Chapter 568: Saintess’s Blessing

Classes weren’t set to resume until the end of the month.

Many students—especially freshmen—were still away, scattered across the kingdom to complete their dungeon evaluation exams.

Some had already finished, their results quietly posted to the faculty, while others were still in the midst of trials.

The Academy, in its generosity, had chosen to give those who remained extra free time to rest, train, or simply enjoy themselves.

Normally, I would have used this lull in the calendar as I always did: to sharpen my skills, train until exhaustion, spend time with the girls, and then train some more.

And, of course, to brood over the future that loomed ahead.

But now… something entirely different had found its way into my weekly schedule.

“Mm~”

A soft, lingering sound echoed between us as our lips finally parted. A faint string of saliva trailed for an instant before snapping, leaving behind only the warmth of her breath on my skin.

Stacia, her cheeks faintly flushed, brought her fingers to her mouth, as if to savor the fading taste of the kiss. Her eyes, those noble amber irises, gazed at me with unhidden fondness.

“Fufu… it seems you’re finally enjoying this as much as I am, senior.” Her tone carried a teasing lilt, the kind only she could make sound both playful and alluring.

I exhaled, a wry smile tugging at my lips. “I don’t honestly think that’s the case.”

“Liar…” she countered, her smirk curving ever so slightly higher. “You could have refused me at any time. Any excuse from you would have been believable enough. All you’d need to say is that you don’t want this anymore, and I’d stop. After all, there are… other ways for me to maintain my mana~”

Her words, drenched in mischief, carried a subtle challenge beneath them.

“I can’t exactly do that,” I answered, my voice firm despite the heat rising in my chest. “Besides… a promise is a promise.”

Stacia chuckled, her amusement genuine. “How diligent. How very you.”

Truth be told, she wasn’t wrong. In all honesty, I did enjoy kissing Stacia.

How could I not?

She was beautiful—an untouchable princess in the eyes of the world, yet here she was, lips meeting mine under the flimsy justification of mana transfer.

The press of her warmth, the faint sweetness of her breath—it was far too easy to get lost in it.

Yes, in theory, what we were doing was practical: a transaction of mana, a mutual benefit disguised as intimacy.

But in practice… in essence… what we were doing was no different than indulging in each other’s lips, once a week, as if it were something we had always done.

For reference, the two of us were tucked away in the back alleys of the commercial district.

The sun was high, bathing the main streets in a golden sheen.

Merchants cried out their wares, children darted between stalls, and the smell of roasted meats and freshly baked bread filled the air.

The streets were alive—teeming with people and noise.

But here, just a turn away from the bustle, the narrow alleyways of the Academy’s adjoining district were almost deserted.

The labyrinthine paths here were tight, shadowed, and easy to get lost in—an unassuming maze of cobblestone and brick that most avoided unless they had business in the less glamorous corners of the city.

For us, it had become the only place where Stacia and I could meet like this… the only place we could kiss without worrying about prying eyes or ears.

I turned to her again, and for a moment, simply watched.

After the incident with the clown demon, I had assumed she’d recovered fully—maybe even fixed the mana-drain syndrome that plagued her body.

But the truth was far crueler. Instead of healing, the condition had only worsened.

Yet she stood before me stronger than ever.

I didn’t just sense her power; I could see it.

Ever since my ascension, the world no longer appeared the same.

It was layered with endless hues, threads of light and darkness weaving around every being I laid eyes upon.

In some ways, it reminded me of Alice’s golden gaze—the way she could pierce through essence itself.

For me, however, it was a flood of color that told me truths I shouldn’t even know… maybe my sight is more of like Lucas or Rosenow?

Inside Stacia, within the delicate frame of her body, I saw it clearly: a miniature sun burning at her core.

’Did she unlock her ultimate skill?’

If so, then the chances were high.

Her mana-drain wasn’t just a side-effect anymore; it was likely tied to the very awakening of her most dangerous ability.

[Ultimate Skill: Fleur Nova]—the apex of flame-type powers. A skill that didn’t merely burn flesh, but could incinerate the soul itself if she willed it.

It was terrifying. Beautiful. And dangerous beyond measure.

