Looking at the large and small bags covering the floor, Lucoco clicked her tongue in wonder.
She really hadn’t expected the little Princess of the kingdom to have this kind of personality.
Now that she thought about it, she really had seen the girl in the alchemy shop the first two times, she just hadn’t paid her much attention.
After all, who could have guessed that was a Princess?
Lucoco reached out, intending to put the materials into her bracelet this time, but…
**[Notification: The Storage Bracelet’s space is running low. Unable to store everything.]**
“Huh?”
Lucoco’s movements froze.
She stared at the small text floating over the bracelet.
This was the first time she had ever seen this prompt.
To be honest, she hadn’t put much in the bracelet at all.
She only kept one complete set of alchemy equipment, some books she frequently referenced, and a few boxes of common materials.
Up until now, this bracelet had merely been a prop to hide her Player Bag!
—
With a hint of confusion, Lucoco began placing the packages into the Storage Bracelet.
One bag…
Three bags…
Six bags, twelve bags…
**[Notification: Insufficient space in the Storage Bracelet.]**
“It’s so small!”
Lucoco’s brows shot up as she exclaimed subconsciously.
‘I was too careless…’
Lucoco rubbed her chin as she fell into thought.
She suddenly realized a few problems…
Based on a rough estimate, the space in this bracelet was only about six or seven cubic meters.
However, since the moment she had obtained this bracelet, how much stuff had she shoved into her Player Bag under its cover?
At the very least, the physical size of that Floating Skiff definitely wouldn’t fit inside the bracelet’s space!
‘Maybe… Lucia and the others saw through it a long time ago and just didn’t say anything?’
Lucoco thought back to something she hadn’t paid much attention to before—how Sebas often snatched bracelets from the Heroes and emptied their contents into the warehouse.
“Gosh… what a miscalculation!”
She slapped her forehead and shook her head with a bitter smile.
“What’s wrong with our little Morning Light?”
A familiar voice suddenly rang out beside her ear.
“Wah!!”
Lucoco nearly jumped out of her skin in fright!
She whipped her head around only to find that Are was already standing silently behind her, carrying a luggage bag.
She was quietly gazing at Lucoco with her trademark gentle smile.
Patting her chest, Lucoco let out a long sigh of relief.
“Sister Are, why are you here?”
“Without you around, it was quite boring for me,” Are said, tilting her head slightly.
She rested her chin on one hand, her gaze so soft it felt like it could melt.
“I decided to quit my temporary job at the Order to come stay with you.”
“That’s wonderful!”
Lucoco’s face lit up with joy.
Like a young bird returning to its nest, she lunged forward and hugged Are’s slender waist, savoring the familiar warmth.
“I can eat your cooking again!”
Those words came straight from the heart!
Are set down her luggage and gently returned the hug.
Her slender hand brushed through Lucoco’s hair as she said dotingly, “There, there. I am your personal nanny, after one.”
“Hehe…”
Lucoco obediently pulled back from the embrace and casually tossed the various bags into her Player Bag.
She pushed open the door to the room, her eyes curving into crescent moons as she smiled.
“Come on! Let’s go inside.”
She pulled Are along as they walked in.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lucoco kept a close watch on Are’s expression.
When she had put away the bags, Are had indeed shown a tiny flicker of habitual surprise.
Lucoco understood then.
The flaws she hadn’t noticed herself had long since been discovered by everyone else.
—
Once inside, the two of them sat down in the guest room.
Are hadn’t returned to Lucoco’s side purely for the sake of it.
She had essentially gathered all the necessary intelligence, so staying at the Order was no longer meaningful.
“This is the information I’ve organized. Take a look.”
Are took a handwritten booklet out of her luggage and handed it over.
Lucoco took the booklet and flipped it open to examine it carefully.
—
The Versadis Kingdom is famous for its prowess in battle.
King Karl leads an elite army year-round at the border to fight against the monster tides erupting from the dungeons.
He rarely returns to the capital.
Queen Isha is an Alchemist who loves traveling and adventure.
At the same time, she acts as the royal representative, frequently traveling to neighboring countries for trade negotiations.
It is rumored that there is another Queen, but information is lacking.
Adrian’s sister, Irene, is also keen on exploring the continent’s cultures.
She is currently on an inspection tour in the elven territories of another country.
Regent Raymond holds almost all the power, managing the operations of the Royal Capital and the kingdom.
—
The above was the basic information of the Versadis region.
Next were some secrets and rumors.
—
Secret 1: In recent years, the frequency and intensity of the monster tides at the border have increased to the point where other kingdoms have had to send troops to provide support.
Secret 2: Some Players discovered traces of the Dark Camp in the exiled zones. A large-scale rebellion subsequently broke out in those zones, but it was swiftly suppressed by the stationed Black Knight Legion.
Secret 3: The Shadow Society has been appearing frequently in various towns, and many nobles and officials have been assassinated.
