2-92 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

Volume 2 Chapter 92: Was He Hearing Things? How Could the Villainous Young Master Be the Saintess? "Seriously, you narrow-minded white-haired loaf, isn't this a bit much?!" Wenny complained, clutching his sore and swollen rear, glaring at Aesphyra, who was still rinsing her mouth by the stream. It's been days, what's the point of rinsing so many times now?? Maybe rinsing right away would've made sense, but Aesphyra had fainted back then, completely out cold, so by now it's just a psychological comfort. She even chased him around for a makeshift escape race, showing just how petty she was; her mindset as tight as her chest, no wonder she had hardly any— Alright, if we're saying Aesphyra is small, she's not actually that small, just normal. But people compare, and when put next to Mirexia and Ishtiya, Aesphyra did seem rather petite, not to mention compared to Vannesa. Wow, she was biding her time, wasn't she? Ah, such a sly little white-haired nut! "Huff huff…" After who knows how many rinses, Aesphyra finally seemed satisfied, gently patting her mouth with a disposable silk handkerchief. "The books say that seeking benefit and avoiding harm is a biological instinct, and they were right, Wenny. I never realized you had this much potential; running so fast, have you considered being a sprinter?" Aesphyra teased. "Get lost! Sprinter? Why not have me race a horse?!" Wenny retorted irritably. "But Wenny, seriously, how did you find it to have such long-awaited exercise after rest? Don't you feel refreshed? It's great, isn't it? You got a workout and that nasty bug on your head is gone too, two birds with one stone," Aesphyra grinned. "Refreshed, my foot! Two birds with one stone? I only got beaten up and that's it! I bet you're the only one feeling refreshed! And if you knew the bug was on my head, why keep kicking my butt? What do you mean by that? You could just say you wanted to hit me. No need for this petty act," Wenny shot a glare at Aesphyra. "Oh really? But I thought you were enjoying it, Wenny?" Aesphyra replied playfully. "Enjoy, my ass! You were the only one having fun, you damned white-haired sadist! Just wait, I'll report you for bullying classmates when we get back!" Wenny grumbled with resentment. "Wenny, please don't say that. I honestly saw a big nasty bug on your head earlier, and knowing how you're terrified of bugs, I had to act quickly to get it off, right?" Aesphyra spoke with such earnestness it almost seemed real—truly a masterclass performance from this white-haired actress. "When did I ever fear bugs? Come on, I'm a fearless young man, no small bug could scare me! Stop spreading falsehoods!" Wenny reacted defensively. "But when we entered the snake pit, you got scared by just a bunch of serpent carcasses," Aesphyra tilted her head. "That's different! Let me ask you, are snakes the same as bugs?? Plus, I was just caught off guard!" Wenny insisted. During the conversation, Wenny found himself recuperating significantly, standing up to take a deep breath. Thankfully, Aesphyra hadn't kicked him hard; it was more playful and teasing than actually trying to harm him, or else his rear would've been sore for days, incapable of sitting. Hmm, though Wenny might never admit, Aesphyra's kicks were surprisingly…comfortable. "So where have we run off to now? You wouldn't have done this on purpose, right? We have no clue where we are now." "What makes you think we knew where we were before? At least we've left that forest behind," Aesphyra glanced around, momentarily lost in thought. "So, that teleport of yours was random? You don't know the location either?" Wenny asked. "Usually not, but in such a moment, it had to be random. However, rest assured, we are certainly in the southern continent. That very captivating fox lady couldn’t have continued pursuing us," Aesphyra reassured, gently stroking her chin. "Captivating? Come on, she nearly ended us! And here you are, calling her captivating?!" Wenny rolled his eyes. "Do looks override all else, forgetting how she almost had us killed?" "Wenny, her captivating appearance is an objective fact, just as is the fact that we almost died at her hands. There's no conflict," Aesphyra explained logically. "Tsk, guess you're just a sucker for looks," Wenny disdainfully glanced at Aesphyra. "Not entirely, Wenny. Truthfully, both humans and demons are visual creatures. Instead of accusing someone of being