SAINTESS [Chapter 128: Postpone] (Patreon)

Also how did they know the correct way to use Dagon Nash's Mirror of Original Sin? Did Erunes tell them?

But if what they had with the Demon God Pillars wasn't mere relationship collusion, but a deep cooperation… then it wouldn't be strange for them to know these things.

If that was the case, the situation was even more shocking. Just how long had it been the Church of Radiance maintaining a cooperative relationship with the Demon God Pillars? Was there still anywhere clean left in today's Church of Radiance? Has it already been completely infiltrated by the Demon God Pillars??

Winnie mulled these things over and fell into silence.

“Winnie?” Seeing Winnie suddenly stop talking, Morgan found it strange.

“I understand now.” Winnie nodded, appearing to finally understand everything.

“Huh? What do you understand?”

“Thanks, Morgan. What you told me today was really helpful. I think I’ve managed to sort out a few things.” Winnie thanked Morgan. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep everything to myself. I won’t tell anyone else.”

“And about Margaret, if I saw her, I'll tell you.”

“Oh… then, thanks.” Morgan still didn't know what, exactly, Winnie had understood.

“In the past few days, did the Pope intend to bring Margaret back to the Church?” Winnie asked.

Hearing that, Morgan didn't speak. He only pressed his lips together, yet sometimes not answering was an answer in itself.

“That's not necessarily a bad thing. The Church of Radiance is in chaos right now. You're a smart man, so here's a piece of advice: even if they call you back, you'd better find an excuse and refuse. Don't go back.” Winnie said unhurriedly.

“Huh? Why?” Morgan looked taken away. “If we can bring Her Holiness the Saintess back, that would be for the best. Lately Her Holiness's headaches have been getting worse and worse.”

“Were you not listening to what I just said?” Winnie raised an eyebrow. “Didn't I just tell you? According to the Church's original plan, this calamity was supposed to take your lives, but you all survived.”

“I'm not sure what the Church of Radiance will do next to you, bait that didn't die according to plan.”

Morgan fell silent, his expression turning ugly. Clearly, even now he still couldn't accept the reality that the Church's original plan had been for them all to die.

“Of course, you don't have to believe me. You can take it as I tried to sow discord. But since you dared to tell me all this, you probably already have a clear enough understanding of what's going on inside the Church, yet because your family's power comes from the Pope, you can't change anything. Right?” Seeing this, Winnie didn't force Morgan to believe him.

Morgan said nothing.

What Winnie said was indeed correct. Although he'd survived danger after danger, these past days had been miserable. The worldview he'd built since he was old enough to understand things was starting to crumble.

He had always believed they were on the side of justice, but…

“Alright. I still have things to do. If there's nothing else, I'll be going.” As he spoke, Winnie turned to leave.

“Could you… wait a moment, please?”

"What?"

“Winnie, do you think… Her Holiness Margaret, I mean, uh, classmate… what do you think of her?” Morgan hesitated, his form of address shifted slightly.

“What do I think of her?” Winnie didn't understand. The question was baffling.

“I mean, do you think she's the heir of the Saintess's mantle?” Morgan tested Winnie's reaction, watching his expression.

“Is that really something you should be asking me?” Winnie laughed. “Asking me, a fake, whether the 'real' Saintess you all recognize is truly a Saintess, what are you trying to do? Is this some kind of prank show?”

“I didn't mean to mock you.” Morgan shook his head hurriedly. “I just… wanted to ask how you see Lady Margaret.”

“I think she's a pretty decent person. What's wrong?” Winnie gave the universal answer.

“That's not what I'm asking.” Morgan shook his head. “I'm asking the question from before. Do you think Lady Margaret is suitable to be the Saintess?”

“No idea. I've never been one, how would I know?” Winnie said, amused. “Besides, the standards for judging that aren't in my hands, okay?”

“Alright… I understand.” With Winnie answering like that, Morgan could just let it go.

“See you around.” Winnie waved at Morgan and was about to leave, but as he reached the door he seemed to think of something and turned back.

