22 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

Volume 3, Chapter 22: May There Be No More White-Haired Nutballs in the World "After recalculating the overall scores among the contestants, ultimately, one contestant surpassed Liz, who had been securely in first place, to win the championship of the first beauty pageant of Careriman Academy. That contestant is Miss Wenniya!" "Let's congratulate her!" As the spotlight fell on the pale blue-haired girl, who appeared utterly bewildered by the situation, thunderous applause erupted from the audience. It wasn't clear who initiated the clapping, but applause rang out, resonating amidst the amazed expressions of the other beauty contestants and the dumbstruck face of the pageant champion. What is this anyway?? Wenny felt as if a thousand llamas were running wild through his mind. Why are you clapping and congratulating? I don't even know how I won, and you're all applauding? How did she manage to become the first place? Her talent show was just a whimsical performance on stage, right?? Do these audiences really prefer such unique styles?? The usual singing and dancing talents seem too ordinary, the audience might be tired of them, and taking an unconventional approach had surprisingly worked? Wenny thought he was in a precarious situation, but unexpectedly, this is what happened. Even so, Wenny still couldn't understand what was up with the audience this time, why they voted for him? Just because he was doing something whimsical?? Wenny couldn't figure it out. "Great! Truly deserved! If Miss Wenniya isn't the champion, I can't accept it!" Then came the cheers and commendations of a group of ardent fans from the audience. "Wenniya is so cool, I am madly in love, ahhh!" "Aahhh, I was born to meet Miss Wenniya!" "Indeed, beautiful appearances are common, but interesting souls are one in a hundred, too interesting!" Once the applause began, other audience members also followed suit, accepting the fact that Wenny was the pageant champion this year. Gradually, the applause on site grew louder. To this, even Liz contributed her applause, including the other beauty contestants, who, whether out of magnanimity or genuine goodwill, had to offer their symbolic congratulations. "As Careriman Academy's beauty pageant champion, we believe that a woman's most important qualities should be unwavering confidence and tenacious effort. Thus, I cast my precious vote for Miss Wenniya because despite the roughness, I saw unyielding perseverance and confidence in her." After announcing the champion, the host continued. Of course, this may not be enough to convince everyone, for example, Aleya, who stood at the edge of the stage. She didn't even clap, let alone pretend, completely dissatisfied. However, whether she was dissatisfied or anyone else, they had to accept it. Other people might not have voted for Wenny, but Wenny received the most votes, and the judges gave the highest scores, indisputable facts, so no one could have any objections. No one dared to cause trouble here. The event organizers provided the behind-the-scenes personnel, hosts, stage setup, and opportunities for all registrants to showcase themselves, increase their exposure, and the ultimate reward, the Ice Element Elixir, all based on votes determining the final recipient, who was both the most popular and the highest scorer, was without dispute. "Now, may we have the winning contestant, Miss Wenniya, move to the center. Let's shine the spotlight on him and please have him deliver his acceptance speech!" With that, the contestants on both sides voluntarily stepped aside, allowing Wenny to stand in the center of the stage. So, with the light shining down, only a confused pale blue-haired girl remained in center stage, as if not yet comprehending the reality of her victory. No, this isn't right?? He only participated on a whim, and he is receiving an award?? Does this make sense?? In the first beauty pageant of Careriman Academy, he—a man—participated and won, and now he’s asked to give an acceptance speech, does this make any sense?? Wenny stood there, speechless for a long time. "Come on, please say a few words of award acceptance, summarize some winning experiences." The host came over, handing Wenny a microphone-like device, enchanted with amplification magic. "I..." Taking the microphone-like enchantment tool, Wenny paused for a moment and then remembered award acceptance templates from his past life. "Ahem, first of all, I want to thank everyone for their support. Without your support, I wouldn’t have reached where I am today." "In addition, I also have my thanks, uh, thanks?? Uh, in short, there are just many people to thank!" Wait, wait, does this sound a bit odd?? "Uh, haha, it seems many people enjoy the jokes I tell." Recalling the host's request for him to summarize his winning experience, Wenny casually said. "Yes, yes! I adore Miss Wenniya's cold jokes; ahhhh! I would be willing to freeze to death by Miss Wenniya's jokes!" Then, not allowing Wenny to speak further, the audience began to cheer wildly again. After Wenny finished speaking, cheers resounded, though Wenny himself wasn't sure what they were cheering about anymore. "Ahem, my apologies, gentlemen, please let our beauty pageant champion finish their speech without interruption." Even the host couldn’t help but chime in. "Oh, oh, sorry, sorry. Miss Wenniya, I just wanted to express my unwavering support for you!" "…" Wenny, momentarily speechless, was at a loss for words. Being treated this way by another guy, isn’t this pure harassment?? Wenny pursed his lips, glossed with hue. Forget it, forget it, anyway, it’s coming to an end. He got what he wanted, after all, it wasn't a loss. Alright, alright, let's just wrap this farce up! Hand him the elixir, and he could head back, pretending nothing ever happened. After all, even if others saw it, there's no evidence it was him. Even if recognized, it didn't matter. "Now, we will award the winner of the beauty pageant with the pageant champion medal and prizes, including the Ice Element Elixir and this pageant’s extra reward, the Golden Branch Flower!" "Oh, sorry, wait, sorry everyone, this time the awarding will not be done by me but will be conducted personally by the event organizer." The host seemed to recall something and excused himself from the stage. Personal awarding by the organizer?? Wenny's eyebrows slightly raised, naturally curious about what the organizer looked like. Moreover, from the tone, does this mean the organizer is a single person?? If so, it’s truly impressive, possessing such financial power and alchemical skills, the organizer must be extraordinary!? However, just by hosting a beauty pageant, Wenny's impression of them wasn't really good, they could perhaps be an indecent old man. