"Hey, do you want to die?"

The blonde girl knight’s voice was icy cold. In her heart, there was no need for politeness toward creatures that made her sick.

Scum should just live as scum. One day, they’d realize their true nature and miserably end their lives in sorrow.

The young noble’s legs buckled under Anjerite’s glare, collapsing to the ground.

His two Lv.20 fighters had been effortlessly defeated. He understood instantly: this seemingly young girl, radiating immense power, was beyond his reach.

He swallowed hard, trembling all over.

Fear gripped him—this female adventurer might kill him on a whim. Yet instinctively, to resist death, he clung to his noble status to make Anjerite back down.

So he opened his mouth and spoke the worst possible words.

"...Do you know who I am? Do you know my family holds status in Monggala? Do you know—" His confidence swelled with each word, as if his identity were an impenetrable shield.

—Right! This was Monggala! Capital of Monzakat Kingdom! Here, nobles reigned supreme!

*Clang!*

The Knight Sword, glowing with holy light, pressed横 against the young noble’s neck.

Anjerite’s expression remained frozen. Not even her gaze at him flickered.

If anything, it grew a trace more sorrowful.

Anjerite despised those without dreams or spirit. Even Rogied had faced her scolding and fists for speaking discouraging words.

This young noble, a stranger to her... she longed to kill him.

But she truly couldn’t.

Alone in this world, she couldn’t rely on Sharon’s strength—that was in Hitchcock Empire. Monzakat Kingdom lay remote, untouched by its influence.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. No matter how much she hated it.

So, though she yearned to erase this nauseating man, she had no choice.

She lowered the Knight Sword, sheathed it, and walked past him.

No words. No action.

Ignoring the noble, she strode straight out of the alley.

Anjerite’s gaze settled on the bustling street.

Still barbaric. Still dominated by nomads.

She didn’t like this place.

"Better find the Sanctuary quickly... My Temple Knight status should secure me a position there."

Goal set, she prepared to ask a passerby for directions.

But as she stepped forward, a chill shot down her spine.

Anjerite instinctively crouched and swept her left leg backward.

*Thud!*

A massive body flew through the air, crashing onto the street.

One of the young noble’s guards—the one she’d slapped with her sword’s flat—lay unconscious, head-first on the ground.

"What? Want another round?"

Anjerite frowned, coldly staring at the snarling noble in the alley.

Unrepentant. Foolish... Why was such a man born noble?

She couldn’t fathom it. Didn’t want to.

Gripping her Knight Sword’s hilt, she advanced slowly toward the trembling noble.

Each step heavy. Each stride deliberate.

In under ten paces, she stood before him.

She drew her Knight Sword.

Holy light flooded the blade, casting a milky-white glow.

Having reached the street earlier, the commotion had drawn the barbaric crowd’s attention.

Seeing her Knight Sword, their faces twisted in disdain.

"A sissy profession like knights in Monggala?"

"Knights should leave Monzakat Kingdom!"

"This job should vanish from the continent!"

"Why did the Goddess even create knights?"

"What’s wrong with knights?"

A calm, slightly feminine voice cut through. A short-haired girl in a white magic robe stepped forward.

Behind her trailed muscular guards—far stronger than the noble’s pair.

"...Trouble. It’s the Qiao family’s heir, Qiao Qiao..."

"A devout Goddess follower. Dreams of joining the Temple Knight Order..."

"No knight talent, so she became a light mage. Now a priest, they say..."

The crowd dutifully supplied every detail Anjerite needed.

Anjerite met Qiao Qiao’s eyes. Qiao Qiao met hers.

Androgynous beauty.

Their first impressions locked.

The crowd parted. Qiao Qiao approached, gave a one-handed草原 greeting, then spoke respectfully.

"Miss Knight, please spare this noble for my sake. Killing nobles in Monggala is a grave crime. If you wish to avoid becoming a fugitive branded by the kingdom, show mercy."

Sincere. Practical.

Anjerite disliked trouble—she was an outsider. Grateful for the out, she sheathed her Knight Sword.

"Thank you for the warning. I’m new here and ignorant of customs. Glad I avoided a grave mistake." Polite but dismissive, she turned to leave.

Qiao Qiao blocked her path, smiling with keen interest.

"Where are you headed, Miss Knight? If you lack a destination, join the Qiao family as my Exclusive—"

"No."

Anjerite shook her head firmly. She had dreams. Ideals. No organization but the Sanctuary would claim her.

"I’m a Temple Knight. I seek to join the Sanctuary."

She expected Qiao Qiao to retreat. Instead, the girl’s eyes lit up.

"You want to join the Sanctuary too?!"

Anjerite blinked in surprise.

"Huh?"

"I do too! I’m a priest!"

"...Ah..."

"Let’s join together! I’m Qiao Qiao. Call me Qiao or Qiaoqiao!"

"...Anjerite..."

"Little Anjerite, let’s join the Sanctuary!"

Grassland folk were hospitable, a shepherd had told her. Beyond their hatred for knights, they were fervent enthusiasts.

Just "join the Sanctuary" sparked Qiaoqiao’s passion.

She seized Anjerite’s hand and pulled her forward.

Her guards trailed nervously.

Anjerite stumbled along, bewildered.

Within ten minutes, Qiaoqiao led her to a majestic holy site—the Sanctuary branch in Monggala, capital of Monzakat Kingdom.

White marble gates framed streams of faithful commoners.

Loyalty and fervor shone on their faces.

Temple Knights in silvery-white armor and priests in white robes moved in and out.

"See? Unlike us unaffiliated Temple Knights and priests, their uniforms bear the Sanctuary’s emblem." Qiao Qiao pointed to a knight’s chest plate and a priest’s robe.

There, an emblem marked them—the legendary weapon of the Goddess.

The Radiant Scepter.

Modern royal scepters, symbols of earthly power, were mere clones of this divine artifact.

"Let’s go in."

Inside the gates lay a modest courtyard with three paths. One led straight to the main hall.

Qiao Qiao dragged Anjerite toward it. As her guards followed, she spun and glared.

"Go back! Tell my parents I’m joining the Sanctuary today. Don’t seek me again!"

"Young lady, this shames us... The master will blame—"

"I don’t care! He promised I could choose my path as a priest! I’m joining!"

The willful heir declared firmly.

"Stay here all day if you refuse!" She yanked Anjerite through the hall doors.

A holy aura washed over them. Countless commoners bowed in prayer before a statue: a mature woman with three pairs of white wings, clad in simple linen. Her gentle wings seemed ready to embrace all sins.

The Goddess had never appeared publicly. This statue was born of legend and imagination—a beauty that could purify hearts.

"She tears apart darkness, gifting dawn’s radiance to the world..." A priest approached, singing the Goddess’s hymn.

Anjerite and Qiao Qiao bowed.

"Father, we wish to join the Temple Knight Order."

"Welcome, faithful ladies. The Order lies down the left path in the courtyard. Enter and you’ll find it."

"Thank you."

"The Goddess guides her children. You are hers, are you not?"

"Yes."

They bowed again as he departed.

Back in the courtyard, they turned left.

Before entering, Anjerite mumbled hesitantly.

"Miss Qiaoqiao... we just met. Could you... let go of my hand?"