Saintess? Not Anymore! I'd Rather be a Destroyer-Chapter 38 - 25: Meeting Blade

Once Eva concluded her conversation with Aurianna, a group of maids gracefully entered the room, attending to Aurianna’s needs. They meticulously freshened her up and elegantly dressed her before guiding her towards the dining room, where a delightful breakfast awaited her.

A sudden interruption broke the tranquility as a maid approached Aurianna with a respectful bow. "Princess, please allow me to introduce Princess Blade, who has come to see you," she announced with a hint of formality.

’I wonder what Blade is doing here,’ Aurianna thought before her eyes became cold.

"I’m wondering who was the idiot to name their child Blade," Eva commented.

Feeling intrigued, Aurianna motioned for the maid to invite Blade inside. The door swung open, revealing a teenage girl in her early teens. Her cascading, straight blonde hair flowed down to her thighs, framing a pair of piercing green eyes. Her radiant cream-colored skin glistened beautifully in the sunlight. Blade was dressed in a black, long-sleeved shirt with a turtle-neck, accompanied by black shorts and matching heels.

Aurianna greeted Blade with a serene smile, her voice laced with warmth. "Sister Blade, it’s delightful to see you. What brings you here today?" Her words carried an air of innocence and angelic charm.

"I just came to check up on my dear little sister," Blade responded with a smile of her own, but she couldn’t shake off the chill it sent down her spine seeing Aurianna’s smile. There was something unsettling about that smile, something insincere and shrouded in hidden motives.

’That was obviously a lie. She probably came to check my soul, since the maids as observant as they are have noticed my change in attitude.’ Aurianna thought.

Eva’s voice echoed in Aurianna’s mind, expressing her curiosity. "Is that really possible?"

Aurianna responded internally, recounting her encounters with demons and their ability to possess others. "Yes, it is. During the battle with the demons, some of them possessed human bodies. However, thanks to Blade’s presence, we easily identified and exposed the demon spies."

Blade, noticing Aurianna’s silence, grew concerned. "You’ve been quiet for a while. Is everything alright?" she asked, her expression filled with genuine care.

Aurianna quickly composed herself, putting on a playful tone. "Oh, dear big sister Blade, I was just at a loss for words. After all, it’s not often that you pay me a visit," she giggled.

Blade smiled warmly, understanding Aurianna’s sentiment. "Ah, I see. I should make more of an effort then," she replied, her smile genuine.

Blade’s thoughts wandered, finding Aurianna’s behavior perplexing. ’She’s certainly not possessed and seems unchanged. However, it’s rather unusual to hear someone as young as Aurianna speak so casually about taking a life without hesitation. Father wouldn’t concern himself with such trivial matters. But her sudden presence here unsettles me,’ Blade mused, her gaze fixed on Aurianna’s adorable smile as she let out a sigh. ’If the maid hadn’t informed me, it would be hard to believe that my step-sister would do such a thing!’

Breaking the lighthearted exchange, Blade addressed Aurianna, broaching a delicate topic. "Aurianna, I’ve heard rumors about your recent behavior," she stated.

Curiosity piqued, Aurianna inquired, "Are you referring to the fact that I’ve stopped engaging in childish games?"

Blade smiled, her expression indicating there was more to discuss. "No, that’s not what I meant," she clarified.

Perplexed, Aurianna pressed on. "Then what exactly do you mean?"

Blade’s smile wavered slightly as she approached the matter with caution. "Well, there have been murmurs suggesting that you’ve become quite violent recently."

Aurianna’s eyes widened, surprised by the accusation. "Violence? That’s ridiculous!"

"Then why did you kill one of the maids, Aurianna?" Blade inquired as she approached the table, taking a seat next to Aurianna.

Aurianna maintained her sweet smile as she replied, "Because that insolent maid had the audacity to wear a necklace that belongs to this princess. And you know how much I cherish my gifts, sister."

Blade couldn’t shake off the unease that Aurianna’s smile brought forth, her nervousness evident in her expression.

However, Blade quickly composed herself and responded, "That’s understandable. We can always find you a new maid from one of the noble families," offering a reassuring smile to Aurianna.

"Thank you, big sister Blade," Aurianna beamed innocently, her childlike innocence shining through.

Blade reciprocated the sentiment. "My pleasure."

Realizing the time, Blade realized she needed to depart. "Well, I must be on my way now. It’s nearly time for my sword lessons," she announced, rising from her seat.

"Oh, that sounds so exciting!" Aurianna exclaimed.

"Do you want to watch?" Blade asked, her smile directed at Aurianna.

Aurianna, in her playful manner, replied, "No, thank you. I’d rather continue playing."

"Fair enough," Blade acknowledged. "See you later."

As Blade turned to leave, she added, "Oh, and remember, Father would like us to have a family breakfast in two weeks."

