Chapter 370: Inter-Academy Tournament (XXII)
The crowd erupted in cheers for Vaelor Drakthar.
Vaelor stood in the middle of the crater, breathing heavily but victorious. He raised his greatsword in the air, and the Gloria Academy students cheered loudly.
Gray shook his head in complete disappointment.
He had been looking forward to fighting Azraelion Veyra in the third challenge.
The silver-haired genius was a Vessel; even if the divinity was weak, it was still something Gray could potentially take for Jasmine.
But now, Azraelion had been eliminated by one of Gloria’s students.
The opportunity was gone.
’Tch... what a waste,’ Gray thought inwardly.
’I could have extracted that wind spirit’s divinity from him. Now it’s lost.’
He glanced at Gloria, who was sitting a few seats away with a neutral expression on her face. Her golden eyes were fixed on the screen, but she didn’t show any obvious emotion.
She was the type of woman who didn’t even mind selling herself for power or precious treasures, as Gray had seen before.
He remembered a conversation they had once, when he jokingly asked for her in exchange for the location of the true dragon.
Gloria had actually considered it for a moment; her eyes had flickered with clear calculation.
But in the end, she refused because her personal treasures had more value than the location of the true dragon.
She was pragmatic to the core. Power, resources, and her own position came first. Everything else was secondary.
Gray’s lips curled into a faint, cold smile as he looked at her.
’She’s still the same. Cold, calculating, and willing to sacrifice anything for what she wants.’
Gloria seemed to feel his gaze.
She turned her head slightly and met his eyes for a brief moment. Her expression remained neutral, but there was a faint challenge in her golden eyes.
Aurora, sitting on Gray’s other side, noticed the exchange and chuckled softly.
"Looks like Gloria is still upset about losing you," she whispered teasingly.
"Her 4th-year student just took down the one you were interested in. She probably thinks that’s a small victory."
Gray rolled his eyes at Aurora’s words.
"Childish..." he mumbled.
Aurora laughed while covering her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him.
But suddenly, Gray’s nostrils perked up.
There was a faint... pure smell close nearby.
It was clean, almost holy, like fresh morning dew mixed with lilies and a hint of warm sunlight.
[Gray... we have a problem.]
The scent was getting closer by the second, cutting through the mix of perfumes and mana in the VIP section.
A soft, delicate voice suddenly echoed from behind them.
"Your Majesty, I’m sorry for being late..."
The voice was soft, gentle, but incredibly refined.
It clearly belonged to a woman of very high status, someone who spoke with natural grace and authority.
Gray turned his head around curiously, and instantly raised an eyebrow in surprise.
The woman who had just arrived was gorgeous.
She looked like a saintess straight out of a medieval painting brought to life, but with an aura that was both pure and sinfully alluring.
Her long, flowing hair was a shimmering platinum blonde that cascaded down her back like liquid moonlight, reaching all the way to her waist.
Small, delicate golden highlights caught the light with every slight movement, giving her an almost angelic glow.
Her skin was flawless porcelain, smooth and pale with a faint, healthy blush on her cheeks that made her look both innocent and inviting.
Her face was complemented by high, elegant cheekbones, a small, perfectly shaped nose, and full, soft lips that were naturally pink.
Her eyes were a striking, luminous silver that seemed to hold a gentle, holy light within them, as if they could see into the soul and offer forgiveness at the same time.
A small, golden circlet rested on her forehead, adorned with a single, glowing white gem that pulsed softly with holy energy.
She was tall and slender, yet her body was undeniably voluptuous in a way that made the saintess robes she wore look almost sinful.
The white and gold robes of the Church of Light clung to her figure in a way that accentuated every curve.
Her breasts were large and full, straining gently against the soft fabric of her robes, the deep V-neckline revealing a generous amount of smooth, pale cleavage that rose and fell with her breathing.
The robes were cinched at her narrow waist with a golden belt, emphasizing her hourglass figure and the wide, fertile hips that swayed gracefully with every step she took.
Her long, toned legs were partially visible through the high slits on the sides of her robes, the fabric parting teasingly with each movement to reveal smooth, creamy thighs.
Despite the erotic allure of her body, she carried herself with the grace and purity of an angel that had descended to earth.
A faint, holy aura surrounded her, like soft golden light that made the air around her feel warmer and purer.
