Chapter 26: Theresa — The Lord Backed by a Tech Tycoon

A ship from Duke Eddie?

Owen did a quick mental calculation—there was still about a month until winter. Logically, the Holy Temple Knights should be arriving soon to support Bianshu Town.

Since the ship bore Duke Eddie’s flag, there was an eighty to ninety percent chance it carried a vanguard unit of the Temple Knights. After all, the breach in the city wall last winter made it perfectly reasonable for them to send a team to assess the current situation.

With that thought, Owen set down his quill and rose from his chair.

“Let’s go—time to welcome our distinguished guests at the dock.”

Bianshu Town only had one small dock located on its southern edge. The short wooden pier stretched just a few meters into the Wei River.

This dock had been in use for many years, and the scent of rotting wood lingered in the air, mixed faintly with a foul smell.

Speaking of which, the townsfolk of Bianshu Town typically disposed of waste—urine and faeces—by dumping it directly into the Wei River.

With a few knights in tow, Owen stood by the dock, patiently waiting for the ship to arrive.

Having heard that the Temple Knights might be on board, Mapel stood beside Irwin in high spirits, eyes filled with anticipation.

She had grown up on legends of the Temple Knights and had personally witnessed their bravery when fighting undead creatures. Naturally, she held deep admiration and reverence for them.

In fact, becoming a knight herself was partly inspired by that admiration.

A few curious townsfolk watched from afar. They didn’t recognize Duke Eddie’s family crest, but seeing even the lord himself come out to greet the guests made it clear that these visitors were someone of high status.

A large, majestic ship gradually approached, flying the flag of Duke Eddie’s house as it glided through the water and docked beside the pier.

The crew lowered a gangplank, and the first person to step off the ship was a young priestess holding a staff.

Beneath her priestess’ hat, a waterfall of black hair cascaded down her back. Her eyes were a clear, luminous pale blue, her face was delicately beautiful, and her porcelain skin looked soft to the touch. The form-fitting priestess robe did nothing to conceal her figure—if anything, it accentuated her graceful curves.

When she saw Owen standing at the front of the group, her face lit up with joy, her eyes curving into charming crescents.

“Theresa!” 

Owen and Mapel exclaimed in unison, surprised and delighted.

Theresa wasn’t a noble. She was an orphan raised by the church in Bianshu Town. She had met Owen and Mapel because of a chance encounter.

Everyone has a reckless phase in their youth—Owen included. When he was seven, he had just learned Fireball and thought himself invincible.

Upon hearing rumors that the depths of the Labyrinthine Forest housed many dangerous monsters, Owen decided to hunt a few to prove his strength to his father. After sharing his plan with his friend Mapel, he snuck out that very same day.

There wasn’t time to notify Owen’s father, so Mapel had no choice but to grab a wooden sword and follow along.

While they were deep into the forest, they ran into a lost girl—Theresa. She had been gathering fruit in the safer outer region of the forest with church staff when she accidentally got separated.

With his overflowing sense of justice, Owen decided to abandon his monster-hunting plans and escort Theresa back first.

Ironically, they hadn’t seen a single monster while searching for one—but the moment they gave up, one showed up right away.

A furious Hellhound ambushed them on the road—

The three of them faced a mid-sized, red-eyed dog-like demon. When it shook its fur, suspicious black smoke puffed out.

Having no concept that a mage is supposed to fight from the rear, young Owen confidently stepped forward with a fireball in hand, shielding Mapel and Theresa behind him.

The result was predictable—Owen’s right hand was clawed, Mapel’s wooden sword broke, and Theresa cowered behind a tree in fear.

Foaming at the mouth, the demon dog lunged at Owen, aiming for his throat.

In that critical moment, Mapel reached into her waist pouch and flung a handful of powder into the air. The powder sparked with yellow flashes before unleashing bolts of lightning that struck the creature.

It was paralysis powder.

Taking advantage of the demon’s immobilized state, the trio fled for their lives. Once the danger had passed, Owen’s adrenaline faded, and the searing pain of his wound hit him full force—tears streamed from his eyes despite his best efforts to hold them back.

Seeing the ghastly wound on Irwin’s hand, Mapel panicked. She only knew how to swing a wooden sword—she had no idea what to do in a situation like this.

Then Theresa mustered her courage and said she wanted to try something.

Clasping her hands in prayer, she closed her eyes and earnestly called upon the divine. Then, extending her hands, she cast Healing Light—a faith-based spell.

It was Theresa’s first time using magic. She had no formal training—only memories of seeing the church priests perform healing magic on injured townsfolk.

As the pain subsided, Owen stopped crying. He stared silently at Theresa, feeling a tingling sensation as his wound slowly began to close.

During the healing process, the frantic church staff finally located the three children.

And that was how Owen, Mapel, and Teresa first met. Naturally, when they returned home, each of them received a scolding from their respective guardians.

Back in the present, Theresa stepped up to Owen with a graceful bow.

“It’s been a while, Lord Owen. Lady Mapel.”

“It truly has, Theresa. You’ve become a full-fledged Priestess. Congratulations.”

Owen said, eyeing her attire.

Mapel also stepped forward, speaking with the warmth of an old friend.

“I didn’t realize it until I saw you—three whole years have gone by. How was your training in the Holy City of Caleb?”

The three of them had essentially grown up together. After their forest encounter, they formed a strong bond, and Owen and Mapel would often visit the church to see Theresa.

Of course, young Owen—still deep in his chuunibyou phase—had an ulterior motive for befriending Theresa.

Impressed by her healing spell, he once dreamed of forming an adventuring trio with a mage (himself), a knight (Mapel), and a Priestess (Theresa), and traveling the world.

Eventually, Owen left for the mage academy in Dongsheng Fortress, Mapel went to train at the knight’s academy there, and Theresa was permitted to further her study of faith magic at the cathedral.

Due to her exceptional aptitude, Theresa was later recommended to train for three years in the Holy City of Caleb.

At that time, Owen failed to qualify for the advanced magic academy in the capital, and Mapel chose to give up her place at the elite knight academy to return with him to Bianshu Town.

Theresa had been hesitant about leaving, but it was Owen who encouraged her to go. While he couldn’t persuade Mapel, he had no trouble convincing Theresa.

Three years passed in a flash, and Theresa chose to return to Bianshu Town, declining an offer to stay from the upper clergy of the Holy city.

“My time in the Holy City went very well. I returned as part of the Temple Knights’ escort. But I was worried about you. I heard what happened from some knights who returned last year…”

She looked at Owen with guilt in her eyes.

“Lord Owen… your father—”

“Yes. He died in battle against the undead.” 

Owen closed his eyes in sorrow.

“I’m sorry…”

“You don’t need to apologize.” 

Owen said, reopening his eyes, which now held a determined light.

“My father gave his life for Bianshu Town. I’ll carry on his legacy. I’ll grow and strengthen this town so that everyone here can live in peace and security.”

Hearing this, Theresa smiled with relief.

“It seems you’ve truly moved beyond the grief. That puts me at ease.”

“By the way, Theresa.” 

Mapel chimed in, curious.

“Since you came back with the Temple Knights, why are you the only one who disembarked from the ship? Where are the knights?”

Previous chapter | TOC | Next chapter