SAINTESS [Chapter 152: Don't you want to regain your honour?] (Patreon)

“Tch, stop being so smug. Are you coming inside or not?” Winnie asked irritably, knowing full well that he could never win an argument against Aesphyra.

‘Virtue +150.’

‘Current Virtue: 19,179.’

With a graceful smile, Aesphyra stepped into the living room, her elegant movements resembling those of a noble silver princess cat.

“Are you home alone, Winnie?” she asked, settling comfortably onto the sofa.

“Yeah. Dell went out to buy groceries.” Winnie brewed her a cup of tea. He did not particularly care for tea himself, preferring sweet drinks instead. Shikondell had bought all the tea leaves in the house.

“What have you been busy with these past few days?” Winnie handed the tea to Aesphyra, then sat down across from her.

“Come sit over here, Winnie. Why are you sitting so far away?” Aesphyra giggled.

“Tch. Just because you tell me to sit there, I have to?”

That was what Winnie said, but his body was far more honest. He obediently moved over and sat beside Aesphyra.

“What a good boy you are, Winnie~ Here’s your reward.”

“What?” Winnie froze. A moment later, he felt something cool touch his lips.

Aesphyra gently placed something in Winnie's mouth, her slender, jade-like fingers brushing against his lips and lingering there briefly, causing his heart to race.

“What is this?” Winnie asked, savoring the cool, sweet treat on his tongue. Though he was still curious about what she had given him, its perfectly balanced sweetness soon won him over, and he quickly finished the candy.

“Mint cream candy. I thought you’d probably love it,” Aesphyra said with a soft laugh.

“Did... did you buy it especially for me?” Hearing that, a rosy flush drifted across Winnie’s face.

“I did.”

Unlike the tsundere Winnie, Aesphyra never hesitated when dealing with someone she liked. Her style had always been to admit her feelings openly and flirt without the slightest reservation.

“W-Wait. You didn’t give me this candy to bribe me, did you?” Winnie pursed his lips.

“Bribe you? Hmm, you could think of it that way. Is that not allowed~?”

“What are you trying to bribe me into doing?” Winnie continued asking.

“That’s up to you.” Aesphyra tilted her head. “It’s not as though you don’t know what I want.”

“What do you want?” Winnie suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right! Why haven’t you asked whether I made it into the finals?”

“Oh? Could it be that you didn’t?”

“Of course that’s impossible! Who do you think this young master is? How could I possibly fail to make it into some measly final?” Winnie scoffed. “It was a piece of cake.”

“Look.”

As he spoke, Winnie showed off all the stamps on every page of his little qualification booklet.

“Oh my, how impressive! Winnie, you’re simply amazing~” Aesphyra clapped her hands, wearing the expression of an adoring little fangirl.

“Could you not make it look so deliberate? Don’t you think you’re overdoing it?” Winnie complained. Despite what he said, however, he could not suppress the delight bubbling up inside him.

Even if he knew Aesphyra was putting on an act, who did not enjoy being praised?

Who wouldn't appreciate someone who cared so much about their feelings, going so far as to play the part of an overenthusiastic fangirl just to shower them with praise and brighten their mood?

Winnie had to admit that Aesphyra possessed an extraordinary talent for manipulating people's emotions. Whether she was playfully teasing, genuinely complimenting someone, or deliberately exaggerating her reactions for amusement, she always knew how to pull it off flawlessly. It was no wonder she had earned such a notorious reputation as a legendary heartbreaker in the game's storyline.

“Honestly.” Winnie put away his qualification booklet.

He had originally planned to show off in front of Aesphyra once she asked him about it.

“Then why haven't you asked if I managed to make it through?” Aesphyra asked, tilting her head slightly.

“You? Asking whether you made it through?” Winnie retorted, rolling his eyes.

Was there even a need to ask?

If even Aesphyra could not make it into the finals, would that not mean every contestant was a Demon God Pillar?

“Do I even need to ask? How could a cheater like you possibly fail?” Winnie replied irritably.

“Mhm. It seems you have quite a lot of confidence in me.” Aesphyra propped her cheek on one hand.

“S-So what?!”

“Nothing. In that case, does that mean you’re already planning to give up?” Aesphyra tilted her head.

“Give up what? The competition? Tch, I compliment you a little, and suddenly you think you're something special? What makes you think this young master would ever back down?” Winnie scoffed.

