2-71 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

Return to Chapter 71: Surveillance "The Villainous Young Master Can't Be the Saintess?" Volume 2, Chapter 71: Surveillance Author: HanTang's Return Updated: 2025/6/18 20:30:01 Word count: 4013 Aesphyra brushed aside her bangs and led the way out of the snake den, with Wenny silently following behind her. On this trip, Wenny witnessed Aesphyra's professional expertise firsthand. He observed her using two types of alchemical potions for detection and another with an unknown function, each a fortified and improved version that Aesphyra had developed herself. Wenny felt like he was merely an accessory throughout, completely clueless, with an expression that seemed to ask, ‘What is she talking about, what is she doing, what is the purpose of this?’ He had considered doing something, anything really, since doing nothing would render his presence useless. What difference would it make if he hadn't come on this trip at all? Although having Aesphyra as his practical assessment partner meant he couldn't be of much help, he believed even a sidekick had its role, didn't it? Yet, when he was too passive, even Wenny felt somewhat guilty, itching to find something to do to feel more justified in his presence. Besides, if he didn't contribute at all, he wouldn’t know what to write in the report, or how many practical points he could earn from it. However, not all hope was lost, as he imagined he could write that he sustained the most injuries, drew the most aggro, and successfully relieved Aesphyra of a significant amount of pressure. Isn't that the reality? Didn't he attract all the firepower? As the two emerged from the cave, the sky had already turned pitch black, and they stumbled in the darkness toward the village. Although it pained him to admit, the village near the remote town of Lake indeed fit the definition of a backwater. It was so far removed from the major city-states of the Tyrell Empire, lying almost at the empire's border, that even bandits had no interest in visiting. The villages here largely evaded the jurisdiction of local lords, with the villagers often seeing only the tax collectors as the highest-ranking officials. The state of the infrastructure here was predictable. There wasn't so much as a single street lamp, not even a torch along the way; the roads were full of potholes, hardly passable on foot, let alone by carriage. Aesphyra conjured a deep crimson flame in her palm, illuminating their surroundings as if it were broad daylight, amidst the slightly eerie wilderness. Lighting up flames in an uncertain, potentially dangerous place was risky, as it could expose them to hostile eyes. However, with Aesphyra present, such concerns were unwarranted. Any monsters or bandits that dared to test their luck would quickly find they had kicked an immovable object. Wenny kept his weapon, the Fang of the Froststone, at the ready as he followed Aesphyra. Neither spoke; once Aesphyra entered her serious mode, she wouldn't speak unless necessary. Yet Wenny felt the atmosphere warranted a conversation. "What was that potion you sprinkled inside the cave earlier?" Wenny inquired, hefting his ice spear. "Detection potion," Aesphyra replied, seemingly pondering something, using few words. "I'm talking about the one you used after the detection potion." "You’ll find out in a few days. If not, then there's no need for you to know," Aesphyra replied. As always, shrouding her intentions in riddles, leaving Wenny confused and in the dark. What does she mean by 'you'll know in a few days, or it's unnecessary to know'? Is she hinting or not? Ah, this white-haired diminutive enigma maintains her love of cryptic speech, leaving Wenny muddled. After about fifteen minutes, they returned to the village; the dark roads had indeed slowed them down. Back in the village, Wenny felt a certain heaviness in his heart, not due to failing to comprehend Aesphyra's cryptic language, nor the uncertainty of their practical assessment progress, but because he had to sleep on the grass tonight! Sure, he wasn't overly pampered, and sleeping on grass wasn't the worst. But the question was how long they'd be stuck here? By the looks of things, several days at least, and he’d have to sleep on grass all those nights? Not to mention, it seemed like it might rain tonight! Not only would he have to sleep on the grass, but he'd also get wet doing it! After a night of rain, the ground would be soaked come morning, and he'd be stuck lying in muddy dirt... This was just too uncomfortable! Who could he blame, though? Aesphyra had said it herself: it was his lack of outdoor survival experience that led him to think that there'd definitely be a place to stay, so he hadn't brought a tent. It wasn't a tourist hub where inns lined the streets, after all. As for squeezing into Aesphyra's tent? Ha, Wenny wouldn't dare entertain such a thought; let alone the absurdity of a man proposing to share a tent with a girl. He could already foresee the scene, Aesphyra inviting him in with a gleeful smile, only to toy with him. If he dared muster the courage to enter this tent of rare blue and green hues, his focus would have to shift from avoiding the rain to survival for the night. So, as they entered the village, Wenny started scouting locations for shelter, observing the houses to find one with a large enough overhang to shield him from the rain for the night. Aesphyra glanced at Wenny's forlorn expression, smiling silently. This fool really thought she brought just one tent. However... Since nightfall, Aesphyra couldn't shake the feeling that the village was cloaked by a mysterious aura. "You two are the students from Karelman Academy, aren't you?" Just as Wenny was pondering, a familiar, aged voice reached them from the side. Wenny turned, recognizing the old village chief who had briefed them on the village's situation earlier in the evening. "Oh, it's you, old sir! Out for an evening stroll? Digesting after dinner?" Wenny greeted him first. "Why are you still in this village?" the elder's tone wavered slightly. "We told you before, we’re here to resolve the snake menace, so we are investigating," Wenny explained, furrowing his brow. The old man fell silent. "I mentioned earlier that the snake issue was already resolved," the elder continued after a pause. "True, but