”I’ve never seen such a dump in my entire life!”
A sharp and arrogant little girl’s voice, as if born superior, pierced clearly through the crack in the door.
“There’s a disgusting stench of poverty and wet dog in the air! Absolutely revolting!”
“And this chair, it creaks when you sit, and the splinters on the armrests are sharper than spears. Are you planning to kill me with this?!”
Wendy and Astreia exchanged a glance, reading unfiltered disdain in each other’s eyes.
They pushed open the door, and the scene inside the council hall came into view.
Two groups sat distinctly apart within the hall.
To the left were several women in blue-violet mage robes, their garments embroidered with the star and moon insignia of the Mage Association in mithril thread.
At their head sat a mature woman, regal and dignified, bearing a strong resemblance to Laxana.
She held a cup of hot tea with elegant poise, though her gaze was sharp as an eagle.
Wendy recognized her at once: Laxana’s mother, head of the Mage Academy Central Continent Branch—Layana Klein.
To the right, three small girls in black robes, cold silver crosses pinned to their chests, sat.
They looked no older than fourteen or fifteen, petite and flat-chested.
Yet their youthful faces carried pride and indifference wholly out of place for their age.
Wendy slapped his forehead.
He almost forgot.
In this matriarchal world, voluptuous mature women were the outliers—flat-chested lolis were the standard of beauty.
And the Church, a force rigid and old-fashioned to the core, worshiped the “pure and unblemished” appearance of young girls as divine law.
At this moment, a girl with snow-white skin and a black robe trimmed with ornate gold—clearly the leader of the three—stood in the center of the hall, hands on hips, delivering a “brilliant” speech to the ashen-faced Sunset Fort Officers.
Upon seeing Astreia and the others enter, the black-robed loli immediately ceased her insults toward the officers.
Her blood-red eyes spun like a fly catching the scent of blood, zeroing in precisely on the most “conspicuous” figure in the crowd—Astreia.
“Well, well, look who’s here?”
She looked as if she’d found the perfect material, eyes gleaming, lips curling, launching a full assault.
“The legendary ‘Northern Lioness’ of Valoran? I thought some prize-winning fat pig from a farm had wandered in by mistake!”
“Look at that armor of yours. Truly…practical.”
“But I suppose when you look like a battering ram, it’s only fitting to dress like one too.”
Her gaze swept disdainfully over Astreia’s ample chest and curving waist and hips.
Then, switching tones, she rubbed two fingers together, adopting a mercenary air.
“Honestly, staying in this wretched place for even a second more feels like bad luck.”
“Still, if you could bring out a few chests of Gold to ‘purify’ the air here, maybe I’d consider making the inspection…a bit smoother.”
“Oh, right!”
The black-robed loli licked her lips, gaze sliding past Astreia to lock greedily onto Wendy standing behind her.
In those blood-red eyes, greed, obsession, and undisguised possessiveness blazed!
“I also heard there’s a peerless beauty of a Prince hidden here.”
“Such a gem shouldn’t be wasted in a place reeking of muscle and sweat.”
“Tonight, bathe him and send him to my room.”
“If he pleases me, never mind the inspection—even if you claimed to be a Saintess descended from heaven, I’d still put in a good word for you with the Church!”
The words fell.
The entire council hall froze, temperature plummeting to ice.
Every Sunset Fort Officer glared in outrage; in General Sera’s single eye, murderous intent flashed.
Astreia’s fist clenched so tightly it crackled.
Rations had been cut, soldiers barely had bread to eat—this was the root reason the princess did not oppose the journey to the capital to “clear the king’s side.”
And now, this brat who’d appeared from nowhere dared to openly demand bribes in front of her?
And wanted…Wendy to warm her bed?!
Unforgivable!!!
An uncontrollable fury surged within the princess’s chest.
If she hadn’t recently learned to control her Witch transformation, she might have become the Witch Queen on the spot and slaughtered this mouthy “little potato”!
Sensing the near-tangible killing intent from Astreia, the black-robed loli’s eyes glinted with twisted glee rather than fear.
Exactly as planned.
Tempt you to Descent, then kill you to ascend!
“How dare you look at me like that?!”
The black-robed loli jabbed her finger at her own nose, straightened her back, and declared haughtily,
“Such insolence! Do you know who I am?”
“I am Dororis, Bishop of the Sunset Mountains region!”
“Pfft.”
A light laugh shattered the tension.
Wendy stepped out from behind Astreia, eyes slanting as he looked at the loli who barely reached his waist, a mocking smile on his lips.
“Politeness is reserved for those who understand it.”
“Besides…”
Wendy paused, his voice turning cold and sardonic.
“You’re a servant of the Gods. By Doctrine, you should be pure-hearted and free of earthly desires.”
“But you speak of Gold and beauties, your eyes brimming with worldly filth and greed.”
“I’m quite curious~”
Wendy leaned forward slightly, the smile in his peach-blossom eyes turning dangerously sharp.
“You hoard wealth and lust for men so desperately—are you planning to use these vulgarities to…marry the God you worship?”
Dororis was struck speechless, her small face turning pale before flushing with rage.
“You! How dare you blaspheme the Gods! In the name of the Bishop, I declare you a Fallen One! Burn at the stake, now!”
“Die!”
Astreia’s reason finally snapped at the naked threat.
A strange, dark purple gleam flickered in her eyes as her right hand gripped the cold hilt of her sword!
Yet, a hand gently tugged the edge of her cloak.
Wendy.
He didn’t look back, only spoke calmly, his voice soft yet echoing through the hall.
“Astreia.”
“Take this false believer—who disrespects the Gods, betrays the Doctrine, and is filled with nothing but filth—and throw her out of Sunset Fortress.”
The princess blinked, then understood Wendy’s intent.
He was worried her rage would play into the enemy’s hands.
And with his damning words, he’d given her actions the righteousness of “acting on behalf of the heavens”!
The purple light in her eyes faded instantly, replaced by the clear green of a lion’s gaze.
“Good idea.”
Astreia nodded, striding forward with long legs to stand before Dororis.
Her tall figure cast a shadow that engulfed the tiny bishop.
Dororis sneered disdainfully.
“What? You actually dare to—”
The word “touch” hadn’t even left her lips.
The princess’s hand shot out like lightning, hooking Dororis by the ornate collar of her black robe—lifting her like a noisy chick.
In the next second, before the stunned eyes of all, Astreia flexed her arm, muscles taut, and with the perfect discus-throwing form, hurled the arrogant little bishop straight out!
“Ah—!!!”
A piercing scream cut through the sky above Sunset Fortress, tracing a graceful arc over the towering walls toward the moat.
Her black robe billowed in the wind like bat wings.
A moment later, a heavy splash echoed, and the soprano scream was abruptly silenced.
The crowd breathed in relief—seemed the pest had lucked out, landing in water instead of breaking her neck.
Then, all eyes turned in fear to the “Northern Lioness.”
They knew the Great Princess was bold, but hadn’t expected such ferocity!
That was a bishop of the Church!
She’d thrown her out without a hint of hesitation!
On the Mage Association side, the noblewoman Layana froze, teacup hovering in mid-air.
Then, with practiced calm, she took a sip of hot tea, violet eyes—the same as her daughter’s—glinting with admiration and amusement.
The remaining two black-robed lolis from the Church, after several stunned seconds, sprang from their chairs in unison.
“Insolence!”
“Outrage!”
WAY TO GO ASTERIA