2-61 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

**Chapter 61: Lend Me a Hand - How Could the Villainous Young Master Possibly be the Saintess?** *Author: Han Tang Returns Updated: 2025/6/8 20:30:01 Word count: 4420* Hmm? What's going on? Wenny, standing in the queue, suddenly noticed something peculiar—his virtue had unexpectedly increased by 160 without his knowledge, moving from 6744 to 6904. According to the notification, this increase occurred during rehearsal. Was it during the moment he saw through Rou Baiji? Only then had Wenny been so preoccupied that he failed to notice the surge in his virtue. Strange, which heroine's emotions are in turmoil again over him? Aesphyra? Unlikely. Aesphyra is generous only to Vannesa; her virtue points towards him have never exceeded a hundred, incredibly stingy. This fits her character perfectly though—the loose and sultry sea queen who is always gentle with girls and generous to them, but as for men? Sorry, keep a respectful five-meter distance away, and no physical contact—she even washes her clothes multiple times if she brushes against them accidentally. Besides, Aesphyra shouldn't even have had a chance to give virtue points, since he hadn't deliberately sought them. Why would this penny-pincher suddenly hand him virtue points? Could it be that Milessia granted them instead?? But he pondered and realized he hadn’t done anything particularly stirring for Milessia either. Wenny felt perplexed, at a loss to unravel the mystery. "Eh, enough talking, Salfyn. We know the situation in Carilimann Academy well; they're remarkable fighters against the Demon Pillars and loyal followers of the Goddess, so why say this?" Nearby, a genial bishop quickly came forth to ease the tension. Yet, why intervene after Salfyn has spoken? Wouldn't it be better timed if done earlier? It's understood that those in the know can surmise. Everyone realized this, though none in attendance would care to point it out. "I hope you will correct your attitude towards the servants of the Goddess and the Papal envoys!" Salfyn, having been given an out, still retained a high posture. Wenny somewhat grasped the situation. Their demeanor indicated a desire to pressure Carilimann Academy into giving them leverage, facilitating whatever they planned to do next. It's a duo playing the good cop, bad cop routine, a coordinated effort, as they are indeed allies. The Hochkai family bishop remained silent throughout, unaffected by his familial ties. The only interaction between them occurred as they disembarked, with a single exchanged glance. If Wenny hadn't been observing this bishop closely, he might not have noticed this interaction at all. "Alright, Salfyn. We are all devout followers of the Goddess. This whole demon pillar crisis was mitigated by Carilimann Academy, preventing the taint from spreading further. The Goddess herself favored their courage—your remarks are truly out of place," said the genial bishop, now standing tall, with a conciliatory smile towards Morincait. "I apologize, Chief. You've heard Salfyn's temperament. He's blunt both in nature and speech. This visit is initiated by the Goddess’ will, inspired to commend your valiant resistance against the Demon Pillars’ adherents and offer assistance." "Your courageous exploits have won the Goddess’s approval and even caused her to manifest—an awe-inspiring yet lamentable event. It’s a pity we missed witnessing her descent," bemoaned the bishop, gently shaking his head. "Remember always, we are kin, comrades on the same front, devout in our faith to the Goddess. Should you require assistance, do not hesitate to ask—our support is unwavering," he assured with a warm smile. "Your words are deeply noted, esteemed high bishops. This way, please," Morincait directed the three bishops through the open gates of the academy, flanked by mentors and students alike. The Holy Radiance Order knights escorted the bishops as if they were royalty. Only the high bishops of the Exalted Radiance Papacy received such honor. "Would this be the famed Milessia? I've heard rumors —a true prodigy indeed," mused the middle bishop, stroking his beard in admiration as he walked alongside student council president Milessia. "I’m not worthy of such praise, merely benefiting from my ancestry and family name," Milessia replied modestly and respectfully. Having Princess Milessia of the Camilla Kingdom greet these distinguished guests was most appropriate. Milessia was not only exemplary in heritage and stature but also highly cultivated in her