Chapter 814: Scent
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 814: Scent
"It seems I’ve arrived just in time."
Liya pulled back the carriage curtain, revealing half of a playful and lovely face. Bathed in the glow of Holy Light, she appeared far more moving than the morning sun about to rise at the edge of the dawn mist.
With a casual wave of her hand, a majestic surge of Holy Light erupted. It seemed as calm as a flowing river, yet to the evil cultists launching an ambush from the shadows, it was an irresistible, towering tidal wave.
As several more corpses crumbled into ash within the radiance, Liya quietly patted her own heaving, wave-like chest.
How terrifying, how terrifying. I’m still not quite used to scenes like this.
Even as she thought this, her Holy Light condensed into a Spear of Judgment. It traversed a thousand meters in an instant, piercing through the chest of a cultist attempting to flee in the distance.
The cultist’s expression was one of pure horror. Before his final curse could escape his lips, he was swallowed by the Sea of Purification and incinerated into nothingness.
"Are you all alright?"
Only after confirming that both the cultists and the pollution had been thoroughly purged did Liya turn her gaze toward the members of the Silence Bureau.
Holy Light was also flowing into their bodies, but unlike the cold, ruthless judgment dealt to the cultists, the light entering them was incredibly gentle. In the blink of an eye, most of their injuries had healed—an effect that far surpassed the majority of healing magic in this world.
"We are fine."
The captain scrambled to his feet, leading the remaining squad members in a bow toward Liya.
"Our thanks to Her Highness the Saintess for her assistance."
"No need for thanks. Your Sword Bearer and I are old acquaintances; a little help like this is nothing," Liya said with a smile.
Her smile was as warm as the Holy Light, making one feel as though they were basking in a spring breeze.
Yet, for some reason, the captain suddenly shivered. It felt as if some terrifying, hidden meaning lurked behind that smile.
"By the way, your Sword Bearer isn't in Belland right now, is she?" Liya asked suddenly.
"Ah... right, that’s correct. Lady Anna should have accompanied Her Majesty the Empress to the front lines."
Revealing his boss's whereabouts was usually a major taboo, but the captain figured that given the Saintess's status, there was likely no point in trying to hide it.
"Is that so..."
As the carriage rumbled forward, Liya nodded and whispered to herself, "That’s wonderful then. Both of those annoying pests are gone, so I can have him all to my—"
"Hmm?"
The captain looked on, bewildered. Hadn't she said they were old acquaintances? Why did Her Highness the Saintess look so happy to hear that Lady Anna was away?
*
"Finally finished. This is exhausting."
Pink Bear pulled out a handkerchief and wiped the blood from his hands.
Although the final resistance of the Love God's avatar had exceeded his expectations, it ultimately failed to cause any real trouble. After planning for so long and sacrificing so much, this affair had finally come to a successful conclusion.
Yes, very good. Whether it was the fish, the bait, or the fishermen like them, everyone got a satisfying ending and a bright future.
When he, Pink Bear, made a move, it was nothing short of perfection.
"Eh?"
Just as he was thinking of taking advantage of a certain tigress being busy to sneak off and reward himself with a vintage cigar from his private collection, Pink Bear spotted a carriage at the gates of Belland, seemingly waiting to enter the city.
"Lord Pink Bear, it has been a long time."
"Ah..."
A sweet, gentle voice drifted from the carriage, but Pink Bear instinctively shuddered.
Oh no!
"I-if it isn't Her Highness the Saintess? What brings you back to Belland?"
Pink Bear hurried over with a forced, beaming smile. "Aren't you currently on a continental tour?"
"Yes, a tour," Liya said matter-of-factly. "A tour naturally requires a round trip to be considered complete. The last time I passed through Belland was when I left the Holy City; this time, I’m passing through Belland on my way back. Is there a problem?"
"...No, none at all."
Pink Bear spat inwardly.
On the surface, it sounded fine, but even for a round trip, passing through the exact same spot twice was highly suspicious. The continent was vast; was Belland some kind of mandatory bottleneck between the north and south?
Moreover, the timing was too perfect. She called it a "return trip," but she obviously just wanted to see her little lover!
