Chapter 820: Who Is It?
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 820: Who Is It?
Daylight spilled through the gaps in the curtains, carrying a lazy, amber glow.
Ariel let out a soft groan as she opened her eyes, instinctively stretching her aching limbs. Looking up, she realized that without her noticing, it was already late afternoon, and the sun was beginning to dip toward the horizon.
Over the past two days, time felt as though it had been forcibly snatched away by some terrifying entity. Because her nights were spent entirely immersed in those exquisite clouds of pleasure, her brain felt like it had turned to mush. Consequently, every time she closed and opened her eyes, another day had vanished.
She had never realized that a twenty-four-hour day could feel so fleeting.
"Is it that late again?"
Ariel grumbled, struggling to push herself up from the dining table. At some point, a bottle of red wine had been overturned, drenching her delicate body. As she stood, the clear crimson liquid trickled playfully down her skin, which was as smooth as white jade.
In truth, the wine hadn't all been spilled by accident. Much of it had been poured over her intentionally, treated as a "seasoning" to enhance the flavor. Unfortunately, Ariel had been at her most fragile then—like a flower petal battered by a storm—and her consciousness had long since drifted away. she had no idea that amidst that madness, there had been such a wanton little interlude.
Ariel grabbed a napkin to wipe herself down. When she reached a certain spot, she suddenly hissed in pain.
"Sss—my butt..."
Ariel’s hand trembled as she pulled it away. She turned to look and, sure enough, even after an entire night, the rosy marks left behind hadn't faded in the slightest. They stung like fire at the slightest touch.
Given her physical constitution, it was highly unusual for such a superficial injury to take this long to heal. This meant that aside from the time Muen had been deliberately "bullying" her, someone else had taken advantage of the moments when she couldn't distinguish between pain and pleasure to sneak in a few swats of their own.
"Damn it, it must have been that wicked, slutty maid!"
Ariel gritted her teeth in resentment.
I can deal with that blonde bastard, but even you had to sneak in an attack? This grudge... I will definitely settle this grudge!
However, the moment the thought of revenge surfaced, the throbbing in her backside grew sharper, as if reminding her of the humiliating, "nation-betraying" promises she had made last night at her most vulnerable and shameful moment.
"Wooo... Damn you, Muen! And you too—I’ll get you back for this!"
Ariel wasn't crushed by this temporary humiliation; instead, it ignited a roaring fighting spirit within her.
She was Ariel Bugard, a true powerhouse who would never be defeated by setbacks. Even in this kind of matter... she would never admit defeat!
But as she looked around, she realized Muen and An were nowhere to be seen. They seemed to have woken up much earlier than her and had already left.
Once again, she was the last to wake...
It’s not because I’m the weakest! It’s just because they teamed up to bully me the hardest last night! Ariel told herself firmly.
"Enjoy your victory for now. Sooner or later, I’ll take back everything I’ve lost!"
The surroundings were a total mess. Ariel struggled to find her underwear, only to discover it had been stuffed into a wine glass, making it completely unwearable. Aside from the spilled wine and scattered clothes, strange fluids were splattered here and there. Even after a night, a wanton, lewd scent still lingered in the air.
Ariel’s face flushed crimson. The sight and the smell forced her to remember the madness of the previous night.
And the last thing Muen had whispered in her ear.
"Continue tonight?" Who—who wants to continue?!
Ariel angrily kicked away the "evidence" stained with those traces of debauchery.
"I am definitely not continuing anything with you two!"
*
"To His Holiness the Pope:
I hope this letter finds you well.
Today is clear and the sun is bright. The tail end of summer has quietly slipped away, and the warm autumn, with its most pleasant temperatures, has arrived with light, dainty steps.
The first chrysanthemums have yet to bloom, but I have already seen yellow leaves drifting by the roadside.
I wonder how the Holy City is faring? It must still be a tapestry of flowers, with spring eternal. After all, it is a sacred land protected by the Goddess, where the calamities and astral winds of the world cannot reach that sanctuary on earth.
I am doing well, and I trust Your Holiness is also in good health.
After a long journey of five months, I have completed my first continental procession as the Saintess, spreading the Goddess's blessings to all living beings. I am now on my way back to the Holy City.
On this journey, I have seen much and felt the passion of the countless believers in this world.
Everywhere I go, pious followers wait in advance, braving the elements and traveling great distances just to feel the warmth and purity of the Holy Light, and to gaze upon the guide and mentor of their faith. All for a moment of peace and happiness.
I, Liya, am ashamed that I cannot distribute this most holy light equally among all.
But since equality is impossible, should we not grant a bit more of the Goddess's mercy to those believers struggling in pain and confusion?
