2-72 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

**Volume 2 Chapter 72: Has He Fallen Under an Illusion?** "Don't worry. In a few days, the truth will be out. Those with guilty minds won't be able to hide." Aisifis laughed softly, cloaked in mystery. "Huh? So you already have a plan?" Vinny asked. "A brain as vacant as yours probably wouldn't have a plan yet, would it, Vinny?" Aisifis shot him a teasing glance, her eyes full of mirth. "Tsk, what do you mean by that? I have been thinking this whole time, but you won't share any clues with me," Vinny grumbled, pouting. "No need, really. All you have to do is be my echo," Aisifis said with a cheerful smile. "An echo? Can't you think of a better analogy?" Vinny frowned. "How about a puppet on a string, then?" "… Fine, whatever you say," Vinny conceded, feeling a newfound confidence in Aisifis' assured demeanor. After all, on the continent of Tyrilles, what challenge could possibly stump someone as blessed by fate as Aisifis? He realized he was in for an easy win, following her lead. Though the practical exam was becoming more complicated, it had merely gone from 'easy' to 'somewhat troublesome.' Nothing could emerge that Aisifis couldn't handle. "Well, since we've managed to find a place to stay, those tents I brought along won't be needed." Aisifis dispelled the soundproof barrier, stretching her graceful waist. "Wait, 'those’? Does that mean what I think it does?" Vinny raised an eyebrow, catching a critical word. "You brought just one tent—that’s fake?" "Oh dear, you found me out," Aisifis playfully tapped her head with her finger, feigning innocence. "Tsk! I knew it. You planned to leave me in the lurch?" Vinny grumbled. "Ah, Vinny, it's getting late. I'm off to tidy up my room," Aisifis said, smoothly changing the subject before flashing Vinny a smile and slipping back into her room with an elegant stride. "That cheeky little snowball!" Vinny muttered under his breath. "Oh, by the way, Vinny, I noticed there’s a water jar in the courtyard. You might want to fetch some water," Aisifis suddenly reappeared, her head poking around the doorframe. "Huh? What do you need the water for?" "Vinny, just because I said not to think doesn't mean you shouldn't think at all. Before bedtime, what else could fetching water signify?" Aisifis raised an eyebrow teasingly. "Out in this remote village, and with someone possibly watching us, you still want to bathe? You're indeed particular, Aisifis," Vinny remarked, incredulous. "Rest assured, that ‘thing’ watching us won’t try again tonight. If you were nearly caught spying, would you risk alarming your target again so soon?" Aisifis countered. "I guess that makes sense," Vinny admitted, pondering her logic. "So, hurry up, Vinny~ It's very poor form to keep a lady waiting," Aisifis urged. "But I still need to unpack and arrange my room, can't you wait a while longer?" Although Vinny had to follow Aisifis' orders, seeing as she was essentially carrying him through this journey, he still tried to negotiate, feeling the exhaustion creeping in. "If you don't want a hot bath tonight, I'm fine with waiting," Aisifis said with a sly smile. "A hot bath?? I get one too?" Vinny was taken aback. "Ten minutes, Vinny." Without answering his question, Aisifis departed, wasting no time. Before leaving, she tossed Vinny two buckets from who-knows-where. Traveling with such complete gear, she was impressively prepared. Well, considering Aisifis' proficiency with fire elements, heating a bucket of water—or even a whole tub—would take mere seconds. She could easily bring the water to the perfect temperature for bathing. Unlike Vinny, whose fire element affinity was pathetically low, he couldn't conjure even the tiniest flame. If left to him, he'd only manage to freeze the water solid. Previously, Vinny had resigned himself to having no place to sleep, much less the luxury of bathing. Lodging in the village with the chance to soak in a hot bath was a stroke of luck. After stowing his luggage in his room, Vinny headed to the courtyard, filled the two buckets, and used his skill, [Frostfang Blade], to balance them back to the front yard. "Hey, I've got the water!" Vinny called out. Soon, Aisifis, having tidied her room, returned to the front yard. "Well done, Vinny," she praised, though she didn't heat the water immediately. Instead, she took out an alchemic vial, adding a drop to each bucket. "Wow, isn't that a bit extravagant? Don't we have concentrated soap?" Vinny marveled. "Hehe, Vinny, it's not concentrated soap," Aisifis chuckled. "This is an alchemic reagent for detecting toxins." "Miss Acorn, you don't think I poisoned your water, do you?" Vinny quipped half-jokingly. "Why don't you guess?" Aisifis replied, amused. "…" "Vinny, if I distrusted you, do you think I'd let you fetch the water? That I'd reveal so much to you, speak so candidly?" Aisifis countered. "So, you suspect the old man?" Vinny whispered. "Not exactly. It's more about preventing innocents from being manipulated to harm us." Which essentially is the same as suspecting them. Vinny silently noted. "Alright, no color change. Seems like the water’s safe," Aisifis said, satisfied as she stored the reagent. She then peeled off her disposable gloves, putting her hands on the buckets’ sides. Heat waves flickered around her, and soon the water inside boiled. "Okay, I'm off to bathe, see you tomorrow," Aisifis said, picking up the buckets. But she turned back as if recalling something, giving Vinny a long look. "What's up?" "Vinny, no peeking, okay?" "Get lost, who wants to