When Xue Ji met the Pope of the Inquisition again, both of them had undergone tremendous changes in their demeanor compared to their last meeting.
Due to her earlier obsessive behavior of showing up at Ling Xiaoxiao’s doorstep, Xue Ji had formed a preconceived impression that Aria was a reckless person.
But now, the aura around her was sacred and inviolable, her gaze sharp as an eagle’s.
Xue Ji smiled and said, “You’ve changed so much. I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Aria signaled for the others in the meeting room to leave temporarily, and Xue Ji likewise told her own people to step out.
Once everyone else had left, Aria’s tense expression finally dissolved.
“Haaah, maintaining that kind of presence is exhausting.” Aria slumped over the table, complaining.
“It really has been a long time, cute Miss Xue Ji.”
Xue Ji was gazed at with the same gentle eyes one would use for a younger sister, and she returned a smile.
Both of them had been exhausted lately, so Xue Ji didn’t rush to get to the point.
While the major nations were busy dealing with the ocean turmoil, the Inquisition was busy dismantling the strongholds of the Secret God’s Hand across various regions.
A large part of the reason the Secret God’s cult leader had hidden beneath the Huaxia coastline battlefield was because the pressure from the Inquisition had driven them into a corner with no way out.
They had operated on the principle that the most dangerous place is the safest, hiding in underground caverns, but in the end, they were vanquished by two Huaxia demon hunters. Regardless, the Inquisition was the greatest contributor to the destruction of the Secret God’s Hand.
And Huaxia’s feat of successfully blocking the sea monster tide shocked the world even more. Once the news of the artificial ocean was announced, the entire world practically boiled over.
During this period, everyone had been exhausted. So much so that two key figures from their respective organizations would steal a few minutes of leisure on such an occasion, zoning out.
“Thank you, Miss Xue Ji. Break time is over—let’s get to the point.” Aria returned to a serious state.
“Alright. What’s going on with your Holy Maiden? Why is she in Huaxia territory?”
Aria looked at Xue Ji with a meaningful gaze, the corners of her mouth twitching upward despite herself.
“Don’t tell me… this has something to do with me?” Xue Ji pointed at herself, incredulous.
“Um, I’m a bit embarrassed to say it out loud. You’d better read it yourself.” Aria inexplicably broke into an auntie-like grin.
She handed Xue Ji the divine oracle manifested on a stone tablet using holy water. The moment Xue Ji saw that stone tablet, she felt a sense of déjà vu.
She seemed to know who the Holy Maiden was.
【To Dear Mr. Xue Ji】
【I trust you have been well? Since your disappearance, we have all been deeply worried. Fortunately, the Goddess informed us that you have returned to your homeland, and that we too should return to our former lives.】
【Yet each time night falls, the conversation from the eve of the final battle resurfaces in my mind. The paper lion you gave me, I have treasured it to this day, often finding myself wondering how you fare over there.】
【Perhaps you have encountered new dangers, perhaps embarked on new quests, perhaps made new friends—or even found a sweetheart…】
【My worries may be unnecessary, yet I cannot help myself. Sometimes, I dream of you alone and helpless, with all manner of unreasonable burdens pressing upon your shoulders. I know you would silently endure them. Perhaps that night, I should have been braver and spoken my heart. Thankfully, the Goddess took pity on my devout prayers and granted me the chance to find you. I am about to set off! Please wait for me!】
【Your eternal companion, Sophia】
This divine oracle, written like a love letter from a young girl, caused Xue Ji’s brain to short-circuit. Seeing Xue Ji’s reaction, Aria covered her mouth to stifle her laughter.
“The Sage sure is popular. Even someone from another world is chasing after you to come see you.”
Xue Ji’s face flushed red from the gaze fixed upon her.
“Oh, come on, stop it, stop it!”
The priestess crossing over to this side to find her—how could that not move anyone?
Besides, the current Xue Ji was no longer the blockhead she once was. The veiled obscure affection in that letter was practically overflowing from the stone tablet.
But she had now become Miss Xue Ji, and she indeed had lovers—more than one, at that…
“She’ll probably be disappointed, with the way I am now.” Xue Ji couldn’t help but mock herself.
Hearing this, Aria, sitting across from her, couldn’t stop her mouth from twitching.
Good grief. When she was pursuing Ling Xiaoxiao, she went through all sorts of ordeals and still couldn’t get what she wanted.
This Holy Maiden had chased her all the way here—how could she possibly care about such things? She’d definitely fall head over heels the moment they met.
And Xue Ji, this fellow, was not only so amorously generous but also completely unaware of it.
The flames of jealousy practically burst from her chest. Aria couldn’t help but slam the table, and it split cleanly in two.
People outside the door rushed in, separating the scene.
“There’s an attack! Protect the officer!”
“There’s an assassin! Protect the Pope, quickly!”
The people who burst in only saw a Pope whose face was twisted beyond recognition with jealousy, and Xue Ji still immersed in her worries.
What a mess this turned out to be.
…
At the Magic City Esper University, returning after a long absence, Xue Ji and Aria, dressed in casual clothes, formed a duo of beautiful girls with an extremely high turn-around rate.
Besides looking for the Holy Maiden, Aria had another purpose. That was to conduct some esper exchanges with Huaxia. She planned to have the Inquisition’s nuns come here for further study.
And Xue Ji had an additional task here as well. During the ocean turmoil, Magic City Esper University had been invaded by a massive number of sea beasts. At that time, there hadn’t been time to evacuate, and the students’ combat power was limited, but a mysterious golden light descended and helped the students repel the sea beasts.
When Xue Ji had left the university for the front lines, she had left behind a teaching syllabus and laid out various assessment standards.
The first batch of students had already become pillars of the esper forces.
After touring the campus, Aria was very satisfied and was already discussing study-abroad matters with Xue Ji.
In the afternoon, Aria spotted a milk tea shop on campus and dragged Xue Ji over to line up.
“Miss Xue Ji, let’s go in and rest for a bit!”
Without waiting for an answer, Aria gently pushed her into the milk tea shop.
“Your Holiness the Pope, you actually do have some ulterior motives for this trip, don’t you?” Xue Ji turned her head, squinting at her.
“Uh, well, I’m just dropping by to experience Huaxia’s lifestyle. To gain experience for my little sisters.”
Her eyes darted around as she said this.
“Oh, whatever—we’re going to look for someone anyway. Who knows, maybe the Holy Maiden is in here too?”
“How could there be such a coincidence…”
Xue Ji suddenly froze in place. Seeing this, Aria quickly followed her gaze.
There stood a young woman, her golden hair tied in a high ponytail, her figure tall and elegant, her snow-white skin and approachable smile drawing attention at first glance, and those sapphire blue eyes were the finishing touch—bringing this perfect, statue-like figure to life.
“N-no way…”
That young woman wore a milk tea shop apron, leisurely making milk tea, like a college student working a part-time job. This made Xue Ji a bit dazed—could she be mistaken?
“S-Sophia?” With a nervous heart, Xue Ji approached the counter.
“Y-you’re… Mr. Xue Ji?!”
Meanwhile, Aria, sitting off to the side, was already numb.
She recognized her even after she transformed like this? What is this, a sci-fi movie?!
