Chapter 274: Declaration and Prayer
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 274: Declaration and Prayer
"Li! Ya!"
It was night.
Ariel stood with her hands on her hips, huffing as she glared at the girl who had just sneaked into the room.
"Where have you been?"
"A-Ariel?"
Liya, who had just stepped through the door, was startled. She shrank back slightly and blinked. "I’m right here. Is it that strange?"
Ariel frowned slightly, a bit puzzled by Liya’s question.
This was Liya’s room.
St. Maria Academy had always provided single dormitories. If anyone else suddenly appeared in Liya’s room, it would normally be extremely unusual—perhaps even a major incident that would alarm the professors.
But Ariel was different.
Given her relationship with Liya, she had long ago wheedled a key out of her. Not only was it common for her to appear here, but she basically dropped by every single day.
But Liya right now...
Something was fishy.
Ariel’s gaze suddenly sharpened, sweeping over Liya like a hawk.
The girl was still the same girl; she didn't look like she had changed at all. However, with Ariel’s keen intuition, she still noticed something different.
For instance, under the glow of the lamplight, Liya’s cute face looked exceptionally flushed and lustrous. She looked like a ripe apple, making one want to take a big bite out of her.
"Liya..."
"Ye... yes?"
"Why is your face so red?"
"Eh? Is it?"
A flash of panic appeared in Liya’s eyes, and her hands instinctively flew to her cheeks.
Sure enough, an unusual warmth radiated into her palms.
Ugh...
Why...
I waited so long before coming back, too.
"Liya, don't tell me..."
Seeing Liya’s panicked expression, Ariel became even more certain of her internal guess. Her expression gradually darkened.
"Don't tell me you went behind my back and..."
"..."
Liya’s heart skipped a beat.
It’s over, it’s over... She’s going to find out that I went to see Muen Campbell, the person she hates most...
"...went behind my back to play in the snow!"
"Eh?"
"Hmph, nice try, but you can't hide anything from me! I knew it—Liya, your hometown is in the south. Seeing such a heavy snowfall, there’s no way you could hold yourself back!"
Ariel put her hands on her hips, a smug "I’m a genius" look on her face.
"Your face is frozen red. It looks like you had a lot of fun!"
"..."
"However!"
Ariel intentionally pulled a stern face and said fiercely, "You went out to play and didn't call me? That’s way too mean!"
"I... I was just afraid of disturbing you, Ariel."
Liya clutched the hem of her skirt and squeezed out a cute smile. "You’ve been so busy lately."
"No matter how busy I am, I still have time to play with you. Besides, you actually ditched me and ran off during class today! Professor Prang caught me sleeping because of you."
Ariel spoke through gritted teeth. "Do you have any idea how badly he lectured me?"
"...I’m sorry."
"If apologies worked, what would be the point of having breasts!"
Ariel lunged forward with her hands clawed, shouting fiercely, "Quick, let me squeeze you, you big cow! It’s the only way to quell the hatred in my heart!"
"Waaah... wait, Ariel..."
"Heh heh! Scream! Scream all you want, it won't do you any good! The louder you scream, the more excited I get!"
Ariel’s fingers flexed and curled as she reached for Liya’s ticklish spots with practiced ease, intending to give her increasingly bold childhood friend a proper lesson.
As usual, Liya quickly succumbed to the "devil's claws," laughing until tears came to her eyes as she struggled and begged for mercy.
But...
Just as Ariel’s claws were about to naturally migrate toward some of Liya’s more sensitive areas...
"No!"
With a sudden burst of strength, Ariel was shoved back. She stumbled a few steps and froze in place.
"Li... Liya?"
Liya had actually pushed her away?
Why?
Was she being too excessive?
No, they had played much rougher than this in the past...
"Sor... sorry..."
Liya also quickly realized her loss of composure. In her panic, she didn't know where to put her hands. "Are... are you okay, Ariel?"
"Have you finally started to hate me?" Ariel cried out, sounding hurt. "Have you started to look down on me for being flat-chested too?"
