SAINTESS [Chapter 160: Charlotte] (Patreon)

The second round of the finals had ended, and Winnie successfully advanced to the top sixteen.

And it wasn’t just him. Every one of the heroines of destiny had advanced as well, exactly as Winnie had expected.

Although he had been concerned about Shikondell, she surprised everyone when her match came around. As a heroine destined for greatness, she stepped up and defeated her third-year opponent with surprising ease.

That meant he was now quite likely to be matched against one of them, or perhaps he would get to witness a battle between two heroines of destiny.

There were differences in strength even among the heroines of destiny. They would soon find out who was stronger and who was weaker.

“Your Holiness, I’ve nearly finished preparing everything you instructed me to do.” In the basement of the game shop, Luna lifted her skirt and curtsied.

“Mm, good.” Winnie sat on the sofa and took a sip of fruit juice before nodding.

Luna had been so busy carrying out his orders these past few days that she hadn’t even had time to participate in the Chosen One Contest.

“Ah, my opponent was simply too strong this time. I ended up being eliminated in the second round.” Fanya then collapsed onto the table, visibly dejected and completely discouraged.

“Huh? Fanya? You actually made it to the finals too?” Winnie asked in surprise.

“What’s that supposed to mean?! Your Holiness didn’t see me?” Fanya raised her face and pouted.

“There were so many people there, and you didn’t even say hello. How was I supposed to notice you?” Winnie retorted.

“Ugh, it’s not like we could greet Your Holiness. It’s not as if you don’t know that,” Fanya muttered. After all, in public, they still had to pretend they weren’t familiar with Winnie.

“Did little Amisha take part in the Chosen One Contest?” Winnie asked Amisha, who sat beside Fanya.

“No, Your Holiness. I’m not very interested in that sort of thing.” Amisha looked up from her book when she heard him addressing her and obediently shook her head.

“The top sixteen matches are about to begin. Your Holiness should do your best too~” Luna said with a soft laugh.

“That’s right, that’s right! With Your Holiness’s strength, winning the title of Divine Chosen One will be a piece of cake!” Fanya chimed in encouragingly.

“By the way, Fanya, who did you lose to?” Winnie asked.

“Me? Ah, it was another student with ties to the Church. He was really strong, but I don’t think Your Holiness would know him,” Fanya said, recalling the match.

“You don’t mean Alfonso, do you?” Winnie asked.

“Huh? Does your Holiness know him?” Fanya looked astonished.

“No, I don’t. I only heard his name announced before the first round of the finals. He seems to know me, though, and apparently has something against me,” Winnie said.

“The Rescaine family has always valued order above all else,” Luna said. “After Saintess Sophia passed away and the Varelis family’s line was broken, the Rescaine family probably grew accustomed to a Church centered around the Pope.”

“Those people really are arrogant. They disrespect the true Saintess while wholeheartedly supporting an impostor.” Fanya spoke indignantly. “Do they genuinely not know, or are they only pretending not to?”

“I suspect that whether they know or not, this is simply their way of surviving,” Luna said meaningfully.

“This is the most crucial step, Your Holiness. Please be careful in everything you do.”

“Mm-hmm, I understand.” Winnie finished the fruit juice in front of her, gave a small nod, and said goodbye to Luna before leaving the basement.

Several days passed, and the third round of the finals, the round of sixteen, officially began.

Compared with the first round, only sixteen contestants remained. On the vast main arena, those sixteen figures appeared remarkably small.

Winnie opened the scroll he had drawn from the jar. The number written on it was three, so he began searching for the opponent who had drawn the same number.

It shouldn’t be one of the heroines of destiny, right?

Winnie glanced at their numbers. He had no idea whether Aesphyra was simply cursed or overwhelmingly favored by destiny, but once again, she had drawn number one.

Mm, good. At least it wasn’t her.

It wasn’t that Winnie was afraid of being matched against Aesphyra. He simply felt that fighting her now would inevitably force him to expose his full strength. That much went without saying.

If that happened, it wouldn’t stop him from winning the championship, but the “effect” wouldn’t be nearly as good.

As for what effect he meant...

Milian had drawn number two, so it wasn’t her either.

Mirexia was number five, Shikondell was number six, and Isatia was number seven.

Upon realizing he hadn’t been matched against any of the heroines of destiny, Winnie breathed a sigh of relief. But still...