"A breakfast gathering?" Aurianna questioned.

"Yes, weren’t you aware?" Blade asked, curiosity flickering in her eyes.

"I know. Every month, we gather at Father’s private mansion in the palace for a special breakfast," Aurianna responded.

"Glad you’re aware. I’ll see you soon," Blade said before departing from the dining room. Aurianna’s previously joyful expression swiftly turned cold.

After leaving the dining room, Aurianna made her way to her room and jumped onto the bed. Suddenly, Eva appeared before her, prompting a conversation.

"Why didn’t you go with her? You don’t have anything else to do," Eva questioned, appearing curious.

Aurianna crossed her arms, a frown on her face. "I simply don’t like her!"

"Why is that?" Eva prodded, curious about Aurianna’s feelings.

"I suppose it’s because she could have been of assistance to me. She was a potential candidate for the royal throne," Aurianna replied, her tone tinged with disappointment.

Eva pondered for a moment, trying to recall the memories. "Yes, in your memories, there were two individuals who had the potential to become royal candidates. One was Blade, but the memory of the other person remains foggy," Eva stated, a silent giggle escaping her lips as she remembered the forgotten figure.

Aurianna sighed, frustration evident on her face. "Indeed, I can’t seem to remember much about the other person. Husae also passed away, leaving Blade and Ralph. However, Father arranged for Blade to be betrothed to the crown prince of a certain kingdom. I can’t recall the details clearly. All I know is that Blade was dissatisfied, so she took matters into her own hands, killing her husband and ascending to the throne as King."

Eva’s curiosity was piqued. "A woman becoming a King? Shouldn’t she be called a Queen?"

Aurianna explained, shedding light on the matter. "In our continent and in others, the title of King carries a more dominant title. Thus, even women can be referred to as Kings, while their husbands are known as Queens."

"That makes sense, but wouldn’t the people rebel?" Eva asked, her curiosity piqued.

"She was a High Human, although not as powerful as Father. She was a walking disaster on the battlefield," Aurianna explained, reminiscing about the past.

"Ohhh, that’s cool. And if I checked her power, it was a Joker Class!" Eva stated cautiously.

"Yeah, but I have no idea what kind of class that is..." Aurianna shrugged, displaying her lack of knowledge.

"A Joker Class... She could pose a challenge in the future. It’s best to be cautious around her," Eva warned, her tone serious. However, Aurianna seemed unfazed by the warning.

"Why?" Aurianna questioned, seemingly unaffected.

"I’ve encountered someone from that Class before. They excel in combat, are highly deceitful, and possess exceptional manipulative skills," Eva explained, a frown on her face.

"Oh well, whatever," Aurianna shrugged once again, her nonchalant attitude prevailing.

"This is a serious matter, Aurianna. It’s not something you can simply shrug off!" Eva scolded her.

"I’ll become stronger than her and kill her when I grow up, so why should I bother?" Aurianna retorted confidently.

"You should really be concerned. Anyone could become your enemy!" Eva raised her voice, trying to emphasize the gravity of the situation.

"Of course, they are all my enemies. Even if they change in this life, I won’t forgive them for what they did to me in my past life," Aurianna stated with an evil smirk, displaying her determination for revenge.

Eva smiled before declaring, "Oh well, I’m not gonna stick around for your boring day. I’d rather dive into some video games." With a casual wave of her hand, she opened a portal right before her, ready to immerse herself in a more exciting virtual realm.

Aurianna’s face contorted with confusion as she processed the unfamiliar term. "Video games?" she echoed, clearly puzzled by this foreign concept.

Eva nodded with enthusiasm, her eyes lighting up. "Yep, they’re way more interesting than being stuck here," she responded, emphasizing the captivating nature of this interactive digital entertainment.

Eager to shift the conversation back to her training, Aurianna reminded Eva, "So, what about those dumbbells you were talking about?"

"Oh, right," Eva replied nonchalantly, conjuring sixteen dumbbells out of thin air. The weights materialized near Aurianna’s bed before fading into invisibility. "Only you can see them. I’ve also sent a tutorial straight to your inventory," Eva explained, ensuring that Aurianna understood the unique nature of these ethereal training tools.

Perplexed, Aurianna sought clarification. "Inventory?" she queried, her brow furrowing in confusion.

Eva took a moment to explain, adopting a more informal tone. "Think of it like a spiritual storage space where you keep all your weapons and physical stuff you buy," she elucidated. "Just say ’inventory,’ and it’ll pop up right in front of you."

Understanding dawned upon Aurianna’s face as she connected the dots. "Oh, it’s like a storage ring space!" she exclaimed, a hint of excitement in her voice.

