The academy had entered its summer vacation, and Saint Maris decided to return to her hometown. Riding in a carriage provided by the temple, she traveled east, flanked by temple knights on horseback.
Inside the spacious carriage, Maris was in high spirits, humming a cheerful tune. The saintly spirits, drawn by her pleasant singing, gathered around the carriage, shimmering in the air. These spirits, invisible to the average person, would have created a mesmerizing spectacle akin to winter night illuminations.
"Saint Maris seems to be in an exceptionally good mood today," one of the temple knights remarked, observing the rhythmic sway of the carriage.
"Indeed, it's a pleasant change," another knight replied with a smile, listening to the harmonious humming from within.
"Considering how diligently she's worked with her studies and holy duties, it's only right for her to enjoy some relaxation at home during summer vacation."
"But is it really safe with just five knights guarding the Saint? Shouldn't we have brought at least a full company?" one knight questioned, concern evident in his tone.
"The ones here are all elite. Saint Maris herself preferred a modest escort, hence the small number," another knight explained.
"But isn't it better this way? Fewer rivals," one knight said with a sly grin.
"Rivals? What do you mean?" another knight asked, puzzled.
"Think about it. We have the chance to spend a whole month with the beautiful and noble Saint. Such a rare opportunity, isn't it?"
"Are you... aiming for the Saint?" another knight frowned, clearly displeased.
"Not exactly. But living together might present some interesting opportunities. If the Saint herself takes a liking to us, who knows what might happen," the knight mused.
"That's disrespectful! Know your place!" another knight scolded.
"Indeed, Saint Maris would never..."
Despite their reprimands, the knights couldn't help but entertain the thought. What if an accident brought them closer to the Saint during this journey? Perhaps rescuing Maris from bandits might catch her eye...
"No, no, no! Such convenient things don't happen... We, as proud temple knights, shouldn't be wishing for trouble..." one knight started to say.
"Hey! You there, stop!" a voice suddenly shouted.
"Is that... bandits?" another knight said, seeing a dozen armed men appear on the road ahead.
"If you value your lives, hand over the woman in that carriage!" one bandit demanded.
"If you cooperate, we'll spare you!" another threatened.
"These scoundrels... Do they know it's the Saint's carriage? Who are they?" a knight wondered, drawing his weapon to confront the bandits.
As the bandits charged, Maris calmly summoned her creatures. Evil marionettes, with their eerie, lifelike movements, emerged from the carriage. These marionettes, with their sinister grins and glowing eyes, danced into action. With precise and coordinated attacks, they subdued the bandits effortlessly, their wooden limbs striking with uncanny strength. The bandits were quickly overpowered and scattered, leaving the road clear.
"What... should we do about this?" a knight asked, bewildered.
"Get reinforcements from the nearby town to arrest these bandits," another knight instructed.
As one knight rode off for help, the carriage continued to move, with Maris inside seemingly oblivious to the outside commotion, still humming her tune.
"Shouldn't we stop the carriage?" a knight suggested.
"But the Saint said not to stop unless it's absolutely necessary..." another knight hesitated.
"ROOOAAAR!" came a sudden, terrifying roar from above.
"What the...?" the knights looked up to see a massive dragon in the sky, its red eyes filled with hostility.
"Damn... A monster attack!" a knight shouted.
"Get the carriage out of here! We'll hold it off..." another knight began, but Maris responded with calm resolve. She summoned an evil marionette with angelic wings, its divine aura contrasting sharply with its dark nature. The winged marionette soared into the sky and engaged the dragon. The battle was intense, but with swift and agile movements, the marionette struck the dragon repeatedly, eventually forcing it to retreat into the distant forest.
The knights stood in stunned silence, witnessing the miraculous scene.
"Did we really need five knights for this?" one finally asked.
"Probably not," another replied.
Just as they began to think their troubles were over, another threat emerged. A horde of monstrous beasts, with scales and claws that glistened menacingly, began to swarm towards the carriage. Maris summoned a new batch of evil marionettes, their forms twisting into grotesque shapes. These marionettes, with their dark magic, engaged the monsters in a fierce battle. The beasts were swiftly overpowered, their growls turning into desperate roars as they were driven away.
Yet, as the carriage continued, a new and formidable threat emerged—a colossal, ancient golem. Its massive stone limbs and towering form posed a catastrophic danger, capable of leveling entire towns. The knights watched in horror as the golem lumbered towards them.
"This golem... it could destroy the entire kingdom if it goes unchecked!" one knight exclaimed, his voice trembling with fear.
Maris faced the golem with unwavering determination. The battle was grueling; the golem's thick armor and immense strength made it a formidable opponent. Maris summoned her most powerful evil marionettes, their combined might chipping away at the golem's defenses. The battle raged on for several minutes, each marionette working tirelessly to weaken the golem. With a final, decisive strike, Maris unleashed a surge of divine energy, shattering the golem into countless fragments. The immediate threat was neutralized, but the confrontation had left Maris visibly exhausted.
The knights, overwhelmed by the sequence of events, were left in stunned silence. They had just witnessed a Saint—someone they had always known to be powerful—handle threats that only the most elite of warriors could dream of facing.
"Saint Maris... she's handled everything on her own," one knight said, his voice filled with awe and disbelief.
"Isn't it clear now? She's not just powerful; she's Kingdom Class strong," another knight remarked, his eyes wide with shock.
"In this world, only a hundred people are classified as Kingdom Class, the fourth level of strength and skill. And here we are, witnessing her single-handedly deal with threats that could have destroyed the kingdom."
"How did we not realize this before? We were tasked with guarding someone who's far beyond our capabilities," another knight added, his tone filled with reverence and a touch of regret.
As they continued to ride around the carriage, the knights were left to ponder their own insignificance in the face of such overwhelming power. Maris's strength and her summoned creatures had rendered their presence nearly unnecessary, leaving them to grapple with the reality of their situation.