Chapter 99: Anima’s Reflections

“The Holy Land wants you to go back?” Stella was a bit surprised.

“Yes.”

Via nodded and explained to Stella.

“Next week is the Holy Prayer Day.”

“Oh, the Holy Prayer Day.”

Stella suddenly realized.

The Holy Prayer Day was a fixed annual tradition in the Holy Land.

On the day of the Holy Prayer Day, the Holy Land would send out a saintess to pray devoutly to the gods in front of the people, gathering the believers’ faith and conveying it to the gods through the saintess, thereby beseeching the gods’ blessings to ensure favorable weather, peace, and prosperity for the human race.

“But why you, Via?”

“…I’m a saintess candidate. Before the next official saintess succeeds, the Holy Land sends saintess candidates to participate in the Holy Prayer Day, which naturally includes me,” Via explained.

The Holy Land would judge whether a saintess candidate could succeed through a series of assessments, and the Holy Prayer Day was an important indicator.

After all, performing well on the Holy Prayer Day could gain the trust of the believers and the people.

“Can you use holy arts, Via?”

Via really suspected Stella was asking knowingly.

She couldn’t use holy arts at all.

Therefore, in previous Holy Prayer Days, she was the most awkward one.

The other saintess candidates could all use holy arts; she was the only one standing there, unable to do anything.

In contrast, Sophie’s performance at the last Holy Prayer Day was quite excellent.

“Via, I thought you knew at least a little holy arts, but it turns out you know none at all.”

Stella felt like she had unintentionally hurt Via’s self-esteem.

“—As the daughter of the Perfect Saintess, yet without even a bit of holy power?” Via shrugged. “Actually, I’ve heard these words so much that my ears are calloused; I’m long used to it.”

“Because you can’t perform holy arts, you turned to learning magic?”

“Sort of; magic is at least a way out.”

“But I’m puzzled, Via. You were born in the Holy Land and have always received education from the Holy Land. Where did you learn magic from?” Stella looked puzzled. “Being able to build a Magic Workshop alone isn’t something achievable through self-study. Even among geniuses of the same age, it requires guidance from a magic master to accomplish.”

“No comment.”

Via really couldn’t explain.

She couldn’t tell the other that in her previous life, she was the Demon King, right?

“Via has so many little secrets; I really want to investigate properly.” Stella showed strong interest in Via.

“Whatever; anyway, I won’t reveal a bit to you,” Via paused. “In any case, I’ll set off soon and return to the Holy Land. During this time, I hope you don’t let others approach Number 7 on Rose Street; help me keep the secret here.”

“Mm, no problem.” Stella readily agreed.

“Sigh, so many things; I hope the Holy Prayer Day ends quickly.”

Via sighed.

If possible, she really didn’t want to go.

But this wasn’t like skipping class at Avalon Academy; not going really wasn’t an option.

“Meow meow?”

The little yellow cat came over, meowing again.

“Stop meowing; I won’t take you. During this time, stay with Stella,” Via said to the little yellow cat. “When I’m not around, don’t bring dead mice to my dorm. Behave, be a good cat, got it? If you behave well, I’ll give you a name when I return.”

“Meow!”

“Didn’t I warn you not to skip class?”

Anima looked at Via in front of him, anger rising uncontrollably.

“You just promised me not long ago, yet you disappeared for several days! What exactly is going on with you, Via!”

“Well…”

In the teacher’s office, Via didn’t know how to explain.

“I felt the pressure was really too much, so I went out wandering for a few days.”

“You, you…!”

Anima nearly went mad hearing Via’s answer.

“Forget about those irrelevant things; Teacher Anima, I’m here to request leave.”

Via simply gave up, too lazy to make up reasons. Anyway, Anima couldn’t do anything to her for now.

Angry?

Then endure it.

“You skipped class for days, didn’t attend a single lesson, and now you want leave? What do you take Avalon Academy for?” Anima’s mouth twitched.

“I have proper business, Teacher Anima.”

Via took out the letter sent to her by the Holy Land and placed it in front of Anima.

Anyway, there was nothing confidential on it; it could be shown.

“This is a letter from the Holy Land?”

After picking it up, Anima read it through and roughly understood what happened.

The expression on his face was vivid; he felt annoyed by Via’s behavior but was helpless. He couldn’t refuse at all.

The Holy Land summoning Via back—he couldn’t stop it.

“Teacher Anima, can I get leave now?” Via asked with a smile.

“…Alright, Via, I’ll approve your leave slip.”

Anima really felt internally injured.

He now felt like Via had changed a bit. She used to be timid, but just now, it seemed like she was deliberately angering him?

He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he felt this pink-haired girl had a bit of mischief now.

“Teacher Anima, I have to set off today,” Via said. “If possible, I hope the leave slip isn’t delayed.”

“Mm.”

Upon hearing this, Anima acted, and without taking long, quickly approved the leave slip for Via.

When handing the leave slip to Via, he was silent for a moment and said something that quite surprised Via.

“Via, be careful and stay safe.”

“Teacher Anima is… concerned about me?”

Via felt quite incredulous.

Because Anima had always been disappointed in her.

“In the last exploration activity to the Demon King’s Castle, Director Nikita and some teachers have been confirmed dead and left this world. Just the day before yesterday, I attended his funeral.”

Anima’s mood was a bit heavy.

“Clearly, not long ago, I was talking with Director Nikita, but now I’ll never see him again. The accidents in this world are truly caught off guard.”

Via remembered that Nikita seemed to have led some teachers into the Demon King’s Castle ruins and was dealt with by Kurei.

She hadn’t expected Avalon Academy to have such an operation at the time.

It should be Nikita’s death that stimulated Anima.

“Via, although your performance has always been unsatisfactory, I still hope you can pay some attention to your own safety.”

Anima’s attitude toward Via was rarely this good.

This made Via feel embarrassed to continue messing with Anima’s mindset.

“…Mm, thank you, Teacher Anima. I’ll be careful.”