealed was a body of absolute perfection.
Every inch of her form showcased the Creator's masterful craftsmanship.
She possessed the rare combination of being both curvaceous and slender.
Simply put, she had curves in all the right places and was lean where it counted. Her skin was as smooth as silk.
Most notably, her body was completely smooth. Aside from the hair on her head and face, not a single stray hair could be seen anywhere.
She opened the door and stepped into the mist-shrouded bathroom. This was the private bath reserved for the Saintess.
In short, it was hers alone.
However, its size was almost unbelievable.
The walls were inlaid with snow-white, polished tiles.
In the center of the room sat a massive bath.
On either side stood two angel statues, each holding a water jar high above their heads.
Clear water poured steadily from the mouths of the jars.
The constant sound of splashing water filled the room.
The bathroom was decorated so lavishly that it felt a bit overwhelming at first.
Fortunately, no matter how grand the room was, her purpose remained the same.
She stepped into the pool, dipping her foot into the water.
The warm current instantly enveloped her body.
The soothing sensation washed away the day's exhaustion.
She hadn't slept since yesterday morning.
Though her body was weary, she had to keep pushing forward.
She slowly sat down in the water, feeling the warmth wrap around her. Luo Li closed her eyes, savoring this moment of tranquility.
Feeling drowsy, Luo Li forced her eyes open. She knew she couldn't afford to sleep.
Although her plan had succeeded exactly as she wished, it had also brought some terrible consequences.
Some residents of the West City hadn't evacuated in time and were caught in the demon army's assault.
"Ugh... suddenly becoming an empress is quite a headache."
In the Kingdom of the Moon, the position of Saintess was equivalent to that of an emperor because the nation had no royalty.
Among the Eight Nations of the Holy Church, the Kingdom of the Moon was the only one without a royal family.
The ruling class was controlled entirely by the Saintess.
She was both the nation's object of faith and its monarch.
This dual identity meant the citizens' reverence for her was absolute.
"It is good news for me, but what should I do next?"
This status made her a complete autocrat, holding both spiritual and material power, which would make everything she planned to do much easier.
Luo Li searched through the memories of the original owner, but those memories were almost entirely blank when it came to common knowledge.
She had been like a sheltered lady of the inner chambers who knew nothing of the world.
She didn't even have a clear understanding of the country's currency or purchasing power.
"Well... first, I need to understand the people's livelihood."
Recalling the look Zuka gave her before he left—that bone-chilling hatred and possessiveness—Luo Li knew that if she ever fell into the hands of that demon general, a fate worse than death wouldn't even begin to describe it.
"At least I know that the Kingdom of the Moon is currently located on the southeast coast of the continent."
It was a very prosperous region. Being near the sea provided endless resources to harvest, and the abundant rainfall caused plants to grow rapidly.
Unfortunately, the country also bordered the territory of the demons.
This meant that if the demons ever declared war, the first country they would want—and need—to conquer was her Kingdom of the Moon!
She cupped a handful of water and looked up at the soft glow emitted by the magic items on the ceiling.
"Develop the people's livelihood, increase productivity, and promote commercialization. In any world, money is a necessity. Only by commercializing this nation can we afford the armaments needed for self-preservation."
Having experienced the battlefield firsthand, Luo Li now understood how powerful group combat was in this world.
If she could assemble a heavy cavalry regiment of over ten thousand Temple knights, she could completely crush the demon army on the open field!
"So, my next step is to dive deep into the lives of the people... I must understand everything related to their livelihood as soon as possible."
As she thought of this, her mind drifted back to the front lines.
Though the demon army was currently in disarray, they could still launch a counterattack once they regrouped.
After all, the number of Temple knights was far too small.
There were only about four thousand Temple knights in all of Brilliant City.
"I must accelerate the buildup of our military forces. A permanent heavy cavalry regiment of at least ten thousand is necessary!"
At that thought, Luo Li remembered Zuka's disgusting face.
She threw a fierce punch at the empty air!
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