Chapter 101: Far from Clearing the Trial

“Goddess of Light above, please grant me the power of Purification, drive away Evil, and save the innocent lambs.”

Three girls barged into the room.

Seeing the situation inside, they froze for a moment.

You might say they were up to something shady together in the middle of the night, but the way she was chanting sounded so proper, with a faint touch of Holy Light.

But if you say nothing was going on, well, it was the middle of the night, a group of girls alone in a room, all sitting on the same bed, clothes disheveled.

Their skirts weren’t even on, just pajamas and panties, sitting face-to-face.

“You…”

Celes’s voice trembled slightly.

“What are you doing?”

Zero tilted her head, her bangs covering her obscure, unreadable eyes.

Vina clapped her hands excitedly.

“Wow, you two are really bold! Doing something like this in broad… er, in the dead of night, and you got caught by us!”

Leah stopped chanting, and the faint circle of Holy Light faded away.

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

She replied with an elegant and holy expression.

“As you can see, I am chanting a Blessing for Ayla, asking the Goddess of Light to bestow her favor and Purify the Evil from her.”

Stay calm, must stay calm.

As the Saintess of Light, think of the time I faced thousands during the coronation ceremony.

This is nothing!

Chin up!

“Evil?”

Celes was really listening to the explanation, so she earnestly asked, “Why would there be Evil on Ayla?”

The girls’ gazes landed on the other disheveled girl—her pink hair slightly tense.

“Because, because I used to live in the Demon King’s Castle for a long time, and under the Demon King’s coercion, I gave them advice and even used Evil Magic.”

Ayla’s voice was small and pitiful as she looked at the other girls, haunted by the shadow of her past.

I’m seen as the root of all the trouble, burdened with too much blood on my hands, so—

Lala looked truly aggrieved, tears welling at the corners of her eyes.

Vina glanced at the two of them.

“But why are you sitting so close together on the same bed, and your clothes… aren’t even on properly?”

Leah turned around, sitting properly with her knees up, and explained in a dignified manner: “Because Purification Blessing takes a lot of effort, it’s easier to sit on the bed. As for the clothes, as you saw earlier, during the healing process, the Holy Light descends and makes you feel a bit hot.”

It’s just the light-heat effect.

Vina asked skeptically, “Really?”

“Really.”

Leah felt her explanation was so reasonable that she couldn’t help puffing out her chest.

As a result, her oversized pajama top slipped off her fragrant shoulder.

Seeing this, Celes’s eyelid twitched.

“J-just as I said, there was Holy Light just now, it was too hot, so we dressed loosely.”

The Saintess quietly pulled her collar back up and buttoned it.

“It’s not hot anymore.”

Ugh, why can’t I button this one? Where’s the button gone?

“How many times have you done this?”

Celes asked.

“Why didn’t you tell us?”

“It’s not exactly something to be proud of.”

Leah, now with her collar fastened, replied.

“And as the one helping her, I have the same duty as the Healers—to protect the patient’s privacy.”

Ayla’s eyes brimmed with tears she’d managed to squeeze out, and she said in a pitiful little voice, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to hide it from you all, it’s just that the burden of my sins is too heavy, it’s really hard to talk about.”

Lala just wanted to be a good girl, not dwell on her painful past—who could blame her?

With her looking like this, it was hard to keep pressing her for answers.

Leah seized the moment, put her hands on her hips, and looked at everyone with righteous indignation.

“What about you? Why are you barging in here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping? You almost interrupted our important Purification ritual!”

Celes was slightly taken aback.

Right, why was that?

She’d just wanted to step out for a walk, but how did things escalate to barging into the room?

Thinking it over—itchy curiosity, stepping out for a stroll, seeing Zero looking eager at the girls’ door, calling out in a rush, waking Vina, the little witch joining in, then the three of them arguing, and somehow it turned into a race to see who’d be first to enter Ayla’s… room.

“Sorry, we didn’t mean to.”

Feeling a bit guilty, Celes didn’t think too much and apologized on behalf of the other two as well.

Leah, who had looked so imposing, let out a long sigh of relief inside.

“You’re forgiven. Ayla and I were wrong too; we shouldn’t have kept it from you for so long. But don’t do this again, okay?”

We’re supposed to be companions united for life—why are we playing detective on each other? It really makes the Saintess sad!

Vina blinked her peach blossom eyes and made an “emmmm” sound.

She didn’t believe Leah’s nonsense for a second.

She’d long suspected there was something fishy between those two, and now they were even sharing a bed—who knew how far things had gone?

Too bad she hadn’t caught them in the act today; at least they were dressed when she came in.

“Alright, we’ll be more careful next time.”

Next time, she wouldn’t make a sound outside—she’d catch them red-handed for sure.

Zero hadn’t said anything the whole time, as if she had no opinion.

Leah got up from the bed, pretending to glance out the window, and let out a light sigh.

“It’s so late, I really need to get some sleep. What about you?”

Celes nodded naturally, indicating she’d go back to sleep too.

When they came, the three of them had squeezed in together, nearly breaking the inn’s door.

Now, they lined up and left one by one, very politely—proving once again why they were the best five.

Leah was the last to leave.

As she closed the door, she secretly gave Ayla a wink, as if to say: Heh, aren’t I amazing?

Remember to praise me next time!

Ayla forced a smile.

When the door closed, she fell back onto the bed.

Her clothes felt a bit tight, but that wasn’t the issue right now.

Did they really get away with it just now?

She still felt uneasy.

And Evil God Yiselis! She’d been utterly set up!

She didn’t dare curse out loud.

Ayla clenched her fists, her face red, and could only remember that name in her heart—she’d have to look into it and find a way to deal with that being later.

A string of mocking laughter seemed to echo in her mind.

Ayla grabbed her pillow, covered her head, and went to sleep!

Zzzz

A new day arrived.

Morning came, and it was time to return to the Royal Capital.

Celes had set the deadline for noon, but just after breakfast, the girls had already gathered at the carriage.

“Let’s go. No point staying half a day longer.”

Vina urged, “The sooner we get back to the Royal Capital, the sooner I can see what those guys in the Royal Palace have been up to for the past month.”

Celes nodded and glanced toward the end of the Caravan, her thoughts a bit unsettled.

At the very end was Ayla’s carriage.

Last night, because she felt guilty, she’d apologized after being accused, without thinking much or observing more.

Only after returning to her own room did she realize there were a lot of things that didn’t add up.

But, how could Ayla lie to her?

She must be overthinking it.

If Ayla ever lied to me, I’d be really…

The girl shook her head hard, tossing away her messy thoughts.

“Let’s depart.”

Ayla climbed into the carriage.

Just as she was about to close the door, she noticed a petite figure standing at the entrance.

“You forgot something.”

Zero reached out her hand.

“I brought it for you.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Ayla reached out to take it, but the girl let go—and there was nothing there.

“?”

“Last night, Miss Leah was wearing your clothes, wasn’t she?”

Zero leaned in and whispered, “None of your clothes have the second button from the top—I remember them all.”

Ayla’s pupils shrank in shock.

It’s over!

“It’s time to return to the Royal Capital, Ayla.”

Zero smiled at her.

“May we have a smooth journey.”