2-62 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

### Volume 2, Chapter 62 ~ This is an Open Conspiracy The welcome ceremony concluded, and the mentors and students responsible for receiving the Fawning Radiance Church delegation gradually exited Saint Selina Chapel. Normally closed to outsiders except for special occasions, only clergy were permitted to remain overnight. Once the bishops retreated to their accommodations in the side chapel, only the Order of the Sacred Radiance Knights, tasked with maintaining order, stayed behind. Most students had already left, but not all of them. A certain blue-haired young man remained, legs crossed, sitting on the bench as if he were at home. His feet rested on the seat, exuding a devil-may-care attitude unsuited to the chapel's sanctity. He casually grabbed a holy text from a nearby jade table and used it like a fan, reveling in his own mischievous delight. "Excuse me, could I interrupt for a moment?" A Sacred Radiance Knight, unable to tolerate the behavior any longer, eventually approached and spoke. "Hmm? What is it?" Wenny, clearly irritated by the interruption, reacted with an unfriendly tone. The knight was taken aback. Typically, no matter a student's background, status, or position, they'd afford the Order of the Sacred Radiance Knights a basic level of respect. Such an arrogant demeanor was unprecedented. "This is the Holy Chapel, enshrining the Goddess and the sages of the Fawning Radiance Church's past, and the resting place of Saint Selina. In such a dignified and sacred space, please maintain respect," the knight said in a low voice. "Not at all. How is it your business what I do? Who are you to order me around? Do you even know who I am?" Wenny haughtily pointed to himself with his thumb, his arrogance palpable. "It doesn't matter who you are. That cannot justify your insolence in this holy place," the knight frowned. "It doesn't matter? You really dare say that? What do you think this place is—your private property? Did you even ask me?" Wenny retorted, visibly full of contempt. "Please stop being unreasonable and leave," the knight's patience was waning, his expression intense. "What, you're kicking me out now? Is this chapel yours? You really think that highly of yourselves, huh? It's as if you believe you built this place yourselves," Wenny taunted with condescension. "Let's be clear, this place is my home. I choose where I want to be, and you have no say in the matter," he declared defiantly. "Really, you think you have any authority over me? With my family name, I should be the one kicking you pretenders out. I should be expelling you for daring to defy me," Wenny sneered. The knight's patience snapped, his initial politeness evaporating. "So, after all this, who are you really?" "Heh, you asked for it. If I told you my name, you'd tremble with fear and kneel in reverence. That's why I didn't bother." "Listen up, I am Wenny Ferris, the sole heir of the Fasyris lineage, the last descendant of the Saintess' bloodline, and the future holy king. Surprised? Didn't see that coming, did you?" Wenny's voice echoed throughout the side chapel, the confidence and self-importance in it impossible for ordinary people to fake. Yet, Wenny managed it effortlessly. Everyone outside patrolling heard his boast, and the knight confronting him face-to-face was initially puzzled but soon recognized Wenny, his expression shifting to a resigned acknowledgment. "Shocking, huh? Didn't expect that, did you?" Wenny, seemingly oblivious to their reactions, remained ensconced in his own grandiose delusion. "I am the one and only direct descendant of the Saint Selina lineage. Now, you realize your mistake? Fine, I'll grant you the chance to apologize by kneeling, and maybe I'll forgive you. I'm quite generous and benevolent, after all," Wenny declared, flipping his hair and closing his eyes in self-satisfaction. The knight stood silent. "Hey, what's the meaning of this? I'm offering you an out. Don't waste it," Wenny complained when the knight remained nonresponsive. "Sorry, Master Wenny. I failed to recognize you, excuse my earlier behavior. Nonetheless, you bearing the Saintess family name and behaving so carelessly only tarnishes the Fasyris family, the Goddess, and the Saintess." "Moreover, you are neither a saintess nor clergy, so please leave promptly. If you disturb the archbishops' rest, I'll have to take unpleasant measures," the knight stated sharply. "Oh, so you think you can speak to me like that? Is your knighthood mass-produced? Defying a descendant of the Saintess family and daring to kick me out? This is my domain; I should be showing you the door! Insult me, will you? Looks like your knighthood will end here! Fine, I'll sleep here tonight and commune with Saint Selina in dreams to revoke your title!" Wenny raved angrily. "You lot are sowing regret!" "Sacred Radiance Knights are supposed to be chosen by a saintess, granted weapons with her blessing. You really believe you're true knights? Ridiculous!" Wenny mocked. "I'll enlighten you: after my great-grandmother, the last saintess, passed away, there hasn't been a true Sacred Radiance Knight. You're pretenders, the pope's lackeys, not true knights!" "You wouldn't stand against demons; you'd crumble!" The knight's patience had worn thin, his tone now deadly cold, hand gripping his sword. "If you continue, I'll be forced to act, even in this sacred place." "You'd attack me? Dare you? Recall the recent divine manifestation—because of me!" Wenny's gaze flitted briefly to the side chapel door as someone in white emerged, fueling his fiery rhetoric. "It was my presence at Karilim Academy that drew my