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

**Chapter 41: Fuel for the Fire of Life** On the fateful night when the unexpected occurred, within a certain maid-themed café at Carrilliman Academy, a world existed apart from the bustling noise outside. "Milady, I've instructed them as per your request to inform the students of the academy's upcoming decisions in a highly credible manner, particularly focusing on the Church students, meow." At that moment, dressed in a formal gown, Miao stood respectfully before the honey-haired girl. Unlike her usual lively and somewhat ditzy persona, now she exuded a sense of gravitas and composure. "Very well, this reliable information will spread quickly through word of mouth, and we should soon see the effects," the honey-haired girl remarked as she sipped her tea with a knowing smile, her gaze drifting out the window toward the stunning silhouette in the sky. "Then, proceed as I instructed before. Should we be fortunate enough to witness a miracle, we will proclaim that the goddess and the saintess manifested to resolve the crisis. Afterward, the apparition vanished into light, disappearing without a trace. This is the goddess's benevolence. Should the world delve too deeply into the miracle's roots, it would be considered disrespectful to the miracle and to the goddess. Do you understand?" "I understand," Miao nodded. "But what about headquarters?" "Headquarters won't object, and have we done anything untoward? We're adhering to the pope's directive: 'When the grace of Fasyris is withdrawn by the goddess, do not discuss the return of the goddess or saintess.' We're helping to cover this play as an 'accident'. Headquarters will be grateful, not reproachful," Luna said with a light laugh, resting her chin in her hand. "After that, we'll simply relay the situation to headquarters. Just ensure there's no bias, no intentional guidance — report it as seen by the other Church students, merely sprinkling in slight affirmations regarding the nature of the event." "Understood, meow." Miao gazed out the window. "Do you believe this 'miracle' will succeed?" "Who knows? But should she succeed, so do we. The Church, misguided as it is, will eventually correct its course. If she can achieve such feats, possessing either destiny or power, she's meant to exist — it's the goddess's will. What could she fail to accomplish in the future?" Luna's confident smile was reflected in her cross-shaped pupils as they admired the pristine cherry hue outside. "As my ancestor, Pope Alfonso, once said: Blessed angels are truly beautiful, pure and unblemished." "But, Milady, didn't we meet her before? Miao believes that the future Saintess, at least for now, may have no intention of becoming a saintess." "Miao, you're mistaken. Destiny's decree is beyond personal will — it’s enduring. As long as she remains, the wheel of fate and the forces will propel her onto the saintess's path, regardless of personal thoughts or desires," Luna shook her head gently. "So Milady, you believe she'll succeed, meow?" "She's the future Saintess, who else should I place my trust in?" Luna quipped teasingly. "Yet, this future Saintess hides herself so well within the academy. Her name is absent from the student council's enrollment records, and aside from earning extra through odd maid jobs, no one's truly seen her, meow." "Isn't that a boon? It indicates she possesses impeccable disguise skills, sparing us anxiety." Luna took a calm sip of her tea. "Perhaps, she's masquerading as one of Carrilliman Academy's students." "Ehh?" Miao tilted her head. "Does Milady already know who it is, meow?" "Hehe, it's mere speculation, I can't be certain," Luna responded with a knowing smile. "If Miao recalls correctly, there is a Fasyris family student on the roster, but he is male and reputedly ill-tempered, notorious. Shortly after enrollment, he relapsed, continuously harassing the class belle and bullying the second princess of the gold elves. It's alleged he's an impostor, meow." Miao pouted disdainfully. "So, what’s your view, Miao?" "I find it improbable that the future Saintess would associate with such a man. Setting aside the gender issue, their personalities stand polar opposite. I believe the rumors hold truth, that this male student cannot possibly be the true heir of Fasyris bloodline, meow." Miao voiced her opinion. "Who can truly say in such matters?" Luna gave an ambiguous reply, her focus returning to the sky, painted with ominous clouds, save for one bright glow. "Crossing this barrier, soon lies a paved path where no challenge can impede. Will you succeed this evening in overcoming the tribulation?" "Show me your resolve, if it's worthy of my support, Vannesa Fasyris." --- In the pitch of night, a pink-haired angel silently observed the dark barrier and the blood altar above, where tormented souls writhed in agony, causing her hesitation. Around the barrier, a miasma rejected any that dared approach. Indeed, without destroying its foundation, no other means seemed viable. The blood altar's sacrificial array surpassed the ordinary, as the miasmas from the realm of demonic abyss gods would not be swiftly dispelled by mere magical shields. Magic lacking sufficient density would be devoured. However, there was one thing in this world that couldn't be consumed. Within Vannesa's palms, two tiny flames ignited. Their cores were sakura white, a radiant iridescent hue shimmering at their edges. As these flames burned alive, the surrounding darkness receded as if by some primal fear, instinctively pulling back from the embers. However minuscule the flame, it was the "Sacred Flame of the Pantheon," a force potent enough to freeze even the Demon Columns in their tracks. Yet, if reliant solely on these flickers of "Sacred Flame of the Pantheon," Vannesa couldn't hope to endure long enough to breach the barrier. Were her mana reserves vast, enveloping herself entirely in "Sacred Flame of the Pantheon" might suffice. Thus, unleashing a single fireball-sized flurry of "Sacred Fire" could unravel the barrier from afar. Consuming "Sacred Flame of the Pantheon" with each passing second drained Vannesa's mana swiftly; haste was crucial. Spreading the flames