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

For some reason, such a scene appeared in Muen’s mind.

That nation which had requested the protection of the Stars, yet did not wish to pay the price, after throwing out their own fleshly bodies as bait, hid the souls of all their citizens beneath a concealed “lid.”

They hoped that this way, they could escape the Stars’ demand.

But very clearly, they failed.

The Stars still found them, then lifted that lid. Faced with delicious souls that had long since been prepared, with even their “shells” already peeled away, naturally the Stars would not stand on ceremony and directly began feasting.

In the end, that deep sea formed from gathered souls naturally disappeared, leaving behind only this desert, along with this ruined city within the desert...

Or, to describe it another way, this place was, to the Stars, the very plate that had once held the “food”...

“A plate?”

Anna thought for a moment, then chuckled softly. “That really is an appropriate metaphor.”

“Senior can still laugh at a time like this?”

Muen felt the current situation was extremely bad. “Judging from the current circumstances, since we’ve both been dragged onto the plate, then the next step is...”

“Once you’re on the plate, you become food. The next step naturally would be for that existence known as the Stars to personally come over and savor our deliciousness.”

Anna pointed overhead.

“But don’t worry, Junior. It probably won’t happen that quickly. Look, the stars in the sky are still so far away.”

“...They’re actually this far away?”

Muen raised his head and looked toward the sky he had ignored all this time. Sure enough, there truly were stars above, but those stars were now very, very far away. So far that only a few faint glimmers could be seen clearly, much less produce the feeling of being watched.

“How strange. It clearly wants to kill me, yet it’s hiding so far away itself? What exactly is that one thinking?”

Muen frowned. Thinking back to the instant he had just been dragged here, when he had seen the flickering Stars, and now they were only faintly visible, he felt puzzled.

It hated him so much it could not even bear to let the grudge wait overnight before coming for revenge, yet at a time like this it still would not personally act?

Although there was clearly also a world barrier here, for an Evil God, descending a projection into a place with such a clear coordinate should not be difficult.

Could it be...

The Lord of the Stars was that sort of classic arrogant-heaven protagonist-story villain, the kind who liked to send the protagonist a few experience packs to level up with before personally taking action?

“I’m not too sure either, but for us, it’s ultimately a good thing. Otherwise, if we were facing the personal arrival of an Evil God, could we still leisurely date here?”

Anna leaned close and gently hooked Muen’s fingers. Naturally, Muen did not dare reject such thick affection and smiled as he clasped that mischievous hand in return.

“I also think it’s a good thing, but I think we should first consider how to get out of here. After all, no one knows whether that one will really keep watching from far away forever. If He personally comes over, then things will become troublesome.”

Muen spoke with complete seriousness.

That face, handsome as if carved from marble, was currently filled with concern for the beloved before him. At the same time, those sapphire-like blue eyes carried a different kind of radiance.

As if saying that even if he faced the personal arrival of an Evil God, it would not matter, but Senior’s safety...

Would forever be the most important thing.

“That’s true.” Anna’s lips curved slightly. “It would indeed be best to get out as soon as possible.”

“Has Senior thought of a method?”

“I wouldn’t call it a method, but I suspect the means that ghost thing used to drag us over was merely some kind of spatial transfer ability. I said earlier that the ancient nation only exists within the cracks of history. Very clearly, this Sea of the Abyss also exists within the cracks of space.”

“The cracks of space?”

Muen also seriously thought about it for a while...

Then completely failed to think of anything.

Who told the old Campbell family to have no magical talent at all, much less the ability to understand something like space, an existence only high-level magic could slightly affect?

In this regard, he could only rely on his dear Senior.

“To leave the cracks of space, there are probably only two methods.”

Anna extended two pale, tender fingers.

“The first is for someone outside to track our coordinates from the place where we were dragged away earlier, then come here and take us out.”

“The second...”

Anna looked around. “Naturally, it would be finding that ghost thing from earlier. Since he could bring us here, he can also take us out.”

