The Villain Saint is my secondary account

It turns out it was me. Oh well, I have so many aliases that I can't remember them all.

"That's what you think, but that professor might not see you as a burden. Otherwise, why would he choose to stay and let you lead your companions to break through? It's precisely because he believes in your abilities."

"No, it's just because... I am the eldest princess."

Celinedra shook her head. "The respect and trust people have for me is simply because of my birthright as a princess."

"But only I know that I cannot live up to their trust..."

“I didn’t make any right decisions during my escape, and I’m not qualified to take responsibility for all of this…”

"This...you can't think like that...Your Highness."

Ella paused, unsure how to continue comforting him.

“Your Holiness, you may not know this, but I am actually a weak person at heart.”

Celinedra gave a wry smile. "In the past, I carried the burden of trust and also wanted to protect my loved ones, so I pretended to be strong."

“But now, I have no reason to continue pretending... Now, I just want to stay here and take care of Femishier.”

"but……"

Ella opened her mouth slightly.

She wanted to say, "If you give up like this, what will happen to Aslan? Your homeland is engulfed in war, and the second princess who has ascended to the throne is secretly colluding with the sea people. How can you choose to run away at this time?"

But then she thought again that Celinedra had carried the burden of too many people's responsibilities and hopes.

As the eldest daughter of the royal family, every citizen believed she would be the hope. Her brother was wary of her growing up, and her sister relied on her protection. But it seemed that no one ever considered whether she wanted to be believed.

Rationally, a country certainly carries more weight than an individual, but emotionally, should she really bear all of this?

Regardless, the young girl's spine has finally been broken by the heavy burden of responsibility. Would it be too cruel to force her to return and shoulder that burden again using reasons like "the nation" or "righteousness"?

“You are a gentle person, Your Majesty.”

But even though Ella didn't say it, Serendra seemed to understand what she was thinking.

“I know what you want to say… Don’t worry, I’ve already spoken with Mr. Severif, and he’s ready. You can have him assist you.”

“He is the deputy commander of the Second Ocean Legion. He has enough status and my written order. He can also use my name to contact other factions in the Empire.”

“Even if I follow you back to Leonia, the remaining factions might lose morale if they see me like this. It would be more suitable for him to assist you in accomplishing everything than for me.”

"If it really works out, then we should nominate Femishire for that position. Her complexion has improved, and she should wake up soon."

Even though she was inwardly running away, Celinedra still managed to arrange everything.

Looking at the delicate girl in front of her, Ella couldn't help but sigh softly.

"May I check on Her Highness the Third Princess's condition?"

"Please."

Celinedra stood up and gave Ella her place on the bed.

Ella stepped forward and gently placed her fair, delicate hand on Femishire's forehead.

A warmth emanated from her palm; Femisciel's condition had indeed improved considerably under Celinedra's care.

Ella wasn't entirely clear about the specifics of what happened to the third princess, and the reason for her coma had never been found.

The Holy Light can heal physical injuries, but Ella has no good way to treat this kind of unexplained coma.

However, judging from this magical perception, her soul form appeared normal, and her body was also fine; she simply seemed to be asleep.

If nothing unexpected happens, she should wake up soon.

"understood."

Ella turned her head slightly. "Then I won't bother you any longer, Your Highness Serendra."

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency."

Serendra nodded gently. "In addition, please recruit Mr. Elon as well. The dwarves of Molten Core are here to protect me. It would be a waste to have him serve me here."

"Finally, I offer you my heartfelt blessings and wish you success, Your Grace."

Chapter 160 Deputy Commander

The weak me of the past is dead; the weaker me is now.

Although it's not very kind of you to think that way, that's roughly the feeling that Celinedra gives Ella right now.

But this was beyond reproach, so Ella offered a few words of comfort before taking her leave and departing the room.

The old swordsman stood guard outside the door, arms crossed, leaning against the wall.

He saw Ella come out and bowed slightly. "How is it, Your Majesty?"

"Your Highness has been through too much; let her rest."

Ella replied helplessly.

"Hmm... So you really couldn't persuade her either."

Elon sighed softly, "But they're still just children."

(Note: To distinguish the name from Ella, the Sword Saint's "Airon" will be spelled "Eiron" from now on.)

"Take me to Commander Severif."

Ella waved her little hand. "His Highness has already entrusted the matter to him."

"No problem. When we return to the Empire, will you accompany me?"

Elon said, glancing briefly at the door.

"It's your decision."

Even though it was the other party who asked, Ella couldn't make the decision on her own.

"Despite my sympathy for Your Highness, I still want to go back and protect my homeland."

Elon stretched out his hand, lightly clenched his fist, and a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

"In the Dawn Forest, I was defeated by that strange Chosen One, which caused the sacrifice of my students and knights, and led to the fall of Bluemane Bay... This time, I will definitely take my revenge."

"Will do."

Ella nodded slightly, her tone firm.

Elon is an old swordsman; he doesn't need Ella's advice. He just needs to be told what to do.

……

According to Elon, Sivirif usually spends time in the castle's training grounds.

Since arriving in Molten City, this vice commander of the Ocean Legion has hardly gone anywhere, spending every day cultivating.

If Elon hadn't told him to stay in Molten Core and not to act rashly, this vice-commander might have already gone back alone with his sword to seek revenge on the demon.

