Catherine's resolve

Although Angela offered very constructive suggestions, this also presented everyone with a problem. Paladins aren't like cabbages on the street, easily found everywhere. Fortunately, Li Lin now had an opportunity to "steal" some.

The undead army has begun its movement!

This news immediately drew serious attention from all sides. During this period, the undead army had been slaughtering residents within the Federation's borders. The Federation's territory was not small, and the undead army's speed had been somewhat restrained under Angela's previous orders. Therefore, all nations believed that the Magic Empire would not take any major action in the short term. However, not long after, they received this alarming news. Three days ago, an undead army of approximately ten thousand people left the Federation's borders and headed towards the Xialuo Kingdom and Dideyasi!

Some are happy, some are sad.

Upon receiving the report, Kudel breathed a sigh of relief. If the Magic Empire really targeted Xialuo and Dideyasi, he could hold out for a while longer and wouldn't be doomed so quickly. Moreover, Dideyasi had the Saintess, and Xialuo Kingdom had a formidable military force; they shouldn't be defeated so easily.

Kudel relaxed, while Xialuo and Dideyasi, on the contrary, tensed up.

In comparison, the situation in Dideyasi is relatively better. After all, since the start of the war, the army of the Magic Empire has not yet set foot on Dideyasi's lands and has not caused any significant damage. Therefore, the people of Dideyasi are not so afraid of the undead army.

However, Xialuo was the complete opposite. After the calamity of Casablanca City and the disintegration of the Federation, the Xialuo Kingdom was utterly terrified of the Magic Empire. Upon hearing that the undead army was marching towards them, the Xialuo Kingdom immediately tensed. Large numbers of soldiers were deployed along the border, armed with the sharpest weapons and riding the strongest horses. But this wasn't enough. The Xialuo Kingdom no longer dared to face the Magic Empire's offensive alone. The shadow of the annihilation of the 100,000-strong army sent to Casablanca City hadn't yet faded, and even with a million troops now, they probably wouldn't dare make the same decision again. Moreover, the Federation had been destroyed; seeking help from them was impossible.

At this moment, to the delight of the Xialuo Kingdom, Princess Catherine of Dideyasi personally came to the Xialuo Kingdom, hoping to unite and eliminate these undead creatures. Although the influence of the Temple had declined considerably after the war with the Federation, as long as people saw this princess with pure white wings, hope still remained deep in their hearts.

This time, however, the princess's bold strategy surprised everyone.

She hoped to trap these undead creatures in the mountains on the border of the Xialuo Kingdom, and then use the power of the mountain lakes and holy light to destroy them in one fell swoop!

However, this request put the Xialuo Kingdom in a very difficult position. Princess Catherine explicitly requested that the Xialuo Kingdom divert the Dragon Eye River, which meanders through the mountains, to release water!

The Dragon Eye River is the largest river on the border of the Xialuo Kingdom, formed by melting snow from the mountains. In this region, the Dragon Eye River is their only usable water source. Whether for irrigating farmland or for drinking water, everything comes from it. Moreover, winter is almost over, and the spring drought is approaching. If this happens, the river water, contaminated by the undead, will be completely unusable. What will happen to the hundreds of thousands of residents downstream then? How will they farm? What will they drink?

The saying goes, "Choose the lesser of two evils." The Xialuo Kingdom wasn't stupid; they knew very well that if the Undead Army entered their territory, it was only a matter of time before these hundreds of thousands of people became dead, and they wouldn't have to worry about what to plant in the spring.

After three days of research and discussion, the Xialuo Kingdom finally agreed to Princess Catherine's suggestion. According to the intelligence they had, the undead army would soon enter the valley region, where there was a section located below the bend of the Dragon Eye River. As long as they destroyed that section of the river when the undead arrived, the surging river water would completely drown the undead.

However, this would also result in huge losses, because doing so would completely change the Dragon Eye River, preventing it from flowing back to its original channel.

I just hope this loss was worthwhile.

To ensure victory in this battle, the Xialuo Kingdom dispatched 50,000 elite troops, while Dideyasi sent a total of 20,000 Holy Knights. Although their numbers weren't large, the presence of Saintess Catherine on the battlefield made them comparable to the Xialuo Kingdom's 50,000-strong army. Furthermore, Xialuo Kingdom's army would mostly avoid direct combat; their primary role was to dig waterways before the undead arrived, ensuring the river water would be their most powerful asset at the optimal time. While the presence of mages would make the task easier, almost all mages on the continent had become uncontrollable, making it impossible for the Xialuo Kingdom to find any willing to assist them.

