“Engaging in reckless violence and getting hurt only brings pain to yourself.” Mirexia stood by, her arms crossed over her ample bosom, her voice as indifferent as ever.

“If I told you I wasn’t being reckless, but simply had no choice in many situations, would you believe me, Your Highness?” Winnie didn’t elaborate further, simply stating the facts.

If she believed him, fine. If not, so be it.

If her impression of him was already set, further explanations would be pointless.

Winnie was well aware of his reputation in the capital.

Given his usual behavior, it was only natural for Mirexia to have a bias against him. In fact, it wasn’t even a bias, it was just the truth.

“I see.” After a moment of contemplation, Mirexia glanced deeply at the two Dragon Knights in the distance and spoke slowly.

Winnie was momentarily stunned. Did Mirexia actually believe him?

Given her understanding and dislike of him, he had expected everything he said to be dismissed as worthless excuses.

“Thank you, Your Highness. I’ve caused you trouble again.”

Seeing Winnie’s respectful and polite demeanor, Aesphyra’s surprise deepened.

“If I hadn’t received the news and arrived in time, Winnie, what would you have done? Let your injuries worsen?” Mirexia didn’t accept Winnie’s thanks, her eyes as calm as the sea.

“I would have found a way,”

“That day, when I said I hoped you would take responsibility for yourself, I wasn’t just talking about emotions, but everything else, including your life.”

“Yes, Your Highness, you are absolutely right.” Winnie, no longer the fool he once was, chose not to argue with Mirexia.

He agreed verbally, while inwardly acknowledging that Mirexia was indeed a kind-hearted person.

Despite her dislike for him, she had still chosen to save him without hesitation.

This had nothing to do with who he was; it was pure kindness.

With this thought, Winnie’s opinion of Mirexia improved slightly.

Mirexia’s beautiful eyes widened slightly.

Winnie’s quick acceptance of his mistake was something she wasn’t used to.

Was this really the same Winnie she knew?

His behavior had been so unusual lately, as if he were a completely different person.

Shaking off her thoughts, Mirexia turned her gaze to the apprentice squires and the two Dragon Knights, her eyes narrowing.

“Uh, Your Highness?” The young knight, sensing trouble, felt a pang of unease.

Clearly, he was smarter than the hot-headed knight beside him, who was still wondering why the princess wasn’t pleased despite him having stood up for her.

“Sir Knights, did you deliberately let my maid hear about the duel?” Mirexia asked, enunciating each word.

“I don’t believe it was a coincidence.”

“Uh, well…”

“You are speaking to royalty. I expect the truth.”

“…”

The two knights remained silent.

“As Dragon Knights, you provoked another noble, arranged a private duel, violated the rules of engagement, and openly encouraged an apprentice squire to inflict serious harm, nearly killing someone.” Mirexia listed each of their transgressions.

“Is this your understanding of chivalry and the knight’s code?”

“It seems you understand chivalry even less than I do. I will report your actions to my father today. Both the Dragon Knights and their squires are to be held to the highest standards; we have no need for those with talent but no virtue.” After delivering her cold remarks, Mirexia thanked Priest Won, bid him farewell, and left with her maid, leaving three stunned faces behind.

“Sorry, Miss Aesphyra, for delaying our tea.”

“It’s fine. I got to watch quite a good show,” Aesphyra said playfully, sticking out her tongue and following with light steps.

Seeing that the silver-haired troublemaker hadn’t said a word to him, Winnie breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed his tense body.

Although he knew she couldn’t harm him under Mirexia’s watch, just the thought of her approaching him made his hair stand on end.

Turning back, he noticed Aesphyra sneaking a glance at him.

Hmm, she gave him a meaningful look and deliberately moved closer to Mirexia.

Aesphyra chuckled, her beautiful eyes carrying a hint of teasing.

What was this Demon up to in this life? She would figure it out eventually.

As long as he was still that demon, his true nature would eventually show.

There was no rush; she had time.

Besides, her actions also carried a sense of competition and provocation.

Winnie, however, didn’t care about her provocation.

He was more concerned about his own life.

No matter how much Aesphyra, as a regresser, hated him, as long as he showed that he was different from his previous self and stayed on the right path, he was still a noble of the kingdom.

In public, with witnesses around, Aesphyra couldn’t harm him.

As for being alone with Aesphyra, that was absolutely out of the question.

Who knew what could happen between a man and a woman alone? It could be deadly.

Literally deadly. He had to remember that he wasn’t out of danger yet.

What could he do? She was the chosen one. He had to be careful.

Ah, the protagonist.

In the end, he was still too weak.

The protagonist could easily take his life, but that was to be expected since she was the chosen one among the chosen.

But even a rookie squire without real combat experience had him sweating bullets.

This only strengthened Winnie’s resolve to study at the Carillian Academy.

In this world, strength was everything.

‘Virtue +25’

‘Virtue +25′

“What?!” Seeing the sudden increase in virtue points, Winnie thought he was seeing things.

How much?! 50??

Why? Did the system glitch again??

Winnie quickly opened his panel to check.

The reason for the increase was stated: a main character’s emotional fluctuation caused by you.

