How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?-Chapter 409 - 129 : To prevent her from injuring herself

The holy flame shone with the hues of a seven-colored glaze and stands as the ultimate bane of evil. Any being that touched it would be purified until not even ash remained, as if it had never existed in this world.

Of course, for the virtuous, Radiance Saintess's holy fire posed no danger. Ordinary, good-hearted people need not fear the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings], only the most wicked and malevolent entities should tremble before its sacred might.

The companion flame of Goddess of Radiance judged only those who harmed the innocent. It would never harm anyone without sin.

Since childhood, Charon had heard countless legends about the Saintess and the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings]. In his subconscious, both the Saintess and her holy fire carried purely positive meanings. After all, deep down, he identified himself as human, a knight.

He never imagined that one day, the holy fire was meant to punish evildoers, would burn him instead.

When the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings] ignited upon his body, Charon instinctively widened his eyes. His emotions in that moment were complex, shock, disbelief, astonishment, and a flicker of shattered illusions.

Yet no matter how intense his feelings, the instant he made contact with the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings], every one of them became mere fuel and kindling.

From Charon's perspective, the radiant flames instantly devoured everything within his sight. It happened in an instant, as fleeting as a shooting star.

He knew he was about to die. It was like an elephant's innate sense of impending death, able to precisely detect the moment of its own end.

'Wow, Father, Radiance Saintess is amazing! When I grow up, I want to become a knight who protects the Saintess!'

'Times have changed, child. The Radiance Saintess is already a thing of the past.' The burly middle-aged man gently patted the child's head.

'Then… are knights and justice also things of the past?' the child asked.

'Of course not. Knights and justice shall never fall.' The man smiled.

'Then when I grow up, I'll become a knight who protects justice!' The child declared earnestly to his father.

Who was that child?

In the final moment before he was completely purified by the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings], Charon remembered. That was him, his younger self.

Ah… so that was who he was?

Yes… When exactly had he, in the present, become the enemy of his former self?

He couldn't remember.

Charon, now reduced to nothing but a severed head, cast one final glance at the breathtakingly beautiful and sacred cherry-haired girl before him.

She represented the very person he once admired and acknowledged most. In an age without Radiance Saintess, he had dreamed of becoming that towering hero.

But…

His ideals changed the moment he saw that destitute blue-haired boy, whose home had been ransacked by the Holy Radiance Cross Knights.

The Radiance Saintess was already gone. The Varelis family was the same.

Thus, respect gradually gave way to disdain, and ultimately, to utter disdain.

Living deep within the core of Camella Kingdom's aristocratic society, Charon learned to label everyone he met, whom he needed to flatter, whom he needed to strive to surpass, whom he should consider allying with, and whom he could simply ignore.

The words spoken in childhood, the vows made, were all forgotten, tossed into the trash bin labeled "childish nonsense."

Charon looked at Vanessa's expression.

Surely she must be feeling elated now, having slain her longtime rival and romantic competitor, wouldn't she feel the exhilarating satisfaction of long-awaited revenge?

Yet, when Charon saw Vanessa's expression and gaze, he was surprised to find no trace of a smile. She simply stared at him, calm and composed.

If there was any distinct negative emotion, it wasn't hatred, it was disappointment, and resolved.

'I see… so that's how it is.'

The idea of being enemies was all in his head. She had never seen him as her enemy.

Because… he wasn't even worthy of being her enemy.

To her, he was merely a childhood neighbor with whom she had a strained relationship. Had it not been for the matter of assault and the presence of a profound evil divine weapon, she wouldn't have thought to act against him at all.

Even this enmity… was a delusion he created.

In his final moments, a faint, relieved smile curled at the corner of Charon's mouth.

Original intentions…?

He had already aligned himself with an evil divine weapon.

Who even remembers such things?

Finally, he formed a silent phrase with his lips.

'You… will die too.'

Vanessa dismissed it as Charon's final, malicious curse.

The dazzling, iridescent mother-of-pearl flames burst like fireworks, scattering into stardust upon the ground.

Fanya and Amisa fell silent.

The criminal had been punished. With his death, his sins were also purified by the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings].

He had paid the price for his actions.

But Vanessa's duty was not yet complete. She still needed to purify the greatest culprit, the demonic sword that had claimed countless lives over a thousand years.

There was a limitation to her current power. With only two wings, she could sustain the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings] for only a short duration, and only at extremely close range. At this rate, she couldn't strike anyone effectively.

But with living blood vessels as conduits, it was different. By gripping the veins, she could channel the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings] directly onto the target.

"S-Saintess?! Please, stop!" Seeing Charon dissolve in the holy fire and the flames creeping towards him, [Bloodied Debt] realized the danger and immediately begged for mercy.

Although it was humiliating for a thousand-year-old monster to plead before a girl younger than decades, survival mattered far more than pride.

If he could live, he didn't care if he lost every shred of dignity.

But clearly, Vanessa had no intention of negotiating with the demon. She continued burning her own blood. Even if it meant exhausting every drop, she was determined to completely purify [Bloodied Debt].

"Aaah! No, no!" Although its host had died, [Bloodied Debt] had just regained control. Sparks of the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings] were already flying towards it, causing the demon to shriek in terror.

How could he be so unlucky?!

Damn it, cursed Charon! If not for him, he wouldn't have ended up like this!

The [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings], he knew exactly how terrifying it was. It could incinerate even divine pillars and abstract concepts. If it touched him, he was finished!

