Cerqin was spared, as if by a small miracle.

Or rather, the Holy Maiden didn’t have time to punish her herself.

She let out a heartfelt breath, even as the Holy Maiden said the debt stood.

Next time, we’ll tally it together.

Things like this should be delayed if they can be delayed.

Maybe the Holy Maiden forgets, right?

As for why Spring Tide didn’t do anything to Cerqin, it wasn’t for lack of wanting.

That desire, lured to the surface, had swollen like a rising tide.

After touching that softness, the long-suppressed beast slipped its leash.

She didn’t yield to instinct for one reason alone.

The true master of Eastern Sea City’s Sanctuary, the Archbishop, had summoned her.

On paper, a Holy Maiden ranks equal to a regional Archbishop.

But most Holy Maidens ascend to their region’s Archbishop seat.

It’s closer to mentor and disciple, and she must heed orders.

Most Archbishops were once Holy Maidens themselves.

Only a retired Archbishop can run for Pope.

“Stay by my side for a bit. I’ll take you to meet the Archbishop.”

“Eh?”

Cerqin had just crawled off the floor, still drunk on relief.

Then she heard she’d meet a figure with real power.

Facing someone like that made her shrink like a mouse before a hawk.

She could whine before the Holy Maiden, but the nerves stayed.

Her special hobby wasn’t something people laughed off.

She knew she’d meet the Archbishop sooner or later in the Sanctuary.

But the Holy Maiden clearly had business—why bring her along?

It felt like being led to judgement, with cold stone underfoot.

“Um… can I not go…?”

“You could stay and warm the bed, but I need to report about you.”

“I’m kinda scared… and what do you mean warm the bed?

We’re not sleeping in the same—uh.”

Cerqin’s eyes went wide, pink as sunrise.

She’d be a personal Nun, but she didn’t expect the job to start this fast.

“You weren’t scared picking my door lock.

Move. Come with me, or I’ll use a rope and lead you.”

“Uh… don’t. I’m not scared anymore!”

They left one after the other, footsteps rippling down the hall.

On the way deeper into the living quarters, several Nuns bowed to the Holy Maiden.

Cerqin watched, excited as a cat watching birds.

These Nuns were future targets, right?

What contrasts hid beneath each habit?

Spring Tide walked ahead, thoughts circling the Archbishop’s intent.

That lazy woman calling her in meant only a few things.

Likely she’d be notified early about the Holy Maiden’s Circuit.

The Holy Maiden patrols Sanctuary branches across cities.

By the calendar, the next Circuit was near.

She’d pick a few cities for special care.

It’s a two-month routine sweep, like wind through pines.

Regional Archbishops don’t usually meddle in the route.

But for certain reasons, they can set the date.

After a few turns like a winding stream, Spring Tide stopped.

A silver-edged wooden door waited at the deepest part of the quarters.

She lifted a hand and knocked, soft as rain.

“Come in.”

A lazy, sultry voice spilled from inside, like warm smoke.

Spring Tide pushed the door and guided Cerqin in.

Her brows pinched, a petal folding, at the sight within.

Behind her, Cerqin lowered her head, nerves tightening like strings.

“Your Excellency, Archbishop.”

Spring Tide bowed, cool yet composed, like moon on water.

Even seeing her teacher sprawled and goofing off, she kept her calm.

But indulgence with Cerqin had loosened a few seams.

A thin edge of discontent touched her words.

“Your Excellency, did you finish today’s work?”

That flick of emotion made Cerqin tremble like a leaf.

Her head burrowed deeper, hiding in shadows.

“Mm, almost, almost. A rest, then I’ll… huh?

Little Spring Tide, you—?”

“Your Excellency, you’re not planning to start the Circuit early, are you?”

“Uh. I was kinda thinking that…”

The room went still, like a held breath.

Spring Tide hadn’t expected Ming Xi to be so thick-skinned.

Her chest knotted, a storm pressing behind the ribs.

“Setting that aside, you’ve changed a lot for a short absence.

And this little one is…?”

Ming Xi peered at Cerqin hiding behind Spring Tide.

Powder-pink hair hid half a cute face, like a petal half-closed.

A new face. Fifteen, maybe sixteen by the look of it.

Her strength sat around third rank—decent spring in the bow.

And that outfit she wore… looked like Spring Tide’s.

Ming Xi’s eyes lit up like finding a new island.

A shameless, mischievous glint gleamed there.

“I’m always like this. No big change.

Cerqin’s a good seedling with signs of an awakening.”

Spring Tide caught that crooked shine and knew where it went.

She spoke fast, helplessness like a thin drizzle in her tone.

A student changing for the better was good news.

Seemed those rumors about a sweetheart were true, Ming Xi thought.

“But you not being gentle anymore…it’s a bit sad~”

She sounded almost teasing, a willow swaying.

Before, catching Ming Xi lazing, Spring Tide’s eyes showed mild displeasure.

At least she didn’t say it out loud.

Good thing Ming Xi’s skin was thicker than city walls.