“Then what do you mean?”

“This young master admits you really are strong, but getting me to give up is impossible!” Winnie declared, puffing out his chest as though he were incredibly pleased with himself.

“Oh? So you think you can win the championship?” Aesphyra asked with a beaming smile.

“Of course! This young master will definitely become the champion!” Winnie vowed confidently. “Just wait. When the time comes, I’ll show you how much I’ve grown. I’ll definitely defeat you!”

“And don’t you dare hold back! If I find out you went easy on me, I’ll be very angry!” Winnie waved a fist at Aesphyra.

“Angry? Just how angry~?” Aesphyra asked playfully.

“How angry? Ah! Anyway, I’ll be extremely angry! So angry that I’ll ignore you! Do you understand?!” Winnie even put on a viciously threatening expression.

Yet in Aesphyra’s eyes, his threatening posture was more amusing than intimidating. He looked like a child laying down the rules of a game and declaring that he would not play with her anymore if she broke them.

“Pfft.”

“Stop laughing! What’s so funny? Anyway, do you understand? I don’t need you to go easy on me. Use your full strength against this young master, got it?!” Winnie emphasized.

“Mhm, got it~”

Aesphyra had planned to do this from the very beginning. She understood Winnie's personality well enough to know that if she deliberately lost to him, he would only feel deeply disappointed in her.

“Hmph! Just watch. This young master will win and prove it to you!” Winnie declared with complete confidence.

After all, he had a reason he could not afford to lose.

This time, he had prepared thoroughly. Everything was ready. Time, terrain, and people were all on his side!

He was terrifyingly powerful right now, stronger than he had ever been before. If one were to choose the strongest Winnie at this point in time from every parallel world, it would undoubtedly be him.

Of course, that comparison was limited to Winnie like him. It did not include those “Winnie” who had awakened their bloodline from birth.

“Since you're so confident, does that mean you’re already certain of your victory?” Aesphyra asked, crossing her slender legs clad in black stockings as she gazed at the spirited Winnie with an amused smile.

“Of course. This young master will definitely win.” Winnie’s nose was practically pointing at the ceiling.

“Wow. Since you’re so certain you’ll win, don’t you want to raise the stakes~?”

“? What stakes?” Winnie asked in confusion.

“Don’t you want a chance to settle the score?” Aesphyra took a sip of tea.

“Settle what score?”

“Oh, I see. So you simply enjoy being a maid, Winnie? I understand now. I never knew that was your particular fetish.” Aesphyra chuckled.

“What weird nonsense are you talking about now? What maid? When has this young master ever been one of those?!” Winnie laughed in exasperation.

“Oh? Have I mixed up my memories again? My apologies, Winnie. Lately, I seem to keep confusing you with someone else. I’m beginning to worry that I might have developed some strange illness that causes me to hallucinate.” Aesphyra rested her cheek against one hand, feigning a look of deep concern.

“Winnie, do you know what illness I have?”

“I’d say there’s an eighty percent chance you’re a lunatic,” Winnie replied irritably. “Why are you always so annoying? Could you stop saying such strange things?”

The moment those words left his mouth, Winnie frowned.

Hmm?

Wait.

Hadn't he heard those exact words somewhere before?

And not too long ago, either?

“So, don’t you want to settle the score?”

“What score? Just say what you’re trying to say. Stop beating around the bush.” Winnie pouted.

“Mm-hmm. Let’s make a bet.”

“What kind of bet?”

“We’ll bet on which of us becomes the ultimate victor and wins the Chosen One Contest,” Aesphyra said.

“Huh? You want to compete over who wins the championship?” Winnie frowned.

“What’s wrong? Are you scared? It seems you weren’t nearly as confident as you claimed earlier. Was it all an act? How boring.” Aesphyra shook her head.

“Tch! What are you so smug about? Of course this young master is confident! The championship is definitely mine! I’m only worried that after you lose, you’ll roll around on the floor bawling your eyes out,” Winnie shot back.

“So you agree?”

“As long as you’re not afraid, this young master doesn’t care.”

“Wonderful. Then shall we discuss the wager~?” Aesphyra asked, wearing the expression of a hunter watching her prey step into a trap.

“Fine, go ahead. But let me make one thing clear this young master won't agree to anything that benefits you while putting me at a disadvantage!” Winnie declared, folding his arms across his chest.

