Chapter 353: The Invitation
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 353: The Invitation
"Wait a minute. You’ve said all that, but you’re not actually scared, are you, kid?"
Pink Bear blew out a smoke ring and arched an eyebrow.
"Is your courage really that thin? Do you need me to go plead your case and get you pulled from this ceremony? I still have that much clout, you know."
"...Of course not."
Muen straightened his back and looked calmly at Pink Bear. After a moment’s thought, he said, "I’m just venting. I haven’t reached the point where I’d be shaken by something so trivial."
"Trivial? Heh, you’ve certainly grown a big mouth, haven't you?"
"I wouldn't dare get ahead of myself."
Muen stood up and bid Pink Bear farewell. "I’ll be taking my leave then, Uncle."
"Going out?"
"The Holy City should have plenty of good things. I’m going to look around; I need to make some preparations in advance."
Muen sighed. "After all, I’m not the protagonist of some story who can do anything just by having a bit of hot-blooded passion."
"And here I thought you were going to sneak off for a date with that girl before the ceremony starts."
Having lost his source of entertainment, Pink Bear shifted into a more rakish, comfortable position in his chair. He waved Muen away with his cigar.
"Go on, get lost. Don't disturb my rare moment of solitude. It’s not like you’re some big-chested beauty in white stockings. Though, I’ll be sure to enjoy watching your performance in the ruins when the time comes. Just try not to get beaten until you’re crying like a baby."
"..."
Muen paused mid-step and looked back. "Somehow... I’m still feeling a bit annoyed."
He had already fallen into a pit, which was miserable enough. Yet this guy was watching the show while shoveling dirt in from above.
How despicable!
"Hmm?"
Pink Bear blinked, and before he could react, he saw Muen pull out a Voice Transmission Stone and flash him a sinister smile.
"Is this Professor Prang? Yes, it’s me, Muen. I’m reporting that fellow Pink Bear for secretly smoking high-end cigars again. There’s no way he could afford them himself; I suspect he’s embezzling Academy funds. Please, you must deal with him severely—"
"Hey! You brat!"
*
Liya’s room, the bathroom.
Amidst the billowing steam, Liya lifted a long, shapely leg and cautiously touched the tip of her toe to the hot water in the bathtub.
Once she was sure the temperature was within her comfort zone, she let go of her towel and slowly submerged her delicate, naked body into the tub. Her fair skin, flushed by the heat, took on a soft, cherry-blossom pink hue.
She let out a long, deep breath of total relaxation.
As her chest rose and fell, two pale, rounded curves slowly surfaced from the rippling water, like white whales rising from the edge of the sea at dawn.
Liya’s gaze drifted past the two white whales toward the far end of the tub, where her cute little toes clung to the edge like freshly fermented balls of white dough.
Her ten toes twitched nimbly, like little sprites dancing among flowers.
Liya watched the dance of these sprites, humming a melody that had just floated into her mind.
"Hum~ hum-hum..."
With her musical talent, even a casual hum sounded as melodious as a nightingale.
It was a pity there was no audience to listen; otherwise, they would surely have offered sincere applause and praise.
Just like Muen would.
"Ah..."
Suddenly, the beautiful humming stopped abruptly.
Liya lowered her head, her clear eyes staring at her own reflection in the water.
"Do I... like Muen?"
*
It was so sudden.
Like an apple sliced by the world’s fastest blade, it was only when everything fell silent that she realized her heart had been completely laid bare.
Thump.
That was what "liking" felt like...
"W-wait, no!"
With a bright red face, Liya splashed the water, breaking her reflection.
"Even if it’s a lot like what the Saintess Teacher said... but... it’s not necessarily that, right? It’s just my heart beating fast. That’s happened many times before; it just wasn't as intense as this time."
Liya buried half of her head underwater, blowing bubbles. Glub, glub.
Besides, the Saintess Teacher... wasn't she single too?
She didn't have any experience in this area herself, so could her words really be taken seriously?
Moreover, her own goal was also to become the Saintess!
"Goddess, please believe Liya..."
Liya suddenly sat up straight in the tub, pressing her hands together in a pious prayer. "Liya is an honest, good girl. Liya would never lie. Liya will forever—"
Knock, knock.
The pious prayer was interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Who is it?"
"Me."
Great Nun Lin’s cold voice came from outside the door. "I’ve brought your clothes."
"Ah, please come in."
Liya hurriedly wrapped herself in a towel and went to open the door.
Seeing Liya in such a state, Lin quickly entered the room and just as quickly shut the door.
"It seems I’ve arrived at the right time."
In her hands were several neatly folded garments.
Liya had lost all her personal belongings, so she had asked the Church for a change of clothes, including the ceremonial dress she had worn the previous night.
"Thank you."
Liya happily took the clothes. The texture was ordinary and the colors were plain—Church clothing was never flashy—but Liya felt a strange sense of nostalgia.
It made her feel very much at ease.
"Oh, one more thing."
Before leaving, Lin suddenly said, "Muen Campbell asked me to ask you if you want to go out for a stroll tomorrow."
"A... a stroll? Just the two of us?"
"He said it’s to buy some tools or items for preparation, to compensate you for your previous losses. He said you promised him once."
"Ah."
Liya recalled Muen saying something like that back in the forest.
But had she actually agreed back then?
Liya couldn't remember, because that annoying thump-thump sound had started up again.
And for some reason, the plain clothes in her hands, which had originally made her feel at ease, suddenly felt a bit prickly.
"T-that..."
"The Church has nothing else besides these and nun’s outfits."
Lin remained expressionless. Having finished her piece, she took her leave immediately.
In the quiet room, Liya was left staring blankly at the plain clothes in her hands, lost in thought.
She was an officially announced Saintess Candidate now. It was fine within the Church, but to go out in such simple clothing... it didn't seem quite right.
As for the ceremonial dress from last night, such solemn attire certainly couldn't be worn on the streets.
Then...
Liya looked out the window.
Maybe... it wasn't too late yet. She could head out to the streets ahead of time.
Not just for clothes, but there were other things she needed to buy.
*
*
"Huff... huff..."
In the dark space, heavy breathing, like the sound of a bellows, disturbed the surrounding air.
Ariel was covered in blood, leaning on her broad greatsword as she glared fiercely at her surroundings.
Under the flickering light of an Illumination Spell, massive bronze golems brandished sharp blades and gradually closed in.
"This is trouble."
Her Master’s voice rang out. "It seems we chose the wrong path. There’s no trace of that Liya girl’s aura here. Moreover, the concept of time in this space seems to be distorted; I have no idea how much time has passed."
"It doesn't matter. As long as we’re still in the ruins, we’ll eventually find her if we keep moving forward." Ariel’s gaze was resolute, her faith in the bond between her and Liya unshakable.
"True. Can you still hold on?"
"Of course!"
Ariel wiped the blood from her face. Thinking about the gains she had made during this period, her heart couldn't help but burn with heat.
She lacked for nothing now, including the money that had troubled her most before. Which meant...
"Just thinking about how I can ask Liya out on a date once we get out gives me all the strength I need!"
Ariel swung her greatsword, the firelight reflecting off the bronze and casting a green shadow over her head.
"Wait for me, Liya!"