“Oh right. Morgan, does Margaret have to take medicine every day?”

“Huh? How did you find out about that?” Morgan froze noticeably.

“Margaret told me herself. She said she's been weak and sickly since she was little, and has to take medicine long-term.” Winnie explained.

“That's… true. Is there a problem?”

“No problem. Just asking.” After getting Morgan's confirmation, Winnie nodded, thoughtful, and left the small park.

A few more days passed. Normally, this should have been the final stretch of the Double Moon Anomaly, and also the time when the Carillian Chosen One Contest began.

But the academy had suffered a major upheaval and was struck by disasters again and again, so much so that it could barely endure, it had no choice but to postpone the schedule.

After all, this was the once-in-decades Double Moon Anomaly. Postponing the event was already the limit; it definitely couldn't be canceled, even though the academy was still in recovery.

These days, some of the students who'd gone home to visit family were gradually returning.

Naturally, many families had their children stay home a little longer, to avoid the limelight.

Winnie thought that was completely understandable. After all, over the past two years, everyone had witnessed the disasters that had affected Carillian Academy. Many parents must have felt uneasy, wondering if another disaster would happen once the current one was over.

Because of this, they decided not to send their children back to the academy for the time being and chose to wait and see what happened.

Those who returned at this time were certainly here to participate in the Chosen One Contest, and their determination was no ordinary thing. They didn't even care about post-disaster risks, just to compete.

That was also why the academy administration had no choice but to continue with the tournament. Even if the academy proposed canceling it, many students wouldn't agree.

Many ascetic, monk-like students had trained tirelessly for ten years. They lacked neither talent nor dedication, and all they needed was an opportunity to prove themselves. Now that the opportunity was finally within their reach, who could bear to lose it because of this disaster?

And quite a few paranoids even saw this as their chance to bloom.

As for whether insisting on holding the tournament was unfair to those students who'd gone home, the other students had their own reasoning.

The Chosen One Contest had always been simple: the strong stay, the weak are eliminated. Whoever can endure to the end remains. Whoever lacks ability, whoever lacks grit, leaves.

There were certainly risks on campus after the disaster, but those students still chose to stay or return as scheduled. Those who hid at home to avoid danger, even if they took part, would never succeed in the end. They would be eliminated during the first stage, the courage segment, before the tournament even began.

And during these days, Winnie also figured out his approximate strength.

He had originally thought his realm was only at the Master tier. To his surprise and delight, he'd actually shot up directly to Intermediate Master.

That gave him even more confidence.

Besides that, Morgan's matter also made him realize something.

Although the Church of Radiance was deeply corrupt, it was still the Church of Radiance. There were still many people like Morgan within it, whose beliefs began to waver after discovering part of the truth.

Now, all it needed was a spark, and it could burn.

Winnie pondered as he walked in the direction of the game room.

Just as he stepped into the game room's lobby, he heard bursts of familiar voices.

“Oi, why hasn't our club application been approved yet?” a complaining voice came from the sofa. “How can there not be a place for our Card Club? Don't tell me our quota's been coveted and sabotaged by someone else??”

“Brother Fred, I think it's more likely the Club Management Department already forgot about our low-presence club.” Andre complained from the side.

“Get lost! Our club has low visibility? Andre, don’t say things that make others look better while putting our own club down. Be honest with me, does our club really have low visibility? How many incredible things have we done? Have you forgotten already?” Fred smacked Andre on the forehead and glared at him.

“Huh? Have we really done anything earth-shattering? It doesn’t even have to be something good, even something bad would count. Have we?” Andre couldn’t help but ask.

“Well, uh… of course we have!” Fred thought for a long time, seemed unable to come up with anyone, but he couldn't let the morale drop. As the big brother of the Card Club, he couldn't lose on momentum.

“Why are you guys here?” Winnie asked when he saw them.

“Eh? Brother Winnie? Haven't seen you in a few days, we thought you were still preparing for the Chosen One Contest. Didn't expect you to show up at the game room.” Fred laughed when he saw it was Winnie.