“Of course.” Aesphyra seemed to have known that Winnie would say that.

“We’ll compete to see who wins the championship and earns the title of the [Chosen Hero].

“As for the terms... whoever loses must serve as the winner’s personal maid for one month. How does that sound~?”

Aesphyra finally revealed the condition she had been brewing in her mind all along.

“B-Be a maid?!” Winnie pursed his lips as an extremely unpleasant memory surged into his mind.

He had thought that piece of dark history could remain buried forever. Even if it did come to light, he could always deny it to the bitter end.

But now, was this woman planning to make it official?!

“Hey, isn’t that condition way too strange? How am I supposed to be a maid?” Winnie pointed at himself, unable to hold back.

“Eh? Really?” Aesphyra looked utterly astonished. “But when I saw you last time, you seemed rather practiced at it. Honestly, this condition is actually in your favor. After all, you have plenty of experience in that area, while I have none whatsoever.”

“Go to hell! Since when have I ever been good at that?!” Winnie snapped, immediately reminded of the incident.

“Oh~ So you admit that you’ve been a maid before?” Aesphyra’s bright, captivating eyes brimmed with cunning amusement.

“Wah...” Winnie was rendered speechless.

‘Virtue + 150.’

‘Current Virtue: 19,329.’

Good grief! He was so furious that his stomach actually started to ache!

This silver haired furball was utterly despicable!

“Besides, you’re so good at cross-dressing, and you look wonderful dressed as a girl. What does it matter? If people found out you were actually afraid of this, they might assume you’re terrible at cross-dressing,” Aesphyra continued, adding fuel to the fire.

“Hey, hey! How am I supposed to pull that off? Dressing as a girl and wearing a maid outfit are two completely different things!” Winnie protested. Although Aesphyra wasn't entirely wrong, he had practically been conditioned to accept such things by now.

Ah, no!

He was not used to it!

It was an incredibly masculine thing to do, got it?! That was the only reason he had grown accustomed to it!

After all, he was bold enough to walk down the street dressed as a girl. Could any other man claim to have the same courage? Would they dare?

Forget everything else! The only question was whether they dared to do it!

And since none of them would, didn't that make him the manliest man of them all?!

“You don’t necessarily have to wear clothing meant for the opposite sex,” Aesphyra said, looking at Winnie strangely.

“What do you mean by that? Are you suggesting that a maid outfit isn't considered women's clothing?” Winnie stared at her incredulously, as though questioning her sanity. “If you're willing to let me wear men's clothes instead, then I've got no problem with that.”

“You misunderstand, Winnie. Think about it. What I mean is that you simply don’t have to wear clothing meant for the opposite sex~” Aesphyra continued to coax him patiently.

“Wouldn’t that mean wearing men’s clothes? I’ve never heard of a male maid outfit,” Winnie replied, still failing to understand.

““Huh? No, that won't work. You have to wear a maid outfit.” Aesphyra couldn't help but smile at Winnie's expression, thoroughly amused. She couldn't tell whether he genuinely failed to understand her point or was deliberately pretending to be clueless.

“...You silver haired furball!” Winnie finally realized what Aesphyra was implying.

“Of course, I deeply respect your freedom. If you wish to wear an outfit belonging to the opposite sex, that’s fine. If you wish to wear one belonging to the same sex, that’s also fine. I can accept either. But it must be a maid outfit. We need to make that clear,” Aesphyra emphasized.

Winnie fell silent.

“Oh, forget it. It seems your confidence really was fake. You were only bragging earlier, weren’t you? We haven’t even competed yet, but you’re already imagining what will happen after you lose. Clearly, you never believed you could win in the first place.” Aesphyra shook her head regretfully when she saw Winnie go quiet.

“Forget it, forget it. Pretend I never said anything. Since you have so little confidence that you already consider yourself doomed before we’ve even competed, let’s leave it at that.”

“You... Fine! Have it your way! Since you're pushing me this far...” Winnie took a deep breath, slammed his hand against the table, and sprang to his feet. “Do you seriously think this young master is afraid of you? What a joke! You're the one setting yourself up for humiliation! And when you lose, don't you dare come crying and begging for mercy in front of me!”

“Then we have a deal,” Aesphyra replied with a gentle laugh.