Chapter 144

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Volume 1 + Chapter 144: Can’t I Hug You?

What? Killed in one punch??

Winnie was dumbfounded.

Although it was just a small Shrag formed from less than half the usual number of sacrifices, it was still a subordinate of the Demon Pillar Erunes, right??

One punch and the small subordinate of the Demon Pillar was killed with a hole in its head??

Are all the teachers at Carillian Academy this ridiculously strong? Or is Franklin, who seems unreliable, actually incredibly powerful??

This person is Winnie’s teacher?

Mirexia noticed Winnie’s address to the other party. Although she hadn’t met this teacher before, it seemed the teacher knew her.

But that didn’t matter. As long as the person who came to the rescue was a teacher from Carillian Academy, it was fine.

“What the hell is this? It looks so… unique. It’s so disgusting I might throw up my lunch.” The golden bird-masked knight shook off the mucus on his arm, looking disgusted.

“Winnie, what the hell did you mess with this time? Why are you always getting into trouble??” The golden bird-masked man frowned as he looked at the disheveled Winnie.

“This thing, why does it look so strange??” Franklin kicked the motionless monster corpse on the ground, his tone carrying a hint of weirdness. “Is this a monster from the polluted zone? It doesn’t look like it.”

“Teacher, this isn’t a monster from the polluted zone. It’s a subordinate created by the Demon Pillar Erunes,” Mirexia explained.

“Erunes??” Hearing this, Franklin’s frown deepened, though his expression was hidden behind the bird mask.

As the student council president and the princess of the Camella Kingdom, Mirexia’s words were far more credible than those of the clueless Winnie.

“This polluted zone wasn’t left by the Alchemical Demon God Erunes. Why would His subordinates appear here??” Franklin didn’t understand.

Although the subordinates of the Demon Pillars were all equally disgusting and ugly, their styles of appearance were quite different.

For example, the polluted zone of Reiswyn was the work of the Famine Demon Pillar Ophicle. Although both were Demon Pillars, His subordinates looked vastly different from those of Erunes.

“It’s a long story,” Winnie shook his head.

“Princess, are you alright?” Franklin asked about Mirexia’s condition.

“Hey, Teacher Franklin, I’m your student, right? And it’s obvious that I’m in worse shape here. Why aren’t you asking about me??” Winnie was a bit indignant.

“Stop whining. You’re not dead, and you’re not missing any limbs,” Franklin gave Winnie a disdainful look. “Our Armor Soul Armament is all about being tough and durable. If you’re not dead, then you’re fine. Stop acting so delicate.”

“Princess, as long as you’re fine, then this kid must be fine too.”

Tsk, this old bastard really looks down on people.

Winnie silently cursed in his heart.

“Teacher Franklin, the followers of Erunes set up anambush here and attacked me. If Winnie hadn’t arrived in time, their scheme might have succeeded.”

“Oh? Erunes?” Franklin rubbed his chin. “The followers of Erunes have been quiet for a long time. I haven’t heard of them being active for quite a while.”

“This attack was premeditated, and their goal was clear,” Winnie added.

“…Those bastards really have some guts. I don’t know what’s gotten into them recently, daring to attack Carillian students during the academy’s monster extermination.” Franklin clicked his tongue. “Didn’t the nearby knights provide any assistance?”

“No, we didn’t see any knights nearby. Moreover, these subordinates of Erunes were well-prepared. To prevent the church members and teachers from rescuing us, they pulled us into Erunes’s extended plane,” Mirexia explained.

“No wonder we didn’t receive any signals here. So that’s what happened?” Franklin thought for a moment, then glanced at Winnie. “Hey, kid, you didn’t hold the princess back, did you?”

“Teacher Franklin, it was thanks to Winnie this time. Otherwise, I might not have made it,” Mirexia said truthfully.

“Is that so? Kid, you did pretty well this time,” Franklin glanced at Winnie, clearly thinking that Mirexia’s words were partly to cover for Winnie, and quite a lot at that.

Franklin knew the difference in strength between Mirexia and Winnie. Who would protect whom in a fight was obvious to anyone with eyes.

If someone said Winnie arrived in time to protect Mirexia, Franklin definitely wouldn’t believe it.

But if someone said Winnie arrived in time to draw some of the fire and came up with some clever ideas to turn the tide in a not-too-disparate battle, Franklin might barely believe it.

He didn’t say much more. Winnie had already done his best, and that was his limit.