’Maybe I pushed her specs too far, too quickly…’

Her [Mana Burn] skill alone was already monstrous—enough to reduce most beings into helpless shells, unable to even muster a spell or swing a blade.

Combined with her [Ultimate Skill: Fleur Nova], Stacia wasn’t just a talented princess anymore.

She was practically an ascended being in terms of raw firepower alone.

A walking sun wrapped in the skin of a girl.

Well… in any case, she was bound to become a very powerful ally of mine now. One I couldn’t afford to lose.

“I should go now…” I muttered, stepping back.

“Hmm? Already?” Her crimson eyes softened into a sly gaze as she leaned closer, her lips almost brushing mine. “Don’t you want more, Senior?”

She’d gotten bolder as time passed—that much was clear.

But…

I raised my hand, curled my finger, and—

Flick!

“Ouch!” She yelped, rubbing her forehead where I’d struck.

“I have other things to do,” I said flatly.

“Spoken like a true cheater… are you off to your other girls now?” she teased, half-pouting, half-smirking.

I sighed. “I have other things to do besides flirting with my lovers, you know. And also…” I gave her a pointed look, “…they’re not just my girls. They’re my fiancées.”

“Oh? How sweet of you, MR. Cheater,”

“Well, at least you understand my position in this whole dynamic of ours,”

“I know, fufu~ don’t worry.” She leaned in close enough that her whisper brushed my ear. “…I won’t get too greedy…. This time.” she said weakly at the end.

My eyes narrowed. “…Did you say something?”

“Nothing at all.” She stepped back, flashing me a bright smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Bye for now then… dear~ Senior.”

The way she lingered on that word—dear—with such affectionate weight, made me raise a brow. But I didn’t bother to question it.

Not now.

Even if I wanted to, there was still one thing I couldn’t shake from my mind: how she was already there during my ascendance.

How she acted—like she’d seen something she shouldn’t have, something no one should have remembered.

But even if I asked, I knew it was pointless.

After all, my authority had already ensured that none of it had ever happened.

Waving her a goodbye I turned around.

….

The fresh spring breeze wafted over my face, carrying with it the faint scent of blooming flowers and the distant chatter of the marketplace.

As expected, weather like this was perfect for a casual stroll.

“Hehe~ I didn’t think you’d ask me out so suddenly like this, Riley~” Alice said, her voice light as she hugged my arm and pressed closer to my side.

Around us, people’s eyes followed. A good handful of them looked at me like I’d stolen something precious—some with envy, others with outright murderous intent.

I’d only recently noticed this pattern, but among all the girls I walked with in public, it was only when I was with Alice that people stared at me with such pure jealousy.

Well… it wasn’t exactly surprising.

She was the academy’s idol, after all. Even before many of these students set foot in the academy, her name and beauty were already spoken of like legend.

Whenever I was with Rose, people were more shocked than envious, whispering in disbelief as if unable to accept what they were seeing.

With Snow, it was different—they’d just stare quietly, a storm of hushed gossip trailing behind us like shadows.

And with Seo… well, let’s just say whenever we were together, the absurd rumors spread faster than wildfire.

But with Alice, it was simpler. Envy. Admiration. Desire.

Neither of us care anymore though…

Her fingers intertwined with mine, a natural gesture that felt as though we’d been doing it for years. The warmth of her hand was soft, steady, and unashamed, even as countless eyes burned into us from every direction.

We walked like that across the cobbled street, heading toward the central roads, her gentle smile making it all feel—just for a moment—like the world had no weight at all.

“By the way, Riley, where are we going?”

“To church.”

“…”

“…”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“No.”

“…Huh. Didn’t expect you to be the devoted kind, Riley. Well, it’s not like I mind. A church date for a change—actually, maybe it even counts as a bit of uniqueness.” She tilted her head, lips curling into a mischievous smile. “I’m not exactly devoted to the Goddess of Light, but I’m well-versed in the ceremonies. Hehe~ I can even sing some of the choir hymns. Want to hear one?”

“Maybe later…”

“Mmph… suit yourself. I’ll have you know my voice is at its best when singing.”

“Yes, I know.”

“Hn? Wait, did I ever sing in front of you, Riley?”

