2-25 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

**Title: Volume Two, Chapter 25 - It's All Right, He Won't Make a Move** Mirexia should also be with the senior year students. At least, that's what Wenny thought. But it wasn't certain. Being the student council president and having her own 'event' to manage tonight, it made sense for her to prepare in advance. Tonight, she was tasked with leading the prayers for the Sanctification Festival. Afterward, she would need to bathe, dress in a nun's habit, and pray alone before the sacred idol. This is part of the Sanctification Festival, where the one most favored by the goddess among the spirited youth is chosen to pray alone at the site of Elysia's consecration. Traditionally, this honor was reserved for the most favored by the goddess; however, with the fall of the ancient empire and changes in customs, the role shifted to the 'student council president of Karrierman Academy.' Because the president represents the most promising and outstanding student of the current generation, she is deemed the most favored by the goddess, making her selection undisputed. Wenny now understood that 'Bronze Blood's' claims about knowing Mirexia's whereabouts during the Sanctification Festival referred to this. It's astonishing that these scoundrels dared to cause trouble in the grand cathedral of Saint Celina, particularly at the resting place of the saintess, right at the site of Elysia's consecration. But then again, it's typical of them. Demon Cult followers, after all. No one expects rationality from them, especially when they follow a bizarre, demonic creed. These madmen can do anything without it coming as a surprise. As the students entered Saint Celina's grand cathedral to explore, the senior students, having attended the Sanctification Festival here before, were not as excited. Others viewed the cathedral like an art exhibition, except Wenny, who was scanning the crowd, hoping to spot the battle instructors hidden within the cathedral's confines. Unsurprisingly, he found nothing. If someone at his level could easily spot the battle instructors, why wouldn't 'Bronze Blood'? "What a beautiful palace. The exhibits here are truly amazing," Shikondell, who clung to him like a small shadow, said with her hands clasped together, her eyes glistening as if they held tiny stars. This cathedral seemed almost larger than her family’s home. But now, she didn't have a home anymore. "By the way, Wenny, isn't this cathedral dedicated to one of your ancestors?" Shikondell asked. "Uh, I guess," Wenny replied lazily. Whether it was his ancestor was irrelevant. What mattered was that even if he called her, she couldn't respond. "Wow, that's amazing. So, Wenny, after coming here, did you feel any kind of resonance or hear a summons from your ancestor?" Shikondell inquired curiously. "Pfft, what resonance could he possibly have? His identity is fabricated. If Saint Celina in the heavens knew that someone unrelated by blood to the saint's family bore the surname Ferris, she'd surely find it baffling," a mocking, youthful voice interrupted. Wenny glanced over and, unsurprisingly, found a certain golden-haired, impish elf girl making faces at him, her expression filled with displeasure. "Millen, please mind your words and actions. Such slanderous rumors can be very hurtful!" Shikondell’s mouth pouted upon hearing this, and she glared at Millen. "Rumors? Everyone says so! Whatever this guy has told you, it's all lies. He lives with you every day, subtly feeding you these biases, making you feel like he's wronged. But in reality? Dislike from one or even a few people might be understandable, but when it's everyone, he's clearly at fault!" Millen retorted sourly, jealous of Shikondell defending Wenny. "Mill-en!" Shikondell attempted to contain her rising anger, speaking through her teeth in a low, tense voice. "Aren't your perspectives subjective too?" "Well, everyone's saying it, so there must be some truth. Why else would people think he's pretending? Trust me, he's no good! My sister says so..." "I don't want to know what your Elf Queen says. You're just being rude and annoying." Shikondell huffed, dragging Wenny away by the arm. Before leaving, she shot Millen an angry glare. "Shikondell! Listen!" Millen’s hair seemed to deflate in defeat as she stood there, hearing such stinging words from Shikondell. 'Virtue +100.' 'Current Virtue: 154.' Anyone familiar with Shikondell's gentle nature knew she would never typically use such harsh words; it was a testament to how angry she was. Oh, that foolish golden-haired elf definitely let jealousy cloud her judgment. Wenny glanced at the stunned, forlorn Millen and couldn't help but find it amusing. After touring the forecourt, everyone reached the grand cathedral’s open-air plaza. At its center stood a towering silver-and-jade statue of the six-winged goddess, its crown crafted from luxurious rose gold. Besides it was a smaller statue of a human-sized, serene maiden with six wings, clad in a saint's robe and holding a sacred staff, strikingly similar to the goddess figure behind her. “That’s the statue of the Dawn Goddess at Saint Celina’s cathedral, second only in size to the one at the headquarters of the Dawn Church. You can see it from any spot within Saint Celina’s cathedral,” explained the guide, pride evident in their voice. “Typically, the goddess’s statue wouldn't be accompanied by any other, but Saint Celina's cathedral is an exception. The saintess's achievements were so profound that her statue stands as the goddess's envoy, leading her followers,” they explained. Upon seeing the statues, almost every student sincerely clasped their hands in prayer, as most human