Chapter 1251

Chapter 1251

Absolute Saintess Loyna did not know where to go. From the moment she gained consciousness to now, she had only lived for the sake of Athenae and the Athenae Religion. She ended up walking aimlessly until she reached a place.

The woman sitting on her throne looked down at the sobbing Loyna. Rumors had spread far and wide, and the woman knew what had happened. Slowly, she stood up and approached the still-crying Loyna.

Hegemon King Ellie held Loyna, who still did not know the truth, in a tight embrace. She cooed, “Loyna, you shouldn’t make things complicated for yourself. Go where your feet will take you. Go where you want to be.”

Loyna had never seen this version of Hegemon King Ellie. She treated her kindly, warmly, and gently. Loyna, who had no appetite, continued her journey after eating and forcing down a meal at Ellie’s place.

Unbeknownst to her, Hegemon King Ellie had silently followed her. She was walking quite a distance away from Loyna. Why did Ellie follow Loyna? It was to protect the first child who had come to this world, the same child who had now become the Absolute Saintess.

Loyna did not know what to do, so she followed Ellie's instructions and continued walking as fast and as far as she could.

She met Overlord Raldo on her journey, who led and commanded a kingdom that would never lose to any empire. Raldo just looked at Loyna with a small smile on his face. Loyna stayed in Raldo’s kingdom for a day before leaving again.

The clueless Loyna now had two people trailing her from a distance.

This time, she met with Mercenary King Venteio. Venteio stared at the crying Loyna before gently covering her shoulders with a tiger’s pelt. He patted Loyna on the head with his big hands and said, “This will keep you warm in your journey.”

In just a blink, three people were following behind Loyna.

Loyna remained unaware, but the faction serving Kahlua had constantly targeted her and launched surprise attacks. The three, who had been protecting her secretly, had killed them all before they could launch an attack.

Loyna continued to walk for a long time and this time she met the Great Demon Gremory.

“Unnie...”

“...”

Sizzle–!

Loyna felt sorry. She just had an audience with Gremory, yet smoke was already coming out of her body. This was because the Absolute Saintess could damage anyone who possessed demonic energy with their presence alone.

Gremory tried hard to smile and said, “Go and find love. You are now permitted to do this as a human.”

Loyna left once again. She came out to the world for the first time. She walked on her own and met all of the people that she knew. And now, there was only one person left for her to meet.

Finally, she arrived in front of her destination.

***

“So, that’s what happened.”

Haze heard the story from Minhyuk.

“Haze, I knew that what I did was reckless. Still, I don’t want you to scold me for this.”

“Why should I scold you?” Haze shook her head.

Collecting everything related to holy power in the entire empire and handing it over to Loyna was a huge loss to them. In the first place, estimating all those items' value was already impossible. Regardless, Haze pitied Loyna.

“She had lived a life where she could not love or enjoy her life at will.”

Haze smiled bitterly.

“Her happiness was dependent on only one person. The sadness she felt when waiting for an answer that she would not get was something that even I can’t imagine.”

Haze felt a pain in the chest. The Saintess was the most beautiful and pristine flower yet was also the saddest and loneliest.

“Now, she can finally pursue love and enjoy her life as she pleases.”

“That’s right. She’s having a hard time right now, but I believe she’ll be able to find stability soon.”

Minhyuk knew the places Loyna would have visited. He knew that she had most likely visited the members of Bender and the Attention Seekers, the same people who had been with her to enjoy life and find amusement.

“That’s why I can’t ask them to advise me about something sacred and holy to grow the Nine Fruit Tree.”

The Athenae Religion was in mourning. Kahlua, who had been sitting on the pope’s seat, harbored an evil heart and was executed. Not only did the Athenae Religion lose Pope Kahlua, but they also lost Saintess Loyna, who had been with them her entire life. Since they were in such a situation, Minhyuk could not bear to ask for help with matters related to the Nine Fruit Tree.

“When the Athenae Religion finds some stability, I’ll go and...”

“Your Majesty, we have a guest,” Brod said.

Minhyuk looked at the man in confusion. Then, he went to the walls and was met with the filthy-looking Loyna, whose eyes were still red and puffy from all the crying that she had done. When Loyna saw Minhyuk, tears started to flow down her cheeks again.

