Chapter 4: Rejecting the Offer by Refusing to Be a Saint
Ancia's gaze was clear and sharp as she met those deep blue eyes directly. "I wouldn't have agreed anyway, but I want to know why you're stopping me."
If she chooses to accept the invitation and becomes the Holy Maiden of Light, she will be deeply bound to Herigalor, which means she will enter Herigalor's solo route and there will be no possibility of developing a relationship with other male protagonists. Ancia did not forget the conditions for completing the game, which is not only to complete all the storylines, but also to achieve the happy endings for all the male protagonists.
Heligalo got the answer he wanted, and looked away first, his thick eyelashes drooping, casting a shadow over his eyes. "It's nothing, just a reminder."
Ancia stepped forward and pressed on, "Is it inconvenient for you to tell me the reason?"
Too close, the evening breeze swept through the corridor, carrying the subtle fragrance of Ancia. Unlike the heavy, solemn scent of the bath gel used in the Vatican, that light fragrance was light and free.
Heligalo couldn't help but take a step back. He was already standing at the edge of the corridor when he bumped into a pillar. His brows furrowed and he groaned.
The wound on his back was torn open, and the faint smell of blood was particularly noticeable in the clean environment.
Since gaining healing powers, Ancia has become more sensitive to the presence of blood and qi. She sniffed lightly and said with certainty, "Heli, you are injured."
"You were unharmed in the Monster Mountain Range, and I didn't smell any blood on you until we got off the carriage. The Church of Light holds you in high esteem and respect. Who would dare to harm you in front of a bishop?"
"Or is this why you're preventing me from becoming the Holy Maiden of Light?"
Ancia's calm analysis was very close to the truth. Heligaluo neither confirmed nor denied it. He steadied himself, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "Don't investigate further."
After saying that, he led Ancia to continue walking towards her courtyard.
Ancia walked side by side with Heligaluo, glancing at his still holy and gentle expression out of the corner of her eye. Suddenly, she felt a burning urge to smash his mask.
Ancia's room was just around the corner. Heligalo nodded politely and prepared to leave.
It was late at night, and he shouldn't have approached the strange girl's room at this time; delivering her here was the limit.
Heligalo stopped in his tracks when he felt a slight tugging at his cuff.
Ancia gently grasped the wide sleeve of her priest's robe, her kind black eyes curving into a smile. "Heli, I won't ask you what you're trying to hide, but in exchange, and as a way of thanking you for saving me today, let me help you heal your wounds, okay?"
Heligalo had many reasons to refuse; those wounds were not something a priest could heal. Otherwise, given Heligalo's status, he would have already summoned priests from within the Papacy to treat them.
Moreover, it was getting late, and he should go back to complete his evening prayers and recite the doctrine.
But the gentle evening breeze carried a familiar, faint fragrance, and Heligaluo heard his own voice say, "Okay."
With a shimmering light, Ancia's priest's staff appeared in her palm, and the active light elements within the Holy See effortlessly gathered together.
Healing Technique - Intermediate.
Bright golden light surged toward Heligaluo like a tide. The wound on his back did not improve, but the intense pain disappeared, leaving only a faint soreness.
Ancia looked at Heligaluo expectantly. "How are you feeling? Let me see?" She reached out her hand to Heligaluo, waiting for his permission to unbutton the row of tightly fastened buttons.
Heligaluo clutched his collar, his pale cheeks flushing crimson. "I can't look!"
He seemed startled by his own flustered tone, and said very quickly, "Thank you, I'm not in pain anymore. Tomorrow morning we'll return to the Eternal City through the teleportation array inside the Holy See."
He then hurriedly left, his wide sleeves creating ripples as he walked.
"Ah, they fled in disarray." Ancia sighed regretfully. She could clearly smell the blood, and the wounds obviously hadn't scabbed over yet, but the stingy Herigalo just wouldn't let her take a look.
However, Heligalo said that it no longer hurt, and he doesn't lie, which means that the healing spell had at least some effect, but it couldn't completely heal his wound.
After all, it was only the first healing skill, and it hadn't even been upgraded to the highest level yet. Ancia didn't expect it to be very effective; she just wanted it to heal.
Ancia returned to her room and tossed and turned on the soft bed, wanting to play on her phone, watch short videos, and scroll through Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book)...
Anxi felt uneasy if she didn't do something before bed, so she opened her attribute panel, read through all the attribute annotations, and then fell asleep contentedly.
On the other side of the Vatican, Heligalo remained awake for a long time.
He lay face down on the bed, avoiding his wound. The blood-stained sacrificial robe had been sent to be washed, and he was wearing well-fitting pajamas.
“Ancia…” Heligaluo murmured her name, her pure and lively black eyes flashing through his mind, and he seemed to smell her light fragrance again.
His face flushed with shame in the darkness. "By the God of Light, please forgive my filthy thoughts..."
After a heartfelt prayer, Heligalo calmed down, stood in front of the full-length mirror, unbuttoned his pajamas, which slipped down to his arms, and examined the wound on his back by the moonlight streaming through the window.
It wasn't his imagination; the wound running across his entire back was showing signs of scabbing over, with blood congealing at the wound site—a condition that usually only appeared a week later.
