Let's Head to the Saint Country!
"Huff. Huff."
A brown-skinned woman. Mana rippled around her body, causing the air to shimmer like a heat haze. To produce physical phenomena merely by manifesting mana required immense power, a sign of her extraordinary strength.
"Still not enough. To serve my lord... this won't cut it!"
She was Garba, who had returned straight to the Demon King Castle and thrown herself into training. After coming back from the Ruined High Elf Forest, she had wrestled with doubt. The fact that she couldn't help her lord—the one she had vowed to serve with body and soul for life—tormented her. This was the first time she'd ever felt such turmoil.
Not the desire to grow strong to defeat someone, but to protect. And to protect someone stronger than herself, no less. With no answers in sight, she trained relentlessly, over and over.
But her lord, the one she wished to protect, possessed unfathomable strength. A week of mad training had yielded results, but she couldn't be satisfied.
"How on earth can I get stronger?"
Garba asked herself. Of course, there were no answers.
Then, a scent wafted from afar, making her tremble. Her senses, honed like a dog's thanks to her werewolf heritage, told her the source was her lord, Kim Sung-tae.
"My lord!?"
"Hey."
But when she turned, she doubted her own eyes. The one emitting her lord's scent wasn't him—it was a little girl.
The scent is definitely my lord's... Who is she?
"You're Garba, right? King Sli... Oh, right! He said not to say it."
"And who might you be?"
The girl carried her lord's scent. Garba couldn't speak casually to her and asked politely.
Mukkebi grinned wide and answered.
"I'm Mukkebi! Sung-tae sent me to check if you're doing okay!"
"......"
The response solved nothing. But Garba was satisfied. The girl knew her lord and carried his scent. She couldn't be dangerous. Her faith in Sung-tae was that absolute.
"Phew. Coming out after so long is exhausting."
Mukkebi plopped down beside Garba and pulled a water bottle from her waist. It was a plastic one, scavenged from the trash in Sung-tae's inner world. Thirsty after filling it with his life force, she gulped it down and asked,
"So, what're you doing out here?"
"Training."
"Cough! Training!?"
Startled, Mukkebi choked, golden life force spilling around her in rainbow hues.
"Yes."
"Training? That's for protagonists only. Why are you training?"
"I want to get stronger."
Garba clenched her fist with resolve, her iron will transmitting to Mukkebi.
"So I can protect my lord!"
"......"
Mukkebi looked up at her quietly, then puffed out her chest with a smug smile. But spotting a certain spot on Garba, she shrank back at the extreme disparity.
"King slime sucks......"
"Pardon?"
"Nothing. So, you wanna get stronger? I know how. That training won't cut it."
"You... know a way?"
"Duh! I saw it in Sung-tae's heart."
In his heart? The words made no sense, but Garba's ears perked at "Sung-tae." A way to grow strong tied to her lord? Irresistible.
"How can I get stronger?"
"Easy. Ahem. This is a secret, so don't tell anyone. Got it?"
"Yes. I swear to keep it secret."
"It's..."
Garba leaned in, offering her ear. Mukkebi whispered into the wolf ear.
"100 push-ups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats, and a 10km run. Do it every day without fail, and you'll be as strong as Sung-tae!"
"......"
The absurdly simple routine left Garba speechless. She could do ten times that easily. But not wanting to disappoint the girl's How's that? Amazing, right? face, she nodded awkwardly.
"Th-thank you."
"Ahem. Super top-secret. From a book in Sung-tae's heart. Special! Rank! Se-cret!"
With that, Mukkebi hopped up and turned toward the Demon King Castle. Her task done, she wanted back to Sung-tae.
"Train hard, then. Phew, it's so hot here. You not sweating?"
"I'm fine. Heat builds endurance too."
She said that, but sweat beaded on Garba's forehead from the long session. Mukkebi stared, then offered her bottle.
"Wanna drink?"
Golden seawater sloshed inside, more than half full.
"Sung-tae said only for me, but special for you. Train hard and protect him."
"Thank you."
Mukkebi scampered off toward the castle. Watching her go, Garba chuckled.
"Will that really make me stronger?"
Ridiculous, like something any human could do. But just in case, she'd try it today. She downed the water in one go.
"Weird water. Tasty."
I'll ask for more next time. Oblivious that it was Sung-tae's life force, she lay down and started: push-ups first!
"Finally done!"
Sung-tae cheered, arms raised. The magic circle repairs were complete at last.
He'd lain like a corpse during it, but gathered info on subraces from his books. Eager to meet them, he prepped for adventure, heart pounding.
So many fascinating subraces in the books, but one excited him above all.
Wait for me, Ramian Mountains!
Elves. He'd glimpsed high elves more beautiful than regular ones in the forest illusion, but they were ghouls, so he put it behind him. Unmet elves awaited. He hounded Gepelt to head there now.
But someone objected.
"Please... take me there."
The World Tree's spirit in the bow begged Sung-tae earnestly to change course as he prepared to leave.
"There? Where's that?"
"I don't know exactly. But I heard there's a human who wields mana that revives and bolsters life. I desperately need their help."
"Nah. I wanna meet elves. Don't you?"
"I like them, but they can't help me."
"Help? What kind?"
"My... life."
Life. Sung-tae, half-listening, perked up.
