Chapter 505: Request for the saintess 2

Morning.

Asbell Hall.

One of the many grand halls within the academy designated for general department students was already bustling with the usual chatter of morning classes and hurried footsteps.

Emilia quietly moved through the corridors, her pace graceful, her soft presence naturally attracting glances from classmates and underclassmen alike.

“Good morning, Lady Enna!”

“H-Hello!” she replied with a small bow and a flustered wave. A few friendly faces beamed as she passed, but she didn’t linger.

Clutching a small watering can in both hands, she walked past the marble pillars toward a quieter part of the building.

Nestled behind the outer walls was a secluded garden—small, serene, and lightly frosted with the last remnants of winter’s breath.

Her boots crunched against the still-thawing ground as she stepped toward a small bed of blooming flowers.

Spring Feale flowers.

They were delicate things—petals of soft pink and sky-blue that only unfurled during the last few days of winter. Their resilience had always amazed her.

“Hm~ Hm~ Hm~”

She hummed, her angelic voice floating in the air like a lullaby.

A bright, peaceful smile formed on her lips as she gently tilted the can, letting the water trickle carefully onto the flowerbed.

“I hope you little ones grow well…” she whispered, beaming. “You’ve done so well already~”

Then—

“Hey there.”

“KYAA?!”

Emilia let out a startled squeal, nearly flinging the watering can from her hands. She spun around quickly.

“S-Senior?!”

Her eyes widened in disbelief, her cheeks instantly flushed a deep red. Standing just a few feet behind her, casual as ever, was—

“R-R-R-Riley?! W-Wh-Wh-What are you doing here?!”

Riley blinked, then raised both hands slightly in apology. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to sneak up on you like that,” he said with a relaxed smile, glancing at the garden bed beside her. “So you like plants, Saintess?”

Emilia fumbled with the watering can, nearly dropping it again as she clutched it to her chest like a shield. “I-I mean… I-I’m not that into gardening! V-Vanny just… just got me into it recently…!”

He crouched slightly and examined the delicate blooms beside her, his breath turning into visible mist as he exhaled. “Spring Feale flowers, huh…? Aren’t these the ones that bloom only at the very end of winter?”

She nodded, shyly glancing down. “Y-Yes… t-they’re sensitive, but strong too. Kind of like hope, in a way…”

Riley tilted his head, thoughtful. “You know, it’s still a bit early in the season to water flowers… but I guess these ones are an exception.”

“Y-Yeah… that’s why I’ve been checking on them every morning… j-just to make sure they bloom properly.”

There was a moment of silence, and then—

“Wait—W-Why are you here, Senior?!” she finally asked, eyes narrowing suspiciously despite her flushed cheeks. “H-How did you even find this place?! This garden isn’t exactly in the academy guidebook!”

He smirked faintly. “It wasn’t that hard. When someone has a divine energy almost identical to mine… well, it’s easy to trace.”

Emilia blinked. “I-Identical to…?”

Riley’s gaze slowly lowered to her hand. More specifically—to the faint, golden ring encircling her ring finger. A gift. A connection. An unspoken bond.

Her face turned redder than ever.

“O-Oh…” Emilia mumbled, her fingers curling shyly over the golden ring as if to protect it. She held her hand close to her chest, her gaze quickly darting away. “T-That’s… I-I see…”

Riley chuckled softly, amused at how easily flustered she was.

“It looks good on you,” he said, casually—yet the warmth in his tone gave his words weight.

Emilia’s face practically steamed, her lips twitching into a mix of a pout and a nervous smile.

“S-So…” she stammered, trying to regain her composure. “W-Why are you here exactly, Senior? Do you need something, perhaps…?”

“Hmm, now that you ask…” Riley trailed off, tilting his head slightly. “Actually, no. I just wanted to see you.”

“Y-Y-You j-just wanted to s-s-s-see me?!” Her voice jumped an octave.

Riley gave a small nod, unaffected. “Yes. And, well, maybe get a bit of information from you—something related to the goddess. Honestly, after I gave you that ring, I was a little worried something might’ve happened. You know… since the goddess specifically told me to pass it to you.”

