Ⅲ
Malinda waited eagerly for Arthur's reaction.
What she had shown him this time was certainly not everything.
But that did not stop her from hoping for praise.
When Arthur saw Malinda's smile, he knew what to do.
He returned her smile first, then praised her-
"Impressive!"
His praise was sincere, not just polite.
In fact, when Malinda had invited him to ride in the carriage with her, Arthur had guessed that he might witness the magnificent scene before him-but seeing it in person was far more awe-inspiring than he had imagined.
Arthur looked through the mist at the undead clad in armor from the Holy Age, then at the twelve-meter-tall Giant Undead capable of overpowering a Step-Entry combatant through sheer strength alone, and could not help exclaiming-
"You must have put a great deal of effort into collecting them."
"Not really.
I more or less inherited them.
My mother and father left me more than enough wealth-their own, as well as that of the families and forces behind them, especially my mother's family.
You would never imagine that an unremarkable ring on the finger of someone about to breathe her last could be a medium an ordinary witch could only dream of obtaining.
And those women?
They treated them as mere ornaments."
Malinda was openly disdainful when speaking of her mother's family.
Arthur, who knew something of the matter, immediately reached out and took Malinda's hand.
"You know you're not alone anymore.
I'm not asking you to hold back.
I'm saying that whenever you want to do something, I can help.
After all...
I can defend myself now, more or less."
Arthur spoke with a smile.
At first, Malinda was deeply touched.
This was exactly the kind of support she wanted from Arthur.
But when she heard his claim