The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness Chapter 439: Relationships and Interrogation

The grand barrier that sealed the sky above the entire Holy City dissipated, as if an entire curtain were being drawn open.

Warm sunlight poured down. The long-awaiting believers craned their necks, and at last, on that golden road, they saw that sacred procession.

Under the Holy City’s lockdown, these ordinary believers had no idea how severe a crisis the Saintess’s procession had just suffered. In their understanding, they had rely paid so negligible waiting ti.

And waiting was worth it.

The procession moved slowly. Silver-armored knights on tall horses opened the way; nuns chanted hymns; clergy were solemn and grave. Through the floating white veils, people could clearly see that seated, holy figure.

No matter the direction—atop the lofty bell towers or beside the low walls—no matter the trembling elders or the sharp-eyed, keen-eared children, under the believers’ fervent gaze, that figure was so perfect one could not find the slightest flaw.

And so the believers grew ever more fervent and devout.

Following the predetermined route, the procession set out from the Aimier Grand Cathedral at the very center of the Holy City, passed along the main thoroughfare called the “Road of the Gospel,” went all the way to the southern district, and from there paraded around several major streets. Not until they had virtually circled the entire Holy City did the procession begin to turn back, arriving beneath the cathedral, at the place the Goddess’s statue gazed upon—the Land of Dawn.

The Land of Dawn was a vast square where nearly all the Holy City’s grand ceremonies were held.

And when the procession arrived, of course everything had long since been prepared.

The grand palanquin bearing Her Highness the Saintess went all the way to the center of the square, and finally, slowly ca to a stop.

Instrunts sounded; the hymn rose to a high pitch. Under countless held breaths and rapt gazes, a small hand wrapped in white silk gloves slowly reached out and lifted the light veil.

That holy figure finally appeared before everyone.

A pure white long dress, like a white dove flying in the heavens; upon her head, a sacred coronet reflecting the most resplendent brilliance in this world.

So dazzling.

The believers could not help choking up, tears of joy flowing.

“Ah... Your Highness the Saintess...”

“What a bearing... what sanctity...”

“Your Highness... please allow us to follow you forever, just as we will forever follow the Most Holy Goddess...”

Shouts surged like a tide.

And Liya stood at the center of that tide, a little dazed.

In the misty light, she saw countless believers on all sides, a dense, black-pressed sea stretching into the distance.

They were all watching her, watching her, the newly appointed Saintess.

In that mont, Liya once again felt the terrifying pressure borne upon the two words “Saintess.”

If you wish to wear the crown, you must bear its weight—and how many tis heavier was this weight than a crown?

Liya even felt a little short of breath.

However, when Liya turned slightly, looking toward the holy palanquin that seed empty—no human figures visible from outside... those pressures suddenly lted away.

Because her knight was there as well, likewise... watching her.

The believers’ gazes gave her pressure, and only that unique warm gaze could grant her endless strength.

So she no longer feared. Stepping upon sunlight, she straightened her back and, with elegant posture, walked toward the center of the multitude.

Just as every Saintess of the previous generations had walked this road.

“Your Highness the Saintess!”

Suddenly, a fervent believer broke through the human wall of knights, fell to their knees before her in a fluster, and raised the swaddled bundle in their hands:

“Please... please save him. He’s premature—he’s dying...”

The abrupt incident made the surrounding knights responsible for the Saintess’s protection change color, but Liya did not panic.

She stopped the rough knights and, smiling, touched a fingertip to the brow of the premature infant whose face had already turned cyanotic.

“The Goddess will bless you.”

Holy radiance flickered. The premature infant’s cheeks visibly turned rosy, and then ca a loud, lusty wail, echoing across the square like a newborn sunrise.

A true miracle descended to the mortal world.

The believer, tears streaming, held the swaddled child high and knelt devoutly:

“This is the Goddess’s grace; this is... Your Highness’s grace. Long live Your Highness the Saintess!”

“Long live Your Highness the Saintess...”

Believers by the thousands knelt in succession, fervently crying the Saintess’s na.

