The Hero's Streaming Life with the Saintess-Chapter 23: Do you think the Saint looks like an assistant?

It was a bit forced, sure—but he didn’t give a damn.

Politics had always been about appearances, after all.

“A tiny country like that acting all high and mighty just because they’ve produced one measly S-rank? Unbelievable.”

He’d cripple that woman here and now, take the artifact and the corpse, and return home with them.

Then he’d be celebrated like a hero, and any backlash over harming a small-time Hunter could be crushed with economic sanctions.

That’s how they’d always handled Korea up until now.

“A treasure too great to handle only brings disaster in the end.”

He could see them talking from about twenty meters away.

Then, the woman smiled faintly and nodded.

“Don’t tell me she’s actually gonna fight?”

A woman who’d only been supporting from behind had more guts than expected.

But Yang Tenzin wasn’t letting his guard down.

He recalled the video where she clearly blocked a monster’s attack with support magic.

“She definitely chanted before casting the barrier.”

And judging by how she dodged the monster’s swing, she was agile to some degree.

But if he attacked faster than that, she wouldn’t even be able to react.

A Hunter with near-sonic speed—one of the fastest even across the continent.

S-rank Hunter Yang Tenzin.

He made up his mind.

“I’ll kill her before she even opens her mouth!”

****

That was unexpected.

He’d figured they’d bring a different Hunter—so they brought someone specialized in speed?

“They know they’ll lose in raw power, so they’re betting it all on speed?”

Thinking about which bones to shatter, he stepped toward the center of the arena.

But contrary to his expectations, the guy pointed at Lyla.

[“Wow, look at this arrogant fucker.”]

[“This is insane lmao.”]

Suddenly playing a video, he gestured around with exaggerated movements.

The Chinese Association Chairman smirked slyly, while the Korean Chairman looked like he wanted to die.

He really wanted to cave in the face of this bastard who clearly thought the whole situation was already under control.

“Sigh... Lyla, you wanna give it a shot?”

“Hmm... Let’s say it’s been a while since I stretched?”

“Absolutely don’t... don’t use that, okay...?”

“Don’t worry. He’s not a high-ranking demon or anything—this much is nothing.”

We conveyed our answer to the aide Yang brought along.

But even he didn’t seem to believe it. He double-checked. Then triple-checked.

[“Please, Saintess;;”]

[“You only have one life, noona!!!”]

[“Even if we lose the artifact and the corpse, no one would blame you—please, just don’t.”]

As expected, the chat was losing it over Lyla's safety.

[“That bastard only got his S-rank in China because of one dumb speed ability!”]

[“Saintess, you gotta cast a protection spell ASAP!!”]

“So they never intended to fight me in the first place, huh?”

“Hero.”

“Hm?”

“Watch your mouth next time!”

“Right, sorry... I’ll be careful.”

Unlike us, who were acting like it was nothing, the viewers were absolutely panicking.

Chat regulars were now donating like crazy, begging Lyla not to go.

“Everyone, it’s okay. Don’t worry.”

[“You little shit!!”]

[“If our noona gets hurt, I’m coming to your house.”]

[“I’ll shit on your front door and smear it everywhere.”]

...Let’s not go that far, please.

“Hey, you guys wanna bet?”

[“The fact that you're still trying to farm content in this situation... real pro, man.”]

[“He’s completely fucking insane.”]

“What if Lyla wins?”

[SaintessFootTowel donated 50,000 Watts!]

– “I swear to god I’ll cosplay and dance in the Hongdae busking zone.”

[OverflowingDivinePowerPouch donated 30,000 Watts!]

– “I’ll do a juggling routine right next to them.”

[ThrowThatResignation donated 30,000 Watts!]

– “I’ll quit my job.”

You guys are seriously screwed.

If you don’t keep your promises, I will find your homes.

“Oh? It’s starting.”

Lyla and the Chinese Hunter faced each other at a set distance.

Then both countries' association heads blew their signals at the same time.

─ Beeeeep!

The moment the whistle sounded, the turf under his foot caved in and his body vanished.

Before Lyla could even open her mouth, Yang Tenzin’s sword was already flying at her throat.

His absurd speed came with equally terrifying destructive force.

“Wait, wasn’t this supposed to be a spar?”

─ Fwooooosh!!!

Lyla slightly tilted her head to the side and dodged the strike with ease.

Caught off guard, the bastard retreated at the same speed, distancing himself again.

“H-How the hell...?”

“You’re slow.”

[“What did I just witness?”]

[“Is he toying with her because she’s a woman?”]

[“Nah, look at his face. Dude’s actually panicking hard.”]

Why do people assume the Saintess is weak?

Because she usually just heals and casts support magic from the back?

Because of her gentle face and soft features?

“The Saintess isn’t weak. That’s just your bias talking.”

If Lyla were weak, she’d have died a hundred times over on our journey killing demon lords and the Demon God.

Sure, in our party, she was ‘relatively’ less combative—but never weak.

She’s a battle-hardened veteran who survived countless fights.

The battlefield isn’t a place where the strong survive.

It’s a place where survivors prove they’re ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) strong.

“How can she dodge all of that!!!”

“Well, I’m not just gonna stand there and get hit by your sloppy swings, am I?”

Even her trash talk was on point.

“Ghhhk... Aaaargh!!!”

Yang Tenzin couldn’t accept what he was seeing and went on a rampage, launching attack after attack.

