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

## Chapter 144: Can I Not Hug You? Author: Han Tang Return Updated: 2025/4/5 20:30:01 Word Count: 4618 Was it really a one-punch knockout? Wenny was dumbfounded. Even though it was a smaller version of the Shalor Demon, made of less than half the number of sacrificial followers, it was still a minion of the Demon Pillar Eurnes, wasn't it?? Did a single punch really pierce through the head of a sub-minion of the Demon Pillar?? Is the average strength of teachers at Carrellyman Academy that exaggerated, or is Fei, who seems unreliable, actually very powerful?? Is this Wenny's mentor? Mirexia noticed Wenny's form of address and realized this mentor was unfamiliar to her, yet apparently acquainted with her. However, it mattered not; as long as the person coming to their rescue was a teacher from Carrellyman Academy, that was enough. "What in the world is this? Such a peculiar design? It's so disgusting it's about to make me vomit my lunch," muttered the golden bird-masked knight disdainfully as he flicked off the slime on his arm. "Wenny, what trouble have you got yourself into this time? What on earth are you messing around with now?" The golden bird-masked man looked at the rather disheveled Wenny, frowning. "Why does this thing look so peculiar?" Fei kicked the motionless monster's corpse on the ground, his tone tinged with oddity. "Is this a monster from the contamination zone? It doesn't look like it." "Sir, this isn't a contamination zone creature but a minion crafted by the Demon Pillar Eurnes," Mirexia explained. "Eurnes?" Upon hearing this, Fei's frown deepened, though his expression was hidden beneath the bird mask. As the student council president and her Highness of Camilla Kingdom, things Mirexia said were way more credible than clueless Wenny. "This contamination zone wasn’t left by the Alchemy Demon Eurnes. Why would their minions appear here?" Fei pondered, for though the minions of the Demon Pillars were all equally grotesque and ugly, there were marked stylistic differences. For instance, the contamination zone by Resemire was the work of the [Famine Demon] Ophiclee. Though both were Demon Pillars, their minions looked drastically different from Eurnes'. "This is quite the story," Wenny shrugged. "Your Highness, are you unscathed?" Fei turned his concern to Mirexia. "Hey, Fei! I'm your student, remember? Plus, it's obvious I'm in worse shape than she is. Why don't you ask about me?" Wenny protested. "What are you yelling about? You're not dead, nor missing any limbs," Fei scoffed, glancing at Wenny. "Our armor techniques focus on toughness. If you're not dead, you're fine. Stop acting delicate." "Your Highness being fine means you must be fine too." Tch, the old scoundrel doesn't see me at all. Wenny silently grumbled to himself. "Fei, followers of Eurnes set up an ambush here. If not for Wenny’s timely arrival, their plot might have succeeded." "Oh? Eurnes?" Fei rubbed his chin. "The followers of Eurnes have been dormant for a long time. It's been eons since I heard they were active." "The attack was premeditated and had clear intent," Wenny added. "...... Those fools must be nuts. Attacking students during Carrellyman’s monster purge, how bold," Fei clicked his tongue. "Didn’t nearby clergy offer any assistance?" "No, we saw no clergy nearby, and the minions of Eurnes prepared well. To prevent church staff and teachers from aiding us, they trapped us in an extension of Eurnes' Demon Domain," Mirexia explained. "No wonder no signals got through. So that's it?" Fei glanced at Wenny. "Hey, you didn’t hold Her Highness back, did you?" "Fei, Wenny really saved me this time, or else I might've been in serious trouble," Mirexia stated honestly. "Is that so, kid? Well, not bad," Fei looked at Wenny, clearly suspecting Mirexia was just covering for him—a lot. Understanding the strength gap between Mirexia and Wenny, Fei knew who would protect whom in a contest of skill. Say Wenny’s arrival attracted some fire, sparking some clever maneuvers, and that might seem remotely plausible. Yet, there wasn’t much to say. Wenny did his best, given his soul compatibility was high but maturation lacking, and hadn’t distanced much from armor-type counterparts. "Luckily, no disaster occurred in the end." No disaster? Wenny rolled his eyes. It nearly was disastrous! Had his bloodline not awakened, they would've all been captured. "More importantly, I'm curious how you helped Her Highness?" Fei eyed Wenny. "I didn’t at all. Her Highness's strong enough alone. I was just baggage," Wenny muttered, signaling Mirexia not to speak. Mirexia caught on, understanding Wenny’s intention to keep his identity hidden to avoid drawing suspicion, and thus stayed silent. After all, with no witnesses to the fight, whatever they said was how it happened. "I thought so, no way you faced Demon Pillars' minions alone," Fei remarked. As it was no speaking place, with injuries present and both Wenny and Mirexia suffering to different degrees, Fei asked other academy instructors to conduct sampling at the scene, updating them on the Eurnes followers’ issue, before escorting Mirexia and Wenny back to Carrellyman's base. "Incredible, Eurnes crafted a transmutation alchemy elixir already? Being the alchemy source indeed," mentors marveled after Mirexia debriefed them briefly. Once mentors began sampling and analysis processes, Fei waved at Wenny. "Hey kid, can you still walk?" "Surviving," Wenny tried a few steps, but overestimated his recovery; underestimating the injury's severity, he would've fallen face-first were it not for Mirexia’s quick support. "Fei, lead on. I'll aid Wenny," Mirexia said, unyielding, placing Wenny’s arm onto her shoulder. “Alright,” Fei agreed, mistaking Mirexia’s support as sheer camaraderie. "Your Highness?" Feeling the softness beside him, smelling citrus wafts from her hair, Wenny’s throat tensed, maybe due to her beautiful golden strands tickling his ear, heating his face with unexpected embarrassment. “Call me Mirexia,” she lowered her voice. "You did before, didn’t mind then. So why now the change?" "..." He only wished not to