139 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

返回 Chapter 139~ The Withdrawn Princess? How Can the Villainous Young Master Be the Saintess? Success. Her judgment was correct. Vanessa possessed a greater affinity for light elements than she had imagined, reaching an exceptional level or even beyond. As she sipped on the mana restoration potion, she glanced at the shattered fragments of the kin scattered around. Their sins had been redeemed. But Vanessa knew now was not the time to relax—she had a feeling. Thus, she didn't lower her guard; instead, she promptly sought out Mirexia for another mana restoration potion. Any bit of restored mana helped, and fortunately, the alchemical potions Mirexia carried were top-tier and highly effective. After all, Mirexia had a constitution that wasn't particularly sensitive to alchemical potions. Without such advanced potions, the effects would be negligible. Vanessa clasped the neck of the long vial. One high-heeled boot rested on a stone in front of her, as the wind swept through her radiant hair. The exquisite beauty of this peerless woman struck a pose with a touch of valiance, unveiling a different kind of allure. Witnessing this, Mirexia felt her face heat up, especially seeing the other person unknowingly drinking mana potion from the very bottle she had sipped from. The thought of those cherry blossom-like lips touching the bottle made Mirexia's face flush, unsure if it was out of embarrassment or something else. "Virtue +300." "Current Virtue: 3554." She wanted to alert Vanessa, but the words got stuck in her throat, unsure how to articulate it. Moreover, there were more pressing issues than worrying over such trivial matters now. But, how to put it? This sort of situation... No, she shouldn't think this way. Wenny might actually be a girl perhaps? If they're the same gender, such matters might be trivial, or even irrelevant. But, for some reason, this notion only made Mirexia more reluctant to meet Vanessa's gaze. What was happening to her? Vanessa approached, unaware of Mirexia's abnormal reaction. She wasn't focused on whether her virtue had risen. Her attention was on far more pressing affairs. "Miss Mirexia, my mana has partially recovered, but you still seem immobilized. Don't strain yourself; I'll shortly purge the residual poison from your system." Vanessa squatted, her gentle and sweet voice filled with warmth, making one's bones tremble just by listening. Previously, due to distance and the chaotic battle, it was hard to carefully discern Vanessa's features. Now, up close, even feeling her breath, Mirexia could view the dreamlike cherry-haired girl clearly. Eyelashes like thin pink petals, her eyes shimmered with a soft gaze of nobility, a serenely celestial presence highlighted by her pearly, flawless skin, her long satin hair like blooming cherry blossoms in April. Her intricate white short dress complemented her temperament, appearance, and status. Hair ornaments creating twin ponytails from her silky hair countered beautifully with her graceful legs clad in white thigh-high high-heeled boots adorned with luxury. Pure and immaculate, as pure as an angel. No, she was an angel—a veritable angel. Mirexia remembered the entity of the Dawn Goddess was a "Blessed Angel," and naturally, saints of the Dawn had angelic bloodlines. "Residual poison? But this is 'Fallen Dragon Elixir,' a creation of the Alchemy Demon God Eurnes. No one in Terylis could possibly cure it," Mirexia worriedly said. "Miss Mirexia forgot who I am? I am a Blessed Angel, and that multi-legged creature is a sworn enemy to us. Logically, the poison he spreads should be curable by our kind." Vanessa smiled softly, sipping her potion, as warm cherry-colored light bloomed in her hand, bathing Mirexia. A "Holy Envoy" healing? Is this the holy light exclusive to the Dawn’s Saintess? Mirexia felt enveloped in this comfortable spring-like warmth, a joyful tranquility permeating her very being, expelling weakness and discomfort at a perceivable pace, making her let out a soft, tender gasp of relief. Not only the poison, even minor ailments Mirexia hadn’t noticed previously were cleansed away. A sudden surge of energy, but Vanessa didn't halt her healing. Despite feeling discomfort, Mirexia trusted Vanessa wouldn't harm her, so she endured. Soon, a mouthful of black blood seeped from Mirexia's delicate lips. "As I expected." Vanessa brought out a handkerchief, gently wiping away the toxic blood from Mirexia's