A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

Page 191

"What secret?"

"Come closer, I want to talk to you."

Phoebe kept her voice down.

"Actually, I possess a special ability: to make humans stronger."

"From a very young age, I possessed a talent: the ability to use ancient rituals to cast spells and help someone reach their desired level. For example... making you as powerful as your hero mother is also possible~"

"Huh? Is there really such magic? This is the first time I've ever heard of it. My mother always tells me that any strength must be cultivated through hard work and perseverance."

"That's because your mother hasn't seen enough. Although she is a hero, she is not a god, nor is she omniscient or omnipotent. So, it really exists. I have no reason to lie to you."

The cat-girl named Phoebe smiled mysteriously, making it seem like there was some truth to it.

She couldn't possibly be lying to herself; after all, she was so adorable—that was Violet's thought.

She's actually quite naive, isn't she?

"Wow... I've never heard of such a magical ritual before. It must be incredibly ancient, right?"

"Of course. I'm so glad you trust me. I appreciate your trust, Violet. I swear on my integrity that I'm sincere, and besides, there's nothing about you that I would lie to. I just want to see you succeed and get closer to your goal. I really like straightforward girls like you, Violet. I can help you out for free, you know."

Phoebe smiled sincerely.

Her tone was very gentle, as if she were dealing with a little white rabbit, afraid that she might scare it away if she used too much force.

"I usually charge a fee. So, would you like me to lend you a hand?"

"Hmm... Let me think about it."

Vera didn't immediately agree. Actually, the ritual sounded quite suspicious; her mother had never told her about such a powerful ritual.

Also, Violet is actually a hard worker, the kind who works hard and doesn't really want to accept unorthodox methods.

Phoebe was so genuine and friendly. The moment they met, she let Violet pet her tail. There was probably no one more sincere in the world than this cat-girl. She messed up her new friend's fur, making a complete mess, but the other girl didn't seem angry or reproachful at all. Such a kind person couldn't possibly be a lie, right?

Moreover, Violet actually has a hard time saying no to people, especially since she already considers Phoebe a friend.

Since she was so eager to help her, to lend a hand, to become a like-minded companion, to help her become stronger, and to reach the level of a hero faster, how could Vera possibly let down this friend's good intentions? She didn't want to be the one who didn't appreciate it.

“Okay… Phoebe, I don’t know if this is the right thing to do. But if you want to help me, then go ahead and do it.”

"Hey, okay, I knew you'd agree!"

Phoebe's expression brightened even more; she curled her tail into a hook and pounced on Violet.

Their feminine advantages collided and kept rubbing against each other, squeezing and deforming those advantages.

"Then, Violet, you'd better keep up with me. This is a secret ritual. We're going deep into the forest, where no one will pass by. It's much better than these ruins near the main road. I don't think you'd want my secret exposed and watched by others, would you? Besides, if it's bandits, they might even rob us..."

She deliberately spoke alarmist words.

"Of course I don't want anything to happen to you, Phoebe. I understand, let's go then."

Violet, on the other hand, was naive and innocent, never even considering the possibility of being scammed.

"Alright, let's go then, Violet!"

And so, Phoebe's warm body was withdrawn from Violet's body.

For a moment, Violet felt a little empty inside. But she quickly composed herself and focused her attention on Phoebe, who was clearing the way forward.

The other person moved with light, quick steps. It was no surprise that she was a member of the Asian Cat Clan; she moved almost silently across the grass, which explained why Violet hadn't noticed her in the tree earlier. Her body was simply too petite.

"Rustling."

Violet, wearing boots, made a sound as she stomped through the grass.

She followed behind Phoebe, watching her bouncy figure, her gaze fixed on her cute tail, as if she were under a hypnotic spell.

Although she had only known Phoebe for less than half an hour, Violet was confident that Phoebe wouldn't try to abduct her.

What could be wrong with being with such an adorable cat-girl? Mom just told her not to talk to strange men.

then……

Thirty minutes later...

