#94

A thirteenth 96c8b8327c sacred relic?2c7db95404da2df9

Weren’t there only 91bff063dd supposed to be 0a5959d7cd twelve?bfdd2186b728f4f2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I widened 21bfbfed53 my eyes 9e028bd133 at the f7dd51ec40 unexpected revelation. The widely known 8733c4a769 number of sacred 7b4c687b86 relics was twelve, b2fcaae66d with ten of 6916c5ac4f them already stored fbbe48d4ac in Hebel’s Treasure 1327902777 Vault.165ffb1d858e473b

But now, there was e455e642c2 another? That was a5b02b327e beyond surprising.4236f05bfafb4045

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

—It’s natural that 4c0855e5fe you don’t know. The Opal of 9c5b9e2f58 Nothingness was created c20d736ca5 by the Divine 13d5dbbc4d Beast just before 43e8f86bb0 their departure. It was made for 4a083f4181 one specific beastman.41a064adfcac29dc

A relic designed with 3f14702c45 a particular individual in e7b8b44b30 mind?6ed0cdc63b2c1dff

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

That was completely 3252132117 different from the 09e8c6e57e other relics, which 9857d29fd7 had been created c45d219117 to maintain the 339a3a85c0 balance of the 2aa59ebe26 world.5a6f61cc3449cb03

The Divine ad265aa8b6 Beast had 8d52011e39 left the 4ddba79111 continent right 3e92fd930e after the fcf4be795a fall of 202e4e3fe8 the first 5b63ec769c Saintess, so 61bd23dd5a its intended 8e20106cd1 owner must d411d8e5fb have been 4c361e462d her.e32dead1eb3ea1de

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I tilted my head, 0a15743c0d intrigued.56db05dbbac95da5

Since this d37fa53673 relic hadn’t 23941d1c3b even been c32b6a2e52 mentioned in a4b54cd74c the original 927da9470c story, it e7a7ec3f6d clearly wasn’t fbe35d3424 inside the ecb5ef66b2 Treasure Vault.616fac68493c3455

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As expected, Taby sighed 8a5957ba42 in frustration.05b549ef0eb7296e

—The problem is… even 3e263afe04 the other Guardians don’t e074076d9a know where it is. It’s a completely 4ce984ab5f independent entity that a4e8c9f399 doesn’t resonate with 738101b14d us.f6c480b0bb93face

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

A relic that didn’t 351408d3d1 respond to the other 39745decab twelve?782144113f0b1d44

That was like 44f15f2ab4 searching for a c6f7bf8ca2 pearl in a 911aba47cd desert.34f985d51fae4615

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Then it’s useless, isn’t it?”f6d594262c31f7da

If even 4c1af88424 the Guardians 0768ba6aab couldn’t locate ba39b03bde it, my 9206400df4 chances of a14bf485ba finding it 00775bc568 were practically 57d307b47e nonexistent.ccf36c42bdb76f5a

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

And I couldn’t even 685d92c682 rely on my original 3397fecf71 story knowledge since it 40f5554ad6 had never been mentioned 84f3fe080c before.1524c8abc5b51450

Taby, noticing ba9ce37452 my frustration, f398f5a92a swam in d3ddf5abd1 circles around 23fb7f3d77 me soothingly.be5abd9c8f78d168

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

—For now, let’s 39891e6ee2 focus on purification 2c24cd547b instead. And getting the a788897e7e Sapphire of Order 68e76e9777 is your top 89f885fef8 priority.828ef7d9f7f01c29

They were right.c6882b922e6fae51

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

There was no point b7a23485b1 in worrying about the 22e293b8f1 future yet—I had to 194172e295 survive first.42ec202ce1cfd038

I needed to take bac4f0bd77 things step by step.30ea658211e40b60

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

And just like that, 91683ba2c2 the day of the 3f956304a7 Saintess Examination arrived.71eaf8b1d95102bf

“Are you ready?”dd4bec4d039057ee

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Naaman, dressed in ceremonial ba21d75e74 robes, asked me respectfully.fc58272204479540

I took a 701d26e973 deep breath and 531b362f8e nodded.3b23a7aa3d23d655

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

We were deep inside f4ecb256eb Hebel’s sacred temple, standing 6248054616 before a river.b2e13af8d81972ca

This river, known a819c13755 as Mishir, was 93103e3afe the first place 9f4f5e944b where the Divine 5ab8efb200 Beast had descended 6b99869b4d to the mortal 07ef08d588 world.8876f4f77c637012

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Because of 695f0b3fee that, it 8f90c2e400 was brimming e373784ee1 with the 8e43a40555 Divine Beast’s b1aaf74b60 energy.6f8e19ec418577ca