Ella followed Elon to the training ground behind the castle.

Unlike the cooling arrays found inside the City Lord's Mansion, the temperature here was exceptionally hot, like a giant arched steamer.

On an open-air sand field, a shirtless man is wrestling with a massive horned dinosaur.

He gripped the massive horn protruding from the dragon's head with both hands, his feet planted firmly in the sand. With a powerful roar, he flipped the horned dragon, which was as big as half a house, to the ground.

The dwarf soldiers watching applauded and cheered, but there was little joy on his resolute face, which was covered in sweat. His eyes, through his disheveled golden hair, revealed an indescribable coldness.

Perhaps noticing the gazes cast from the audience, Severif turned his head slightly and saw Elon appearing high in the distance, along with a petite girl in a snow-white gauze dress and a large round hat beside him.

……

five minutes later.

After changing his clothes, Severif met Ella in the lounge.

The deputy commander now looks nothing like the person Ye Xiao first met. His once elegant long golden hair is now messy and unkempt, casually tied back, and his chin and temples are covered in stubble.

His eyes were deep and penetrating, and his handsome face was now as deep as if it had been carved by a knife and axe, with many small scars.

"Do you remember when I told you to wait a bit?"

Elon sat at the table, his figure exceptionally robust. Standing beside him, Ella, who was sitting down, looked like a tiny, pale bean in comparison.

"Now the person we've been waiting for has arrived. Severif, pay your respects to the Holy Maiden."

Severif bowed slightly first, then looked at the girl sitting in the chair like a rag doll.

"The Holy Maiden...? Is she the Holy Maiden of Light from Loren?"

He scratched his cheek. "It seems much smaller than I heard."

He didn't dare tell the truth that he had seen clothes shrink before, but this was the first time he had seen a person shrink as well.

"A problem left over from using divine power in previous battles,"

Ella waved her hand, "It's not important, it will probably recover in a while."

Severif nodded as if he understood, though not entirely. Although it was Molten City, news was not completely cut off; there were still many merchants and bards traveling back and forth, carrying news from the outside world.

After these messages reached the dwarves, they would discuss them, and through this, he also heard about the invasion of Loren by the Duchy of Tedeh.

Legend has it that during the great battle in the distant western frontier, a true god descended to earth, and Titans emerged from the mountains, causing chaos and darkness to descend.

The saintess's physical condition is likely a remnant of that war.

"So, Your Excellency has traveled a long way to come here to help Aslan?"

Severif said in a deep voice, "I think the two countries are quite far apart, and I've heard that the war in Loren is not completely over yet... It can't be that simple."

Ella smiled gently and snapped her fingers.

A magic circle spiraled and expanded on the ground, forming a barrier that isolated the sounds of the conversation from the outside world.

Then she lightly traced a line with her fingertip, and a crack appeared in mid-air, transforming into invisible ripples that spread through the air.

Severif looked out through the crevice at a vast expanse of white snow, his expression slightly taken aback.

This was not an illusionary projection, for a fierce wind was howling through the crack, and a few snowflakes even drifted out and landed on his face.

"This is... spatial magic?"

Elon, who was well-informed and experienced, exclaimed in surprise.

Time and space magic are forbidden in Aslan, hence the complicated expressions on their faces.

"There's no need to be so nervous,"

A sly glint appeared in Ella's deep red eyes. "I also know a little about your country's magical taboos, but they actually have a rather complicated history, which happens to be related to what I'm about to explain."

Her fingers were interlaced, and her tender, round face showed a devout and holy expression.

"Warriors of the two empires, please listen to me as I tell you the truth about this war that has taken place on your land."

Then, Ella recounted the fact that light and life are one, as well as the God of Chaos, the Shepherd of Darkness, and a series of events related to the company.

After all, they are the partners we will be cooperating with next, so it is still very necessary to synchronize some intelligence. However, Ella deliberately spoke in a mysterious way, partly to appear like a saint, and partly to keep some key information involving herself vague.

Aslan's taboo against time-space magic is, in essence, a taboo against the god of life.

Initially, in order to sever the life godhood tainted by chaos, the Light had to seal off the related spacetime magic in terms of information.

The family of miracle heirs, who once took pride in serving the gods, also sank to the bottom of the sea along with the former holy city, which was also the first tomb of the god of life, known as the "Fountain of Youth."

Chapter 161 Determination

Of course, after a long conversation, Ella only revealed that the company and the Dark Shepherds' goal was to seize the divine essence of light and life from the seven divine tombs to gain power, but she didn't mention that there was another ultimate goal behind it—to deal with her.

Even so, the amount of information that Ella contributed was already unexpectedly large for Severif and Elon.

They only thought the appearance of demons and sea creatures was an act of invasion by other races, never imagining that there was such a complex background behind it.

"The family that once served the light has ultimately fallen into slavery to power, abandoning its oath of protection and committing acts of aggression."

Elon sighed with emotion, “The name ‘Dark Shepherd’ does fit their current behavior.”

"Perhaps it was the resentment that had been suppressed at the bottom of the sea for thousands of years that, after being tainted by chaos, escaped into madness."

Severif stroked his chin. "But whatever they may have been, they are now our enemies."