The undead army was not fast; they moved very slowly, but with extraordinary determination. Every day, Catherine and the Xialuo Kingdom received the latest reports from the undead army. The Xialuo Kingdom, in particular, was on high alert, fearing that the undead army might change course, causing the entire operation to fail.

Fortunately, the undead army seemed completely unaware of the dangers ahead. They continued their advance, filled with terror and death, with nothing able to stop them. If all went well, they would enter the canyon, be swept away and swallowed by the roaring flood, and then, guided by the holy light, attain eternal slumber and death.

At first glance, the plan seemed to be going smoothly.

"Of course it went smoothly!"

Sitting at her desk, Angela looked arrogantly at Catherine kneeling before her, a smug smile spreading across her face. The entire undead army was under her control; if the little one told them to go east, they would never go west. How could things not go smoothly?

"You really are useful. Little kitty, I never expected you could do this much."

"It is my honor, Angela."

Kneeling on the ground, Catherine had completely lost the noble demeanor of a saint. She looked down at the ground and answered humbly and politely. Before Angela, she had long lost her former arrogance and majesty, replaced by complete obedience.

"But... I'm sorry, Angela. Regarding that savior, I have no way to..."

Although Catherine had forced her to participate in the operation under the pretext of "demonstrating her savior abilities," Henderson kept a close eye on the boy, leaving Catherine with no opportunity to strike. She had originally planned to use this chance to eliminate this brat who had appeared out of nowhere and dared to obstruct Miss Angela and her master's grand plan, but now it seemed difficult to do so with Henderson nearby. Although Henderson's reputation within the Temple had somewhat diminished, he still had some fanatical followers, not to mention that the madman was prone to starting fights at the slightest provocation; in Catherine's current angelic form, she was no match for him.

"It's nothing, that's not your responsibility, and your master doesn't want you to cause any trouble right now. However..."

Looking at the submissive Catherine before her, Angela narrowed her eyes slightly. Although some things were best left unsaid, Angela felt that sometimes it was more interesting to clarify things.

"Although I may be bored, you know what your end will be, don't you? It won't be a fairy tale where you walk with your master and live happily ever after, like a prince and princess."

"Of course, Angela."

Catherine looked up, her eyes filled with unwavering fervor and trust. She reached out and placed her hand on her chest as she answered.

"I too have the filthy blood of the Five-Nation Alliance, of Dideyasi. I am a descendant of the murderers who harmed and destroyed our master's empire. I understand that I do not expect to receive our master's love or care. On the day Dideyasi is destroyed, on the day it completely submits to our master and perishes, I will end my life as the last surviving descendant of Dideyasi."

"I like kittens that know their limits."

Angela snapped her folding fan shut.

"It's really good that you can think this way. At least before this, you received your master's love... so it wasn't a wasted trip to this world."

"Of course, Lady Angela. I am very grateful to you. You have helped me understand what true happiness is. I can only feel that overflowing happiness when I am held in my master's arms. I have never experienced anything like it before, that wonderful joy that makes one almost forget all pain."

As she spoke, Catherine turned her head and looked outside the tent. There, the night wind carried in the noise of the soldiers and the clang of weapons.

"I used to think that serving the gods and bringing happiness to everyone was my mission... But now I realize how naive I was."

At this point, a disdainful smile appeared on Catherine's lips.

"What do these lowly people know? How could they possibly care about justice or kindness? The poor like justice because it benefits them. If justice doesn't bring them any benefit, then what use is it to them? Kindness? Can that fill their stomachs? For those people, they don't care whether the world is just or kind. They only care about whether they gain benefits, whether they get what they want or what they can't get. Once they find that what they believe in cannot satisfy them, they will immediately abandon it. After being defeated by you and your master's undead army, what about those commoners? What are those commoners doing? Why would those commoners who devoutly believe in their gods abandon their faith? Didn't they say that no matter what disasters occur, they will believe in an eternal god? Is this their faith? A fragile, insignificant desire?"

At this point, Catherine clenched her fist.