ancestor to reveal herself! Understand?" "You deluded folks, without me, why would a miracle occur?" Wenny proclaimed. "You threaten me here? Not afraid of the Goddess's wrath? Or of Saint Selina's retribution upon you?" "I'm warning you, one dream and I'll invoke their judgment!" "Enough! Wenny, stop this. It’s time we leave," Mirexia intervened, arriving in the nick of time. She grabbed Wenny's arm, intent on departing with him. "Hey, hey, hey! Don't pull me, Mirexia, don't pull me! I'm not done talking!" Wenny seemed insatiable, showing no intention of leaving. "You tell me! Which word I've said isn't the truth? Didn't the goddess manifest because of me? How could it not be? It's obvious, right? You think so too, don't you?" Wenny insisted, fervently defending his absurd assertions. "Enough, let's leave. Everyone else has gone, and it's about time we did too," Mirexia's usually unshakeable demeanor was strained. "No way, I'm not finished! I'm the one in the right here, so why shut me down? They're just usurpers! If they can stay here, why can't I? This is my home!" Wenny protested. "Apologies, Sir Knight. He's not usually like this. Lately, certain events have taken a toll on his mental state. Please don't hold his words against him," Mirexia apologetically explained while trying to pull Wenny away from further trouble. "It's alright. However, Your Highness, please ensure he watches himself in the future. This is the sacred ground of the Saintess; not just any rabble is allowed to be disrespectful here," the knight acquiesced, acknowledging the Kalmera Kingdom's princess. Having such a childhood friend was clearly challenging; truly trying times for Princess Mirexia. "He wants me to watch myself? Pah! How many keys do you have? Three? Do you even qualify to get one?" Wenny continued his tirade. "Wenny, enough already!" Mirexia's voice rose with emotion, finally showing her frustration. The knights and Archbishop Salfain, standing at the side chapel door, watched as Mirexia pulled Wenny away. Even after they disappeared from sight, Wenny’s shouting could still be heard faintly in the distance. "What happened? It's so noisy." "Archbishop!" It dawned on the knights that Salfain had witnessed the entire ordeal. "Apologies for disturbing your peace. That person, claiming to be a descendant of the Fasyris family, refused to leave and showed no respect for this holy place," the Sacred Radiance Knight explained. "Oh, you mean that Wenny?" Salfain's expression was laced with disdain. "I almost forgot he managed to enroll in Karilim Academy. If someone like him can get in, it seems the academy's reputation is indeed declining." "And causing a ruckus here... utterly lacking in talent and decorum, he's truly an embarrassment to both the Goddess and the Saintess," Salfain clicked his tongue, as if the memory alone was unpleasant. "However, the clown does know his audience, arranging such a sideshow for my amusement. Note down everything that fool said and relay it to the Pope afterwards." "Understood!" the knights responded in unison. "I'm exhausted from the journey. I'm going to rest. Ensure this doesn't happen again," Salfain instructed, heading to the side chapel for respite. "Yes, sir." Salfain took a final glance in the direction Wenny had departed. For him, the charade that unfolded seemed typical of a fool acting out his role. However, unlike others who might dismiss it as nonsense, Salfain discerned something more beneath the surface. Because, in this realm, he was an expert. Elsewhere, within the student council president's office, a Wenny previously full of indignation now sat back in his chair, arms crossed, as if a mission accomplished. "Mirexia, thank you for your cooperation earlier. Your acting was excellent," Wenny praised, the mood entirely shifted. "..." Mirexia remained silent at his compliment, recalling how Wenny had transformed the moment they stepped into the room, away from prying ears. His fiery facade seamlessly gave way to a pleased grin, his demeanor flipping as smoothly as a coin. Mirexia looked at Wenny, wordlessly implying volumes. She felt undeserving of his praise, recognizing the true acting prowess lay with him. "Don't look at me like that. I didn't do much, just reinforced their existing perceptions of me," Wenny shrugged. He had intentionally put on a show, ensuring the Sacred Radiance Knights and the Archbishop witnessed it. The concept had been conceived when he was still Vanessa. Even though the matter of the goddess's manifestation had officially settled, with agreed-upon conclusions both internally and externally, one could never be sure of the Church's higher-ups or even the Pope's private thoughts. Might they harbor other suspicions? Perhaps even redirect their doubts toward him? Thus, Vanessa devised this strategy. If anyone in the ecclesiastical hierarchy suspected her involvement, she would proactively counter, flamboyantly declaring it was indeed her doing. Coupled with his consistent performance, he flawlessly embodied the Wenny known to all—someone dismissed as a joke. Those in the Church with enough imagination to suspect him would dismiss it all as absurd after hearing the bishops' reports. The more Wenny arrogantly boasted about the goddess's manifestation being linked to him, the more the Fawning Radiance Church would regard him as a simpleton seeking undeserved attention through baseless glorification. A buffoon incapable of discretion, his every word reduced to mockery: this image, while ridiculous, served to render him harmless. As long as Wenny maintained this overt, transparent persona, he would remain above suspicion. This is Vanessa's open conspiracy.