“Vinny, it’s time for dinner.” As usual, Shikondell knocked on Vinny’s door at dinner time.
However, strangely enough, there was no response from Vinny today.
Shikondell listened closely and found that Vinny’s room was completely silent, with no movement at all.
Was Vinny asleep? How could there be no movement at all?
Shikondell was puzzled. Just as she was about to peek through the door crack to see if Vinny was asleep so she wouldn’t disturb her, she noticed a piece of paper under her white rabbit slippers.
“Huh?” Shikondell tilted her head and picked up the paper to read the words on it.
“I’m too tired today, going to sleep first. No need to call me for dinner, you can eat alone. – Vinny” After reading the words aloud, Shikondell frowned slightly.
Vinny said she’s too tired?
But it’s the weekend? There’s no homework from class, so why is she so tired that she’s skipping dinner?
What exactly did Vinny do? Why is she so tired that she doesn’t even want to eat, just falls asleep and sleeps until now? Did she stay up all night doing something last night??
Shikondell couldn’t figure it out, but she felt something was off and was a bit conflicted inside.
However, even if Vinny did stay up all night doing something, it’s none of her business, right? They’re just roommates, aren’t they?
Thinking this, Shikondell felt an inexplicable sense of loss that even she couldn’t explain.
Yes, she and Vinny can only be roommates, at most friends. Beyond that, there’s no other relationship, nor can there be. What right does she have to meddle in what she did to stay up all night??
She doesn’t even dare to reveal her true identity; she still thinks Shikondell is the same gender as her.
In Vinny’s eyes, she’s probably just a roommate from a foreign land, with a troubled family and unfortunate life.
To her, perhaps Vinny’s just a passerby she happened to meet.
“Do not form any bonds of affection with humans or other non-elf races, as it will only bring unnecessary troubles and even misfortune.”
This was the important advice her father gave her when he sent her out of the Moon Elf Kingdom, and it’s also the ethos and attitude of the elf race towards other races.
Her mother once explained why:
First, there are many differences in concepts and culture between different races. Second, not all races value emotions as much as the elves do. In any relationship, if the emotional investment from both sides is unequal, the relationship will eventually collapse. Third, and most importantly, the disparity in lifespans.
After a few hundred years, humans who aren’t strong enough will turn into a handful of dust, while for elves, it’s just a phase in their lives. If an elf falls in love with a human, it would undoubtedly be a painful experience because it means she would spend the rest of her life constantly enduring the pain and sorrow of losing her loved one.
Shikondell has always been a good child who listens to her parents.
With that thought, she returned to the dining table. Looking at the dishes she had worked hard to prepare all afternoon, with no one to taste them, she herself had no appetite.
That night, she went to bed early after washing up.
As for Vanessa, she had no intention of staying out all night. If she didn’t return to the dorm tonight, where would she stay??
She absolutely couldn’t bear to rough it in the wild for a night, but she also couldn’t let Shikondell see her in her current state. So, she waited until the dead of night before daring to enter the house.
Only after confirming that Shikondell was asleep did she sneak back to her room, bringing the skincare and bathing products she had brought from home into the bathroom for a good shower.
She had been exhausted all day today. Although she hadn’t sweated much, she had still gotten quite dusty. Sleeping in bed like this would make her feel uncomfortable and mentally tormented.
She had to take a good shower to earn the right to sleep in bed!
After spending a considerable amount of time bathing, it was already late at night. Vanessa tiptoed back to her room, locked the door, used Divine Blessing Flame to dry her wet hair, tied it up, and placed her pajamas under her before quietly falling asleep.
Vanessa had a bad habit: she couldn’t sleep on her stomach; it was too cramped.
The next day at noon, Vanessa woke up, and the first thing she did was change back into Vinny.
“Ahhh!...” Vinny stretched out with a big yawn, moved her waist around, casually put on her clothes, sprayed some cheap perfume she had bought on herself to mask the smell, and then went downstairs while yawning.
“Morning, Dell.” Vinny greeted Shikondell, but for some reason, Shikondell didn’t seem to be in a good mood today, and her tone of reply was somewhat listless.
Vinny didn’t know what was going on, but she could only silently think that women’s thoughts are really hard to guess.
“Vinny, you seemed to be in a bad mood last night. Were you worried about something and couldn’t sleep all night?” Shikondell couldn’t help but ask.
“Worried? Ah, yes, that’s right, but it’s not so urgent now. It’s fine, you don’t need to worry about it.” Vinny replied while eating the lunch Shikondell had prepared.
“Eh? Can you tell me what it is? Maybe I can help?” Shikondell tentatively asked.
“You? Come on, you’re so poor that I have to support you, and now you want to help me? Are you joking, Dell?” Vinny glanced at Shikondell with disdain.
“Wuwu...” Shikondell lowered her head, feeling embarrassed. “So, Vinny, are you worried about expenses?”
“I told you not to worry. Who do you think I am? Would I ever be short of money?” Vinny said disdainfully. “Take a good look at me; every pore on my body exudes wealth. Anyone on the street can tell at a glance that I’m definitely not short of money, right?”
“Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about your own problems first.” Vinny continued to eat.
“What I mean is, if you’re short on money, I have a good idea.” Shikondell thought for a moment and extended a cute little finger.
“You have an idea?” Vinny didn’t believe it when Shikondell said she had an idea.
Just kidding, if even she, the King of Ideas, couldn’t think of something, how could Shikondell, this little fool, come up with one? If that were the case, she wouldn’t need to be called the King of Ideas anymore.
“What idea? Don’t tell me it’s a bad one?” Vinny thought she might as well listen.
“Vinny, the other day I saw at the student council notice board that the first-year member positions are vacant due to the previous secretary’s promotion. The student council is recruiting new members, and there are five spots.” Shikondell said.
