2-39 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

**Chapter 39: Please Wait a Little Longer** It's true, it's true! Indeed, this is truly the exalted Goddess!! It cannot be false! Even the exclusive [Blessed Flames of the Pantheon] summoning was at her command. This isn't a divine revelation, then what could it be?? As expected of the exalted Goddess; such a formidable acolyte of a demonic pillar couldn't even resist, vanquished in an instant. And that's only natural—after all, she is the illustrious Goddess of Dawn! Watching the angelic girl effortlessly eliminate her enemy, Fanny's admiration soared without bounds. The angelic girl's wings were enveloped in a radiant halo and glimmering white particles, adding an ethereal yet sacred aura to her presence. The goddess she had always followed and revered had descended to save her life. At this moment, Fanny was overwhelmed with indescribable excitement and joy, eager to say something, anything. However, words eluded her, blocked up in her throat. She must say something; she must! But what exactly should she say? Her thoughts were a chaotic mess, beyond control. After a long pause, she finally pieced together a coherent thought. And then there's her identity! Ah, how could she forget to introduce herself even after being saved by the Goddess? That was utterly disrespectful! The exalted Goddess must not know whom she saved, right?? How could she be so careless? How could she be so disrespectful in the presence of the divine? "Um, um! Esteemed Goddess full of compassion! Thank you profusely for deigning to descend and rescue a humble and unworthy follower like me!" "My name is Fanny Cassius, a descendant of the Cassius family within the Church of Dawn. Ah, you might not know what the Cassius family is, but it's a lineage of a renowned [Champion Knight]. Although, you might not know what a [Champion Knight] is either; it's the strongest knight elected through grand dueling tournaments within the Church of Dawn..." "..." Vannesa looked at the flustered girl before her, maintaining a composed and polite smile without a word. This silly child couldn't differentiate between her and Fasyris, mistaking this as a divine manifestation that saved her life. Naturally, Vannesa wouldn't correct this misconception, as it was advantageous to her. Come to think of it, when she transformed into Vannesa, she did descend from the direction of the Saint Selina Church, likely creating a substantial impression that made everyone feel it was a divine or saintly revelation, especially among students with church backgrounds. "Cassius, let's hold off on your matters for now. I'm afraid I must attend to others in peril just like you," Vannesa gently spoke, her voice imbued with a soothing grace, like pristine morning dew. "Oh, oh! My deepest apologies, exalted Goddess! For taking up your precious time, and in my excitement, I..." Upon hearing this, Fanny snapped back to reality, realized her excessive outburst, and prostrated before Vannesa like a loyal pet at its master's command, apologizing repeatedly. "It's alright. In times of crisis, fulfilling the duty of a knight, willing to sacrifice oneself for others' escape, is a commendable spirit. Even if you are not yet a formal knight, such selflessness is truly admirable." Vannesa generously praised Fanny's actions. "Heh, heh... Ah! You, you flatter me! As a member of the Cassius family, protecting the weak and others is my duty!" Having been complimented by the Goddess, Fanny felt an ecstatic sense of bliss, her head bobbing like a dandelion in the wind. Yet, she quickly realized she was conversing with the divine, composed herself, knelt with a straight upper body, presenting an 'it's all in a day's work' demeanor. Seeing this, Vannesa chuckled silently. This silly child took all that she said as praise for her, not realizing that she was about to hear some corrective critique. Of course, she would first commend and then critique. Commendations were due—where merited, she spared no praise, but that didn't prevent her from slipping in a lesson. "But, on the other hand..." Vannesa shifted her tone. "Huh?!" Hearing this, Fanny's heart clenched, feeling as if a hand clutched her heart. "Miss Cassius, as a knight, you must have the ability to discern right from wrong, yes? You must pass your judgments on matters yourself; blind faith and rumor-believing make you no better than a headless knight!" Vannesa teased, her words as light-hearted as they were wise. "Eh, ehh?!" Suddenly, Fanny turned pale as if struck, her once shining eyes desolate and lifeless. What does the Goddess mean by this?? Could it be she's accusing her of having no judgment of her own?? Certainly, it must be an accusation! She had been rebuked by the Goddess. Rebuked by the Goddess. Even called a 'headless knight'—wasn't that just saying she was brainless?? Fanny swayed, feeling lost, sitting like an empty shell, more devastated than when injured by the fanatics. "Miss Cassius, don't be so discouraged. A knight of the clergy isn't a flawless being but someone who learns from mistakes, persistently striving towards perfection." Vannesa calmly advised. "You have a long journey ahead, yet there's no denying you're a commendable child." "Sniff, sniff! Can I really amend?" Fanny looked at Vannesa, tears brimming in her eyes. "Indeed. No one is perfect, Miss Cassius, so don't be harsh on yourself. But as a knight of the church, alignment to fairness and striving for excellence is essential." With hands together, Vannesa gave Fanny a gentle look of understanding. "Sniff, I understand. And if I amend, the Goddess won't hate me, will She?" Fanny asked pitifully, like a begging chipmunk. "Why would I dislike you?" Vannesa lovingly placed a hand over her generous heart, smiling serenely. "I