Martha, the Dragon-Slaying Saint

In this world, gods, as the natural manifestation of rules, are neither human nor dead, yet they still rely on human faith to maintain the stability of their personalities. After all, nature cannot possess self-awareness; only by drawing upon the complex prayers and yearnings within faith can they acquire this characteristic that they should not have.

Therefore, faith is a necessity for the divine.

The struggle for faith is like a life-or-death struggle; they are mortal enemies.

Prior to this, within the Roman Empire, which continued the Greek pantheon, the belief in the Roman gods, who were transformed from the former Greek chief gods, had remained very stable.

That was the pantheon of beliefs that the Roman Empire had always upheld and never changed.

However, it was only in these few years that a belief in gods other than the Greek gods emerged within the territory of Rome.

They call a non-existent being the 'Holy Son,' claiming he died several years ago, was resurrected and ascended to heaven thirty-three days later, and now rules over the Kingdom of Heaven.

They call the 'Son of God' the son of the 'God' in heaven, and call the Holy God the manifestation of the 'Spirit'.

The Trinity of Child, Spirit, and Soul is the Creator who created the mortal realm and governs all things.

This sect was an insignificant little sect located on the border of the Roman Empire. The original gods did not care about it. After all, in the eight years since the founding of the Roman Empire, there have been many foreign religions, but without exception, they all perished on this special land where the gods could still manifest.

The gods assumed they would follow suit, but the situation took an unexpected turn. The faith in the 'Son of God' swept across the borders of the Roman Empire like a storm and gradually spread into its interior.

It reached a level that even the gods could not ignore.

"Should we proceed with the cleansing directly?" Jupiter naturally offered his opinion. While the Roman Jupiter's status was not as absolute and superior to all other gods as Zeus in Greece, he was still the king of the gods, and his style of doing things inevitably continued the style of Zeus.

Mars shook his head and said, "The struggle of faith cannot be rushed. The fact that the Holy Son's faith can advance so rapidly suggests that there may be something hidden behind it."

"When marching, the most important thing is to be cautious."

"I think we need to consult with my son, ' Quirinus' —after all, he founded this kingdom."

"Quirinus? Hmm... that works too." Jupiter took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

Quirinus, compared to other gods who came from the Greek era, was not an ancient god, but he was very special.

His full name is ' Romulus Quirinus ', the founder of Rome, who was a god among men.

Among the gods, he was not the strongest, but he held the highest position.

"Finally, the last step of the ceremony was completed, and the oath was sworn to ' Romulus '."

In the opulent rooms of the Roman Court, the floor was covered with soft, clean red carpets, and curtains hung down on all sides, obscuring the view of the garden outside. Nero, having finished his day of 'assuming office', immediately lay down on the bed upon arriving at the 'emperor's' residence.

The ceremony was, as expected, tedious. Even Nero, Roman Emperor was naturally restless, was completely exhausted after such a day.

But Rovi, who followed Nero into the room, could tell that Nero was actually excited.

After all, although the girl's fiery red skirt hung limply on the bed, and her full, delicate body was pressed between the soft sheets, sinking slightly, her legs were still raised, swaying and bobbing in the air, creating a wave of plump flesh. The golden dummy on the girl's head also stood up high like an antenna.

Come to think of it, Nero had lived in this country since childhood, and her love for this land, as she herself said at the ceremony, was sincere, beautiful, and passionate.

Of course, it was also thanks to this man, who was quite unruly in many ways, that Rovi obtained his first official position in Rome...

"You actually made me, the 'ancestor' of Rome, an assistant to the First Consul of the Roman Empire... You brat, you're being incredibly reckless in every way!"

Rovi sat down beside Nero, completely unconcerned that this was the emperor's bedchamber, and even less concerned about the swaying body of the petite yet graceful young woman beside him, only pressing the bed down again.