"And what about me? What good is being a saint? Why do they admire me, believe in me, and respect me? Is it so that I can stand up for them, risk my life alone, die for them, and sacrifice myself for their potential happiness? Why should I do that? Even if I could gain the favor of the gods, why should I necessarily give everything for these complete strangers?! I've given my youth, my body, my life, my destiny! And what have they given in return? Boring praise, meaningless worship, kneeling on the ground and calling me 'Saintess' a few times, and they want me to die? Faith? Faith in the gods? That high and unseen thing? What's the point? And what about those priests? They were once devout too." They once believed in God, but now? If I arrange things properly enough, what can they do besides moan beneath men's bodies? They once saved many people, rescuing them from suffering and bringing them happiness. And what was the result? Did God save them? When I made those priests slaves to desire, did God stop me? What about those they saved? Would they know where the clergy who relieved their suffering are now enduring torment? Would they care? No, they wouldn't. They would only think, "Since we are messengers of God, we must be happier than all of them, so our happiness is a given."

Anger blazed in Catherine's eyes.

"I will not do as they wish. Under your guidance, I have come to understand that gods are not omnipotent, and there are many things they are simply unable to do. Therefore, it is meaningless for us to sacrifice our lives for them. My own happiness and my own death shall be in my own hands, and I will absolutely not allow anyone to make decisions for me on my own."

After Catherine's almost cathartic outburst, the tent fell silent. Finally, Angela's voice broke the silence.

"That's really interesting."

She squinted, gazing at the saintess before her.

"To be honest, there have been quite a few bitches who have come to their senses and fallen into depravity before me... Hmm, but you, in your current state, are already worthy of being called human. Catherine, you have achieved this, you have such a belief..."

Angela paused here.

It would be such a waste to execute her.

Angela considered the thought, but quickly dismissed it. Catherine's will was resolute; since she had said she would die as the last citizen of Dideyasi, she would certainly choose to die then. Spurred on by Angela and Li Lin, this saintly young woman had awakened to something, and her original personality hadn't changed. If she said she would die, then she would die. Unlike those superficial women who would try to win others' favor just to prolong their lives, she was simply doing what she believed was right, until she died.

"To be honest, just now, I thought it would be a pity to let you die, Catherine."

Upon hearing this, Catherine trembled slightly.

"However, I have finally made a decision."

Angela stood up, jumped off the table, and walked over to Catherine.

"Catherine, I acknowledge that you are a noble human being. I will not question your decisions, nor do I intend to interfere, much less meddle in your death. If you believe that death is what you deserve, then face it with your head held high. To be honest, you are indeed a woman worthy of your master now... well, that is all your choice."

"... Thank you for your praise, Angela."

"But determination alone is not enough. You should understand that there are still many things to do before you die with the books."

"Yes... Angela, I will destroy the Temple and kill all the people of Dideyasi... as atonement."

"Since you're going to kill anyway, why not try to be happy? Treat it as a mission to get a reward from your master. Atonement and such are just too heavy a burden for you."

A cold night wind blew by, and there was no one in front of Catherine.

Your Highness.

A paladin entered the camp, but when he saw his saint kneeling on the ground, praying with her eyes closed, he immediately shut his mouth and dared not utter another word.

"... What's up?"

After a long while, Catherine opened her eyes, turned to the paladin, and revealed her usual holy and gentle smile.

"Yes... yes, our project is nearly halfway complete. May I ask, Your Highness, what about the next task...?"

"Next comes the most arduous part. You will lie in ambush in the surrounding forests, waiting for the undead to arrive. During this time, you must not make any movement, and you must bury yourselves in the soil to prevent the undead army from detecting your scent..."

At this point, Catherine paused for a moment before flashing her charming smile again.

"Although it is painful, we hope you can endure it for the people we are protecting."

"Of course! Your Excellency! We will absolutely not back down!"

May the gods bless you forever.

As she spoke, Catherine extended her right hand and placed it on the paladin's chest.

"Yes!"

The paladin immediately stood up straight with excitement, and after Catherine finished blessing him, he turned and left.

Watching the paladin's departing figure, Catherine's smile gradually faded. She raised an eyebrow, revealing a cold expression.

"The gods will not bless you. For the sake of your master's great experiment, you will find a better place... Of course, it will not be Heaven."