Brilliant gold morning light washed over the cathedral's stained-glass windows. Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the shadows of Wutong trees fell across the mahogany walls, their branches trembling in the breeze and casting shifting green patterns over the entire wall.
The moment Ansu entered the cathedral, he perceived that something was off:
First, there were many people—far more than usual for morning prayers. Everyone wore serious, attentive expressions, though faint excitement was hidden beneath them.
Second, the old priest at the entrance looked noticeably stranger when he saw him. Ansu could tell there was a hint of gloating mixed into his expression.
"Honorable Acolyte Saint Ansu Morningstar."
Father Danny's lips curled into a smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes bunching together. "May the Goddess's radiance illuminate your path—good morning."
It sounded strangely sarcastic.
"Who is that?"
Ansu pointed at the young man surrounded by people. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and the robes of a Chief Divine Official. He was at the very center of the commotion.
The young man knelt on one knee before the Goddess's statue, his robes spread neatly over the marble floor as he prayed with a solemn expression.
Sunlight covered his sharply sculpted face, making him appear sacred and dignified. Many girls surrounded him, truly like stars circling the moon.
"Your Eminence, Acolyte Saint Ansu,"
Father Danny gave a soft snort. "That lord is the Son of the Priest Father Luwen, a Radiant One soon to be promoted to Saint. His God-given title is Child of Radiance, His Excellency Calvin."
That was quite a long introduction.
"So there are three men kneeling before the statue?" Ansu said with a smile.
A priest was a high-ranking figure in this branch cathedral. Ansu had met Father Luwen before; he truly had considerable influence.
"Please show proper reverence."
The fake smile on Father Danny's face vanished. "After tonight, Lord Calvin will become a Second-tier Sorcerer. He is different from you."
"Tonight?" Ansu raised an eyebrow.
"Witch hunting—surely a Young Master like you has never experienced it."
Father Danny stared into Ansu's eyes. "By personally hunting terrifying heretics, one may earn the Goddess's favor."
"These days are Blood Moon Days. The Esoteric Cultists will be carrying out sacrifices in large numbers."
"His Excellency Calvin has already accumulated enough Faith Points and located several Second-tier Esoteric Cultist strongholds. After tonight, he will receive the Baptism and advance to Second-tier Sorcerer."
What surprised Father Danny was that Ansu showed no reaction. He merely gave a soft "Oh."
"He grew up alongside His Excellency Luojia."
Seeing Ansu's calm expression, Father Danny assumed he was only pretending to be composed and snorted inwardly.
"He is the childhood sweetheart of Her Excellency the Candidate Saintess. Everyone says they are a match made in heaven."
The implication behind Father Danny's words was easy to understand.
Calvin liked Luojia, and Luojia had recommended Ansu, so Calvin disliked Ansu?
Ansu had cleared seven runs, yet he had no memory of an NPC named Calvin. Even when he took the Saintess route, he had never heard her mention him.
He did not even have a character entry.
He was just a random passerby.
He said he was Luojia's childhood sweetheart.
Did Luojia even know she had a childhood sweetheart?
Ansu pondered this inwardly, but what did it have to do with him? A Speedrun Player only cared about leveling up and killing, killing, killing. Women would only slow down his leveling speed.
This spoiled brat is still putting on airs. Seeing that Ansu remained utterly unconcerned, Father Danny thought resentfully.
After a while.
Ansu spoke again. "By the way, has this gentleman not finished praying yet? There's a whole line behind him."
What Ansu valued most in doing things was efficiency. The Son of the Priest had been kneeling there for ages, and a long queue had already formed behind him.
And who prayed with a whole bunch of girls surrounding them?
Ansu could not be bothered to waste any more time here. He had not finished today's studies yet, so he turned to leave and planned to return in the afternoon.
But the instant he turned and took a step, the Son of the Priest seemed to Perceive it.
"Are you leaving?" Calvin slowly rose to his feet. His gaze was as sharp and intimidating as an eagle's, his tone lifting slightly. "Child of Curse?"
The moment the words "Child of Curse" were spoken, the entire cathedral fell silent.
It was a taboo no one could mention.
Many people held their breath and watched Ansu's reaction.
"I'm going to the library to read."
To everyone's surprise, Ansu was not angry. There was not the slightest trace of humiliation on his face. A gentle smile even lingered on his lips as he asked with concern, "By the way, after kneeling for so long, aren't your legs numb?"