shallow, it's better to say these preferences are deeply rooted in the entire species' genes," Aesphyra explained confidently. "You sure know how to rationalize for yourself. Forget it, dealing with you isn't worth it. Instead of arguing, let's focus on figuring out our way back to the academy. It's been so long we might miss the final chance to submit our practical assessment," Wenny grumbled. "We're likely in the outskirts of a city in the southeastern part of the empire," Aesphyra deduced. "Huh? You can tell that just by looking? From the soil?" Wenny asked incredulously. If she could determine their precise location based solely on the soil, Aesphyra truly was extraordinary. "Do you see that spire in the distance?" Aesphyra pointed into the distance. "What? There's a spire? Hmm, oh yeah, there is a spire," Wenny squinted in the direction Aesphyra pointed. Her eyesight was sharper than expected, spotting a distant spire when he only noticed it after her indication. "Did you figure out our location just from that spire?" "Wenny, do you know the significance of that spire?" Aesphyra inquired. "Don't test me on history, you know I’m bad at it," Wenny complained. "That's the Tyrellis Clock Tower, a hallmark of Tyrellis Empire cities. During the era of the ancient Tyrellis Empire, every newly built or conquered city had a central clock tower erected. It was not only vital for swift communication of emergencies but held significant meaning for the ancient Tyrellis imperial family — their family crest even featured a clock face," Aesphyra explained. "After the fall of the ancient empire, the Tyrel Empire claimed to inherit all legal rights, naturally adopting many cultural practices, including the tradition of building a centrally-located clock tower taller than all other structures in major cities." Wenny couldn't tell if Aesphyra learned all this ancient history herself or if it was taught by the Galactus family. "Then how can you pinpoint our position within the Tyrel Empire?" Wenny questioned. "Because that spire's architecture indicates it was built during the ancient empire rather than the Tyrel Empire. The styles differ distinctly between the two periods." "And such well-preserved clock towers that haven’t seen the ravages of war only exist in the southeastern regions of the ancient empire," Aesphyra continued explaining. Wenny rubbed his head. Alright, he definitely lacked that kind of knowledge. It seemed learning history served a purpose. "So, what now? Head to that town?" Wenny asked, falling back on Aesphyra for direction, knowing any attempt on his part would likely complicate things. "If that city is Lucasburg, there might not be a direct magical chariot to the northern empire." "I don't think the issue is whether there's a direct carriage to the northern empire. Even if there was, we can't afford it," Wenny chuckled. "Did you forget? We left all our baggage in Lake Village. We don't have a single coin on us!" "Is that so?" Aesphyra gave a mysterious smile. "What? Do you have some money hidden away?" Wenny wondered. Surely those silver coins they had carried were melted into fragments during the previous battle, right?? Their specially made Carlemagne Academy uniforms were in tatters, so the coins were surely unsalvageable. Aesphyra said nothing, walking ahead of Wenny. Wenny knew this was her usual enigmatic self, leaving him with no choice but to follow her. If she wanted to play the mysterious one, so be it. After all, the omnipotent Aesphyra surely had a plan. He just needed to follow. The two walked along the outskirts, with Wenny peering in the direction of the tower, only now realizing how tall it truly was. Growing up in the Kingdom of Camela, he'd never visited such a major city of the Tyrel Empire nor seen such an architecturally stunning, towering clock tower. They hadn't even seen the city walls yet but could already glimpse the clock tower, indicating a considerable distance still lay between them and the city. Even at such a distance, it was amazing they could see parts of the city's structures. Indeed, their distance was considerable. By the time the sky turned pitch black, they finally spotted the towering city walls, adorned with the Tyrel Empire's flag. As the successor to ancient Tyrellis, it was only natural for the Tyrel Empire to use the griffin flag, yet theirs featured three golden spears and a crown in the background, unlike the ancient Tyrellis Empire's floral wreath and