A Powerful Martial Artist Reincarnates as a Nun Knight

In accordance with the Council of Toriento’s decision, the three hundred clerics who had gathered in Ravenna from across the Thetis Sea received education and assimilated Sophia’s imparted training regimens based on their respective disciplines.

These training menus regarding Reverse Muscle Cultivation, Reverse Brain Cultivation, and Luminous Power were intricately designed in a systematic manner. However, for first-time learners without prior knowledge, they inevitably incorporated some outlandish elements that could seem bizarre.

From various exercises using barbells to unorthodox explosive power puzzles, the explanations sounded plausible enough, yet actually attempting them triggered skepticism – ‘Is this really correct?’

Nukuku Ramses, a prospective monk-knight from the Kemet Diocese, experienced similar doubts. Having cultivated staunch self-confidence from the outset, he understandably felt apprehensive encountering such unprecedented training methods for the first time.

More fundamentally, it likely stemmed from his competitive mentality toward Sophia, the Paladin nun-knight whom he aspired to emulate.

“What a foolish notion that was.”

Nukuku chuckled ruefully. Through direct experience, Sophia de Chazelle was a veritable monster – him rashly challenging such a formidable figure rendered him a mere fledgling by comparison.

Over time, as the effectiveness of Sophia’s published methods manifested, doubts gradually dissipated. After beginning her training, the time required for Nukuku to achieve astral muscle and brain oneness dramatically shortened.

Not to mention the Immovable Bright King Technique…that was truly a mind-blowing revelation.

The instant he first awakened and comprehended that mantra, Nukuku experienced unfathomable euphoria alongside profound serenity – an inexplicably serene yet momentous sensation. Honestly, he could be considered an entirely different person before and after that awakening.

Luminous Power was said to accumulate through one’s lifetime. In other words, it grew through intense self-reflection and virtuous conduct. That his Luminous Power became so indelibly tarnished meant his spiritual essence had similarly degraded.

Short-term, it rendered wielding that luminescence as arduous as operating tarnished machinery. Long-term, it not only inhibited Luminous Power growth but risked gradual personality erosion into outright degeneracy – a comprehensively problematic state.

Yet after comprehending the Immovable Bright King Technique, what transpired? It thoroughly purged the accumulated tarnish weighing upon his mind and luminescence, ultimately elevating him into profound tranquility and effortless being.

When Nukuku manifested opalescent luminescence, he experienced a sense of becoming a complete, integrated whole – as if the final piece forming his personality had finally slotted into place.

To bear envy, to harbor competitiveness toward someone imparting such profound wisdom deserving the utmost reverence? Reflecting upon his formerly petulant self lately caused Nukuku to kick off his bedsheets nightly in cringeworthy embarrassment.

“Yo, Chazelle’s rival~!”

Ack! Immediately shut your trap! Nukuku moved to forcibly silence the one who uttered those words, flustered. His movements flowed with the swiftness of wind and audacity of a shooting star. However, his opponent proved equally formidable, nimbly evading Nukuku’s hands while incessantly running his mouth:

“Ahaha, what to do, what to do? You can’t shut me up with your skills!”

As Daniel Admundt from the Axum Diocese mocked him relentlessly, the 17-year-old Nukuku’s face flushed beet red with sincere mortification. Had he encountered his former self from months ago, he would have mercilessly pummeled that insufferably flapping mouth into a swollen mess beyond speech.

“Over there, keep it down for a bit! Don’t forget the one who summoned us here is Lady Chazelle?”
“Ah, right! Uhh…we’ll settle this later…”
“Kuku, don’t want to? Going to run away?”

Glaring at the incorrigibly smirking Daniel, Nukuku sighed. Although currently antagonizing him so brazenly, Daniel remained a sincere, righteous friend who had disciplined alongside him to mutually elevate their abilities. Of course, they would inevitably trade blows given any opportunity – just not at this particular moment.

And for good reason…

“My fellow Church brethren walking the same path by inheriting the will of the Great Priestess. And students who have sworn to hone themselves into beacons for the innocent by respecting the Council’s decision to come here to Ravenna and resist demons while safeguarding humanity’s radiant civilization and territories.”

This very instant marked the beginning of the revered, esteemed Sophia de Chazelle’s address.

“Despite any doubts and difficulties you may have encountered, I sincerely appreciate your dedicated perseverance throughout this curriculum. This nun-knight shall never forget your devotion and passion.”

Rather, they were the ones who owed gratitude, thought the entirety of three hundred students including Nukuku and Daniel inwardly. Sophia had imparted knowledge transcending eras – the sort capable of elevating an entire civilization’s paradigms.

Publicly disseminating it without any recompense defied conventional human selfishness. Yet she thanked them for diligently striving to learn it instead. This stark realization brought a lump to their throats.

“I declare: you have grown stronger than your former selves of mere months ago – in strength, wisdom and above all, the luminous essence you embody as clerics. You have achieved truly remarkable growth. And now the time has come to return to your respective posts and share these insights with your other brethren.”

‘Indeed, the originally stipulated training period was three months.’