"Aaah!" Several sparks landed on the blade's body. The instant they made contact, gaping, grotesque holes were burned through its form, charred beyond repair or regeneration.

Vanessa watched the scene calmly, ignoring the demon's screams.

After today, [Bloodied Debt] will cease to exist. This malevolent, evil weapon responsible for countless deaths will forever become a relic of history.

"Saintess! Watch out!" But at this critical moment, Amisa's panicked cry rang out from behind.

"?" Vanessa hesitated, unsure why Amisa had suddenly warned her.

Weren't there no enemies left?

But in that instant of hesitation, she felt something coil tightly around her legs. Then, her exposed thighs, areas unprotected by [Armour Fortress], were pierced by sharp objects.

Vanessa's expression shifted slightly, her eyes narrowing. She looked down to see a green plant emerging from the ground, its vines wrapping around her ankles and knees. Purple thorns embedded deep into her skin.

What… was this plant?

She didn't have time to think. The world before her spun violently, tilting and swaying.

Her knees buckled, and she collapsed onto the ground. Naturally, the [Flames of Myriad Divine Blessings] could no longer be sustained.

The [Holy Shield of Radiant Glory] clattered to the ground. The [Bloodied Debt] blade, scorched beyond recognition by a few stray sparks, also fell, lifeless.

The vines that had ensnared Vanessa's suddenly legs withered, turning yellow, then crumbling into decay.

"Saintess!" Fanya and Amisa, not knowing what had happened, rushed to help her up. But a sudden surge of energy burst before them, throwing both women to the ground.

Vanessa, drenched in sweat, stared at it all, her breaths ragged and heavy. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

The plant… was poisonous.

She raised her hand to cast a healing spell, but the hidden assailant seemed to have anticipated this. Two more plants burst from behind her, coiling around her arms like ropes, binding her hands behind her back.

"Whoa! What's going on?!" A little angel's voice echoed in Vanessa's mind.

Vanessa remains silent, her gaze shifting meaningfully toward a spot in the distance.

"Everyone, don't move. If you value your lives, hehe. Personally, I don't wish harm upon any of you." A staff-tapping sound accompanied a familiar voice, and there stood a middle-aged man dressed as a priest, his white robes and kind face exuding warmth and benevolence.

"You?" Vanessa's vision blurred, but from his build, silhouette, and voice, she instantly recognized who the priest was.

"It's… you?!"

"Saintess, your loyal subordinate arrives too late to save you. I beg your forgiveness." The kindly-looking middle-aged priest walked slowly toward Vanessa, knelt on one knee, and bowed deeply in reverence, his words sincere, as if he truly served her with unwavering loyalty.

Then he stood, a knowing smile playing on his lips as he looked down at the cherry-haired girl kneeling helplessly before him.

"Or perhaps… I should call you… Winnie?"

"You're… Priest Foreno?!" Fanya struggled with her feet. Withstanding magic was too much for the human body. If the enemy hadn't intended to kill them, they'd already be dead.

"Priest Foreno, what are you doing?!" Amisa leaned on her staff, rising to her feet, staring at him in disbelief. "Don't you see? She's the Saintess?!"

"I see it. Of course I see it. In fact, the entire church hierarchy knows this is a genuine Varelis bloodline." Foreno turned, his expression gentle and kind as he looked at Amisa and Fanya.

"Why? You… you're not like this!"

"And what kind of person do you think I am, Sister Amisa?" Foreno gasped in response.

Amisa's expression turned cold.

By habit, this Priest Foreno always wore a smiling face, his eyes half-closed, never fully opened. Since she had rarely interacted with him, she had never clearly seen the true look in his eyes.

Yes, this Priest Foreno was the very same one who had treated Winnie during the previous [Bloodied Debt] incident.

"Sister Amisa, you rely too much on your eyes. That's not good. Even the [Flawless Eye] isn't omnipotent. Those skilled at deception can easily exploit that to gain your trust."

"What… Do you want to?" Fanya tightened her grip on her sword, glaring.

"What do I want? I've come to welcome the Saintess, naturally." Foreno turned his gaze back to Vanessa.

"Is this how you welcome her? What do you mean, casting magic on the Saintess?!" Fanya demanded.

"This? It's simply to prevent the Saintess from taking reckless actions that might harm herself." Foreno replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Nonsense! Foreno, if you come any closer to the Saintess, I'll make you pay!" Fanya threatens.

"Tsk tsk, you truly don't understand your situation, do you?" Foreno shook his head in mock disappointment. "I'm not here to oppose the Saintess. I'm here to help you."

"Saintess, isn't it exhausting, constantly hiding?" Foreno gasped. "Always wondering when your identity will be exposed, when an assassination attempt will come, right? After all, the outside world is dangerous. Many factions harbor ill will, or even murderous intent, toward you."

"I can't bear to see you suffer like this. If you're willing to reveal your identity and return to the Church, I guarantee you'll never have to worry about your safety again. The Church, the Pope, the Holy Radiance Cross Knights, all will protect you."

"And you… can reclaim your grandmother's position, ascending once more as Radiance Saintess." Foreno spoke with heartfelt sincerity, as if he truly cared only for Vanessa's well-being.

"So… what's the price?" Vanessa remained silent for a moment, regaining some strength before speaking slowly, word by word.

"Price? What price? You're the Radiance Saintess, respect and admiration are rightfully yours." Foreno smiled.

"If the price is losing my freedom… then I must decline." Vanessa didn't buy his words. "I don't want any connection with you. I only want to cut all ties."

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