"Hmm?" Nero raised his head, turned to look at Rovi beside him, his emerald green eyes blinking. "I was put on the throne by you—besides, the Roman Law Code does not stipulate that ancestors cannot serve as advisors to the emperor!"

"Even without you, you would have gone up there immediately, right?"

"That's right, because I am from Rome!" Nero confidently, her pretty face full of self-assurance, and she swayed from side to side even more violently.

Rovi patted Nero's head, calming the dazed look down. "You're adapting to your new identity pretty quickly, aren't you?"

"Hmph!" Nero grinned, slowly raising her hands to prop herself up and sit up. Her slender legs crossed to one side, and an even more smug expression appeared on the girl's pretty face. "Because I've always had this feeling!"

Nero always felt like Emperor of Rome.

However, even the girl herself did not expect that this day would come so soon.

"After all, I am the perfect person in the world, and it is only natural for the perfect Yu to be the emperor."

"Another narcissist," Rovi said with a sidelong glance and a sigh.

He wondered if he was someone who easily attracted people with this trait.

Leaving aside Gilgamesh in the beginning, the First Emperor of Great Qin was similar in some respects.

"Isn't narcissism a bit much?" Nero pursed her lips, looking at Rovi in front of her. Her emerald green eyes flickered, as if she had thought of something. "Or is it that you hope I will 'love' you?"

"It's not impossible, you know?" Nero moved closer to Rovi, a playful glint in her eyes. "Even if it's an ancestor... it's alright, isn't it?"

"After all, I really don't have a bad impression of you?"

The Maiden Emperor slowly placed her hand on Rovi's chest, lifted her body and sat on him, her soft body pressed against Rovi, swaying slightly as she pressed down.

Then, in the next second, his vision suddenly reversed, and with a thud, Nero's back sank back into the softness of the mattress.

The young emperor looked at Rovi was also leaning down, and slowly lifted Nero's chin with her outstretched fingers. "Have you let yourself go since becoming emperor?"

"Hmm? I've always been like this." Nero said nonchalantly, "Shouldn't I show my enthusiasm to those who move me?"

"But you're not ready yet."

Why?

"Because I'm not interested in you." Rovi withdrew his hand and ruffled Nero's hair. "Because I have no feelings for you."

At least not now.

"Feelings? It doesn't matter—I will make you feel a burning, surging love for me!"

"So confident?"

"I'm an extremely 'narcissistic' person, aren't I!?"

"Whatever you want!"

Rovi was already used to the way the people beside him acted; whether it was a man or a woman, he remained unfazed.

Tap tap tap... Footsteps suddenly sounded outside the door.

A young woman's voice rang out from outside. She was the First Consul's attendant in the palace, a maid who dressed the emperor and served him in his daily life, and also had the responsibility of relaying information.

"Your Her Majesty Nero!"

"I have something to report!"

Nero and Rovi exchanged a glance. "It seems this is the only way, sir?"

"Get down to business!" Rovi slapped Nero on the head.

Nero sat up, swinging her legs. She realized that she couldn't reach the ground while sitting on the cot, so she had to lift her hips and jump down.

Her long, flowing red dress swayed like a blooming rose. The young Maiden Emperor tossed her long, shimmering golden hair and said, "Come in!"

"My people—"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" The maid outside the door bowed and entered. She first bowed to Nero and then to Rovi. At the inauguration ceremony of the First Consul, people not only learned about this Maiden Emperor named Nero Claudius, but also learned that she had a young aide named Rovi who would crown the emperor and become his close advisor.

His identity and origins are very mysterious. Although only a short time has passed since then, there have been many rumors circulating about him.

Some even speculate that ' Rovi ' is the source of the will that Romulus upheld, a descendant of the wise Rovi of the Greek era.

That's why he was able to assume a high position right away, and that's why he was qualified to represent 'Rome' and crown the emperor.

But whatever it may be, it cannot deny his noble status, and that he has a very close relationship with Emperor Nero, who has gained Mars's approval, and that they are now sharing a room without any attempt to conceal it.