Mishir had 2b13c87305 a unique d4d531af39 power—inside it, 5536cdd7ae all beastmen f3b931bfa3 became invincible.c5d0cebab9c39db2

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

That was 55c4439b71 because pheromones 1fe4d3689f were amplified 6473b3f481 in its 70121140a3 waters.cc258989f534e1df

Unlike an a47c6eb734 ordinary river, 2f73f66a17 one could e42ea89dfe breathe freely cfb8d3a3cb underwater in da4bd95856 Mishir.500573ffb5234789

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

If Hebel’s fog rendered adeeb29520 beastmen weak and powerless, d3ec43b414 then Mishir’s water granted e566ac455d them complete freedom.c9208c32e6cf9331

It was the 4578c981ea only place in ae00cebec4 Hebel that existed 5dc63cf839 outside the fog’s 9fe75b4f55 influence.fadf2d4fa988bdcc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At the heart of 3d8a295075 Mishir stood an altar 5a67bebade dedicated to the Divine 0e16978000 Beast.d1e121b3b84ba163

In the original 0916151343 story, only two c2d2bc69b4 people could offer 370420ab2c tributes at this 2640dda432 altar—the head of 0404c920a0 Hebel and the d1018bc4ee Saintess.5cc6fce1bdaccf3a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Even then, the 93ba204765 head of Hebel 2dd61adc40 faced restrictions, unlike 215b29f4b5 the Saintess.ff1da475850785d9

Since the ed959b35b4 altar contained de4b376832 the Divine 4350bbc5fd Beast’s strongest ba2d37e545 presence, any f122c3cdf6 unapproved offerings 891d907afd were rejected.1e1aadcab7d1a334

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Naturally, the offering required 262a3b1344 was pheromones.c34297cf6db7a3d1

The head of Hebel f81da633c1 could not leave Hebel, bd490792d8 but in exchange, they 81e4605b32 were the only person 8ef6311150 who could freely use efe526dc97 their pheromones within it.5818dd83cfecb2ca

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Feigning ignorance, I cf237c8c7d glanced at Naaman, 130e3a056f prompting him to 45a8b5bef3 explain the rules.7476a0e442d81b43

“The process is simple. You must enter Mishir and release your pheromones at the altar.”851883989cd10e2c

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“That’s it?”9c9a16ad60b8af35

“Yes. If you are truly the Saintess, the Divine Beast will accept your offering. If you are not, it will be rejected. Ah, and should the altar refuse your pheromones, you must not force an offering.”951b609cc065be33

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Why not?”7ff8402e9b42b893

“If a beastman forces an unaccepted offering, they will incur the Divine Beast’s wrath and have their pheromones stripped away.”6f1be27944817b09

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Naaman’s voice 8256220cac turned ominous, 40f42b18a3 clearly trying f933cbcf0d to intimidate aa4b674e42 me.914a9d7ea3bf16d8

For an ordinary 9c09c1e322 beastman, losing their d40610819c pheromones was terrifying.191078d683b21bed

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

But for ef24623b19 me… that 8a8c2ee421 was exactly 0f2ce32452 what I 6833fef4b2 wanted.e958cdc1ac9cefcd

Of course, I couldn’t just blurt out, “That sounds great, actually!”ed150f9080d3c5d2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

So instead, I 28570f11ba widened my eyes 759e2b8041 and trembled as 22cf9c3c06 if I were 19752e9f9c terrified.b50418e0f75da53f

“R-really? My pheromones could completely disappear?”8c28cb3d19633a32

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Satisfied with my 3b0daa370c reaction, Naaman softened 122583b086 and chuckled.beaef4bc52d6818a

“It’s merely a legend passed down in Hebel. No one has ever experienced it, so there’s no need to worry.”62292ad3692365c7

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Well, that killed 34a3ee6415 my excitement.8ea9f9d2bcb423e2

“Ahh~ what a relief.”bad411759b55b5db

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I let out 08fc0879df a forced sigh, 4b61d2b894 hiding my disappointment.27b04f1edf8743ad

While I was 7d009b3db4 busy acting the c9b6083163 opposite of my cc93d4c345 true feelings, Naaman bd8e257f66 gestured toward Ella.da12b939f0774f5c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“You will guide her.”92bd72df01ca60bb

“Huh? You’re not coming with us?”a523afe3647e0300

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“No. Mishir is the most sacred of sacred grounds, and the priests of Hebel are restricted from entering. The only time I am allowed inside Mishir is during an Atonement Ceremony.”f77779ecbb68da3d

“But Ella is allowed?”713091197c1f1480

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Ella has not made a Hebel Contract with the Divine Beast, making her a perfect guide.”ed951b014cb49247

“Ah, I see.”3d8f241bd9e24955

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

It made sense.9fd6feab4f30bcfb

All priests of Hebel d0aa20178a swore absolute loyalty to ea84b9facb the Divine Beast.ecec957fd1ce9941

