A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

Page 13

From the moment he started to break the rhythm, each cup became increasingly difficult to drink. After all, this was wine, not water, and if it were ten cups of water, the people present would probably find it even harder to drink than the wine.

"Thump thump thump..."

His heart was pounding in his chest, and the bald man's face, neck, and bare arms were all red, like shrimp boiled in hot water.

Lina's breathing remained very steady. An observer could easily tell that she wasn't even noticeably drunk.

It's like long-distance running or swimming; rhythm is very important. If you're too anxious, you'll lose the race faster.

The bald, burly man swallowed the last three glasses of wine, almost belching as he forced himself to swallow them into his churning stomach, suppressing his nausea.

He had finally lost his former arrogance and looked like a dejected, drunken old man.

However, Lina simply took in the entire scene without rushing to determine a winner. She drank cup by cup with the precision of a wound-up toy, like a puppet with a high-level computer function in her brain. Just like at the beginning, the rhythm of each cup was almost identical.

"Ron, don't give up! The little girl is catching up soon, give it your all!"

"Yeah, yeah, Ron, I even placed a three-silver-coin bet on you to win. The odds are pretty high. If you win, I'll treat you to drinks and a meal. Don't let me down, Ron!"

The bald man's supporters behind him had become anxious and stopped waving flags and shouting.

They might already know how it will end, but they're still resentful. Maybe... they'll win soon.

25. The Popular Little Saintess

However, at this moment, Lina seemed to be possessed by the god of wine, drinking the remaining ten glasses at a rate of almost ton-ton-ton.

By the time she shook the empty glass and showed it off to everyone, the bald, burly man had already emptied two glasses.

"Uncle, you're too kind!"

Lina was smug, while the big man's lips twitched, feeling like he'd been tricked.

So, this little girl was holding back all along.

"I, Ron, admit defeat!"

He didn't try to be tough any longer, settled the bill for the drinks, tossed the bag of copper coins aside, and left the tavern with unsteady steps.

The male customers were all complaining bitterly; they had thought they had found a capable person, but they still lost the bet.

"I'm going to jump into the sea! Don't stop me!"

"Group jumping into the sea needed, come quick!"

"You've only lost a few coins, if anyone's going to jump, it'll be me first!"

At this moment, a rather special guest appeared at the table, whom Lina subconsciously regarded as her next opponent.

“I’m sorry… Miss Lina, I’m not here for drinks. I’m from the capital, Partington, and I’d like to ask you about the Deep Sea Naga.”

Santa Karina sat down across the table, behaving with impeccable manners.

“You can call me Lord Randall, or Her Majesty the Saintess. I came here specifically to resolve this matter.”

After Saint Karina finished speaking, the lively atmosphere in the tavern suddenly turned cold.

Her voice wasn't loud, but it possessed a unique magic, making it clear to almost everyone in the tavern.

They all turned to look in St. Karina's direction, and the next second, all the drinkers solemnly tapped their chests three times in a goddess-like gesture.

"Your Excellency, Holy Maiden!"

"Lord Randall!"

The shouts inside the tavern weren't in unison, but you could tell they were very excited.

The atmosphere was even more enthusiastic than the previous drinking contests, and some rough men even shed large tears.

Saint Karina may not know that the title of Holy Maiden of the Defender of the Nation is even more prestigious in the Saint Marta Sea than that of the young emperor, the ruler of the nation.

The Holy Maiden who single-handedly repelled hundreds of thousands of demonic hordes and was resurrected—can she once again protect this nation tottering in the storm? This is the headline of the Daily Morning Post.

Even in the border towns along the coast of the Lorian Empire, the news had already spread.

Little did she know that the image of the saintess with white hair, blue eyes, wearing a holy robe, and wielding a holy sword perfectly matched the values ​​of the people of the Lorian Empire…

Well, anyway, I should say something now.

"Thank you all for your enthusiasm, but right now, I'd like to talk to Ms. Lina about something."

Subsequently, Saint Karina probably underestimated her own charm.

Just being stared at by the saintess's fiery gaze made little Lina blush. Her legs rubbed together unnaturally under the long table, clearly showing that she was aroused.