The ancient city, already corroded beyond recognition by time, was lonely and gloomy. Muen gazed into the distance the entire time, yet found it difficult to discover the end or edge of this city.

“Looks like... the first method is still easier.”

Muen sighed from the bottom of his heart.

Searching for that ghost thing throughout ruins this enormous...

No thank you.

He did not have that much time or energy.

Having one date interrupted and suddenly inserting another date was already enough to keep his nerves taut at every second.

The key point was that so many unexpected incidents had been added into the middle of all this.

This was no longer simply a matter of tense nerves. It was dancing the cha-cha while crossing a tightrope.

Something would snap.

Something would definitely snap.

Whether his nerves, or some other part of his body after the possible harem battlefield exploded.

“Junior really knows how to make people laugh.”

Anna covered her mouth and smiled, only assuming Muen was deliberately amusing her. “The first method is indeed easy, but the probability is so small it can practically be ignored, so obediently follow Senior and help me find that ghost thing.”

“Of course I know.”

Muen gazed back deeply. “Isn’t this even better? I get to stay with Senior longer.”

“Oh my, Junior’s mouth is especially sweet today. But I like it.”

“...”

Goddess...

For the sake of the person most beloved by your most devout believer, please show a miracle just this once!

Muen prayed inwardly.

...

...

“It’s here!”

Western District, the slums, on an empty black-market street.

After a careful investigation, High Sister Lin put away the instrument in her hand and nodded firmly.

“There really are strange spatial fluctuations here.”

“I told you so!”

Hearing this answer, Liya proudly raised her little head and huffed:

“Lin, you actually doubted me at first. Would I lie to you?”

“It’s not that I didn’t believe you...”

Having completed her task and returned to Liya’s side, the corner of the High Sister’s mouth twitched slightly.

“I just didn’t expect that from so many streets away, Your Highness the Saintess would truly be able to detect something like this, and by relying on... scent? What exactly did Your Highness smell?”

“Hmph, secret!”

Liya crossed her arms and refused to answer. There was no way she was going to admit she had smelled Muen’s scent. Wouldn’t that make her seem like some lustful Saintess whose brain was full of men?

“...It seems Your Highness truly has grown during the time I was absent.”

Lin sighed emotionally.

Though exactly what aspect had grown was difficult to say.

“So what does Your Highness plan to do next?”

“I’ll go personally.”

Liya suddenly restrained her emotions and spoke seriously.

“No!”

Lin rejected it immediately. “That’s far too dangerous!”

“Then what does Lin think should be done?”

“We should report this to the Church and allow someone more suitable to handle it. Your Highness the Saintess possesses such a precious body, it truly is...”

“But then it’ll be too late!”

Liya said in a deep voice:

“In this area, Lin has more experience than I do. In your opinion, how long can the aura remaining here persist? One minute? Two minutes? Five minutes? These traces won’t last long at all. They could disappear at any moment! Lin, do you think there’s still enough time to report this to the Church?”

“There truly isn’t much time left... but as Your Highness the Saintess...”

“As the Saintess, should I simply watch those evil existences act wantonly while doing nothing?”

Majestic Holy Light bloomed forth, making Liya appear incomparably noble and sacred. She angrily stared at the High Sister, just like the gaze described in the scriptures when the Goddess walked among mortals and glared at those who witnessed filth yet remained indifferent!

“Lin, do you think that’s right?”

“...”

Lin’s cheek twitched again.

Twitched violently.

To outsiders, this pure Saintess completely resembled a noble existence unafraid of danger for the sake of righteousness...

But as someone who deeply understood this Saintess’s true nature, she could also guess that the other party’s purpose was definitely not this lofty or pure.

Why was she so eager to chase after it alone?

Could it be another Evil God had abducted that damned yellow-haired bastard?

Damn it, if that was really the case, why didn’t the Evil God just kill that yellow-haired bastard directly instead of leaving him alive in this world to keep harming young girls?

Lin was anxious beyond measure, yet had no way to refute her.

At the end of the day, she was only the Saintess’s attendant nun. She possessed no authority to reject the Saintess’s decisions.

