May We Meet Again

The next day.

The sunlight lay warm and flat on the glass dome of the Holy See.

The Holy See had sealed off everything that happened last night.

Information about Calvin was also thoroughly destroyed.

Such top-tier scandals would not only affect Calvin's family but also the reputation of the entire Border Holy See.

Thanks to the Holy See's efforts to suppress the news, Agnes's punishment was not too severe. After she hunted down a nest of heresy strongholds as atonement, her salary was only suspended for three months.

However, news could not be completely contained.

Dark Night Hero, Heretic Bane—Brother Xian Zong's titles gradually spread on a small scale, as mysterious as urban legends.

As for the gifts that inexplicably appeared at home, What does Brother Xian Zong receiving gifts have to do with me, Ansu?

Regardless, the Night of the Red Moon had finally ended.

If he wanted to make another fortune, he would have to wait until next year.

Ansu knelt before the Idols of Radiance, offering his spoils from last night and receiving the Goddess's reward.

His magic power reached thirteen points.

After finishing his prayer, he stood up and turned his head, startled.

Luojia. Faste had appeared behind him at some point, staring at him expressionlessly, her Brilliant Gold Eyes directly reflecting Ansu's face as if he were a corpse.

"Yesterday." She said two simple words.

She was here to demand an explanation.

Ansu understood what Luojia was referring to.

Luojia had come to find Ansu yesterday morning but encountered Calvin's return. Ansu, finding it a waste of time, had stayed nearby to read.

After reading for a while, seeing that their conversation was still ongoing, he had quietly slipped away by himself.

"...I'm sorry."

Ansu apologized directly.

Luojia stared intently at Ansu for a long moment before sighing helplessly, "Follow me."

After leaving the Holy See, Ansu and Luojia walked down the street, one after the other.

Of course, Ansu wasn't concerned about these matters at this moment.

He stared at Luojia walking ahead, wanting only to understand the Little Saintess's purpose.

They remained silent the entire way.

Luojia walked in front of Ansu, carrying a wooden box, and did not allow him to see her expression.

A fresh sea breeze blew through the street, and the wind chimes by the roadside tinkled. Luojia's silver-white hair scattered in the wind, swaying back and forth. Occasionally, a strand would brush against Ansu's cheek, tickling him.

Had his actions last night been exposed?

Ansu didn't think so; he had been very discreet.

Besides, what did the people Brother Xian Zong killed have to do with me, Ansu. Morningstar?

They walked along the street for a while.

Luojia finally turned her head, looking solemn and serious. Her amber eyes gazed directly at Ansu, her thin lips parting slightly. Her demeanor was so formal that Ansu felt a little nervous.

—Then she said earnestly, "I'm hungry. Want to get breakfast?"

"You acted so scary just to eat?"

"Eating is a sacred thing," Luojia replied, still very serious. "Second only to the Goddess."

Ansu could only say, "...Alright, I'm hungry too."

The breakfast shop faced the sea, offering delicious cakes and fresh milk, and the bread was also superb.

They chose a seat by the window.

Outside the window was the turquoise sky and the azure sea, each color occupying half the windowpane. If not for the occasional sea breeze gently stirring the white clouds and raising small waves, the entire world would have been a still blue painting hanging on the window frame between them.

Luojia ordered a blueberry cake and a glass of fresh milk. She ate her cake elegantly, her back straight, her thin lips slightly parted. As she chewed and savored it, her eyes narrowed slightly, like a cat basking in the sun.

After finishing her dessert, she cupped her hands around the steaming fresh milk.

"What did you want to see me about?" Ansu had already finished his bread. He didn't want to play word games with this Saintess anymore; the feeling was quite unpleasant.

"You've already eaten two blueberry cakes. Each one costs ten copper coins, they're very expensive and not very tasty."

Ansu said.

In reality, for Ansu's family background, twenty copper coins was nothing. He said this only because he didn't want to continue this charade with Luojia.

"The Saint's written exam is in four days."

Luojia looked up at Ansu, her eyelids, as white as frost, trembling slightly. "I heard you come to the library every day to study and go home very late."

"That's right," Ansu replied. "Actually, I don't go home at night either. I've found many professional teachers to give me private lessons."

He wasn't lying.

He had indeed sought out many professional heresy teachers for private lessons at night, but it was those teachers who ended up on the "stove."

When the Mother Goddess dined, it was truly heartfelt, to the point where blood would splash out.

"You really want to join the Radiant Holy See," Luojia paused, then said, "I'm very happy about that."

"Since ancient times, I have been a loyal believer of the Goddess," Ansu answered earnestly.

This was also the truth, and he wasn't afraid of Luojia seeing through it.

After all, for the honest and simple Ansu, loyalty was given to whoever offered the most benefits.

"Perhaps this will be helpful to you," Luojia took out a small booklet from her bag and handed it to Ansu.

Ansu took it and, upon opening the first page, was struck by its aura.

Clean and neat handwriting, clearly organized structure, the interconnectedness of knowledge points, and detailed, precise definitions of terms.

"These are my study notes," Luojia explained. "They might be useful to you. Of course, you don't have to keep them if you don't want to."