peek at you? What would make me look at you specifically? You're not even my type," Vinny retorted, rolling his eyes. "Besides, I have some self-respect and standards. Do you honestly think I'd stoop to spying on a girl bathing?" he defended. "Hmm," Aisifis hummed, casting him a meaningful glance before leaving. Vinny stood there, watching as she disappeared into her room, before finally heading to the back courtyard with his own bucket. Unlike the ladies, he had no need for discretion. Surveillance? Let it watch. As long as the hidden watcher wasn't embarrassed, why should he be afraid? Let it watch all it wants; he didn’t care. Clad in just his trousers, with a towel slung over his shoulder, Vinny hauled the hot water to the back courtyard. The moonlight washed over his pale skin as he looked down, noting that his skin seemed unnaturally bright. The divine ancestry of the goddess comes with its own downsides. For example, being excessively nourished has rendered his skin increasingly pale, lacking the ruggedness typical of masculinity. Vinny squatted by the water bucket, using a warm towel to wipe down his body. Ah, such tranquility. In the quiet night, only the symphony of insect chirps could be heard. If it weren't for the less-than-ideal conditions, living in such a village wouldn't be so bad. Someday, in the future, once he has the money, he dreams of purchasing a villa in a rural setting. On cool summer nights, he imagines lounging on the balcony with a glass of fine red wine, sipping slowly and savoring the peace of a summer's night. Maybe pop a few champagne corks and have some pudding. Ah, the simple pleasures of life. And, ideally, a beautiful companion by his side would make it perfect. As Vinny bathed and daydreamed about the future, a soft, sultry voice came from outside the courtyard. "Hey, handsome, over here, over here." "Hmm?" Vinny tilted his head, frowning as he pondered if someone was indeed calling him. He silently turned towards the direction of the voice. Goodness, perhaps the water was too hot, causing him to hallucinate. A beautiful girl, really here?? Disbelievingly, Vinny looked toward the sound and saw a tall woman sitting casually on the wooden fence with deep red, wavy hair. This red-haired woman had a figure far more explosive than the petite white-haired acorn could ever compare with. She wore tight black leather, paired with black high heels, sitting coquettishly on the fence in an alluring pose. She beckoned Vinny with fingers painted the same shade as her hair and fluttered a seductive glance in his direction. "Hey there, handsome, fancy coming over to play a little on this long night?" For a woman to sit atop a high fence at night and ask him over to play was bizarre, yet in Vinny's mind, it all seemed inexplicably reasonable. He stood up reflexively, his eyes slightly vacant as he walked towards the red-haired woman. Heh, an easy conquest. The red-haired woman deployed her innate charm with a slight upward curl of her lips. This was her natural talent and forte. Even a golden student of Cariliman Academy—at this age—was utterly defenseless against her allure. Just as Vinny stepped into her enchantment zone, the red-haired woman attempted to intensify her allure, aiming to invade Vinny's psyche. But as she did so, a brilliant, divine, cherry-hued glow flashed across her mind, jolting her nerves. In her moment of dizziness, a commanding voice rang out. "This cheap trick—who do you take me for? Sneaky fool, prepare for a beating!" The previously dazed, blue-haired youth jumped up, wielding an ice lance and smashing it down towards the fence-perched redhead. Tsk, what was that just now?! The red-haired woman bit her lip. She had returned at great risk, waiting for the dangerous silver-haired woman to retire and the blue-haired lad to be alone. She thought the richness lay in the risk, confident in her grasp, yet she encountered the unexpected! Vinny's blow landed on empty air. When he looked again at the fence, the woman was nowhere to be seen. Vanished into thin air?? Vinny stared for a moment, abruptly standing up. Only then did he realize he hadn't moved from beside the bucket; he'd been crouching there the whole time, drawing water. What was going on?? Feeling bewildered, Vinny surveyed his surroundings, staring where the woman had supposedly been—empty. By rights, he should have been in motion, weapon at the ready beside the fence, yet upon snapping back to reality, he found himself unmoved, with [Frostfang Blade] still in its earring form. It felt like everything was a mere figment of his imagination—there was no red-haired woman beckoning him. Just what happened earlier?? It couldn't possibly be hunger-induced hallucinations, could it?? Vinny furrowed his brow, recalling the events, noting his mind had been muzzy, then suddenly clarity returned, and with it, awareness of the oddity. It was then, armed with his wits, he reacted against the mysterious redhead. The foggy experience seemed unreal, but encountering such inexplicable events surely wasn't pure illusion. Could it be, he was entangled in an illusion cast by someone else?? Who could it be?? As he pondered, the gently ajar door to a room in the front yard closed once she confirmed his safety. Draped in a towel, Aisifis crossed her arms, leaning against the door frame, her snowy white shoulders exposed. Everything in the courtyard hadn't escaped her perception. At the first anomaly, Aisifis sensed it, towel-clad, pushing the door open. Before she could take action, Vinny freed himself, much to Aisifis' surprise.