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But since 5f9ecf4ff4 Ella was 9a695903ad Isaac’s adopted ca9ba6ba83 daughter, she 4749cf878f hadn’t made 48254ea08b the contract cff380f949 and was edfbd54db3 therefore free a8931d4e18 to enter 253e25c749 Mishir.adec8b712673aad2

So that’s why they 19d90f9c4d had assigned Ella as 3c7d8c02fe my guide and kept b2c0027741 her by my side.303e4917aa3d5381

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

I had 96a0ce1520 been wondering 802cc55e6b why she a9349b9da0 was the c9ab577927 one escorting b34604e5bc me—now it 73df69703a all clicked.e44ee94d8487408e

“Shall we go?”cf317e43c6dfc6ca

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ella stood beside me 3b8703d9eb and extended her hand.ae7ebc166c228d9f

I took it c796ee45d4 firmly and began 3b0f1d174e stepping into Mishir.f746499a880a8648

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

As soon as e645dfba37 the cool water 362765934d wrapped around my dbe888d796 ankles, a refreshing 1ead6ac92b sensation spread through def0f19734 my body.ae478bda8cc741e2

When the water rose 2a765a8db3 all the way to aa92ff093e my head, I let fe3b004589 out a breathless gasp 5eb91a49e5 of amazement.ef5e0b41b9a0c309

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“I really can breathe underwater.”e56a7f2b6d775bfc

It felt af46b16e2b as if a33b9327c1 I had 979d2ed6a8 turned into 5882806a21 a mermaid.7a066527b4b597f0

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I didn’t 618d376a18 have gills, 06d73fe8d5 yet it 9e0417659f was as 162a24bbbb if I ce33412ff6 did. The whole 0942e55b71 experience was d32a735c68 surreal.ddcedb4892dcfe9f

As I marveled bc918ab7bd at my surroundings, 3cc239681a Ella asked gently,2eae7c0ad2a8b862

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”ac7540710d28e571

“Nope.”dc3b0e357340e6bc

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

In fact, I felt ab2833b795 amazing in Hebel.2be706b3404a211a

Unlike other beastmen, the a6025c4d58 longer I was exposed ca54c5edc2 to the fog, the a2b49cec29 better my body felt.13a2aed91650342e

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

‘It doesn’t 558af75e52 feel any 7db244e242 different from 78a8036078 being outside.’2f99e947049e36cd

Come to think 882723c7a7 of it, my 346c246153 body was full 2c6f0f6d6d of oddities.2109090b4424ad74

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

While others grew c3ec0d9840 weak under Hebel’s e4ee988f63 fog, I remained d62d914547 completely fine.23b1ee65ead2ff11

I wasn’t even physically c24caf237f weak, yet I had 606b9923ef no restrictions.15a0ec7ca2076c25

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

If I was going b2f11c648f to be an anomaly 9f61395618 anyway, I really wished df8b2dec55 I could have handled 26ffacb615 my two pheromones properly, 3151a35149 too.9c739f7775891c2b

But, of course, that b7d14d6bd7 was too much to 1081d22a16 ask for.485765594ea779bb

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Meanwhile, Ella looked 07b1205a97 much freer than 2c7f9eabbf she had been 5f5183c041 outside.5d6565df7619114d

It seemed 8fba1531ef that those 351ca5bd76 who were 79c1c4b829 affected by 1c3169657e the fog 6cb25ee319 experienced a 9473ea22ab drastic change d54c464f21 inside Mishir.2837bd791295c953

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

In contrast, I felt 20f5efa25b the same both inside c63552cffc and outside.12afb001d03a0770

It was almost like b6060d3314 I was always in 0ca5b8c36d Mishir, even when I a2e69a5b82 wasn’t.bc917c4a85d9a72e

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Ella spoke e54f2b5922 with a 8e7673aec0 note of 1b08729185 excitement in 4e529434d5 her voice.13290094e39f85d1

“That’s a relief. Since you aren’t affected by the fog, I was worried Mishir might be different for you.”9d20771a1db43999

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Not at all. It’s exactly the same in here as it is outside.”817c0b8711d7d259

“That’s fascinating.”3b4309a4115df845

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Ella glanced at me 655e223c2f curiously before carefully leading a0adfce084 me toward the altar.290d6ce64e4603f8

The path 16cf7a256d to the 9071a80841 altar was 51e5490bc1 made of 06f385e32d pure gold.5ba25611b3f4355c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

At the end c21383df71 of this luxurious 71b879ad75 path stood a 774dd9b37b massive golden altar.c454026acbe8b835

A golden statue of d23c96e3bf the Divine Beast coiled 5a98f5b069 protectively around it, exuding debe772ee7 an overwhelming presence.a9e62538ac4b544b