interactions with such high-ranking individuals—a skill nurtured from childhood. Escort by Morincait and Milessia, the bishops moved in splendid company, surrounded by the Holy Radiance knights. Wenny occasionally glanced towards Luna, noting the Hochkai bishop ignored her presence completely, and Luna seemed uninterested in acknowledging him either; apart from that single glance exchanged earlier, they acted as if they were strangers to one another. Could it be due to a strained familial relationship? Unlikely, as the middle-aged bishop appeared to be a quite close family elder, with Luna’s status within the Hochkai family typically high—potentially the eldest daughter and heir. Yet, there was no interaction. Wenny pondered whether both were intentionally avoiding recognition. After all, many students didn't know Luna, and if the bishop publicly acknowledged her and referred to one another with familial titles, it could overshadow the event. Perhaps Luna herself disliked drawing such attention, or perhaps she sought to prove herself independently, without relying on her family. Thus, she refrained from seeking out the bishop, appearing to avoid any public association with him. Realizing this, Wenny felt a slight increase in admiration for Luna. Regardless of whether she recognized him earlier or whether it was otherwise intentional, her resolve in not relying on family remains commendable. While Morincait was a formidable combat instructor and had held his position for many years, he wasn’t much of a conversationalist. This is where Milessia shone. Being both the student council president and a princess of Camilla, Milessia commanded respect from the bishops due to her status and experience. Other student presidents might have been tongue-tied under such pressure—an aura generated by the disparity in status and experience. But Milessia wasn't just another student president; she bore the looming title of ‘future Queen of Camilla Kingdom.’ Her eloquence in dialogue and measured mannerisms entertained the bishops, fueling engaging conversation. Had it been Wenny in this position, he mused, topics would likely have fizzled quickly, rendering them ungraceful silences. After all, his insight was limited, an uneven match against those with decades of life experience. As the bishops passed the student queue, Wenny felt a gaze rest briefly upon him, prompting him to return it, realizing it was from Bishop Salfyn. The latter still emitted an aura of prideful disdain even as he glanced down. Ah, a familiar flavor for Wenny. Unclear if the bishop recognized his identity or reserved this gaze for everyone, Wenny met it with discontent. So, with the same haughty glance, Wenny retorted, adding a cheeky 'la la la' face. Who did this old light think he was, to get to glare without a comeback? “Ahem!” Bishop Salfyn, unexpecting Wenny’s cheeky reply, was caught off guard, resorting to a feigned cough. The middle bishop continued to converse with Milessia, seemingly oblivious, though the corner of the Hochkai bishop's mouth twitched slightly upward. Similarly, a certain white-haired individual, having noticed Wenny's discreet antics, couldn't suppress a smile but quickly regained her composure, avoiding any unwanted attention. Additionally, someone else observed Wenny's expressions—a red-haired female captain of the guard accompanying the bishops. She merely toyed with her sword hilt, saying nothing. Well now. Do you think Wenny did this solely out of frustration with the papacy, or in a moment of impetuousness, just to rile the old man? If so, Wenny would say you have underestimated him. You've only perceived the surface, thinking him acting at the lowest level, when in truth, he's operating at the highest tier. Milessia was too engaged to notice Wenny's expressions. As she walked, she detailed the post-catastrophe restoration efforts of Carilimann Academy to the three esteemed bishops, highlighting the damaged structures along the way. "Hmm, the reconstruction seems quite costly," mused the middle bishop, stroking his chin. "But worry not, we shall cover these expenses on behalf of the papacy." "Your kindness is appreciated, but I believe our academy has its own plans," Milessia remarked, casting a glance at Morincait. Accepting such offers without caution was unwise; these gestures rarely come without expectations of reciprocation later. "There's no need for concern. As representatives of the Goddess’s mortal will, it is only right that we assist those who have earned her favor," the bishop said with a