mouth, scrutinizing the dark stains. "Miss Mirexia, you've been poisoned, and it was administered through ingesting poison." "You mean there's a traitor within the student council?" Mirexia coughed a few times. As the toxin left her, she felt revitalized, strength and mana returning to her limbs. "Possibly, but it's uncertain who or how it was done. We ought to discuss this once we return." Vanessa discarded the handkerchief, helping Mirexia rise. "How do you feel, Miss Mirexia? Has your strength returned?" Vanessa inquired. "Yes, about seventy to eighty percent. Is this the holy light?" Mirexia wondered. "Indeed. Magical, isn't it?" Vanessa mused at her palm. "Thankfully, it hadn't been too long since you ingested it. Otherwise, even I'd struggle, as this poison is quite insidious. Despite the time that's passed, its potency is strong. Without holy light to expel it, it could perpetually linger, always posing a threat." "Forever?" Mirexia shivered at the notion. If that were the case, "Bronze Blood" could eternally control her through this poison, incurable. Thankfully, the dawn's saintess appeared. "Miss Mirexia, are you well enough? If so, I could use some help." "Help? You mean?" Understanding dawned on Mirexia, adding a grave aspect to her countenance. "Indeed, things are not over yet." As Vanessa finished speaking, the scattered fragments of their kin stirred by an unseen force spiraled upwards, assembling onto the emerged mangled human from the pile of bodies. "That multi-legged 'gentleman' is dubbed a 'Profane Demon God.' His powers extend beyond just 'Alchemy,' encompassing others, including 'Sacrifice.'" Vanessa stated calmly without turning back. "I imagined a being with no moral limits wouldn't refrain from fully exploiting their followers. With control over 'Sacrifice,' they could resort to the so-called 'waste reuse' of useless followers, activating this power right at their moment of death." Vanessa glanced back at the disfigured man. Despite his unrecognizable appearance, Vanessa recognized him. He was the one who relentlessly fed himself potions during her "Divine Radiance" attack, the one in the tattered purple robe. Those potions had, indeed, served a significant purpose, preserving his life. As the leader of this cult contingent, the "Sacrifice" power undoubtedly targeted him. "That Fasyris wench, see what you’ve done?? Look at the disgrace you've turned me into!" The voice of the man in tatters no longer carried reason, instead filled with hoarseness and madness. His sanity had been compromised due to the effects of the sacrificial power. The drugs, initially mutating humans into demon god spawns, greatly impaired one’s thoughts. Anything related to the power of the demon god ended disastrously. Now, influenced by both "Alchemy" and "Sacrifice," the man's mind couldn't be expected to remain intact. "It's you! You turned me into this wretched form! Why did you do this!? What's the point of resisting? In the end, you'll all just become food for the Demon Pillars! All your efforts are for naught, and you dragged me down with you!!" "Ah, so you realize now that being a follower of Mr. Multilegged isn't a blessing but a curse from the Demon Pillars?" Vanessa, unafraid of the nearly skeletal man in the purple robe, folded her arms over her chest and smiled at him. "I thought you were just evil, but it turns out you’re both foolish and evil." "Knowing well that those Demon Pillars aren't benevolent, yet you willingly become their hounds, doing their dirty work and harming the innocent." "The laws of cause and effect are never void. You’ve brought yourself to this dead end, so reflect on your actions." "You vile woman, I'll tear your limbs asunder and devour you alive!" The fragments of the kin propped up the sagging skin of the purple-robed man, his face splitting open into a monstrous visage similar to the other kin but larger, standing about five meters tall. His skin was a sickly green, and his face was overrun with countless tiny eyes, darting about like red, squirming insects. Two tentacles, resembling those of an octopus, extended from his back, as thick as century-old trees. "This seems like..." Mirexia frowned. "The lesser kin of Eurnes, the 'Saro Demon.'" "Is it an official kin of that multilegged 'gentleman'?" Vanessa picked up the dragon-tooth greatsword partially buried in the sand and tossed it to Mirexia. "How lucky, it was blown over here. Miss Mirexia, can you still wield a weapon?" "Yes," now that the