This is what I believe. And here, in this ordinary city called Belland, I happen to see countless lost sheep waiting for my guidance.
The war initiated by the Kingdom has affected them, causing the price of their rations to double. Resources are scarce, and anxiety is high. The fear of war truly looms over them. This unjust war provoked by the Kingdom has left every poor citizen of Belland in a state of constant trepidation."
Writing to this point, Liya paused her pen.
A commotion drifted in from outside the window. A group of drunken citizens had gathered, shouting loudly.
"Fuck 'em! A mere Kingdom dares to challenge us? Do they forget how many times they've lost? This time, Her Majesty the Empress will lead her heavenly troops to crush them!"
"Exactly! Those Kingdom bastards are dead meat!"
"Hahaha! Come on, I’ve got some secret savings left. I’m going to donate it to the front lines as military funds! Let the boys kill those bastards faster!"
"Let's go!"
The group walked off, arms around each other's shoulders, singing a grand, booming song praising the Empire until their voices faded into the distance.
Once the noise died down, Liya resumed writing:
"The poor citizens of Belland pray every day for the end of the war. To that end, they do not hesitate to offer their last coins, huddling together in the cold wind to sing for warmth. As the Saintess, though I cannot actively interfere in worldly conflicts, I feel I should do something for these poor people.
Therefore, please forgive my sudden decision to delay my scheduled return. I will stay in Belland for a few extra days to give the Goddess's most sincere blessings to the lost sheep here.
Though I am still immature and cannot perfectly fulfill the duties of a Saintess, please believe that even this small amount of humble assistance will greatly help the poor people of Belland survive the cold winter ahead.
All is by the Goddess's mercy. I hope for Your Holiness's permission.
Signed, the Pure Saintess, Liya Angel."
After finishing, Liya held the paper in both hands and gently blew on the ink to dry it. She then carefully folded the letter and placed it in an envelope.
Beside her sat a Church-specific transmission stone. Through it, Liya could contact the Belland Grand Cathedral directly, and the message would be relayed upward. It would take less than an hour for her message to reach the Pope.
And that was the slow way. If she used the emergency protocol and the Cathedral rang the Holy Bell, the Pope’s will could descend upon Belland within three minutes.
But Liya had no intention of using either the steady or the emergency method.
After all, petitioning His Holiness was a serious matter. How could she be so casual about it? Naturally, she had to submit a formal, written application to demonstrate the seriousness and prudence of her conduct as the Saintess.
Liya waved her hand, summoning an attendant nun.
"Send this to His Holiness in the Holy City through the Church's channels."
"Yes," the nun replied. "A letter from the Saintess will surely be sent with the fastest—"
"What do you mean 'fastest'?"
Liya interrupted the nun with a deadpan expression. "It must be sent in the most secure way. The most secure, do you understand? Haste makes waste, and the same applies to delivering letters. Do you understand?"
"Yes... yes."
The nun’s eyes flickered with confusion. She wondered why, if security was the concern, they had to use such a roundabout method as a physical letter.
But since it was the Saintess's request...
"I shall go at once."
The nun didn't ask further and hurried away.
A spark of excitement appeared in Liya’s eyes. She began counting on her fingers.
"Sending the letter to the Holy City takes three days at the fastest, seven at the slowest. It takes a day for His Holiness to approve it, and the same amount of time for the reply to return... Which means, whether His Holiness agrees or not, I’ve secured at least seven to fifteen days of free time!"
If he agreed, it would be even better—she could stay for at least a month!
"Hehe, I really am a genius!"
Liya bobbed her head cutely, gave herself a little compliment, and immediately began packing her things. Before the nun could return, she left a note and slipped out the door.
Upon entering Belland, she hadn't stayed at the local Grand Cathedral. Instead, she had concealed her true appearance and checked into an ordinary inn.
If she stayed at the Cathedral, she’d be surrounded by people, and her movements wouldn't be free at all!
Not to mention... what she planned to do next.
"Sigh, such are the troubles of being the Saintess."
Too many eyes were watching. Even meeting her lover required such convoluted schemes.
If not for that, how could she have endured for two whole days after discovering those traces?
Liya sighed softly, pulled on a black hooded robe, and quickly vanished into the night.
*
A few minutes later, Liya appeared before a certain mansion.
The high walls had no visible guards, but the lavish decorations and the exquisitely carved family crest on the gate spoke volumes about the owner's noble status.
No other nobles even lived in this area, because from here to the horizon, the land belonged to only one name.
Campbell.
There was only one Campbell in the Empire.
The mansion before Liya was, naturally, the one and only Duke Campbell’s Estate.
"So quiet... but the security is still there. Three... no, at least seven experts of the Fifth-Tier or higher are protecting this place from the shadows?"