love each and every one of you equally, offering you all the same redemption." "Allow our souls to become ever clearer and purer." With that, Vannesa closed her eyes in prayer. Prayers are for the Goddess; a Goddess's prayers are for her people. Seeing this, Fanny's heart overflowed with emotion. "I, I understand!" "Take care, Miss Cassius. Without the strength to protect others, safeguarding yourself is a form of responsibility too." With those words, Vannesa nodded slightly, unfolded her wings, and soared into the sky, soon vanishing from sight. "I understand! O Divine Goddess! Please watch over me! I will surely become a knight who discerns right from wrong in the future!" Fanny shouted towards the sky as she watched Vannesa leave. Though she received no reply, she believed that the Goddess had heard her vow to the heavens. The lack of response was because the Goddess was always watching, waiting to see her future conduct. She couldn't disappoint the Goddess! Yet, in reality, Vannesa had already departed after her speech, not hearing any of Fanny's subsequent pledges or oaths. Her final words had been intended to playfully tease the naive girl, nothing more. Later, beneath the swirling dark clouds, Vannesa soared like a beam of dawnlight to the side of the blood-red altar. She gazed upwards; the rolling black clouds churned into a chaotic vortex, much like the current situation that seemed devoid of hope. Vannesa hurled her mithril warhammer outward like a boomerang, but before it collided with the blood-red altar, an invisible force sent it ricocheting back. As expected, it was such a formidable barrier. Vannesa examined the conspicuous dents in her mystic silver hammer, her expression grave. This weapon had been with her for a long time, striking down demons, cultists of demonic pillars, and even their acolytes, yet had never been so severely damaged. Its resilience was a testament to its strength. And now, just one strike against the altar's shield had left it in this condition. Attempting to discern what lay within the blood-red altar was futile; its thick shroud of dark mist obscured everything. She knew that the students who had imbibed the magical potion and were under control were inside, unaware of their actions. It was likely that their minds had been irreversibly corrupted, and their former selves no longer existed. In this state, breaking into the blood-red altar seemed impossible. Vannesa strove to close the distance to the altar but found herself repelled by an unseen force. She couldn't reach it with the [Blessed Flames of the Pantheon]. The soul-wrenching wails and agonizing cries clawed at her nerves. Instinctively, she looked towards the altar, where souls bound by chains to bloodstained stone pillars cried out in anguish and despair. Just a day ago, they were vibrant young students, laughing with friends. Vannesa clenched her fists tightly, biting her lip. [Bronze Blood]… just how despicable! Now she understood why so many saintesses during wars against the demonic cults and demons sacrificed their lives to annihilate them. Left untreated, the bane of the world would devastate countless lives. Simultaneously, within the student council's upper echelons: “What are you saying? Mirexia, do you realize the gravity of your words?” “We can’t just wait a little longer! We have no idea what that blood-red altar is summoning! Seeing its scale, I wouldn’t be surprised if it's the demonic pillar itself. Yet you ask us to wait?” “Mirexia, this isn't about selfishness. If things go awry, the consequences won’t end with just our Carrillim Academy.” “Carrillim has already suffered. If [Bronze Blood] succeeds and disrupts the Order Spire, the aftermath will be catastrophic! The order of the Terrilis Continent will utterly crumble!” The headmaster with his staff remarked gravely. “None of us wish to act against our students, but what choice do we have? If we don't, it’ll spell disaster for all humanity, even the entire continent. We have no choice.” “Destroying the base of the blood-red altar is a last resort, and we all know it. But what else can we do? If there was another way, wouldn’t any of us take it?” “Mirexia, or rather, Princess Mirexia, I have always believed you were someone with great understanding who wouldn’t sacrifice the greater good for personal sentiment. Do not let me down.” The headmaster frowned deeply. “So, Mirexia, what’s your stance?” questioned the elder at the ritual circle's center without rushing to refute her. Beneath him lay a colossal magic array, as vast as a field, inscribed with complex runes that would bewilder even the most esteemed academics in magical array studies. Now, half the array was actively glowing. “Vice Principal, please allow us a bit more time,” Mirexia urged under the scrutiny of the senior directors, fixedly watching the elder at the array’s center. “A bit more time — but for whom, Mirexia? Without a tangible reason, such intangible hopes are hard for anyone to accept,” the elder replied. “We….” “Vice Principal, just now, it’s been rumored that there was a divine manifestation, perhaps of the saintess. Many students claim to have seen the divine presence emerging from the direction of Saint Selina’s Cathedral, rescuing many before heading for the blood-red altar,” interjected Morinket the Boneless. “I assume this is what Princess Mirexia refers to.” “The Goddess of Dawn manifesting?” The elder shook his head. “Such rumors are expected in times of crisis. Just listen and no more. Morinket, do you actually believe this?” “No, I don't, except I personally saw it. That pink-haired angel soared like dawn's light towards the blood-red altar and is now confronting it,” Morinket relayed. “A student of ours?” questioned the elder, frowning. “Such an act is tremendously hazardous.”