“Dell, if you have nothing to say, don’t say anything.” Vinny rolled her eyes. “I shouldn’t have expected you, this little fool, to have any ideas. Student council recruitment? What does that have to do with us? Do you think anyone can just become a student council member??”
“Student council members have to go through many exams and selections, you know? It’s not something you can just decide to do.”
“Eh, but I checked, and those five student council positions are only for first-year students. The requirement is to be in the top 50 of the entrance exam, and you just meet the criteria. Besides, you’re so capable; even if you take the exam, you might not fail?” Shikondell said innocently, without a clue.
“Student council members receive a salary from the school. If you meet the requirements and actually get the position, it could help with your expenses.”
“Ahem, that’s true. I’m talented, knowledgeable, and a gem among the students of Carillian Academy. Such a small exam is naturally no problem for me.” Seeing Shikondell building her up, Vinny couldn’t very well tear herself down and had to play along, boasting without even preparing a draft.
“But even so, a mere student council member? I don’t care for such a small position. If I were to join the student council, they’d have to give me at least a vice-president position or something.” Vinny brushed her hair.
Of course, all of this was just boasting. Vinny knew full well that with her cultural desert level of written exam skills, she would never qualify for such a lofty position as a student council member in this lifetime.
However, speaking of first-year student council seats??
Vinny frowned, a flash of a plotline coming to mind.
This keyword seemed familiar.
Running for first-year student council member? Was this a plot she had seen in the original work?
If she remembered {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} correctly, the original work mentioned who had gotten those seats at the time. Who was it again??
Vinny remembered this part of the plot because Vinny, Isatia Lanteville, and Aesphyra were two of them. Such a training opportunity was something Aesphyra wouldn’t miss, especially since if she got promoted, she could spend every day cozying up to her beloved Mirexia.
Tsk, that harem protagonist, old habits die hard.
Vinny couldn’t help but complain in her heart.
In contrast, Isatia Lanteville was purely there for the training, plus her innate leadership aura meant she always had to be the leader wherever she went.
But no matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t remember who had gotten the other seats originally.
Forget it, if even she couldn’t remember, it meant the others who got those seats were unimportant; otherwise, she wouldn’t have any impression of them.
Besides, if Vinny remembered correctly, the upcoming midterm exam was specifically about hunting monsters, presided over and led by the Church of Radiance.
This was also to contribute to solving the beast tide plaguing the southern continent.
Generally speaking, wherever the protagonist Alexis was, there would be accidents and chaos, always unexpectedly. But in her memory, this exam in the original work went smoothly, with no major incidents worth noting.
In her past life, she hadn’t seen any mention of any accidents during this midterm exam in the content summaries or related discussions.
So it should be fine.
“Vinny, aren’t you going to give it a try? Think about it, only the top 50 in the entrance exam are eligible to compete for this position. That means even if everyone is interested, only fifty people are running for five spots. A one in ten chance!” Shikondell’s eyes sparkled with little stars, thinking her suggestion was brilliant.
“Try what? I already said, a mere student council member? Such a small position is beneath me.” Vinny pouted.
“But if you want to reach a higher position, don’t you have to start from the basics?” Shikondell didn’t quite understand.
Tsk, isn’t this putting her, a woman of no culture, in a tough spot??
If she really had the ability to pass the exam and strive for it, would she be here spouting nonsense?
Speaking of which, who were those minor characters in the original work who got the other first-year student council seats??
Probably just extras, right? Otherwise, why would she have no impression of them at all??
It’s not that she doesn’t want to get involved; it’s just that she can’t. She knows her starting point is too low, and her cultural level is quite limited, so she can’t join in the fun. Otherwise, why wouldn’t she want a decent job?
...Wait, perhaps? It’s not entirely impossible?
The King of Ideas, Vinny, thought of another idea.
If it were the original villainous young master who hadn’t received a proper noble education, then indeed, there would be no chance. But now, it’s not entirely impossible.
Hmm, but it would probably require the help of the omnipotent Vanessa once again.
Far away in the Kingdom of Camella, the golden and splendid palace adorned with carvings of dragons and phoenixes welcomed a special guest today.
On the throne sat a tall and burly middle-aged man with golden hair, his lion-like eyes naturally imposing. Although time and toil had left deep marks on his face, one could still see the handsomeness of his youth.
Considering the status of today’s guest, even as the King of Camella, he had to formally receive them in the palace.
“Your Majesty, the Red Cardinal of the Church of Radiance, Silas, is waiting outside.” A fully armed Wrathful Dragon Knight knelt on one knee and saluted the king.
“Hmm, let the Cardinal in.” The man on the throne nodded, his deep gaze looking towards the palace entrance.
“At your command.” The Wrathful Dragon Knight retreated with the order.
Soon, led by two Wrathful Dragon Knights, a slim man dressed in solemn red robes, holding a gold-threaded silver holy cross, with a stern and upright expression, walked into the palace.
“The envoy of the Pope of Radiance, a humble servant of the Goddess, Red Cardinal Silas Handel, greets Your Majesty.” The man named Silas, the Red Cardinal, held the holy cross and bowed respectfully to the man on the throne but did not kneel.
This was the rule of the Church. Clergymen of the rank of Cardinal and above were the Goddess’s trusted servants, a rule that had existed since ancient times. As the Goddess’s trusted servants, blessed by her grace, they could not kneel to mortal rulers.
They believed that mortal kings and emperors only gained their ruling power through the Goddess’s permission.
They could express appropriate respect and admiration to rulers, but they could not kneel.
This was the face and rule of the Church, and what supported the Church of Radiance’s transcendent and lofty status was the Goddess of Radiance they represented, as well as the Church’s unique, continent-wide healing Soul Armament: Saint Envoy.