Small, ethereal white feathers occasionally materialized and faded around her, adding to the angelic image.
She moved with quiet dignity, her hands clasped in front of her in a prayer-like pose, yet the way her robes hugged her full breasts and wide hips made the holy image feel almost forbidden.
Gray instantly recognized who this woman was.
Everyone in the whole world knew her, as she was someone who came from the so-called Higher Plane, and her importance was even greater than the Emperor himself.
She was the Saintess of the Goddess of Hope and Light, the highest-ranking figure in the church.
Her presence alone made several of the VIPs bow their heads in respect; even the Emperor bowed his head to greet her.
If a single wound appeared on her body because of someone from his kingdom, it could mean the kingdom’s obliteration.
That’s how important this woman truly was.
The Emperor almost turned into a simp the moment he saw her. He stood up quickly, his usual commanding presence softening as he smiled warmly at her.
"Saintess Elara, there is no need to apologize. Your presence alone honors us all," he laughed and spoke in an unusually gentle voice.
"Please, take the seat of honor beside me. Is there anything you need? Anything at all? I will have it brought to you immediately."
The Emperor’s eyes were practically sparkling as he tried to get her favor as much as he could. He gestured for servants to bring the best cushions, fresh fruits, and holy water, his actions almost desperate to please her.
Gray wanted to laugh at the sight.
The Emperor of the kingdom, acting like a lovesick puppy in front of the Saintess. But he held back because that woman truly was problematic.
Instead, he asked inwardly.
’...Problem? What do you mean, Jasmine?’
Jasmine’s voice came back, sounding a little tense.
[...She can detect my presence... easily.]
At those words, Gray froze momentarily before his eyes narrowed slightly. His gaze instantly wandered back to the projection, making sure to avert his gaze from the Saintess.
’...What’s up with her?’
Jasmine hesitated for a moment before replying.
[Ugh... she’s not a Saintess, Gray... she... she...]
’Jasmine...?’
[...She’s the Goddess of Hope and Light in human form. She somehow escaped the rules of this world without damaging her own divinity... if she wants, this whole world can be destroyed with a single sneeze or breath. She’s definitely a problem, Gray...]
Gray’s eyebrows furrowed at those words.
’Dante... Dante... was this why you made this woman disappear during the middle of the novel? Because her true identity was the Goddess herself?!’ he cursed inwardly.
’...Tsk, those important memories are still blocked for some reason.’
For some reason, Gray wasn’t able to recall important details about the novel, as if the world itself was refusing to let him.
It was strange...
The Emperor, still trying to please the Saintess, leaned forward slightly in his seat and asked with a respectful smile.
"Saintess Elara, it is a great honor to have you here. May I ask what brings you to grace us with your presence during this tournament?"
The Saintess smiled gently, her luminous silver eyes scanning the VIP section and the projection screens for a moment before she replied in her soft, refined voice.
"I wanted to see if there was anyone I could potentially take as my student. The Goddess of Hope and Light has been looking for a worthy successor to pass on her teachings. Someone with a pure heart, strong talent, and the potential to carry the light of hope in this world."
At those words, the nobles’ ears instantly perked up.
Their eyes lit up with ambition as they saw a golden opportunity. Being the student of the Saintess would bring immense prestige, power, and connections to their families.
One of the dukes, a middle-aged man with a well-groomed beard, spoke first with a polite bow of his head.
"Your Holiness, my eldest son is a talented swordsman in the 4th year of Gloria Academy. He has a pure heart and has always shown great devotion to the Goddess. I believe he would be a worthy candidate for your guidance."
Another noble, a count with sharp features, quickly added.
"My daughter is in the 3rd year of Clementine’s Sword & Magic Academy. She has exceptional talent in holy magic and has been praised by the church for her kindness and purity. She would be honored to learn from you, Saintess."
A third noble, a viscount with a young son, spoke up eagerly but still politely.
"My son is only in the 2nd year, but he has already shown great potential in light magic. He is humble and dedicated. If you would consider him, Your Holiness, our family would be eternally grateful."
The nobles continued recommending their children one after another, their voices polite but clearly eager to get the Saintess’s attention.
They praised their sons and daughters’ talents, purity, and devotion, trying to outshine each other without being too obvious.
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