Chapter 371: Sanctum Aurea
"Tell me truthfully, where have you been for the last two years?"
Saintess Amelia asked. They were inside the carriage with the only other person being Adeline.
"Somewhere you can't reach!"
Zero replied.
"Tsk! There is no place that I can't reach. You don't seem to know my privilege as a Saintess."
She said. Since people show different behaviors when she is identified as Saintess, Saintess Amelia doesn't normally like being associated with the title of Saintess.
However, it was a different case for Zero who despite knowing that she is the Saintess, doesn't really show that kind of behavior. She might have thought that it might be his pride as he is powerful, but she knows it isn't as even as Rank-D, Zero never really flattered her.
Rather than flattering her, he would at times insult her. Sometimes, even look down on her which had pissed her off in the past. She needs to constantly remind Zero that she is Saintess, though Zero doesn't seem to care.
From Zero's perspective, Saintess Amelia, despite being one of the most influential people, is just a minor character. For him, characters like Sylvia, and Hiro were far more important.
"Saintess who was just dying, you would really be dead meat even if you reach there. Though I doubt that you would reach there."
Zero said. He was on Floor 31 of Tower Of Obelisk and Saintess Amelia is bragging that she could reach there, even though she was having trouble with one Rank-S Devil Contractor. Floor-31 of Obelisk Of Tower was literally filled with Rank-S - monsters and even one of them could easily kill Saintess.
"Humph!"
She turned around not wanting to talk to him. From her perspective, Zero was just bragging to her about how powerful he is and how he could survive anywhere. She didn't think that Zero was on the dangerous floor of the Tower Of Obelisk.
She thought that Zero just didn't want to tell her. As a Saintess, she could really be welcomed anywhere in the human domain.
"Anyway, how did you get so strong so quickly? You are progressing quicker than even Mia."
She asked even though she didn't want to talk to him. She is really curious about how Zero managed to grow this strong. To the point where he could even defeat Rank-S. For her, Mia Frostine was the most talented person that she had seen and the world agreed with her.
Youngest person to reach Rank-A and then Rank-S. She might even reach Rank-SS before turning 30. In that case, she has the potential to reach legendary Rank-SSS. However, her achievement seems pale in comparison when Zero's achievement is bought out.
Rank-A at the age of 18 which makes him the youngest person to reach Rank-A. Killing Rank-S Devil Contractor at this age while also being in Rank-A. This achievement is an impossible one even for geniuses like Mia.
That's why Saintess was wondering what Zero had been doing for the past 2 years.
"Training! Just train and you will also get stronger."
Zero answered casually.
"Huh? Do you think everybody can get strong like you just because of training?"
The Saintess asked.
"Well, that's how I became stronger."
Zero replied.
Zero had spent the last two years training relentlessly. He had traveled to different parts of the Tower Of Obelisk, seeking out the strongest opponents he could find and fighting them to improve his skills. He had also spent a great deal of time studying his Arts, trying to find new ways to integrate them into his fighting style.
All in all, he depended on training though there were also treasures like Ancient Dragon's Heart which boasted his strength. But even with those treasures, he wouldn't be who he is without intense training.
"Ha! If it were that easy, then everyone would be as strong as you. You must have done something else."
Saintess Amelia said, unconvinced. The Holy Knight would always get into gruesome training and they were much weaker than Zero. She knew that Zero had gone through much harder training as he was Mia's student, but the difference was too much.
Even the one who would train everybody was weaker than him. This hurts her pride as a genius which most people hail her as. Rank-A at the age of 25 was worthy of being called a genius, however, compared to Mia and Zero, she was nothing.
"Well, I did do some other things. But training was the main thing. I focused on improving my skills and abilities every day."
Zero replied.
Saintess Amelia raised an eyebrow.
"What other things did you do?"
"I ate, drank, and slept!"
Zero said.
Saintess Amelia rolled her eyes.
"I don't believe you. There must be something else."
Zero shrugged, "Believe what you want. I don't really care."
Saintess Amelia sighed.
"Fine. I'll stop asking."
She said. She wanted to know because she also wanted to get stronger. She realized how weak she was. If she is weak, then her subordinates will get killed as she had experienced.
To avoid that, getting stronger is the only choice. Devils will always target her whether she likes it or not.
To live up to the expectation of others, she needed to get stronger. However, it doesn't seem like she could rely on Zero.
She had been training hard since she was a child and this was the result. She was still stuck in Rank-A+ and there was no sign of breaking through to Rank-S.
After a few moments, Saintess Amelia spoke up again.
"Regardless of how you got strong, I must say I am impressed. Maybe you are not as useless as I thought."
Saintess Amelia said. She felt that the lifespan she lost for reviving Zero was good. At least he was getting powerful and even saved her. Even if she died, she thought that Zero might be able to help humanity with its war against the Devil.
Zero smirked, "Glad to know I've finally earned your approval."
Saintess Amelia snorted.
"Don't get ahead of yourself. You still have a long way to go before you can catch up to Mia."
She said not liking Zero's reaction. Professor Mia was Rank-S and it was not wrong for her to say that Zero still has a long way to go before he reaches Rank-S.
"I'm not trying to catch up with anyone."
Zero said.
"I just want to get stronger."
"Well, in that case, I wish you luck!"
Saintess Amelia said, before turning to speak to Adeline. However, she remembered something and turned around.
"Are you really sure that you want to accompany me to Sanctum Aurea? I will be safe and I don't think I should waste your time."
She asked. They had already gone through the human city but their destination was Sanctum Aurea, where the main church is located. They had to report what they had encountered.
It was a safe path as there were human cities in between the path and Devil Contractors couldn't easily target them like previously.
"Don't worry! I have nothing to do anyway."
Zero replied.
Zero also knew that it was unlikely for Devil Contractors to ambush Saintess Amelia again. However, despite knowing that there would be no Devil Contractors ambushing them, Zero decided to go with them.
The Devil and Devil Contractors were not the only enemies. The Church themselves have people who might be targeting Saintess Amelia and he knows that.
There were many reasons for Zero to think as such.
For one, the ambush on Saintess and her team would not be possible unless someone from The Church side decided to betray them. The path that Saintess takes, the time she departs, and the information about whether she would even join the war was confidential.
For Devils to get that information would only mean that someone had leaked the information. And that someone is obviously from the church as only they have such information. And that someone would also need to be in a high position to be able to get their hands on the information.
For a second, Saintess joining the war so early suggests that someone wants her to die. Well, that is Zero's assumption but a possible reason.
The war had not even reached its climax, so why would a Saintess be deployed then? One might say that it is to reduce the casualties, however, there was never a Saintess who had to go to war as early as Amelia.
They would only be deployed when Rank-SS Devil decides to join the war. And if it was to take care of one army of devils, there was no need to risk by deploying Saintess.
Anyway, even if there were no conspiracies, Zero liked to be more careful. And as he said, he had nothing to do. The main characters were safe and Saintess was also safe for the time being.
He had completed the task. While there was another thing that he needed to pay attention to, it was not urgent. That's why he decided to stick with Saintess Amelia, at least for a few more days.
When he is sure that there is no danger, he would naturally leave. But for now, he decided to stay with Saintess.