Main character? Did that mean Mirexia?

Winnie was both shocked and delighted.

So, causing emotional fluctuations in the game’s chosen one gave him this much virtue?!

This was a windfall!

All his hard work couldn’t compare to a single emotional fluctuation from a main character.

It seemed the system was encouraging him to take risks for great rewards.

And virtue was like stacking Nasus’s Q—Winnie was addicted to stacking virtue and couldn’t stop.

Clearly, the system was encouraging Winnie to interact with the troublemakers.

A tempting bait, but did it think he would fall for it? Sorry, he refused.

Ha, a cheap trick.

Did it think he would fall for it? No way, he was too smart.

Winnie knew that with his current reputation, anything he did would be misunderstood, and he would be unfairly labeled.

Gaining emotional points from the main characters was the same.

If he wasn’t careful, he might gain the points but also make enemies, and then he’d be waiting for death!

Did it think he was so addicted to stacking Q that he would fall for it? Sorry, no way, he was too cautious!

Ultimately, Winnie had a clear understanding of his place.

He knew that a side character meddling in the main storyline would end badly.

To be honest, he was even considering finding a nice senior or junior at Carillian Academy to settle down with.

How could he risk his life so easily?

That said, if virtue points were handed to him, he wouldn’t refuse.

So, how could he provoke their emotions while keeping their relationship at a casual acquaintance level, ensuring he didn’t get dragged into the main plot?

It was an art.

Winnie was clear: the troublemakers’ status in his heart had risen, but only from troublemakers to occasional virtue harvesters.

No higher.

Closing the panel, he checked his chest again, clean and unblemished, with no trace of burns. He marveled at the power of the [Saint Envoy].

“Impressive, isn’t it?”

“Yes, it is.” Hearing someone speak, Winnie instinctively replied, then realized it was Priest Won beside him.

“Young Master Winnie, your original goal was to absorb the [Saint Blessing], right? After all, your family is descended from the goddess… Ah, what a pity, fate had other plans.” Priest Won shook his head.

Winnie could tell that the priest wasn’t mocking him but genuinely felt sorry for him.

This priest, despite being a Priest, was truly a good person.

“Can’t absorb it? True.” Winnie simply smiled.

After all, the [Saint Envoy] was created by the Varelis family.

As the root Soul Armament of the Varelis family, he didn’t need to learn it.

Won clearly misunderstood Winnie’s meaning, thinking he was being self-deprecating.

He was about to pat Winnie’s shoulder to comfort him, but Winnie dodged.

Somehow, Winnie felt that this priest was a bit off, especially the way he looked at him.

Could it be? Was this priest…?

Surely not?

Seeing Winnie’s reluctance to be touched, Won didn’t say anything, just laughed heartily, bid Winnie farewell, and left with his staff.

With everyone gone and only the three statues left, Winnie had no intention of staying.

He touched the glass pendant on his chest, thankfully, he had worn it today.

The two measly points of fire resistance had actually come in handy.

He weighed the money bag in his hand, tucked it away, and left the palace with his spear, satisfied.

Honestly, he was busy. If it weren’t for the money, he wouldn’t have agreed to these kids’ duel invitations.

And now!

Winnie’s lips curled into a smile as he glanced at the remaining points on his panel: 79.

The moment of truth was about to arrive.

As usual, he completed his daily tasks, raising his points to 84, and excitedly returned home.

To be safe, he locked the courtyard gate and bolted the door behind him.

“Here we go!” Winnie looked excitedly at the only remaining item in the virtue panel.

[Awaken Bloodline and Unlock Virtue Tree]

Required Virtue Points: 30

Hahaha!

This was what he had been waiting for all this time!

So, what changes would awakening his bloodline bring?

Would he gain the root soul art and divine favor?

With either of these, he could soar to new heights!

“Here we go, the destined moment!” Winnie rubbed his hands together, raised one hand high, and pressed the ‘Purchase’ button.

“Sleeping bloodline, heed my call!” With a dramatic flourish, Winnie held the pose as the virtue points were deducted.

Three seconds passed.

Ten seconds passed.

A minute passed.

“What’s going on?” Winnie muttered, suddenly feeling that something was off with the scene before him.

The panel was blocking his view, so he couldn’t see clearly.

Closing the panel, Winnie’s eyes widened.

The stained glass windows cast colorful light on the holy statue, and the golden church seemed almost surreal.

“Huh? Where the hell am I?” Winnie looked around, confused.

Was he still in the Camella Kingdom?

“You’ve finally arrived, my child.” A soothing, gentle voice came from behind him, filled with endless warmth and affection.

Huh??

Winnie felt that the voice was somewhat familiar, but he couldn’t place where he had heard it before.

Sensing something, he turned around to face the center of the church and was utterly stunned.

Six pristine wings, cherry-blossom pink hair swaying in the breeze, snow-white skin, and a pure white, lotus-like dress.

The angelic girl before him, radiating a sacred aura, matched the image in his mind.

Winnie’s pupils contracted as he recognized the pink-haired girl.

The Goddess of Graceful Radiance, Varelis.