A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

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"Is this the newcomer here for testing?"

"Yes."

"Name?"

"I only gave her a code name. Evan, you can call her Miss White Rabbit."

The receptionist wasn't in a hurry to go back, but stayed there to record the battle situation.

Each Mercenary Guild has at least three receptionists, and this branch has seven. They work in shifts, usually five days on, two days off, with five people on duty and two resting. The remaining receptionists are in the lobby, which is more than enough to handle the rest of the work.

"Okay, I see."

Evan responded, picked up a giant hammer, and stood in front of Saint Karina.

"You must be Miss White Rabbit? The leader who wants to establish a new mercenary group in our Mercenary Guild."

Yes. What can I do for you?

"Alright, I won't offer any guidance. We mercenaries don't have those complicated rules. The test is simple: bring your own weapons, or use the weapons on the racks in this room."

Evan pointed in a certain direction.

There was a weapon rack there, with two rows of various types of weapons. The quality was so-so, just usable, but there was a good variety.

"Now I'll tell you about the assessment. It's very simple. If you can last five minutes under my supervision, I can give you a passing score of 60 points out of 100. The longer you can last, the higher your score will be."

"Oh? Is that so? What if I defeat you?"

"Saint Karina provocatively."

"Hahahaha. That's hilarious, the funniest joke I've heard all day. Since I became an examiner, many arrogant newcomers have said that. But let me tell you, that's impossible. No newcomer has ever been able to beat me. Fifty percent of them can't even last five minutes under my scrutiny and pass."

Evan didn't pay any attention to Saint Karina's words; he laughed and took them as a joke.

318. First collaboration

"Alright, enough of that dream talk. Don't waste your time; it's better for both of us. Having ambition is a good thing, Miss White Rabbit. If you can last five minutes under my thumb, I'll give you a passing grade."

Evan swung the hammer, his arm muscles bulging, looking powerful and strong. This was his habitual opening move, a way for him to gauge his condition for the day.

Then, a magical aura appeared around him, indicating that the man was quite strong. Saint Karina sensed that his aura was at the fifth rank, making him a pillar of strength in the Central Kingdom.

After all, most of the demon generals of the demon race are only at the sixth level, with a few being higher.

"Also, if you get injured, the Mercenary Guild won't pay for your medical treatment. Unless you're killed. You'll have to pay for it yourself. Is that acceptable?"

"Don't worry, I'm fine. I can accept anything you're talking about. I can afford it."

Although Saint Karina did not consider the possibility that the other party could injure her.

"Let's begin, be careful!"

With a loud shout, Evan's body swelled up, and he swung his hammer directly towards Saint Karina.

His legs unleashed tremendous power, propelling his body forward like a cannonball, as the giant hammer slammed down on Saint Karina.

"Little tricks."

Saint Karina completely disdained this crude martial arts technique. This straightforward fighting style lacked any technical skill and simply aimed to overwhelm the opponent with pure brute force. If there was a class difference between the two, Evan's fighting style would be very convenient, instantly demonstrating dominance.

However, if the opponent is stronger than Evan, this fighting style will also be suppressed instantly.

So, Saint Karina simply drew her holy sword from her waist, aimed at the weak point of her opponent's hammer, and thrust it out.

The original massive hammer and the swordsman's normal-sized longsword were quite different in size. The longsword looked tiny under the giant hammer and seemed unable to withstand its blows. However, in fact, when the tip of the sword collided with the hammer, Evan was directly pushed backward by the reaction force.

His body slammed into the wall, cracking and breaking it before he came to a stop.

The giant hammer was gradually shaken by the immense force and crumbled inch by inch. In the end, the hammer turned into pieces of steel and became unusable.

If it were to be put back into use, it would probably have to be completely rebuilt.

"So, did I pass?"

Evan had already fainted. Saint Karina was asking the receptionist at the Mercenary Guild.

"This, this, this is definitely up to standard."

The receptionist's mouth was practically stuffed with an egg. She'd seen quick finishes before, but it was usually Evan who swiftly defeated the newcomers; this was the first time she'd seen Evan get swiftly defeated.

"So, can we choose a task now?"

"Of course you can. Please follow me."