"No, no, no, I haven't!"
Liya’s explanation became even more frantic. "How... how could I ever hate you, Ariel?"
Naturally, it was impossible for her to hate Ariel.
It was just that when Ariel habitually tried to grope her, Liya couldn't help but think of that scene.
The steamy scene she had secretly witnessed during the day.
And just thinking about it made her heart race uncontrollably.
Ugh...
That damn Muen Campbell.
"I don't hate you, Ariel. I just... I just suddenly felt a bit unwell."
"Unwell?"
Ariel’s brows shot up, her hurt feelings vanishing instantly. She rushed over anxiously. "Are you okay?"
"No... it’s nothing." Liya shook her head. "Just a minor issue."
"You probably stayed out in the snow too long and caught a cold." Ariel frowned and pressed her small hand against Liya’s forehead.
Sss.
It was indeed a bit hot.
"How could you be so careless? You’re like a child!" Ariel scolded her worriedly.
Liya hadn't followed the path of a Martial Artist, so her body was relatively weak. Catching a cold was perfectly normal.
But to play until she caught a cold... that didn't seem to fit Liya’s personality at all...
Wait, why am I thinking about that?
Liya is such a pure person; how could she possibly lie to me?
Ariel shook her head, driving those strange thoughts from her mind. She quickly pulled Liya over and tucked her into bed.
"Get some rest. Did you use Holy Light on yourself? You can't tell me you can't even cure a minor illness like this."
"I’m fine."
Liya nodded, then shook her head. "It’s not what you think. I’m not sick. The discomfort is only temporary..."
"Oh, regardless of whether it’s temporary, just rest!"
Ariel wrapped Liya in the blanket until she looked like a zongzi, then clapped her hands in satisfaction. "I’ll head out then. I won't disturb your rest."
"Mm..."
Liya gave a soft reply, but then, as if remembering something, she suddenly reached a hand out from under the covers.
"Ariel, take this."
"This is..."
Looking at the stack of bills in Liya’s hand, Ariel’s eyes widened in shock. "So much money! Where did you get this?"
"It’s... it’s a subsidy from the Church."
"A subsidy? I thought the Church wouldn't give you any help during the trials?"
"In terms of funding, they still provide a little bit of support."
"I see. I thought the Church was actually that heartless."
Ariel nodded without a hint of suspicion. Then, she bit her lip and hesitated. "But if you give all the money to me, what will you do? Besides, I’ve already borrowed so much from you, it’s really a bit..."
"Ariel."
Liya puffed out her cheeks, feigning anger. "Given our relationship, you’re actually having thoughts like that? Are you underestimating me?"
"Liya..."
Reflected in Ariel’s eyes was Liya’s cute yet determined face. Ariel felt a wave of warmth wash over her heart.
That’s right. Given the bond between her and Liya, why did she need to worry about such things?
"Thank you, Liya."
Ariel took a deep breath and accepted the thick stack of Emiels. She took the opportunity to squeeze Liya’s small hand, staring into her eyes as she spoke with absolute conviction.
"Trust me. I will definitely make you the Saintess!"
"Mm."
"When that time comes, there are some things I hope you’ll listen to." As she spoke, a hint of mischief and shyness appeared in Ariel’s eyes.
"Mm."
"Then I’m leaving." Ariel waved.
"Mm..."
Ariel left the room, turning off the lights as she went.
The room was plunged into darkness.
But Liya continued to stare at the empty ceiling, her eyes wide even though they hadn't adjusted to the dark and she couldn't see a thing.
Ariel’s declaration—which, in the original plot, was supposed to deepen the bond between the two—somehow failed to register in Liya’s heart due to a certain mysterious influence.
"The Saintess...?"
she whispered.
That had always been her goal.
But...
Ever since she met that Muen Campbell, she had, through a series of accidents, done one thing after another that betrayed the name of a Saintess.
If this continued...
"Goddess..."
Liya pressed her hands together, praying to the faith in her heart.
"Will you forgive... a Liya like this?"