burden her. “Mirexia, you're injured too; assisting me slows us, shall we follow Fei first?” “That seems sensible,” Mirexia agreed, then silently cast a blush towards Wenny, extending her hand. “You propose we hasten arrangements? Understood, let's proceed.” "Huh?" Wenny didn't immediately process what she said. "I'll carry you. That way, we can move faster," Mirexia said, averting her gaze, as if reluctantly agreeing to this more efficient plan. Hmm, if not for the flush of color on her face, Wenny might have believed it. "Carry me? You? Isn't that a bit improper?" Wenny's brain finally caught up, and he looked uneasy. No matter the reason, if Wenny were carried back to the base by a girl today and someone saw, he could kiss his reputation at Carrellyman Academy goodbye. He'd lose all face. Plus, there was the risk of Aesphyra seeing them. What if that little bear of a girl saw? She might think he was invading her harem! Ridiculous, going against the main heroine for her harem—was his life in plentiful supply? "Why not?" Mirexia raised an eyebrow. "While in the Demon Domain, didn't you..." "Didn't you, carry me?" For some reason, even though she was only stating a fact, Mirexia's voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost a whisper. These things were still a bit difficult for her to speak of openly. "True, but that was because..." Wenny was momentarily speechless. He couldn't exactly say Vanessa was trying to siphon off some virtues to make a quick profit and that it had nothing to do with him at the time, could he? Wasn't being virtuous supposed to make one forthright? "So, what's the difference?" Mirexia asked as Wenny hesitated, lifting her gaze. Just then, Wenny might have imagined Mirexia pouting slightly. It must have been a mistake. Mirexia couldn't possibly make such a girlish gesture. "Can only you carry me, but I can't carry you?" she asked expressionlessly. "That's not what I meant, Princess... Mirexia, see, we've left the Demon Domain now. There are so many people outside, classmates and teachers watching. Isn't it inappropriate?" "Why inappropriate? You're injured; I'm just helping you back to the base." "Is carrying necessary for that?" "But walking slowly while supporting you takes too long," Mirexia used his earlier argument against him. "I'm worried your injuries are severe, and walking slowly might lead to aftereffects." "Of course not, what harm could come to me? Have you forgotten I'm a goddess's descendant?" "That's not a certainty anyone can guarantee," Mirexia's tone carried her usual authoritative finality. “But in the Demon Domain, we were both... both girls, weren't we? Now that's not the case.” “No buts.” “...Fine, but does it need to be carrying? What about a piggyback ride?” Wenny knew refusing Mirexia was futile and offered a compromise. Yeah, a piggyback ride at least appeared more normal than being carried. It wouldn't make him look so helpless. With the same efficiency between carrying and piggybacking, Mirexia couldn't possibly object, right? She indeed didn't say anything, remaining silent for a moment, then turned her back to Wenny and crouched down—her meaning unmistakable. Wenny swallowed hard, looking at Mirexia's delicate shoulders and the faint outline of her elegant butterfly bones exposed through her battle attire. No, no, he wasn't that desperate! What was he thinking? This was his childhood friend, after all. In the original plot, she was Aesphyra's main wife, and she had never expressed any feelings for him, neither in this life nor the former. With that in mind, Wenny felt a pang of guilt, ashamed for having such thoughts about his friend. Yes, with the situation urgent, only he would entertain such odd thoughts, right? With a return to composure, Wenny climbed onto Mirexia's back and wrapped his arms around her neck. It was a delicate process, as a wrong move could have led to unwanted physical contact. If Aesphyra saw, she might gleefully brandish her holy sword to slice him open, eyes glinting red. Being carried by Mirexia, Wenny couldn't help but bury his nose in her golden hair, the sweet scent of citrus enveloping him, leaving him lightheaded. His ragged breathing brushed against the back of Mirexia’s neck, causing her to shiver slightly. But still, even if Wenny tried not to think of quirky things, the embarrassment didn’t diminish. Standing taller than Mirexia, Wenny was being carried despite their height difference, a scene not ideal for his male pride. It felt like every person they passed on the way back to the base saw him as a subject of ridicule. Fortunately, the purging of the contamination zone hadn't started long ago, so the base housed mostly Carrellyman Academy teachers, sparing him from encountering the ill-omened Aesphyra. "Mirexia, why are you...?" At the fortress gate of Carrellyman, the busy mentors glanced up, surprise flashing in their eyes at the sight of the two. "Sir, someone will explain the details later. We're injured and need immediate medical attention," Mirexia replied. "Come this way!" The mentor, realizing the gravity of her statement, quickly led them to the fortress’s medical area. Each year the Resemire purge was led by the Bishop of the Brighthue Church, regularly dispatching clergy to Resemire's strongholds to handle injuries from all factions. Inside a monastery-like establishment, Mirexia set Wenny down, handing him over to two nuns, whispering a simple ‘please’. The nuns bowed to Mirexia, gently guiding Wenny into a room and settling him onto a bed. White light softly danced from their palms, resonating with the familiar aura of [Holy Envoy]. "Please rest. Leave everything to us," the nuns’ gentle words soothed his anxious heart. "Alright..." In truth, he only needed his magic restored to heal himself. Holy light wasn't just effective; it was immensely superior to white light. But once Vanessa was out, there was no putting her back. Despite his distaste for the Brighthue Church, Wenny bore no ill will towards those acting in kindness. As the nuns utilized [Holy Envoy] to heal him, he closed his eyes, his exhaustion finally overwhelming him, having been deprived of rest for days.