The Witch's eyes squinted at the Saintess, her white visage concealing her scammish nature from within.
"Ah. Saintess Maria." Mel's relaxed stance remained undeterred by the absolute force embodied in the sky. "Well met. How's the Witch of Pride in the
The Saintess smiled softly. "She's staying well. Too well, in fact, it almost prompted the Divine's ire."
Mel glanced to the side. No panels. No indications as to how Miss Pride is faring. She could only assume the worst.
She sighed to the Saintess. "Well, she did commit a mistake here and there at times. Please, have mercy upon my Senior Witch."
A vein popped out of the Saintess's forehead. "I'm afraid not. The cardinal sin she represented runs deeper into her ego than even I imagined."
A threat. Or perhaps a bicker. Mel chuckled at such a thought, her hand stroking idly at the scared Lila's waist. "Might I suggest a mercy? A bedtime visit to your bedroom today will be my payment."
An ordinary, 'harmless' tease by the Witch of Lust, yet it earned the glares of three individuals simultaneously.
One was gasping at the audacity. One was annoyed by her casualness. And one was furious, judging by how hard her hand was being pinched.
[ The Witch of Envy was triggered by your tease immensely! You're welcome to flirt more! ]
[ Favourability: 89.9 -> 69 ]
The Saintess pressed a finger to her chin before giggling. "I'm afraid I have to refuse. I have assigned myself to only pray before the Goddess Statue for ten years. I'm afraid I don't have the time to spare."
Mel raised her brows. "Quite diligent effort, for a pinnacle of all existences to humbly bow before the goddess as usual."
A confusion sprouted in Mel's mind. She couldn't recall the Saintess ever being this faithful.
More puzzlingly, was she always so... animated? Emotional? Teasy? Mel couldn't find the right words, but the Saintess felt different from what she had witnessed in the game CG.
She shook her head, hand smoothing Lila's curve before patting her head. The silkiness of the blue bum calmed her senses a little, and she could imagine she would have her answers a little later.
"Oi. Maria."
Samantha's eyes darted up at the Saintess behind her. "Report for evacuation? Where're the cardinals? And when do you plan to stop messing around?"
Despite the white blindfold, Samantha could almost sense the smugness as the Saintess peered down at her. "I was merely extracting information through conversations, Miss Samantha."
The Former war mage cranked her neck, narrowing her eyes in suspicion. "A student and the capital's safety are at stake. Did you prepare a
"Evacuate? Oh..." The Saintess's mouth rolled into an 'o' shape. "I forgot."
Samantha smiled with menace. "The Cardinals?"
"Should be at the borders. I dispatched them to the town to look for the Witch's summons. It's strange how 'Lust' was not accompanied by a summons to protect her-"
"Master."
Without any hint or warning, a catgirl maid blinked in beside the Witch of Lust, her existence as the embodiment of the
"Oh. Nyxia."
"I apologise again, Master." The maid kneeled to Mel, eying the Saintess, breathing out an exaggerated 'woah'. "I was avoiding detection by the Saintess."
"Mm. You did a good job avoiding the Cardinals."
"The... Cardinals?" The maid's cat ears drooped. "What Cardinals?"
"..."
A dead silence was perpetuated in the air, before two pairs of glares swung to the Saintess.
"Hm. I see." The blind Saintess held her chin. "Guess I have more excuses to fire them now."
Samantha groaned loudly and clearly. "The Earthquake earlier must have at least caused a mass panic. Tell me you did the bare minimum to calm down the crowds."
The mass teleportation evacuation? Easy. The Saintess could achieve it with a simple swing of her hand. The only weakness was that she didn't have any ability that was related to
"Oh. That you do not need to worry."
Unlike her usual arrogance, however, the Saintess's expression softened at Samantha.
"The Earthquake's occurrence was limited only to the academy. The news of a Witch Disaster may have already spread amongst the staff and students, but the capital has not yet known the Witch's appearance, except for all the people here."
The war mage raised a brow, sensing an ominous implication. "You mean?"
"Yes." She pointed at the
Mel could almost hear the gasp that slipped from Saria and Samantha's lips. As unbelievable as it seems, Wrath was unique in how her
As long as Wrath bore no hostility herself, which Mel assumed was (luckily) the case here, Mel would gladly take the blame for the
"Impossible." The war mage wore a conflicted scowl. "The extreme power required to break the dome, all whilst not harming a single civilian..."
Mel's ears perked up at Samantha's murmuring, her smile turning foxily playful. The misunderstanding was not calculated, but beneficial.
Right now, Samantha must think of her as a 'true pacifist'. Someone who chose to hold back despite possessing immense power, ensuring no innocents would be harmed.
Saria, who was equally confused and shocked, muttered. "Then her presence has not been known by the public yet..."
For some reason, this induced relief within both the scarred war veterans. Currently, there is no Archon-ranked
"Alright then. Miss Witch." The Saintess clapped her hands. "Let us discuss this civilly. I assume you don't want to announce your grand presence to make an enemy of me, right?"
A sweat dripped from Mel's forehead. At least the Saintess's arrogance remains consistent, much to everyone's dismay.
She prepared a response before she felt Lila's chest pressed against hers, blinking as she was distracted by the unexpectedly soft sensation.
"Do n't-don't worry... just use me to buy time if you need to..."
[ The Witch of Envy sensed something between you and the Saintess! She now tried to seduce you in the guise of reassuring you! ]
[ Envy favourability: 69 -> 75 ]
Mel's eyes met the shivering Emerald eyes below her. How adorable! Her Lila seemed to have sensed her unease and tried to help her in her special way!
Mel's cheeks flushed a little. Her Lila's forwardness almost prompted her to tease back fervently with a promise to dote on her in bed! Alas, she had a task afterwards, and her affection must wait until she poured it all out on her cute blue bun!
And so, with utter regret, she turned and bowed to the Saintess. "I thank you for your generosity. I assume you also didn't want our battles to cause mass destruction upon the city?"
"I'm very thrilled that you're perceptive. Oh, right." The Saintess clasped her hands together as if in a prayer. "May Mother Goddess guide Miss Witch and redeem her on her journey."
Then, as if satisfied with completing a 'troublesome' ritual herself, she nodded approvingly. "Mm. Now, you're welcome to shoo off right away, Lust!"
Mel's smile was strained. "Very kind of you to pray for a Witch, Miss Saintess."
"Hehe. It's my pleasure, Miss Witch!"
The Witch of Lust sighed deeply, eying the Knight and the Professor who stared at her cautiously.
Her staff tapped the ground, a magic circle forming to summon a
Mel patted Lila's back, pushing her forward and turning away to the
She glanced at the Saintess over her shoulder, frowning, then waved her hand and stepped into the portal with her maid. "Bye-bye, everyone. Remember. I came only in peace."
But before she left, she didn't miss the mouthed words of the Saintess, with her thumbs up hidden from view.
See you later, Mel.
She chuckled as she vanished with her cat maid. Perhaps it is the ten years that accompanied her. Or maybe the Saintess's fidgety lips seemed to hold back a laugh.
Either way, Mel could never get used to the mischievous attitude, almost reminding her of herself.