My Lord Who Is Being Prudent! [EN]: Chapter 232

232. The Saintess’s Visit

Cyan strode fearlessly through the Dark Forest.

There was no hesitation in his steps.

His expression showed no particular anxiety either.

There was no reason to be anxious in the first place.

Of course, the Dark Forest was a very dangerous area.

A land swarming with berserk monsters (referred to as ‘Over Drive’ monsters).

A forbidden zone that even the Empire had to abandon.

However, that definition began to change as Ruben developed.

Ruben developed by purifying the Dark Forest.

Currently, Ruben has established itself as the most powerful force in the Dark Forest.

Therefore, the Dark Forest is now under Ruben’s influence.

It was nothing more than a forest boiling with magical energy.

Of course, the Dark Forest was vast.

The area where Ruben was located was only a small part.

Accordingly, monsters rampaging in other areas were rushing in, but…

As expected, they were just turning into local specialties before Ruben’s might.

“Hey… is this really your home…?”

However, Aria did not know that fact.

Aria asked in an anxious voice.

Also, the priestess who was assisting her, Laura.

Both were following Cyan closely with anxious faces.

Still, perhaps feeling uneasy, Aria was clinging tightly to Cyan.

Laura was clinging tightly to Aria.

Because of that, Cyan was really having a hard time.

The Saintess and the priestess.

It was like having lumps of divine power stuck to him.

Well, he could tolerate Laura to some extent.

It wasn’t like Laura was directly clinging to him.

And Laura’s divine power wasn’t that strong either.

But Aria was different.

Aria, who possessed the most powerful divine power in history.

Just being close to her made the magical energy bubble and boil.

“Hey, you’re a Saintess, why are you so scared of this magical energy?”

“S, scared! I, it’s just… the compatibility isn’t good… that’s all.”

“Yeah, right. Compatibility, my foot.”

You’re so quick to get angry at me.

“And how about you stop trembling before you say that?”

The trembling felt from Aria, who was clinging tightly to him.

Cyan could even feel Aria’s trembling breath.

In short, Aria was almost hugging him.

Would Aria realize that fact only then?

“Ah…!”

Aria was startled and quickly moved away from Cyan.

But that was only for a moment.

“R, really… do people live here…?”

Aria trembled with anxiety again and clung tightly to Cyan.

“Haa…”

Cyan sighed without realizing it.

It was a good thing he had achieved 100% progress in the Demon Soul Technique.

If not, he might have collapsed several times on the way.

Cyan looked at Aria clinging to him and slowly turned his head.

“Over there. Do you see it?”

And he pointed his finger towards the view ahead.

“That’s Ruben. We’re almost there, so stop making a fuss.”

Aria’s gaze followed Cyan’s finger at Cyan’s words.

A certain landscape seemed to be hanging at the end of Cyan’s finger.

However, it was not visible in detail because it was seen from a distance.

But certainly…

It looked like some space where people lived.

“It was real…?”

“Then would I lie to you…? No, never mind.”

Cyan shook his head and immediately moved his steps.

“H, hey. Wait for me…!”

Aria followed Cyan again, clinging tightly to him.

And after walking for a while again.

Aria was able to see Ruben, which she had seen from afar, up close.

The appearance of Ruben seen up close was certainly that of a territory.

A lively territory full of people.

But.

“W, what on earth is that…?”

Aria’s eyes widened without her knowing it.

The scenery in front of her now.

That is, the appearance of the territory called Ruben.

That… could never be seen as an ordinary territory.

First of all, the moat of unknown depth right in front of her.

And the guard towers where there was no blind spot.

Of course, the high-level soldiers of Ruben who patrolled the surroundings from time to time.

Even the iron fortress-like barrier that seemed impossible to collapse.

“This is… a territory?”

This was a landscape that could never be defined as a territory.

No, this should not be called a territory.

What part of this looks like a territory?

A natural fortress or an iron fortress.

The appearance of the interior could not be known because it was hidden by the barrier.