Liya was shrouded in a faint Holy Light that masked her presence. Currently, she held the highest authority over the Goddess's Holy Light second only to the Pope. Even away from the Holy City, she could briefly contend with a Crown Bearer. Deceiving a few guards at the Duke's Estate was no difficult task.
Liya knew her beloved Muen was inside, but she didn't alert anyone, nor did she mindlessly rush in.
Even though she had already guessed that the "philandering cat" she’d caught a glimpse of two days ago was also inside.
"What can I do? I am the dignified Saintess, after all," Liya muttered, puffing out her cheeks in frustration.
Even if she was going to drag that wretched cat out, she couldn't make too much of a scene. Given her status, it would be difficult to handle the fallout.
Therefore, as the saying goes, "know yourself and know your enemy." Before making her move, she needed to know exactly who that philandering cat was!
Whoosh.
The sound of a robe fluttering in the wind echoed as a figure appeared beside Liya.
"Saintess."
"Lin, did you bring the items?"
"It took two days, but I’ve gathered all the necessary intelligence. There shouldn't be anything missing." Lin, Liya’s personal attendant nun, produced a stack of reports. She showed no dissatisfaction at being assigned such a task.
In fact, she seemed to be enjoying it. After all, one didn't get to see this kind of drama in the boring Holy City.
"Excellent."
Liya took the stack of intelligence. Her clear eyes reflected the massive, silent estate. She sneered.
"Let’s see which shameless little hussy is playing the part of the philandering cat."
With that, she began reading rapidly.
Though the report looked thick, the core was simple: it listed every woman Muen Campbell had contacted since returning to Belland.
The rest was mostly detailed descriptions—everything from birth dates and locations to hobbies and habits. Most of that was just supplementary filler.
Liya finished reading quickly, but she didn't seem to find the answer she wanted. Her brow furrowed slightly.
"Is this all?"
"Yes, that’s everything," Lin replied.
"According to the Church's intelligence network, since that date at the amusement park, Muen Campbell has only left the house once, and that was to see his grandfather. Other than that, he’s been hoistered up in the Duke's Estate for the past two days. So, excluding his travels while building that amusement park, these are the only women he’s contacted."
The various maids of the Duke's Estate.
The amusement park staff.
And... Ariel.
"How did Ariel come into contact with him?"
Liya blinked, thinking she had misread.
Didn't Ariel hate Muen the most?
And after everything that happened before, wouldn't she draw her sword the moment she saw him?
"Supposedly, they had a chance encounter in the Abyss, but specific details are unavailable for now. The report sent back by Miss Fei'er is clearly incomplete. It’s said that a certain powerful figure will personally explain everything that happened in the Abyss to His Holiness."
"I see..."
Liya didn't know what had happened in the Abyss; she had only caught a brief glimpse through the Church's channel at the time.
But Ariel was a stubborn person. It was unlikely her attitude toward Muen would change so quickly. It was probably just a coincidence that she ran into him while traveling through the Abyss.
"The staff are unlikely... so it’s a maid?"
Liya’s gaze fell on the very first page of the maid profiles.
An.
Head Maid of the Duke's Estate.
Dignified appearance, capable, elegant.
Large chest, long legs, likes wearing black stockings.
She seemed exactly like Muen’s type.
She was also the woman Muen had saved in the Abyss, so she had the highest probability.
But Liya was still uncertain. She had never met An, and as an outsider, she couldn't know much about the inner workings of the Duke's Estate.
"And the person Muen went on a date with—did you find out who it was?"
"No specific name. That Pink Bear kept stonewalling me, citing some 'classified mission.' All I know is that it was a black-haired, flat-chested woman," Lin said.
"Black-haired and flat-chested?"
Liya’s eyes flashed like they’d been struck by lightning. Her gaze immediately landed on...
The profile of the little maid named Noah.
Her characteristics were a perfect match.
"Could it be her?"
Liya tapped her finger, deep in thought.
His own maid, good-looking, fits the criteria, plenty of motive... It seems flawless.
But for some reason, Liya felt something was off.
As if guided by a strange intuition, her eyes drifted back to the report on her childhood friend.
"Lin, do you think it’s possible..."
"I don't think it's possible at all," Lin interrupted flatly. She had once personally watched Ariel crawl out from under a bed.
The bystander sees clearly. Liya might always view Ariel as her best friend, but Lin had seen that the girl named Ariel clearly harbored feelings for Liya that went beyond friendship.
And since the object of her affection had been snatched away by that blonde pig Muen Campbell, why would she throw herself into the arms of her rival?
I can't beat my rival, so I'll just be with my rival?
What kind of twisted soap opera plot was that?
Setting aside the logic, the matter of sexual orientation alone was an insurmountable hurdle.
