Chapter 445: Sharpening the Knives
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 445: Sharpening the Knives
Knock, knock, knock.
A dull thudding against the door echoed through the room.
It was so sudden.
In the silence, both Liya and Muen—who was currently squeezed under the bed—stiffened simultaneously, looking toward the door in confusion.
Who was it?
Lin?
No. Liya knew Lin too well; this definitely wasn't her knock. As a highly refined Head Nun, Lin’s knocks were always accompanied by a polite greeting.
Was it another nun?
That didn't seem right either.
To prevent the Saintess’s secret trysts with a certain scoundrel from being exposed, Liya and Lin had issued strict orders: after nightfall, the Saintess’s chambers were an absolute forbidden zone for ordinary nuns and Church clergy alike!
Ariel’s arrival had already given them a fright, but who else would be knocking at this hour?
"What’s wrong? Aren't you going to open it?"
While the two of them were lost in wary speculation, Ariel—the only one completely in the dark—asked curiously.
"Coming... just a moment."
Liya snapped out of it. She realized that wondering who was outside was pointless; the only way to find out the truth was to open the door.
She walked to the door and slowly pressed down on the handle. Taking a deep breath, she reopened the door she had only just closed.
At the same time, Muen peeked out from under the bed, his face half-hidden as he stealthily peered toward the entrance.
Then, Liya and Muen both shuddered as if struck by lightning. They watched in shock as the door swung open to reveal an exquisite face wearing a flirtatious, knowing smile.
"Good evening, Your Highness."
Outside the door, Anna pinched the corners of her skirt and performed a graceful, respectful bow.
"Anna Kabulin is here to pay her respects. I hope I’m not disturbing you?"
"You... you?"
Staring at that beautiful, somewhat familiar face, Liya stood frozen, her brain stalling for several seconds.
Of course she recognized the woman. Though they had only met once, that brief encounter was something Liya could never forget. And now, because of a certain bad man, it was a connection she could never sever!
Back at the Academy, she had accidentally witnessed that through a classroom window. The male and female leads of that passionate performance had been Muen—who was currently under the bed—and the Senior Anna standing before her!
Even though Liya had since experienced those scenes herself several times over, the memory of that erotic display had left quite an impact on the once-pure Saintess.
Why is she here?
For a moment, Liya felt a disorienting sensation, as if she were the one about to be caught in bed with someone else's man. Her mind became a jumbled mess, and she didn't know how to react.
Meanwhile, under the bed...
Muen’s. Heart. Stopped.
Why?
Why was Senior Anna in the Holy City? Why was she at the Emiel Cathedral? Why was she here?
This defied all logic! Shouldn't she be at the Silence Bureau undergoing training as the next Sword Bearer? How could she...
Wait, the Silence Bureau?
In an instant, the images of the documents on Liya’s desk flashed through Muen’s mind like a revolving lantern—the various anti-evil god organizations invited by the Church to attend the conference!
If Anna was here as the representative of the Silence Bureau... then everything made sense.
Dammit! I shouldn't have been so impatient! If I had just stayed with Liya and finished reading those files, I wouldn't be so utterly unprepared!
If he had known Anna was in the Holy City, he definitely would have played it safe.
At this moment, Muen finally realized just how important Miss Lin was.
I’m sorry, Miss Lin. I shouldn't have called you stiff.
Looking back, a woman who faithfully stood guard outside the door and drove away all irrelevant personnel was like a lighthouse in a sea of mist, a warning bell before a disaster, a clarion call at the end of the world!
But regret was useless now. Muen could only curl himself up tighter under the bed. Judging by his intuition, the fact that Anna had come straight to Liya’s room meant she had likely deduced some clues based on the information she held as the Sword Bearer’s successor.
She had not come with peaceful intentions...
"Ah, h-hello, Senior Anna."
After a brief moment of panic, Liya regained her composure as the Saintess and returned the greeting with equal politeness.
She also quickly recalled the information she had seen earlier. Although she hadn't reached Anna’s file yet, she had guessed why the woman was here.
Because of this, like a predator scenting a rival in its territory, Liya instantly shifted into combat mode.
Their last meeting had been incredibly awkward, but this time, she didn't want to lose!