That girl with full affinity for the light element, if given enough time to grow, could truly heal the damage caused by monsters.
Heligalo lowered his eyes and buttoned up the buttons one by one, all the way to the top one.
Therefore, Ancia must never become a saint.
*
The Vatican possesses vast wealth donated by believers, yet its clergy live a life of asceticism, wearing linen robes and eating only two meals a day.
The nun provided the same breakfast as last night: whole wheat bread and water.
Eating this kind of thing every day would probably destroy a person's spirit...
Fortunately, she entered the game a week before school started, so she only needs to eat communion for a maximum of six more days before she can enter the academy!
The canteen at Gracia College is run by goblins, and their food is famously delicious.
Food and sex are human nature. Besides loving beauty, Anciya also loves food. Especially after a long day of work, it would be a shame not to treat herself to some delicious food. Since she's working in such a dangerous game, she should treat herself well and not torture herself with whole wheat bread.
Glancing at her still-healthy satiety level, Ancia politely declined the morning meal, saying, "Thank you, but I'm not hungry right now. Please give it to someone who needs it more."
Anyone can eat it if they want, but I'd rather starve than eat Holy Communion.
Sister Molly was delighted with this guest who radiated light, and was so charmed by Ancia's warm smile that she lost her bearings and left with the Holy Communion in a daze.
Heligalo was already waiting in the courtyard, his short golden hair gleaming in the sunlight. "Ancia, good day."
Ancia smiled and said, "Heli, good day."
Bishop Bohr stood intently beside the teleportation array, his gaze fervent. "Miss Ancia, have you made up your mind?"
Ancia nodded, her gaze sweeping over the somewhat nervous Heligaluo. "Please allow me to refuse."
Bishop Paul sighed in disappointment, "But I wrote to His Majesty Louis XV last night, and His Majesty has learned of Miss Ancia's existence."
Heligalo calmly replied, "I will explain to His Majesty personally."
Bishop Bohr said with deep regret, “Miss Ancia, if you ever change your mind, you must contact the Vatican.”
Ansia frowned. "Your Majesty Louis XV?"
Heligalo explained, "That's the Pope's given name."
Bishop Paul smiled and said, "When His Majesty the Holy Son inherits the name of Pope, he will be His Majesty Louis XVI."
Ansia's lips twitched slightly. "I know a little about divination. The name Louis XVI is unlucky, really."
Heligaluo blinked blankly.
The teleportation array was already lit up. Heligaluo, Ancia, and Jess stood inside the massive array and, in a flash, found themselves inside the Papacy in the capital.
"Miss Ancia, welcome to the Eternal City, the capital of the Augustinian Empire," Jess said with a smile as he stepped out of the teleportation array.
Monks were already waiting nearby. "Your Holiness, Miss Ancia, Lord Jess, His Holiness the Pope is waiting for you in the rear hall."
Heligaluo frowned imperceptibly. "I'm on my way to see them. Is Ancia going too?"
"Yes, Your Majesty, His Majesty has personally ordered that he wish to see this young lady," the monk said respectfully, bowing his head.
“Ah, it’s alright to meet her, Heli.” Ancia said calmly. She had no faith in the God of Light, and the Church would not accept someone like that.
Heligaluo walked ahead, with Jess a little distance behind them. Heligaluo whispered a reminder, "Don't show the healing spell you used last night in front of His Majesty."
Ancia raised an eyebrow slightly and replied in a whisper, "Okay."
Pope Louis XV, a bald old man, dressed in elaborate attire, had a kind expression. "Heli, you're back." His wise gaze then turned to Ancia. "Is this the young priest with full affinity for light elements that Paul mentioned?"
Ancia smiled, lifted her skirt, and gave a somewhat awkward greeting, "It is I, Your Holiness the Pope."
The Pope, a man of many talents, saw curiosity, contemplation, and a carefree attitude in Ancia's eyes...
There was no yearning for or respect for the light.
“A very energetic young man, it seems your answer is no.” The Pope’s voice was not displeased, but remained kind.
It was difficult to lie to such an experienced elder. After thinking for a moment, Ancia said honestly, "Your Holiness, the Holy See is very good, but I love freedom and do not want to be bound by responsibilities. Perhaps after graduating from Gracia, I will become a priest traveling across the continent of miracles, rather than a saint in a priestess's robe. That is not suitable for me."
The Pope laughed heartily. “When I was young, I also thought about traveling the continent, but the older I get, the less I want to leave the Papacy. Heli, I’m glad you have such a lively and straightforward friend.”
Heligaluo's lips curved into a slight smile. "Yes, Ancia is very lively."
He tacitly agreed with his friend's statement, does that mean his favorability rating isn't low?
The Pope only asked a few casual questions about the Monster Mountain Range near Red Maple City before letting them leave.
Heligalo still had many things to attend to. "Ancia, do you need a nun to accompany you?"
Ansia shook her head. "No need, I want to go for a walk by myself."
Are you kidding me? If we arrange for a nun to choose a male model, how is she supposed to do it?
Since she was already here, she wanted to experience being the most famous male model in the Eternal City of the game!
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