“I'm not here to play cards.”

“Not here to play cards? Then what are you doing here? Brother Winnie, you’re already in the game room, and you still want to tell us you came here to discuss serious business? Hey, hey, go ahead and lie to us if you want. We don’t mind. Just don’t lie to yourself and start believing it.”

“Sure enough, the hearts of card players resonate with each other. We've appeared here, truly destiny's arrangement. Are we not all here to duel? Isn't that a coincidence?” Fred started saying things no one could understand again.

“Alright, enough. I'll just say one thing, Brother Winnie, balancing work and rest is important. Come play a few hands now and then, the brothers won't criticize you. But if you don't call us along, then you're being untrustworthy.” Fred spoke with a solemn air.

“Brother Fred, if you're here to play, why aren't you going into a room?” Winnie couldn't be bothered to explain himself to Fred. “What are you waiting for out here?”

“Brother Winnie, we've gotta wait if we want to play. That green-haired front-desk young lady over there said all the rooms are booked. We've got nowhere to play, so we can only wait.” Fred pointed at the green-haired girl at the counter and spread his hands.

“No rooms?” Winnie raised an eyebrow. “I'll go ask.”

“Oh? Brother Winnie, are you about to sell your looks and go bribe her?” Fred teased.

“Hello, may I ask what you need?” The green-haired girl's gaze shifted when she saw Winnie approaching, but she still treated him like an ordinary customer.

“Are there no rooms available right now?” Winnie glanced at Fred and the others waiting on the sofa behind him. “My friends need a room.”

“Those people are your friends?” The green-haired girl looked surprised before nodding. “I understand. Quite a few rooms are being redecorated and rearranged today, so there are fewer available rooms. I can arrange an unused room that hasn’t been cleaned up yet for you. Would that be all right?”

“Mm. Sorry to trouble you. And let your Lady know that I’m here.” Winnie nodded.

"Yes, I understand."

“All set. That young lady will lead you over in a bit.” Winnie walked back and told them.

“Huh? You got a room??” Fred clearly hadn't expected Winnie to settle it with just a few words.

“Brother Winnie, what did you say to that young lady?” Fred couldn't believe it.

“Didn’t you already answer that for me just now?” Winnie looked at Fred with amusement. “I’m handsome. She took one look at me and was so impressed by my looks that she agreed.”

“Tsk! Brother Winnie, what are you so smug about? Give you an inch and you’ll take a mile!” Fred immediately looked annoyed. “If it were really because you’re handsome, I would’ve gotten it done when I went up there!” (1)

“Alright, Brother Fred, we're just benefiting from Brother Winnie's favor. Anyway, as long as we have a place to play, it's fine.” Aiden patted Fred on the shoulder.

“Fine, fine. Let's go, Brother Winnie, today we've got to settle who's better.”

“Didn't I just say it? I'm not here to play cards.” Winnie waved a hand. "You go ahead. I still have things to do."

“Tch. Look at you now, putting on these professional airs. Forget it, forget it, let's go.” As the green-haired girl returned, Fred and the other Card Club left under her guidance.

After a long while, the green-haired girl returned.

“Sorry to keep you waiting.”

“Mmm.” Winnie stood up from the sofa. He knew she'd gone to notify Luna.

As for how exactly they contacted Luna, Winnie didn't know, and he'd never asked.

Following behind the green-haired girl, he entered a room and opened the passage leading to the basement.

Luna was already waiting inside.

Winnie told Luna about Morgan's matter, and also stated his own view.

After thinking it through, Luna also felt Winnie's guess was quite likely.

After asking Luna about the Church of Radiance's recent movements, Winnie left the game room.

By the time he got home, the sky had already darkened.

The moment he stepped through the dorm's front door and saw an extra pair of shoes in the entryway, Winnie realized there was a guest in the house.

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1 - “Give you an inch and you start taking a mile” It's a Idiom meaning “Don’t get carried away just because someone complimented you”