However, the appearance of Ruben on the outside was by no means something to be called a territory.

If this was called a territory, then Lutea, the capital of the Holy Empire, should just be called a quiet rural town.

“G, good heavens…”

Laura was also staring at Ruben’s figure with her eyes wide open.

As the two women were looking at the scenery of Ruben with surprised hearts.

“It’s the Lord! The Lord has returned!!”

A loud shout was heard, and the inside of Ruben became busy.

Soon, the gates of Ruben opened wide, and a group of people rushed out.

Judging from their armed state, they seemed to be Ruben’s soldiers.

But those soldiers were a little strange.

Let’s move on from the unusual armed state.

I don’t know if they are soldiers or knights, but let’s just move on for now.

However, a strange figure was seen among the gathered soldiers.

A short height and a muscular body.

“Dwarf…?”

The figure of a dwarf was seen among the gathered soldiers.

But that didn’t make sense.

That’s because dwarves are a race armed with stubbornness and frustratingly rigid.

Although that stubbornness has become much milder, it was not enough to live with humans.

But the appearance was clearly that of a dwarf.

Moreover, it didn’t end there.

Those who were huddled together on Ruben’s ramparts.

Those who were looking this way with curious faces were not human.

They were similar to humans, but their distinct characteristics were clearly visible.

Moreover, they were all possessors of extraordinary beauty.

“Elf…?”

That was the figure of an elf.

Judging by the black hair, it seemed to be a dark elf.

From dwarves to elves.

“W, what is this…!”

Aria’s eyes continued to widen.

And Cyan was watching such Aria.

‘Come to think of it… Aria doesn’t know much.’

It was a well-known fact in the Empire that there were other races in Ruben to some extent.

The incident in the North had spread as rumors throughout the Empire.

However, Aria was a Saintess from another country.

She did not know much about the events that took place in the Charlotte Empire.

“W, what is it… what on earth is this…?”

Perhaps because of that, the shock Aria was receiving seemed considerable.

Laura was also slightly opening her mouth next to her.

‘Somehow, they show a similar reaction when they come to Ruben.’

Well, it couldn’t be helped.

Cyan chuckled and turned his gaze.

The view he turned to.

Soon, someone pushed through the soldiers and stepped forward.

Ruben’s guard captain, Lucas.

Lucas slowly walked towards Cyan.

“Have you arrived, Count?”

Lucas gave a disciplined salute.

Somehow, he looked more restrained and disciplined than usual.

Perhaps he had prepared because he had officially become a Count.

Cyan waved his hand and said.

“What Count? Just call me Lord.”

“But…”

“It’s okay. It’s just uncomfortable. Do as you always do.”

Then Lucas scratched the back of his head as if he was embarrassed.

Cyan chuckled and opened his mouth.

“More than that, has anything happened in the meantime? Looking at it, it seems like nothing happened.”

“There was nothing that the Lord needed to pay special attention to.”

It seemed like something had happened.

But Cyan didn’t bother to ask.

If Lucas said that, it must have been something he didn’t need to worry about.

It must have been something like a horde of ogres attacking.

It would have been a serious matter that would determine the rise and fall of other territories, but…

It was almost a daily occurrence in Ruben.

Soon, Lucas cast his gaze behind Cyan.

And after discovering Aria and Laura, who were still in shock.

“But who are the two behind you…?”

He asked, tilting his head.

But that was only for a moment.

“Could it be… the Saintess of the Holy Empire?”

“What, how did you know?”

Cyan looked surprised at Lucas’s words that followed.

How did Lucas know Aria?

“Lucas, have you ever met Aria?”

“Is she really… the Saintess?”

Then Lucas answered with a sullen expression.

Somehow, it didn’t seem like he knew and asked.

“What, weren’t you saying that knowing?”

“I didn’t know. However, there are not many people with such beauty on the continent…”

“Ah.”

Cyan was only able to nod his head then.

Aria’s beauty, which could not be seen as the same as humans.