“O-Oh… I-I see… S-So it’s b-because of the ring…”

Her voice softened, eyes falling slightly. She didn’t finish her sentence, but the implication was there. So it wasn’t really because of me…

“Hm?” Riley looked at her, catching her expression. “Did you say something?”

“N-No! N-Nothing at all!” she squeaked, flailing her hands defensively. “A-Anyway! I don’t know exactly what you’re worried about, Senior, but… n-nothing significant has happened to me since you gave me the ring. The goddess hasn’t given me much advice lately either. If anything, I’ve had more, um… heart-related problems than divine ones lately.”

Riley blinked. “…Excuse me?”

Emilia’s eyes widened as her face turned crimson. “I-I mean stress! H-Heart stress! I-I’ve just been overthinking things lately! E-Everything’s fine! Really!”

Riley raised a brow, clearly amused but deciding not to press her on it. “I see. Well, I was mainly concerned about the demonic cultists making a sudden move. After that major cleanup operation you did on the academy grounds, I couldn’t help but feel something might’ve slipped through the cracks. But if nothing strange has happened, that’s good.”

Emilia shook her head quickly. “No! Nothing at all! I promise!”

Riley narrowed his eyes slightly. “You’re absolutely sure? No strange surges of divine power? Sudden headaches? Hallucinations? A mark appearing on your body?”

Emilia blinked and tilted her head. “Uhm… not really. Other than my birthmark, which I’ve always had, nothing strange has shown up. Is… something wrong, Senior?”

Riley paused for a moment before offering a small smile and shaking his head. “No, it’s nothing. Just a small worry I had. I heard some details about the demonic summoning incident—how you and the others managed to stop it and even defeat the demon itself. So, naturally, I wondered if there were any lingering effects, or maybe a curse. Especially since the goddess warned me directly… told me to keep an eye on you and trust you.”

Emilia’s eyes widened at that. “T-The goddess spoke to you too at that time, Senior?”

“Yes. Though, her words were a bit… cryptic, as always. I couldn’t fully understand them at the time.”

“Hehe…” Emilia giggled softly, her smile returning in full bloom. “The Great Mother does speak in riddles sometimes. Even I get confused. But… thank you.”

Riley blinked. “For what?”

“For checking up on me,” she said, looking at him gently. “Even if it was under the guise of divine business… I’m still glad you came.”

He shrugged casually, though his expression softened. “Well, I couldn’t help it. It’s hard not to check up on someone you gave your ring to.”

Emilia looked down, clutching her hand again—this time smiling. Her heart, despite all the confusion, beat a little faster.

“Then… if you’re not in a hurry,” she mumbled, eyes darting shyly toward him, “w-would you like to stay for tea?”

Riley smirked faintly. “I’d love to.”

….

“Ah—you should also try this one, Senior! Oh, and this one too… ah, don’t forget this! Trust me, they all taste amazing! T-They’re practically my favorites! Ehehe~”

I looked at the growing pile of food and drinks stacked neatly in front of me with a twitch in my eye. Sandwiches, finger pastries, two types of pasta, a whole tray of sweets, and four different drinks—all laid out with love and dangerous enthusiasm.

“Sure…” I replied, though my voice lacked conviction.

I stared down at the table, quietly questioning my own capacity. Do I seriously have to eat all of this?

Still, this was her invitation.

Turning anything down would be rude, especially considering how excited she looked.

And to be fair… I was a bit hungry.

Besides, this wasn’t some formal private tea session in some divine realm like I had originally expected.

No, this was Emilia’s version of “tea”—an impromptu feast at Panda Café.

I should’ve known.

The Saintess of Light, despite all her divinity and grace, couldn’t brew a pot of tea to save her life.

I let out a quiet sigh, hiding it behind a polite smile as I reached for one of the smaller pasta dishes.

’Pasta never lets you down’

No matter what time of day it was, pasta was always a safe bet.

As I took a bite, I glanced up.

Emilia was watching me.

Not just watching—giggling softly, her eyes sparkling with joy as if watching me eat was the highlight of her day.

