I find it very sacred to pick someone up and make them a saint.

Rachel smiled when she heard Lucia's loud reply:

"Luya, how are your preparations going for your sparring match with Funila in five days?"

"I have only just mastered the four basic tests of the Light Magic."

Rachel, of course, did not know that Lucia's "just now" referred to two days, but more than three months after she enrolled.

Yet it was still very fast.

"You did very well, worthy of Chief Mien's guidance." He then asked, "Have the proficiency and effectiveness of those four spells reached the passing grade?"

"Yes," Lucia replied, "Professor Hein said that it has all been achieved?"

"Have all four requirements been met?"

"Yes."

Rachel was surprised.

She believes that with more talent, coupled with ample resources and guidance, there are quite a few examples of people who have learned basic spellcasting in three months, and she herself is one of them.

However, she had never heard of many people who had mastered all four spells in just three months.

"Have you ever been exposed to or studied light magic before?" Rachel couldn't help but ask. Even though Mien had told her about Lucia's background, she still suspected that there might be some secret being hidden.

"No." Lucia shook her head.

"I first came into contact with magic after entering the Academy of Scholars. It was Teacher Mien who personally taught me, and then Teacher Hein trained me."

Rachel didn't think she was lying, so she answered honestly.

With Mien and Hein personally teaching him together, it's perhaps not surprising that this outcome occurred.

"I see," Rachel replied, lost in thought.

I recall hearing from the elders that Mien was the same way when he was young. He mastered basic spells very quickly, but his growth rate was seriously insufficient. Perhaps he had some kind of exam secret.

He then asked, "Do you know anything about Naphnila's situation?"

Upon hearing Furilla's name, Lucia unconsciously tensed up and shook her head: "I only know that she is also a prospective saintess and has been training for a long time."

Rachel noticed her nervousness: "So, how's your combat skills training going?"

Lucia lowered her head: "I've never had a real battle before, only one training session, and I performed very poorly."

Hearing this, Rachel relaxed. This was exactly what she expected. The Academy had its limitations.

I can't believe there's a talented individual outside the army who isn't working for me. Everyone here is someone who can't get into the upper echelons of the empire, the army, or the clergy.

"Are you confident you can defeat Furilla and win this Saintess promotion competition?"

Lucia pursed her lips but did not answer.

"It's nothing," Rachel said with a relaxed smile, getting to the heart of the conversation:

"I came to see you specifically to tell you that even if we can't defeat Fernila this time, it doesn't matter if we're not fully prepared."

Lucia looked at Rachel with a puzzled expression.

Rachel looked at her confused eyes and smiled:

"Furila didn't just study and train at the Academy of Scholars for two years after enrolling; she grew up in the Church of Light from a young age and received intensive training. You have no chance of beating her."

After denying it, the tone shifted:

"But I have seen both of you, and even though this is the first time I've met you, I know you are more suitable than her to be the Holy Maiden of Light of this Empire."

Lucia paid no attention to Rachel's praise, but instead imagined what Funila would be like: what kind of person would she be?

I'm going to fight her to the death in five days...

Are they the same as me?

"It's common knowledge that Funila's Light Resonance level is not up to par, and I can do everything I can to prevent her from becoming a saint."

Even if she does get promoted, I have ways to gradually remove her from the list in the future, as long as you are around.

Then we will gradually promote you to be the true Holy Maiden of the Empire.

"So," Rachel looked into Lucia's eyes:

"So the question now is, Lucia, are you confident that you can become the Holy Maiden of Light?"

"If you are willing to follow me and Mien and shoulder the empire's religious responsibilities, I, as the fourth princess of the Holy Empire, can offer you some assistance."

Lucia looked away without answering.

Rachel smiled, naturally thinking that these words had probably scared her, but it was also the result she wanted.

Then, softening his tone, he leaned forward slightly, moving closer to Lucia, and said:

"Luya, if you are willing to follow me, I can promise you Tin Can Street."

"What?!" Lucia exclaimed in surprise.

Rachel laughed: "I can make you a viscount and give you Iron Can Street as your fief."

And this place generates five thousand gold coins in taxes annually, all of which you can use at your disposal.

Lucia thought she had misheard the number.

Five thousand gold coins? How is that possible? Where would I find so much money in the place where I grew up?

"How come the people there have so much money?..." Lucia asked this question for the first time since the conversation began.

Rachel, seeing Lucia's innocent expression, answered:

"Of course there will be. Every time there's a war, as long as they use this as an excuse to collect war taxes, places like this can collect so much money without exception."

"But..." Obviously, there was no possibility of war in this corner of the capital at the moment, but in order to avoid angering Rachel, he changed the subject and said, "The cult disaster just happened here."

Rachel waved her hand:

"That was a long time ago, and it was only with the help of the Empire that they were freed from the harm of the cult and restored to a happy and peaceful life. You should know that."