It was quite peculiar. With only sixteen contestants remaining, there should logically have been a chance for the heroines of destiny to face one another. Yet, somehow, none of them had been matched against another. Instead, they continued to stand together, each facing opponents from outside their group.

Interesting.

So who was number three?

“My, my~”

“?”

Just as Winnie was wondering who his opponent might be, a sweet, affected voice tinged with mockery drifted from behind him.

“Today truly is my lucky day.”

Winnie turned around with a strange expression.

Behind him stood a girl with ash-gray twin tails, secured with silver cross-shaped hairpins. She wore black-and-white striped thigh-high stockings, while her unusually pale complexion gave her an almost sickly appearance. Holding her scroll like a hand fan, she lazily waved it back and forth to cool herself.

Winnie vaguely remembered her. She seemed to be from the Rescaine family and was probably Alfonso’s younger sister.

One sibling had a cold, expressionless face, while the other looked sickly and deranged. They really didn’t match at all.

How should he put it? The girl reminded Winnie somewhat of a landmine girl from his previous life. Of course, there were plenty of differences, but the overall style was rather similar. (1)

Winnie also saw the number written on the scroll in her hand.

Number three.

He glanced down at his own number.

Also three.

“You’re my opponent in the next match?” Winnie raised an eyebrow. “If I remember correctly, your name was... Dorothy?”

“Who is Dorothy?!” The girl’s expression instantly stiffened. “Remember my name properly! You can’t even remember this young lady’s name?!”

“I don’t know you. Isn’t it already impressive that I remember you at all?” Winnie frowned. “Anyway, you came from the Church, right? You’re from the Rescaine family?”

“Hmph~ Listen carefully, Mr. Impostor. This young lady’s name is Charlotte Rescaine.” The girl placed one hand against her neck and spoke arrogantly, as though she wanted to look down on Winnie. Unfortunately, she wasn’t tall enough, so she could only look up at him.

“Oh.” Out of courtesy toward his opponent, Winnie introduced himself as well. “Winnie Varelis.”

“Mr. Impostor, you’re far more interesting than I imagined.” Charlotte bent one leg slightly, a peculiar smile curling her lips. “I thought you were just some insignificant nobody with nothing but a pretty face. I never expected you to be this entertaining~”

“The fact that I ended up drawing you must have been the Goddess’s doing. In Her Divine Grace’s wisdom, She must have noticed how bored I was and granted me the chance to face the very person I most wanted to fight.”

“Is that so? I find you pretty boring, though. I don’t mind fighting you in the arena, but I’ll pass on everything else.” Winnie raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t say that. It’s only because you haven’t gotten to know me yet. Don’t worry, the battle to come won’t leave you bored~”

With that, Charlotte gave Winnie a meaningful look, opened her little parasol, and walked away.

Winnie couldn’t help watching Charlotte’s retreating back for a little longer. Generally speaking, anyone who talked like that was usually quite strong.

“Winnie, who are you looking at?”

Just as Charlotte left, a voice came from behind him.

“Uh...” Winnie looked back and found a smiling Aesphyra, who seemed to have spawned out of nowhere.

“No one. She’s the opponent I drew. She just came over to say hello,” Winnie replied.

“Oh~ Just an opponent?” Aesphyra tilted her head.

“Yes. What else could she possibly be? I had never even met her before today.” Winnie shrugged, spreading his hands.

“Hehe, that may be true, but the expression in your eyes just now was quite fascinating. I wonder when you’ll look at me that way~?” Aesphyra teased playfully.

“What look? What are you talking about?” Winnie himself was bewildered. What sort of look had he given her? Hadn’t he simply been watching an opponent?

“Do I really need to spell it out? You were so focused on her that you didn’t even notice my footsteps as I approached.”

“Ah, well... I really did meet her for the first time today.”

“Could it be that this is the type of girl you like?” Aesphyra asked curiously.

“Of course not!” Winnie hurriedly defended himself.

“Pfft.” Seeing his flustered expression, Aesphyra couldn’t suppress her laughter.

“Good luck, Winnie.”

With that, Aesphyra left.

“What was that about?” Winnie watched her retreating back, black lines practically covering his forehead.

The match schedule was soon announced.

“Winnie, it looks like you’re in the first match?” In the stands, Shikondell looked at the matchups displayed on the magical screen above the main arena.