"I'm in this bow, part of my body, but it's too weak a vessel for my soul. As I recover, it'll shatter eventually."
"Then move to something else? Another tree...?"
"Impossible. The body is a vessel for the soul. A smaller soul fits a larger body, but not vice versa."
Sung-tae realized he'd asked the obvious. That's why the World Tree needed help.
"So, find that human with life-reviving mana?"
"Yes. I want their mana to grow this body enough to hold my soul."
"Growth... so life force, huh."
Life force? That's me. But the World Tree sensed it and refused.
"Yours is too potent. I'd become something else, not the original World Tree. I just want to return to my former self."
"Hmm. Alright?"
Already given to Leo and Crassus—no issues there. If she refused, no need to push. But adventure plans shifted. He adventured for fun; this was life-or-death for her. Victim of Nata's corruption, no malice. Normal empathy kicked in.
Plenty of time anyway.
"Fine, I'll do it. But know anything about this human? Blind jumps suck."
"Not much. High elves mentioned a kingdom of people with similar power."
"Kingdom?"
Continent unified, right? No leads from ignorance. Sung-tae sought the castle's knowledge hub: Gepelt.
"Hmm. Sounds like the Saint Country."
"Saint Country?"
"Yes. An old kingdom called that. Gathered folks with unique mana. They believed it from their god, called themselves priests and holy knights."
Pity had swayed him, but the detour irked—until "Saint Country" reignited his fire.
"Priests... holy knights..."
"I investigated once. Contrary to their god-borrowed-power claims, firm faith influences mana. Mana often reflects its user's beliefs."
"Gepelt, one question."
"Ask away."
Sung-tae swallowed, tentative.
"Any... saintesses or holy mothers or whatever?"
"Hmm. I think so."
"That Saint Country still around?"
Gepelt stroked his beard, rummaging memory. Sung-tae's fixed gaze curved into a grin at the answer.
"Exists. Continent unified under one nation, but old rulers persist. City-state with autonomy over old capital—like preserving culture."
Federation-style unity? Didn't matter. Fully restored libido surged. His imagination ran wild with Saint Country fantasies.
Holy knights! Radiant silver-armored women slaying monsters by divine order. Fight side-by-side, bond as comrades. Around campfire, stories flow, backs pressed against cold night, evolving to man-woman tension.
Priests! Healing wounded him tenderly, like cradling a babe. Eyes meet; has she been this close to a man? Immune-deficient, she blushes, turns away.
Saintess! God's favorite, overprotected since childhood, naive. Daddy-smile at her purity. Watch her awaken as woman through him.
"Hah. Hah."
He wanted injury. Grievous wounds. In Saint Country, critically hurt, healed by them!
"Sigh... haa."
Deep breath calming, he ordered Gepelt.
"Gepelt, set coordinates there now!"
"Understood."
Followed by blazing lust.
"Um... you're going for my sake, right?"
"Of course!"
Bonus: help World Tree.
Saint Country Barnessa. Even after continental unification, one of few city-states with autonomy. No one on the continent didn't know it.
Holy see of priests worshiping sole god Bryunak. Village-sized, tiny, but packed with priests, holy knights, families. Their divine power mana bred many followers. Supported by donations, one of continent's richest cities.
"This the place."
Blinding light flashed in a deserted forest path around Barnessa, depositing two: Kim Sung-tae and Garba.
"Saint Country, alright."
Holy land, never invaded—hence no walls, buildings visible at a glance. All white, Bryunak's color. Gazing, Sung-tae eyed Garba worriedly.
She okay?
Her usual calm. But odd vibe.
"G-Garba? You good?"
"Yes, my lord. I'm fine."
Words said fine, but not. Air around her writhed, forming shapes.
God of Battle. That's it!
Goblin-like aura. Battle god form from her combat zeal.
"Garba, you look ready to fight..."
"Yes! My lord! Just command, and I'll raze that city!"
Her enthusiasm? Special training. Mukkebi's "special" routine. Trying it, power boiled Day 1. Real deal! Kept at it till arrival. Unaware it was Sung-tae's life force, credited training. Itched to test new strength.
Confident. Even a hero couldn't beat me now!
No bluff. Human form halved power usually. Now, exceeded wolf form.
One command, and I destroy all.
Like miser splurging lottery win, ruining life. Overflowing power uncontrollable. Without Sung-tae, city'd be rubble.
"Garba, no fights here. Saint Country? God-fearing peace-lovers. Why fight?"
"But... if someone spots you as Demon King and attacks?"
"Psh. No way."
Ignis's armor plus illusion fooled normals. Even hero—different size, voice—attack over similar armor?
"No hothead hero'd see Ignis armor and yell 'Ignis! Die!' outta nowhere..."
"My lord! Danger!"
Beam shot from sky, dead-on Sung-tae. Garba flicked it with mana-clawed nails.
Pretty strong! Post-training invincible (save lord), but stinging pain tempered confidence.
"Who's that?"
They looked up. Silver-armored figure with angel wings glared furiously.
"Felt unholy mana surge, came to check..."
Sword raised high, beam gathered again.
"It's you."
"H-Hey? Think you've got the wrong idea..."
Light balled at sword tip. Silver knight swung; orb rocketed at Sung-tae.
"Die! Ignis!"