They were a little numb. Calvin's mouth twitched slightly.
Why was this guy so punchable when he talked?
Who wanted to discuss whether his legs were numb?!
If he did not kneel for a while, how could he display Calvin's piety?!
The longer he knelt, the more votes he would get. Did this guy not understand that at all?
Though that was what he thought, he could not say it aloud.
"Before the hall of faith, I have never been numb."
Calvin spoke with lofty elegance, and the surrounding girls looked at him with admiration.
"If they're not numb, take a few steps," Ansu said.
"..."
Calvin slowly exhaled.
He told himself to maintain a dignified and elegant bearing, to remain as solemn as a holy knight, and not to get angry with this foolish Child of Curse.
"My body may be numb, but my soul remains awake."
"Unlike some people, whose souls have already been deeply shrouded by darkness and rendered utterly numb." Calvin's words were barbed.
Calvin naturally had reason to be proud. His father had spent considerable effort obtaining the locations of several Esoteric Cultist strongholds, specifically for him to clear out.
After tonight's witch hunt, he would become a Second-tier Sorcerer. Then he would smoothly pass the Saint Trial and become a noble Saint.
As for Ansu, this Child of Curse, he had probably never set foot on a witch-hunting battlefield in his life. How could he possibly compete with His Excellency Calvin?
Without Faith Points, he could neither exchange them for Holy Light Magic tomes nor increase his mana pool. He could never become a Second-tier Sorcerer.
"If they're not numb, take a few steps," Ansu said.
"...Can we stop talking about whether my legs are numb?" Calvin's face darkened.
"Then let's change the subject."
Ansu said, "Mr. Calvin, whose soul is awake, have you finished your homework?"
Have you finished your homework? It was a plain and simple question, an ordinary-sounding exchange that nevertheless carried immense destructive power.
It was a judgment from the depths of the soul, the bloodline suppression of a superior study demon over any student, carrying the purest malice—
Because Calvin truly had not touched today's assignments.
It was all because Ansu, through his own efforts, had increased the workload of every Saint candidate in Border City!
Especially those from famous noble families. When they saw that even Ansu, the fallen Child of Curse, was studying so desperately while their own well-bred children were being so lazy, how could they possibly tolerate it?
Having his sore spot struck, Calvin's mouth twitched even harder.
For the past few weeks, the words he had heard most often were, "Look at how the child from the Morningstar Family does things!"
The guy standing in front of him was the culprit behind all his suffering.
Was Ansu bringing this up now not simply a show of force and provocation?
"You lowly Child of Curse."
His face turned cold as he said,
"You pampered son of nobility have likely never set foot upon an Esoteric Cultist altar, never eliminated even a single Esoteric Cultist, because they are your kind!"
"At dawn today, I shall charge across a battlefield of blood and light, while you, you cowardly and useless Young Master, can continue hiding in your castle!"
Yet after listening patiently, Ansu actually looked surprised, and even his tone became sympathetic. "Your homework won't be finished until dawn? That's a little sad."
Was that really the point?
The point was that he was going into battle, not doing that damned homework!
Calvin felt as though a mouthful of blood was lodged in his chest. He felt that if he kept arguing with this bastard, he would die of a cerebral hemorrhage.
"I hope that when I see you at the Saint Trial, your tongue will still be as sharp as it is today!"
After saying that, the feeling gradually returned to Calvin's legs.
He walked straight out of the cathedral without looking back. As he passed Ansu, he slammed his shoulder hard into Ansu's.
Miss Enya's voice sounded beside Ansu's ear. "Do you need me to dispose of him?"
"...You're too extreme."
Ansu shook his head and leisurely adjusted his collar. He was not angry.
It merely felt like arguing with a child. Poke him once and he got anxious; once anxious, he spilled so much information. It was quite amusing.
A little provocation had made him reveal such important information.
So the operation was at dawn tonight?
For a top-tier player, stealing monsters was basic practice.
If that little fellow discovered that all the monsters around him had been cleared out in advance, would he cry from frustration?
Ansu was actually looking forward to it a little.
A newcomer has arrived at Qidian. Please take care of me, everyone—please keep reading, vote, and send rewards!
Also, thanks to Big White Crow for the recommendation. When it comes to a master's book, no further words are needed.
Before you continue