"Phoebe, do I really need to take my clothes off for this ceremony?"

Violet was stripped naked, her arms were bound, and she asked with a flushed face.

This appearance is exactly how Saint Karina looked when she met him.

"Of course, that's what the ancient ritual requires. It requires that the caster and the recipient be completely naked, especially the recipient, who must be completely naked. In this way, through the ritual, my magic can flow properly into your body via the magic circle."

"Trust me, darling!"

Phoebe spoke with absolute certainty.

"I know... but why did you tie my hands up with such thick rope? It makes it so hard for me to move."

Violet looked at her own posture awkwardly. She had trusted Phoebe completely, and this was the result of such a mess.

If the other person says they are shy, they should close their eyes first, so Vera obediently does so.

So when Vera opened her eyes again, she found that her arms were raised high above her head and were still hanging from a rather thick tree branch with a very rough and sturdy rope.

This tree is huge, a towering giant, arguably the largest in this forest. If you were to compare it, this branch would probably be as thick as the trunk of an ordinary street tree in the city.

She couldn't understand why she was using such a shameful position to perform some ancient ritual.

This ritual made Violet feel like an exhibitionist, so vulgar that if her mother saw it, she might be kicked out and forced to start her own household, which she considered a disgrace to the family.

After all, her hands were tied up, making it impossible to conceal her fair complexion and feminine advantages.

She felt like a lustful piece of meat displayed in a shop window...

“Oh, dear Violet, don’t worry, I know what I’m doing. And I know what it means for you to do it.”

"you know?"

"Of course, tying you up is to see how well you've worked out, how strong your muscles are. Also, being naked is a test of your willpower."

"really?"

"Really. You're already so powerful. I even feel like using my magic is a waste of your talent. You probably don't need my ritual. Hehe. So, since you're already this powerful, I'll be going now, Violet~ Bye-bye~"

"what?"

"That means I'm leaving here, Violet. Enjoy your journey!"

The cat-girl waved her hand, picked up Violet's money pouch and the hero's sword, and prepared to leave.

"Wait... Hey! Wait a minute! How can you leave? My hands aren't untied yet! How can you leave me here alone and just go?"

After a brief moment of panic, Violet started screaming and yelling like a madwoman.

"Oh? My dear Violet, you're still telling me no? Then tell me, why not?"

Why not...? Is that even a question?

"That's because I trust you so much. Besides, I'm completely naked, and I can't move at all. And you said you'd make me stronger, but what kind of strengthening is this? You even took my sword. What if... what if I get attacked by a monster?"

Of course, there were a whole host of reasons why it was impossible, and Vera rattled off a barrage of them.

"Oh, poor Violet. You're so naive, my silly girl, really. Don't you realize it yet? I've lied to you..."

She spoke to Violet in a very compassionate tone.

"It really was your first time traveling, and I believed you. That's why you were so easy to fool. The moment I saw you, I thought you were the kind of girl who would be easily deceived, so I took advantage of you. It's that simple. However, I didn't expect you to be so easily fooled."

"I've fooled quite a few people, at least dozens, if not hundreds, but you're the easiest to fool. I hardly had to lift a finger to find out everything about you and get all your valuables. My little cutie, Violet."

She shook her head slightly, but a wicked smile curled at the corners of her lips.

Her tone was full of pity, but it was completely contrary to her actions.

"I know, Violet, you must be very sad, heartbroken, and furious right now. Being deceived for the first time, especially by such a despicable method, must be very upsetting. But don't be discouraged. I've deceived too many people in my life, and you're just one of them."

"Try to think more positively. What's done is done. Just treat it as a lesson. At least I'll tell you personally that you've been deceived, instead of just making up an excuse to never come back."

"Hehehe. So, don't judge a book by its cover next time, Violet. No matter how cute someone is, you shouldn't blindly trust them. Of course, I know I'm definitely the most charming one among the cute ones!"

She also boasted to Violet about her beauty in a smug tone.

