How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

It was getting late, and Vinny wanted to go back and rest early, so he left first with Margaret. As for Ferdi and the others, because none of the classes had much homework lately—at most, they were told to preview the upcoming textbook passages—they had taken this opportunity to treat the period like summer or winter break. They were still playing cards.

As for Mason, he had originally wanted to leave too when he saw Margaret leaving, but he was held back by the warm and hospitable senior card players, pressed into his seat, and made to keep playing.

That made sense. As the big brother figure, Aiden had actually been crushed once by a newcomer who had learned on the spot. This was a disgrace beyond disgrace. Of course they had to pin Mason down and make him play another round.

If Aiden could not win tonight, Mason was probably not getting away.

“Brother Mason, listen to a word of advice from your old brother here. Our club may not have much of a budget, but we have all the plain water you can drink. Drink as much as you want. When you finish, we still have more. Tonight, let us battle to our hearts’ content and drink until we drop!” Then Mason was dragged back by Aiden and not allowed to leave.

And so Mason could only sit there, on the verge of tears, and keep playing cards. While he played, he also had to endure the surrounding upperclassmen pointing this way and that, giving comments from every side.

After all, this was the first time the club had recruited new members, and the first time it had actually managed to recruit newcomers. Everyone wanted to act like upperclassmen and give some guidance, so the scene had become what it was.

Vinny walked leisurely along the road home with his hands folded behind his head. Margaret was going the same way, so the two walked together.

“That friend of yours will be fine, right? Will he make it back in time to do his homework today?” Vinny asked slowly.

After all, although Mason had been half-dragged into playing cards, in reality—

How could Vinny possibly fail to tell that Mason himself still wanted to keep playing?

He could only say Ferdi and the others had some skill. In just half an hour, they had dragged someone who knew nothing about Deity Cards into the pit and even made him show faint signs of addiction.

The second-years and upper years did not have much homework, but that did not mean the first-years were the same. After all, first-years could not participate in the Chosen One Granted by God Tournament, so there was naturally no need to reduce their burden.

“Our homework today is not that much, and Mason’s grades are very good. He will finish it quickly. Besides, staying there was his own choice.” The corners of Margaret’s lips curved slightly. “To be honest, this is the first time I have seen him so happy.”

“You call that happy?” Vinny raised an eyebrow.

He had indeed seen that Mason personally still had some willingness to keep playing. If Mason truly had not wanted to, Ferdi and the others would not have been able to hold him back. They could hold him there only because they had sensed his inner struggle.

As for just how much Mason wanted to play cards, that was hard to say.

“Yes. Do not be fooled by how he looks. In truth, he is very willing to keep playing with the other upperclassmen.” Margaret murmured softly.

“You can tell even that? Impressive.”

“Mm. It is just that I am fairly familiar with Mason.” Margaret lifted her head to look at the starry night sky.

“Upperclassman Vinny, do you believe something?”

“Hm? Believe what?” Vinny asked.

“Every star in the sky is an eye of the gods. The world we live in is watched by the gods at every moment, and therefore, we must not do anything that goes against our conscience.” Margaret pressed her hands together as if in prayer.

“Is that so?” Vinny casually glanced at the stars overhead.

He was no astronomer and did not know what the stars in this world meant, but he felt they were probably unrelated to gods.

If they really were the eyes of the gods, this world would not be so chaotic.

In the end, he did not care about those things. The dead were gone, after all. Everything from the past would never return. It could only be completed through the efforts of those living in the present.

“Your place is over that way, right?” Seeing the fork in the road up ahead, Vinny pointed. “Then we can part ways there. You do not need me to walk you back, do you?”

“Mm. I will not trouble you, Upperclassman Vinny.”

“Good.” Vinny thought that made sense too. He and Margaret did not have any special relationship. If he walked her all the way to her door before leaving, it would feel as if the nature of things had become a little different.

“Upperclassman Vinny still has things to do and needs to prepare for the Chosen One Granted by God Tournament. How could I have the nerve to delay you?” Margaret said.

“The Chosen One Granted by God Tournament? It is not that serious,” Vinny said lightly.

“Upperclassman Vinny should value this tournament a great deal, right? It is a grand event that only appears once in more than ten years,” Margaret asked.

