How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

It’s just that now we’ve officially killed someone inside Carillian Academy in this world.

“What’s wrong? After slaughtering your way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, only now do you remember that we’re killing people?” the black-robed figure mocked upon hearing [Blood-Debt]’s remark.

No. What I mean is that even with my barrier isolating us—concealing the aura of your evil Spirit Soul and my own presence so that we give off no obvious scent—the moment a student disappears, Carillian Academy will launch an investigation.

“Did that really need saying? They started investigating even before we devoured anyone inside the Academy.” The black-robed figure glanced at [Blood-Debt].

“You should know that I came here by replacing the Vinny who belonged to this world. That means the ‘Vinny’ of this world has already been declared missing in the days since I arrived. Do you really think the Student Council and the Academy haven’t begun investigating?”

What’s so difficult about that? Just pretend to be that Vinny, [Blood-Debt] teased.

Oh, but let me make one thing clear~ I’m only suggesting this for the sake of our grand plan. It’s definitely not because I want to see how ridiculous you’d look deliberately pretending to be a nice guy so no one catches on.

“If you make another nauseating joke like that, I won’t mind making your next full meal a very distant prospect,” the black-robed figure said coldly.

Oh my, you really can’t take a joke. Fine, fine. My mistake.

There was not the slightest trace of apology in [Blood-Debt]’s voice, but the black-robed figure was clearly used to it by now.

“Impersonating this world’s harmless little rabbit would be a terrible move. Judging by that meat bun’s reaction, the ‘me’ of this world seems rather popular. Heh. Apparently, he’s become one of those Academy bastards.”

“I don’t know him well, nor do I understand his network of relationships. Anyone especially close to him could easily see through me.”

“And in this world, I still don’t know whether that person is here—or how powerful she might be.”

At that, the black-robed figure clenched his fist until his knuckles cracked.

You mean the [Hero] who stole your woman? Hee-hee. Why be afraid of her? She may have humiliated you plenty of times, but didn’t you kill her in the end?

“If this world has another Vinny, then there’s a good chance it has that person too,” the black-robed figure said abruptly.

So what if it does? Shouldn’t you be delighted? Just kill her again. Tsk, tsk. I’d rather like to taste the flesh and blood of that little [Hero]. I’m sure she’d be delicious~ I can smell something tremendously enticing in her. Her blood brims with ancient, boundless mana. Devouring her would undoubtedly bring our power to an entirely new level.

Unfortunately, even though we clearly killed her, she disappeared. This works out perfectly. If this world has another little [Hero], we’ll be hidden while she remains exposed. Killing her will be effortless.

I don’t know what other identity she might possess, but if we can devour her, her bloodline will surely become the finest nourishment we’ve ever had~

The indeterminate voice rose and fell unpredictably.

The black-robed figure said nothing. His darkened gaze grew unfathomably deep.

*****

Aesphyra placed the vial containing the soil sample on the table, followed by another vial filled with a pale-red solution.

“These are the sample and the test solution,” Aesphyra said to Mirexia and the several Academy mentors seated nearby.

“Based on the results of my research so far, the alchemical potion spilled on the grass in that grove was most likely capable of affecting a person’s perception.”

“Affecting perception?” The mentor at the head of the table frowned. “So it was someone from the Academy after all?”

“If that’s the case, then this next discovery makes sense. According to our investigation, there was an explosion at a mirror shop in a remote corner of the commercial street on the night Vinny disappeared.” Another mentor took out a document as he spoke.

“A mirror shop in a remote corner of the commercial street?” Mirexia frowned.

“Yes. During our search, we confirmed that some students shopping on the commercial street that evening witnessed something. According to their statements, they saw a blue-haired student there that night,” the mentor continued.

“Blue hair? That must have been Vinny. What happened next?” Mirexia pressed.

“That’s where the trail ends. It was already rather late, and they were in a hurry to return home. They only saw the blue-haired student heading toward the northern part of the commercial street.”

“There is one suspicious detail, however. According to one student present that night, the blue-haired student was acting strangely, almost as though possessed. Even though there was someone right in front of him, he walked straight into that person as though he couldn’t see anyone. They both fell, but the blue-haired student simply looked around as if nothing had happened, then left without saying a word.”

“He fell into their trap. The perception-altering alchemical potion had affected him,” Aesphyra concluded succinctly, her eyes flickering.

“If the alchemical potion was deliberately spilled along Vinny’s necessary route and specifically targeted him, then the explosion at the mirror shop that night was most likely connected to his disappearance,” one mentor said with a nod.

“We found traces of frost magic on an iron door. It had been split in two and was covered in rime.”

“It had to be Vinny’s magic,” Mirexia said with certainty. “Ice-element magic is his specialty.”

“However, I questioned the students who arrived outside the mirror shop immediately after the explosion. They said they had been strolling along the commercial street when they heard the blast. Not knowing what had happened, they ran toward the sound and found the shop in ruins. They assumed someone was robbing it, so they waited outside while one of them went to notify a mentor. During that entire time, they saw no one leave the shop.”

The mentor placed the investigation report on the table.

“We searched the mirror shop as well. The floor was covered in mirror shards, and there were residual traces of ice magic, presumably from Vinny. Beyond that, however, we found nothing. Vinny was not there, nor did he leave behind any of the belongings he had been carrying.”

“Did you find anything resembling a secret passage or a teleportation array?” Mirexia asked, unwilling to give up.

“No. We searched it thoroughly. The shop contained only one small room and no additional space. We also checked for hidden passages, and there is almost certainly no such passage inside. As for a teleportation array, we swept the shop with a specialized alchemical potion and found nothing magical whatsoever.”

“Judging by the residual traces, only Vinny cast magic inside the mirror shop that night—several ice spells. We found no traces of any other magic being used.”