She was not even as good as the previous part-time attendant nun. At least that one had truly dared to poison someone.

“I... have nothing to say.”

Lin lowered her head in defeat and chose to retreat.

“I only hope Your Highness will prioritize your own safety. Otherwise... if anything happens to you, I will have no way to account for it and can only atone through death.”

“Don’t worry. Since the other side only dares to use methods like this, that means they lack confidence. I have more than enough ability to protect myself. Lin, remain here and receive the reinforcements later. I’ll go and return immediately!”

After removing the greatest obstacle, Liya impatiently began moving.

She took out a statue of the Goddess, pressed her palms together, and prayed.

“Goddess above, please carry my voice to the Holy City.”

Buzz.

A faint radiance bloomed from the Goddess statue. Before long, a low voice sounded.

“Holy City Third Communication Authority. Please speak.”

“I am Saintess Liya Angel. I request authorization to use Sanctuary · Urlons.”

“Please wait.”

Buzz.

The radiance upon the Goddess statue grew brighter, enveloping Liya completely.

“Identity confirmed...”

“Authority confirmed...”

“Transferring to First Communication Authority...”

“Greetings, Your Highness the Saintess.”

An emotionless voice sounded beside Liya’s ear.

“I am Urlons.”

“Help me track this spatial fluctuation and send me there,” Liya said.

“Yes.”

The moment the words fell, the space before Liya rapidly distorted and wrapped around her.

During the entire process, there was no magical fluctuation whatsoever, nor any activation of complicated arrays. Space distorted so naturally, as though it were...

A miracle.

Very soon, Liya’s figure completely vanished. The empty street was left with only Lin standing alone in place, sighing endlessly.

“I just hope... things don’t escalate too badly.”

...

...

“Speaking of which, the impact of this matter should be pretty huge, right?”

As they followed the ruined city’s broken main road searching ahead, Muen remained vigilant of his surroundings while casually chatting with Senior.

“Would it?”

“It’ll definitely become a huge issue. If we don’t get out soon enough, then with both our identities, disappearing anywhere would cause massive upheaval among all sides.”

“That’s true... but only if we stay missing too long, right? If we only disappear briefly, who would care?”

“No one would care about me. After all, right now I’m just an unemployed drifter with no proper job. But Senior, you’re at least the leader of a major organization. If you disappear too long, it’ll immediately be noticed... so we should still speed things up. As the saying goes, time and gold are equal in value, especially considering my family’s gold has nearly all been squandered by me already, which makes it even more precious...”

“Does Junior dislike staying with me that much?”

Anna looked over pitifully, her lips slightly puffed, carrying an especially girlish charm.

But Muen felt his heart nearly leap out of his chest. He quickly pulled Anna into his embrace and coaxed her repeatedly.

“How could that be? I wish I could stay with Senior every day. But dating in a ghostly place like this is way too unlucky, isn’t it? I’d rather get out quickly, then specifically set aside time to accompany you.”

“Really?” Anna blinked.

“I swear.”

Muen raised four fingers, his expression resolute. “Once we get out, I’ll definitely have a wonderful date with Senior!”

Of course, the premise was finishing the date with An first. After all, she had already been waiting for a long time.

“Why swear? I was only joking.”

Anna’s eyes suddenly curved like crescent moons as she bumped against Muen like a little devil.

“How could I possibly doubt my dear Junior? After all, it’s perfectly normal for you to want to leave this place sooner. As long as you’re not hurrying off to date another woman, I have no reason to stop you.”

“O-of course. Senior is absolutely right.”

Muen took out the handkerchief Senior had given him earlier to wipe his sweat. This damned Sea of the Abyss was too fucking hot!

The sun in the sky...

The stars in the sky, can’t you damn things restrain your light a little? Can’t you see my back is practically soaked through from the heat?!

“But don’t worry, Junior. I’ve already roughly traced the enemy’s tracks.”

Anna suddenly spoke.

“Hm?”

Muen froze. “Really?”

