Volume 2 - 1 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

Volume 2, Chapter 1 ~ The Disgruntled Shikondell Author: Han Tang Guilai Updated: 2025/4/13 20:30:01 Words: 4224 "It's just some work stuff," Mirexia replied calmly. "Oh, is that so? It seems Wenny is deeply trusted by Mirexia," Aesphyra said with a smile directed at Wenny. Wenny felt an unsettling chill from Aesphyra's smile, causing his neck to tingle and a cold sensation to creep up his spine. "Aesphyra has it the other way around. It's because your work and business abilities are so exceptional that Her Highness Mirexia doesn't need to guide or correct you. In contrast, I'm incompetent and incapable. Doesn't that mean Her Highness Mirexia should be giving me more guidance?" Wenny responded politely, smiling back at Aesphyra. "Isn't that right?" "Wenny, you're being too humble. You're the hero who thwarted the conspiracy of the [Bronze Blood]. Honestly, if this incident hadn't alarmed the students, the academy would likely have awarded you a significant prize," Aesphyra commented, a smile playing on her lips. "I don't deserve such praise. I didn't accomplish much. It's all thanks to Her Highness Mirexia's outstanding personal abilities," Wenny replied modestly. "Still, your contribution was essential, wasn't it?" Aesphyra asked, her eyes studying Wenny intently. "No, no, I really just contributed a little," Wenny protested with a wave of his hand, though unease gnawed at him inside. Aesphyra's words seemed intentionally pointed, almost as if she were teasing him. Could it be that she still harbors suspicions about my potential collusion with the Demon Pillar Cultists and is subtly probing me? Forget it, let them doubt. He can't push explanations onto others, can he? Imagine if in response to an accusation he initiates by saying, "What are you talking about?" only for her to tilt her head innocently and inquire, wouldn't he just be digging his own grave? Isn't this essentially confessing? Then again, if he were Aesphyra, he might also suspect this villain with a "criminal record" involving evil spirits, so it’s only natural for others to harbor doubts about him. Even if Aesphyra suspects him, she wouldn’t act on it. Besides, this might just be his oversensitivity speaking. Perhaps Aesphyra's snide remarks were simply her reacting as usual to seeing Mirexia frequently reaching out to him and being alone with him, feeling slighted and throwing a few sarcastic barbs his way. Considering Vinny's understanding of Aesphyra, who's known for being stingy and narrow-minded, the latter scenario seems more likely. A petty nature fits perfectly with Aesphyra’s reputation. As for protagonists, if they don’t possess a vengeful streak, can they really be called protagonists? In other narratives, touching the protagonist's inner circle alone would spell one's doom. "Then I won't keep you two any longer. Farewell, dear Mirexia and classmate Vinny." Aesphyra concluded, handing the sorted documents to Mirexia before departing the Student Union Room and closing the door behind her. "By the way, Vinny, here's a file for a student named Zoe." Once Aesphyra’s footsteps faded, Mirexia revealed a pre-prepared student file from the desk. "Oh, let me check it out." Vinny took the file, reviewing the biography of the student named Zoe. "Parents unknown, no family, commoner, grew up in an orphanage managed by the Fanghui Church?... An orphan adopted by the Church?" Vinny furrowed his eyebrows. A thought crossed his mind, but he dismissed it as too far-fetched—even for someone as critical of the Church as he was. The Demon Pillar’s influence knows no bounds and is unrelated to origin. History is replete with instances where even those from noble lineages and national knights have fallen under its sway. It’s hardly surprising. Though it’s true Vinny harbors dislike for the Holy See, the Fanghui Holy See essentially represents human civilization. The Holy See’s establishment marked the dawn of human civilization. For millennia, without the guidance of the Fanghui Holy See, stepping up in crises, rescuing humanity from dire straits time and again, mankind might have deviated from its path countless times. So, even Vinny wouldn’t fault the Holy See for this situation based solely on a singular incident. No matter how corrupt, it remains the Holy See, humanity’s own Holy See. "Yes, the Fanghui Church recognized her potential and provided her opportunities to study and learn calligraphy. Later on, when they discovered her exceptional magical aptitude, they didn't want her talent to go to waste. So, they covered the costs for her magical education and gave her the chance to take the entrance exam for Carriman College. Her