The Yellow-Haired Villain in Soaring Phoenix's Novels Also Desires Happiness

“Miss Anna, you’re younger than I imagined.”

Latina gazed at the newly appointed Acting Swordbearer before her, a trace of admiration flickering through her eyes.

Not only young—her beauty surpassed expectation too. That exquisitely ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) beautiful face and devilish figure were difficult to reconcile with the cold, heavy title of “Swordbearer.”

And as a member of the Silent Bureau, the Empire’s secret organization dedicated to opposing Evil Gods, all information regarding Anna had been immediately classified as top secret the moment she joined.

Moreover, when her name appeared before all factions as “Acting Swordbearer,” she was known to the world as nothing more than an obscure student.

So when everyone was stunned to hear that the famous Swordbearer had passed his position to a mere girl, those who tried to dig into her background could only find the public details—that she was an orphan adopted by the Swordbearer, and once attended Saint Maria Academy.

It was also Latina’s first time meeting this young woman—or rather, should she say girl?

Indeed, she looked barely past twenty, yet her entire bearing carried a mature charm. The soft, alluring smile and gentle eyes made her seem captivating to both men and women alike. Combined with her calm and graceful manners, it was easy to forget her still-youthful age.

“Miss Latina, you flatter me. Walking beside you, I feel more like a sister than a junior.”

Anna’s reply made Latina laugh despite herself.

“Just call me Latina. You can skip the honorifics.”

“Yes, Miss Latina.”

After the exchange, Anna turned and nodded politely to Pink Bear standing nearby.

“Good evening, Acting Headmistress. It’s been a while. I heard you’ve been rather busy lately. Seeing your complexion still so rosy is truly wonderful.”

“Just call me Pink Bear.”

Pink Bear scratched her head gloomily and said,

“After that whole mess losing several students, old Prang and the other professors joined forces to kick me out for good. They even stripped me of my pension. Ugh, how infuriating.”

“Professor Prang’s bad temper hasn’t changed, I see.”

“Exactly! I only misplaced a few students, hid a few Saintess photos that the Church happened to discover, and maybe skimmed just a tiny bit of academy funds. Did they really have to yank away even my ‘former acting headmistress’ title? Honestly, how childish can a grown man be.”

Pink Bear sighed, her beady black eyes studying Anna as she continued,

“Still, the academy’s really making a name for itself these days. So many incredible people all at once! That old geezer Prang might act composed, but he must be grinning from ear to ear right now.”

“I hardly count as anything incredible—just a dropout delinquent, really.”

Anna joked lightly.

“But that Saintess of yours gave everyone quite a shock. Even I didn’t expect that soft little girl back then to become the new Saintess.”

“Oh?”

Latina blinked at Anna’s words.

“You know Liya?”

“...In a way.”

Anna’s lips curved, as though savoring an old memory.

“We met once. Briefly. But it was... memorable. Even now I can recall it clearly.”

“Then you’ll have plenty to talk about.”

Latina smiled behind her hand.

“I’ll show you to your quarters. Before tomorrow’s official meeting, you can meet Liya privately if you wish.”

“That would be delightful.”

Anna’s eyes glimmered, clearly intrigued by the thought of that meeting.

“Ah, by the way—about the Church’s recent Holy Baptism Ritual. I heard it encountered interference from an Evil God. May I know the details?”

As their carriage rolled toward the Grand Cathedral, Anna spoke casually.

“That...”

Latina frowned slightly.

“Matters concerning Evil Gods are supposed to be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting—”

“No, it’s not for official reasons. Just personal curiosity,” Anna said with a smile.

“Personal reasons?”

“Yes.”

“Well, since it’s the Acting Swordbearer’s request... very well. But the incident involves Church secrets, so I can only give you the parts cleared for release.”

As a veteran of the Silent Bureau, Latina knew the official reports would never fool this seemingly harmless Acting Swordbearer. She decided to speak plainly—after all, those same materials would be reviewed during the joint meeting soon enough.

“No problem.”

Anna nodded lightly, unconcerned.