Amid this casually displayed miracle, even those believers who still felt lingering attachnt to the forr Saintess could no longer doubt the reality of the new Saintess before their eyes.

The cries rang through the Holy City and did not subside for a long ti.

...

...

“What a grand spectacle.”

Taking advantage of the mont when all the believers had dropped to their knees and were shouting the Saintess’s na, Muen snuck and wriggled out from under the holy palanquin, patted the dust off himself, and, acting as if nothing had happened, looked to Lin at his side:

“By the way, that believer wasn’t a plant arranged by your Church, was it? It looks like there are many people here, but in fact the security is terrifyingly tight. How could an ordinary person rush up to Liya?”

Out of the corner of his eye, Muen glanced around. Unlike the hard-to-defend streets, this wide square had already been tightly controlled by the Church. He could even sense several extrely frightening consciousnesses sweeping the crowd again and again—at least figures of Archbishop rank personally monitoring.

Under circumstances this strict, never mind an assassin—even a single ill-intentioned mosquito would not be able to get close to Liya.

So Muen had reason to suspect the Church of faking things to help Liya accumulate public favor.

“Don’t think of the Church as so filthy.”

Lin stared straight at Muen, a little speechless:

“Precisely because that believer was an ordinary person, she was able to approach Her Highness. The Church has no need to do such a thing, because the Saintess Her Highness chosen by the Church is the Saintess Her Highness chosen by the Goddess. Her Highness’s qualification is beyond question.”

“...Fine, I admit I was overthinking it. But... Miss Lin...”

Muen rubbed his forearms and cautiously asked:

“Why have you been staring at ? Did I do sothing to make you angry again?”

“...No. I’m just wondering...”

Lin sized Muen up and down as if eting him for the first ti:

“You stayed inside with Her Highness and did nothing at all. That really isn’t your style.”

“Did nothing? Were we supposed to do sothing?”

Muen blinked in puzzlent, his small gaze radiating the most unadorned innocence.

“You racked your brains to get into Her Highness’s holy palanquin precisely in order to...”

“Of course it was to protect Liya up close! Didn’t I say so already? There was just an assassination attempt—how could I possibly feel at ease letting her stay alone?”

“And at a ti like this, besides protecting, what else could I possibly do?”

Lin’s expression stiffened.

Muen touched his chin, then as if suddenly enlightened, leaned in close to Lin, scrutinized her carefully, and grinned wickedly:

“Miss Lin... the thing you’re talking about... wouldn’t ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ be that kind of thing, would it? No way, no way—surely no one seriously thinks I’d do that, right? That kind of play is so perverse that even I can only think about it. No matter what, it’s impossible to really do that—and you’re a nun. How could you think that way?”

“ Tsk tsk, you’re quite lewd, Miss Lin.”

“...”

Lin quietly closed her eyes and began silently reciting the Holy Canon again and again.

Not because this could cleanse her of the sin of filthy thoughts, but because if she didn’t divert her attention...

She was afraid she might not be able to help herself from smashing the rock-hard fist she was already clenching into that punchable dog face.

Honestly, with mockery skills this strong, it’s a miracle this guy has lived to the present.

Of course, Lin did not know that Muen even dared jump in the face of Evil Gods to taunt them; otherwise she might feel fortunate she only had a bit of high blood pressure.

And the last existence Muen had savagely mocked...

...

...

After his daily teasing of the rigid High Sister Lin, Muen skirted the edge of the crowd, bored out of his mind as he began to wander, watching Liya’s ceremony from afar.

He actually felt there wasn’t much to see. No matter how beautiful Liya was now, she couldn’t compare to when candlelight rippled at night.

Mm... Tonight, rember to have her put on this outfit. That will definitely have a different flavor.

“Muen Campbell?”

Just as Muen was savoring a beautiful evening, he heard a familiar voice.

He turned his head and found Margarita, whom he hadn’t seen in several days, and behind her the ever-sloppy Paul.

Paul, grinning cheekily, had just thought to wave at Muen—only to be ruthlessly stepped on by Margarita. He shrank his neck and withered back like a husky punished for mischief.