I didn’t say anything, just gave her a small smile.

This sweet, innocent girl who was unknowingly carrying a dangerous burden.

The so-called Saintess.

Honestly, it was hard not to worry about her.

Her presence might seem gentle and harmless now, but I knew better.

I’d ignored most of her major Chapter events last semester—something I didn’t fully regret, but still weighed on my mind.

The probability of anything happening to her right now was low, but with demons… low never meant impossible.

Especially since the Academy’s demon arc technically wasn’t over. Not with that deranged clown of a Demon King still unaccounted for—lurking somewhere, possibly even nearby.

She’s still in the line of fire, I thought grimly as I chewed. And yet… she’s smiling like the world hasn’t tried to break her.

“U-Uhm… Senior?” Emilia’s voice brought me back to the present.

“Hm?”

She tilted her head, fidgeting a little. “Is it… is it too much? I might’ve gone overboard…”

Her voice was laced with embarrassment, and her fingers fidgeted around the hem of her sleeves. I could feel her heart racing even from here.

I swallowed and shook my head, offering her a genuine smile this time.

“No, it’s fine,” I said. “Really.”

I went back to eating, grabbing another forkful just to prove my point.

And just like that, her face lit up again, like she’d just been given the best news of her day.

Although I wasn’t entirely satisfied, it was enough—for now—just knowing Emilia was fine.

As long as she wore the Ring of Bonds, I could sense if anything significant happened to her. If danger ever approached or her divinity wavered unnaturally, I’d know.

That was the promise sealed within the ring.

Even now, I could feel it—her divine energy. It was faint, like the soft humming of a prayer, but steady. And somehow… stronger than before.

Is this because I’m growing more divine myself?

That thought lingered. I wasn’t sure if it was my own heightened perception or some effect of the ring’s connection, but her growth was undeniable.

Steady and true. Almost like a flower drawn toward the light of a sun.

Looks like giving her the other half of the Ring of Bonds was the right decision after all.

It ensured her protection—and more importantly, her development.

As long as she placed her trust and faith in me, she’d continue to grow.

…Not that it was a difficult thing for her to do.

She was always so respectful. Earnest. A genuinely good junior.

Still, with the pieces falling into place, I knew where my focus needed to shift next.

Act 4…

The next series of events—known in the game as the “Crimson Curtain Arc”—was fast approaching. And that cursed clown… that grotesque embodiment of chaos, was a key boss for Stacia’s growth.

She needed to face him.

Originally, she was supposed to struggle—barely survive, in fact—but come out stronger than ever.

However, this time… I was hoping she’d win completely on her own.

No cheap saves. No deus ex machina. Considering I trained her personally.

Act 4 was a critical experience farm arc, a bridge between the endgame and the final emotional payoff Chapters.

That meant the most efficient strategy was to ensure all the key players grew together.

The main protagonist and his heroines. Even the late bloomers and side characters like Kagami.

Maybe I could change things up.

With the demonic cultists more or less already wiped out ahead of schedule, there wasn’t much of a threat to fill the narrative’s role for the joint exam.

Should I act as the villain myself this time?

The idea made me pause.

A staged threat.

A believable challenge.

Something powerful enough to unify the teams and push everyone toward their maximum potential.

If played right, it might just be the perfect substitute for the now-missing antagonists.

I was mulling over the details, carefully weighing how to orchestrate it…

“Emili- I mean Enna would you mind doing me a favor-”

I couldn’t continue my words….

Then I felt a familiar chill run up my spine.

“Riley.”

A calm, cool voice—elegant, soft… and laced with something subtly dangerous.

I turned.

And there she stood.

Hair like falling snow, eyes like winter’s heart, lips curved in a smile that looked beautiful enough to kill.

“Snow…?”

“Fancy meeting you here…” she said, her voice smooth as silk and twice as cold. “…My love~”

My thoughts screeched to a halt.

Emilia, beside me, froze in her seat like a statue—fork still halfway to her lips.

Her face gradually shifted from confused… to horrified.

A bead of sweat formed on my temple.

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