Lucia did not react.

"It is the military and the Vatican that stand at the forefront of all the people, protecting your lives."

Her eyes shone with encouragement for Lucia:

"Now that you have become a saintess, coming from Iron Can Street, you have naturally become the pride of all of them, bringing glory to this place."

Naturally, we should give everything to support you and dedicate ourselves to you.

Even for that reason alone, they could come up with the money.

Lucia believed he was right; if that was the case, perhaps they really could produce it.

Just thinking about this made Lucia think of those specific people, those who would actually give her money.

Grandma Marissa, Aunt Aretha who took her in, Uncle Mal who gave her work...

Thinking about their faces, I couldn't help but bite my lip hard.

Seeing Lucia's conflicted expression, Rachel said:

"Although the Holy Maiden of Light and the Goddess of Light are different from the bishops of the Holy See, they are very weak beings and can do very little."

But you are different. If you weren't trapped in the Church of Light, with my help, you would never have become like the previous Holy Maiden of Light.

"Your Highness Rachel, what was the previous saint like?" Lucia asked.

Rachel laughed:

"You asked a good question. They are simply tools of the Church of Light and some nobles. They have done many despicable things within the empire, and now they use the name of the Goddess of Light to wash away these sins and force the people to forgive them."

As she spoke, the princess revealed a genuine look of disgust: "This empire was destroyed by these insects. It is because of these useless people that the empire has continued to decline, and the decline of your homeland is also due to this. You should understand."

Deep down, he took the opportunity to vehemently criticize the princes and the pope for their evil deeds, and to judge his political enemies, hoping to plant seeds of hatred in the heart of the innocent girl.

As Lucia listened, she thought of Grandma Marissa, of her devout prayers to the Goddess of Light, and of the longing of her hometown people for the long-lost Holy Maiden of Light…

Then I remembered Mien's words—"The Holy Maiden of Light is the one who brings light to the Empire."

She has gained some clear understanding of the significance of the saint's existence.

"But you're different," Rachel continued.

"With Chief Mien and my help, this empire needs our assistance. Under our command, you, as the Holy Maiden of Light, can do many, many things."

The future of the empire rests on our shoulders, doesn't it?

Lucia's thoughts were filled with Mien, the way she dealt with the cult plague in Iron Can Street, and how she protected her behind her.

Lucia replied, "Yes, Your Highness."

Rachel smiled with satisfaction: "Very good, Lucia."

If you have a goal and desire, with our help, you will naturally be able to defeat Funila. Even if you can't this year, you can next year or the year after. You are destined to be the Holy Maiden of Light here.

Lucia looked into Rachel's eyes and said, "I will try my best, Your Highness, thank you."

Bow properly.

Rachel sensed that Lucia had become much more confident after their conversation.

"Chief Mien is the wisest person here. Many people beg to see him but cannot. Since you are fortunate enough to learn from him, you must learn his knowledge and character well and not fail to live up to the grace of this goddess."

Lucia answered confidently, "I definitely will."

Lucia felt that all the fear and dread in her heart had disappeared without her noticing.

Desire arose within her.

Everything I do is no longer just to cope with the present life, nor is it simply to live up to other people's expectations.

She wants to become a saint.

Lucia and Rachel looked at each other, just as Mien had said:

They only look scary; they're not scary at all.

Rachel is the fourth princess of the empire, a person of immense power who can execute herself at will.

At the same time, she was just like any other detestable noblewoman she had ever met, no different from anyone else despite her stunning beauty.

I can boldly follow my inner disgust and hatred, just like when I first met Mien.

The princess gracefully ended the conversation, and the two stood up together.

Lucia's Academy Medal gleamed on her chest as she stood tall, a scholar's chest held high, just like everyone else here:

Intellectual, resolute, brave, upright, and confident.

Mien, who was talking to August outside the door, saw the two coming out.

I vaguely sensed that Lucia seemed a little different.

They exchanged greetings with Rachel.

The moment Lucia saw Mien outside the door, she suddenly felt a surge of shame that grew stronger and stronger.

Just now, I actually wanted to give up, to escape the Academy of Scholars and my responsibilities as a prospective saintess, and to go back to Iron Can Street.

Especially after Mien did so much for her.

They have given me so much help and guidance, and even though I haven't done well enough, they are still so forgiving of me.

As she thought about it, her eyes welled up with tears.

How could I be so willful?

After Mien finished talking with the princess, he looked at Lucia and noticed that the child's eyes were red.

But unlike before, he was enduring everything, his eyes were firm, resolute and brave, just like when he first met her.

I couldn't help but laugh to myself.

After talking with the princess of the empire, Lucia no longer seems to be the little girl waiting to be saved and needing her guidance.

And thus, they developed their own desires and soul.

They will face this empire together.