Chapter 36

“Eliminate all the students who have become the minions of the Demon God Pillar, let them rest in peace.”

“They can already be considered ‘victims’ from the moment the virus broke out. From that moment on, their souls have already dissolved, and their bodies have been controlled by the evil Demon God Pillar, used to kill and persecute more of our comrades.”

“So, this is the last dignity we can give them.”

“A human funeral.” At the end, Mirexia lowered her head and remained silent.

“…” Winnie looked at the blood-red altar in the distance, saying nothing, not responding to Mirexia’s words at all.

“So, how should we deal with them?” After a long while, Winnie finally asked, his voice low, as if the wind might drown it out.

“Since the dean is not currently at the academy, the vice-dean has full authority to decide.”

“The academy has decided that the vice-dean will activate the amplification array left by the former dean, Carillian, and the vice-dean will cast a super-level spell to destroy the blood-red altar of [Bronze Blood].”

“And at the core of the blood-red altar are those who are now the minions of the Demon God Pillar.” Mirexia’s meaning was clear. 

Although she is the student council president and the first princess of the Camella Kingdom, Mirexia alone cannot oppose the decisions of the higher-ups at Carillian Academy.

Even if she feels this plan is not ideal, there seems to be no better solution now. Every second delay increases the risk to the students’ safety.

At this point, all that can be done is to minimize the losses.

Although it’s hard to say, as the emergency research concluded, the current physical signs of those students are no different from the minions of the Demon God Pillar.

Their true souls perished long ago, and now their bodies are merely vessels controlled by the wicked servants of the Demon God Pillar.

Just like the Demon God Pillar believers Mirexia and Winnie have encountered before, from the moment they drank the demonic potion, they were no longer human.

But there is a fundamental difference.

Winnie stared intently at the blood-red altar in the sky, its illusory outline gradually solidifying, saying nothing.

“Let’s go, Winnie, I’ll take you to the shelter at Carillian Academy. I came here to find students who haven’t had time to hide in the shelter yet.”

“…” Winnie did not speak, nor did he respond to Mirexia.

“Winnie?” Seeing this, Mirexia hesitated for a moment, then called out.

“Is this really necessary?” Winnie clenched his fists, his back to Mirexia, not turning around.

“…Winnie, you’ve seen humans who drank the [Bronze Blood] potion. From the moment they drank it, they were no longer human. This is an irreversible process, just like time cannot be reversed. Even you, with the blood of the [Blessed Angel], cannot reverse this process.” Mirexia lowered her eyes.

“So, we’re just going to give up on them? They did nothing wrong, yet they have to bear the consequences of our carelessness.” Winnie did not listen to Mirexia, letting her take him to the shelter.

If he went to the shelter now, he could be like the other students, doing nothing, waiting for the academy to resolve the incident.

“Winnie?” Mirexia felt that Winnie’s tone was a bit off at this moment.

Compared to Winnie, this way of speaking was more like…

“I don’t want to either, but all we can do now is ensure the safety of the remaining students and the academy. We cannot let the Demon God Pillar and their minions succeed, or it will be a disaster for all humanity.” Mirexia didn’t want to do this either, but it was a necessary move. 

The alchemical demonic potion texts have always recorded that once a human drinks the transformation potion of the alchemical Demon God, they will completely become a minion of the Demon God Pillar, as if they were born that way, and cannot return to being human.

“Perhaps, it’s not completely hopeless?” Winnie asserted to himself.

“Hope??” Mirexia didn’t understand what Winnie meant at first, but when she realized his tone and words, she thought of something, her agate-like eyes narrowing.

“Winnie, you don’t mean to??”

Winnie did not answer, but only confirmed what he was about to do.

“But if you do that, the risk of exposure will be very high.” Mirexia couldn’t help but say.

Usually, appearing as Vanessa is already quite unnecessary and risky behavior. If she were to display her [Soul Armament] and [Divine Blessing] in front of everyone, then everyone would know she is a descendant of the Varelis family.

Not all students have entered the shelter yet. Many senior students have volunteered, taking their usual partners and close friends to fight against the minions of the Demon God Pillar.

Many first-year students chose to hide in their dormitories when the incident occurred, as in many people’s minds, their home is the safest place in a disaster.

Moreover, students in the shelter can also see what is happening in the academy now.

There are many students with church backgrounds at Carillian Academy. If they see Vanessa using [Divine Blessing], they will definitely recognize her identity.

By then, the situation will be out of control.

A few days ago, she received a letter from her father, the king of Camella, due to travel issues, it only reached her now. 

The letter hinted that she should be careful of the church’s clergy recently, especially high-ranking clergy and even core members of the church.

This makes Mirexia even more certain that there is something fishy about the current Church of Radiance.

Vanessa once told her that the current high-ranking members of the Church of Radiance doesn’t want to see her, a descendant of the Varelis family with awakened bloodline, as it would hinder their legitimacy in ruling the church, making people see the current church leaders as a group of robbers and villains.

Furthermore, Winnie’s reputation over the years could also be attributed to the church.

If these issues are proven, the high-ranking members of the Church of Radiance will truly become the target of public criticism.

Mirexia doesn’t want to speculate about the church with the worst intentions, but she must consider the safety of her childhood friend.

If all this is true, and the church high-ups find out that the Varelis family still has a descendant with an awakened bloodline, would they suspect Winnie??

Even if they don’t know that the descendant is Winnie, and knowing she is at Carillian Academy, it will be extremely troublesome in the future.

Imagine, Carillian Academy has so many students with church backgrounds, they can all be considered the church’s eyes and ears at the academy. 