Even scolded by her disciple, she stayed unmoved.

She hooked a finger through her black hair, silk-dark like night.

Then she sat up from the cushion, stretching like a cat.

“Brought her so I can check her awakening, right?

Come, little sister, don’t be scared. Let me take a look~”

“...”

Cerqin felt she’d met another dangerous person.

She stood there, unsure, like a deer hearing distant thunder.

Spring Tide watched the increasingly improper Archbishop and coughed lightly.

“Alright, don’t be tense.

She’s a chronic slacker, but her professional chops are real.

Let her check your awakening.”

Restorative awakenings rarely cause physical strain.

Still, better to examine.

“Okay…”

Spring Tide’s calm was a warm lamp in a winter window.

Cerqin’s nerves settled.

She stepped out from the Holy Maiden’s shadow.

The Archbishop’s private room came into view.

Smaller than Cerqin had imagined, half a Holy Maiden’s chamber.

A wall-long bookcase loomed, like a forest of spines.

Paperwork towered on the desk like stacked snow.

Beside it sat a plain redwood bed, quiet as an old bridge.

It was a study with a bed added, more than a bedroom.

On the bed’s edge sat a long-haired, cool beauty, black hair like rivers.

She was appraising Cerqin with a shameless, predatory gaze.

Beside her, a white dumpling pillow made a bizarre balance.

Feeling that gaze stick like honey on skin, Cerqin’s scalp tingled.

This was a big figure she could never reach before.

Even with that lazy aura making her feel approachable like spring sun.

“Greetings, Your Excellency.”

“Mm~ Little Cerqin, what do you think of my Spring Tide~?”

Cerqin glanced at Spring Tide, whose face was blank as frost.

She didn’t dare say she smelled divine.

“She’s strong…”

Her hits hurt like thunder under skin.

“Mm… so it’s very satisfying, huh?”

“If she could be a little lighter… uh.”

Cerqin’s stray words cut off.

Spring Tide’s finger pressed her waist, a quiet sting like nettles.

Such small motions never escaped an Archbishop’s eye.

Satisfied, Ming Xi nodded.

She crooked a hand; a pair of clear, conjured hands nudged Cerqin.

Cerqin stumbled into Ming Xi’s raised hand and was drawn into her arms.

“...”

“Let me check you first…

Mm, healing and recovery, yes. You’re close to fully awakened.”

Held and kneaded into that embrace, Cerqin felt threads of magic.

A trickle of spirit swept her body like rain searching leaves.

The scent at her nose was soft as warm milk.

The plush against her cheek soothed the itch of power pooling.

Minutes later, Cerqin sat on Ming Xi’s lap, a small smile blooming.

An arm cinched her waist; a deep softness cradled her like moss.

She savored the memory of that silken touch on her face.

Spring Tide’s cold gaze pricked like frost needles.

It hurt a little, but the gentleness was too sweet to leave.

Cerqin chose to drink today’s wine and forget tomorrow.

The Holy Maiden and the Archbishop spoke business.

Cerqin barely heard a word.

She caught one thing: the Archbishop was a chronic slacker.

She’d called the Holy Maiden here to give herself a holiday.

Cerqin didn’t understand.

How did the Holy Maiden doing her duty on Circuit equal the Archbishop vacationing?

It wasn’t that the Holy Maiden supervised daily work.

It was the Circuit’s special nature.

During the two months of the Holy Maiden’s Circuit, all branches self-audit.

Routine paperwork drops to a thin trickle, like winter rain.

Regional Archbishops slip free from daily burdens.

Rounded off, that’s basically a holiday.

While the Archbishop and Holy Maiden wrangled about advancing the Circuit date,

Cerqin’s wandering glance caught a white edge under the dumpling pillow.

Her fingertips were maybe ten centimeters away.

A treasure, within reach.

“So you want me to check Northern Demon Race movements during the Circuit?

Fine. That’s within my remit anyway.”

“The Northern Demon Race has been restless of late.

Better to depart early…”

In the end, Spring Tide couldn’t outlast her good elder sister, her mentor.

She sighed and agreed to leave soon, like a sail catching wind.

“Then let’s set it for tomorrow!”

Goal achieved, Ming Xi brightened like sun through clouds.

She smoothly lifted Cerqin off her lap and set her down.

She sent her a schadenfreude look, sly as a fox.

Work had almost driven her mad lately, a hive buzzing nonstop.

Every day she regretted becoming a Holy Maiden back then.

Cerqin didn’t catch the Archbishop’s look or the brewing danger.

She didn’t even notice being set down.

She stood there dopey, smiling like a plum blossom after frost.

That state vanished the moment Spring Tide took her hand and led her out.

Panic flooded back, quick as a returning tide.

Her trembling hand made Spring Tide glance back, curious.

She saw the pink-haired girl lower her head, face worse than crying.

“What’s wrong?”

“Um… Holy Maiden…”

“Mm?”

Before Spring Tide could ask, Cerqin lifted her free hand.

She pulled a white bundle of cloth from her pocket.