clock face. "Where are you two from, and why do you need to enter the city?" The imperial soldiers stationed at the city wall had spotted them long ago, only addressing them leisurely when they came within hailing distance. "Sir, we are students from Carlemagne Academy, passing through due to a task. Could you please open the gate for us? Here’s our Carlemagne Academy student ID. Additionally, your superior should recognize these uniforms," Aesphyra responded civilly. "Carlemagne Academy?" Upon hearing this, the guard withdrew from the wall, seemingly to fetch his superior. Before long, a soldier in uniform appeared on the wall and, recognizing their uniforms, instructed the guards to open the gate. After checking their student IDs, the two were allowed entry. Luckily, both Wenny and Aesphyra had carried their student IDs with them, preventing them from getting lost with their luggage. In any country or city they traveled through, their Carlemagne Academy student IDs served as reliable passes. Both soldiers and officers were aware that students from Carlemagne Academy were exceptionally talented, their futures far surpassing their own. Even if they decided not to curry favor, offending them was ill-advised, lest they unknowingly made an enemy of a future influential figure. "Did you two just complete a task for the academy? It must have been hard work. Please excuse our earlier formalities," the officer courteously said. "Not at all, sir. You were just following procedure; we understand." Aesphyra accepted their student IDs, handing Wenny's back to him, and the two entered the city. "Good news, Wenny. This really is Lucasburg," Aesphyra chuckled lightly. "Oh? Is there something special about Lucasburg?" Wenny inquired. "Other than being a large city of the Tyrel Empire, not really," Aesphyra replied. "Then why say it's good news?" "Because in big cities like this, finding family businesses is easier. It's not like small towns where they might be hidden in alleys," Aesphyra answered casually. "Oh." Wenny instantly realized what Aesphyra intended. Apologies for misjudging. After all, he should've factored in Aesphyra's family background instead of thinking with his modest means. Soon, they arrived outside an opulent chain clothing store. "W-wow, this place is huge! The one in the small town can't compare!" Wenny marveled at the lavish shopfront, akin to a luxurious villa. "Didn't you notice?" Aesphyra tilted her head. "Notice what?" Wenny asked, perplexed. "It's not just this store. The entire market area in Lucasburg is full of stores owned by my family," Aesphyra pointed toward another shop's sign in the distance. Whoa. Wenny was left speechless at Aesphyra's casual "my family" phrase. What kind of upbringing lets someone say "all these area’s shops are owned by my family" so calmly? His poverty-stricken imagination couldn't grasp Aesphyra's world. Despite both Carlemagne and Fasyris families' decline, there was still a significant gap even among fallen houses. Carlemagne still had loyal, competent people like Galactus, whereas Fasyris only had treacherous turncoats waiting to kick them when they were down. Alas, people are bound to envy others. Curse the plot writers of "Carlemagne's Oranges" for creating such a narrative, painting the Fasyris family as a mere backdrop for heroines to trample over. "Come on, Wenny, why aren't you coming?" Aesphyra asked, seeing Wenny hesitate. "I'll stay outside and wait," Wenny replied, looking aside. This was Aesphyra's family business, and most employees were likely her family's servants. If they saw their lady returning with a male classmate, it might lead to misunderstandings like last time, and Aesphyra wouldn't be pleased. They're just hitching a ride. No need for unnecessary complications, or so Wenny thought. "Wenny, this is my family's establishment. Why feel uneasy?" However, to Wenny's surprise, Aesphyra turned and approached him. "I..." "The servants in my house are well-trained. None would greet a friend of their master with rudeness or disdain; such people wouldn't get past the Galactus household gate," Aesphyra explained, flipping a wisp of her hair aside, a breathtaking smile under the moonlight. "Perhaps you're waiting for a grand invitation from me?" "N-no, let's go," Wenny shook his head and followed Aesphyra inside. Did she just call him her "friend" back there? Was he hearing things, or had he forgotten? (Maybe continue tomorrow.) July 9, 2025, 23:10