The Saintess Serazad and the Legendary Selendis
The number of mythic-grade items is so small that legendary-grade equipment essentially represents the endgame in practice. On the continent of Pangea, there is only one official mythic item: the holy sword Excalibur. That also means Geum Taeyang’s absolute demonic sword Luciena does not count as an official item. From his perspective, that only makes it all the more appealing.
Below that rank sit the legendary-grade artifacts, of which there are officially six. Two are held by the Darmina Empire, and unexpectedly, Memphis possesses one as well. Of course, Antoine de Cell Belua does not personally hold that legendary item. If he did, he would have already marched on Galatea.
“If I had any other reason, why would I be going to Memphis right now, even making an unreasonable request to Nadia? Once I’ve allied with Arthur, Memphis’s immediate threat is more or less manageable anyway. I’m heading there to take the legendary item they’re holding.”
The Mohican tribe’s craftwork craze had a positive effect on Britain as well. Arthur’s influence, already supporting Geum Taeyang, grew even stronger, allowing her to command not only the vanguard but the royal cavalry as well. As a result, they were gradually moving out of direct danger from Memphis.
“This is the only window I have to aim for that legendary item.”
Nevertheless, Geum Taeyang was heading straight into enemy territory—into the jaws of Memphis, one of the three great powers. Legendary items were not called legendary for nothing. They were difficult to obtain, which was precisely why they were legendary. And among those difficult opportunities, the highest chance of success lay in this very moment.
“If I fail this time, Antoine might get it instead. Then I’m truly screwed. My entire plan will fall apart.”
Antoine had begun dreaming of conquering the world. Two prophecies had sparked that ambition: one concerning Morion, and another regarding a legendary item. The former was a public prophecy, while the latter was Antoine’s strictly personal information. For nearly ten years, Antoine’s every step had been consumed by those two prophecies, and his goal was slowly drawing closer.
“Ooooh! So what the Belua royal family said was true! Nadia! It’s Princess Nadia Jasmine!”
“My word! To see Princess Nadia Jasmine this close!”
“She’s breathtakingly beautiful! She truly looks like she stepped out of a sacred painting depicting myth!”
As night fell over the main temple of the Church of the Goddess of Light, carriages carrying important guests began arriving one after another at the vast space. The carriage drawing the most attention by far was the one carrying Nadia Jasmine—Geum Taeyang’s carriage. How had people known for certain that Nadia Jasmine was inside? Because both the Mohican tribe’s emblem and the Jasmine royal family’s crest were displayed on it.
The Belua royal family of Memphis had heavily promoted Nadia Jasmine’s participation, and the lower-ranking celebrities who had been waiting to see her erupted into excitement.
“It’s a pleasure. Yes, I’m glad to see you too. I hope you have a wonderful evening.”
Nadia smiled and waved, offering polite greetings. She never did this normally, but if she acted the same way this time, it would ruin her business partner Geum Taeyang’s face. So she was doing her best. For Geum Taeyang’s sake, she was even participating in Antoine’s social event, which she found distasteful. Truly, Nadia Jasmine’s devotion was pure and unwavering.
“Ooooh! Who is that woman?”
Just then, someone appeared who stole the spotlight from the absolute celebrity Nadia. “Which country’s noble lady is she? Such an incredible aura and beauty!” “Her radiance is blinding!”
It was Great Mother Sophia. Nadia, a veteran of high society, stepped out of the carriage first and walked ahead, followed by Great Mother Sophia, escorted by Geum Taeyang. The moment she appeared, every gaze in the crowd was sucked toward her like a black hole.
‘Heh. Success with the Great Mother push. As expected, no matter where she goes, her beauty commands attention.’
Geum Taeyang and Nadia had deliberately arranged it that way. Geum Taeyang had even worn a small mask. He was fully committed to boosting his nervous first wife’s spirits.
“I see! They said Princess Nadia and the Mohican Great Khan couple would be attending together! That noble lady must be the Mohican Great Mother!”
“That’s right! I heard the same thing!”
“Ooooh…! So that’s why those mysterious crafts reminded me of the Great Mother’s beauty!”
Just as Geum Taeyang intended, Sophia became the center of attention for nearly everyone in the temple square. Whispers about her spread rapidly, and her identity was naturally revealed.
“Thank you. Good evening, everyone.”
Bowing… bowing…
Thus, Sophia became the flower of the social gathering. Though nervous, she had regained her smile and offered graceful nods to those welcoming her.