“Miss Margarita, good afternoon.”

Sensing that there was so hidden story between the two but not convenient to ask, Muen pretended not to see Paul and greeted warmly:

“Didn’t expect to et you here. I thought you had already returned ho.”

“I didn’t expect it either.”

Margarita pressed her lips into a smile:

“I thought you’d be up there standing at Her Highness the Saintess’s side as an Honorary Sanctuary Knight. That would be a great honor, and I don’t think the Church would stop you. They seem happy to see you tightly bound to the Church.”

“That does sound tempting.”

Muen shrugged:

“But I don’t want to show off like that. My identity is special... By the way, where are the others?”

“As you just said—they’ve already gone back.”

“They’ve gone back?”

Muen rubbed his chin:

“Seems failing to beco Saintess hit them pretty hard.”

Especially that proud little loli Annie. With her temper, she probably thought she had a big chance, and in the end got nothing. She’s probably hiding under the covers at night, clutching a handkerchief, crying and fussing.

Mm, amusing to imagine.

“Even though it feels like you, Mr. Muen, are having so rude thoughts right now—in fact... we aren’t as sad as you imagine.”

Margarita said:

“Miss Vicki was trying it out to begin with. Even if it didn’t work out, the Origin Tower’s gates are always open to her. As for Annie... her family elders dragged her back the very next day to continue studying alchemy. I hear there’s a high chance she’ll inherit the Stone Cauldron Society in the future.”

“And you...” Muen was dumbfounded.

“Of course I’ll go back to continue being a princess.”

Margarita covered her mouth and laughed softly:

“As for the na Platinum, I still have no plans to give it up.”

“...”

Muen was speechless.

So this wasn’t a hot-blooded story about strivers working their way up at all—it was a bunch of rich second-generation kids boldly opening a second track, wasn’t it.

In the end, the only one staking everything... was it my poor, adorable Liya?

“Of course not, Mr. Muen. We all ca to the Holy City with the idea of giving everything we had. Although our identities differ, the education we received since childhood was to strive for that position.”

As if she had guessed Muen’s thoughts, Margarita looked toward Liya in the distance, narrowing her eyes slightly, gathering all that glittering light into the depths of her gaze:

“But... perhaps precisely because we can’t bear to let go of what we had, we lost to her. So there’s nothing to be disappointed about.”

“Is that so?”

“Of course. Though I think... the reason Liya could beco Saintess—Mr. Muen, you are the greatest contributor, aren’t you?”

Margarita tilted her head at Muen and asked, “What will you do next? Will you stay in the Holy City? Given your relationship with Liya and how the Church values you, if you join the Church, there must be a place for you among future bishops.”

“Bishop? Sounds nice.”

Muen smiled.

“But... fine as the Holy City is, I don’t belong here.”

Muen lifted his head, his gaze skimming toward the endless distance.

Another towering, majestic city was the place he should return to.

“You’re going back to Belrand?”

“Yes.”

“I’ve heard it hasn’t been very peaceful there lately—seems sothing big is about to happen.”

“...”

Muen arched his brows in surprise, but Margarita’s expression didn’t shift in the least, as if this was only normal small talk.

“Is that so?”

Muen suddenly chuckled.

Not very peaceful... huh?

He had sensed such a thing long ago.

With the special nature of his identity, of course he knew that within the continent’s most prosperous city, a terrifying vortex was brewing at this very mont.

But...

“So what?”

Muen straightened his collar, unconcerned:

“A house that hasn’t been cleaned for too long will always breed bugs. Just because bugs are disgusting, are we not going to go ho?”

“...No.”

Muen suddenly grinned:

“At a ti like this, we should of course take blades and torches, lift up the darkest places in the house, and burn those disgusting bugs into ash!”

Margarita started slightly, staring, taken aback, at the blond man whose aura had changed in an instant.

He seed to change, in a heartbeat, from the Saintess’s loyal, reliable knight back into that unruly duke’s son of rumor.

“Then I wish you triumph in arms,” Margarita inclined her head lightly.

“No, I should be the one saying that.”