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“This is the place.”eff33a6cc07dbb2c

“…Oh, wow.”82b26ea9628f4f93

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Just how f98b7fa51f much money df6a412cbb was this 791d13913b worth?2cec167ee523491d

The golden altar shimmered ecff5b95e4 under the water’s refracted c38be60cf8 light, casting a mesmerizing ed0c2ec1a7 glow.b388649d4d1fb597

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The statue of the 9c05da4334 Divine Beast embracing the aa07e2ad91 altar was nothing short fa95748337 of magnificent.0129ba465daf3182

Ella gestured toward da1132853b the altar.6385facfcc2c187b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Place your hands here and release your pheromones as you normally would.”6b5e20d4782aa8cc

“Like this?”784aa3c79e2fda4f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

Following her c58240a8f7 instructions, I 17a8d63ba7 placed my e4058d462e hands on 4139dcab9a the altar—f878b7711a29d673

But the moment I aa95f4f918 did, a scorching heat 4f2d89b34d surged through my palms.70b57138d3b485c6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Ah!”5ad64cbfb1951fd3

Startled, I immediately 6b09a57ff5 yanked my hands 9638e81198 back.623d0130dfe9db2a

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Lady Cersia?”7b78369cce752784

“I-Is it supposed to be this hot?!”1fb4ee81982ea7e1

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Clenching my fists 607be2dccb to shake off c6398b3ee2 the burning sensation, 5a03534378 I looked at 9d4a074279 Ella in alarm.6e99af70a138182b

But she 2219cd4c66 only tilted cbff81b5a8 her head 68468d8505 in confusion.460fa8a1b2351382

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Hot?”7cdfb49c756b12cc

Without hesitation, she 8154064a36 placed her own 40b7858684 hands on the f0f94b47cd altar, completely unfazed.8c4472dbccb916b9

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

There wasn’t the 57a7e5ad77 slightest reaction.029a593bc9397e3d

She didn’t 6fb6d093b0 feel anything 81e043816a unusual at 6e346401b9 all.3143e66b4915abab

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

As I blinked 5d0b4310a4 in confusion, Taby b8fecc3f0e suddenly materialized in 6f45721f08 their fish form.efb6d576124f8f49

—Oh, oops. The altar ba43b6d29c must be fb1b2f69a4 rejecting you d7565dea3f because of 2184ef27cc my power.b5b34675ef34ab07

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

They flicked their tail 492989b823 innocently, but I shot 15e28354a6 them a sharp glare.f75dd375a7ab4cad

‘Couldn’t you have warned 251e38f1ba me sooner?’d55b5a29af8f6860

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

For a second, 01538e9ebd I thought I 0fdf9cbd67 was about to 55ea69ad50 fail the Saintess f0852ad528 trial!704a830afe569621

I let 04f2b87307 out a e7ad82402a deep sigh, c68c247c80 waiting as 1eff7e345e Taby hurriedly 2a683f5068 withdrew their 34b20fa0b6 influence from 9cfee3ff6a my body.997e271bb1e2e94c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Meanwhile, Ella added,a7d1c866eca91745

“It’s probably because you’ve already contracted a Guardian. The altar rejects anything that isn’t pure pheromones.”4167ee18c8f17d09

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“You sure know a lot about Guardians.”512bd0662c1f400d

“I’ve heard plenty from Lord Isaac.”cda5b13c4c2fe0f3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

She smiled sweetly and f5d9083eae stood by patiently.76aab75b34b5a113

A moment cdd86cfb39 later, I bcf5cbbe6b felt Taby’s 91565cbe61 energy completely ee6a5d063a retracting from feff7984b3 me.baecdf05615b263b

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A sharp pang 8c8dc5337c of pain followed.9bd2208e73598ccf

It was a clear d2613c46cf sign that my body 94c57852cf was still in an 2405faa3d2 unstable state.1fb9e7fbc98484be

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

—Let’s finish c0d2a4486d this quickly. The longer this 7dc9418ed5 drags on, the 4ef83be0f0 worse it’ll be be386ce80d for you.e51edf794cbb2189

“Got it.”eaf14f05a19fcff2

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Steeling my resolve, 6ec9ae9152 I placed my 3fee6f4108 hands back on 18775a5ef9 the altar.0102ae7c11fd4698

This time, it d6e8fc1cde wasn’t hot.dceea33508b3083d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Hoo…”1fb7cfe2eb9cc545

Why was I 850d56f7aa so nervous?17d1647b3075864e

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Taking several b2f527b7c1 deep breaths, 12b14aa1d4 I slowly db5371c2b9 released my bb886c59ce pheromones into 0a5ae880be the altar.943ef222ecbffab5