“Thank you, Miss Latina.”

“It’s no trouble.”

Latina quickly handed her a dossier. Anna didn’t treat it with particular ceremony; she simply opened it and read right there.

She skimmed quickly through the pages—truths of Kanteville, Evil God movements, a million corrupted souls—but showed little interest.

Her gaze moved rapidly until it stopped on two lines.

Current Saintess: Liya Angel.

Divine Knight: Muen Campbell.

Aside from containing more detailed descriptions of the Evil Gods’ identities, motives, and activities than what was printed in the newspapers, the file still told the same official story: the new Saintess Liya Angel had purified a million souls and banished the Evil God.

Only, instead of the vague phrase “blessing of the Goddess,” it now stated that Liya Angel had acted as a divine medium, channeling the Church’s endless Holy Light to complete the deed.

It sounded perfectly reasonable.

Yet Anna’s sharp eyes caught a single inconspicuous line buried among the dense text:

—With the assistance of Divine Knight Muen Campbell.

“Heh...”

Suddenly, many things made sense. She closed the dossier, rested her chin on her palm, and gazed out toward the Holy City now being swallowed by night.

She knew that the one she’d been thinking about all this time was somewhere in that city as well.

Lowering her lashes, her lips curved into a faint, ambiguous smile as she murmured softly enough only for herself to hear:

“My dear junior... Don’t tell me you went and saved another pretty girl again?”

“Annoying as it is... that really is your style.”

...

...

Night deepened.

After wandering about for a while and picking up a few things, Muen slipped as usual to Liya’s room.

This time, however, there was no vigilant Sister Lin guarding like a thief-hunter outside. Muen quietly opened the door and saw Liya seated inside, seriously reading something.

He tiptoed closer and, while she was absorbed in her papers, suddenly wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.

“Who—mmph...”

Startled by the “sneak attack,” Liya tried to cry out, but that familiar warmth silenced her as his lips sealed hers in a heavy kiss.

The electric rush swept away all her thoughts. Her head tilted back, lips parting shyly as she offered her tongue to be tasted by that terrible man.

When their lips finally separated, her cheeks were so flushed they looked ready to drip water.

She glared at Muen in feigned anger and gave his chest a light punch.

“You’re awful—always doing this the moment you come in...”

“Don’t you like it? You looked like you were enjoying it plenty.”

Muen grinned, pulling her onto his lap, sitting down where she’d just been—her warmth still lingering there.

“What’s my little darling so busy with?”

He breathed in the faint fragrance of her hair as he asked.

“Some personnel information. They want me to review it in advance.”

“Personnel? What kind of people need my Saintess to personally look into them?” Muen craned his neck toward the papers on her desk.

“Representatives of various civilian anti–Evil God organizations. There’s to be a Church-hosted conference tomorrow, and I have to attend. So I need to familiarize myself with them first.”

“I see.”

After a glance at the photos—bald old men and grim faces—Muen lost interest and turned his attention back to the girl in his arms.

“Where’s Miss Lin?”

Still rocking Liya gently, he asked,

“I didn’t see her anywhere.”

“I sent her to rest.”

Liya blinked playfully.

“She’s been busy all day. She deserves a break.”

“Oh? So the little lamb invited the wolf in herself?”

“Hmm, knowing you’re a bad wolf, shouldn’t you leave? If someone catches you, you’ll be severely punished.”

“Then I’ll punish you first, little lamb!” Muen laughed wickedly, holding her tighter as his hands began to wander.

“Mmph... don’t—I still have work.”

“It’s late already, Saintess. Don’t wear yourself out.”

“...Late? It’s only nine.”

She glanced at the clock, squirming from ticklishness in his arms.

But she didn’t push him away. Instead, she wriggled and laughed as they tangled together.

It was play, but unlike his teasing with Ariel—there was nothing innocent about this. Just being so close to the one she loved, skin brushing, breath mingling, made Liya’s heartbeat race.

Her starry eyes grew hazy, shimmering with light.