Judging from these facts alone, at least the Romans would not have shown him the slightest disrespect.

"Speak, what do you want to tell me, Qing?"

"Yes, yes, it's like this." The maid thought for a moment, "It's about the border rebels—"

Border, rebels?

Nero was somewhat puzzled. "Are there rebels on the border?"

"This is news known only to His Majesty and his close advisors; it is a secret that must not be divulged." The maid's answer seemed perfectly reasonable. With rebels on the border, it was only natural to keep the news hidden to ensure the safety of the capital.

Nero pondered for a moment and then understood the truth.

She wanted to ask Rovi's opinion.

But then they discovered that Rovi had somehow sat down to the side, holding a cup and shaking the stem of it, looking like he was watching a show.

Nero was immediately displeased.

Even if it were an ancestor, they couldn't just push me into this position and then stand by and watch the show... The newcomer, Gen, had no idea how to handle this kind of situation!

"Then, I've made up my mind."

"I'll leave this matter to you to handle—"

"Rovi, my aide!"

Rovi took a sip of his drink. "But I refuse."

"I am the Emperor of Rome, and you have no right to refuse."

"You are Rome, and I am Rome."

"You are my assistant."

"Assistants can only assist; you still have to rely on yourself."

"I am the emperor!"

"The emperor needs to be even more responsible."

The young maid watched the Emperor and his advisor's inexplicable 'argument' and dared not say anything, but could only secretly sigh in her heart that the two had a very good relationship.

Little did they know that they had only known each other for less than a few days.

But perhaps because of Rovi's identity, or perhaps because of his previous unhesitating 'help' of her, Nero did indeed have great trust in Rovi.

"Hmm, arguing like this won't solve anything."

Nero pondered for a moment, "How about we each take a step back?"

"How do you want to get a refund?" Rovi asked curiously. His refusal to accept the refund was entirely for his own purposes.

He left Nero here to train him to become a qualified Roman Emperor; he couldn't possibly give him the tasks he was given. An emperor's growth also requires tempering and refinement.

Being a leader doesn't necessarily mean doing the work; similarly, it also means learning to manage your subordinates.

So now, Rovi is very curious about how Nero will persuade him...

"Let's each take a step back. I'll betray you and join you in this rebellion, how about that?"

"..."

What kind of compromise is this?! You just want to escape, don't you?

at the same time.

In the northern border region of the Roman Empire, in the province of Britannia, a man stands atop a high mountain, gazing at the vast Roman Empire to the south.

This was the figure of a rather young girl. She wore a light brown robe, the inner garment of which tightly outlined her graceful curves. Her smooth abdominal curves converged at the triangular extension area, and her legs stretched out, full and lithe. Her outer robe swayed, and her long purple hair fluttered in the wind, intertwining with the light brown hair ribbon, reflecting her sacred and exquisitely beautiful face.

The girl was also holding a long spear that looked like a flag with a cross in its shape.

Behind the young girl, more flags fluttered in the wind.

More 'flags' were raised high, and figures were everywhere, forming a sizable 'army'.

At that time, the people who made up this 'army' were all poor people who were sallow-faced and thin.

They came from the border province of Britannia, which, although also under the jurisdiction of the Roman Empire, was considered a Britannia tribe compared to the Roman heartland.

Oppression, exploitation.

I know I will resist.

"Saint Martha, has the 'Lord' you spoke of truly descended?" someone asked the girl from within the 'army,' their eyes filled with longing for the 'Lord' they spoke of.

Martha glanced sideways, revealing a perfect smile, "Yes, I have already sensed it—everyone!"

"The Son of the Father has come."

"All we need to do is wait—"

"Lord, you will save us in the end!"

Praise be to the Holy Son!

The crowd bowed their heads, praying devoutly, and hoping for an even better future.

Martha's eyes held even greater resolve... a resolute determination to sacrifice herself for her faith.

"My Lord has come."

"Please, save them!"