The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix’s Novels Also Desires Happiness - Chapter 276



54. Reasons

“Mu En, my student, do you know about the Holy Rite of Life Church…”

“I don’t know!”

“I have no idea!”

“Don’t come to me!”

Before Professor Plang could say anything, Mu En sprang up abruptly, turning on his heel and walking away.

He certainly knew what the Holy Rite was.

Whenever there was a vacancy for the position of the Church’s saintess, this rite would be initiated to select the true saintess from among several candidates.

In the original book, this was a very important plot point.

It was during this storyline that, in order to compete against the other excellent saintess candidates, Ariel and Leah leaned on each other, supporting one another, and their feelings gradually warmed in the face of numerous dangers. Leah’s feelings for Ariel finally transformed from childhood friends to a close, intimate relationship, successfully captured by Ariel, that old seductress.

And Leah’s identity as a saintess not only allowed Ariel to act all high and mighty but would also provide her with tremendous help later on.

Although it would lead to the classic childhood friends’ separation and the plot twist of a sudden romantic interest…

But what does the Church’s selection of a saintess and the protagonist’s harem have to do with this harmless yellow-haired guy?

“Hehe, it seems you do know.”

Not two steps later, Mu En heard Professor Plang’s light laughter behind him.

He tapped his cane.

Instantly, Mu En’s body stiffened, and as if manipulated by strings, he turned his head, stepped back, and sat down on the bench, no longer in control of himself.

“Let’s have a good chat, shall we, Mu En?”

“What’s there to talk about? Professor Plang, you’re not some beautiful girl. I only share my heart with beautiful girls who have sweet voices!”

Mu En gritted his teeth.

“Beautiful girl, huh?”

Mu En had just said it casually, but to his surprise, Professor Plang began to stroke his chin, deep in serious thought:

“Transforming magic isn’t difficult; if you’re willing, I can…”

“Don’t, don’t, don’t!”

Thinking of Professor Plang transforming into a beautiful girl to talk to him…

Mu En horrifiedly waved his hands, “I was joking! Just joking!”

“Is that so?”

The corners of Professor Plang’s mouth lifted slightly, “Then can we have a proper chat, Mu En?”

“…”

Damn.

Mu En cursed inwardly.

Who would have thought that you, the bushy-browed and big-eyed Professor Plang, would play such little tricks?

It seems that spending too long with that old pervert, Professor Gran, has rubbed off on you, huh?

“Speak.”

Mu En resignedly slumped onto the bench, glaring with dead fish eyes as he asked:

“What do you want from me?”

“Since you know about the Saint Mu Ceremony, that makes things easier.”

Professor Plang took off his top hat and set it aside, saying:

“In short, the Saint Mu Ceremony happens only once every few decades, and its significance is second only to the papal succession ceremony that the church hasn’t held in three hundred years. All factions need to send representatives, and the academy hopes you…”

“I’m not going!”

Mu En’s eyes widened, and he stiffened his neck:

“Absolutely not!”

What a joke.

Let him go to the church?

Not to mention the King of Withering inside him.

The Elizabeth in his hand was once one of the church’s holy swords!

It could be said that he was now completely filled with an aura that was in direct conflict with the church.

Isn’t it better to stay in the academy and slack off? Why must he run so far to seek death?

“There are benefits.” Professor Plang stated succinctly.

“Even if there are benefits, I’m still not going!”

Mu En said fiercely:

“And besides, with my current identity, can I really leave Belrande at will?”

Do you know that his old man, who’s always looking for an easy way out, is now leading tens of thousands of the empire’s elite troops in a standoff against the demon tribe at the border? If Mo En were to just slip out of Baland, wouldn’t Campbell Duke be furious and immediately reverse his decision, killing his way back to reclaim the imperial throne?

The demon tribe would definitely be delighted to see this scene, and might even lend a hand!

From the perspective of the emperor’s calculation, such a thing is absolutely impossible.

“Rest assured, the emperor has already agreed.”

“What? Why?” Mo En’s eyes widened in surprise.

“The emperor said he’s very confident in you, the future son-in-law, and in the Campbell family. He said that excellent young people should be encouraged to go out and explore, rather than just focusing on beautiful girls’ breasts and thighs.”

Professor Plank looked puzzled: “However, the emperor would actually say such a thing, which has left me somewhat surprised. Did you say something to the emperor?”

“…Did I? Did I?” Mo En’s lips twitched.

“The emperor might have a lovable side, after all.”

“In any case, choosing you to go, is a comprehensive result of various factors, and…”

Professor Plank looked at Mo En, and again revealed his peculiar, seemingly smiling expression:

“If you can really establish a relationship with the Saint Maiden, it would benefit not just your reputation, but also the Campbell family, the academy, even Princess Celicia, and the entire empire. It would be a win-win situation.”

“What qualifications do I have?”

Mo En’s eyes welled up with tears.

This does sound like a win-win situation.

But the precondition is that he won’t get caught by the Church for collaborating with the evil god and destroying the Holy Sword, and then be burned alive!

“This should be let go of by our academy’s most excellent students, shouldn’t it? For example, that girl from my year, who’s as excellent as you, and can take on ten people at once. Only then can our academy showcase its excellent reputation and teaching standards! You’re asking me, a useless and incompetent young master, to go, which would be a shame for the academy’s reputation!”

“Don’t worry, the person going isn’t just you. The list is still being finalized, but that girl you mentioned might get a spot. Her excellence is undeniable.

However…”

Professor Plank paused, then said: “As for your excellence, it’s not me who said it.”

“What?”

“It’s a personal letter from His Holiness the Pope, sent to the academy, in which he lavishly praised your excellence, saying that Mo En Campbell is a rare talent on the entire continent, and expressing high praise for your wisdom, which is like a wise old man’s. He even mentioned that he wants to meet you in person.”

“What?”

Mo En was stunned.

Excellent?

Talent?

Wisdom like a wise old man’s?

Meet me in person?

What kind of joke is this?

His Holiness, do we know each other? I am merely the son of a duke, what merit do I have to catch the eye of someone as exalted as you, the highest authority of the entire continent?

Look at Ariel, she is the true protagonist of destiny!

Your saintess is about to be whisked away by her!

It’s a trap!

There is definitely a trap!

The intuition honed from countless past experiences was ringing alarm bells in Mu En’s mind, as if he could see that damned fate waving and smiling at him.

“I still won’t go! No matter what you say, I won’t go! Absolutely not!”

Mu En crossed his arms, looking like a stubborn pig unafraid of boiling water.

What does it matter if His Holiness is here? He can’t just come and punish me because I won’t give him face.

I also have my own powerful allies!

In short, this time, the reclusive man is definitely staying put!

No one can change that!

……

“You must go!”

In a sea of flowers.

Teacher Meila lay on a soft, cozy bean bag, sipping juice and basking in a small sun she had somehow acquired, resolutely stating to Mu En.

“W-why?”

Mu En looked at his own pale and tender thigh, feeling like kicking himself away, unable to hold back his tears:

“There are so many people wanting to kill me right now; if I go out, I might die.”

“It’s a very simple reasoning.”

Teacher Meila casually glanced at Mu En,

“If you go, there is a possibility you might die.

But if you don’t go…”

She paused.

“You will definitely die.”