poison was purged, and her strength and magic had returned, Mirexia resumed a combat-ready stance, focusing intently on the formidable foe. Though she'd never faced an official kin of the Demon Pillar before, she held no fear. With her childhood friend fighting alongside her, and standing with this cherry-haired girl, she felt invincible. "Watch as I grind your bones to dust!" The Saro Demon's voice was laced with an alien static, in a tone difficult to place to any language known on the Terylis continent. Two massive tentacles swung down with crushing force, reducing the ground where Mirexia and Vanessa stood moments ago to rubble. In the swirling dust and sand, two figures leapt from the chaos. One sprouted wings as pure white as snow, the other unfurled mighty golden dragon wings. Vanessa unleashed her holy aura, "Immaculate Holy Wings," while Mirexia released her own holy aura, "Rage of Gold Blood"; golden dragon horns arched atop her head, her sapphire eyes brimmed with vigor and defiance. "What?!" The Saro Demon gawked at the two women soaring into the sky, its countless small eyes darting and firing deep red lasers. The duo weaved through the air, dodging the volleys of lasers, their swift maneuvers leaving the Saro Demon's skittering eyes at a loss for where to focus. Frustrated at its inability to hit the agile figures, the Saro Demon flailed in rage, splitting its colossal tentacles into numerous smaller ones, attempting to ensnare Vanessa and Mirexia. Vanessa flapped her wings, unleashing a barrage of sharp feathers that collided with and sliced apart many of the smaller tentacles. [Holy King’s Baptism] Unexpectedly, as those severed tentacles multiplied, the additional mass ensnared her wings like relentless seaweed. This was troublesome. Seeing the relentless net closing around her, an intense crimson lightning bolt suddenly cut through, severing the entangling tendrils, allowing Vanessa to break free. "Thanks, Miss Mirexia~" Vanessa escaped the bind and, with a voice sweet enough to melt hearts, expressed her gratitude to Mirexia, her charming eyes twinkling. Amidst the tension of battle, Mirexia didn’t respond, yet her heart seemed subtly tugged by an invisible string. Was this really the friend she grew up with? Soon, she found herself in a tight spot. Realizing passive evasion wasn’t viable, she attempted a sword strike against the Saro Demon, but got too close to its toxic body. Twisted faces on its hide opened wide, spewing blackened alchemical toxins. "Be careful, Miss Mirexia~" As Mirexia found herself unable to evade in time, she suddenly felt herself embraced. The pure scents of white tea flower and lavender enveloped her, and she found herself cushioned within what felt like flower petals. Behind her, with protective angel wings spread wide, Vanessa shielded them both, the holy light from her feathers warding off the alchemical toxins. Smelling the unique fragrance of the cherry-haired girl, though she knew the timing was inappropriate, Mirexia felt her cheeks heat up again. She leaned back slightly, sensing something exceptionally soft, and surprisingly comfortable. Could it be?? Mirexia found this sensation familiar, recalling something she knew quite well. "Oh, Miss Mirexia, you shouldn’t be so mischievous~" Vanessa’s gentle reprimand came softly to her ears. "Even if you want to act spoiled, now isn’t the time, is it?" Is this really true?? Considering a certain possibility, coupled with Vanessa’s nurturing words, Mirexia felt her head spin. No, this isn't right, what's happening to me?? This is odd. Between females, this shouldn't elicit such a strong reaction; after all, she also had similar features, perhaps only slightly smaller than Vanessa's. So this should be entirely normal, right?? Completely bewildered, Mirexia couldn’t understand. Normally, frequent interactions with female palace maids or fellow student council members—who were also girls—never prompted such exaggerated reactions. So, what was this?? "Virtue +500." "Current Virtue: 4054." Huh? What’s going on?? Vanessa noticed the increase in virtue and felt puzzled. As she recalled, didn’t she just expend 1000 virtue points earlier? How was it replenishing so quickly? Even if gaining virtue was as easy as breathing, it shouldn’t happen so rapidly, right? Could it be Mirexia is the type of person whose mere presence around her emits a constant positive emotional energy, thereby boosting virtue uniquely?? Truly, could she be a Withdrawn Princess??