There was no woman like Aria on the continent.

There was only one in the continent, let alone easy to see.

Just like Lucas recognized Aria when Cyan first saw her in the past, Lucas seemed to be the same.

Was that why?

“I’ve heard that the Saintess’s beauty is amazing, but…”

Lucas was slightly넋 [넋 -넋 (neok): soul; spirit;넋을 잃다 (neok-eul ilhda): to be stunned; to lose one’s soul] looking at Aria.

And it wasn’t just Lucas.

Ruben’s soldiers who came out with Lucas.

Dwarves, as well as dark elves on the ramparts.

Even the territory residents near the ramparts who came out to greet him at the news of Cyan’s arrival.

“Wow…”

“Wow…”

Men and women of all ages. Regardless of race, they lost their souls to Aria’s beauty.

Aria’s beauty that makes you lose your soul just by her existence.

A transcendent beauty that transcends even race.

“Wow…”

“Wow…”

For a while, only admiration-filled exclamations were heard in Ruben.

#

Immediately after an incident that was not an incident.

Cyan headed straight to the Lord’s Castle.

To be exact, he headed straight to the Lord’s Castle, putting everything else aside.

‘Problems arise as soon as I arrive.’

First of all, he had to do something about Aria.

Did they really get 홀리기 [홀리기 (holligi): bewitched; charmed] by her beauty?

All the territory residents only looked at Aria with넋 [넋 -넋 (neok): soul; spirit;넋을 잃다 (neok-eul ilhda): to be stunned; to lose one’s soul].

Did they even hear the rumors from the inside?

The territory residents one by one from the inside

To be exact, they came out with a happy heart at the news of Cyan’s arrival.

But after seeing Aria, they were멍 [멍 (meong): dazed; stunned] again…

To be exact, they only 터트릴 [터트릴 (teoteuril): to burst out; to explode] the exclamation ‘Wow…’.

Somehow, everyone was 홀리고 [홀리고 (holligo): bewitched; charmed] Aria, regardless of race.

If he left it as it was, it seemed like a big problem would arise.

That’s why Cyan put everything aside and headed to the Lord’s Castle, dragging Aria along.

The Lord’s Castle reached in an instant.

“Here is Cyan. Is this your house…?”

Aria looked around the inside of the Lord’s Castle.

A clean and comfortable atmosphere.

Nevertheless, it did not lose its antique feel.

Was it right for a Saintess to think this way…? But.

The Papal State was nothing more than 거적대기 [거적대기 (geojeokdaegi): a worn-out mat; something shabby] compared to this place.

Aria shook her head, looking around with an admiring face.

Laura next to her also shook her head, following such Aria.

“Live here for the time being. There will probably be no inconvenience in living here.”

Cyan’s words were heard at that moment.

Aria 퍼뜩 [퍼뜩 (peotteuk): suddenly; abruptly], 정신을 차리며 [정신을 차리며 (jeongsineul charimyeo): regaining her senses] answered.

“H, here? With you?”

“I live here too. But… it’s a bit much to say together, right?”

Aria nodded her head slightly.

Certainly… the size of the Lord’s Castle was too big.

With a little exaggeration, it was comparable to the Papal State.

Honestly, she could feel two conflicting emotions.

One was a slight disappointment.

The other was a slight relief.

The disappointment was, of course, due to the size of the Lord’s Castle being too big.

The relief was also due to the size of the Lord’s Castle being too big.

That’s because she could see that the princess, Elena, who said she came to Cyan’s house, was no different from this situation.

So Elena didn’t live with Cyan either.

“More than that, the person next to you, Laura… do you two share a room? Or separately?”

“Uh…”

“No, I’ll just give you two rooms next to each other. Use them as you please.”

There were many rooms left in the Lord’s Castle anyway.

“Rooms next to each other…”

Cyan quietly recalled the structure of the Lord’s Castle.

Right then.

“Young master?”

A familiar voice was heard from one end of the hallway.