“Sophia, you’re so beautiful. I’m truly proud that you’re my woman.”
Geum Taeyang whispered his love into her ear like a lovesick fool. His feelings were genuine. Sophia, maintaining her dignified presence as the representative of the Mohican tribe despite her nerves, was truly remarkable. This was hardly her first time in such a setting, after all.
“I’m proud of you too, my Taeyang…”
Blushing…!
Sophia shyly met Geum Taeyang’s gaze and smiled with innocent charm, her cheeks flushed. It was proof of her exceptional talent as a great figure. Yet talent alone meant nothing without opportunity. That opportunity had been created by her young husband, the Great Khan Geum Taeyang. In this moment, as a woman who adored him, her respect for him only deepened.
“Welcome. I am Antoine de Cell Belua, the host of this social event.”
Following the red carpet across the square, they reached the steps leading into the temple, where a man dressed in Belua royal attire greeted Geum Taeyang’s party. It was Antoine, the foremost power in Memphis and the man harboring ambitions to conquer the continent after surpassing the Darmina Empire.
“It’s been a while, Prince Antoine. Nearly seven years, isn’t it?”
“It seems so, Princess Nadia. I, Antoine de Cell Belua, was truly astonished! When I heard that Princess Nadia would be attending our social event, it felt as though the Goddess of Light had performed a miracle!”
“I’ve gained a precious friend. I came to lend my support this time.”
Nadia and Antoine exchanged greetings first. Though they smiled, tension crackled between them. The mention of seven years ago referred to the time Nadia had thoroughly humiliated Antoine.
“Then these must be the Great Khan and Great Mother who unified the Mohican tribe after three hundred years?”
Still, Antoine looked pleased. Nadia had come, after all. He felt as though he had won their little power struggle. With a face full of smiles, he turned to Geum Taeyang and Great Mother Sophia beside Nadia.
“A pleasure, Prince Antoine. I am Great Khan Geum Taeyang. Thank you for the invitation.”
Thud!
Geum Taeyang extended his hand to Antoine first.
“Haha! It was an obvious decision. How could anyone discuss high society these days without mentioning the Mohican tribe? I hope this occasion clears up any past misunderstandings between our nations.”
Thud!
Antoine took Geum Taeyang’s hand with exaggerated cheer.
‘Misunderstandings, my ass. You’re still sniffing around like a hyena looking for Morion. I’ll take everything from you and crush you, Antoine. Good thing I wore this mask. I almost cursed out loud.’
Geum Taeyang had been living in this possessed body for nearly six months now. Perhaps that was why the moment he saw Antoine up close, memories of the Memphis massacre flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. The mask had been partly to highlight Sophia’s presence, but mostly because he feared he might lose control of his emotions if he faced Antoine directly from the start.
“But why the mask?”
“I thought a barbarian man’s face might leave an intimidating impression on the delicate noble ladies here. So I decided to reveal it gradually.”
“Hahaha! You’re quite the amusing fellow.”
“I do enjoy a good joke.”
Antoine naturally took the bait about the mask, and Geum Taeyang delivered the lie he had prepared in advance.
‘Antoine’s face is disgusting, but seeing the Great Mother happy is so satisfying.’
As night deepened, the social event began in earnest. The gathering would last a full ten days. It was not merely about drinking and revelry; nobles were given time to meet privately and discuss political matters and mutual interests. Usually it ended around five days, but Memphis had expanded the event to rival the Darmina Empire’s scale, already revealing its ambitions. Truly, the Belua people had no shame.
Geum Taeyang watched the nobles enjoying the social event with enthusiasm, then smiled as his eyes found his first wife, Sophia.
“Ooh… I see. So that’s how they’re made? The more I learn, the more mysterious and wondrous they seem. I find myself marveling every day.”
“With such dedication, it’s only natural that the quantity is limited, Great Mother.”
“We’re working hard on it. Thanks to everyone’s great affection, all the tribespeople are happily engaged in their work.”
For noble ladies, the hottest topic was undoubtedly Mohican crafts. A noblewoman without even one Mohican piece could not join any gathering. And now the Mohican Great Mother herself was here. The noblewomen surrounded Sophia, eagerly asking questions. She had truly become the center of the social hall.
“Your eyes are dripping honey, Great Khan.”
Nadia approached him calmly and spoke.
