"Lord Ansu... thank you."
Freya was naturally very happy to hear him stand up for her like that, but she also knew that the reality was much more complicated than he made it sound.
It was very difficult to change people's prejudice against demihumans.
After all... in this prosperous yet chaotic merchant port and industrial center of Benalu, a significant portion of the high crime rate was indeed related to demihumans who had lost control and beastified.
Having demihuman blood herself, Freya knew all too well how violent and combative one could become when the wildness in their bloodline was triggered...
"You think I'm just comforting you?" Ansu raised an eyebrow, naturally noticing the complicated emotion in Freya's eyes; she still seemed to feel inferior because of her bloodline.
"No..." Freya avoided Ansu's gaze and lowered her head, "Lord Ansu is right, I'll just listen to whatever you say..."
The little Holy Maiden's soft and self-deprecating appearance made Ansu frown involuntarily.
"I'm not just comforting you, because I truly believe the Church is in the wrong!"
Ansu couldn't help but think of Archbishop Paul's stance; if the Church of Holy Light truly wanted to become a universal church and spread the Holy Light to every corner of the world, it had to be more inclusive and could no longer exclude demihumans.
Moreover, wasn't Freya the perfect example?
The youngest and most talented God-Awakened in history had actually appeared in a mixed-blood demihuman girl; didn't that mean the Goddess treated everyone equally?
Archbishop Paul was right.
"Freya." Ansu stared at her with a firm gaze, speaking one word at a time:
"You really don't need to feel inferior because of your bloodline. In my eyes, you, who are pious, kind, and yearning for the light, are fully worthy of the title of Holy Maiden! You are the best witness of the Holy Light in the mortal world!"
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
Freya stared at him blankly, her mouth opening slightly, unable to say anything for a long time.
Lord Ansu's words were like a bolt of lightning, splitting through the heavy haze shrouded in her heart.
It also allowed a ray of light she had never experienced before to spill down...
So...
Did Lord Ansu really think so highly of her?
But... could she really live up to such praise? The best witness of the Holy Light in the mortal world? Heavens... did Lord Ansu really know what that implied...?
"Lord Ansu... I..." Freya's cheeks began to flush slightly, and she didn't even dare to meet his incredibly serious gaze, "Am I really as good as you say? You're almost praising me as if I were one of those great saints in the Church's history..."
"Heh, what do those saints matter?" Ansu laughed dismissively; they were just a bunch of obsessive, scripture-reciting old fogies who couldn't compare to Freya even if they were all put together.
After all, in the original plot, Freya was the key to saving the world.
Without this runaway Holy Maiden who desperately wanted to go on an adventure and save the world, the hero party wouldn't have truly set out on their journey.
"In short..." Ansu looked at Freya, whose emotions were stirred and whose gaze had become incredibly fervent, "These are my sincere words. Since you regard me as the deity's spokesperson on earth, you can also understand this as the Goddess's original intent."
"Faith is not distinguished by race, and piety should not be questioned because of bloodline."
"Freya, you are who you are. Don't always worry about the world's prejudice; what do those rumors matter? You should also live for yourself and do what you want to do."
Hearing these words, a flame seemed to ignite in Freya's heart, and she nodded vigorously.
"Yes!"
I want to live for myself!
She stared fervently at Lord Ansu before her...
I also want to do what I want to do!
"Finally..." Ansu smiled as he observed her furry pointed ears, which were twitching incessantly due to her excitement, "Where are demihumans savage and ugly? Those people really have a problem with their aesthetics."
Aren't they very cute?
Ansu was trying very hard... to suppress the urge to pet those ears, because the little Holy Maiden rarely showed her original appearance.
Those ears looked soft and fluffy, seemingly very nice to touch and warm...
Realizing that Lord Ansu had been staring at her ears, Freya's cheeks flushed red once more.
She lowered her head in embarrassment and murmured, "It seems Vera was right; Lord Ansu really does have a special preference for demihuman girls..."
"Hmm? Vera said that?" Ansu was startled, then said speechlessly, "She actually told you that too?"
When had he ever shown such a preference in front of Vera? He shouldn't have...
Wait... Ansu suddenly remembered a time when the two siblings passed by an auction, and his eyes had been glued to a cat-girl maid...
His sister had been angry at the time, saying the family had no money and he shouldn't even think about bringing one home!
While Ansu was lost in his memories, Freya peeked at him secretly, her heart suddenly filled with excitement.
It seemed Lord Ansu really did have such a special preference...
So.
Lord Ansu likes demihuman girls...
And I am a demihuman girl.
Doesn't this mean... Lord Ansu might also...
Freya fell into a beautiful daydream, even starting to giggle foolishly.
"Alright, alright... I should be going." Ansu heard the commotion outside getting louder and thought to himself, Danielle wouldn't be unable to help herself and start fighting again, would she?
So he hurriedly stood up and instructed, "Wait at home for news these next few days..."
"Are you leaving already, Lord Ansu?" Freya stood up reluctantly, looking longingly at Ansu, whom she had finally met again, "You haven't even finished your tea... Oh, right! I still have some delicious food at home; how about you leave after eating?"
After blurting this out, Freya suddenly felt a bit awkward because she didn't actually know what delicious food she had in the house...
So she pushed the sweet pastries Ansu had bought for her back toward him, "Lord Ansu, you should try some too; they're really delicious!"
Looking at the pastries, Ansu couldn't help but smile, "I really have things to do. Besides, I don't like eating these."
"Huh?" Freya was stunned for a moment. "Then what do you like to eat?"
She only then belatedly realized that she didn't seem to know much about Lord Ansu, not even what he liked to eat...
A trace of self-reproach rose in Freya's heart; it shouldn't be like this...
So, from today on, she would find out all of Lord Ansu's preferences!
She wanted to know everything about Lord Ansu!
"I like to eat..." Ansu paused, thinking to himself, How did I get sidetracked by her? He then shook his head with a smile, "Alright, let's not talk about these useless things. Wait for news at home first. I'll leave a magitech communication device with you; if anything unexpected happens, be sure to notify me immediately."
Freya silently took the small but structurally complex communicator and asked, "Wait for news? Lord Ansu... what kind of news do I need to wait for?"
"Naturally, news that the city is in chaos and the Church is short-handed, and then the chance to make a run for it!" Ansu patiently instructed, "Wait obediently at home for my good news! When the time is right, I'll come and get you!"
"Is Lord Ansu going to save me and then take me away from here...?" Freya's eyes suddenly lit up; wasn't this exactly what she had once longed for?
Leaving the Church of Holy Light with Lord Ansu, escaping from all these worldly troubles... with only the two of them, it was as romantic as an elopement!
"Yes! I'll wait for you at home!" Freya nodded firmly.
"Er..." Ansu narrowed his eyes, looking at her a bit strangely.
Had the little Holy Maiden misunderstood something?
Rate on N.U.
