Why Am I a Priestess When I Reach the Maximum Level?

For a long time, neither of them spoke.

In the crimson world surrounded by flames and storms of magic, two young women stood facing each other. One remained silent, while the other quietly wiped away the tears lingering at the corners of her eyes.

“So, you’ve begun your journey to find Minchen, is that right?”

“Yes, perhaps to others, the Gatekeeper is a great hero, a legend. But to me, he’s nothing more than a coward who abandoned his responsibility and his descendants. His abandonment was the beginning and the root of my mother’s lifelong misfortune. Only him… I can never forgive.”

“I see…”

It seemed there was no need to ask further questions.

After waiting for a while, Violet spoke softly.

“I won’t kill you, but I can’t condone everything you’ve done in the name of revenge either. I think your mother wouldn’t want to see you traverse mountains and rivers seeking his trail just for a few words, or worse, to become enemies… Fortunately, the worst hasn’t happened yet. There should be room for understanding.”

The priestess raised her hand, and a golden chain swept out like a spirit serpent, binding the young woman who had given up resistance due to her perceived failure. Though Silvina did not resist, she frowned.

“Don’t misunderstand. I speak because I acknowledge your strength and actions, not because I seek pity or excuse. I’m well aware of what I’ve done in the past and have long been prepared for it. If I lose, I lose. Violet, put away your kindness. What difference does death make?”

At these words, the girl in white robes merely smiled.

“Don’t misunderstand me either. I’m not someone who changes decisions based on emotions. Your past actions and certain behaviors were indeed ruthless, done at any cost to achieve your goals… But death is never the perfect punishment for a sinner. To me, life and death are merely transitions of states, as they always have been.”

“Watch closely, Silvina. I will bring this matter to its proper conclusion in my own way.”

“You won’t die. Neither will Eileen.”

……………………………………………..

“Clang!”

The magic sword and the long blade clashed in midair, transforming into afterimages that filled the space like an impenetrable rain curtain. Eileen unleashed over a dozen strikes in rapid succession, yet each was deftly blocked by Minchen using his long blade.

“Ahhhhh!!!”

The sword blades turned into a hurricane as magical energy surged around the young girl. She screamed and launched relentless attacks, but she couldn’t break through the solid and steady defense of the Gatekeeper. They had been locked in aerial combat for over half an hour, and her frustration was mounting.

Both of them had noticed the reversal and changes in the rift far in the distance. Minchen seemed to have anticipated them beforehand and remained unruffled, but Eileen, in the midst of battle, grew increasingly anxious.

“Why?! Why can’t I win?! I’ve gained so much divine power already, and you’re just a demigod!”

“Clang clang clang clang clang…”

The clash of weapons resumed like a dense rain of blows. Despite Eileen’s frenzied and chaotic assaults, Minchen, while on the defensive, maintained a balanced stance, his breath steady. At times, he even found a moment to offer guidance.

“It’s simple, child. While your level and attributes may indeed surpass mine, they haven’t reached the point where they can overwhelm me. Battle isn’t just about exchanging blows, proficiency in techniques, experience, reaction speed, even willpower and determination—all these factors greatly influence the outcome.”

Sidestepping a vicious kick aimed at interrupting him, Minchen once again parried a powerful swing from behind Eileen with his blade. He ghosted around her and lightly tapped her unguarded shoulder.

“See this? This is agility, a crucial factor in close combat. Despite your speed and strength, you rely too much on brute force with your sword and magical charges. You lack restraint and tactical retreat. Your every move exposes vulnerabilities. Even a priest wouldn’t display such immature actions in combat.”

“Get lost!!!”

Eileen angrily swung her sword backwards, but Minchen had anticipated this and gracefully stepped back, causing the girl’s magic sword to swing through empty air and momentarily lose balance due to the force.

Holding his sword with his magical arm, Minchen stood firm in midair, his plain clothes fluttering in the wind, making him appear ethereal. There was no mockery or scorn on his face, only a gentle tone like that of a benevolent elder.

“In the clash of life and death, rashness should be avoided. Besides what I mentioned earlier, you have another major weakness—you lack sufficient determination and will. Your sword lacks killing intent and lacks protection. Child, your attacks are too weak. They seem fierce but are actually aimless. You hesitate. You don’t know what you’re fighting for.”