Although the Church of Radiance would not openly cause trouble at Carillian Academy, everything that happens at the academy cannot escape the church’s eyes.

If she displays her abilities in public, she will definitely be discovered by the church.

By then, Winnie’s safety…

Mirexia didn’t dare to imagine.

“Winnie, even if you become Vanessa, with the power of Varelis, you cannot turn those who have become minions of the Demon God Pillar back into humans. Such precedents may exist, but it’s not something you can do now, and…”

“And, I will take a huge risk, right?” Winnie slightly raised his gaze, one hand resting on the decorative pillar beside him, the wind lifting his black coat.

After a long while, he sobbed softly. “Indeed, I could have ignored it, right?… So, this is really a troublesome bloodline.”

The gentle breeze blew his hair, and also blew towards Mirexia behind him.

Like a brilliant and holy light from heaven, it blossomed like a flower, making Mirexia cover her eyes involuntarily.

When she opened them, millions pure and flawless soft feathers flew towards her with the wind, brushing past her hair and shoulders.

“Vanessa…” Mirexia called out to the cherry-haired girl in front of her, reaching out her hand. Under the pitch-black curtain, she was like an angel descending to the mortal world, unattainable.

“Reversing the minions of the Demon God Pillar back into humans is indeed almost impossible.” Vanessa clasped her hands, blinking her thin eyelashes, slowly opening her eyes.

“But as long as there is even a glimmer of hope, I must try.”

“If I have the ability and opportunity to save them, yet do nothing, how is that different from killing them myself??”

“How am I any different from those Demon God Pillar believers??” Vanessa’s voice was full of compassion, yet resolute.

“Vanessa.” Mirexia looked at the girl who was pure and holy from the inside out, somewhat dazed.

She suddenly remembered what she had read in a sacred text in the Church of Radiance’s library, a note and comment from a famous pope known far and wide.

Pope Alfonso, this highly respected and historically renowned old pope had followed two generations of Saintess, presided over the funeral of the previous Saintess, and as the guardian of the young Saintess, he raised her.

One could say, he was the pope who had the longest contact with the saint.

Before his death, after finishing this sacred text, he left these words:

‘Descendants of the Goddess Varelis, perhaps they have some minor character flaws, but undoubtedly, they are all true saints, worthy of the name Varelis.’

Looking at Vanessa’s back, Mirexia understood.

No matter how much Vanessa denies it, no matter how much she says she doesn’t want to take on the duties of a saint, some things from her bloodline will not change.

Why is the Varelis family always recognized by the people, always the acknowledged Saintess family?

It’s not just because they are descendants of the goddess. If the Saintess does not love all beings, how can they be loved by all beings?

The saints in history were skilled in different things, perhaps with some character flaws, but in terms of the qualities of a saint, they were all excellent.

From Elusa, to Selena, to now, the pink-haired girl in front of her.

In history, the heads of the Demon Kings were mostly taken by the Saintess, but the sacrifices of the Saintess, apart from natural deaths, were mostly in battles against the Demon Race and the Demon God Pillar believers, or in rescues and relief.

The descendants of the Varelis family will never shirk their responsibilities when they should, will never ignore anyone who seeks their help, will never compromise with the Demon God Pillar.

Even if fulfilling the duties of a saint would sacrifice themselves.

‘Virtue + 200.’

‘Current Virtue: 524.’

She, just now, wanted to stop such a girl from fulfilling justice.

Mirexia suddenly realized.

What was she talking about? Fulfilling justice and helping Vanessa at this moment are obviously not conflicting, and are completely consistent.

That is to fully support her.

“I understand, Vanessa, go do what you want to do.” Mirexia nodded. “Is there anything you need my help with?”

If it were anyone else, Mirexia wouldn’t believe they could succeed, but with Vanessa, Mirexia felt there was hope.

“Mirexia, can you help me delay for a bit?” Vanessa turned back. “Also, in front of the Radiance residence in the Holy Church, Aesphyra is fighting a fanatic. If any combat instructors can spare the time, have them help Aesphyra.”

“A fanatic? Aesphyra alone??” Mirexia was stunned. She knew how strong fanatics were, having just fought one with several combat instructors.

“Don’t worry too much, Aesphyra is actually winning.” Vanessa said.

“Alright, I understand.”

“Thank you, Mirexia.” Vanessa smiled slightly at Mirexia, a pair of pure white angel wings extending from her back.

In the next moment, the girl disappeared from the rooftop, rising like a beam of light from the Holy Church, soaring past the moon.

At the same time, the senior students fighting the Demon God Pillar believers, when they looked up, were attracted by this pure beam of light. 

Seeing the cherry-colored beam rising from the direction of the Holy Church, and the pure white shining angel wings under the moon, they were all stunned, their eyes wide.

Only when the figure flew past did they react.

“What is that?”

“The goddess, it’s the goddess! No, the Saintess!… The goddess and the Saintess have appeared!” Someone shouted, causing everyone to be dumbfounded.

“That’s impossible, right??”

“How is it impossible?! I didn’t see wrong, cherry hair and pink eyes, with angel wings, what else could it be if not the goddess and saint appearing?!” A student with a church background immediately retorted fiercely when someone denied it.

“The goddess, it’s true! I saw it too! That must be the goddess appearing!”

“Goddess above!”

“Everyone! Hold on, the Goddess of Graceful Radiance has appeared to save us!”

“Is it Saintess Selena?!”

“But, if it’s the goddess, why only one pair of wings? What’s going on??” Someone else had doubts.