“Well, Your Excellency, actually I know that almost everyone in this town knows about this.”

She paused, then continued:

“However, my mother and grandmother should know more information. Your Excellency, would you like to come with me?”

"Okay, I hope to know as much detail as possible."

Saint Karina nodded, letting the blushing Lina take her hand and lead her upstairs.

The tight, full breasts made her secretly marvel; even a 16-year-old girl here was so well-developed.

26. Requests that cannot be refused

With Lina's explanation, Santa Karina also learned about her mother and grandmother's status in the area.

Grandma Sera was a sea priestess who had worshipped the sea god since her ancestors' generation, and she presided over sea burials and annual sacrificial ceremonies.

The ritual typically involves offerings of cattle, sheep, vegetables, fruits, and wine, followed by young girls participating in the worship. The prayers are for favorable weather in the coming year, for fishermen to avoid disasters at sea, and for any misfortunes they may encounter, hoping for good fortune to avert disaster.

I heard that the sea god really likes the singing and dancing performances of young girls, so most of the girls here are good at singing and dancing, with slender waists and graceful figures.

Entering the innermost room on the second floor, the wooden door closes, shutting out all the noise from outside.

As you enter the house, the first thing you hear is the sound of wind chimes at the door, tinkling and melodious.

The room was filled with many local handicrafts, all handmade, with unique yet beautiful shapes. There were also many ornaments such as conch shells and pebbles. Lying at the head of the bed was a woman who looked like Lina's sister, but her lower body was not human, but a mermaid's tail.

Saint Karina was able to recognize her at a glance, not only because she was knowledgeable, but also because little Lina simply couldn't control her mouth.

She recounted her story to Saint Karina almost like a cascade of beans, such as how her grandmother met another human grandmother, how mermaids had a secret method to give birth to women, and that she herself was also a half-human.

"She's such a grown woman, why is she still talking with her arm around someone else's? She's not careful at all."

The person who interrupted Lina's spellcasting was Lina's mother, a mature woman with long, light blue hair and a hot figure. She was almost 40 years old, and there wasn't a single wrinkle on her face.

Lina and her grandmother Sera, who were lying in bed, looked like three sisters.

"slightly."

Lina made a face at her mother.

"Mom, don't scold me first. Look who I brought this time—It's Her Majesty the Holy Maiden!"

After saying that, Lina released her arms and gently pushed Saint Karina forward.

"What a beautiful guest! Please have a seat."

Lina's mother's eyes lit up, and she greeted her immediately.

If she were ten years younger and not yet married, she would probably be just as enthusiastic and proactive as Lina.

The two women shared similar aesthetic tastes, and Saint Karina didn't engage in much small talk, getting straight to the point.

"Actually, my companions and I encountered the Naga on the shore before. They forbid humans from going out to sea. Why is that?"

"I think something must have happened to the sea creatures underwater. But I don't know the specific reason. All the ships in the port have been destroyed, and we can't reach the Temple of the Sea God."

The Temple of Poseidon is not on land, but on a small island a hundred nautical miles from Hochas. On it, a statue and palace of Poseidon were built.

“If Your Excellency is willing to go, I am willing to give you this gem.”

Only the Sera people can communicate with the sea god. However, she is very old; although she looks young, she is at least 70 years old.

Saint Karina couldn't bear to let the aging, declining mermaid take the risk for her.

However, this Heart of the Ocean is not something an ordinary mermaid could obtain. Saint Karina had a guess about Lina's grandmother's identity, but she didn't reveal it.

"I understand. Thank you for your generosity, Your Excellency Sera."

Saint Karina originally wanted to say "Thank you, Grandma Sera," but then she thought about her own age. If you were to calculate it in units of five hundred years, she would probably be older than the three members of the other family combined.

"However, Your Excellency, my little Lina is very fond of you. For my sake, please stay at this tavern for the night."

Sera gave a mysterious smile; she knew that this human saint would not refuse.

In fact, Saint Karina, who had hung the Heart of the Ocean around her neck, did not refuse the "old woman's" request. And when she heard her grandmother speak to her, Lina immediately jumped up and rushed back to Saint Karina, hugging her from behind.