Secret 4: The pseudo-gods of Versadis have not completely fallen silent.
Secret… (Omitted)
Rumor 1: The Saintess Candidate of the Isalion Kingdom selected the Red Plate during the Trial Roulette, which is the most dangerous trial. The trial’s destination is precisely the border of the Versadis Kingdom.
Rumor 2: Versadis’s rich Magic Crystal mines are a product of cooperation with the Demon Race.
Rumor 3: A large number of merchants and adventurers are smuggling water from the Kingdom of Lunes’s river basins into Versadis. This has caused the ecology in certain areas to grow wild, resulting in unrest.
Rumor 4: Someone discovered the unique mark of the Versadis Royal Family on a captured Magic-Powered Engine. They were later arrested.
Rumor… (Omitted)
—
As she read through the list one by one, Lucoco felt a mounting pressure.
Many of these secrets and rumors seemed to overlap with the follow-up commissions Raymond had given her.
For example, the riots in the exiled zones, the Magic Crystal mines, and the Magic-Powered Engines—these three topics had been explicitly discussed at the dinner table that night.
Closing the booklet, Lucoco slumped onto the table like a noodle.
She lifted her eyes to look at Are, and syllables that would be incomprehensible to a normal person suddenly tumbled from her mouth.
“Sister Are, I suddenly feel like this Oracle isn’t worth doing. Someone else can have that Annihilator if they want it.”
“Hehehe.”
Are chuckled softly.
She picked up a cookie and fed it to Lucoco, using the same strange syllables.
“I’ll follow your lead.”
“Mhm… yum…”
Lucoco chewed the cookie, her small brows furrowed as she continued in that tongue.
“This Regent gives me the feeling that he belongs to the Chaos Faction.”
Are’s smile didn’t fade.
She poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward the girl.
“But during the years he’s been in power, the kingdom has indeed flourished.”
“What was I planning to do at the start? Travel? So what am I doing now?”
Lucoco grumbled.
“I think you’ve been having quite a bit of fun,” Are said, her eyes full of tenderness.
“I suppose that’s true.”
Lucoco picked up the teacup and slowly stood up.
She leaned against the windowsill and took a small sip, her gaze drifting downward.
In the grass below, a man dressed in black was lying perfectly still.
His terrified eyes were locked straight onto hers.
Lucoco looked at him.
“What’s wrong? Did you get paralyzed just from listening to a few words?”
As she spoke, she lightly lifted her wrist and held the teacup out.
Seeing this, the man in black tried his best to shake his head, his eyes filling with a pleading look.
Lucoco gave him a pure smile.
“Ehehe.”
She let go of her fingers.
The tea splashed everywhere, and the cup plummeted from a height of several meters.
*Whoosh—*
*Smash!*
With a crisp sound, the cup shattered into pieces.
The commotion immediately attracted the attention of the patrolling guards.
“An assassin!!”
A guard who had cast a Lighting spell cried out.
Immediately, lighting magic from other areas and the Magic Crystal Stone searchlights on the towers turned toward them.
The Guest House area became lively in an instant.
Lucoco could even faintly hear the sounds of fighting coming from another direction.
“Who was it?”
Are leaned over with a fresh cup of tea and looked out the window.
“Just a confidential spy sent by some noble lord,” Lucoco said, taking the tea and draining it in a few gulps.
“That man probably let him through on purpose to test me.”
“So, that means people will be coming to deliver gifts tomorrow?”
Are smiled playfully.
“Mhm.”
Lucoco nodded.
She took the empty cup back to the table, grabbed the teapot, and drank greedily.
“Ah… *Burp!* Drinking in big gulps is the best!”
She didn’t stop until the small teapot was completely empty.
—
After drinking her fill, Lucoco wobbled her way into the bathroom to wash away the day’s fatigue.
She changed into a light nightgown and walked out, yawning repeatedly.
The moment she emerged, she saw Are already sitting by the bed, looking at her tenderly.
“Come here.”
Lucoco beamed and eagerly threw herself onto the bed, lying spread-eagled.
“It’s been so long since I had one of your massages! Hehehe…”
“Mhm, let me help you relax.”
Are smiled gently.
Her hands started at Lucoco’s shoulders, kneading them with soft, slow movements.
Her fingertips carried a trace of warm magic that felt like a gentle breeze seeping into the skin, dispelling the fatigue that had built up over the past few days.
“It feels just like Mama’s massages…”
Lucoco squinted her eyes comfortably, letting out a satisfied murmur.
“Your hands are so warm, Sister Are… Here, press more here.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
Are’s gaze grew even softer.
Following Lucoco’s guidance, she moved her hands to the girl’s neck, her thumbs lightly tracing the curve of the collarbone.
Lucoco’s body trembled slightly, but she quickly relaxed again, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks.
“It’s been so long since I was massaged like this… It tickles.”
“Be good, don’t wiggle.”
Are coaxed her in a low voice.
