Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 33 - 21.5: Thinking 2

"I wish evening would just hurry up and come already," Aurianna sighed as she sipped some orange juice, her impatience palpable in her voice.

To her surprise, Eva appeared before her with a smile, ready to engage in conversation. "Aren’t you impatient?" she asked, her hands crossed and curiosity gleaming in her eyes.

Aurianna sighed again, this time expressing her boredom more explicitly. She communicated her thoughts telepathically to Eva, ensuring their conversation remained private. "I am, I’m so... bored. I’ve read every book in the library, experienced my past life... There’s nothing new or exciting," she complained, clutching her book tightly in her hand.

Eva raised an eyebrow at Aurianna’s response. "Every book? What about learning books?"

Aurianna scoffed at the idea. "Story books, of course! Learning books are too dull for my taste," she proudly declared, emphasizing her preference for the imaginative and fantastical tales rather than academic content.

Eva pondered for a moment, contemplating potential solutions. "Well, you can always watch the knights practicing their skills," she suggested, her tone optimistic.

Aurianna’s face contorted into a disapproving frown. "Please, I’m not going to waste my time watching those jackasses train their boring moves," she retorted dismissively, uninterested in the martial training of the knights.

Eva, undeterred, continued to offer suggestions. "Why don’t you find a way to play around or have some fun? You’re physically young, after all," she proposed, hoping to spark some interest in Aurianna’s demeanor.

Aurianna crossed her arms, unconvinced. "What am I, a child?" she exclaimed, displaying her resistance to the idea.

"Physically, you are a child," Eva pointed out.

Eva paused, contemplating another potential solution that might capture Aurianna’s attention. "What about piecing together all the events that happened in your past life?" she suggested, her voice tentative yet hopeful.

As soon as Eva mentioned her past life, Aurianna’s body trembled uncontrollably, and a sense of fear washed over her. She shrank back, visibly shaken by the idea.

"Even though I’m angry about what happened in my past life, I don’t feel comfortable thinking about it," she mumbled, her voice filled with a mixture of reluctance and fear. The mere thought of delving into the memories and events of her previous existence seemed to evoke a deep sense of unease within her.

"Princess, are you alright?" Yui, who had been sitting on a nearby bench, immediately rushed over to Aurianna, concern etched on her face. She gently held Aurianna’s trembling hands, offering support and comfort.

"I’m fine, really. You can go back now," Aurianna waved her hands at Yui, still feeling nervous but not wanting to burden her with her own anxieties.

Yui hesitated for a moment, still worried about Aurianna, but ultimately respected her request and returned to her previous position on the bench, keeping a watchful eye on her.

Aurianna took a deep breath and tried to regain her composure. She reached for her cup of cool fruit drink and took a long sip, hoping to soothe her frayed nerves.

Placing the cup back on the table with a bit more force than intended, she noticed a small crack forming in the glass.

"Well you don’t seem to be fine to me," Eva, always perceptive, gestured towards Aurianna and a mischievous grin crept across her face. "Are you still afraid?" she inquired, teasingly.

Aurianna bit her lip and used her palms to steady her trembling shoulders. "It’s hard not to be afraid," she admitted, her voice filled with vulnerability and honesty.

Eva followed up, a serious tone replacing her playful demeanor. "But it’s better to be prepared," she advised.

Aurianna nodded in agreement, acknowledging the truth in Eva’s statement. "I know, Eva," she replied, grateful for the reminder to remain vigilant in the face of her fears.

"So I was wondering, why are heroes illegal in your world?" Eva asked out of curiosity. A pair of glasses materialized on Eva’s face, adding a touch of intrigue to the moment.

Aurianna was taken aback by the question. "How did you know?" she asked, surprise evident in her voice. She hadn’t expected Eva to be aware of the laws and circumstances of her world, as Eva didn’t seem to be a native of her world.

Eva shrugged, a nonchalant expression on her face. "I saw your past experiences, duh," she responded casually, as if it were the most obvious explanation.

Aurianna’s eyes widened in astonishment. "For real?" she exclaimed, unable to fully grasp the idea that Eva had been observing her since childhood, witnessing her growth and mistakes.

Eva sighed, her tone hinting at a mix of exasperation and fondness. "More like I’ve been watching you since you were a kid. And gosh, it was torture seeing how dumb you were," she confessed, earning a pout from Aurianna.

"Why didn’t you help me if you’ve been watching me since birth?" Aurianna’s voice carried a tinge of anger as she confronted Eva. It was a valid question, and she wanted an honest answer.

Eva’s response was delivered in a calm yet assertive manner, "If I had helped you, would you have realized your own mistakes and learned from them? As a Pearl, my duty is to polish you, and sometimes that means allowing you to experience hardships and grow through them."

