"Arag, that idiot!"

High above the hall, light screens shimmered, casting varied hues upon everyone's faces.

Huo Gu's expression was the most striking of all. He slammed his palm onto the armrest, shattering it into pieces, his face changing from red to purple, and then to green.

His gaze locked onto the image on the screen, and he wished nothing more than to storm inside, grab the student he once took the most pride in, and strangle him with his own hands!

That bastard—having his illusions broken face-on was bad enough.

Being captured was still forgivable.

But he actually... actually...

Cross-dressed?

And in front of so many people!!

Fine, perhaps he didn't know others were watching.

But what about the dignity of the School of Illusions?

And wouldn't this idiot eventually want to get married?!

"Magnificent! Absolutely splendid!"

Off to the side, Dao Qi was already laughing so hard he was rocking back and forth, even summoning a recording spell he hadn’t used in decades to capture this unforgettable scene.

"Huo Gu, old man, I never thought your student could have such a talent in this regard. Truly worthy of the School of Illusions—just a change of attire, and he looks better than most young girls!"

"Shut up!"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, embarrassed? Come on, ask anyone here—I’m just speaking the truth!"

"I said shut up..."

Huo Gu covered his face with his hand, incapable even of summoning the energy to argue with Dao Qi.

He could feel that, out of respect for his dignity, the others around him refrained from saying much, but their eyes still darted surreptitiously towards him—each expression more peculiar than the last.

This was humiliation.

This student was clearly beyond saving.

"By the way, who is that blonde kid, anyway? He’s truly outstanding—his strength far surpasses his peers. I haven't heard of him before."

Huo Gu suddenly raised his head and looked at Dao Qi, "Judging by your expression earlier, you seem to know him?"

"Oh? Could it be that you, a dignified great mage, are planning to take revenge, too?"

"I'm not that petty. I'm just curious."

"This, well..."

Dao Qi pretended to ponder deeply before breaking into a mysterious smile. "I'm not telling you."

"..."

...

"Ahem, marvelous—what a fantastic match."

"Ah, looks like another duel has started over there. Stone Cauldron Association… Who’s their opponent?"

"Such fierce techniques—it must be another formidable contender..."

On the other side, everyone pretended not to have noticed the earlier scene and deftly shifted the topic elsewhere, showcasing admirable self-restraint.

Though secretly, tiny flashes flickered across the expanse, accompanied by the constant sound of snapping—click, click, click.

It was as if mice were stealthily stealing food amidst suppressed laughter.

This was destined to be one of the most talked-about and colorful moments of this Holy Baptism ceremony.

"That saintess candidate is impressive—breaking through Arag's illusions, no mean feat."

Pink Bear continued crunching on his popcorn. Today, he seemed unusually quiet, making no attempt to stir or join in the spectacle.

Hearing Marquis Angus’s remark beside him, though, he couldn’t help but glance over at the man.

"Well, anyone chosen by the church as a saintess candidate wouldn’t exactly lack skill, would they?"

"Of course I know that. It's just that this particular candidate, named Lea, hasn’t much of a reputation, which gives people the impression she’s weaker than the rest."

Marquis Angus shook his head. "When her identity was revealed, I reviewed all her records—nothing remarkable. On the contrary, it was the young lady from the Bugard family that stood out the most. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to attend this time."

"Ha, so it seems she lacks renown."

Pink Bear turned his head, studying the image of the young girl on the screen.

That girl always kept her head bowed, rarely drawing attention to her flawlessly cute face.

She also liked trailing behind others, whether it was that flat-chested little girl or Moen.

"But..."

"Doesn't that just prove she's been spending her time on more worthwhile pursuits than seeking fame?"

Pink Bear bit into his popcorn forcefully, the gleam in his dark bear eyes suggesting he was reminiscing about something.

...

"Lea has truly grown up."

The saintess watched the unfolding scene, her expression remaining unchanged, though a complex emotion flickered in her deep eyes.

"More accomplished than I expected. And that knight servant who joined midway—indeed worthy of being personally summoned by His Holiness the Pope."

"In that case, Saintess, do you still think she’s the least likely candidate?"

Lynn, standing behind the saintess, suddenly asked, evidently curious.

"Well, who’s to say?"

The saintess didn’t directly answer but instead glanced upward.

"Let's set this trivial matter aside for now. I got so absorbed watching that I didn’t even notice the clock—Lynn, the time?"

"Noontime, twelve marks."

"It’s already here, huh. Time passes so quickly."

The saintess suddenly stood, extending her hand.

The light screen in the center of the hall shrank, transforming into a glowing sphere that landed squarely in her palm.

"Saintess, what is the meaning of this?"

Those absorbed in their own observations, or those searching for their students and disciples, looked on in surprise.

"The time is up."

The saintess slightly bowed toward the crowd, smiling gently: "As per our prior arrangement, this viewing of Canterwell’s interior was meant to reassure everyone. Now that it’s been proven the church wasn’t deceitful—that Canterwell truly is the fabled ‘The Lost Land,’ the Golden Land—isn’t there no need to continue watching?"

"But we haven’t discerned much at all!"

Someone frowned.

"Let’s allow the children a bit of privacy, shall we?"

The saintess’s voice was lyrical and sweet, tinged now with a dash of girlish playfulness. "Surely we aren't the sort to spy on youngsters during... their private moments, are we?"

"Private moments? Who would even..."

"Youthful ignorance, blazing passion—it’s not entirely out of the question, is it?"

"Everyone, please take a break. Traditionally, Holy Baptism ceremonies weren’t meant to be observed anyway. Rest assured."

Her smile never faltering, the saintess ignored the skeptical and even hostile glances of many, solemnly bowed once more, and took her leave.

But as she turned, her gaze abruptly fell upon Pink Bear, munching his popcorn in silence.

She paused.

"Mr. Pink Bear,"

The saintess’s voice suddenly rang out, "Would you mind accompanying me for a moment?"

"Huh?"

Meeting her serene eyes, Pink Bear froze immediately.

Why me, out of nowhere?

Could it be… his dealings with smuggling illicit books, or profiting off Moen’s gossip scandals, had been exposed?

"Don’t worry, I hold no interest in your private affairs."

The saintess smiled faintly, her tone gentle:

"So I’m merely asking. Mr. Pink Bear… are you free? I have a small errand that could use your help~"

"..."

Pink Bear suddenly found his popcorn tasting bland.

Because, knowing what he did about this woman...

Even if she appeared cheerful and innocent, should he decline—

He might die.

...

Not long after the saintess ended the live broadcast:

*Clack.*

The sound of gears meshing echoed softly.

In that instant, everyone within Canterwell seemed to sense something and instinctively turned their eyes upward.

What they witnessed was a black curtain, slowly spreading across the sky from one edge to the other.

The blue sky, fluffy clouds, and soft rays of light were devoured by the encroaching darkness. Dots of starlight shimmered across the black expanse, appearing ethereal and distant.

At the center of the void shone a luminous full moon, casting faint light upon the land.

"This is..."

Moen couldn’t help but look upwards, murmuring in astonishment:

"Is it nightfall already?"