"Grandma is the best! But Her Majesty's waist is so supple, and she smells so good—it's the scent Lina loves. Would you like to stay with me? It's a rare treat, and Lina's room is much better than the other rooms in the tavern. It's huge, and the bed is enormous too!"

Lina was very lively and didn't address her with the same respectful way her grandmother Sera did, but rather with a kind of ingratiating intimacy.

"Okay, but before that, could I have something to eat with my companions? I'll pay for it, it doesn't have to be free, you don't need to worry about me being short of money."

Saint Karina refers to Melissa. She can eat while wearing a hood, and she's currently waiting outside the door because her host wants to discuss something.

"Why don't you just come to my room to eat?"

Faced with the younger man's coquettish behavior, Saint Karina had no choice but to agree.

She has never been good at dealing with children, and in her mind, Lina is almost like a younger sister.

Faced with a large table of dishes—oysters, abalone, lobster, flower crab, scallops, and shredded chicken noodles—Saint Karina found it difficult to refuse their hospitality.

It's not a matter of paying, it's just that there's too much food. Three people really can't eat this much.

Moreover, the town's specialty sandworms, those soft, long, white ones, were truly unacceptable. Although Santa Karina had heard that sandworms were delicious, crisp, and tender, stir-fried quickly over high heat with scallions and ginger until they were snow-white, fragrant, sweet, and chewy—truly a rare delicacy.

If you're brave enough, you can even eat it raw; it's very nutritious.

"Well... let's not eat this?"

Saint Karina pointed at the dead insect corpse in the void, not even wanting to touch the chopsticks.

She always felt that if she encountered it, something very precious might get dirty.

"Ugh... Well, actually Lina doesn't like this stuff either. My chef grandma forced it on me, saying she wanted Her Majesty the Saint to try it. In fact, most women can't stand it; only some local men like it."

Lina also looked troubled, which showed that she didn't usually eat this dish.

She clenched her fists, then picked up the plate of specialty dish and probably ran to the kitchen. If Saint Karina disliked her, she might be so angry she'd punch the chef to death with her little fists.

Given the way she drinks, it's not impossible.

Fortunately, the chef escaped unscathed; she specially made water chestnut cake and shaved ice for the three lovely ladies.

The chef was actually her other human grandmother, a little joke she was playing on Lina.

As an apology, the fried pancakes are topped with a variety of sweet and juicy fruits that women love. They make a wonderfully sweet and refreshing shaved ice, and the taste as they slowly melt in your mouth is simply divine.

27. Something went wrong with the treatment?!

After dinner, Lina and I took a bath together to strengthen our friendship.

Lina's enthusiasm didn't diminish at all; on the contrary, she became even more excited. She eagerly grabbed Saint Karina's hand, nuzzled it against her cheek like a kitten, blinked her big eyes, and looked at Saint Karina expectantly, saying that she wanted to receive the saint's blessing.

"Do you want to become a follower of the Eternal Goddess and stay by my side?"

The conversion of the sea god's followers to the faith was likely due to Saint Karina's personal charisma, and had nothing to do with the goddess herself.

"First of all, I only need Melissa as my slave. However, I can still grant you two blessings."

Saint Karina had no intention of taking the troublesome little girl on her journey. She wanted Lina to understand that she treated her like a younger sister, and that accompanying her in whatever she did was a reward from her, not something to be dictated by Lina's will.

"I see no problem, come on, Your Majesty!"

"Alright... then, bless."

A holy light shone in Saint Karina's hand; the blessing, being for life, had to be placed on Lina's heart.

This is an exceptionally vulnerable position, and it is easily susceptible to various impacts.

The blessing had not been released for over five hundred years, and Saint Karina appeared somewhat rusty.

"Oh... Your Majesty the Holy Maiden."

After Saint Karina bestowed her blessing, the effect seemed too strong. Lina felt as if she had drunk fake alcohol, suddenly becoming dizzy and almost instantly, as if the bones in her back had been removed, she went limp and fell onto Saint Karina's shoulder.