Aurianna took a moment to process Eva’s words, realizing that there might be some truth to them. "I suppose you’re right," she conceded, a hint of acceptance in her tone. "But let’s get back to your question. Heroes are extraordinary beings from another world, summoned to protect Imanity from devastating monster floods."

"What is Imanity?" Eva asked, confused by the word.

"It’s like humanity, but since it means every race we say Imanity," Aurianna explained before she continued, "Well they are illegal because, there was a catastrophic event known as the first world war that occurred over three hundred thousand years ago. It shattered the peace and harmony of our world. History say that heroes, in their pursuit of godlike power, initiated this war. However, their attempts to ascend were swiftly quelled by the true gods, who ended up devouring them. Since then, summoning heroes has been strictly prohibited by law."

Eva’s curiosity persisted, and she probed further, raising an eyebrow. "But despite their illegality, why do people still support heroes?"

"Well, according to the so-called ’reliable’ history books, heroes are hailed as the mighty saviors who valiantly rescued humanity from the clutches of those manipulative races," Aurianna stated, her voice tinged with sarcasm.

Eva couldn’t help but express her disbelief, interrupting with a cough,"Seriously? What kind of utter nonsense is that?"

Aurianna’s expression turned dark, her frustration evident, "Yeah, I used to buy into that bullshit too. But now I know the truth—they’re nothing but self-centered assholes who care about nothing but fame, wealth, and their own damn desires!"

As Aurianna continued her telepathic conversation with Eva, the nearby maids couldn’t help but notice her peculiar behavior. They exchanged puzzled glances as Aurianna flipped through the pages of her book, displaying a range of emotions—some cold and distant, while others carried a hint of sadness.

"She seems completely absorbed in that book," one maid whispered to another, their voices barely audible.

The other maid nodded in agreement, observing Aurianna’s intense focus. "Indeed, she must be deeply engrossed in the story."

Eva nodded in understanding, acknowledging Aurianna’s past actions. "Well, let’s be honest, we’ve all fallen for misguided beliefs at some point. You were simply foolish to believe in King Girsal and cooperate with them. But hey, we all make mistakes, and we live and learn, right?"

Aurianna couldn’t contain her frustration any longer and blurted out, "Father, or should I say King Girsal, that disgusting excuse of a man! He’s nothing but a power-hungry psycho who only cares about his own twisted ambitions. And I, foolishly, couldn’t see through his façade until it was too late."

Eva nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders, a knowing look in her eyes. "Your biggest mistake in the past was putting your trust in King Girsal. Think about it, why were you exempted from the rigorous studies imposed on other princes and princesses once you gained your powers? Why did your progress as a Saintess remain painfully slow? And why were you forbidden from meeting the other Saintesses?"

Aurianna placed her hand on her chin, deep in thought, and then turned to Eva with realization dawning on her face. "That’s because he wanted to manipulate me, to use me as a pawn for his own agenda. And by isolating me and keeping me ignorant, he made me an easy target for his sinister plans!"

Eva grinned, pleased with Aurianna’s deduction. "Bingo! King Girsal had no qualms about being heartless and deceitful. That false accusation of you siding with the demons was just an excuse, it didn’t even make sense. He simply used it as a way to have access to your blood!"

Eva’s question hung in the air, and Aurianna’s face brightened as the pieces fell into place. "And why do you think he did that?" Eva inquired, a playful smile playing on her lips.

Aurianna snapped her fingers, her eyes lighting up with newfound understanding. She looked up at Eva and exclaimed, "Because if he had openly attacked me for my blood, people would have suspected him to be a vampire, a creature he’s not. It would have shattered his carefully crafted image and exposed his true nature."

"Yes, King Girsal saw that case as a perfect opportunity to get his hands on your blood without facing any consequences," Eva nodded in agreement.

Despite gaining some insight into the past events, Aurianna couldn’t shake off her lingering question. "But I still don’t understand why he needed to drink the blood of a Saintess. After all, he’s an Arc human, and Arc humans typically live for over a thousand years."

Eva’s response was tinged with a hint of mystery. "Well, perhaps the answer to that lies in the future, waiting to be unveiled."

In the midst of their conversation, Aurianna’s appetite beckoned her, and she reached for some cookies, relishing their sweet taste. She washed them down with a gulp of juice, smacking her lips in satisfaction. With a contented expression, she continued, "But why would King Girsal choose to side with Ralph? Based on his behavior, it seems unlikely that he would willingly give anyone the throne."

Eva stepped closer to Aurianna, lightly tapping her forehead. "Think harder, Aurianna. Ralph was one of the few disposable pawns remaining for King Girsal to exploit."