Afterwards, Saint Karina directly selected a mission for the two of them and left the Mercenary Guild.

She wouldn't have needed to go through all this trouble; she could have just trained Vera directly. However, her money was hers, and Vera wouldn't accept money given to her like that. Vera's own money was just for travel expenses; she couldn't let her keep giving without receiving anything in return.

Choosing to take on missions through the Mercenary Guild can increase team synergy, train Violet and Phoebe, and also earn money. After all, apart from Saint Karina who has plenty of money, the other two members of this team are not exactly flush with cash.

"Gathering herbs... isn't this task too easy for the hero?"

“I didn’t just take that task; there are others too. Let’s start with the simpler ones.”

Finding healing herbs wasn't too difficult. Perfect for this new team.

The reward for this task is reasonable. It depends on the number of herbs found, and you can exchange them directly with the Mercenary Guild. It's roughly one gold coin per herb.

The herbs were a bit hard to find, but when Saint Karina flew overhead, she spotted a suitable area. All she needed to do was defeat an old acquaintance, and that would be enough.

However, Saint Karina didn't tell Vera this, fearing Vera wouldn't want to go. Sometimes, to become the person you aspire to be, to become a hero, you must confront your inner fears, especially the first setbacks you experience.

"Hey, you white-haired guy, why are you walking? Don't you know that teleportation magic? Just teleport there."

Phoebe cried out.

"I could do it, but that wouldn't be of any use to you as training. If I did it all, what would I need you for?"

"I didn't intend to exercise."

"You're just a side effect. I'm mainly doing this for Vie."

Saint Karina retorted without holding back.

"you!"

Phoebe was stumped by the choking, stomped her foot, but couldn't do anything about Saint Karina.

"What do you mean, 'I'? You don't want to work hard, but there are plenty of people who do. Instead of complaining about being tired here and not being able to change your life, why not learn more from me?"

Saint Karina wasn't going to give this lazy little cat any face.

In fact, the sun had already set, leaving only the last rays of sunlight, the red glow of which illuminated the earth. Compared to Phoebe's reluctance, Violet was in a good mood, humming a song and swaying her body to the rhythm of the music.

She seemed quite relaxed, much more so than when Violet went into the forest alone. Perhaps Saint Karina was truly powerful, giving her a sense of security.

This is both good and bad.

If you want to train someone to grow, it's actually better to let her grow on her own and secretly protect her.

However, the mechanism for heroes is different from that of ordinary people. As long as they obtain the artifact of the current hero and receive the blessing of the gods, they are essentially agents of the gods, at the very least demigod level. Their strength is comparable to that of the Pope's sister.

The weapons of a hero are not limited to swords, but also include hammers, staves, clubs, shields, bows, spears, and so on.

For example, the Sword Hero is Violet's mother, and before her there were the Shield Hero, the Spear Hero, the Bow Hero, the Staff Hero, and so on.

The blessings of the gods are similar to the protection bestowed upon popes by the gods. However, heroes have a growth system that, theoretically, allows them to reach the level of true gods.

However, this is only in theory. Only one person has truly achieved this, and only one is recorded in history. That was the [number]th hero, who perished alongside the current Demon King and has long since vanished into the annals of history.

Therefore, Saint Karina only needs to train Vera's combat abilities, accumulate combat experience, assist from the sidelines, and keep a close eye on her to prevent Vera from dying.

Even if she were to lose an arm or a leg, her healing magic would be more than enough to handle it.

Violet's boots rustled on the grass, and a gentle breeze ruffled her long, icy blue hair, which shimmered like crystal but was tinged with an indelible red by the sunset.

The forest was lush and green, the flowers were budding, everything was so beautiful.

With her mindset changed, Vera found even the occasional roars of unknown wild beasts in the forest and the noisy chirping of insects pleasant to hear.

Time passed slowly, night fell, and the sky grew darker and darker. Finally, the exciting adventure that had been enjoyable for Violet, and the arduous walk that had been unbearable for Phoebe, came to an end.

A cave appeared ahead, shrouded in darkness, like a predatory beast ready to devour its prey. A dangerous aura emanated from it, yet no suspicious monsters could be detected with the naked eye.