Hans was standing there in the 바라본 [바라본 (barabon): looked at; gazed at] place.

But… somehow, Hans wasn’t the only one there.

Old men of similar age to Hans.

Hugo, Bonita, Maxim, Thomas.

They were none other than Hans’s old colleagues.

They had visited last time, saying they wanted to come to Ruben.

But after Cyan went to the Imperial Palace, he thought they had left.

‘You haven’t left yet?’

Somehow, it seemed like they hadn’t left yet.

Well… there was nothing particularly problematic about it.

“I heard you were here, and I was about to go out…”

Hans soon approached Cyan at a fast pace.

Hans quickly approached Cyan.

And after discovering Aria behind Cyan.

“……?”

Hans’s head tilted to the left.

It was something for a moment.

“Saintess…?”

Hans muttered without realizing it.

As Cyan knew, Hans had never met Aria.

Nor was Aria someone easily accessible.

Because Aria hadn’t shown her face much in official settings.

Yet, Hans recognized Aria’s identity at once.

He probably had a similar thought to Lucas.

“The Saintess? Could it be the Saintess of the Holy Empire?”

“Why is the Saintess here?”

Hans’s words caused his colleagues to express their doubts.

And soon after confirming Aria’s face.

“Saintess…?”

“Saintess…?”

They showed the same reaction as Hans.

Thus, Hans and his colleagues.

They stared blankly at Aria.

Just like the citizens of the territory a moment ago.

It seemed the saying, ‘bewitched by beauty,’ was perfectly fitting.

‘Isn’t this beauty a sin?’

Cyan seriously thought so.

Well, he couldn’t say he didn’t understand.

Even Cyan thought Aria was pretty.

Moreover, the fact that Aria had dressed up even more to celebrate Cyan’s inauguration became a problem.

Her radiant platinum blonde hair and pure white dress.

Combined with that breathtaking atmosphere, and perhaps even makeup, her beauty was further enhanced.

Adding the accessories of Muriel that Cyan had given her.

In terms of beauty alone, she was worthy of being called a goddess.

‘Though that’s not really the case.’

Of course, to Cyan, she was just a mischievous tomboy.

Anyway.

Somehow, everyone who saw Aria was captivated.

Bewitching everyone, regardless of race.

‘At this rate… I can’t do anything with Aria.’

The situation was becoming a bit difficult.

Aria, who captivated people just by her presence.

Someone had to control Aria.

But currently, Cyan was the only one who could.

Aria could have just been left to her own devices, but…

That would clearly cause more problems.

If Aria roamed the streets of Ruben, Ruben would be paralyzed.

In the end, Cyan had to stick by Aria’s side.

‘I have things to do.’

As he wondered what to do, then.

-What is it?

A familiar voice was heard from somewhere.

More than a voice, it was a will etched into his mind.

At the same time, a chilling cold descended upon the corridors of the Lord’s Castle.

-I sensed a strange energy and came to see…

And again, a certain will was heard.

Soon, a woman appeared through the wall of the corridor.

A woman with long silver hair and grayish-white eyes.

A woman of bewitching beauty.

-What’s going on here?

It was Leah, the guardian spirit of Ruben and a thousand-year-old vengeful spirit.

Leah’s sudden appearance.

But Cyan and the others didn’t seem particularly surprised.

They had already adapted to it.

But Aria and Laura were not.

Flinch.

Aria visibly shuddered.

“Wh-what, what is that…?”

In contrast, Laura was horrified and shocked.

Laura’s eyes were almost tearing open.

Also, her hands were trembling, as if feeling fear.

Laura was a priestess attending to Aria.

Although not as much as Aria, Laura was also a priestess who used divine power.

That’s why Leah was visible before her eyes.

The death energy felt from such Leah.

“N-n-no way…!!”

Laura could fully feel how terrible that death energy was.

Laura trembled and looked at Leah.

Leah’s grayish-white eyes turned to Laura.

Accordingly, Laura’s trembling intensified.