diligence paid off, meeting the Church’s expectations, and she successfully gained admission to Carriman College. It's logical to think her fate and life would change dramatically from that point," Mirexia spoke with a tinge of regret in her voice. "I hope I'm not being unkind," Vinny mused to himself. "Speaking of which, the cleaning staff scheduled for the Student Union President's Office the day after tomorrow is her, right?" Vinny noticed the duty list posted on the wall, thought for a moment, and formed a plan. "Mirexia, I think I have an idea that might expose her." "What is it? You don’t mean to suggest she'll poison my cup again, do you? I doubt they’d resort to such tactics in the short term, fearing they’d expose their identities and alert us," Mirexia considered. "No, it’s not about poisoning. Attempting poisoning involves risk, and the likelihood of triggering the remaining toxins isn’t high. She could simply act unaware if questioned," Vinny explained with a sly smile. "What’s your plan?" Mirexia asked. "Princess, what do you think [Bronze Blood] is plotting right now?" "They clearly had a well-prepared target on you this time. If the poison was indeed their plant within Carriman Academy, then [Bronze Blood]—notorious for understanding Eurnes’s alchemical poison—would assume there was merely an accident, and you didn’t fully eliminate the poison," Vinny elaborated. "After all, aside from us, any would-be witnesses are conveniently silent. In their view, the Saintess's family poses no threat, and since only the Saintess's Holy Light could neutralize Eurnes’s imperceptible alchemical poison, without an antidote, the victim would bear it indefinitely," he continued. "Thus, they are bound to send someone to verify if the poison still lingers within you." "That’s plausible. What do you recommend? Should we alert the academy first?" "No, we shouldn’t alert them. Doing so would backfire. We need to draw her out first." Vinny leaned closer to Mirexia and whispered, "Here's what we’ll do the day after tomorrow." "...I understand." Mirexia nodded in agreement. --- "Watch it!" "What are you thinking, not watching the road as you walk? Do you even use your eyes?" exclaimed one of the three female students, irritated with the short-haired girl who had bumped into them on the path. "Yes, I'm sorry, truly sorry," the short-haired girl repeatedly apologized, flustered by the encounter. "Tsk, who did I think it was? Just a commoner with no manners or education. How unfortunate!" The three female students sneered at the sullen-looking short-haired girl before striding off. Once they were gone, the short-haired girl kept her silence, merely clenching her fists as she walked away. After nightfall, she emerged from her dormitory, cloaked in a garment that melded seamlessly with the darkness, effectively concealing her presence. Navigating by the faint glow of street lamps, she bypassed the teaching hall, opting for the unpathed lawn, her path leading her to increasingly secluded parts of the campus. Upon reaching a forgotten park, she scanned her surroundings to ensure she wasn’t followed. Finding a large tree, she squatted down, gripping a stone tightly in her hand and reached into a barely noticeable hollow in the tree, digging diligently. Soon, she unearthed a piece of torn, aged kraft paper, spreading it out. It bore no markings, appearing as mere refuse discarded long ago. Satisfied no one had noticed her, she stealthily returned to her dormitory, relaxing only once the door was securely closed behind her. She unfolded the kraft paper, retrieved a vial of crystalline liquid that shimmered with bubbles under the moonlight from beneath her bed, and carefully dripped a few drops onto the paper. Under the light, an array of abstract marks appeared on the kraft paper, bereft of any discernible words or language, resembling the scribbles of a toddler, rendering its contents seemingly worthless to the uninformed. Yet, the short-haired girl could understand the cryptic signs. Having interpreted their meaning, her brow furrowed, her breathing quickened, and she clenched her fingers, only to relax them in resignation. After a prolonged pause, she retrieved a box hidden within a secret compartment beneath her bed. --- "Hey, Wenny..." "Huh? What’s up?" Wenny absentmindedly responded, engrossed in a book while sprawled on the dormitory sofa. "…Nothing," Shikondell murmured. She wore an apron and had her hair knotted into a high ponytail, resembling a cook. She opened her mouth to speak but held back her words. The midterm exams had concluded, and she returned from Reismier. Fortunately, everything went smoothly, although the reason for Wenny's early return remained