Vol 4. Chapter 109: Unexpected News

"With people coming to confess to me every day, I'm afraid she'd get jealous~"

Holding the book in her arms, the silver-haired girl couldn't help smiling.

After Sakura's question, the image of a certain black-haired girl seemed to vividly appear in Mengxi's mind. Looking at that gentle figure, that incomparably beautiful face, and that smile filled from beginning to end with affection and tenderness, Mengxi's own smile grew increasingly happy.

The silver-haired girl's jewel-like pale-purple eyes curved with laughter and charm, veiled as though by mist and water, overflowing with allure. The corners of her delicate lips lifted slightly, forming a smile like that of an angel, filled with sunlight and holiness.

To describe that smile as capable of toppling a city with a single glance would hardly be an exaggeration.

The people around her with particularly good eyesight, as well as those carrying telescopes, felt their minds clear and their spirits lift the instant they caught sight of that smile. The darkness, gloom, and other negative emotions buried in their hearts seemed to scatter in an instant, making everyone feel as though they had been reborn and granted salvation.

But once they recovered from the devastating power of that smile, a flame called ‘jealousy’ instantly ignited in their eyes.

Because,

the smile their goddess had just revealed was very obviously the kind of smile only a girl in love would make! Their goddess, who had always been cold and aloof, practically expressionless, had actually made an expression like that?!

Which meant,

what Mengxi had said before about “having someone she liked” had to be true!

Fuck!

Which little bastard stole our goddess away?! Drag her out! We'll tear her into eight pieces! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!

...

For a moment, the crowd not far away seemed to ignite with blazing fighting spirit, and even the temperature on the rooftop rapidly rose~

Of course,

Miss Mengxi, the culprit behind all this, paid no attention whatsoever to the changes around her. Besides, Mengxi had never cared much about those people to begin with~

After Sakura brought it up, Mengxi, who had originally been concentrating on studying, suddenly found her mind completely occupied by a certain black-haired girl.

Revealing that she had someone she liked had originally been done so that her dear Sister Yumo wouldn't get jealous.

With Sister Yumo's delicate and sensitive personality,

if she saw other boys or girls confessing to her and noticed just how popular she was, she'd definitely start overthinking everything again and again~

Considering that Sister Yumo would probably come looking for her at Yexinlian Academy later, Mengxi felt that it was necessary to make some preparations in advance.

However,

hmm...

If I hadn't said anything and let Sister Yumo watch other people confess to me... making her a little jealous actually sounds pretty interesting too~

Just imagining Sister Yumo blushing, puffing out her cheeks, and looking adorably angry made Mengxi unable to suppress her excitement. She hugged the great grimoire against her chest and began swaying shyly from side to side~

At this moment,

the silver-haired girl was already looking forward to the scene of reuniting with Miss Yumo.

Her beautiful pale-purple eyes were filled with anticipation and longing~

Seeing this, Sakura froze in place. Her tiny mouth fell open, and even the half-eaten cookie she had stuffed into it dropped out without her noticing...

"M-Miss Mengxi? You..."

"What is it, Sister Sakura?"

"The person you like... it couldn't be... it couldn't be that... Abyss... ah, no... it couldn't be Miss Yu, could it?"

"That's right~"

Without the slightest hesitation, Mengxi nodded. Then she tilted her head in puzzlement and blinked those tender, watery eyes, looking innocently and incomprehensibly at the little creature sitting on the table.

"Sister Sakura, didn't you already know?"

"Uh... this..."

Sakura was momentarily speechless.

Damn it.

Truthfully, she really hadn't known...

Although she had recently heard that Mengxi and that Abyss Demon girl had become very close, Sakura genuinely had no idea what kind of relationship the two of them actually had. After all, considering how terrifying that Abyss Demon girl was, whenever Miss Mengxi was in close contact with her, Sakura would hide deep inside Mengxi's mind.

She knew practically nothing about what happened outside.

Afterward,

Miss Mengxi would just hug a pillow on the bed, writhing around and giggling foolishly while completely ignoring all of Sakura's questions...

Although Sakura had already entertained this possibility before, actually hearing Miss Mengxi personally admit it still felt like being struck by five thunderbolts at once.

After violently shaking her tiny head, Sakura hurriedly tried to persuade her.

"Um, Miss Mengxi, are you serious? That person... that person is... an Abyss Demon!"

"I know. And?"

"She... she might be using you! You know as well as I do... Abyss Demons have always hated the Chosen Ones. I'm afraid she... might have ulterior motives!"

"She wouldn't."

The girl spoke calmly.

Her tone was flat, yet utterly without hesitation. Those three simple words were filled with complete trust toward the black-haired girl.

"Uh... but... if your relationship with her were exposed, then the entire Church... or even the human world... might not tolerate you anymore!"

"Oh. And?"

"Uh..."

That's not the point!!!

Sakura roared inwardly.