With a firm tone, Eva laid out the training plan. "Alright, you’ll start by lifting the five-kilogram dumbbells and gradually work your way up to the hundred-kilogram ones. This routine will continue for a whole month," she instructed, her words carrying a sense of strict determination. "You may have strength, but your body hasn’t been properly trained to wield it. If you try to unleash that strength without the necessary preparation, your body could literally fall apart."

Aurianna’s confusion resurfaced, prompting her to seek clarification once again. "But I thought all those deaths and rebirths tempered my body," she voiced, a perplexed expression on her face.

Eva sighed, shaking her head in response. "Yeah, sure, your body went through some tempering from all those experiences," she admitted, her tone laced with a touch of disappointment. "But it still hasn’t been made strong enough to handle your full potential. That’s why Carol should’ve focused more on physical training during your previous sessions!"

Eva sighed and pondered for a while, searching for the right words to convey her explanation. After some contemplation, a glimmer of understanding lit up her face.

"Alright, here’s how I’ll put it," Eva began, a small metal object materializing in her hand. "Well, you see it’s like this metal in my hand," She then demonstrated by manipulating the metal, breaking it apart and then reforming it. Aurianna observed attentively, curious about the analogy Eva was about to make. "As I continue to break it and reform it, does it change its durability?"

"I don’t know," Aurianna shook her head.

"Even if I keep breaking and reforming it, the metal’s durability doesn’t change," Eva explained. Aurianna nodded her head in response. Eva proceeded to enlighten her. "However, if I introduce additional materials to reinforce the metal, it becomes stronger and more resistant to breaking." With a pinch of black dust, she infused the metal with added strength, making it noticeably harder to break.

As Aurianna witnessed the transformation, a spark of realization flickered in her eyes. "Did you get it?" Eva asked, eager to gauge Aurianna’s understanding.

Aurianna mustered a small smile and playfully raised three fingers. "Well, maybe about thirty percent," she admitted, indicating her partial grasp of the concept.

Eva’s frustration erupted, and she let out an exasperated cry. "Argh, Ahgh!!" In a comical display, she conjured a pillow, burying her face in it, venting her annoyance.

After a momentary outburst, Eva composed herself and turned to Aurianna, offering a reassuring smile. "Well, whatever. Since you don’t want to go back to the Training Grounds, I understand. But you still need to work on being able to lift the thousand-kilogram dumbbell, even with your reduced strength. It might take more than a few months, but give it your all," she encouraged, giving Aurianna a thumbs up.

A mischievous glint sparkled in Aurianna’s eyes as she posed a question with a cheeky smile. "And how exactly are you planning to help me with that?"

Eva responded with a flick of her finger, causing a radiant golden light to enter Aurianna’s body.

[ Your stats have been hidden. In this state, you will be unable to use your true strength. You now appear as someone with a level 10 strength ]

"It’s also better to hide your stats," Eva, "You’re lucky that Blade is a lower level than you. That’s why she didn’t sense anything. Your shadow guards were getting uneasy."

"Oh, the secret people King Girsal placed in all his children’s chambers to protect them. Even though they don’t clearly spy on us. They’re just there in case someone tries to murder any prince or princess," Aurianna explained.

"Yes, that’s why it’s better that I hide your stats."

Understanding the rationale behind hiding her stats, Aurianna couldn’t help but feel a sense of disappointment. "What a bummer. I won’t be able to kill people," she lamented, her desires somewhat curtailed.

Eva, quick to reassure her, offered a glimmer of hope. "Oh, you can still rely on your magic to get things done," she revealed, causing Aurianna’s face to light up with newfound enthusiasm.

"Well I’m going now, remember to train," Eva said before disappearing.

"I will."

"Now then, time to start lifting some dumbbells," Aurianna declared, a surge of determination coursing through her. She opened the system screen and tapped on the tutorial tucked away in her inventory.

In an instant, a flood of images inundated Aurianna’s mind, providing her with step-by-step guidance on how to properly handle and use dumbbells. Empowered by this newfound knowledge, she approached the weight rack, ready to put theory into practice.

With great anticipation, she reached out to grasp a five-kilogram dumbbell, her muscles primed for action. However, to her dismay, the weight remained firmly grounded, defying her efforts. Aurianna’s frustration boiled over, and she couldn’t help but let out an exasperated curse. "What the duck!?" she exclaimed, her determination momentarily tested.

Undeterred, she gathered her strength and attempted to lift one of the five-kilogram weights with both hands, but the stubborn weight refused to budge. Aurianna was faced with the harsh reality that she would need to lift two of these seemingly heavy dumbbells. The task felt daunting, and she couldn’t help but question the effectiveness of her previous training methods.

Gritting her teeth, Aurianna cast aside any doubts that threatened to hold her back. "Maybe my gun was too light. Well, Humph, I’m gonna do my best," she declared, her eyes gleaming with determination.