nations revered the Dawn Goddess. Even among the non-humans, many followed suit, praying alongside their human classmates. The students with ties to the church knelt in homage, offering their utmost respect to the goddess. Why almost every student? Because there were those who neither knelt nor prayed. With hands in his pockets, Wenny watched as the crowd wholeheartedly paid homage to both the saint and the goddess without joining in. Why bother with the praying? Two hours of prayer for what little virtue? He had no interest in that now. Fortunately, everyone's attention was on the goddess statue, leaving few to notice him. Otherwise, he'd surely attract unwanted attention. Once the prayers concluded, the crowd began to disperse. "Wenny, you're unique, aren't you?" As Wenny flowed with the crowd, a familiar yet recently unheard voice made his hair stand on end. "...How are you here? Do you teleport or what? Weren't you just at the front of the line?" Seeing Aesphyra suddenly behind him, Wenny glanced at the front, wondering if she had a twin. "Wenny, your conduct is quite exceptional." "What of it? It's personal freedom whether to pray or not in a church. You can't force someone to pray, can you?" Wenny replied dismissively, instinctively stepping closer to Shikondell, away from Aesphyra. Just like that, the pleasant day ended the moment he started talking to Aesphyra. "I'm not criticizing, just curious," Aesphyra tilted her head, her gaze somehow making Wenny feel as if he was the one looking up at her, despite her shorter stature. "Curious? Well, keep it to yourself, because I’m not telling you. Stay curious if you want." Wenny retorted bluntly. "Wenny, do you feel anything special being here?" Aesphyra continued, her smile as enigmatic as ever. "Special? No, not at all," Wenny shrugged. "Isn't this place honoring your ancestors, though?" "So what? Even if I called them, they wouldn't answer, would they? If I ever find myself in trouble here and call for their help, do you think they’d appear?" Wenny shot back. "I’m someone who values practical things, Aesphyra." "Practical things," Aesphyra repeated softly. "So, for these practical things, what would you be willing to give up?" "What? Huh?" Wenny was baffled by Aesphyra's question. "Depends on the situation, doesn't it?" "Wenny, perhaps it's not that the saintess or goddess won't save you; maybe they can't." Aesphyra remarked cryptically. "Oh, I get it. Since I'm not considered part of the Ferris family, it makes sense they wouldn't save me," Wenny raised an eyebrow. "Always misinterpreting, that's both your charm and your flaw, Wenny." "...Huh?" Wenny was left confused once more. Ugh, Aesphyra's cryptic comments were exhausting. "Look, little bread roll, can we drop the riddles? Just say what you mean, okay?" Wenny frowned. But Aesphyra merely shook her head, offering him her usual mysterious smile before leaving. "..." "Wenny, what did Aesphyra mean by that?" Shikondell thought they were having a private conversation, so she had discreetly eavesdropped rather than openly observing the goddess statue. But as she listened, it seemed like they were speaking in riddles, and she couldn’t understand a word. "You didn’t understand?" Wenny glanced at her. "Neither did I." That irritating little bread roll, always teasing him and now speaking in riddles when it mattered. Clearly, she didn’t like being too transparent with her words. If he had to interpret, Wenny thought Aesphyra was possibly warning him again. Ever since a recent dinner, Aesphyra had been dropping hints at him. Could it be that in the original plot, Wenny was somehow involved in the chaos orchestrated by 'Bronze Blood'? Otherwise, why would Aesphyra constantly try to warn him? But the question remained—why would Aesphyra try to warn him? If Wenny were in Aesphyra's shoes, he'd simply wait for an ill-fated Wenny to walk down the wrong path, then strike as soon as he showed his face. Why bother trying to steer him right? It didn’t make sense. In a previous life, Wenny had killed Aesphyra, so this time around, she should be wishing for his downfall. And yet, even if she tried to steer him in the past, it wouldn't work. In this life, he was a model citizen, steering clear of any trouble. He'd mended relations with Mirexia, becoming good friends, and was far removed from the cult of the Demon Pillar. He was well on the way to redemption, unstoppable on his path to righteousness. Now, he was just a model citizen, unrelated to the night’s events. Those involved were Mirexia and the school, and he was simply another participant joining the congregation at Saint Celina's Cathedral. That's all he needed to do, blending with the crowd and acting oblivious. Wenny guessed Aesphyra might act tonight since she was aware of the story’s trajectory. However, with her rebirth skewing the original storyline off its path long ago, how much of an advantage over the future did she truly have? Probably less than she thought. But why ponder it? It wasn't his concern. Whatever Aesphyra intended to do tonight had nothing to do with him. All he needed was to act like an honest man, oblivious of any plot, unaffected by 'Bronze Blood's' plans. Just like most students, he'd stay in the cathedral, doing nothing at all. If disaster struck, the heroines of destiny had it covered, right? Most of the prominent figures who had bested him in the past remained at Karrierman Academy. What could possibly occur? As someone striving from villainous canon fodder to regular NPC, he better not involve himself in these things. If he inadvertently got caught in crossfire, well, that’d be trouble. Speaking of which, where had Fred and the other card-playing buddies been lately?