Wait!
"You... you're reading my mind again!!"
Lola adjusted her glasses, her expression as calm as ever.
"Your Highness, I have already informed you that I have never studied mind-reading."
"I don't believe a word of it! You're a crafty one!"
"Your Highness, as the Saintess, you should not use such vulgar language. Please maintain your dignity."
"..."
I quickly wiped my mouth and handed the handkerchief back.
"You are not allowed to use mind-reading on me anymore, do you hear me!"
"Your Highness, your Saintess's robe has the ability to prevent such spells, and your body is further protected by divine power, so no one can read your mind."
"Then what are you? A bug?"
"Your Highness, please use vocabulary I can understand. I am unfamiliar with the term 'ba-ge.' Could you enlighten me as to its meaning?"
"Uh... it means a glitch?"
"Your Highness, that term does not seem quite appropriate for what you just said."
How did I not notice Lola was so sharp-tongued before?
"Fine, fine, I won't argue with you! Regardless, no more mind-reading!"
"In order to better assist Your Highness, this is an essential skill."
Good grief, so it's my fault if I don't let you read my mind?
I looked at Lola's expressionless face.
Did I choose the wrong person?
She's terrifying.
How did I not notice this before? Was she intentionally hiding her true self?
But on second thought, having such a capable assistant makes everything go smoothly.
However, I have no secrets in front of her anymore. This feeling of being seen through is so strange.
She truly is a double-edged sword.
"Your Highness, as long as your will remains unchanged, I will forever be the sharp sword in your hand."
"...Turn off that mind-reading of yours!"
"Your Highness, I do not know mind-reading."
"Are you a repeater?"
"A repeater? What is that?"
Lola asked earnestly. For some reason, I didn't feel this before.
But now, she gave me a... very serious feeling, as if she truly wanted to help me with all her heart.
Forget it, let her do as she pleases. Capable people have privileges wherever they go.
The reason I can issue orders so smoothly is definitely because she is an indispensable talent.
Thinking back on the actions of the past few days, there were no precedents for them. They were all my unique political views, yet she was able to execute them meticulously.
And not a single accident occurred during the process.
This was enough to prove her ability.
But thinking about it the other way, why would someone with such ability stay in the Temple as a lowly nun?
I didn't understand, but as the saying goes, if you suspect someone, don't use them; if you use them, don't suspect them. Since I'm already using her, there's no need to think so much.
Every step now is a gamble. If I lose, I have nothing. If I win, I will rule the land.
And she is also my bet.
Whether I win or lose is still unclear, but at least I can be certain that with her here, my policies can be implemented more smoothly.
"Is everything handled for today?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Today's matters are mostly finished. Only a few trivial things remain that do not require Your Highness's concern."
"Mm, don't forget tomorrow's schedule."
"Please rest assured, Your Highness. I have prepared everything."
Eh?
Why do I suddenly feel like my presence has become so thin?
Having such a capable subordinate really makes one feel both dependent and helpless.
I depend on her because she can truly handle everything I want done, and I don't even need to fill in the details.
I feel helpless because... I feel like I'm becoming optional.
I blinked and shook the thought out of my head.
If nothing else, at least the position of Saintess is indispensable. As long as I sit here, she has the legitimacy to do everything.
Wait... thinking like that, wouldn't I just be a figurehead?
No, no, I have to change this situation. There's only one best way!
"Lola, help me prepare some equipment for physical training."
"Your Highness, as the Saintess, you should not easily engage in combat. You should try to avoid..."
"Lola, it's true that I am the Saintess, but I can also become a strong person. Only the strong have the right to speak."
"Understood. I will go and prepare them immediately."
"Mm, prepare some greatswords, weapons, and..."
"There is no need for Your Highness to specify. I generally know what you require."
(●—●)
Can't you just turn it off?
I grumbled inwardly, but I also understood that as the Saintess wearing the Saintess's robe, I couldn't be affected by mind-reading spells.
In other words, she was truly smart enough to calculate what I wanted.
She's so smart it gives me the creeps.
Luckily, she's an ally.
If she were an enemy, the first thing I would do is get rid of her.
...
I thought about it. Since there was nothing else to do today, I might as well look around.
From the beginning until now, I haven't had a single day this relaxed.
Now that I finally have some free time, how can I not explore my big house!
I strolled through the Temple under the moonlight. The evening breeze brushed against my cheeks, bringing a slight chill that made me feel more refreshed.
What needs to be done now is internal change, but before that, the problem of the roads must be solved first.
To get rich, one must first build roads.
With the support of magic, large-scale planting basically doesn't need to depend on the weather.
If continuous rain affects the harvest, the clouds can be dispersed directly.
If there is a drought, rain can be summoned.
These weather-altering spells cannot be done by one person. It requires at least hundreds of mages to form a massive magic circle across a wide area.
Although the cost is high, it can at least guarantee that no famine will occur.
After walking a full circle, I returned to the Temple. Looking at the towering statue, I knelt on the bed and began to pray.
My vision brightened, and the skill tree panel reappeared.
The vast skill tree with its numerous skills was dazzling.
What I wanted to see most were the Holy Crest skills, because the cost of a Holy Crest is small, the returns are high, and the effects are very powerful.
I glanced at the lowest-level Holy Crest skills. Most of them only provide one effect, and the patterns of the Holy Crests are fixed.
Some are for the arms, chest, or legs, and each targets a different power.
Increasing strength, increasing agility, or increasing recovery.
And what I wanted most, naturally, was a Holy Crest that could condense divine power.
As the Saintess, divine power is the foundation of all my skills, equivalent to a mage's mana. Any powerful skill must use it.
However, when I found the location of this Holy Crest and examined it closely, I couldn't help but frown.
This is the Holy Crest for condensing divine power??
Skill Description:
【Can be constructed on the skin to condense and store the divine power emitted by the body. Can store an amount of mana equal to your own mana capacity and aids in cultivation. Requires skill points: 5. Required prerequisite skills: None.】
This thing's effect is actually this good?
But this shape is just too unacceptable, isn't it?
If it were in some eroge, I might actually like it, but this thing is going to be printed on my body!
What should I do?
Rate on N.U.
