Chapter 13: What nonsense are you spouting!

“Sister, are you very good at cooking?”

The speaker was Little Anli. It seemed Lisina had thoroughly corrected her, as she no longer used that strange title “sister-in-law” for Vylian.

Children were like that—innocent and sweet, blinking with eyes that seemed completely untainted by knowledge.

She was munching on a piece of malt sugar, her cheeks puffing out.

Munch munch.

“Of course. My skills are at the level of a God of Cooking.”

Vylian only knew how to make home-cooked meals, but in this world, she could truly claim such a title.

‘The world’s culinary skills have dropped 100 times, while I remain the same… cough, cough.’

“Alright, then I’ll leave the kitchen to you, Sister.”

Seeing Vylian’s determination, Lisina didn’t persist. She took Little Anli’s hand and left the kitchen with a smile.

Watching their receding backs, Vylian flicked her finger, opening a small spatial rift.

She pulled out a large white apron and a small footstool.

To improve her own meals, she had long ago prepared a cutting board, a kitchen knife, and an iron pot.

Even the various seasonings were all there.

Just as she finished chopping the vegetables with a bit of magic, a noisy commotion drifted in from outside.

Her eyes darted as she discreetly stowed her apron. Her gaze narrowed, a trace of imperceptible coldness flashing in her eyes.

She stepped out of the kitchen and walked toward the village entrance where the noise originated.

In the open space at the village entrance, an arrogant and shrill voice rang out dismissively.

“Humph! You peasants! Isn’t it time to pay this month’s tax for Kachi Village?”

The Village Chief was old and hunched. He stood trembling before the speaker, not daring to look up.

“Lord Viscount, we have already paid this month’s tax. I remember clearly—I handed the payment to the tax collector myself!”

The village entrance was already surrounded.

More than 100 fully armed knights, riding snow-white horses and holding war lances that glinted with a cold light, stood in neat formation behind Viscount Fink.

Viscount Fink sat atop his horse and snorted coldly.

“You say you paid? When my financial officer tallied the funds, he didn’t see any record of your village’s payment!”

“Deceiving a noble is a capital crime! You peasants deserve to die!”

“My Lord, we truly paid the tax. I even kept the tax form the collector gave us. If you don’t believe me, look…”

“Humph! Who knows if that tax form is a forgery!” Viscount Fink didn’t even plan to look at the paper; his tone grew increasingly fierce.

“Today, you either hand over the tax or I will take it by force! When that happens, my soldiers won’t be so easy to talk to!”

Suddenly, the Village Chief realized something. His face turned extremely pale.

“My Lord, please have mercy! If we have to pay the tax again, the entire village won’t survive!”

“What does your survival have to do with me? You peasants are best at playing the victim!”

“To dare evade taxes under my nose… I’ll send you all to your deaths right now!”

Before the words had fully left his mouth, he raised his foot and kicked toward the Village Chief with all his might.

But in the next moment, his foot felt as if it had slammed into an incredibly hard steel plate.

Thud!

A dull sound echoed as intense pain instantly swept through his body. His expression twisted in agony as he convulsed.

The foot he had kicked out with was shattered by the powerful recoil, leaving only a piercing pain.

He hastily channeled his Battle Aura to control the injury and downed a Healing Potion.

Once the pain subsided slightly, he realized a Magic Shield had been constructed in front of the Village Chief, easily blocking his kick.

This old man was just a regular person; it was impossible for him to possess such powerful magic!

“WHO IS IT!”

Viscount Fink was furious. His gaze swept over the surroundings as he barked.

The Village Chief, who thought he was dead, trembled and hurriedly knelt when the kick never landed.

The watching villagers also began to kneel and kowtow in terror.

Just then, a gentle yet undeniable force lifted them, pulling everyone back up before they could hit the ground.

Vylian walked out slowly, stepping on Holy Light.

Each step seemed to bring a vibrant surge of life.

Her presence was gentle yet powerful, like a goddess blessed by heaven, instantly capturing the eyes of everyone present.

“Viscount Fink, may I ask what you are doing? Collecting illegal taxes? Oppressing the people?”

Her smile was like a spring breeze, yet when Viscount Fink saw her face, he felt an uncontrollable urge to kneel.

It was an unfamiliar face, yet a strange voice inside him screamed in warning, demanding he grovel and offer his most sincere submission.

‘What a bizarre thought.’

He clutched his chest and exhaled a ragged breath.

‘Could it be some kind of mind-control magic?’

Even his towering rage was suppressed.

“You… know me?”

“As a Nun of the Sacred Church, it is naturally necessary for me to know the ruler of this land.”

There was a commotion among the soldiers behind him.

In this country, almost everyone was a believer in the Holy Order.

Even a common Nun was enough to inspire awe.

“Quiet.”

Viscount Fink barked, barely managing to calm the soldiers behind him.

He stared at Vylian. If she was just an ordinary nun, this would be easy.

Tsk.

He only needed a “tax evasion” excuse to have his knights slaughter the peasants and crush the one chosen as the Hero under his heel.

“A nun? This village is under my jurisdiction. I have every right to collect taxes here. You have no authority to interfere.”

“Heh heh heh… I have no authority? Every person here is a child under God’s protection.”

With a wave of Vylian’s hand, a hazy radiance gradually filled every corner of the air.

“This… this is a miracle!”

“Look! Thank the heavens! It’s a Nun of the Sacred Church! We’re saved!”

The villagers’ worries about offending the nobility vanished as the light calmed them.

Viscount Fink’s gaze grew manic as he looked at the small but powerful nun before him.

“Humph! Don’t think you can scare me with that! Do you not fear being taken to the Cathedral for interfering with a noble’s internal affairs?”

Vylian looked up at him calmly. “Do you really dare report what happened here to the Cathedral?”

The atmosphere fell into an eerie silence.

Those simple words hit Viscount Fink like a heavy battering ram. His anger vanished, replaced by a sudden, chilling clarity.

“Lord Viscount, did you truly come here today just to collect taxes?”

Vylian added nonchalantly, “Or… did you come specifically to eliminate the newborn Hero after hearing the news?”

“YOU! WHAT KIND OF NONSENSE ARE YOU SPOUTING?!”