Chapter 394

Chapter 18 Legendary Cardinal

Who is this guy?

He looks to be in his early twenties, with brown hair and gray eyes. His hair, like Margaret’s, has a natural curl. His features are clear and defined, and he has very white teeth, giving him a sunny, boyish smile that is quite comfortable… and also familiar, but I just can’t recall where I’ve seen him before.

I stayed standing, but Sarah spoke up beside me.

“Wow, Beaudey, you can’t be serious? You actually dared to sneak out and speak so loudly…”

Hmm?

She knows this person.

I frowned as I watched Sarah walk up to the male trainee and snatch the paper bag from his hand without hesitation. “Let me see, let me see, what flavors are there…”

“Sarah, don’t take everything! I haven’t eaten anything since morning.”

The male trainee named Beaudey looked helpless, but Sarah ignored him, biting into a rabbit leg and pulling out a donut from the paper bag, then handing the bag to me. “Mmm!”

Immediately, I caught the strong aroma, unable to hold back my saliva. My hand moved faster than my brain could process, and by the time I realized it, my right hand was already clutching a donut.

It was a crispy one, topped with cocoa sauce…

“Gulp.”

I quickly took a bite, savoring the deliciously soft and smooth treat, feeling a bit happy as I closed my eyes. After swallowing, I turned to look at the male trainee, blinking my eyes.

“Who are you?”

The male trainee froze for a moment, his lips twitching uncomfortably, then he gave a bitter smile. “Miss Peyalo, you don’t remember who I am, yet you ate my donut?”

A slight warmth spread across my face, and I felt a bit embarrassed, but I didn’t want to show it.

“You asked if I wanted to eat.”

At that moment, Sarah handed the paper bag to Daisy, who shook her head gently. So, she returned the bag to the male trainee, holding a rabbit leg in her left hand and a donut in her right. Hearing our conversation, she looked at me with surprise. “Peyalo, this is Beaudey. He’s the chatty guy who always sits next to us in the abyss class. Don’t you remember?”

Ah…

With Sarah’s words, I suddenly remembered.

There indeed was such a fellow…

But I hadn’t paid much attention to him, and with the long break from classes, I had forgotten…

“I’m sorry.”

I apologized to the male trainee, as I had been somewhat rude. He had given me a donut, yet I asked who he was…

Embarrassing.

“No problem, no problem!” Beaudey waved his hands repeatedly. “I think Miss will remember me in the future, right?”

He playfully brushed his curly bangs aside and grinned, revealing his pearly teeth.

This guy, upon closer inspection, is actually quite handsome…

The thought flashed through my mind, but I didn’t dwell on it much.

As we were eating, more trainees continued to arrive at the training ground. Soon, several familiar teachers arrived as well. Just like the opening ceremony last time, the four towers were divided into four squads. This time, however, each squad had significantly more people, with trainees shoulder to shoulder, filling the entire training ground. The sixth level was at the front, followed by the first level, with bustling chatter everywhere.

I originally wanted to stand at the back of the line, find an inconspicuous corner away from Professor Melville, to secretly eat my peas, as the teacher wouldn’t allow eating once the lesson started. But Sarah insisted, dragging me and Daisy to the very front of the first-level trainees, saying it would give us a clearer view.

The animals near Ceylon Lake were still discussing my arrival, and some even came over to greet me. I responded to them all, but growing increasingly impatient. Fortunately, Beaudey noticed my mood. He subtly blocked the others who approached after him, though this caused some dissatisfaction. Beaudey, however, seemed unfazed, even winking at me as if taking credit for it.

I didn’t take him seriously, but I still smiled at him. Then Beaudey became even more

Enthusiastically, after blocking another male student who wanted to approach and talk, he stood beside me with a calm expression.

“Peyelo, keep eating your peas. I’ll block Professor Melville for you.”

Hmm…

This guy skipped the “Miss” and just called me by my name… And how did he know I wanted to eat peas?

That’s quite thoughtful…

Although I wasn’t particularly impressed, having someone I’m not familiar with standing next to me was a bit annoying, but I couldn’t push him away… Oh well, let him do as he pleases.

“Thanks~”

I gave Beaudet a sweet smile.

At least he was somewhat useful; he seemed to have considerable prestige among the male students. The people he had blocked earlier, although displeased, didn’t dare say anything and walked away obediently… Yes, he’s a good shield.

After all, being constantly approached by strangers, and even having a young boy suddenly confess to me, became really annoying when it happened too often…

I opened the small bag of peas I had been holding and secretly took one out, instinctively glancing in the direction of Professor Melville— but I couldn’t see him anymore. Beaudet’s not-so-muscular but clearly defined body had blocked my view.

So I lowered my head, quickly popped the pea into my mouth, and began chewing slowly. Then, I gently nudged Daisy, who was standing on my right, and passed her the bag of peas from behind.

“Let’s share…”

Just in case we get caught, at least I can have a scapegoat.

Daisy hesitated for two seconds, looking around nervously, but she couldn’t resist the temptation of the peas. She grabbed a few from the bag and quickly ate them.

We both started secretly eating peas under Beaudet’s cover, while Sarah, standing on Daisy’s other side, looked forward with eager anticipation, waiting for the arrival of the Pope.

Soon after, the crowd erupted in a wave of cheers, and I immediately looked up to see a golden carriage drawn by a unicorn, escorted by a squad of Church knights and several teachers, slowly approaching the front of the formation amidst the eager gazes of countless students.

“Pope!”

“The Pope has arrived!”

“May God bless us!”

The high-pitched calls rose one after another, as if they were about to engulf the entire academy.

When the carriage stopped, a knight lifted the curtain, but the figure that emerged was not Angel as expected.

It was an old man with white hair. Despite his thin, seemingly frail appearance, he moved swiftly and steadily, almost as if he was walking on air. He quickly descended from the carriage, passed through several knights, and came to the front of the formation, facing us.

Due to the distance, I couldn’t make out his face, but the striking and familiar purple-gold robe he wore, along with the shimmering golden tiara on his head, made my heart skip a beat and my breath catch. My eyes widened, and I forgot to chew the pea in my mouth.

Cardinal…

The clothes he wore were the same style as Nero’s.

The noise of the crowd suddenly dropped in volume.

“Tsk…”

I faintly heard Beaudet’s slight sigh beside me. Instinctively, I turned my head toward him and saw a barely noticeable, strange look flash in his eyes.

It vanished in an instant.

Hmm…

Just as my curiosity arose, a loud cheer erupted from all directions, just as grand as before. The students raised their hands and shouted the name of the elderly man excitedly: “Lord Saint George!”

“It’s Cardinal Saint George! The most loyal believer of the deity—”

“A legend of the Holy Church!”

“Oh my god! I’m so excited—!!!”

Saint George…

I silently repeated this name, standing on my tiptoes to look ahead. A teacher handed Cardinal Saint George a golden orb… Ah, it’s the divine relic that can transmit sound over great distances.

Thump thump!

As soft, gentle golden light radiated from the orb, my chest began to pound fiercely. That overwhelmingly familiar and comforting sense of security washed over me again.