"What? How could you... how could you do this to me?"

Feeling wronged... unwilling...

Her emotions were like an overturned bottle, a jumble of feelings. Violet's spirits plummeted, and tears welled in her eyes.

She was furious. She gritted her teeth and tried to pull the rope away, but it was all in vain.

The rope was incredibly strong, the tree trunk too thick, and the binding too tight. Violet couldn't break free at all and could only watch helplessly as the cat-girl who called herself Phoebe left.

"No, don't leave me, please, have pity on me. You can take the money, but at least leave me the sword, it's my mother's sword... I can't live without it..."

The rough rope, due to the struggle, dug deep into the skin, causing a painful constriction.

Violet realized that Phoebe didn't want anything for her or for her to be strong. Instead, she wanted to humiliate her, and in this way.

"I'm sorry, I can't. Violet, I'm very busy, and there are many places I want to go."

She was cruel, but she still left Violet a set of clothes.

If Violet can be rescued, at least she'll have a piece of cloth to cover her body.

Although Phoebe stole much more. She stole Violet's money, pride, trust, and dreams...

That sword of the hero carries her dreams.

At that moment, Violet was on the verge of collapse.

"Meow hahaha~ Thank you, my dear Violet. As long as I find a suitable buyer for your sword and sell it on the black market, I'll be set for life and can live a happy upper-class life! Well then, I'm off, Violet! I hope you won't be so easily fooled next time! Hehehe."

Phoebe waved her sleeve and took Violet's Che away.

She left, her signature laughter lingering in the air, without a trace.

And now, this explains why Vera was attacked by a monster in this strange posture, and why she encountered Saint Karina.

After telling Santa Karina everything, she was still seething with anger.

302. Peers

“Is that so? I know you must have suffered a lot, but don’t worry, now that you’re with me, I will protect you. If you lose your sword, then I will be your sword. I will take you safely out of this forest and will never let you suffer such terrible harm again. I promise you.”

Saint Karina already knew the whole story, and she assured Vera of this.

"Thank you, Lina. But is it really okay? I don't want to trouble you..."

Her eyes lit up when she heard that Santa Karina would help her, but she was a good girl and didn't want to trouble others, so she hesitated.

"It's no trouble at all, you have to trust me. I'd be happy to help a kind, warm-hearted, lovely, and sincere girl like you, and I'd be heartbroken if I were rejected."

"But... you've already helped me once, and I have nothing to give you now. You have no obligation to stay with me."

Violet shared her thoughts.

“I’ll only be a burden to you. I don’t even have a decent weapon right now. And I don’t know much magic, so I can’t even support you. I’ll only be a hindrance.”

"No, that's not it. Maybe you feel like you're holding me back, but that's because you haven't discovered your own potential. I hope to be a companion on your path to your dreams and lend you a helping hand."

True strength comes from within; you are simply unaware of your own goodness.

And just talking to you tells me what a wonderful person you are. Even though you've faced a big setback and frustration today, you still care about others. The fact that you're still hesitant about seeking help proves you're a gentle and kind girl. I want to do everything I can to help you and make you a better person.”

Santa Karina spoke at length, like a machine gun.

Then, with a worried look in her eyes, she said:

"Even if you don't acknowledge me as your companion, that's fine. It's just my opinion. Let me lead you out of this forest, okay? I can only be at ease when I know you're safe and sound."

Then Saint Karina deliberately exuded a fragile, heartbreaking sense of vulnerability.

Her expression was melancholic yet beautiful.

This caused Vera's inability to properly refuse others to relapse. Beautiful girls have this privilege.

Her pretty face flushed slightly, as if she was embarrassed to trouble Saint Karina, but she still agreed to Saint Karina's suggestion:

"Okay... I understand. If... if you really care about me this much, I think you're doing it for my own good. I shouldn't have rejected you like that, not giving you a chance to care about me. Then..."

She hadn't finished speaking, but she had already accepted it.