As the heat rose, sitting astride his lap, Liya reached back, fingers moving to undo the clasp of her dress.

“Don’t.”

Muen stopped her.

“Like this.”

“Hmm?”

She looked puzzled.

“You’re beautiful like this.”

He leaned down and kissed her lips again.

In his blue eyes, she was reflected—still wearing the ceremonial gown from earlier, elegant and pure, breathtakingly beautiful.

To think that the figure so revered by countless believers was now flushed and shy in his arms made the fire in his stomach burn even hotter.

“You’re terrible...”

Sensing his thoughts, Liya bit his lip lightly, but didn’t stop his “defilement” of her holiness. Twisting her waist, she let his hand slip beneath her skirt, tracing those graceful curves, revealing more of that exquisite view bit by bit.

Muen’s breathing deepened. Their eyes met, flames twining together—

Knock, knock, knock.

They both froze.

Like a blaze suddenly doused by cold water, they went blank for a moment.

But the untimely knocking paid no heed to the abruptly snuffed heat—it continued, stubborn and loud.

Muen clenched his teeth and exchanged a glance with Liya.

“Miss Lin?”

“No. Her knocking is gentler.”

“Then where is she?”

“I told you—I sent her to rest.”

“Then the other nuns—”

Ah, right. Since everyone surely knew he might “do bad things” with Liya tonight, neither Lin nor the Church would allow any ordinary nun near her room at this hour.

Muen’s eye twitched. Maybe Sister Lin’s absence wasn’t such a blessing after all.

Liya puffed her cheeks, annoyed, and called toward the door, “Who is it?”

“It’s me!”

Ariel’s bright, eager voice answered.

“!!”

Muen and Liya exchanged panicked looks and jumped up.

“Ariel? It’s so late—what is it?”

Muen darted around the room in a frenzy, finding nowhere to hide. Liya, half talking to Ariel, half guiding Muen, motioned him under the huge bed that could fit six or seven people.

Crawling under, Muen found himself in total darkness. He pricked his ears, straining to listen.

After fixing her hair and clothes to hide any trace of disarray, Liya finally opened the door.

There stood Ariel in her pajamas, face alight with excitement.

“I came to chat! You were busy all day, so we didn’t get to talk. I promise I just want to talk—nothing else. We’re best friends, after all.”

Ariel blinked “bashfully,” her intentions so obvious even Muen under the bed could hear them.

Damn it, woman. Stay away from my Liya.

Grinding his teeth, Muen seethed in silence—but also felt a ridiculous sense of irony.

Seriously—he and Liya were in a proper relationship, yet he’s the one hiding under the bed?

“Chat? At this hour?”

“Sure! We used to have midnight talks all the time.”

Ariel tilted her head, then blinked curiously.

“Why’s your face so red? Been exercising again tonight?”

“Ah, no...”

Liya stepped back nervously, smiling stiffly.

“M-maybe the room’s just hot.”

“Is it?”

Ariel slipped inside and scanned the room suspiciously. Seeing nothing out of place, she relaxed and nodded.

“It is a bit warm.”

“Um, Ariel...”

Though she hated to disappoint her enthusiastic friend, Liya glanced at the shadow under the bed and hesitated before saying,

“Could we... maybe have our chat another time? Tomorrow night, perhaps?”

“Why?”

Ariel frowned.

“It’s rare we both have time—”

“B-because... I still have work left to finish! Yes, work!” Liya declared suddenly.

“Work?”

Ariel followed her gaze to the thick stack of documents on the desk, let out a small “ah,” and visibly deflated.

“...Fine.”

She sighed, shoulders slumping, and shuffled toward the door.

Seeing that, both Liya and the Muen under the bed exhaled in relief.

They felt a little sorry for her—but better this than having her linger. With her sharp intuition, she might actually notice something.

Under the bed, Muen stroked his chin, already wondering what fun little “games” to resume with Liya once Ariel left.

But—

Accidents never give warning. Just as Ariel reached the door and her hand touched the knob—

Knock, knock, knock.

Another knock echoed through the night that refused to stay quiet.