The next day.
Thanks to her good internal clock, Selina’s eyes opened almost exactly on time.
She scratched her messy hair and looked out the window.
The sky was gray.
Unless something unexpected happened, the sun wasn’t going to show itself.
It seemed this world also had meteorologists who accurately predicted the daily weather.
Wearing a spaghetti-strap nightgown, she climbed out of bed and glanced at Melrose, still sound asleep.
‘She did save my life last night. Better not disturb her.’
She heated a glass of milk and picked up the day’s newspaper.
The headline was about a major victory at the front—the Order Knight commander, Rhine, was being recalled to the Imperial Capital for commendation.
The second page featured the Bania Opera House’s star, who had injured her leg during rehearsal and couldn’t perform the day after tomorrow, disappointing fans.
The rest was pretty boring.
Selina had no interest.
The corner weather forecast showed the next five days.
Today: Overcast, no rain, no sun. Cool weather suitable for work.
Tomorrow: Overcast turning clear, light breeze.
Good for an outing.
The number puzzle in the top-left corner didn’t interest Selina—just a problem about chickens and rabbits in a cage.
After a quick wash, she prepared breakfast.
Sandwiches with bacon and fried eggs.
The glutton Hajime’s portion was still 1.5 times her own.
Soon Melrose came downstairs looking disheveled.
Selina could hardly stand it.
Her thin silk nightgown had slipped, revealing large patches of pale skin.
‘Can’t look…’
She averted her eyes and focused on her breakfast.
While urging Hajime to brush her teeth and wash her face, she finished her pre-meal prayer.
At first, Selina had been resistant to this kind of religious act, but she was living under someone else’s roof.
Over time, she stopped caring.
Even when no one was watching, it became a habit.
Even if she didn’t thank the goddess, she should thank the farmers who grew the food.
Outwardly, she appeared as a very devoted follower.
Melrose was not a believer—or supporter—of the goddess.
By the time Selina finished praying, she was already sitting at the table.
“Remember to eat the lettuce. No wasting, okay?”
Melrose’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘When did I start being this obedient to her?’
Her mind questioned.
When they went out, Selina carried a small shoulder bag.
Because of yesterday’s assassination attempt, Melrose stuck close to her side.
The bodyguard followed all the way to the Great Cathedral.
“You can stop here. You have your own work, don’t you?”
“Within ten minutes on foot, I can reach you,” Melrose said flatly.
Selina sighed, took a cloth-wrapped box from her bag, and placed it in Melrose’s palm.
“Your lunch. If it’s not enough, I’ll make more next time.”
She radiated the vibe of a perfect wife and mother.
“Don’t make that face. I’m just paying the rent.”
Tsundere Selina gave a sweet smile, then disappeared from Melrose’s sight.
Melrose stood frozen, looking at the lunchbox, then at her fading back.
…
“What are we doing today?”
In a small chapel before a statue of the goddess, Vika and Selina sat facing each other.
“Can you use physical enhancement?”
Vika asked seriously.
“No.”
Selina answered just as seriously.
“Then how did you kill those three large goblins?”
“Uh… Healing magic?”
The two fell silent.
Vika sighed.
Practice, not theory, would reveal the truth.
She had taken on the task of training Selina, but for a moment she didn’t know where to start.
Killing three large goblins without using physical enhancement magic?
That was a warrior’s basic skill.
Vika chose an empty training ground and brought out an iron sword.
“Try lifting this.”
Selina took the iron sword and struggled to drag it across the ground.
“Your strength is average for a nun. Are you really unable to use physical enhancement?”
“I can’t! The local church didn’t teach it!”
Selina shouted, already exhausted just from lifting the heavy iron sword.
“The short sword you used was a standard Order Knight dagger. It’s made of lightweight titanium steel. Its weight is one-sixth of this iron sword’s, but its hardness is eleven times greater.”
“Sharpness… the Order generally doesn’t issue defective items. Add healing magic to relieve fatigue…”
“If your swordsmanship reaches a certain level, it’s not impossible when you think about it. Who taught you swordsmanship?”
‘So she finally asked.’
Back then, she was about to die and didn’t have the luxury to think—she just fought to survive.
“A soldier passing through my village taught me. I practiced alone with a wooden sword.”
Vika rested her chin on her hand, deep in thought.
As long as no one had actually seen it, there shouldn’t be a problem.
That answer was impossible to disprove.
Retired soldiers were everywhere these past few years.
A wooden sword was trivial—probably thrown into some corner.
Practicing alone meant no witnesses.
“Then I’ll teach you physical enhancement magic first. That’s the foundation of a warrior, even for us.”
“With your comprehension, you should pick it up quickly.”
Vika smiled, which gave Selina a bad feeling.
For the next hour, Vika explained all the details of physical enhancement magic.
The first-tier enhancement spell was simple.
After a brief explanation, Selina grasped the essence.
It really was easy to learn.
But there were second, third, and higher tiers for different levels.
It seemed to work similarly to healing magic.
Before long, Selina could freely swing the iron sword that had felt so heavy before.
She could feel her magic steadily depleting, but her strength and speed had undergone a qualitative leap.
Her stamina had multiplied several times.
And this was only the third tier.
How absurd would the fourth and beyond be?
Soon Vika explained.
Fourth-tier enhancement increased the ratio further and allowed transferring the enhancement effect to focus power on a single point.
Fifth-tier enhancement could boost the overall ratio for a short time, but consumed more magic.
Six-tier enhancement granted the body a corresponding magical trait.
As for that magical trait…..
Like in many works, it was fire, wood, water, earth, metal, and so on.
Very cliché, but extremely helpful for shaping a combat system, making fights less monotonous and opening more tactical options.
In this world, there were eight main elements.
Water, fire, earth, wind, wood, light, dark, void.
Except for the last three, the first five were common.
According to Vika, a person’s element manifested when they reached fifth-tier magic.
But it could also be detected using a tool.
She brought out a piece of test paper and said, “Hold this and channel your magic.”
Selina obeyed.
As she poured in magic, the paper gradually became damp.
“Hmm—looks like water element. Not bad for an assassin.”
“Not bad?”
“Water’s stealth capabilities are higher than other elements, except light and dark. Those two are too rare.”
“Sister Vika, isn’t Her Holiness the Saint light element?”
“Sharp.”
Vika praised her.
“Every generation of Saints has been light element, with very few exceptions.”
“But the third-generation Saint was water element—just like you.”
Selina froze.
It must be a coincidence.
“The third-generation Saint had the same name as you.”
Vika suddenly circled behind Selina, her slender fingers brushing across Selina’s arms.
Her movements were elusive.
Every time Selina tried to turn, she couldn’t see her.
All she could do was feel this mysterious superior’s touch all over her body.
“Your foundation is decent. Worth training.”
Selina blinked, then realized Vika was assessing her physical condition.
Train the troops, train them first.
In the near future, people would often see a blonde girl running laps around the Great Cathedral.