The vegetation remained lush and green, even denser than before. What made Vera wary was the suspicious dampness along the edge of the grass leading into the cave; the liquid resembled dried, gelatinous substance.

"Want to go in?"

"Why don't you go in first? If you encounter any danger, just call for help, and I'll rush in to rescue you immediately. Don't worry, it's not particularly dangerous inside, and it won't endanger your lives."

Saint Karina planned to let Vera and Phoebe try it themselves. She would back them up.

She certainly knew the answer to the cave's mystery; through magic, she had already sensed what kind of monster it was. However, Saint Karina herself didn't plan to go; she intended to train the two of them to be independent and to cooperate as a team, leaving her behind.

Of course, she didn't forget to give them some words of comfort, saying that the danger wasn't great.

So, Phoebe and Violet looked into each other's eyes. If it was a matter of trust, Violet would find it difficult to trust someone who had deceived her a second time, and she wasn't comfortable entrusting her entire life to her. Phoebe, on the other hand, had been forced into this situation.

The order was easy to decide: Phoebe would go first, and Violet would follow Phoebe.

The initial entry into the cave went smoothly. The cave wasn't too deep, and we soon reached the end.

At the end is a spacious stone chamber, with a rugged and primitive living style.

There wasn't even a stone bed; there were only piles of withered leaves and grass on the floor. That area was probably equivalent to a bed. There were no tables, chairs, or benches that a human society would have; only some food scraps were piled up in a corner.

It's not particularly dirty or messy, but it doesn't feel like a place where people live.

"alert."

"I know, you don't need to tell me."

Phoebe's good intentions were not accepted by Violet.

She must still resent Phoebe for deceiving her and abandoning her.

Saint Karina's punishment merely provided Vera with an outlet for her pent-up emotions.

However, Violet's resentment cannot be resolved simply by punishment or venting. It lies in something deeper.

"Although I am human, unlike you cat people who are born with the ability to see in the dark, my mother taught me magic that allows me to see through darkness. The only difference between us is that you are born with this talent, while I learned it through practice."

After Violet finished speaking, Phoebe noticed that Violet's eyes were sparkling.

The golden light was faint, and because Phoebe could see in the dark, she didn't even notice it at first. Upon closer inspection, however, there was indeed a magical aura, and her golden eyes were brighter than usual.

Of course, the golden eyes can't shine like a lighthouse in the dark like those of the dragons. The purer the bloodline, the brighter the eyes, almost like a light bulb.

Violet's light is a subtle, restrained glimmer.

319. Overcoming the gloom in one's heart

"Meow!"

Just then, Phoebe screamed as something wrapped around her ankle and dragged her straight into the darkness.

It turns out that there was a hidden door in this stone chamber. If Violet hadn't been able to see it, she might have missed this inconspicuous mechanism.

Phoebe was petite, and being dragged inside by this thing was effortless; she disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"..."

Violet fell into a period of silence, hesitating whether to go out and call for Santa Karina's help or to go in and rescue her alone.

Although she hated Phoebe, especially since Phoebe had deceived her, she wouldn't just stand by and watch her die.

The problem is that she didn't see clearly what was dragging Phoebe, so she couldn't judge the level of danger.

After hesitating for about half a minute, Violet decided to go in alone.

If they go out to call for Saint Karina, the back-and-forth trip would be risky, and if there were any real danger, Phoebe would be in trouble, and it would be too late. Also, Violet wants to train herself. As someone who aims to become a hero, she can't rely on others for everything; she can't stand alone like that.

Darkness instills a strong sense of fear, but Violet knew she had to face it herself and try to overcome it.

After Vera went into the even narrower and more cramped passage, she saw a scene that she would never forget.

Phoebe's clothes had dissolved into nothingness, leaving only sparse pieces of fabric clinging to her body. She was crouching on the ground, her legs pressed close to the earth, her hands braced against the ground like a wild animal, making her look like a real cat.

She was covered in a lot of pink, viscous liquid, on her smooth black hair, on her furry ears, and on her shoulders and feminine curves.

Even the slender tail wasn't spared.

A pink, viscous, transparent skewer was stuffed into Phoebe's mouth. She swallowed hard, and saliva dripped from the corner of her mouth.