As long as she kept lying her whole life, kept pretending, then she was a very good person—at least on the surface.
Aside from self-interest and utility, there was another reason why Samimi forgave Rebecca: sympathy.
Judging from Rebecca’s actions and personality, it was obvious that in the original novel, she was written to be a stock “vicious side character.”
Her status wasn’t even as high as Samimi’s original villainess role. She was purely a disposable extra—written to show off the protagonist team’s brilliance in a few chapters before getting slapped into oblivion.
At least Samimi’s villainess character was meant to disgust the protagonists over the long term and had a recurring role, even returning as a zombie after her death. She got more screen time than some protagonists.
But a character like Rebecca? She didn’t last more than three chapters. Introduced in chapter one, she mocked and stepped on the protagonist in chapter two, and by chapter three, she was beaten, reversed upon, and thrown out of the story.
Back when Samimi was alive, she had been a struggling dark fiction writer and always felt pity for these throwaway characters. So she chose to forgive her.
Besides, she still needed this “vicious side character” to help her slap the faces of those high and mighty elites, to crush their pride and destroy their honor.
Plus, Rebecca was her contact at the Continental Magic Academy.
If she killed her now, how was she supposed to teleport back to the kingdom?
—
“Sisters, I’m sorry. In my foolish pursuit of power, I lost sight of my path and forgot my purpose. It was you who pulled me out of the mist. I hereby swear my eternal loyalty to you. Let us welcome the holy war together.”
As soon as they returned to the House of the Dark Moon and shut the door, Rebecca knelt dramatically at the entrance, clinging to Samimi’s black-stockinged leg for a second apology, muttering some divine-sounding prayer.
“Get up and talk.” Samimi was startled.
She really wanted to complain—what the heck, is she possessed or something? Was I too harsh with my words? Did I trick her into turning into a lunatic?
“My sister, the church today has lost its way. For a former traitor, even a hint of disloyalty means eternal disloyalty. Even for someone like me, you shouldn’t trust so easily.” Rebecca started saying strange and cryptic things.
Samimi didn’t think she was disloyal—if anything, she was too loyal.
“I’m a Penitent Nun. She’s a Beastkin Nun. We’re at the absolute bottom of the church hierarchy. We know more about the church’s internal corruption than anyone.” Samimi had so much she wanted to say but had to keep up a graceful front.
It was a lie, of course. What did Niubao even know about corruption? She probably didn’t even know what the church was.
“From now on, I will serve only you. Please allow me to atone alongside you both for the rest of my life,” Rebecca pleaded.
Everyone said female clergy from the church were fanatics—and it looked like they were right. That face-turn was way too fast. Just days ago, she was plotting to screw Samimi over, and now she wanted to devote her whole life to her?
“Don’t talk about serving anyone. We’re equals, church sisters. Just don’t look down on the two of us, that’s enough.” Samimi’s leg was being clung to so tightly that she couldn’t even crouch down to help her up.
But the more kind things she said, the brighter the sparkle of adoration in Rebecca’s eyes became—beyond saving at this point.
Left with no choice, Samimi gave Niubao a look, and Niubao came over to help pry Rebecca off her leg.
It took a lot of effort to detach the reluctant Rebecca, who was stuck to her like glue.
Samimi began to wonder if maybe she was just… too charming?
After all, her face practically screamed “cult witch.” But unlike those cheap, trashy femme fatales, her beauty was more refined—a dark, elegant kind of allure.
This type of charm didn’t do much for men, but it had an overwhelming effect on women.
Samimi turned her head toward the dorm interior and noticed the heretical mages inside were all secretly watching.
“How was Review Day?” the dorm head, Brayetta, asked.
“Dorm head, I should’ve listened to you and stayed in today,” Samimi sighed.
—
From that day on—Review Day—Samimi was officially recognized as a member of the Continental Magic Academy.
Before that, she’d just been entertaining herself, an invisible nobody that no one paid any attention to.
But after making a move and showcasing terrifying magic that overturned traditional norms, she instantly became the center of attention at the academy.
All the mages wanted to know what exactly her crimson magic was.
What were the properties of that thorny magic power?
How did she achieve dual magic shields and dual enchantments?
Why could a mage split their body into two?
Mages were basically crazed scholars with a burning thirst for unknown knowledge.
“…Is it just me, or is there way more people in this basic magic theory class than usual?” Samimi whispered to Niubao and Rebecca as she sat in a corner of the classroom.
Before, there had been zero students attending the basic theory class. Now, at least half the seats were filled.
Sometimes, it wasn’t just apprentices in the room—there were even official instructors present.
“No, it’s always been this many,” Rebecca replied.
“You weren’t here before. When Niubao and I first arrived, there was literally no one in this classroom,” Samimi argued.
Rebecca had only recently started tagging along with Samimi and Niubao and hadn’t attended earlier, so she didn’t realize how odd the crowd was.
“Are you uncomfortable?” Rebecca asked gently. “Want Niubao and me to kick everyone out?”
“Why are you so overbearing? This feeling of being watched… is too familiar. Doesn’t bother me at all,” Samimi said with a sigh.
She’d already been watched for ages by the Pure White Knight. Being stared at was something she was long used to.
Besides, she felt like Rebecca’s character was growing increasingly obsessive. Her fanaticism hadn’t diminished over time—instead, it seemed to be getting worse.
“Don’t mind other people’s eyes. Let’s study.” Samimi pushed Rebecca’s head down into her magic notes, trying to get her to focus on the material instead of the spectators.
Lately, the two had been studying together—Rebecca teaching Samimi how to refine healing spells, and Samimi teaching Rebecca support spell formulas.
“Rebecca, being just a healing priest doesn’t cut it these days. Adventurers are tough as nails now, rarely getting injured. A proper cleric really needs some support capabilities too,” Samimi said, trying to coax her.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah!” Rebecca nodded enthusiastically, completely convinced by her every word.
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