“In the realm of swords and weapons, all paths lead to the same outcome. If you wish to excel in the way of the sword, you must first cultivate your heart. A weak sword cannot defeat a true strong enemy. Remember this.”

“Nonsense! Nonsense nonsense nonsense!!! Who said I lack killing intent!? Don’t be so presumptuous, you bastard! Do you really think I won’t kill you!!!”

Facing the seemingly enraged girl, Minchen just chuckled and shook his head like an experienced person.

“If you truly had killing intent, you would have struck me down with the first sword. Why delay until now? You’ve consistently refused to use devastating killing techniques, choosing instead to engage in close combat. Is it not because you fear harming the innocent lives in that city below? Eileen, you are ultimately a kind child. I find solace in that.”@@novelbin@@

“Nonsense! Gibberish!!! We are conspiring, plotting war and disaster! Don’t disgust me with your fake sympathetic tone! You say I dare not use it, right? Fine, I’ll show you!!!”

The girl’s face flushed red, showing a hint of unhealthy color, as she angrily raised her magic sword.

Surging magical power soared into the sky, forming a swirling storm of colorful elements rushing towards her. Above the girl, these elements coalesced into a kilometer-long giant sword, nearly capable of splitting heaven and earth. Eileen’s gray hair billowed in the strong wind, and the terrifying aura almost materialized into substantial black flames around her, as if a demon god had descended once more.

“Let’s descend into hell together with this filthy city, Gatekeeper Minchen!!!”

*Zzz… Zzzzz…*

Countless colorful electric sparks surged and exploded on the giant sword, seemingly casting a spell with magical power far thinner than that of the earthly realm, imposing a burden and pressure on Eileen far more severe than what came from the other side. Despite blood continuously dripping from her lips, the girl still forcefully controlled the overwhelming magical power, slashing down the earth-shattering forbidden curse.

“Sword of Godslaying!!!”

“Sword of Godslaying… huh.”

Facing this strike that altered even the heavens, though Minchen spoke lightly, his expression visibly grew serious.

Taking a deep breath, he lightly sheathed his longsword as if vanishing into nothingness, using the heavens and earth as his scabbard. Then, as if moving slowly yet as swiftly as lightning, he swung his sword, seeming to distort space and time itself.

“Ancient Technique: Lament of Solitude.”

There was no sword light, no exploding flames or shockwaves, but as the sword moved across the sky, everything was cleaved in two.

With a single stroke, all things were annihilated.

Including the terrifying giant sword that seemed to thunder and could have crushed heaven and earth, even the clouds, storms, and even time and space themselves were split and halted in that moment.

Until the figure in plain clothes sheathed his sword once more.

*Boom!!!!*

The magnificent giant sword, now split into two halves, exploded into a myriad of colorful lights. Even the aftermath of this explosion seemed to divide the sky itself into two, creating an imperceptible yet profound chasm in between.

“Did I fail… I’m sorry… Silvina…”

Eileen’s consciousness, along with her body, was severed at that moment, plunging into darkness.

“I’m sorry, child.”

She heard him say this.

………………………..

Inside the Demon Suppression City.

“!?”

Just after the battle had ended, Cyril, a man with a damaged greatsword slung over his shoulder and a wounded arm, suddenly looked up in horror at the sky. The clouds there were split into two, but as a mere mortal, he could never know what had happened above.

“What’s wrong, Cyril? If you’re badly hurt, go rest first. Have you been pushing yourself too hard lately? Even if you want to learn from Miss Violet about healing and saving lives, you can’t achieve everything at once.”

The leader of the Black Knights Mercenary Group, Lester, known as Black Shield, smiled and patted Cyril’s other shoulder, reassuringly unharmed in contrast to his heavy shield, which had protected the lives of many comrades in this sudden and inexplicably brutal battle.

Known as Cyril, the young man with his eye covered by a swept bangs didn’t explain anything, just glanced again at the distant sky, turned around, and picked up the medicine box beside him.

“It’s nothing, just a minor injury. Let’s go, Captain. There are still many injured people who need treatment. Let’s do what we can to not… waste their efforts.”