“That may be true. I will indeed participate, but honestly, I am only joining in the fun. I am just a second-year student. How am I supposed to compete on the same stage as those upper years?” Vinny raised an eyebrow. “What good ranking could a second-year student like me get? That said, if I have the chance, I will still give it a try.”

When speaking to Margaret, Vinny always only said half of what he meant.

“But if it were you, Margaret, maybe you would really succeed. You are a descendant of Facilis, and I heard you are also first in this year’s first-year ranking. It is a pity you missed the timing. Otherwise, you would have created another legend of a generation.” Vinny praised her.

“Not at all. Compared to you, Upperclassman Vinny, there is still a very large gap.” Margaret hesitated for a moment before slowly saying, “They all say you are the academy’s new-generation legend.”

“Huh? I am afraid you left out half of that sentence.” Vinny laughed.

There were many people in the academy who acknowledged his strength, but that did not mean they were convinced by him. At most, because his strength had already reached a level they had no choice but to acknowledge, a level they could not ignore, they reluctantly gave him recognition.

But even if they acknowledged him in terms of strength, they still had to criticize him in other aspects. For example, his character, morality, conduct, and certain baseless rumors and the like. In any case, if one wanted to smear someone, one could always pick out flaws.

Every person had flaws. He, Vinny, was no saint either.

“Mm. There are some rumors about you that are not very good.” After hearing what Vinny said, Margaret pondered for a moment before slowly speaking.

“Oh.” Vinny heard that the tone of Margaret’s words had become slightly off, but he did not pay any attention to it.

“Then what do you think?” Vinny asked.

“Me?” Margaret seemed to be thinking. “I think it is just as you said, Upperclassman Vinny. What one hears may be false, but what one sees is true. Everything requires one to witness it with one’s own eyes and judge it oneself before reaching a conclusion, rather than relying on hearsay.”

“Then what kind of person do you think I am?”

“Upperclassman Vinny, I already said what kind of person I think you are the first time we met.” Margaret looked up at the sky. “I have always believed that you are a very good person. At the very least, you are certainly not a bad person.”

“Do you still think that now?” Vinny’s face showed understanding.

“Mm.”

“You have not changed your mind?”

“Mm.”

“But how could you think I am a good person?” Vinny asked strangely.

“Why can I not believe you are a good person, Upperclassman Vinny?” Margaret asked in return.

“Why? Ah, sorry. My thinking was too narrow. Did they not instill in you things like ‘there is a fake Facilis outside using your family’s name to cheat people everywhere,’ or ‘the vile third generation of a fake is trying to pass himself off as real’?” Vinny suddenly stopped walking.

He knew it was time to speak plainly.

Those words Margaret had said just now had made the hint very clear. She already knew Vinny’s identity, or perhaps she was about to lay all her cards on the table.

Margaret also fell silent, stopping in place as well.

Once those words were spoken, whether or not there had still been a thin layer of paper between them before, it had now been completely pierced through.

“Upperclassman Vinny.”

“You are still calling me Upperclassman Vinny?” Vinny looked at Margaret with amusement. “The person standing before you is the Camella Royal Capital’s notorious young master who, according to them, stole your identity and went everywhere pretending to belong to your family.”

“I imagine you have heard plenty of rumors about me in the academy these days too, right?”

“So your full name is Vinny Facilis, Upperclassman Vinny?”

“That is right.” Vinny shrugged. “I have used this name for so many years, from birth until now. I never expected there would be a day when someone would demand that I change it.”

“No. That is not it, Upperclassman Vinny. That is not what I mean.” Margaret shook her head.

“You mean you still think I am not a bad person?”

“From the first moment I saw you, Upperclassman Vinny, I knew you definitely would not be a bad person.” Margaret remained firm. “Even now, after spending several days together, I still believe that just as firmly.”

“I truly do not know what you are thinking inside, Margaret.”

“Upperclassman Vinny, is there some conflict between you and everyone in the Church? Or have you suffered some kind of unfair treatment?” Margaret said hesitantly. “If you say it, perhaps I can help you. Many times, perhaps it is only that communication between us has been poor. If we can all understand the feelings each side wants to convey, then surely...”