over her pair of wings, they blazed with strands of holy fire. This was her makeshift solution — perhaps slightly opportunistic. Wrapping herself in her sanctified wings, Vannesa accelerated into the miasma. The miasma that sought to obstruct her path was wholly repelled by her burning wings. Vannesa achieved maximum impact with minimal "Sacred Flame of the Pantheon." Yet, lacking substantial power, her tactic leaned heavily on opportunity, leaving unburnt portions vulnerable to miasmic encroachments. By the time Vannesa approached the barrier like a comet of sacred fire, her wings were ragged from the miasmic assault — tattered, with feather tufts continuously falling away. Not only that, her body also suffered insignificant invasions from the miasma, large black blotches appearing on her skin, smooth as jade. Showing no concern, she raised her wings, striking at the barrier with the dwindling "Sacred Flame of the Pantheon" despite knowing it would shed more feathers, increase the erosion holes in her wings caused by the miasma. To her, these wings were as much a part of her as her own body; she could indeed feel the pain. Yet, she remained undeterred, as if those black blotches did not mar her skin, and as if she were immune to the miasma's corrosion, mechanically hammering against the barrier. Every student and even the tutors halted their actions without agreement, watching intently at the unfolding scene, wordless. At this crucial moment, even within the Order Spire where the amplification magic array operated at full capacity, the vice principal and the directors paused, silently witnessing the event. The angelic girl who moments ago had shined with brilliance now appeared disfigured, her skin blistered and wings broken by corruption. This current state, marred with dark welts, paradoxically rendered her even more sanctified and dazzling than before. Mirexia watched in a daze, clenching her teeth, her lips moved, yet not a word could she muster, merely a whimper heard by no one but herself. "Crack!" After a stretch of time unknown, a crisp sound echoed. Everyone's gaze lifted to see a fissure in the previously impregnable dark barrier. "Quick! Now's the time, rescue the students inside along with the girl!" Morincate broke the silence with a shout. "Wait!" However, the vice principal interjected, his expression grave. "No one can go in. Although the barrier is cracked, the miasma hasn't dissipated. Indeed, it's even more intense now due to the breach, and anyone approaching will be corroded. It’s of demonic origin, magic cannot hold it back." "But, sir, Vice Principal!" "But nothing, we've delayed too long. As of now, our only option is…." The vice principal paused mid-sentence. Because, where once had been an intangible blood altar, it now solidified amidst the cries and wails of countless trapped souls, forming into a six-pointed star gate shackled by chains. "Is that, the Demon Column's Gate??" Several directors, upon realization, turned pale. "Are we too late??" "...." The vice principal fell into silence. "It has come to this, sir, Vice Principal. Allow me to lead all the combat instructors into battle against these pests!" Morincate exclaimed. The vice principal merely shook his head, leaning on his staff, taking a long pause before speaking. "The Demon Column is beyond mortal confrontation." "The crux is, mortals lack even the qualification to stand before a Demon Column, for a 'Higher Dimensional Domain' surrounds it, pulverizing any creature that dares approach." "In Eurnes’s domain, any mortal would be transmuted to pus and blood." "Thus, whether we advance or not makes no difference, for mortals are inadequately equipped to combat a Demon Column. Numbers mean nothing, as does capacity. All would be crushed by the 'Higher Dimensional Domain’." With that, the elder spoke no more. Silence ensued among the gathered individuals as they grasped the logic and concepts. Yet, Mirexia disregarded everyone, sprinting ahead, unfurling dragon wings and soaring from the rooftop. Meanwhile, Vannesa, kneeling on one knee, noted the formation of the hexagram door in the sky. Though she did not fully comprehend its nature, she deduced it to be the medium for the Demon Column's entry into Terilis Continent. She knew she was nearing her limit, the miasma had reached her marrow, but she was determined to persist. Clamping down the excruciating pain, she held her breath, ascending to the heavens. Having anticipated such a scenario, she questioned herself: should she fail, and the Demon Column emerge, what then? Should those who survive bear the burden of her failure? No, she would never allow it. Because… Amidst the eyes of all, the chains entwining the hexagram door unraveled slowly. A spontaneous lightning bolt illuminated the towering silhouetted figure beyond the enormous hexagram door, casting a shadow higher than the sky itself. A colossal tentacle extended outward, covered in scale-like patterns that seemed alive. As it stretched beyond the door, it felt as though space was fractured, producing crisp, crackling sounds. This was a partial summoning of the Demon Column. Since the Demon Column's activities were restricted within the domain of Terilis, even so sophisticated a "Sacrifice" could not fully usher it in, only a tentacle passing through. Yet, that was ample. Anything nearing the Demon Column would be mercilessly crushed within its domain, ground to irrecoverable debris. No one dared approach the tentacle. Except…. A cherry-hued silhouette soared into the sky, battered, with flaxen hair disheveled, wings shattered, skin blistering, bones fractured, flesh rending, attire tattered to pieces. Nevertheless, she stood resolute before the Order Spire, protecting everyone there. Around her radiated the sacred fire of sakura-white glass. Such an intense "Sacred Flame of the Pantheon" was beyond the capacity of her depleted magic. Then, with magic spent, what sustains the "Sacred Flame of the Pantheon" at this moment? The answer was simple. Her life. Vannesa ignited the final sacred fire with her life, standing before the Demon Column. (Insomnia worsening, headaches, couldn't sleep at all last night, it's unbearable...) 2025/05/21/21/50