"Oh? You’re Senior Anna from the Academy, right?"
Only Ariel, still blissfully unaware, had her eyes light up. Dazzled by Anna’s stunning beauty, she rushed over excitedly.
"I’m from the Academy too! Second year, Ariel Bugard. We’ve met before, do you remember?"
"Of course I remember, Miss Ariel. Your performance that night was truly impressive."
Anna nodded slightly toward Ariel.
"Thank you!"
Ariel’s eyes grew even brighter.
The "night" Anna referred to was, of course, the day the Academy had been invaded by those perverted male cultists. Ariel had fought heroically against them. Though the scene had been chaotic and noisy, she hadn't expected Senior Anna to remember her.
That’s right.
Ariel suddenly remembered that she had formed a bond with a certain blonde beauty that night as well.
Unfortunately, she had been too busy afterward and never found the time to dial the frequency she had stored in her voice transmission stone.
It seemed she would have to find time to rekindle that connection later.
"Is there a reason for Senior Anna’s late-night visit?"
Liya straightened her back, warily sizing Anna up.
The Anna Kabulin before her was indeed a great beauty, one that even she had to admire.
Her features were delicate, her aura flirtatious without being overly gaudy, and her eyes looked as though they were soaked in spring water—utterly captivating.
Not only was she gorgeous, but her figure was also perfect. She had all the right curves in all the right places, and the way her slender waist flared out into full, rounded hips was enough to make even another woman like Liya catch her breath.
No wonder that bad man liked her.
"No, nothing urgent. I’m visiting Her Highness the Saintess in a private capacity tonight. You can skip the 'Senior' and just call me Anna."
Anna was also carefully observing Liya. She hadn't looked closely during their previous encounter, but now...
Liya was cute and playful, with every smile and frown evoking a sense of protective pity. Her figure was slightly voluptuous, which only served to highlight her feminine charms. Set against her holy white dress, she looked like a creature not of this mortal realm.
Especially...
Anna silently looked down, stealing a glance at the towering peaks on Liya’s chest, which were even more magnificent than her own.
She really is exactly the type that scoundrel likes.
"In that case, there’s no need to call me 'Your Highness.' Just call me Liya."
Liya gave a soft smile and led Anna into the room.
Once the door was closed, the three girls from the same academy smiled at one another. On the surface, the scene looked exceptionally harmonious.
"By the way, I hope my sudden visit isn't a disturbance, Liya. You must be very busy right now."
Anna’s gaze swept over the desk cluttered with papers, then shifted to the neatly organized bookshelf beside it.
Two completely different scenes in one place. It was as if...
"...No, not at all. I happen to have nothing urgent to do right now," Liya replied with a smile, casually stepping to block Anna’s line of sight.
"Hmm?"
Beside them, Ariel tilted her head in confusion. Hadn't Liya just said...
Oh, right.
She quickly realized. Unlike herself, who was a close friend, Senior Anna was a guest. Liya had to be polite; she couldn't just kick her out.
"Then, maybe I should head out? I'll leave you two to chat?"
Ariel blinked, speaking in a pitiful tone.
"Wait a moment."
Liya quickly grabbed Ariel’s arm.
"Ariel, you don't have to leave. Since Anna is here in a private capacity, we won't be discussing anything top-secret. You should stay; we’re all schoolmates, after all."
Because of that previous incident at the Academy, Liya felt naturally inferior to Senior Anna. She needed someone else there to help stabilize her nerves. If it were just the two of them alone, with Muen hiding under the bed... she really felt like they were a pair of adulterers about to be caught in the act.
"Is that really okay?"
Ariel was overjoyed.
She looked at Liya, then at Senior Anna, who was smiling and seemed very easy to get along with.
Two world-class beauties in one room with her, engaging in the kind of private late-night girl talk she had always dreamed of.
The lighting was warm, the candlelight flickered, and the atmosphere was a bit heated. No matter how she looked at it, this was the perfect opportunity to get closer and deepen their bonds!
How could she, the aspiring "Yuri King" who intended to build a grand Crystal Palace, let such a golden opportunity slip through her fingers?
She couldn't help but rub her hands together in nervous excitement.
Ariel was sharpening her knives!