Although his soul compatibility was high, he hadn’t fully grown yet, and the gap between him and other armor-type soul armament users of the same level wasn’t that big.

“At least nothing major happened.”

Nothing major??

Winnie rolled his eyes in his mind.

It was almost a disaster, okay? If he hadn’t awakened his bloodline, they would have been wiped out this time.

“More than that, I’m curious how you managed to help the princess,” Franklin looked at Winnie.

“How could I? The princess’s personal strength is solid. She broke through with me as a burden. What could I possibly do?” Winnie pouted, using his eyes to signal Mirexia, who was about to explain, to stay silent.

Seeing this, Mirexia understood that Winnie wanted to hide his identity to avoid raising too many suspicions, so she let it go.

After all, there were no witnesses to the previous battle, so they could say whatever they wanted, and that would be the truth.

“I knew it. I didn’t think you had the ability to fight against a Demon Pillar’s subordinate,” Franklin pouted.

This wasn’t the place to talk, and there were injured people. Both Winnie and Mirexia had suffered varying degrees of injuries.

Franklin could only call other teachers from the academy, inform them about the Erunes followers, and have them come to the scene to collect samples. He then took Mirexia and Winnie away from the area and back to Carillian Academy’s base.

“It’s hard to believe. The Demon Pillar Erunes has developed an alchemical potion that can transform humans into His subordinates?… Truly the source of alchemical power.” After hearing Mirexia’s brief account of what happened, the teachers couldn’t help but marvel.

“Winnie, can you walk or not?” Glancing at the teachers who had started collecting samples and analyzing them, Franklin called out to Winnie.

“I’m fine, I won’t die.” Winnie tried to take a couple of steps, but he overestimated the extent of his injuries and his body’s endurance. If Mirexia hadn’t quickly supported him, he might have face-planted.

“Teacher Franklin, you lead the way. I’ll help Winnie,” Mirexia said, not giving Winnie a chance to refuse as she placed one of his arms over her shoulder.

“Alright, let’s go.” Seeing this, Franklin didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just Mirexia’s nature to care for her classmates.

“Uh, Princess?” Feeling the soft warmth of the girl’s body and smelling the fresh citrus scent of her hair, Winnie felt his throat tighten.

He wasn’t sure if it was because her golden hair kept brushing against his ear, making his ears burn and leaving him somewhat embarrassed.

“Call me Mirexia,” Mirexia averted her gaze, speaking softly. “You used to call me that before and didn’t think anything of it. Why are you changing it now?”

“…” He just didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable, okay?

“Mirexia, you’re injured too. Supporting me will slow you down. Maybe you should go ahead with Teacher Franklin?…”

“That’s true,” Mirexia thought for a moment, then silently turned her slightly flushed face away and reached out to Winnie. “Are you suggesting we switch to a faster method? I understand, come on.”

“Huh?” Winnie didn’t react immediately.

“I’ll carry you. That way, we’ll move faster,” Mirexia averted her gaze, as if she wasn’t too willing but had to do it for efficiency’s sake.

Well, if it weren’t for the blush on her face, Winnie might have believed her.

“Carry me? You? Isn’t that a bit inappropriate??” After his brain caught up, Winnie looked troubled.

No matter the reason, if he, Winnie, was carried back to the base by a girl today and someone saw it, he could forget about continuing at Carillian Academy. He’d lose all face.

And there was the risk of Aesphyra seeing it. What if that petty and jealous girl saw it? She’d think he was trying to steal her harem, right??

What a joke. Trying to steal the harem of the destined protagonist? Your are courting death.

“Why is it inappropriate?” Mirexia frowned slightly. “In the Pillar plane, didn’t you…”

“Didn’t you carry me too?” For some reason, even though she was just stating a fact, Mirexia’s voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost inaudible by the end.

These things were still a bit hard for her to say.

“Well, that’s true, but at that time it was…” Winnie was at a loss for words.

He couldn’t exactly say that it was all because Vanessa wanted to earn some virtue points, and it had nothing to do with him now, right?

Now that he’s earned enough virtue points, he’s got the guts, huh?

“So, what’s the difference?” Seeing Winnie still hesitating, Mirexia raised her eyes.

Winnie wasn’t sure if he was seeing things, but he thought he saw Mirexia pout for a moment.

He must have been mistaken. Mirexia wouldn’t do something so childish, right?

“You can carry me, but I can’t carry you?” Mirexia asked expressionlessly.