“…Ah, no. I just assumed you’d have a beautiful voice. Your normal voice already sounds…” I hesitated for a fraction, “…like it would.”

Her cheeks flushed a soft pink, and she twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers, looking away before sneaking a glance back at me.

“T-Then… when we’re alone, I’ll sing for you.”

“Please do.”

That was close. A bullet dodged.

Of course, I already knew how beautiful her singing was.

I’d heard it more times than I could count—her voice had been my anchor, the one thing I clung to during my most hopeless days.

But I had to be careful.

The Alice beside me now had never once sung in front of me, not here, not in this reality.

My memories of her and the version of her from the game overlapped so seamlessly that sometimes…

“Since we’re going to a church date, are we going to attend the mass?”

“If it’s still going, we can. But our purpose is different.”

“So, this isn’t technically a church date, then.”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know if that’s a bummer or not… but oh well. Just treat me properly after, ehehe~.”

“Sure.”

That was the plan anyway.

“So, what’s the reason for suddenly dragging me into a church?” she asked, tilting her head with her usual curiosity.

“I just need to fix a few things… more like get assurance for a few things.”

“Assurance?”

“You’ll know when we get there.”

She gave me a suspicious look but didn’t push further, choosing instead to cling to my arm as we made our way forward.

Eventually, the two of us found ourselves standing before the grand cathedral within the academy grounds.

It was the only church here, though Emilia once mentioned that multiple others were being constructed in different sectors of the campus.

Even so, this one would remain the largest for a long while—its size and design made sure of that.

Alice’s eyes widened the moment she stepped inside the courtyard. “It’s so big and pretty… like a castle.”

“Compared to the random churches scattered across the Holy Kingdom, this is nothing,” I replied.

“Oh? Have you ever been to the Holy Kingdom, Riley?”

“Not exactly. But I heard it directly from someone who has.”

“Is that so?”

She hummed thoughtfully, her pink hair catching the sunlight streaming through the cathedral’s tall stained-glass windows.

Walking deeper inside, we paused just before the grand entrance doors.

The massive structure loomed over us, its tall arches and delicate carvings making even me feel a little small.

Although people were scattered about—some praying, some simply passing time—there was no mass being held.

The stillness inside gave the whole place an air of solemnity.

’If she’s not inside, then she should be over there…’

Recalling what I knew from the game, I finally spotted the people I was looking for.

Emilia and Vanessa.

They were seated toward the benches at the back corner of the church, away from the faint rays of colored light spilling through the tall stained glass.

From the looks of it, the two were engaged in a serious conversation, leaning toward one another as if the rest of the world didn’t matter.

Even in the game, these two had always been inseparable depending on which route you followed. It seemed reality was no different.

Standing behind them were Emilia’s personal guards—Amon and Anna—keeping silent watch.

Both of them listened quietly to their young lady’s words, sharp eyes surveying the surroundings even as they gave the two girls space.

Then, as though instinct caught something, Anna’s gaze flicked to mine. For a brief moment, her eyes narrowed, cautious yet curious.

After a heartbeat, she leaned slightly forward and tapped Emilia’s shoulder with her fingertips.

“Hmm?” Emilia blinked and tilted her head before following Anna’s line of sight. Her clear eyes widened the instant she saw me. “S-Senior Riley?”

…Why is she that surprised to see me here?

“Hello, Anna. Vanessa.”

“Y-Yes… hello as well… a-ah, and to you too, Senior Alice,” Emilia stammered, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.

“Fufu~ hello to you too, junior,” Alice replied with her usual charm, her smile faintly mischievous.

I could tell she was restraining herself from rushing in to hug Emilia outright—the way her eyes softened and her fingers twitched gave it away.

Emilia shifted uncomfortably, her lips trembling with a mix of nervousness and curiosity. “W-What are you doing here, seniors?”

“I came here for you, actually.”

The moment the words left my mouth, the atmosphere changed. Even the faint murmur of footsteps in the church seemed to fade into silence.

What’s wrong?

“E-Excuse me?” Emilia hiccuped lightly in surprise, her voice cracking a little.

I raised a hand slowly, palm open as though to reassure her. “If it’s not too much, could I have a moment of your time? Alice and I… need to ask you something.”

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