After dealing with Elder Hall, Ansu said goodbye to Cecilia.
"Witch, if there's nothing else, I'll head back now..."
"Go on." Cecilia nodded slightly, then added, "We got rid of that old worm, but plenty of the elders still have it in for me. If you run into anyone from the Order again, be careful."
Ansu nodded, unable to help reflecting on it.
At least at this point in time, Cecilia hadn't turned evil. There was still plenty of humanity in her...
If he set aside the Cecilia who had turned him into a puppet in the [Simulation], then at least right now, she really was worried about him.
If only she could stay this way forever...
She was generous to her subordinates, gave them money and magic, and was beautiful to boot. Where else could you find a boss like her?
Ansu sighed to himself. For some reason, after spending the day with Cecilia, he felt conflicted...
If he hadn't known she definitely had no ulterior motives, he'd have thought the Scum Witch had cast some kind of charm spell on him...
"Weren't you going home? Why haven't you left?"
Watching Ansu stare at her, Cecilia teased him with a smile. "What, can't bear to leave me?"
Ansu said nothing. He simply gave Cecilia a sincere smile.
"Whatever happens, thank you again, Witch."
It was a smile without a trace of self-interest. At least in that moment, Ansu was truly grateful to her.
The dim yellow light of the streetlamp fell across Ansu's cheek, casting a soft glow over his smile. Cecilia gazed at the boy before her and was briefly taken aback.
A moment later, she turned her head away somewhat awkwardly, breaking eye contact.
"If you're going home, hurry up and go! Why are you still standing here blathering?"
She suddenly lifted her chin, her expression turning cold, and her tone grew terrifying. "It's been so many days. Have you found the Chosen One for me yet? Hmm? Don't think you can slack off on this task just because you've gotten chummy with me! Otherwise..."
"Heh!" Cecilia sneered. "You know what'll happen!"
"Uh..." Ansu's smile gradually turned awkward. "I'm looking, I'm looking..."
That Scum Witch!
He'd thought way too highly of her just now!
Cecilia turned away and waved casually. "I... I'm off! See you tomorrow!"
"See you tomorrow..."
Benalu Royal Academy, Alchemical Chemistry A classroom.
During the break, Ansu was sorting through his textbooks at his desk when he heard a buzz of discussion behind him. His deskmate Kevin was chatting with the others, too.
Ansu caught the words "Church" and "theology," so he nudged Kevin and asked him what was going on.
"Oh, right. Remember Bishop Paul, who visited us that day? He's coming to give a lecture today. I heard he'll be back for the Academy Open Day, too, to give a big lecture."
Of course Ansu remembered. Last time, because of that note, he'd led Paul on a wild goose chase.
"Bishop Paul... What's he teaching?"
"Probably all that mystical stuff from the theology department!" Kevin had never been interested in that sort of thing. "The same old stuff about God loving everyone and only the faithful being saved. These days, who believes that besides poor people? I heard a lot of people are going to listen, but I'm not interested in joining the crowd..."
"Where's he giving the lecture? When does it start?" Ansu asked.
"In the lecture hall in South Campus. Probably next period." Kevin gave him a curious look. "Why are you suddenly interested?"
Ansu was, of course, interested. But it wasn't the "theology lecture" he cared about. It was Bishop Paul himself.
He was going to visit on the Academy Open Day, too?
With the Echo of Truth Cult and the Church of Holy Light both involved, that day was going to be far too lively...
Ansu wouldn't pass up the chance to investigate any lead. As soon as class ended, he hurried to South Campus.
He passed a series of modern classroom buildings before arriving among a cluster of older buildings, relatively old-fashioned and resembling Gothic cathedrals.
Over the years, Benalu Royal Academy had provided the magic-industrial sector with a steady stream of excellent talent. As a result, "magical machinery" and "alchemical chemistry," Ansu's own field, had naturally become flagship programs. But as a renowned comprehensive university, the Royal Academy also had traditional departments such as history, law, medicine... and even theology.
The theology department was supposed to be rather quiet, but when Ansu reached the lecture hall, he found that quite a few students had come to see what all the fuss was about.
His gaze immediately settled on the elderly man at the front, arranging his books. The kindly old man in a simple white robe was Bishop Paul.
As the start of Bishop Paul's lecture drew closer, more and more students filled the lecture hall.
Ansu found a seat near the back. As he kept an eye on Paul, he wondered to himself what the Church was up to.
Just then, the chatter around him suddenly grew louder.
Ansu noticed many people turning to look in his direction...
"Look! Look, she's finally here!"
"Is that the Church's Saintess? She's so beautiful, so elegant! She's as holy as the light itself. She's gorgeous..."
"Your department is so lucky! Is it too late for me to convert?"
Ansu froze.
Wait. Who?
He followed the crowd's gaze, slowly turning to look...
At the seat beside him.
A girl in a white dress, a Church emblem pinned at her chest, sat down in the empty seat beside him. She had smooth pink hair and pale golden eyes like sunlight.
The Church's Saintess, Freya, the Heart of Holy Radiance?
Ansu's eyes flew wide open. He stared at the girl beside him, and her pale golden eyes met his gaze.
Those who looked into her eyes felt calm and peaceful, as if they had truly received a god's blessing.
"Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?" Freya asked softly.
"Um... no one." Ansu slowly stood, an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry, let me get by. I left some of my books behind."
No matter how holy and beautiful she was, Ansu wasn't in the mood to admire her.
After all, he was doing his best to avoid the Saintess. Who could've guessed she'd suddenly sit right beside him...
"Oh..." Freya nodded, but stayed seated, clearly making no effort to move aside.
Ansu frowned and had no choice but to turn and squeeze out the other way.
But Freya suddenly reached out and grabbed him.
Ansu stared in surprise at the fair, delicate hand clamped around him, then looked at Freya.
"Ansu..." Her voice was gentle, but her tone firm. "Bishop Paul is about to begin his lecture. It wouldn't be right to leave now..."
"You...?" Ansu stared at her in shock. "How do you know me?"
"Of course I know you." Freya sighed softly, her face bearing a deep weariness.
"Ansu, I've had such a hard time finding you these past few days..."
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