I Am the Priestess of the Hero
01
Ten years after the Cataclysm that wiped out all Sorcerers—
Deep in a border forest of the Western Continent, a treasure-hoarding goblin dashed for its life.
This green-skinned, diminutive creature differed little from its kin—except for the sack on its back, often stuffed with priceless loot. That alone earned it a B-rank threat rating from the Adventurer Guild.
Agile despite its burden, the goblin thought it had shaken its pursuers—
*Whoosh!*
An arrow shot out of nowhere, grazing its scalp and thudding into a tree trunk ahead.
"Only thanks to Cher’s Tracking Art did we catch it!"
A boy’s voice rang out ahead. The goblin whirled in panic—it was surrounded.
"We owe this to Naya’s planning days ago."
A few meters away, a red-haired girl with braided hair stepped from behind a tree. Her bow was drawn, arrow aimed squarely at the goblin.
Cher—16, hunter of their adventuring party, master of tracking and archery.
"Careful—it might have hidden daggers," called a girl jogging up from afar.
Naya Trei—16, petite with soft white hair and an innocent face. Her tiny shoulder cape, uniform, skirt, and shoes were all pristine white, radiating untouched purity.
"Relax. It’s not going anywhere."
The boy blocking the goblin’s path flashed a gleaming dagger. Rol, the rogue.
Two more party members arrived, encircling the goblin—their spear-wielding captain, Siso, and the sturdy warrior, Kulin.
The goblin snarled, shrieking in an unintelligible tongue! Green-skinned figures burst from the trees, surrounding the adventurers.
*Twang!* An arrow whizzed past Naya’s head—burying itself in the forehead of a hidden goblin that had just aimed its bow at her.
"Stay sharp," Cher murmured, nocking a second arrow.
"Thank you, Cher."
Naya prayed to Aio. A ring of light—the Shield of Light—enveloped her.
Though outnumbered, this minor ambush was trivial for their Rank-1 team. Goblins fell to spears and swords. Seeing its kin drop, the treasure-hoarding goblin bolted.
"Hey! It’s running again!" Rol yanked his dagger from a goblin corpse and gave chase—unaware of the danger descending upon him.
No warning.
No hint of defense.
A cross-shaped spatial rift tore open behind Rol—
"Look out!" Naya screamed.
Too late. Rol’s focus was locked on the fleeing goblin. A hand clad in Obsidian Armor shot out from the rift, seized his throat, and yanked him inside.
A bloodcurdling shriek echoed from beyond the rift—Rol’s final cry.
In seconds, Naya watched, frozen, as Rol’s limp body was tossed back out.
His head was gone.
"Naya! Save him!!" Cher’s desperate plea pierced her ears.
*Save him?*
How could she save him when his head was severed?
From the rift stepped a figure in Obsidian Armor, wreathed in silent black flames.
Fallen Nosferatu. Threat Level—???
"You monster!!!" Siso charged, spear whirling.
His reckless move left Naya exposed. Her half-chanted Shield of Light fizzled—beyond casting range!
Naya lunged after him, heart pounding. Too late. Whip-like tendrils shot from the armor’s back, piercing Siso’s body like arrows.
Naya skidded to a halt.
Too late.
She watched, helpless, as the armor crushed Siso’s skull with one blow. No Healing Art could mend that.
*Twang!* An arrow struck the armor’s visor—only to vanish into the black flames within.
Tendrils lashed past Naya’s face. Before she could turn, they impaled Cher and hurled her far beyond reach.
Kulin tackled the armor in a last-ditch effort.
"Run—*AAGH!*" he roared at the stunned Naya.
*Run?*
After dozens of battles together—nothing had ever been like this.
Kulin’s body was shredded before her eyes.
Wiped out.
Wiped out.
Wiped out.
Less than a minute had passed.
Naya stood alone, tears streaming, numb from the loss.
The Obsidian Armor faced her.
Weakness flooded her limbs. She collapsed to her knees.
Was it her turn now?
The armor studied her—then unexpectedly retreated into the rift, vanishing.
"Why…? Did it spare me on purpose…?" she whispered.
Reality gave no time to ponder. Three goblins that had fled earlier crept back, daggers glinting as they closed in.
Naya wiped her tears. She’d been given a second chance—she wouldn’t die to goblins. Even alone, she had to fight.
One goblin lunged! Its dagger bounced off her light barrier. Grief surging, Naya swung her staff—*crunch*—shattering its skull.
"Stay back!" Her voice trembled, but her grip on the staff held firm. The remaining two goblins hesitated, exchanging wary glances.
A guttural roar shook the trees. A hulking figure charged—Naya finally understood why treasure-hoarding goblins were B-rank: they called endless reinforcements. A massive hobgoblin shoved aside its smaller kin, its shadow swallowing Naya whole.
Naya swallowed hard, staring up at the brute. Was there any hope left?
The hobgoblin raised its hammer—
*To be continued.*