Ansu remembered the game's setting: Luojia had ranked first in the national written exam.

In Ansu's previous life, these would have been the notes of a top scholar.

He calmly put it into his pocket.

"So," Luojia stared at him, her beautiful eyes blinking, tilting her head, "how many blueberry cakes is this worth?"

"How about I buy this whole shop and give it to you?" Ansu said generously, "It won't cost much anyway."

"I don't want that much, I just want one more."

Luojia was a very earnest person, and she truly explained to Ansu, "I can't eat any more cake than that."

"Also, I have one more thing for you." Luojia placed the wooden box she had been carrying onto the table and opened it.

Inside was a beautiful piece of raw wood, with a faint, flowing radiance emanating from it. There were even a few broken leaves on the branches.

This was a staff.

It was possible to cast spells without a staff, but using one provided certain buffs.

[Staff of Radiance]

[Tier 2 Top-grade Quality]

The "Tier 2" indicated the level of magic it could be used for, while "Top-grade" referred to its quality.

[Effect: A Tier 2 staff blessed by a deity, capable of casting intermediate-level and below magic of all attributes. When using Holy Light Magic, there is a 50% chance of halving the magic point cost.]

"This was the staff I used before," Luojia said. "You might need it more."

This item was very valuable.

It was a staff issued by the General Holy See to Candidate Saintesses.

It couldn't be bought with money.

Even Ansu, with his thick skin, found it a bit overwhelming. He couldn't help but ask, "Then what will you use?"

"I don't need one," Luojia said, drinking her hot milk. "The Holy See will issue me a new staff—a Tier 3 staff."

A Tier 3 staff meant she had become a Third-tier Sorcerer.

There was only one possibility.

Ansu's eyes moved. "You've awakened as a Saintess?"

The Saintess's advancement system was separate from the Witch-Hunting Saint School of Thought.

"Pretty much," Luojia replied. "I haven't told anyone else yet."

"You're the first person I'm telling."

After a moment of surprise, Ansu regained his composure.

He wasn't surprised by this news, as according to the original plot, Luojia should have become a Saintess a month ago.

"Tomorrow, I expect I'll be leaving Border City for the General Cathedral," Luojia said as her ordered cakes arrived.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Ansu asked.

"Because you need it more. It's very difficult for a Child of Curse to become a Saint," Luojia said, looking earnestly into Ansu's eyes. "Also, I'm returning a favor."

"What favor?"

"You saved my life—that's the favor." She took a bite of the cake.

Luojia. Faste had her own pride.

"Didn't we already settle that? You recommended me to become an Acolyte Saint," Ansu said with a smile.

"That's true." Her beautiful brows furrowed, revealing a conflicted expression. "We did settle it."

She was a person who valued correctness.

"Then how about this," Luojia paused, thinking of a good idea. "You buy another Blueberry Cake, and I'll give you this Staff of Radiance. That way, it'll be settled."

"Didn't you just say," Ansu asked, confused, "that you could only eat one cake?"

However, Ansu still did as she said, and the Blueberry Cake was quickly served.

"I'm not eating it, you eat it."

Luojia smiled, a smile of triumph that was a little cunning and a little bright, as if retaliating for Ansu standing her up these past few days.

This was also the first time Ansu had seen her smile. She tucked a strand of her short, silver hair behind her ear. The warm sunlight fell upon her.

"I'm leaving this city. I'm going to the Hall of Seven Gods in the Imperial Capital. Before I leave, I want to share my favorite flavor with you—you said this cake wasn't good, right?"

Was Luojia waiting for him all this time just because of this?

"The Holy See has many problems, many, many. I've always known, but I can't change them."

"A Child of Curse becoming a Saint. In the thousand years since the Holy See was founded, no one has ever done it. I hope you can be the first, I hope you can bring about new change."

"I hope to see you again in Imperial Capital Farol."

Luojia said, "Ansu. Morningstar—even though the road ahead is difficult, please impress me."

"You'll definitely regret this," Ansu picked up a fork and put the cake into his mouth. "But, I promise, I will definitely open your eyes."

Ansu had a clear understanding of himself. He was never a righteous person, nor did he ever stand on a moral high ground.

But he would indeed climb the ranks of the Holy See step by step, from Saint, to Priest, to Branch Bishop, Branch Archbishop, Cardinal, Pope, Pontiff—until he transformed the Holy See into a more suitable form.

All for his own sake.

However, what Ansu could guarantee was that his approach would truly open Luojia's eyes.

"Like Calvin, is it a Knight's promise?"

Luojia tilted her head and smiled mischievously.

"Wrong," Ansu said, biting into the cake. "It's a Child of Curse's promise."

The blueberries released a faint sourness on his tongue, mixed with a fresh sweetness.

Luojia also closed her eyes slightly, tasting her own piece of cake. In the morning sunlight, with the sea breeze blowing, they chewed the same slightly bitter-sweet flavor.

The story in Border City has ended. The next stop is Imperial Capital Farol!

The word count for the last two chapters has been over three thousand each, so together they are equivalent to three chapters. Therefore, please give me your monthly votes.