Chapter 10: Fighting Power, Level 3!

“Good morning, Saintess.”

The familiar red robe, the familiar aged face, and those familiar eyes filled with benevolence.

“Good morning, Lady Zain.”
CocoLiss folded her hands over her lower abdomen and gave a slight bow in greeting.

She had rested quite well last night and had enough energy to handle whatever might happen today.

“Are you used to living here, Saintess? Would you like to change residences?”

“No, no, this place is already very good. I must thank the royal capital for preparing such a residence for me.”
She once again put on that kind and endearing appearance.

“It’s good that the Saintess likes it.”
The bright eyes beneath the red-robed bishop’s aged skin twinkled. “Today is the day you enroll. Are you ready, Saintess?”

“Mm, I will do my best.”

The red-robed bishop smiled and nodded. “Before heading to the academy to report, this old woman still needs to ask the Saintess one question—do you wish to keep a low profile, or a high profile?”

CocoLiss’s left hand unconsciously gripped her right wrist.

She was probably being asked whether she wanted her identity as the Saintess to be announced at the academy—or rather, within the royal capital.

She didn’t know what the two choices represented, but since the red-robed great bishop had left the decision to her, both sides must have made certain preparations.

“I think keeping a low profile would be better. Rather than relying on the Saintess title, I would prefer to grow through my own efforts.”
She answered like this.

In the imperial royal capital she had never experienced before, she still did not want to immediately become the center of attention.

Not to mention there was still her enemy watching covetously from the shadows outside.

If she weren’t carrying the Saintess title, the chance of her abyssal kin identity being exposed would also be lower.

“I also think that would be better. It will be safer for you this way as well. Leave the rest to us to handle.”
Bishop Zain nodded slightly. Her expression looked as if a large weight had finally been lifted from her heart.

CocoLiss didn’t quite understand, but she still maintained her smile and nodded gently in agreement.

“Then it won’t be convenient for me to escort the Saintess to the academy today. Please follow this guide.”
The red-robed great bishop waved her hand, and a small golden bird appeared on CocoLiss’s shoulder.

It then flew into the air and waited slightly ahead to the side for the girl to follow.

“Saintess, please remember to wear the Golden Rose robe from the wardrobe in your room. It is the proof of a new student at the academy.”

CocoLiss now understood why the fox-eared patrol girl from last night had immediately recognized her as a new student. It was because she had been wearing the academy robe last night.

She really hadn’t noticed that the golden patterns were golden roses.

“I understand, Lady Zain.”
CocoLiss nodded gently, looking every bit the obedient young lady.

The red-robed bishop then turned around and slowly walked away toward the rising morning sun, leaving the front of CocoLiss’s door.

The girl looked down at the nun habit she had habitually put on, then slowly retreated back into the room.

She changed into one of the casual outfits she had brought—a white wide-sleeved, cinched-waist long dress with a doll collar and a delicate black ribbon tied into a butterfly bow.

Then she put on the Golden Rose robe that reached roughly to her knees.

She lifted the hem of her skirt slightly in front of the water mirror and turned her body.

Don’t misunderstand. She wasn’t proud of her female identity or body. She simply wanted to confirm that her disguise had no flaws.

She was a mature man with firm convictions.

Finally, she combed the feathers on her ear tufts, flicked the halo above her head, and squeezed out the same gentle smile she usually wore toward her reflection in the water mirror.

No flaws. Permission to go out granted.

With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the water mirror. These were the only basic elemental magics she could perform.

The little bird that had been waiting patiently on her shoulder affectionately rubbed against her cheek at this moment, then flew into the air again following the sunlight.

She walked at a leisurely pace, her heels producing crisp notes against the flat, heavy stone-paved ground of the royal capital.

CocoLiss followed the little bird’s guidance the whole way. The road beneath her feet grew wider and wider, and more and more Golden Rose robes appeared around her.

Some of these Golden Rose robes like hers were solitary, others came in pairs, but all of them cast glances toward her to varying degrees.

Perhaps it was because her appearance was too stunning, perhaps because her ear feathers were too lively, or perhaps because the little bird fluttering in front of her was too eye-catching.

But no one stepped forward to speak with her at this time.

Perhaps out of wariness, or perhaps out of unwillingness to interact.

Everyone was hurrying along, converging toward the same direction.

CocoLiss believed she had put on her kindest expression.

“Eh, good person, you really came.”

The sudden voice sounded beside CocoLiss once again.

Without the suppression of the standard uniform’s hood, the pair of brownish-red fox ears stood tall. The large tail behind her also poked out from a hole in her clothing and was now wagging cheerfully, as if representing its owner’s good mood.

CocoLiss was still involuntarily startled, but with last night’s experience, she recovered faster this time.

“Lady Noile, please don’t scare people like that next time.”
She spoke words that were almost a complaint.

“Ah, was it that scary? I clearly just walked over to talk to you.”
The fox-eared girl scratched her head.

It was precisely because there wasn’t even the slightest sound of footsteps that it was scary.

“Speaking of which, there are so many people. I’m already starting to get nervous. Aren’t you nervous, um…”

“CocoLiss.”
The little nun gave her name. “After all, it’s just enrollment. We don’t even know how difficult the studies will be yet, so there’s no need to be too nervous, right?”

Noile tilted her head, looking at CocoLiss who was walking with her hands folded in front of her lower abdomen in the same dignified manner as she had done in the small town.

“Don’t you know? During enrollment, they test magic talent for class placement. If your talent is too poor, you might get expelled on the spot, you know?”

“Eh?”

She hadn’t expected such a cruel elimination system.

CocoLiss didn’t know what her own magic talent was like.

In half a year she had learned basic elemental magic and basic black magic. It should… still be enough to pass, right?

She admitted she was starting to feel nervous too.

“Go do your night patrols if that’s your job. Is the academy even a place for someone like you?”
A spirited-looking red-haired young man walked over and spoke rudely to Noile. “Lowly people should stay where they belong.”

Then he saw CocoLiss beside her. “As for this beautiful young lady, I am the empire’s Second Prince. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

CocoLiss looked at the hand the other party stretched out and left hanging in the air, then shifted her gaze toward Noile beside her.

The fox-eared girl bared her teeth at him and loudly whispered to CocoLiss, “I caught this guy flirting with a decent girl during night patrol last time and locked him up for two days.”

The little nun completely gave up on the idea of shaking hands.

“Beautiful young lady, I am the Second Prince of the empire. My talent is naturally a level above others. Seeing that this is your first time in the royal capital, one of my favorite things is to offer a certain amount of help to beautiful girls.”

He reached toward CocoLiss again, seemingly unwilling to give up.

But CocoLiss took half a step back.

The kind smile on his face retracted slightly. More of his gaze fell on Noile beside her, who had exposed his true colors and was still baring her teeth.

“Just watch. Let the Second Prince of the empire set an example for you two.”

Perhaps because he couldn’t save face, the Second Prince brushed past the two of them, walked through the crowd, and pressed his hand firmly onto the crystal ball beside the teacher at the academy gate.

A towering golden light pillar appeared, accompanied by three rings.

“Golden light, superior class. Three rings is quite good even within the superior class.”
The teacher beside him nodded in considerable approval.

At this moment, the Second Prince also looked over with an arrogant gaze, provocatively glancing at CocoLiss and Noile not far away.