Her hands moved downward to the arms and the sides of the waist, pressing gently yet firmly, treating Lucoco as if she were a precious treasure.
This was what Lucia had taught her.
Are had already mastered every step, movement, the level of pressure, and the magic output.
After the front was done, Lucoco lazily rolled over, letting Are’s palms press against her back.
She felt the warmth spread from her spine all the way down.
“Mm… Sister is the best. You always know exactly where I’m sore.”
Are’s smile deepened.
She leaned in closer, her breath brushing against Lucoco’s earlobe.
She continued massaging the backs of the knees and the soles of the feet.
Her fingertips rubbed lightly, sending waves of tingly comfort through Lucoco.
Lucoco’s small feet curled and uncurled instinctively.
She murmured, “Your massage is too comfortable… I’m afraid I’ll stay in bed all day tomorrow.”
Are only gave a soft hum, her movements becoming even more delicate…
Gradually, Lucoco drifted off into dreamland.
—
Stopping her movements, Are wiped the fine sweat from her forehead.
She silently watched the girl sleeping soundly.
She gently pinched a strand of her hair, twining it around her finger for a moment before letting go.
It looked like an older sister’s affection for a younger sibling, yet it hid a flicker of possessive tenderness.
She stood up quietly and moved cautiously into the bathroom.
Only after setting up a soundproofing magic barrier did she begin to prepare for her bath.
She took off the crystal waist pendant at her hip and rubbed it gently…
Falling into her memories.
—
I am Are, a priestess who once lost everything and resigned from her position.
I was a priestess who voluntarily accepted divine judgment but ended up receiving the favor of the World Tree.
Even now, I still remember the twisted faces of those arrogant old men after the judgment ended.
Look—the priestess you thought would be obliterated under divine punishment was actually favored by the great World Tree and became her Saint!
Not only did I obtain an indestructible body like a Player, but I also gained the hope of advancing to the Sage Rank. Hahaha!
Amidst that wild laughter, I left my entire net worth to the monastery in my hometown and left the Order.
The Bishop with the twisted face shamelessly licked my boots and gave me a certificate.
It allowed me to hold any position below a Bishop at the Order’s branches in any country and resign at any time.
That kind of thing is likely something even he craved, right?
I ‘reluctantly’ accepted it.
…
But it didn’t take long for me, the Saint of the great World Tree, to nearly fall to the point of performing on the streets to survive.
Fortunately, the Goddess of Luck favored me.
On that winter day, she gave me the hope of preserving my dignity, as well as a Heritage Holy Relic!
Right now, it lies quietly within this crystal.
Later, the World Tree sent down an Oracle.
Her Saint was granted a powerful divine art: **[Mass Point-to-Point Teleportation]**.
The side effect is death, and the cooldown is one full year.
But as everyone knows, I am Her Saint.
I can no longer die.
Thus, while I was in the middle of resurrecting, I was picked up and brought home by the only Little Saintess left on the continent.
She said she felt like I was her own kind.
She wasn’t wrong.
We are both God-favored of the World Tree, and we are at the highest level—the Saint level.
Though, she doesn’t seem to believe in the World Tree herself.
I was taken in and settled down in that warm Manor.
Lucia, the woman who might be the most powerful Witch in the world, the Jet-Black Witch, told me she hoped I could help take care of the Little Saintess.
This was because she couldn’t leave the Kingdom of Lunes for the time being and had no way to accompany the Little Saintess as she traveled the continent.
The specific reason was unknown.
Even she didn’t know why, as someone of the Sage Rank shouldn’t be restricted like that.
I was honored to accept.
I began following her to learn the ‘Lucoco Raising Guide.’
Perhaps because we were both God-favored of the World Tree, Lucia trusted me immensely.
She told me almost all of the Little Saintess’s small secrets.
For instance, the Little Saintess cannot die, just like me.
For instance, the Little Saintess actually has a massive storage space, but I shouldn’t point it out…
In the end, I became the personal nanny of the Saintess that countless people desired.
Over four years, the Little Saintess has come to treat me like a real older sister.
There is no need to say more about what happened after that.
In short, I will stay by her side as she moves forward.
Finally, there is actually one more thing that I have kept hidden.
It is a matter that cannot be spoken or told.
The great World Tree once said in an Oracle: “Though Lucoco can be resurrected, try your best not to let her die. Delay it as long as possible. Because once she dies, there is a probability that the successor of the Demon King Lucius will descend. After at most four times, the new Demon King will definitely manifest in this world.”
To that end, the great World Tree granted me two skills: **[Wings of Nirvana]** and **[Void Shift]**.
The former converts all damage into healing, while the latter allows me to swap positions with a target.
I once asked why I couldn’t simply tell her the truth.
I received an even more inconceivable answer…
The World Tree said: “If Lucoco learns the truth, the successor of the Demon King will definitely descend after her first death—and it will definitely be the successor of the former Demon God.”