“Aesphyra, do you have any ideas?” Mirexia pursed her lips, placing her last hope in the taciturn Aesphyra.

“It’s strange.” Aesphyra considered the matter for a moment. “If Vinny truly disappeared inside the mirror shop, why were there no traces of any magic except his own?”

“If some spell or enchanted tool transported him elsewhere, why did it leave no magical traces whatsoever?”

“Nor was there anything like a secret passage.”

“There is no question that the shop Vinny visited that night is our prime suspect. We are still investigating it,” the mentor said.

Regardless of whether the people at the shop were responsible for Vinny’s disappearance, they would have been in the best position to spill an alchemical potion along the route he had to take.

“So we have no real leads?” Mirexia’s fingers tightened slightly around the papers.

“At present, no,” the mentor answered gravely. “We also find it extremely strange. How could a living person vanish into thin air without leaving even the slightest magical trace?”

“Under ordinary circumstances, it would be impossible. Whether it was a magic array or an enchanted tool, it would leave magical traces. The same applies to alchemical potions.”

“No. It isn’t entirely impossible,” Aesphyra suddenly said.

“Hmm?”

“There is one kind of extremely advanced ‘enchanted tool’ that leaves no detectable traces when used. Strictly speaking, it does leave traces, but they cannot be detected through humanity’s present understanding of magic,” Aesphyra said slowly.

“Aesphyra, are you suggesting...?”

“That’s right. A Demon Pillar artifact,” Aesphyra enunciated.

Mirexia fell silent. Her face abruptly lost much of its color, and the back that had been held upright sank against the cushioned chair.

“Of course, this is only speculation. None of us can say for certain whether some secret art capable of concealing magical traces exists. The possibility may be very small, but it isn’t zero.”

“Even so, a Demon Pillar artifact is less likely still,” Aesphyra added.

After all, a Demon Pillar artifact was hardly something anyone could obtain with ease. Forged by the Demon Pillars themselves, such objects were comparable to [Legendary] weapons. Ordinary mortals were not even qualified to ask a Demon Pillar for one.

But the possibility could not be completely dismissed.

“For now, we’ve mobilized the Academy’s standing force and search teams to conduct a comprehensive investigation into Vinny’s disappearance. Please try not to worry too much. The moment we uncover anything, we’ll follow the trail and find him.”

“I understand.”

Aesphyra merely nodded in silence. Mirexia’s voice was heavy.

*****

Inside the platinum carriage at the center of the Church convoy—

“Little Vanessa, now that I think about it, have you ever read Dawn Enlightenment?” Kaleni asked, elegantly lifting her teacup and taking a small sip.

“Dawn Enlightenment?” Vanessa shook her head. A white veil covered her face, concealing her features. “I’ve never heard of it.”

“You’ve never heard of it?” Kaleni looked astonished. “Little Vanessa, you aren’t joking, are you?”

“Is there something special about the book?” Vanessa grew even more confused.

“Every generation of Saintesses in the Facilis Family is required to read it.”

“Then what is it about?”

“Simply put, it records the experience and conclusions of every generation of Dawn Saintesses across numerous fields, including magic, Spirit Souls, alchemy, and combat techniques. Toward the end of her life, each Dawn Saintess personally adds to, compiles, and improves the book. It is the crystallization of the wisdom of every Dawn Saintess who came before us.”

“Reading it allows you to avoid countless wrong turns in many different fields. You could say that this book is the foundation of the Facilis Family. Everything that follows—every framework and structure—is built upon that foundation. If the foundation is unstable, whatever you build on top of it can easily collapse,” Kaleni explained.

“Since paper does not preserve well, the book was engraved upon a massive inscription stone.”

“You truly haven’t even heard of it? Though I suppose that makes sense. Your family’s inheritance was severed for several generations, and that utterly wicked Pope in your world confiscated all your sacred relics.”

“Did he even take the family’s book of inheritance, which contains the accumulated wisdom of every Dawn Saintess? How utterly vile.”

Kaleni complained as she lightly struck the armrest.

“If I ever get the chance, I’ll help you personally execute that despicable Pope and destroy his filthy Church. We’ll make them answer for everything they did.”

“But don’t worry. Until we solve the mystery of the double moons, you can read our world’s copy of Dawn Enlightenment after you return to the Holy Capital with me.”

“Really? Thank you, Big Sister Kaleni.”

“Little Vanessa, if you thank me again, I really will get angry.”

“There is also a great deal of knowledge passed down by previous Saintesses, including their original spells and techniques. You can study those as well.” Kaleni gazed at Vanessa with an aching expression.

“Little Vanessa, you said that you successfully gained admission to Carillian Academy, correct?”

“Yes.”

“How many [Saint’s Envoy] spells do you know?”

“Not many, I think.” Vanessa counted them. It seemed she had not even come close to reaching double digits.

“...”

“Is something wrong, Big Sister Kaleni?”

“Nothing. I was merely thinking about what a genius you are, Little Vanessa,” Kaleni said with profound sincerity. “Even by the standards of the Facilis Family, your aptitude is exceptional.”

“Huh?”

“Do you know what every generation of Dawn Saintesses studies first? The knowledge that previous Saintesses have already researched and perfected. It is essentially knowledge that has been thoroughly broken down and prepared before being placed directly into the mouth of the succeeding Saintess.”

“But you received none of that inherited knowledge and had no assistance from any of the family’s sacred relics. Yet you still managed to enter Carillian Academy through your own efforts and rank among the top three students in your year. If that doesn’t make you a genius, then who could possibly qualify?”

“I wouldn’t say I did it entirely on my own.”

Vanessa considered the matter for a moment, then asked a question that had concerned her for a long time.

“Big Sister Kaleni, do you, your mother, and your grandmother have something called a ‘Virtue System’?”