"By the way, Lord Pink Bear."
Just as Pink Bear was trying to think of a way to dismiss this troublesome figure, Liya poked her small head out and looked into the distance.
"I’ve been meaning to ask—since when did such a beautiful building appear outside Belland?"
"Huh? What building?"
Pink Bear looked blankly in the direction Liya was pointing. One moment he was wondering what beautiful building in Belland he could possibly be unaware of, and the next, he was breaking into a cold sweat.
Amidst the lush green forest, the dome of that crystal palace was incredibly conspicuous. Especially with the sun having just risen, the sunlight refracted off the crystal, creating a multicolored radiance more beautiful and brilliant than a rainbow after a storm.
It wasn't just Liya; many people passing by the city gates were stopping in their tracks, asking their companions when such a magnificent structure had sprouted up on the outskirts of Belland.
"Wow, it’s truly beautiful..."
Even though she had become a Saintess who had to mind her image at all times, Liya still possessed the heart of a young girl.
"In such a beautiful place... if only I could go on a date with Muen there."
"Don't go!"
The words escaped Pink Bear's mouth almost before he could think.
However, he regretted it the instant he said it. Such a violent reaction was practically a confession that he was hiding something.
"Don't go?"
Sure enough, Liya arched a delicate eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "And why not?"
"Be... because..."
Pink Bear stammered, "It’s very dangerous... That’s right, it’s dangerous! That place looks pretty, but it’s actually a trap specifically designed to lure evil cultists. It’s extremely hazardous, especially for someone of your status, Saintess."
"Is that so?"
Liya pondered for a moment. "But I just came from that small town, and wasn't that where the cultists were being wiped out? Besides, this place is so conspicuous; would cultists really be lured there?"
"..." Pink Bear’s expression stiffened.
"Lord Pink Bear, it seems you are lying to me."
Liya’s face hardened, suddenly radiating the full majesty of a Saintess. "Please tell the truth. Why can I not go? Is there... some reason I shouldn't be there?"
*
Inside the crystal palace, the activity of "unsheathing and sheathing" and "matching move for move" had already reached its second stage. Ariel, who had been acting high and mighty earlier in her attempt to conquer the wretched blonde bastard in this regard, had once again fallen into a disadvantage.
She had been flipped over, her small face pressed tightly against the soft carpet, her supple waist bent into a startling arc.
Muen gripped her waist from behind, lightly biting her ear. "Well? Who won?"
"Ngh... ah... I haven't lost yet..."
Ariel gritted her silver teeth, struggling not to let any humiliating sounds escape. Simultaneously, she secretly gathered her strength, attempting to reclaim the initiative.
She hadn't lost, and she wasn't weaker than this wretched blonde bastard.
She was merely slightly less experienced, allowing this guy to easily find her weaknesses and breach her defenses in a moment of carelessness, leading to this reversal of roles.
She was supposed to be the one on top!
But it didn't matter. She was Ariel Bugard, the Ariel Bugard who never gave up.
A momentary weakness didn't mean she would always be weak; a temporary disadvantage didn't mean she would always be down. The tides turn and fortunes change; as long as she studied hard, accumulated experience, worked tirelessly, and looked for an opening, she would surely...
"Ah... no more... I can't think at all... I'm going to break..."
Unfortunately, before she could accumulate enough experience, the wretched blonde bastard intensified his assault once more. The fierce attack left her completely unable to cope, and her consciousness soon drifted into the clouds for the umpteenth time today.
Her delicate body convulsed, her legs kicking out wildly.
However, Muen naturally wouldn't let slip this rare opportunity to "bully" Ariel. He immediately flipped her back over, pressed her long legs together, changed positions, and continued!
And so, the melodious song continued until dawn.
*
As the morning light grew faint, shortly after the battle had subsided and both parties had left in each other's arms, a captivating figure suddenly descended upon the scene.
Sniff... sniff sniff...
Liya’s nose twitched as she scouted for clues.
Before long, she picked up a scrap of fabric from a corner—pure white, yet shamelessly trimmed with pink lace. Her small face was now filled with solemnity.
"As I thought. The scent of a philandering cat."