Nukuku abruptly recalled that detail. Immersed in assimilating Sophia’s imparted revelations, he had forgotten their initial agreed timeframe – without which they would never have ventured to Ravenna in the first place.

Their roles as Church clerics across the continent remained indispensable, whether formally ordained priests or subordinate monks and nuns devoted to spiritual cultivation. They battled regional superstitions, barbarism, demonic beasts, mysteries, all manner of human misfortunes and mankind’s inherent selfishness. Perpetually understaffed, their presence always remained invaluable.

So they ought to have promptly returned whence they came originally. However:

‘I want to learn more. Practice further. Grow even more and fully actualize myself.’

Such desires for self-actualization had unconsciously taken root, anchoring their footsteps. They recognized this as selfish, yet the fundamental human yearning for growth and ascendance seemed innate. Having learned self-affirmation, they no longer suppressed such aspirations.

And as if perceiving their thoughts, Sophia continued:

“To speak frankly, as you yourselves must realize, you have now completed the introductory phase of studying and applying what you learned here. However, that introduction encompasses the full extent of what I can personally instruct. Henceforth, further progress relies solely upon your self-cultivation efforts.”

Therefore, unhesitatingly return to your respective posts, refine these insights further, and propagate them widely.

“Just one cautionary point which I trust you all already understand.”

Of course, everyone present rightfully recalled: righteous power must only serve righteous purposes. Their entire lives dedicated to nurturing humanity’s positive aspects while combating the negative – this fundamental principle of ‘only transmitting to the virtuous’ originated from the Church’s very inception, unforgettable.

Nodding satisfactorily at their understanding, Sophia significantly added her final intended words:

“Lastly, a field exercise commemorating your graduation has been arranged.”

The initially planned demonic subjugation drill.
And this exercise would unfold at the heart of Rotaringhia’s kingdom – the royal palace where the king, having fully recovered, would receive his vassals.

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Inevitably, whenever nobles congregated, a banquet would be held. Not because aristocrats required constant feasting, but rather, such occasions represented opportune atmospheres for discreetly fostering relationships and conducting clandestine or overt negotiations beneath conviviality’s veneer.

Moreover, celebrating the king’s recovery naturally warranted an appropriately lavish banquet.

After that prolonged period of abandonment with the palace’s human traffic dwindling, this rare royal-hosted banquet elated the palace’s attendants, maids and servants – those marginalized individuals now belatedly thrust into the limelight.

The stables and carriage houses bustled with rare activity as groomsmen and carriage keepers scurried energetically yet beamed continuously.

“The Lord Marquess of Messina, Alberto di Lezzone, enters!”

Even the majordomo assigned to loudly herald arriving dignitaries invested his full vocal projection.

Aromatic, appetizing dishes and beverages elegantly adorned tables throughout as footmen circulated continuously replenishing fare while clearing soiled plateware.

In one corner, musicians hired and rehearsed for days provided accompanying ambiance.

Yet despite outward revelry, those influential guests harbored complex undercurrents and palpable tension they struggled to conceal. Even the most oblivious realized this would hardly become a warmly convivial occasion – understandable given the circumstances.

“Entering is Eduardo Luigi di Napoli, Marquess of the beautiful realm guarding the kingdom’s southern seas, beloved youngest son of the late sovereign, and regent to His Majesty the King!”

“Entering is Bernardo Berengario di Veneto, son of Lady Agnes graced by His Majesty and the legitimate Count of Veneto, His Majesty’s seventh prince!”

As the regent and princes made their entrance, the pervading tension escalated further. All reflected upon the conspicuously unannounced Crown Prince, ruminating and speculating until the final moment.

‘The Crown Prince’s name hasn’t been called. Could he have defied the summons?’
‘Heheh, seems the Crown Prince has reached his end too. Not an ideal situation, but perhaps for the best after all.’
‘Impossible? The Crown Prince isn’t some fool or dimwit. Moreover, he’s renowned for filial piety.’

Amid such swirling thoughts, the herald’s resounding voice eventually proclaimed once more:

“Entering now is our sovereign liege, the legitimate ruler of all devout and stalwart in the kingdom of Rotaringhia! Lord of Ravenna, the world’s noblest capital city! Duke of Liguria, Calabria and Tuscany, Count of Raspechia, Catanzaro and Arezzo! Above all, the rightful master of the glorious and exalted Iron Throne established in Ravenna! His Majesty, Vittorio Amedeo di Rotaringhia!”

The nobles’ consciousness instantly fixated upon the king – believed to hold the key to this entire situation as banquet host. And the herald’s subsequent announcement delivered an outcome they never anticipated, utterly upending their composure:

“And following is His Majesty’s firstborn son, offspring of the late Duchess of Calabria, Prince Eduardo Lamberto di Rotaringhia! Next is the Seventh Seat of the Church’s Demon Subjugation Paladin Order, and finally the one who restored His Majesty’s health, the kingdom’s benefactor Lady Sophia de Chazelle!”

Regardless of the tempest roiling the nobles’ inmost thoughts, the herald’s proclamation resounded with sonorous clarity.

Soon, an unseen storm of turmoil began swirling within the assembled guests’ hearts.