“Mm, I saw.” Winnie looked at the first column of the match list. His name was clearly displayed there.

“Brother Winnie, I heard that Charlotte girl is a seriously dangerous opponent,” Fred said, looking at him. “They say she’s a prodigy of the Church’s younger generation and is quite famous within the Church itself. Can you handle her?”

“Of course. Who do you think I am?” Winnie swept his gaze across the group of card players and smiled.

“Good luck, Winnie.” Shikondell clenched her little pink fist and cheered him on.

“Mm, don’t worry.” Winnie left the stands. After showing the instructor his qualification certificate for the third round of the finals, he entered the contestants’ preparation area.

Once a series of inspections had been completed, Winnie took a deep breath and summoned [Permafrost Fang]. Gripping it in one hand, he calmly stared at the gate.

The wait seemed rather long, but the moment finally arrived.

It was time.

Winnie gave his spear a light swing and watched as the gate before him slowly opened.

Bright light filled the path ahead. All that remained was for him to step forward.

As always, the blue-haired young man strode out with his chest held high. He left the contestants’ preparation area and faced the gazes of everyone in the stands.

Nearly every student in Carillian Academy had gathered in the audience.

Students from different years looked at Winnie with all manner of expressions, some doubtful, some hostile, some curious, and others expectant.

Winnie had long since grown accustomed to such gazes. Gripping his spear tightly, he walked calmly toward the white line and looked at the opponent approaching him: a porcelain-pale girl carrying a lotus-shaped parasol.

Winnie remained silent, while the girl watched him with a meaningful smile.

“What a pity. My dear elder brother said that you must be taken back to the Holy City in person to face judgment.” The girl shook her head regretfully, making her ash-gray twin tails sway.

“The Goddess’s holy judgment shall descend upon all sinners sooner or later. Ah, forget it, forget it. All these tedious formalities and long-winded sentences really aren’t for me. I much prefer getting straight to the point.”

“Mr. Impostor, I have to admit, I’m quite curious. Now that the real Saintess has revealed herself to everyone, what are you feeling as you stand here in front of all these people?” the girl asked with a playful giggle. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m genuinely curious. You really are an intriguing person.”

“Is it some stubborn refusal to admit defeat?”

“And what method did you use to claim victory in the second round?”

“Miss Rescaine, the match hasn’t even started, yet you’re already trying to gather information about me. Do you honestly think I’d tell you?” Winnie teased.

“Ah, thank you for reminding me. You’re right, I shouldn’t have asked.”

A flash of madness crossed Charlotte’s face.

“Rather than asking, I prefer experiencing it for myself.”

“You’d better use everything you have from the very beginning, Mr. Impostor, unless you want to suffer more than necessary!”

“The match is about to begin! Both contestants, take your positions!” The referee interrupted them and instructed both sides to retreat behind their respective white lines, though they were already standing there to begin with.

“Ready... Begin!”

In one corner of the stands where the Church students had gathered...

“Senior Alfonso, do you think Charlotte can win?” a Church student asked Alfonso, who sat perfectly straight beside him with his arms crossed, calmly watching the arena below.

Alfonso did not answer.

The match had begun, yet Winnie didn’t attack first. Instead, he lowered his stance, held his spear ready, and stared intently at Charlotte’s every movement.

“Oh? So you’re the cautious sort? That’s quite different from what I expected.” Charlotte kept her parasol open, wearing a wide grin. “After all, no matter how you look at it, someone from a family that has turned impersonating the Goddess’s descendants into a hereditary profession doesn’t exactly seem like the cautious type.”

Could that parasol actually be her weapon?

Winnie narrowed his eyes as the thought crossed his mind. Even though the match had already begun, Charlotte continued to hold the parasol, though she had subtly shifted the way she gripped its handle.

There was little doubt about it. The parasol was almost certainly her weapon.

“How dull, Mr. Impostor. Where’s the attack you promised me~? Where’s that unbelievably fierce assault? Why are you just standing there instead of coming at me? Being cautious won’t help you win this battle, you know.”

As she spoke, Charlotte flashed a grin and slowly twisted the parasol’s handle.

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1 - A "landmine girl" derived from the Japanese slang term jirai onna or jirai joshi, and tied to the fashion substyle Jirai Kei it refers to a woman or girl who looks cute, sweet, and innocent on the outside, but is perceived to have intense, unpredictable, or self-destructive emotional tendencies underneath.