Chapter 49: A Mission to Cariso City

After Lucia’s visit, Lovelenica rested at home for two more days. Only after she had fully recovered did she resume her duties, returning to the church to guide Lucia.

To Lovelenica’s surprise, the Crimson Family had barely bothered her during these two days. They even ensured her meals were served on time, a fact that genuinely exceeded her expectations.

After several days of uneventful peace, the Bishop issued a new mission order to Lovelenica. She was to be dispatched to Cariso City, a town situated south of Savigny Village, to provide support.

The reason for this ‘support’ mission was clear: Cariso City had encountered an intractable situation. They had proactively sent a Sacred Writ to the Royal City, making the objective of this deployment undeniable.

Cariso City was grappling with an Unholy-grade incident. Vampires had appeared within its walls.

While a single vampire wouldn’t bring the city to its knees, the people of Cariso City had proven unable to capture it. This was precisely why they required assistance from the Royal City.

Cariso City was not particularly far from the Royal City. Even by horseback, the journey would take a day and a half, potentially requiring a two-day stay in Cariso City itself.

Lovelenica was thrilled by this news. An external mission meant she could openly distance herself from the Crimson Family, and they would even prepare her blood bags in advance.

She even contemplated extending her stay in Cariso City for a few extra days, just to avoid facing the members of the Crimson Family.

The only downside was that the Bishop had commanded Lovelenica to take Lucia with her this time. The stated reason was to further cultivate Lucia’s practical combat abilities.

Having no other option, Lovelenica reluctantly agreed.

Outside the South City Gate, the coachwoman stood waiting by the church’s designated carriage. Beside the vehicle, two young women in black and white nun habits stood: Lovelenica and Lucia.

Lovelenica’s slender, elegant legs were encased in black stockings, which only accentuated their length. Lucia, meanwhile, wore white stockings, and her silky golden hair further emphasized her sacred and pure aura. Both wore silver crucifixes around their necks, indicating they were fully equipped and took this mission with utmost seriousness.

Lovelenica was ready, but Lucia was still bidding farewell to a friend.

“Why would the Bishop decide to send both of you on this mission…?”

Imeline’s question carried a hint of concern. She still harbored distrust for Lovelenica and was deeply worried about Lucia’s safety.

“When you go to Cariso City, remember to protect yourself. Don’t get hurt.”

“Don’t worry, Teacher will protect me.”

‘It’s *your teacher* I’m telling you to be careful of, you silly girl!’

Imeline sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead in exasperation. In the end, she could only let Lucia depart.

Observing the interaction between Lucia and Imeline, Lovelenica, standing a short distance away, let out a self-deprecating laugh.

Even Lucia, an orphan, had someone to see her off on a mission, yet Lovelenica, living within a grand family, had no one to bid her farewell. It was truly quite pathetic.

“Teacher, shall we go?”

After saying goodbye to Imeline, Lucia came to Lovelenica’s side. She offered a radiant smile, signaling her readiness to depart at any moment.

“Yes, let’s go.”

Seeing Lucia’s smile, Lovelenica’s mood brightened slightly. With an expressionless face, she boarded the carriage alongside Lucia.

‘Perhaps someone *had* come to see her off, but that person was about to embark on the journey with her.’

Through their previous conversation at the cafe and Lucia’s visit during her illness, Lovelenica understood that Lucia genuinely cared for her.

Despite this, she couldn’t show any intimacy. Any closeness, at the moment the truth was revealed, would transform into an even sharper blade.

Incidentally, Lovelenica had never ridden in a carriage before her transmigration. She wondered what it would feel like. As the carriage began to sway, a sense of novelty washed over her.

However…

“Ugh… Miss, could you stop the carriage? I need to rest for a bit…”

The carriage had barely begun its journey when Lovelenica opened the window, her face pale and weak, and leaned against the sill.

Hearing her, the coachwoman immediately reined in the horses, dismounted, and hurried to the carriage door to check on her. Lucia, too, swiftly moved to Lovelenica’s side.

“Teacher, what’s wrong?”

“Miss Lovelenica, has something happened?”

“No, nothing, ugh… I’m just a little carsick…”

Lovelenica replied weakly. Her initial sense of novelty regarding the carriage had completely morphed into dizzying nausea.

“My apologies, Miss Lovelenica. I will do my best to minimize bumps for the rest of the journey.”

Believing it was her fault, the coachwoman quickly apologized to Lovelenica.

“It’s fine… I just get a bit carsick. I’ll try looking at the horizon to see if that helps.”

Thus, Lovelenica’s initial fascination with the carriage vanished entirely. After a brief pause, they resumed their journey, continuing towards Cariso City.

Due to Lovelenica’s motion sickness, they stopped and started frequently along the way, taking two full days to finally reach Cariso City.

“Finally… we’re finally here!”

The carriage halted outside Cariso City’s gate, and a girl’s delighted shout echoed from within, drawing the gazes of others waiting to enter. Moments later, a tall young woman in a nun’s habit eagerly leaped out of the carriage.

“Teacher, you’re being too loud.”

Another girl followed, stepping out of the carriage, though her movements were far less dramatic.

The attention of the onlookers was drawn to the two young women. It wasn’t just their striking figures that were pleasing to the eye; it was also their church nun habits. Some well-informed individuals recognized the church’s insignia, immediately discerning that the carriage had been dispatched from the Royal City’s church. Thus, these two nuns undoubtedly hailed from the Royal City.

“Ahem, my apologies, that was a bit undignified.”

Realizing her momentary lapse, Lovelenica gave two embarrassed coughs. She then composed herself, reverting to her usual calm demeanor.

“Let’s enter the city first.”

“Mhm.”

To be honest, seeing Lovelenica suffer from motion sickness, and then her look of immense relief upon their imminent arrival, struck Lucia as quite novel.

She had never known Lovelenica to get carsick, nor had she ever witnessed such an uninhibited display of emotion from her teacher.

In the past, Lovelenica had always maintained a cold, unapproachable demeanor, as if she were sealing off and suppressing her inner self.

Even now, Lucia sensed a certain suppression in Lovelenica, yet she was far more open than before.

Lucia suddenly realized she had never truly understood her teacher. Perhaps, now that their relationship had somewhat softened, it was time to get to know her better.