“Margaret, to be honest, you do not need to say so many useless things to me.” Vinny waved his hand. “Many times, people simply cannot understand one another. A person cannot even empathize with their past self, let alone someone else.”

“What is there that cannot be communicated?” Margaret froze for a moment. “Upperclassman Vinny, you are a very good and kind person, and everyone in the Church is also very good and kind. I do not understand. What kind of conflict could have led to this result? Why can you not sit down and communicate? I think once the reasoning is made clear, you will certainly be able to live in harmony.”

“Live in harmony??” After hearing this, Vinny fell silent. Then he could not help laughing aloud. “Margaret, I am very willing to live in harmony.”

“To be honest, for a surname, I do not want to fight you over any of this at all.” Vinny spread his hands. “If there is truly no other way, you can take it yourselves.”

“All right. We are here. It is late enough today, Margaret. Hurry back and sleep. I need to go back and rest early too. I still have classes tomorrow.” Vinny waved at Margaret as if he did not care at all, then turned and left.

“Upperclassman Vinny. Upperclassman Vinny? I am sorry. Could you wait a moment?”

“What else is it?” Vinny turned around.

“I am sorry, Upperclassman Vinny. What I said just now was improper.” Margaret asked weakly, “Will I still be able to see you tomorrow?”

“? Margaret, you make it sound as if this young master is about to depart this world. If nothing happens to this young master, of course you will be able to see this young master.” Vinny rolled his eyes at Margaret, speechless at her completely baffling words.

“Then, do you hate me now, Upperclassman Vinny?”

“Hate? In your case, I cannot really say.” Vinny held his head.

Of course, if this behavior of hers really was all an act, just as he suspected, that would be another matter.

“And why do you care so much about me? Margaret, what I think has nothing to do with you, right?”

“But I...” Margaret stopped, wanting to speak but hesitating. “I do not know why, but actually, the first time I saw you, Upperclassman Vinny, I felt you were °• N o v e l i g h t •° very familiar.”

Why was it this line again? Had she not said it the first time they met?

“I... how should I put it? I...” Margaret paused. “I do not want to be hated by you, Upperclassman Vinny.”

Those words made Vinny fall silent. Under the moonlight, looking at the pink-haired girl before him, at those clear, bright starry eyes shining with limpid light, Vinny was completely unable to tell whether what this girl said was truly what she thought in her heart.

“Margaret, you do not know what kind of person I am, just as I do not know what kind of person you are.” After a long silence, Vinny gave a soft laugh. “Of course, personally, I am still very willing to live in harmony with you.”

“Today, those things you told me, Upperclassman Vinny—the so-called love and bonds—I truly listened. I also have things I want to accomplish, and a mission I want to fulfill.” Margaret said seriously.

Vinny said nothing, gazing at the girl’s starry eyes, clear as a mirror.

“Then, do you believe you are the Saintess?” Vinny asked, his voice without fluctuation.

“The Saintess?” Margaret seemed to be murmuring to herself.

“Between the two of us, one of us has to be fake, right?” Vinny did not avoid it at all. Half-jokingly, he asked the question with a smile.

That was certain, right?

“All right, if you do not want to answer that question, then forget it.” Vinny, who had been leaning against the wall, was about to leave, but the silent girl behind him spoke once more.

“Upperclassman Vinny, if someone is fake, can they not do what the Dawn Saintess does?”

Hearing this, Vinny stopped in his tracks. Slowly, he turned back and looked at Margaret.

That answer was very skillful.

She had not directly said who was fake, but said that no matter which of them it was, either of them could do what a Saintess ought to do.

“To be honest, I do not understand why I must oppose you for a reason like this. I cannot understand why everyone around us seems to think that we are destined to be enemies.”

“But, Upperclassman Vinny, you also say you are a Facilis. Does that not mean you also want to be like the Saintesses of every generation?”

“Then should we not be people standing on the same front?” Margaret asked in confusion. “We should not be enemies, should we? And besides, should it not be that because a person is noble, she is the Saintess? Must one first be the Saintess before one has the right to be noble?”

Vinny looked back. His eyes widened slightly, and then he unconsciously smiled.

“You are right. Anyone can be the Saintess.”

“If that is truly what you think, then act according to your own thoughts.”