A sudden realization flashed across Aurianna’s face as she slammed her hands together. "Of course! Ralph may be strong, but he lacks the wits to see through King Girsal’s manipulations. He would be an easy target for control. But why couldn’t King Girsal have chosen to side with me, a Saintess, and simply brush it off as a dream?"

Eva said with a frown, "As for that he probably cared for his image. And he probably didn’t care about what happened to you as long as he could obtain your blood. But if you were subjected to mental trauma, it could potentially trigger the development of your Saintess blood even further!"

Aurianna clicked her tongue in frustration, chewing on another biscuit and washing it down with a sip of juice. The taste provided a brief distraction from the weight of their discussion.

"Now that I think about it, Eva, there really wasn’t a need for the heroes," Aurianna pondered aloud.

Curious, Eva raised an eyebrow. "Why do you say that?"

"Because most of our knights were on par with the heroes in terms of strength. Even Husae and Ralph surpassed them," Aurianna speculated, contemplating the disparity between the heroes and their own skilled knights.

Eva’s gaze turned thoughtful, hinting at a hidden agenda. She glanced at Aurianna before continuing, "There’s likely something more at play here."

Aurianna’s interest was piqued, and she leaned in closer. "Yes, exactly! Why would King Girsal risk his High Land just to summon heroes?"

Eva paused for a moment, building up suspense, before finally revealing her theory. "Unless... remember the conversation between King Girsal and the doctor who extracted the blood? The doctor mentioned that Saintesses are always killed, and their blood can extend one’s life, right?"

"Yes, I remember."

"What if the same applies to heroes but it would be a permanent solution!" Eva declared and Aurianna’s eyes flashed with shock as she gained new info and was enlightened.

"That actually makes a lot of sense. King Girsal never seemed genuinely invested in the war. He was always more concerned about the heroes’ levels," Aurianna mused, connecting the dots.

Eva nodded in agreement. "It’s likely that he eliminated the heroes after taking your life. And when it came to finding a scapegoat, poor Ralph was the most convenient choice."

Aurianna clenched her teeth, a surge of anger filling her. "Ralph...!!"

Eva observed Aurianna’s growing intelligence with satisfaction. ’Her critical thinking has improved significantly. With a little guidance, she is becoming quite sharp. If only she had given herself the opportunity to learn and grow in her previous life she would have been truly smart.... Well, I’ll make the most of it now. I’m excited to polish my Diamonds.’

As evening approached, Aurianna sat on her bed, a bright smile on her face as she gazed at Eva.

Eva couldn’t help but question Aurianna’s optimism. "Are you sure you’re not being overly optimistic?"

Aurianna looked back at Eva, her smile unwavering. "What’s wrong with wanting to become stronger? Even though that place is terrifying, it’s also thrilling and full of excitement."

Eva shrugged, conceding the point. "Well, in that case, I don’t see any issue with it."

"But before anything else," Eva interjected, punctuating her words with a double tap in mid-air. In an instant, a black void resembling a wormhole materialized before her. Plunging her arm inside, Eva retrieved a massive, peculiar gun. She handed it over to Aurianna.

Aurianna couldn’t help but comment, "This gun is surprisingly light. I was expecting it to be much heavier." She held the weapon in her arms, standing on her bed to get a better look. The gun’s size was twice as big as Aurianna, and its triangular shape with electric pulses surrounding it added to its intriguing design.

The system chimed in with some information:

[ Heavy Pulse Gun

Grade: ??

It has the unique ability to grow alongside its user.

Additional skills will be unlocked once the user becomes proficient in wielding it. ]

Aurianna’s eyes widened in awe as she ran her fingers along the gun’s smooth edges. She turned to Eva with a grateful expression, saying, "Wow, Eva, thanks a lot! But I’m curious, how exactly do I use this thing?"

Eva took a thoughtful pause, placing her hand under her chin as she tried to recall the specifics of operating the weapon. After a few seconds, she snapped her fingers and began to explain, "Well, to use this gun, all you have to do is imagine yourself holding it. It’s designed as a hover gun, so it automatically floats. However, the shooting power and range will depend on your own skills, Aurianna. You’ll need to unleash its full potential."

Eva flashed a smile before continuing, "Now see you later." She snapped her fingers once again, and suddenly, Aurianna felt a strange dizziness wash over her. In an instant, she vanished from Eva’s presence. On Aurianna’s bed, there was now an exact replica of Aurianna, appearing as if she was peacefully asleep.

Eva muttered softly to herself, her hand emitting a shimmering golden glow, as she murmured to herself, "It’s better to be safer now than sorry later."