“Is that so? I was wondering where that sweet scent was coming from. It must have been coming from my eyes. How about you, Princess Nadia? You must be quite bored, no?”
“Indeed. Every time I attend, I’m reminded that high society doesn’t suit me.”
Geum Taeyang turned his head toward Nadia. What he saw was her bored expression, and he spoke with a hint of apology, trying to comfort her. As they chatted about this and that—
“Hmm…!”
Geum Taeyang’s gaze locked onto someone.
“Huh?”
Nadia followed his line of sight.
“That’s the commander of the Velahaim Guardian Order.”
Nadia knew who it was. Velahaim was Saintess Serazad’s escort unit, as previously mentioned. Within that escort unit was the Guardian Order, and its commander had appeared at the banquet hall.
“Since the saintess will descend after midnight, she’s probably assessing the situation for security. There are likely Guardian Order members disguised as noble attendants as well, Great Khan Geum Taeyang.”
The social event was timed to coincide with the Goddess Festival and held at the main temple of the Church of the Goddess of Light. Because it used the image of the popular saintess of the Goddess of Light as its face, it was only proper for the saintess to make an appearance. Therefore, around midnight, Saintess Serazad of the Church of the Goddess of Light was scheduled to appear at the banquet hall. It was the true highlight of the Memphis social event.
“If the final saintess of the Holy Era had been a little more ambitious, the Pierre family, to which that Guardian commander belongs, might have formed the royal family to this day.”
Yet the Guardian commander was no less prominent in terms of recognition, and Nadia spoke to Geum Taeyang as if testing him. You know that too, right?
“I agree. They possessed the most perfect legitimacy, after all.”
Geum Taeyang responded with full confidence, showing that he knew as well. Why had Memphis’s royal family changed so frequently after the end of the Holy Era? Because the greatest house had withdrawn from the competition, making everyone else think they stood a chance. That greatest house was the Pierre family, and to this day, the Pierre family had not involved itself in politics.
‘For nearly a thousand years, they upheld their loyalty to the saintess’s family. That’s why they declined—so they wouldn’t have to watch someone else take the saintess’s vacant seat.’
When the final saintess of the Holy Era relinquished power, the head of the Pierre family at the time also withdrew from politics and created Velahaim to protect the saintess’s family to this day. That was how close the saintess’s family and the Pierre family were.
‘Victoria Saint-Pierre. She was a major character who perfectly matched the image of the Saint-Pierre family.’
Yes. The reason Geum Taeyang had been staring at the Guardian commander was because Guardian Commander Victoria Saint-Pierre was also an important character in Records of Conquering Another World.
‘You’ve worked hard all this time, Victoria. Thanks to you, Antoine couldn’t make any moves even when he saw an opening. Now that I’ve stepped in, I’ll make sure the legendary artifact goes to this Geum Taeyang.’
She was that important a figure. She was directly connected to the legendary artifact.
“I’m already getting nervous. Just thinking about seeing that mysterious and sacred figure…”
“Indeed.”
Before long, the nobles who had been freely moving about the social hall began standing in their designated positions, forming orderly lines.
“The saintess is descending!”
Midnight had passed, and Saintess Serazad’s entrance was prepared. Antoine personally ascended the platform and announced the saintess’s descent to the nobles at the social event.
Swish… swish…
The banquet hall fell silent in response. As if answering that silence, the sound of a long silk dress could be heard.
Step, step, step.
Then, wearing a mystical and beautiful saintess’s robe, the 103rd Saintess Serazad appeared, descending the steps as the curtain was drawn aside.
“Ooooh! If only I could meet her eyes and hold her hand!”
“How mystical! How sacred! She is truly the incarnation of the Goddess of Light!”
“Aaaah…! I want to kiss the back of the saintess’s hand…!”
At the appearance of the holy saintess, the nobles let out continuous gasps and exclamations.
‘They’re right. Eighty percent of the people here will only be able to watch from afar like this.’
Geum Taeyang also looked at Saintess Serazad. As he did, a faint smile of satisfaction crossed his lips.
‘But thanks to Nadia, this Geum Taeyang has reached S-rank and can face her up close.’
The reason Geum Taeyang had been obsessed with reaching A-rank or S-rank was precisely to meet the saintess.
‘Saintess Serazad, who holds the legendary artifact Selendis.’
Saintess Serazad Estevan. She was the direct path through which he could obtain the legendary artifact.