But Lyla didn’t take a single hit.

She didn’t even bother blocking—just dodged. Every. Single. One.

“Ugh, even the Everheim Empire’s mailmen are faster than this.”

“Why...?! WHY!!?”

What even is a spar?

Traditionally, it’s when two people of similar strength test each other and sharpen their instincts.

But Lyla didn’t even see this as a sparring match.

To her, this was just a brat in need of discipline.

─ SMAACK!!!

“Gkkk...!”

With a sigh, Lyla swung her palm and sent Yang Tenzin flying, bouncing across the ground.

His face smashed into the dirt, bloodied and broken. A few teeth rolled across the floor.

“People really should learn some humility. Especially someone with an S-rank title...”

She brought her hands together and chanted.

New flesh grew over his wounds, and his missing teeth started sprouting back.

“DIE!!!”

Desperate, he hurled a dagger—just a pathetic surprise attack.

─ SMAACK! SMAACK! SMAACK!

A barrage of slaps, followed by healing magic.

Repeat.

Dozens of Yang Tenzin's teeth now littered the ground.

The grass was soaked in his blood.

“Usually they repent after this much... Guess I’m still not hitting hard enough?”

“...”

[“The Saintess... looks different now...”]

[“Noona’s strong... wow...”]

[“...I’m scared.”]

“See? Lyla’s strong too.”

Lyla, at her core, is kind.

She embodies the title of ‘Saintess’—always protecting the weak and offering aid.

But when she decides that discipline no longer works...

“Holding murderous intent toward Lyla is... not the smartest move...”

“Ghhk... Just a worthless support bitch... you and that thing you care about—”

“...Looks like I really have no choice.”

At that point, she no longer sees her opponent as someone to discipline.

She sees them as heretics—something to be purified.

Blue mana began to crackle from Lyla’s body.

─ Crackle, crack-crack!

Right after that, she smoothly redirected another frontal charge.

Her punch—graceful and beautiful—landed with brutal force right into the bastard’s solar plexus.

“Hyaah!”

“GAAAK!!!”

She didn’t stop there—she drove her fist in.

For a moment, it looked like she might actually punch clean through his torso.

With that momentum, Lyla launched him straight into the air.

─ KRAAAASH!!!

The bastard flew all the way into the stands, smashing through the seats before finally crashing to a stop.

So then, what is “purification” to Lyla?

It means stripping the tools of violence from those who abuse it recklessly.

Taking wealth from those who grow fat by preying on civilians.

And in Yang Tenzin’s case...

“I shattered your mana circle. So no more bad deeds for you, okay?”

She had taken away his very qualification to be a Hunter.

[“Wait, what?”]

[“Oh shit...”]

[“He’s fucked...”]

Everyone could tell the sparring match was over.

And I? I looked straight into the camera and grinned.

“So... what did y’all say you’d do if Lyla won?”

[...]

[...]

[...]

****

The duel ended a lot easier than expected.

This chapt𝒆r is updated by frёewebηovel.cѳm.

Actually, no—it left an even bigger impact.

Sure, the beatdown was overkill, but they were the ones who attacked with intent to kill first.

The bastard tried to aim for vital points with his own sword, multiple times.

“Saintess! Are you alright!?”

The Korean Association Chairman rushed over, panting.

“Guiding people to the path of righteousness is a Saintess’s duty.”

“...”

I shifted my gaze toward the Chinese Association reps watching from afar.

Raised my hand and beckoned with one finger.

Get your ass over here.

They clearly hated it, but the whole world had seen it—there was no backing out now.

“So, the Forbidden City belongs to me now, yeah?”

“...”

“Say it.”

“...Yes. As of this moment, the Forbidden City is the property of Hunter Song Hun.”

I was satisfied.

Sure, technically speaking, a world heritage site shouldn’t be in private hands.

But...

“Then again, this is China. Of course it’s possible.”

They still looked annoyed.

Guess it’s true what they say—people change their tune before and after going to the bathroom.

“What? If you’ve got a problem, wager something else next time.”

“N-No, we’re good...”

An ambulance rushed into the arena.

They loaded Yang Tenzin onto a stretcher, but I stopped them for a second and walked over to his unconscious body.

“I was planning to break a few limbs... but this is enough.”

Yang Tenzin had now lost everything that made him a Hunter.

Once he wakes up, he’ll realize just how much his body has changed—better than anyone.

“Listen closely.”

Had to make sure they didn’t try anything stupid.

A little preemptive warning, just in case.

“If you try any dumb shit... I’ll turn the Great Wall into a Long Ass Fence.”

“Yes...”

“This was a clean, mutually agreed-upon sparring match.”

“...”

“Sure, someone got banged up a little, but nobody died, right?”

They nodded like they’d just bitten into a shit sandwich.

We had an airtight contract.

And yeah, the guy got injured—but he was the one who attacked first, intent to kill.

Maybe the Chinese hate us for this.

But the international audience? They’re on our side.

“If you didn’t wanna lose... maybe you should’ve won.”

With that final bit of pettiness, I left the arena.

Still, something told me we’d be seeing them again soon.

No way those bastards would let this go so easily.

They wouldn’t come at us directly.

Instead, they’d find another scapegoat to throw at us.

This time... that scapegoat just happened to be Yang Tenzin.

+++

Commemorative Crying Selfie!!!