Chapter 25 Under the Firmament (Part 2)1
On the dais, Tristina looked at me and gave a weak smile.
“Fei’er, really, you don’t have to get involved in this—”
I shook my head. As the Saintess, I can’t just be enshrined in the Church like a lucky cat, okay? A girl might be able to adapt to a life of just going with the flow, but, as it happens, I’m a boy…
Moreover, I have a reason why I must intervene—
“No, Tristina. I suspect this whole incident is related to the Demon King’s plan.”
“The Demon King’s plan…”
The moment the Demon King was mentioned, Tristina’s beautiful face lost its color as she looked at me. At the same time, Teacher Mei Lin also turned her astonished gaze on me.
“Mm. So give me some time. I will definitely investigate this thoroughly.”
Tristina’s gaze met my determined one, and then she smiled at me.
“Then we’ll do as you say.”
I returned a knowing smile. In fact, she’s probably overjoyed that I can help solve her problems, right? Just like that “troublesome” matter of Lian Qi transmigrating here, didn’t she also coax and trick me into being packaged up and sent over to solve her problem for her?
Who made us such good sisters? I already feel guilty for deceiving her all these years about being a boy, so of course, I choose to forgive her.
Tristina turned her gaze to Teacher Mei Lin, her smile fading a little.
“This time, the Saintess has pleaded for you, so I will grant you a few days. However, you must find a way to restore the river as soon as possible.”
“S-Saved…” Teacher Mei Lin patted her chest, letting out a breath in relief. Then, she looked at me with teary eyes.
“Thank you for saving me, Lady Saintess!”
I gave a weak laugh. “You should just call me Fei’er.”
After all, she was Lian Qi’s Enchantment teacher back when I was accompanying her in her studies. It feels a bit strange.
And so, after leaving the royal palace, Lian Qi, Qifeng, and I decided to first go to the upper reaches of the Lucerne River to investigate the source of the pollution.
We walked along the bank of the Lucerne River until we had walked out of the city. The smog also gradually dissipated. Lian Qi noted this phenomenon, saying as we walked, “The factory that produces Fire Mana Crystals is built on the upper reaches of the river. It’s no wonder it became a public target.”
“Yeah. As soon as there’s a problem with the river, everyone’s first thought is to associate it with the mana crystal factory, especially during such a sensitive time,” I said helplessly.
“Ever since the experiment showed that using magic in front of the permafrost won’t melt it, I’ve suspected someone is manipulating public opinion,” Lian Qi said.
“Your world doesn’t have an internet. You don’t know how terrifying the influence of public opinion can be.”
“But, we’re already being deeply affected. Turin Square has already been occupied by the anti-smog, anti-Mana Furnace protestors,” I murmured.
“That’s the result of public opinion. My original world also had all sorts of problems with global warming, but it’s said that was being pushed by interest groups from behind the scenes. So when I saw the Druids appear, I was wary of them from the start, just like a pyramid scheme.”
“…How do you know so much?”
Lian Qi smiled, looking pleased with herself. “You should be glad you have a transmigrator like me around. I’m not that easy to fool.”
“Okay…”
I said, hesitating.
“Then, this pink water—”
I looked along the riverbank and happened to see a young girl in a white dress. My first impression was that she had a fresh, pure aura. Her light blue long hair fluttered gently with the wind and the green grass.
That… My noticing her has nothing to do with me being a boy—
This is the suburbs, quite far from the city. For a girl to suddenly be standing there by the river, with no one else around, how could it not be concerning?
Then, she actually crouched down by the river and put her hand into the pink, polluted water!?
Me, Lian Qi, and Qifeng all stopped in our tracks, observing the girl’s abnormal behavior. Even Lian Qi couldn’t help but say, “What is she doing?”
It looks like she’s trying to catch fish… or did she drop something in the water?
And then, the river water began to change!?
I witnessed it with my own eyes—
—the river water, from a polluted pink, gradually lightened, faded, and returned to being clear.
My reflection in the water must have startled her, right? I quickly asked, “Excuse me, did you just… purify the river?”
“Yes,” the girl replied calmly.
I looked out. The entire river’s water had been purified. It was simply incredible.
“Excuse me, how exactly did you do that?”
“I’m an artist. My magic can manipulate water. I saw the river was polluted, so I purified it while I was here,” the girl replied.
“You’re the Saintess, right?” The girl turned her head to look at me. Her ice-blue eyes were framed by long eyelashes. That fresh, pure aura was just like the clear river before us.
“That person… mentioned you.”
I froze. “That person? Who… who?”
“Financier—”2
Just then, a voice came from behind me.
I looked back and saw a tall, thin man standing in the grass. He looked to be in his twenties.
“Brother.”
Eh?
That’s her brother?
I looked at the man in the white shirt. His unshaven, scruffy appearance was a stark contrast to his sister. If not for that one word, “Brother,” I really wouldn’t have believed they were family.
“Please excuse me, Lady Saintess.”
The girl stood up, then bowed politely to me again.
Then she walked toward her brother.
“I saw the river had turned pink, so I purified it while I was here.”
“Be more low-key. Let’s go,” the girl’s brother said, glancing at me from a distance.
I stared at the two of them leaving, my face a question mark.
Who in the world are these two?
I suddenly thought of what the girl had just said to me, and I couldn’t help but feel a wave of anxiety.
“Wait—! You just said ‘that person’ mentioned me? Who is ‘that person’?”
I was about to dash over, but Lian Qi grabbed my hand. “What’s wrong? Why are you so agitated?”
“Fei’er, they’re already far away. They can’t hear you,” Qifeng said.
“She… seemed to know me…”
“Fei’er, you’re the Saintess. It’s normal for many people to know you, but for you to not know them,” Qifeng replied.
“But she mentioned ‘that person’! You… you all… you should understand what I mean, right? Who is ‘that person’ she mentioned? Could it be… the Demon King?”
Lian Qi coughed lightly.
“Only you and the Headmaster call the Demon King ‘that person,’ you know.”
“That doesn’t mean others… The ‘that person’ she mentioned could be one of your sisters or someone else you know. It’s not necessarily the Demon King. But… it is a bit suspicious. We should still be on our guard.”
“I also think it’s a bit suspicious.” Qifeng raised her hand. “The term ‘that person’ is suspicious in itself.”
“Speaking of which, Fei’er,” Lian Qi said, one hand on her hip. The look in her eyes was somewhat reproachful, which gave me a bad feeling. This was the same look she had when she sentenced me to kneel on a washboard…
“I’ve noticed that you get really intense about anything related to the Demon King. You get so agitated, it’s like you become a different person.”
“I-I do not!” I quickly denied it.