“That’s not what I mean, Princess… Mirexia, look, we’re out of the Pillar Plane now. There are so many people outside, so many classmates and teachers watching. Isn’t it inappropriate?”

“What’s inappropriate? You’re injured, and I’m taking you back to the base. That’s all.”

“But there’s no need to carry me, right?”

“But supporting you like this is too slow,” Mirexia used his earlier reasoning against him.

“I’m worried your injuries are too severe. Moving slowly like this might leave some aftereffects by the time we reach the base.”

“That won’t happen. What aftereffects could I have? Don’t you remember I’m a descendant of the goddess?”

“No one can say for sure,” Mirexia’s tone carried her usual decisiveness.

“But in the Pillar Plane, we were both…” Both girls,right? But now we’re not.

“No buts.”

“…Fine, but if that’s the case, there’s no need to carry me, right? How about… piggybacking? Isn’t that better?” Knowing he couldn’t refuse Mirexia, Winnie compromised, suggesting an alternative.

Well, at least piggybacking looked more normal than being carried. It wouldn’t make him seem so pathetic.

Piggybacking and carrying were equally efficient. Mirexia couldn’t possibly have any objections to that, right?

Mirexia didn’t say anything, silently crouching down with her back to Winnie after a moment, making her intentions clear.

“…” Looking at Mirexia’s jade-like shoulders and the faintly visible beautiful shoulder blades exposed from the battle, Winnie swallowed hard.

No, no, he wasn’t that pervert, and he shouldn’t be that pervert.

What was he thinking? This was his childhood friend, right? In the original story, she was Aesphyra’s main wife, and whether in his past life or this one, she had never shown any interest in him in that way.

Thinking this, Winnie felt a bit guilty, feeling that such thoughts were a betrayal of their friendship.

Right, in this urgent situation, only he would think such strange things, right?

Winnie’s mindset returned to normal as he climbed onto Mirexia’s back, wrapping his arms around her neck.

Well, this was a skill that required careful attention, as his hands could easily touch places they absolutely shouldn’t.

If Aesphyra saw this, she’d probably flash red eyes, pick up her holy sword, and smile while gutting him.

Being carried by Mirexia, Winnie inevitably buried his nose in her golden hair, the sweet citrus scent making his head spin and his mind drift.

His erratic breath brushed against the back of Mirexia’s neck, causing her to shiver slightly.

But even if Winnie didn’t think about those strange things, the sense of shame didn’t diminish.

Winnie was slightly taller than Mirexia, yet here he was, a grown man, being carried by a girl shorter than him.

Although, given Mirexia’s strength, carrying him was as easy as lifting a feather. He was as light as a feather to her, and she didn’t even break a sweat.

His male pride made him feel utterly humiliated, and every glance from the people at the base felt like mockery.

Fortunately, the polluted zone hadn’t been going on for long, and most of the people at the base were teachers from Carillian Academy. There weren’t many students, so he probably wouldn’t run into that jinx, Aesphyra.

“Miss Mirexia, what’s going on?” At the entrance of Carillian’s fortress, the teacher handling registrations looked at the two with surprise.

“Teacher, the details will be explained later. This classmate and I are injured. Can we go in for treatment first?”

“This way, please!” Hearing that Mirexia was injured, the teacher snapped out of his daze, realizing the seriousness of the situation, and led the two to the medical area inside the fortress.

Every year, the Reiswyn extermination was led by the arch bishop of the Church of Radiance. To maintain Reiswyn’s stability, the Church of Radiance also stationed clergy in the various faction fortresses in Reiswyn, having them treat the injured.

Entering a place resembling a monastery, Mirexia set him down and handed him over to two nuns, saying, “Please take care of him.”

The two nuns bowed to Mirexia, then helped Winnie into a room in the courtyard, laying him on a bed.

Winnie saw soft white light glowing in the palms of the two nuns. It was familiar, the aura of a [Saint Envoy].

“Please rest for a while. Leave everything to us,” the gentle voices of the two nuns soothed the restlessness in his heart.

“Alright…” Actually, he just needed to wait for his magic to recover, and he could heal himself.

Holy light was far more effective than white light, but there was no helping it. Once Vanessa was out, it was hard to put her back.

Although Winnie was wary of the Church of Radiance, he didn’t feel the same toward those who showed him kindness.

The two nuns began using [Saint Envoy] to heal him, and he closed his eyes. He hadn’t rested much these past few days, and his body couldn’t take it anymore.