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed to be the case. Ack! And it appeared, that old sleazebag seems to have taken a fancy to him?? Oh crap, it can't be, right?? This kind of thing, no way?! If only he’d known guys could also be... While Wenny pondered internally what kind of person the organizer might be, the soft sound of high-heeled boots stepping lightly came from the side of the stage. Only then did Wenny notice that all the beauty pageants' contestants' gazes were simultaneously drawn over, deeply captivated and utterly astounded. What’s going on here?? Wenny also looked over, and upon seeing the white figure gracefully walking from the side of the stage holding a tray, his eyes widened, and his mouth hung agape in shock. Why is it her?! Why is it her?? Ah, ah ah?? This doesn't make sense... wait, hold on?? Wealthy, beauty pageant, then advanced alchemical skills?? Ah, why hadn’t he realized before? Don’t these traits exactly match...?? "Congratulations, Miss Wenniya~" Before Wenny could fully react, the silver-haired girl had already made her way to him, her face beaming with a smile. It was unclear if it was intentional, but she deliberately paused between the 'Wenni' and 'ya' parts of his name. The large black bow, the lustrous silver hair, the radiant violet eyes, her elegant attire, black high-heeled boots, and a visage splendidly adorned with celestial and jeweled brilliance. Who else could possess such elegance and beauty if not Aesphyra?? Her appearance made everyone else fade into obscurity. Even the most self-assured of contestants now grasped the gulf between themselves and the silver-haired girl. The instant Aesphyra graced the stage, every gaze was locked onto her, unable to look away. "It's the campus beauty queen, Aesphyra!" Many in the audience recognized the silver-haired girl tasked with presenting the award and couldn't help but express admiration. In that instant, all the beauty on stage felt inadequate, seemingly present only to accentuate the gem-like brilliance of the silver-haired girl. One could say that with her arrival, she stole the spotlight from all the pageant participants. Yet, no one dared voice dissent, not only because she was the organizer but because, in her presence, no one could confidently lay claim to the word "beauty." Anybody, irrespective of their expertise, could perceive the disparity. "Congratulations on winning my first Careriman Academy beauty pageant. Here is your prize, please accept it." "And also, I cast my precious vote for you~," Aesphyra added, leaning in to blink her captivating eyes softly. With those words, she extended the golden-edged black tray to Wenny. Inside lay a pure gold Golden Branch Flower, a beautifully crafted beauty pageant champion's gemstone medal, and the prize—a bottle of Ice Element Elixir, shimmering like dewdrops. The very prize as promised. However, Wenny remained silent, rooted, unable to accept the award. Aesphyra, unfazed, simply watched him with an enduring, knowing smile, seeming to relish the moment. Virtue +80. Current Virtue: 11584. "Ahem, Miss Wenniya, please accept your reward and thank our organizer, Miss Aesphyra," the host coughed, not knowing what else to do and tried to nudge Wenny along; they were quite aware of who paid their bills. One mustn't offend the benefactor. Wenny's lips quivered, wanting to lash out with 'Was this contest really hosted by you??' 'You wretched silver-haired nutcase, how dare you toy with me??' But he knew he couldn't. With so many eyes on him, blurting such things would only solidify the fact that he was Wenny, wouldn't it?? No, no! He had to calm his anger! This was not the time for a fit of rage! But... so that was it, huh? So that's how it was, huh?! Had he not suspected why the notorious nutball was being so considerate, planning something on his behalf, waiting here to catch him?? He thought this white-haired nutball was just messing with him, intending for him to slink away in defeat. Yet, she had even anticipated his unwillingness to concede, and that he would enter in disguise! Was this part of your calculations too, Aesphyra?! So that's how it was, and now everything made sense. It was all a setup crafted by this devious nutball, designed to lure him into a trap?! Ahhhh, this wretched Haggisy, how could she be so wicked?! No, not right. Hadn't he already known this person had wickedness seeping from every pore? No wonder! No wonder his virtue points kept rising before; now he understood! It’s because this person had been lurking somewhere, enjoying the live commentary! Wait a minute, how about earlier, when he could participate without showing his student ID, was that also her doing? Ahhhh, Aesphyra, you! If not for the crowd, Wenny would have laughed out of exasperation. Never in his life had he been played so easily and so wordlessly. With so many onlookers, Wenny knew he couldn't remain inactive. He helplessly trembled as he reached out, averting his gaze from this silver-haired nutball. Taking a deep breath, he slightly composed his emotions before accepting the award from Aesphyra. "Thank you, Miss Organizer," Wenny said in a fake voice, using his last ounce of energy, about to collapse in exhaustion on the stage. "Hold it well, Miss Wenniya~," Aesphyra, tilting her head with a teasing grin, uttered with layers of implications hidden within her words. You dare keep calling, don't you?! For the first time, Camille the King of Sprayers, the Master of Schemes Wenny, felt so powerless against someone. Couldn't lay into her, couldn't insult her, couldn't fight back, outsmarted at every turn, constantly played and taken advantage of. Exhausted. May in the next life, the world be free of silver-haired nutballs. With the prizes in his hands, Wenny mustered a truly strained and awkward smile. This should be his victory, so why did it feel worse than losing?? (Note: The controversial parts of the previous chapter have been revised, apologies for the poor reading experience caused.)