unknown to her. Upon arriving at the dormitory, Shikondell was surprised to find that Wenny had returned before her. Slipping off her shoes, she barefootedly switched into slippers, eager to inform Wenny of her return. By now, halfway through the semester, Shikondell had warmly considered the dormitory a little home for herself. But she realized that Vinny wasn't in the dormitory at that time, so she decided to tidy up. Since coming to school, Shikondell had taken on most of the dormitory cleaning duties. As an elf princess unaccustomed to manual tasks, she was initially unfamiliar with these chores. Yet, with a lazy person like Vinny around, she felt compelled to take action, as if it justified the favor she received from him. One day, while cleaning the bathroom, she discovered something unexpected. There lingered in the bathroom a subtle scent, neither hers nor Vinny's. Though nearly undetectable to most, her heightened elfin senses picked up on it. She was certain the scent belonged to neither of them. Vinny’s aroma, in absence of any perfume, was characteristically a mild herbal scent or occasionally a sharp, cheap cologne—nothing more. Moreover, she confidently identified the scent as feminine, not masculine. Only she and Vinny possessed keys to this dormitory, and they were the sole occupants. Yet there was no denying the presence of a third person’s fragrance. The implication was clear. Vinny had brought another girl to their shared space during her absence. Why else would a girl visit another’s dormitory rather than her own? Not only had she visited, but she had also used the bathroom, indicating more than just a friendly stopover in the dormitory they shared. The scenario was obvious. No girl would choose to shower elsewhere merely due to trivial troubles at her own dormitory shower. Nor was it likely they’d simply shower and return home immediately thereafter. Shikondell couldn't delude herself about this situation, even if she wanted to. Perhaps, just perhaps… The two of them had returned to the room together… only to depart together afterward! As she mulled over this, Shikondell's gaze turned vacant, fixated absently on the dishes before her. She yearned to confront Vinny about this but ultimately let go of the idea. How could she form the question? After all, what was she to Vinny? What right did she have to dictate whom he brought back to the dormitory? Even her tuition depended on his generosity; without Vinny’s aid, attending school would be beyond her means. What grounds did she have to question him? Plainly speaking, she was merely Vinny’s roommate. Despite both being male, Vinny probably perceived her as another boy—one with less fortitude. How could she broach such a topic with Vinny? Possibly, living together so long had fabricated a special bond in her mind, one that wasn’t real. In reality, their relationship was perfectly typical. It was her own imagination that painted their bond as something unique. Vinny was just like any other young man his age. At this stage of life, curiosity about the opposite sex was natural. Having a girlfriend was completely ordinary, right? Yes, it was normal… absolutely normal, right? Perhaps. But the thought of an unknown girl invading her dormitory during her absence, sitting in her place, using her bathroom—it left Shikondell feeling as if something was clutching her heart, filling her with discomfort. "Dale? Is something burning?" "Ah, ah!" Vinny's voice drifted in from the living room, snapping Shikondell out of her daze. She hurriedly turned off the stove, dismayed by the smoke and charred food in the pan, emitting a distressed "woohoo" sound. She felt utterly useless. Unable even to cook a simple meal, she wasted her effort on trivial concerns, achieving little else. No wonder she found herself in such a state. For a moment, Shikondell's mix of confusion and self-loathing intensified. Her head bowed, she stood silently in the kitchen, her lips pressed tightly together. "Are you alright, Shikondell?" Vinny asked, entering the kitchen and observing Shikondell's disheartened state with a frown. What’s the matter? It's just one burnt dish. Is such disappointment necessary? Vinny couldn’t comprehend it. --- 2025/04/25/21/01 Share this book: One-click sharing on Sina Weibo QQ Space QQ Friends Baidu Post Bar Tencent Weibo Baidu Collection Baidu Homepage Copy URL Vote for recommendation Previous chapter ← Chapter list → Next chapter Add to bookmarks New book recommendations: How Could the Villain Be a Saint? System! I Don’t Want to Be a Saint! The Girl Can't Find the Evil God in Textbook. Donghuang’s Voyage. The Blood Princess and the Knight. 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