Chapter 351: Invitation

“Wait—after all that talk, don’t tell me you’re scared.”

The Pink Bear blew a smoke ring and arched a brow:

“Such a tiny gut? Need me to put in a word and get you withdrawn from this ceremony? I still have that much pull, you know.”

“...Of course not.”

Muen straightened his back again, looked calmly at the Pink Bear, thought for a moment, and said:

“I was just venting. As I am now, I won’t waver over something this small.”

“Small, huh? Heh, your tone’s gotten pretty big.”

“I wouldn’t dare get full of myself.”

Muen rose and took his leave of the Pink Bear:

“Then I’ll excuse myself, Uncle.”

“Heading out?”

“The Holy City should have plenty of good things. I’ll take a look around—better to prepare in advance.”

Muen sighed:

“After all, I’m not the kind of story protagonist who can do everything on hot-blooded zeal alone.”

“I figured you’d use the time before the ceremony to ask that little girl out on a date.”

Having lost his fun, the Pink Bear shifted into a rakishly comfortable pose in the chair, waved his cigar at Muen, and said:

“Go on, go on—don’t disturb this lord’s rare alone time. You’re not some white-stockinged, big-chested pretty girl. Anyway, I’ll come properly appreciate your results in the ruins later. Just don’t get beaten till you’re bawling.”

“...”

Muen paused mid-step and looked back:

“Somehow... I still feel a little unsatisfied.”

He had already fallen into the pit and was miserable enough.

But this guy watched the show while shoveling dirt in from above.

Too vile!

“Hm?”

The Pink Bear froze. Before he could react, he saw Muen take out a voice-transmission stone and give him a crooked smile:

“Professor Prang? Yes, it’s me—Muen. I’m reporting that the Pink Bear is secretly smoking high-end cigars again. There’s no way he could afford them himself. I suspect he’s embezzled academy funds to stash them. Please be sure to strictly—”

“Hey, you little—!”

...

Liya’s room, bathroom.

In the misty steam, Liya lifted a long leg—slender but not overly thin—and cautiously dipped her toes into the hot bathwater.

Only after confirming the water was within her tolerance did she let the towel fall, slowly submerging her naked, delicate body into the tub. Her fair skin, colored by the heat, took on a cherry-blossom flush.

Then she exhaled, completely relaxed.

With the rise and fall of her chest, two pale rounds slowly surfaced from the rippling water, like white whales rising at dawn from the edge of the sea.

Liya’s gaze went past the two white whales to the far side—to the tiny toes lightly perched on the rim of the tub, cute as freshly proofed white dough.

Ten toes flexed nimbly, like little sprites dancing among flowers.

Watching their dance, Liya hummed a melody that had just bubbled up in her mind.

“Hmm~ hm-hmm...”

With her musical attainment, even a casual hum sounded as pleasant as a nightingale.

A pity there was no audience; otherwise sincere applause and praise would surely follow.

Just like Muen.

“Ah...”

Suddenly, the lovely humming cut off.

Liya lowered her head, her clear eyes staring at her reflection in the water.

“Do I... like Muen?”

...

So sudden.

Like an apple sliced by the world’s fastest blade—only when everything fell silent did she realize her heart had been laid bare.

Thump.

So that’s liking...

“W-wait, no!”

Face burning red, Liya slapped apart her reflection.

“Even if it sounds a lot like what Saintess-teacher said... b-but... it’s not certain, right? So what if my heart’s pounding? It’s happened plenty of times before—just not this strong.”

Liya sank half her head beneath the water and bubbled out a gurgling stream of air.

When it came down to it, Saintess-teacher... is single too.

She doesn’t have experience in this either—can I really take what she said as gospel?

Besides, my goal is to become a Saintess as well!

“Goddess, please believe in Liya...”

Liya suddenly sat up straight in the tub, pressed her palms together, and prayed devoutly:

“Liya is an honest good child. Liya will absolutely never lie. Liya will forever—”

Knock, knock.

Her devout prayer was interrupted by knocking.

“Who is it?”

“Me.”

From outside came Sister Lin the Great Nun’s cool voice.

“I brought you clothes.”

“Ah, please come in.”

Flustered, Liya wrapped herself in a towel and went to open the door.

Seeing Liya like this, Lin stepped in quickly and shut the door just as quickly.

“Looks like I came at the right time.”

In her hands were several neatly folded garments.

Liya’s previous underthings had all been lost, so she had asked the Church for a change of clothes, including the formal dress she wore last night.

“Thank you.”

Delighted, Liya took the clothes. The texture ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) was ordinary, the colors plain. Church garments could never be too fancy—but for some reason, they filled Liya with a vague sense of nostalgia.

It made her feel very at ease.

“Right, one more thing.”

Just before leaving, Lin said suddenly:

“Muen Campbell asked me to ask you—would you like to go out for a stroll tomorrow?”

“G-go... for a stroll? Just the two of us?”

“He said to go buy some tools or items you’ll need, to make up for what you lost before. He said you once agreed.”

“Ah.”

Liya recalled that Muen had said that in the forest.

But... did she actually agree then?

She couldn’t remember—because that annoying thump-thump had started up again.

And for some reason, the plain Church clothes in her hands that had felt so reassuring a moment ago suddenly pricked like burrs.

“Um, er...”

“Apart from these, the Church only has nun’s habits.”

Lin’s expression didn’t change. She finished briskly and took her leave.

In the quiet room, only Liya remained, staring blankly at the plain garments in her hands, lost in thought.

She was already a publicly known Saintess candidate; in the Church it was fine, but going out dressed this simply... didn’t seem appropriate.

As for last night’s formal dress—that kind of solemn attire definitely couldn’t be worn on the street.

Then...

Liya lifted her head and looked out the window.

Maybe... it wasn’t too late yet. She could go out to the street ahead of time.

Not just clothes—there were other things to buy.

...

...

“Huff... huff...”

In the dark space, rough breathing—like a bellows—disturbed the air around it.

Ariel, covered in blood, braced her broad greatsword and glared fiercely at the surroundings.

Under the flicker of an Illumination Spell, colossal bronze puppets swung sharp blades as they closed in step by step.

“This is troublesome.”

Master’s voice sounded: “We seem to have chosen the wrong path. There’s no trace of that girl Liya’s aura on this route, and the time concept in this space appears disturbed—we have no idea how long it’s been.”

“No problem. As long as we’re still inside the ruin, if we keep going forward, we’ll run into her.” Ariel’s eyes were firm; she had absolute faith in the bond between herself and Liya.

“True. Can you still hold out?”

“Of course!”

Liya wiped the blood from her face, thought of what she’d gained lately, and her heart burned hot.

Now she lacked nothing—including the money that had troubled her most before. Which meant...

“So long as I remember that once we get out I can invite Liya on a date, my whole body is brimming with strength right now!”

Ariel swung the greatsword. Firelight gleamed on bronze, casting a green shadow above her head.

“Wait for me, Liya!”