“Junior, honestly. I’m still a Swordbearer, you know? Do you really look down on your dear Senior this much?”

Anna reproachfully tapped Muen’s forehead again before flipping her jade-like hand and taking out an ancient-looking compass.

The compass needle continuously rotated, seemingly sensing something. With his sharp eyesight, Muen noticed a very obvious dark-red stain upon the tip of the silver needle.

“This is...”

“The blood of that ghost thing from earlier. When Junior slashed at it, I took the opportunity to collect some.”

“As expected of Senior.”

“I truly hope you can put verbal praise into actual action.”

Anna threw Muen an incomparably seductive look. As for that so-called action, obviously it was not something they could carry out at a time like this.

But Muen had already taken those words to heart. After all, simultaneously handling dates with two people was difficult for him, but when it came to one-on-one, the current him would not lose to anyone!

The previous incident with Celicia had already proven that point, so he was very confident!

“Shh.”

Anna suddenly signaled for silence.

“It’s close.”

The constantly spinning needle suddenly stopped and pointed in a certain direction. The tip trembled violently, as though warning of approaching danger!

Muen immediately entered combat readiness. But when his gaze followed the direction indicated by the needle...

“Ghoul?”

A naked man had been nailed against a wall carved with exquisite murals. The mural seemed to depict some savage ancient monster. Even after such a vast passage of time, it still carried immense oppressive force.

The man had been nailed directly inside the monster’s bloody maw. A black spike pierced through his chest. There was a hole the size of a fist in his chest, making it possible to clearly see that the spike pinned not only him, but also his increasingly weakly beating heart.

Very clearly, what appeared before them was not that white ghost thing, but rather...

One of the remnants of the Salvation Society, the one known as Ghoul.

“Why is it you? Did that monster do this to you?”

Meeting a mortal enemy from not long ago again in such a state truly made one emotional, but Muen had no time to care about that. His gaze swept over the black blood constantly flowing from Ghoul’s heart, and his brows instinctively tightened.

No saving him.

Having fought Ghoul countless times, Muen deeply understood that this bastard’s durability and troublesome nature almost entirely came from that bizarre heart ability. As long as he devoured someone’s heart, he could gain another one, and as long as a heart remained, he could instantly revive at full health.

It was an extremely troublesome ability. Throughout those thousands of repeats, Muen had suffered headaches from this ability more than once or twice. But now, very clearly, Ghoul’s final heart had also been nailed through.

He was already dying, with no possibility of revival remaining.

“Muen... Campbell?”

Ghoul upon the wall laboriously raised his head. The sight of his face made one shudder in horror.

Because his face...

Was gone.

Gone in the literal sense.

From forehead to chin, from left side to right side, the entirety of Ghoul’s facial skin had been flayed alive. Thus what Muen now saw were painfully rotating eyeballs, hollow nostrils, and...

Two complete rows of teeth and gums.

“You... finally came.”

Without lips, Ghoul’s pronunciation sounded extremely stiff and difficult to distinguish, yet one could still hear the pain in his words at this moment...

And relief.

“This way... I can finally... die.”

“Careful!”

A death warning suddenly rang out. Muen did not hesitate for even a moment. He immediately activated time deceleration and dragged Senior rapidly backward.

Within hundredfold slowed time, Muen watched Ghoul’s body explode in slow motion. A complex magical array had been hidden within his flesh, waiting for someone to approach before detonating.

Boom!

The enormous explosion instantly leveled an entire street. Standing at the edge, Muen’s expression became incomparably grave.

Dense smoke mixed with yellow sand rose into the sky. Such terrifying power meant that magical array had been carefully prepared.

“That ghost thing can use magic?”

“I’m not sure, but while I tracked him before, I never saw him use magic.”

Anna’s little face was equally grave.

“Therefore what we should pay attention to now is...”

Crack crack.

Before she finished speaking, a strange sound suddenly echoed between the two of them.

Muen lowered his head and saw one of his hands once again suddenly twist and break in a completely inexplicable manner!