But Leah didn’t care about such Laura.

Soon, Leah’s gaze turned to the side.

And a woman blocking Laura’s path.

-Aren’t you that girl from back then?

Leah’s gaze turned to Aria.

Soon, Leah turned her gaze back to Cyan.

-Cyan. What’s going on? Why is she here?

“Well…”

A moment of hesitation.

“It just happened.”

Cyan just vaguely glossed over it.

-It just happened?

“Yes.”

-You got involved with her by accident?

For a moment, Leah squinted her eyes.

But that was only for a moment.

-How does it always happen that women flock to you every time you go out? I wish I could follow you, but I can’t…

Leah sighed deeply.

Then, she turned her gaze back to Aria.

-Hey.

No, she shouted while glaring at Aria.

And perhaps the memory of being robbed at the Arnise Hall was revived.

Flinch.

Aria shuddered once again.

Aria’s eyes were also trembling severely.

But was it because she was Aria?

“Wh-why…!”

-Why? What’s with this kid whose blood hasn’t even dried yet?

“P-people die when the blood dries in their heads, right? W-well, it doesn’t matter to you since you’re already dead…!”

Cyan inwardly admired Aria’s audacity.

Aria’s words were more than bold, they were confident.

Was she going to stand up to Leah even if she died?

Well, it was a very Aria-like appearance.

-Why, you just…!

As expected, Leah glared.

The unfocused grayish-white eyes turned black, and a terrible magic power erupted.

Surging darkness.

Kieeeeeeeek!!

The wailing of ghosts erupted, and thoughts began to pour out.

“S-Saintess…!!!”

Laura urgently shouted at the terrible energy.

But Aria took a step forward instead.

“It would be a big mistake to think of me as the old me!”

Soon, Aria responded to the thoughts and ignited her divine power.

Hwaaaaaaaak!

The erupted divine power began to resist the encroaching thoughts.

Aria had been robbed by Leah in the Arnise Hall.

But there was a big difference between Aria then and Aria now.

The divine power amplified by Muriel’s accessories.

And the divine power she had honed in the meantime.

Hwaaaaaaaak!

Leah’s thoughts couldn’t easily push back Aria’s divine power.

Leah wore a flustered expression at that power.

But that was only for a moment.

-Ha! You’re just a kid whose blood hasn’t even dried yet.

Leah drew up even darker thoughts and began to pressure Aria.

“I told you, people die when the blood dries in their heads!”

Accordingly, Aria also unleashed a more brilliant divine power.

Kieeeeeeeek!

Hwaaaaaaaak!

The wailing of ghosts and divine power erupted.

-Ugh…! Where did this girl pick up divine power? You’re really hopeless.

“D-do you think I’m going to be scared? You’re just a ghost who’s lost her edge!”

Then Leah and Aria began to bicker.

Frankly speaking, it wasn’t a scene that could be called bickering.

Entwined thoughts and divine power.

“Wh-what is this…!”

“Y-you two. Please calm down…!”

“Saintess…!!”

Hans and his colleagues were greatly embarrassed.

Laura didn’t know what to do and was just pacing back and forth.

But Leah and Aria.

That is, the erupting wailing of ghosts and divine power.

They couldn’t easily approach the clash of those eerie powers.

No matter how you looked at it, it couldn’t be seen as bickering.

It would be more accurate to say they were fighting to the death.

But Cyan was watching the two of them from the side.

-I told you to live 500 more years to beat me!

“What’s so great about being old!”

Cyan thought they just seemed to be bickering.

That’s because he didn’t feel any genuine will to harm each other.

Just a battle of wills?

That’s all he thought it was.

To add a bit of subjective opinion, it felt like their own way of greeting each other.

Perhaps that’s why.

Cyan wondered if it hadn’t been like this a thousand years ago.

That is, Leah and Muriel.

Maybe those two also bickered like that?

‘But Leah would have used a sword back then.’

And he didn’t know what Muriel’s personality was like.