“I... I have nowhere to go...” She cried sadly. “I have always lived as the Saintess. I don’t know what to do. I don’t even have anyone else left to meet. I’m all alone now. I lived a lonely life as the saintess so... I don’t have anywhere else to go...”

“What are you talking about, Loyna?” Minhyuk smiled softly at the crying Loyna.

Then, he jerked his chin and pointed behind her. Standing behind Loyna were all of the people that she had met. Right behind them were hundreds of thousands of priests and paladins.

Loyna, who looked behind her at his gesture, was left stunned.

The hundreds of thousands of priests and paladins had been searching for her whereabouts. They were worried about her being in danger after being left alone so suddenly. Among the hundreds of thousands of priests and paladins were the people she knew, including Hegemon King Ellie.

Although she walked this path alone, many people seemed to be with her. Even the children of the Athenae Religion’s church she had protected were waving at her. The only difference was that they were calling her with a different name. After all, she was no longer their Saintess.

“Loyna noona!”

“Unnie!”

All the paladins, priests, and members of Bender and the Attention Seekers looked at her with soft smiles. This scene made Loyna cry harder.

“You have received love from so many people.”

Loyna sobbed, “Is it fine if I stay here? Is it fine if I live here and work for their sake?”

Minhyuk looked at her crying figure and said, “Come in. You’re always welcome here, Loyna.”

***

[Loyna has sworn her eternal loyalty to you.]

In fact, there were a lot of places that welcomed Loyna. The fact that many people followed behind her to the Beyond the Heavens Empire was proof of this. As for the reason why she chose Minhyuk and the Beyond the Heavens Empire? First and foremost, it was not because Minhyuk was special to her.

If Loyna had gone to the Eivelis Empire, the Demon World, or even Raldo’s kingdom, these places would have been met with a huge problem. Loyna was the Absolute Saintess, and it was difficult for these empires and kingdoms to accommodate her existence. To put it simply, they could not bear it.

Loyna also wanted to protect the priests and paladins of the Athenae Religion who walked all the way here with her to protect her. So, only two empires in this land could accommodate and accept her. And of the two, Loyna chose to be embraced by the Beyond the Heavens Empire.

After joining the empire, Minhyuk had asked Loyna to take a good rest first, “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I received a lot of advice from the people I met before coming to the Beyond the Heavens Empire.” She mentioned the members of Bender and the Attention Seekers before continuing, “Now, I want to learn how to love, live a new life, and do whatever I want to do.”

Loyna haf never done anything other than live for the sake of Athenae and the Athenae Religion. So, she would find everything she would experience new, novel, and delightful.

Minhyuk, who confirmed her well-being and opinion, immediately led Loyna to where the Nine Fruit Tree was growing. He stood before the fruit tree with the Seed of Propagation. According to the Nine Fruit Tree’s description, the tree could be propagated and reproduced with the noblest and purest power.

‘The purer and nobler the power, the better the reproduction rate.’

These were the buff effects that each fruit had before the propagation and reproduction process:

Apple - EXP Acquisition Rate +8%

Mandarin - DEX +9%

Pear - STM +7%

Banana - INT +8%

Tomato - AGI +6%

Mango - Total HP +5%

Melon - Total MP +5%

Mangosteen - Physical and magical defensive power +4%

Shine Muscat - Physical and magical attack power +4%

All of the fruits had a buff duration of four days. No matter how Minhyuk viewed it, the tree was amazing.

‘These nine fruits are growing in a single tree.’

This thought alone was enough to make Minhyuk’s mouth water.

Mihhyuk immediately activated the Seed of Propagation before handing it over to Loyna. Then, a bright light erupted.

[You have used the noblest and purest power to grow the Seed of Propagation.]

The Seed of Propagation sprouted immediately. When Loyna placed it on the ground, it immediately took root and grew into what seemed to be a huge sunflower-like plant.

“...!”

The sunflower that appeared was much bigger than the sunflower that appeared when Reikan activated the power and used the Seed of Propagation.

[The Seed of Propagation cannot and does not dare to evaluate the nobleness and purity of the power it was infused with.]

[The Seed of Propagation has felt the warmth akin to a mother's embrace.]

[The noblest and purest power is seeping into the original Nine Fruit Tree.]

[This tree will become the Mother Tree.]

The fruit tree grew bigger and more majestic. It grew more leaves and even bore more fruits. Then, the sunflower began spitting countless seeds around the Mother Tree.