However, just as the little creature clutched her head and shook it wildly, preparing to continue persuading the silver-haired girl in front of her to turn back before it was too late, Mengxi reached out first and gently pressed a finger against Sakura's fluffy little head.

How could Mengxi possibly not [N O V E L I G H T] understand what Sister Sakura was worried about?

"All right, Sister Sakura. You really don't need to worry. Sister Yumo won't hurt me. She doesn't have any bad intentions."

With Sister Yumo's simple and adorable personality,

how could she possibly hurt me?

"Besides, this won't be exposed. Even if it eventually is, it'll only happen after I've gained real authority inside the Church. By then, I'll know how to explain it to the believers and everyone else. So, Sister Sakura, just relax."

"Miss Mengxi..."

Looking at the silver-haired girl's stubborn gaze and tone that allowed no room for discussion, Sakura could only give up on continuing to persuade her.

Sigh...

Like mother, like daughter, I suppose?

Even their choices are this similar...

Sakura lowered her head in resignation.

Now she finally completely understood why Miss Mengxi had been so uncharacteristically active in participating in Church affairs lately, even taking on the Saintess assessment mission. She was probably hoping to gain actual authority within the Church so that she could better protect that Abyss Demon girl in the future.

But...

an Abyss Demon girl, huh?

She clearly knew that Miss Mengxi was an enemy of Abyss Demons, yet she still stubbornly stayed close to her and even kept helping Mengxi grow stronger.

If there wasn't some even more terrifying scheme hidden deep inside her heart, then what exactly was her purpose in doing all this?...

However,

just as Sakura was thinking, the orderly sound of approaching footsteps gradually reached her ears, causing her to frown slightly and curiously look to the right.

A handsome man wearing the staff uniform of Yexinlian Academy was approaching. He had dazzling blond hair and a pair of dark-red eyes.

Upon seeing the man arrive, even the silver-haired girl revealed a trace of surprise. She hurriedly put down the book in her hands and sat upright.

"Instructor Felik? Why are you here?"

Indeed,

the man who had come before Mengxi was none other than the advisor of Mengxi's class.

At the same time, he was also a member of the Asumos Church's ‘Light of the Sun’ forces, as well as the son of former Archbishop Nick. He was a Church Holy Knight possessing High Sixth-Tier strength.

Hearing the slightly respectful tone in Mengxi's voice, Felik shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Lady Child of Destiny, you really don't need to be so formal."

"Sorry, Instructor Felik. This is Yexinlian Academy, so it's only proper that I address you this way. If anything, while we're inside the academy, you should probably avoid addressing me like that."

"Mm. You're right."

"Are you all right?"

Looking at Felik's reddened eyes, Mengxi asked with some concern.

No matter what, Felik had given her quite a lot of help during this period. Mengxi naturally wouldn't treat someone who had helped her with her usual coldness.

Besides...

Felik had only learned of his father's death last week.

Thinking about how that old man Nick had somehow just left this world so suddenly made Mengxi feel rather complicated inside.

Although she disliked that old man who was always scheming and was outrageously hypocritical, Nick had nevertheless been among the first people to accept her into the Church.

Mengxi still felt a certain amount of gratitude toward him...

"Don't worry, Student Mengxi. I'm fine."

Felik raised a hand and rubbed his reddened eyes.

"The ceremony went very smoothly. Father has already returned peacefully to the Goddess's embrace."

"My condolences..."

"It's all right, hehe... Although knowing that I'll never see Father again is still somewhat difficult for me to accept right now... but..."

As he spoke, the grief in Felik's eyes gradually faded.

A deep joy and devout reverence slowly appeared across his face.

"But... when I think about it carefully, the fact that the Goddess was willing to let Father return directly to her side can also be considered recognition of Father's achievements and faith, can't it? I'm sure Father must be very happy now, having received such grace and being at the Goddess's side."

Gazing toward the sky, Felik pressed his hands together and spoke with absolute sincerity.

"Don't worry, Father. I'll work hard from now on too. I'll strive to receive the Goddess's grace as soon as possible and go there to keep you company."

"..."

Watching Felik gaze emotionally toward the heavens, the silver-haired girl didn't respond.

Instead, she fell briefly silent and thoughtfully followed Felik's gaze toward the sky.

The Goddess's grace, huh?

...

...

Mengxi had no desire to continue this topic.

So after seeing Felik lower his hands, the girl hurriedly asked,

"But, um, Instructor Felik, why did you suddenly come looking for me? Is there something urgent?"

"Oh, right."

After Mengxi reminded him, Felik immediately snapped back to reality and scratched his head somewhat awkwardly.

"There is something. Student Mengxi, you're the class monitor, aren't you? Please organize the student roster and the relevant information as soon as possible before noon."

"The roster? Why do we suddenly need to organize that?"

"Oh, it's like this. Apparently, our class is getting a new lead instructor this afternoon."

"Hm? A new lead instructor??"

Mengxi tilted her little head in confusion...