"I suppose..."
Liya also felt that scenario was impossible.
Having grown up with Ariel, she knew better than anyone how much Ariel disliked men.
Especially her most hated man—Muen Campbell. Back at the Academy, she hated him so much she’d get nauseous just hearing his name!
But...
What was this strange sense of dissonance?
"Maybe I should give Ariel a call on the transmission stone!" Liya said suddenly.
"Eh?"
"Why the surprise, Lin? As Ariel’s best friend, knowing she’s in Belland, isn't it normal for me to call and say hello?" Liya said as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
If anything, she felt a bit guilty for forgetting about Ariel over the last two days because she was so focused on that philandering cat.
No sooner said than done.
Having spent so much time with Ariel, Liya had picked up some of her decisive habits. She immediately picked up the transmission stone and dialed the frequency.
"Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep..."
After a long thirty seconds, Liya’s brow furrowed again.
"Why is it taking so long?"
Fortunately, she didn't have to wait much longer. On the tenth beep, the transmission stone finally connected.
"Hello... Li... Liya?"
Ariel’s voice came through the stone. It was the voice Liya knew well, but for some reason... Liya felt there was a faint tremor in her speech?
"Ariel, it’s me."
Liya blinked and asked curiously, "Are you in Belland right now?"
"Ah... yeah... yes... I’m in Belland."
"Where in Belland? I’ll come find you when I’m free."
"At... a ho—hotel. Right, I’m at a hotel."
Ariel’s tone was clearly unstable. Occasionally, a strange sound was mixed in with her words, but it was too faint, and after being filtered by the transmission stone, it was hard to identify.
"Don't... don't bother coming to find me for now. This hotel is very remote. If you come to Belland... I’ll come find you... yeah... right... I’ll come to you."
"Is that so?"
Liya tilted her head. "What are you doing right now? Your voice sounds a bit weird."
"Ah, I... I’m... Get lost! Stop bothering me!"
Ariel’s angry shout suddenly came through the stone, followed by the sound of a sharp slap against something. The background noise didn't disappear, however. Ariel hurriedly picked up where she left off, sounding panicked:
"Sorry, a dog... a dog just ran over. I chased it away. As for what I’m doing... I’m... I’m exercising. Right, exercising..."
"Exercising?"
Liya thought about it.
For a cultivation nut like Ariel, exercising seemed like a perfectly normal answer.
But why did she have this strange sense of déjà vu?
"What kind of exercise are you doing?"
"I’m... doing horse stances... yeah, horse stances..."
Ariel sounded out of breath on the other end.
"Not using my cultivation... just... just using physical strength for horse stances. Training my core... so that later... later I can get my revenge!"
"Revenge? What revenge?"
"No—ngh!"
"Wh-what happened?"
Hearing that sudden, high-pitched, strange cry, Liya immediately grew tense. "Ariel, what happened? Are you okay?!"
"No... it’s nothing!"
Ariel forcibly suppressed a moan that was either pleasure or pain. She gritted her teeth and said, "It’s just because that dog was messing around... I lost my balance... and fell, that’s all."
"Falling while doing a horse stance?"
Liya teased, "I didn't think you’d make a mistake like that, Ariel."
"I... I couldn't help it. Everyone makes mistakes..."
Ariel gave a strained laugh and changed the subject. "So, Liya... did you need something?"
"Can't I call you if I don't need anything?" Liya puffed her cheeks. "Don't tell me you’re still mad at me."
"...! No! I’m not! I’ve never been mad at you, Liya!"
For some reason, Ariel’s voice suddenly became frantic.
"Anyway, Liya... since you’re fine... I’m going to hang up. I suddenly have something... I need to take care of..."
"You’re as busy as ever. Busier than me, and I’m the Saintess."
Liya let out a soft huff and joked as she usually did.
"Alright then. Goodnight."
"Yeah... good... goodnight."
Beep... beep...
"Lin, what do you think?"
The transmission ended, and Liya looked at Lin with a serious expression.
"What was Ariel doing on the other end?"
"There is no doubt."
Lin (who had lived in the Church for thirty years and was a virgin with zero experience) thought seriously for a moment before answering:
"Based on my analysis, Miss Ariel... was indeed exercising. And judging by the frequency of her breathing, it was quite an intense workout. She likely pushed every muscle in her body to the limit."
"I see..."
Liya let out a long breath.
"I knew it. That philandering cat could be anyone, but it couldn't be Ariel."
Setting aside how unlikely it was for a stubborn rock like Ariel to be seduced by her most hated person, the cat she was about to catch was clearly a shameless hussy. After all, the panties she had discovered back then were incredibly indecent.
How could someone like Ariel own something so shameless?
She only wore white ones with kitten patterns!