Anyway.

Perhaps because of that feeling.

-Ha! You don’t think you’ll get old?

“I can’t even if I wanted to, unlike you!”

The two seemed to get along better than he thought.

Was this what they called growing fond of each other while fighting?

And well, looking at it…

Aria seemed to be pushed back soon.

She was no match for Leah after all.

Leah hadn’t been idle during that time either.

That meant.

‘I can leave Aria to Leah for a while.’

It meant that Leah could control Aria.

Kieeeeeeeek!

Hwaaaaaaaak!

“What’s with this old hag being so strong…!”

-Wh-what? H-hag?! I’m going to have to properly educate you today.

The two continued to bicker.

Cyan slipped out of the Lord’s Castle.

#

Clang! Clang!

The sound of a hammer rang out like thunder.

Cyan, who had left the Lord’s Castle, went straight to Semir.

Semir’s hands hammering the metal were so dazzling that they were awe-inspiring.

Perhaps because of that, S-grade armor was being produced almost as if it were being printed.

Even the S-grade armor piled up next to him.

All of those were materials to enhance the transcendent-grade armor.

Of course, there were many things to deal with first.

The territory war with Elandur had to be announced to the territory residents.

The improved level of the soldiers had to be checked to objectively assess the combat power.

In addition, strategies and tactics on how to attack had to be prepared.

And war supplies had to be prepared.

Also, things that needed to be paid for in preparation for the war had to be organized.

Besides, the whereabouts of the last dragon—.

‘I just came to Ruben…’

Why did it seem like work never ended?

A sigh escaped involuntarily.

Anyway, there were too many things to do.

But Cyan put those things aside for now.

‘The territory atmosphere is too excited.’

Now was not the time to deal with those things.

The territory atmosphere was quite excited due to Aria’s presence.

The territory atmosphere was too chaotic to handle important matters in many ways.

It seemed good to give them time to calm down.

So Cyan grabbed the work he could do right now.

《SSS Grade → Transcendence Grade》

It was none other than enhancing the transcendence-grade armor.

[SSS Grade Enhancement Cost 200,000G]

[Enhancement Success Rate 0.5%]

(Enhancement Probability +0.1%)

(Enhancement Probability +0.15%)

(Enhancement Probability +0.25%)

If you applied the by-products of the World Tree, you could increase the probability to 1%.

《Morkru’s Energy 32.93%》

The currently accumulated Morkru’s energy was 32.93%

[Currently Holding Gold] – 350,098,000G

And the gold held in the inventory was a whopping 350 million and 98 thousand.

‘There’s enough gold.’

However, how much gold would be consumed was purely a matter of luck.

It could be 200,000 gold.

It could be 200 million gold.

Cyan swallowed hard and took off the SSS-grade armor he was wearing.

Ding!

At that moment, an alert sounded from his smartphone.

He looked at the screen.

《Please…! Please…! Oh, System…! Oh, the absolute law of causality of the dimension…!》

The mobile lord’s notification window was floating there.

《Please, please, if there is justice in this world…!》

《If justice is alive and breathing in the law of causality…!》

Ding!

《Please let the enhancement of that wicked person fail!!!》

The mobile lord prayed desperately.

But what?

Wicked person?

Cyan took a deep breath.

He shouldn’t be shaken by such things.

Cyan slowly raised his finger.

And stretched out his index finger and pressed the button on the screen.

The 【Enhancement】 button that was flashing.

Click.

《Starting the enhancement!!!!》

The mobile lord’s notification window popped up as if screaming.

“Please…!”

《Please…!》

Cyan and the mobile lord simultaneously put their hands together and prayed.

Hwaaaaaaaak!

At the same time, a bright light erupted.

“Pleeaase…!”

《Pleaseee…!》

The same sound but prayers with different contents.

The contrasting two prayers echoed as if resonating.

And for a moment.

Bbamppararabam bbamppamppamppam!!!

A huge fanfare sound was heard from the smartphone.