[The process of propagation and reproduction has started.]

[The existence of the noblest and purest power has attracted the bees and butterflies. They will fly around the Nine Fruit Trees every day.]

[The sky will protect the Nine Fruit Trees from any kind of natural disaster.]

[The sun will shine its warmest and gentlest light upon the Nine Fruit Trees.]

[The rain will sprinkle its gentlest and most appropriate amount upon the Nine Fruit Trees.]

[The power of the Seed of Propagation has exceeded its previous power.]

Minhyuk watched as the Nine Fruit Trees grew and covered the wasteland where the three other races lived. The land was so barren that no animals could be seen.

[Many animals will come and make their home in this forest.]

Upon utilizing Loyna’s power, the land had changed. Not long after, the vast wasteland turned into an extensive, green forest of Nine Fruit Trees.

[The process of propagation and reproduction has finished. The Seed of Propagation has disappeared.]

[A total of 1,034 trees have been reproduced.]

[The number of trees that can be further reproduced and propagated has increased to 784.]

[The Apple's EXP Acquisition Rate increment has reached 10%.]

[The Mandarin’s DEX increment has reached 11%.]

[The Pear’s STM increment has reached 9%.]

[The Banana’s INT increment has reached 10%.]

[The Tomato’s AGI increment has reached 8%.]

[The Mango’s Total HP increment has reached 6%.]

[The Melon’s Total MP increment has reached 6%.]

[The Mangosteen’s Physical and magical defensive power increments have reached 5%.]

[The iShine Muscat’s Physical and magical attack power increments have reached 5%.]

[All fruits’ buff duration has increased to 6 days.]

[After harvesting, the trees will bear fruits again in 72 hours.]

[The Mother Tree will bear fruits that are 15% better than those produced by the other trees.]

Minhyuk was left stunned and in disbelief.

This meant that they could harvest a huge and steady supply of these buff fruits even if they did nothing. Perhaps the demand would not be able to keep up with their supply. These fruits would definitely play a huge role in filling the empire’s coffers, which had become increasingly bottomless and dry.

Meanwhile, Loyna looked delighted. Her tears had been replaced with a pleasant, happy smile. She said, “I felt like I had given birth to a new life.”

She felt extremely happy. For Loyna, who had only prayed or done things related to Athenae, this experience was both thrilling and delightful.

“Please allow me to give birth to more lives and care for them!”

Minhyuk’s face was excited when he saw Loyna acting like that.

Twitch–!

Haze, standing right next to the two, glanced at Minhyuk. When she saw the delight on his face, her pupils began to shake. She thought,

‘In the end... will His Majesty fulfill his long-cherished dream...?’

Minhyuk shouted excitedly, “If that’s the case, then... Loyna! Your position in the Beyond the Heavens Empire is...!”

***

Migrants began flocking to the Beyond the Heavens Empire for only one reason: they longed to see the Absolute Saintess Loyna. Just looking at her beautiful and noble figure satisfied and delighted everyone.

Many players moved to the Beyond the Heavens Empire after learning that Absolute Saintess Loyna had become one of its vassals. The moment they arrived, they immediately sought her out.

“Where’s Loyna?!”

“Where’s the Saintess?!”

The players all had a shine in their eyes regardless of their age or gender.

“You’ll find her over there.”

The players followed the directions and immediately rushed over. The place that they went to had a sign that said:

[Minhyuk’s Garden.]

Inside the garden, a woman was tilling the soil with her hoe. She wore a straw hat, boots, and floral baggy trousers, which women in the countryside commonly wore.

“Loyna?! Where’s Lady Loyna?!”

“Where’s our beloved saintess?!”

No matter how hard they looked, they could not find Loyna’s figure.

“It’s time for snacks~”

When the woman lifted her head, all of the players’ heads turned around simultaneously. They looked like startled meerkats! Shockingly enough, the woman was none other than the Absolute Saintess Loyna.

“...”

“...”

That was right. Loyna’s position in the Beyond the Heavens Empire was none other than Garden Manager.

After eating potatoes and drinking the cool, refreshing water, Loyna returned to building the garden. She worked hard to give birth to new plants and help them grow better.

Regardless, the most important part was her happiness with what she was doing. The smile on her face was dazzling as she wiped the sweat dripping down her forehead.