Muen looked aningfully at this neighboring princess:

“I also hope that when the ti cos, you can show a little rcy, and uphold a bit more of a friendly policy toward your neighbor. I would be imnsely grateful.”

“Mr. Muen is joking. Our kingdom has always loved peace. How could we do anything naughty?”

Margarita blinked playfully, her tone exceptionally sincere.

Muen acted as if he believed her, took the initiative to extend his hand, and clasped Margarita’s tightly.

“That’s wonderful. If I have the chance, I’ll definitely visit the kingdom personally.”

“I’ll look forward to it. I hope you bring your continent-famous, excellent fiancée. I’ll receive you myself.”

The two of them wore perfect smiles, like a pair of close friends.

Only Paul at the side hugged his shoulders and shivered. In this warm spring, he oddly felt the weather a bit cold.

...

...

“Na.”

“Ariel Bugaard.”

“Age.”

“Eighteen.”

“Sex.”

“...”

Ariel froze for a second, then suddenly slapped the table:

“Can’t you see?”

“My apologies.”

Across the interrogation table, the stern-faced Knight Siel let his gaze sweep Ariel’s chest and said with utmost seriousness:

“For the sake of an intelligence report’s authenticity, we must be ten out of ten certain in even the smallest aspects. We absolutely will not assu soone’s sex based on appearance—especially when this person’s secondary sexual characteristics are so indistinct.”

Siel fiddled with the magic device before him:

“Don’t worry. In front of this lie-detecting magic device, you cannot lie. So I’ll ask again: sex.”

Ariel flared up. “Bastard, don’t look down on people. I’ll—”

Zheng—

Facing the long swords that swished out in unison around her, Ariel ground her teeth, sat down in humiliation, and said:

“Female.”

“Very good.”

Knight Siel made a big show of scribbling in the little notebook before him, and asked:

“Then please answer my question, Miss Ariel—why did you attack and attempt to assassinate Her Highness the Saintess? Who ordered you to do so?”

“I didn’t—that was a misunderstanding!”

“Misunderstanding?”

Siel tapped the notebook with his pen. “This is a fact witnessed by many with their own eyes. Do you dare say you had no intent to assassinate Her Highness the Saintess?”

“...”

Ariel’s voice stalled. After a long daze she said, face crumpling:

“I truly did intend to try to stab the Saintess, but... but that really was a misunderstanding. Where’s Liya? I want to see Liya. I want to explain to her face-to-face!”

“Bold!”

Siel barked: “Not only do you refuse to admit your actions, but as a criminal suspected of attempting to assassinate Her Highness, you even dare to think of openly eting Her Highness the Saintess. Do you take for a fool?”

“Seems unless we use so thods, you won’t open your mouth. n, first give her—”

But just as Siel was preparing to let Ariel experience the rich resources and warm hospitality of the Judgnt Sanctuary’s Black Dungeon, a knight suddenly hurried in and whispered a few words at Siel’s side.

“Her Highness’s order in person? Why...”

“Fine. If that’s the case, there’s no helping it. I understand.”

After a few exchanges, Siel suddenly rose—apparently preparing to leave.

“W-What’s wrong?”

Seeing his attitude change so abruptly, Ariel felt inexplicably uneasy.

“Hmph.”

Siel turned his head, a cold smile on his face:

“Ariel Bugaard, your days of pride are over, because next, a knight more outstanding and diligent than I, deeply trusted by Her Highness the Saintess, will take over your interrogation!

I hear he’s the sort who, whether day or night, throws himself ardently into hard work—a ruthless man even the High Sister praises without cease!”

“What?”

Ariel’s face changed slightly.

A ruthless man?

No way. She really was misunderstood.

Liya? Liya, save !

“In any case, let give you a piece of advice—repent early. Otherwise... heh.”

Dropping a harsh line, Siel quickly left.

Only Ariel, deeply uneasy because of that sentence, remained in the icy cell, venting her anger by pinching a bug· on the ground.

Damn it, damn Muen...

No—damn Salvation Society. It’s all your fault. I’ve ford a feud with you!

Just wait!