dismissive wave. "In addition, the Goddess’s manifestation to repel the Demon Pillars is an event worthy of the chronicles. Therefore, we've brought along the papacy's historians to meticulously record every aspect of the incident, from its inception to conclusion," the bishop continued. “This also serves to complete humanity’s chronicles, so future generations faced with similar threats will have a guide to overcome them. We expect those of you with a deep understanding to support us for the collective benefit of humanity, leaving nothing unmentioned,” the bishop added with a knowing smile. “The papacy places great importance on this matter and has sought the assistance of students with ties to the church currently studying here." This statement was telling; it could be perceived as an emphasis on diligence in ensuring historical accuracy. Implicitly, it suggested, "We have informants within Carilimann Academy with church affiliations who have shared information, so it's best not to withhold anything, lest your accounts contradict theirs." "Rest assured, regarding these matters, we shall be fully forthcoming," Morincait vowed confidently. "Ah, that's the ideal," the bishop chuckled. The entourage reached the front of Saint Selena’s Cathedral. "Fortunately, despite being at the disaster's epicenter, Saint Selena’s Cathedral wasn't extensively damaged, with only a few statues being toppled. I suspect this was due to the Goddess’s and the Saint’s blessings," Milessia explained. At this remark, Wenny unconsciously glanced at Aesphyra. Her expression remained unchanged, as if the subject was entirely irrelevant to her, despite it being her sole effort that had preserved the cathedral. While Wenny’s gaze landed on her, Aesphyra had already sensed it, casting a fleeting, unreadable smile his way before looking elsewhere. Wenny redirected his attention elsewhere. The group entered Saint Selena’s Cathedral. Ordinarily, the cathedral was not open to the public, accessible only to bishops of the Exalted Radiance Papacy. Thus, this was its first opening since the disaster. Inside Saint Selena’s Cathedral, the three bishops engaged in prayer before the goddess statue, alongside all the Holy Radiance Order knights, hands on their sword hilts, eyes lowered, kneeling to offer the highest reverence to the Goddess and Saint. Upon entering the sacred ground, the knights moved with increased caution, mindful of its significance as Saint Selena's resting place. Both students and mentors followed suit, except for one—yes, it was Wenny again. He roamed the sacred space as if it were his own home, laid-back and carefree, with not the slightest hint of reverence in his eyes. Fortunately, the attention of those present was elsewhere, so barely anyone noticed. But someone did notice. Someone who had been intermittently observing Wenny already—the sharp-eyed Bishop Salfyn. To this, Wenny was indifferent. His actions were intentional, meant for the Exalted Radiance Papacy members to see. Had they not noticed, he'd have felt it'd all been for nothing. Seemingly aware that disputes were ill-suited for this sacred place, Bishop Salfyn refrained from voicing any disapproval. Upon reaching the cathedral's side chamber, designated for visiting high-ranking ecclesiastical officials, the gathering paused. The students’ task was simply to escort the bishops this far. After a night’s rest, the bishops would convene with the academy’s leadership, and whatever discussions ensued were no longer within the students' purview. Having escorted the Papacy’s high bishops, mentors and students alike were free to depart, leaving the security in the capable hands of the Holy Radiance Order. Amid the dispersing crowd, Wenny discreetly approached Milessia. "Milessia, could you help me with something?" "What is it? What sort of help do you need?" Though Milessia still had some reservations about Wenny's earlier interaction with that honey-haired girl, she understood from his expression that this was important. Understanding priorities, Milessia promptly agreed. “Later, could you join me in a little act? We’ll do it like this…” Wenny whispered alongside Milessia, appearing to stroll casually, speaking in hushed tones only the two of them could hear. "You mean…?" Milessia glanced at the bishops behind them, nodding slightly. "I understand. I’ll cooperate with you." "Great," Wenny said, stepping off the pathway as if tired, and instead of leaving the cathedral with the others, found a bench to sit on, propping his feet up casually. *2025/06/09/23/19*