we still find some things suspicious," Wenny replied, glancing at Aesphyra. "Leke Village lacks an inn; you won't make it back to town this late, so where will you stay?" the elder asked. "Well, as you can see, probably sleeping under the stars," Wenny admitted, though it was just him. "It's going to rain tonight. You'll catch a cold sleeping outside," the elder remarked with a sigh. "If you're not opposed, why not stay at my place?" "Really?! Oh, I mean, can we really?" Wenny's spirits soared at the notion of not having to sleep on the wet ground. "Come then; it's just me and my grandson at home. We've got plenty of empty rooms. Better to have someone who needs them use them than let them sit." "Oh, thank you so much, sir! We were indeed worried about this!" Wenny expressed his gratitude eagerly. Aesphyra remained silent, observing the elder thoughtfully. "What do you think, Ai... Aesphyra?" Wenny sought Aesphyra's input since, in these matters, his agreement wasn't sufficient. Clearly, Aesphyra was the core of their team, and he dared not influence her judgment. What if she noticed certain details and, seeing the bigger picture, felt it was inappropriate? "Then, we would graciously impose on you for several days, sir," Aesphyra politely curtsied, lifting her skirt. "It's fine; I usually live alone; a little bustle at home will be nice," the old man chuckled, leading the way. Shortly thereafter, the trio arrived at one of the few compounds in the village. The courtyard, encircled by wooden fences, saw the elder hobbling ahead to open the gate. "Grandpa, you're back!" A small figure dashed out from the house. "Today, those uncles and aunts... huh? Who are these pretty sisters and brother?" The boy, with his large, round eyes, examined Aesphyra and Wenny in disbelief. For the villagers, it was rare to see such well-dressed and strikingly attractive young people. Oh? Upon hearing the words "good-looking," Wenny's ears perked up like he had caught onto a keyword, a small, involuntary grin appearing on his face. At last, someone who could appreciate looks, he thought. This kid is surely destined for greatness, so perceptive even at a young age. "These two are travelers passing through. They'll be staying with us for the next few days. It's late, so go to bed now. I need to attend to our guests," the elder gently instructed his grandson. "Oh, okay." The boy nodded obediently, casting another curious glance at the two before returning to his room. "That's my grandson. Since his parents passed away, it's just been the two of us," the elder explained, a rare gentle smile gracing his features. "Hmm, he seems like a well-mannered child," Wenny noted approvingly. "You can stay in those two rooms over there. They used to be my son and daughter-in-law's, as well as guest rooms. They're empty now, having been unused for a while, so you might need to tidy up a bit," said the old man. "We'll handle it, thank you for your generous help," Aesphyra nodded slightly. The elder nodded in return. Just as Aesphyra was about to carry her luggage to the room, she suddenly frowned, and an icy spike shot toward the upper part of the wooden fence, missing its mark but freezing the entire section with a terrifying chill. "Who's there? Come out," Aesphyra demanded coldly. "Huh?" Wenny was momentarily stunned. He quickly turned his gaze in the direction Aesphyra indicated, but found nothing, his expression turning puzzled. Aesphyra's instincts were nearly infallible, and Wenny trusted her intuition and judgment completely. If someone had indeed been spying on them from the fence... No, something was off. Wenny's expression shifted slightly. This wooden fence towered over the height of a grown man; who would be able to reach that spot, lurking in the dark night just to watch them? An eerie feeling crept over Wenny, prompting him to edge closer to Aesphyra for reassurance. Fear stems from the unknown, and in moments like these, the safety provided by the destined great heroine was palpable. "Is something the matter?" The elder turned back in confusion. "I apologize, sir, for freezing your fence. The ice will melt soon," Aesphyra said apologetically. "It's fine; I've seen magic before. But did you see something earlier?" the elder inquired. "No, I didn't have the chance to see," Aesphyra replied, fixed on the spot she had frozen with her ice magic. "Young lady, do you feel someone is watching you? Perhaps you were mistaken. Our village is poor; even bandits aren't interested in coming here. Aside from the recent snake troubles, the most danger we've faced is from the occasional wild animal," the elder explained. "Perhaps I was mistaken," Aesphyra said cryptically, leaving her true thoughts unknown. Wenny doubted Aesphyra would be overly sensitive about nothing. His sense of optimism chipped away, as the practical assessment seemed to be veering into complexity and mystery. Wenny couldn't help but wonder if it was connected to their earlier visit to the snake's lair? Could something have been hiding in the village, noticed the outsiders, and realized they’d stumbled across the serpent's lair, thus perceiving their actions as a threat and choosing to surveil them—only for Aesphyra to detect its presence instantly. Thank goodness for Aesphyra, otherwise, Wenny realized he might have remained oblivious to the prying eyes of whatever unseen creature was watching them. Wenny and Aesphyra exchanged a glance. "I'm sorry, sir. My companion must be exhausted, leading to hallucinations. We'll head to bed now; you should rest as well," Wenny said, maintaining a normal facade. "Very well, I'll leave you then," the elder replied before retreating inside. Once inside their room, with the door closed, Aesphyra pulled a magical scroll from her backpack, incinerating it to form a soundproof barrier around them. In matters of importance, Aesphyra's thoroughness was undeniable; she left no stone unturned, instilling a sense of security despite her diminutive stature. "Are we being watched by some unclean entity? So there really is something odd hidden within this village? Does Priest Fucas know about this?" Wenny questioned once the soundproof shield was in place. "Do you think we were targeted by that 'thing' as soon as we entered the serpent's lair?" he pondered. June 20, 2025, 22:44 [Bookmark to continue reading.]