The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 96

It was the moment Larien was about to speak.

“――――――――――.”

Larien’s words didn’t sound garbled. Neither did Barbie’s that followed.

What’s going on?

My confusion was short-lived as I felt the space distorting as if someone was twisting it.

I, who had been watching with great interest, looked around with a bewildered expression.

What’s with cutting it off at the most crucial moment!

‘Show me a little more!’

I struggled with lingering disappointment, but the Divine Beast’s memory ended there.

In the blink of an eye, I was back in front of the Mishir altar.

“Are you alright?”

Ella looked at me worriedly. I tilted my head in confusion, when suddenly something streamed down my cheek.

“Huh.”

I wiped my cheek, uttering a dazed exclamation without realizing it. My face was tear-streaked, and I didn’t even know when I had started crying.

It was a strange feeling. I had only read someone else’s memory, yet I felt so sad as if it were my own.

I must have been emotionally affected while reading the memory.

“Cheryl-ssi?”

“I’m okay.”

I wiped away the tears, forcing an awkward smile. In the Divine Beast’s memory, Larien seemed to cherish the Black Lion very much.

Judging by how she saved the Black Lion even at the cost of her own power, it might have been more than just affection for a pet.

‘So, what happened to those two?’

The original story never delved deeply into the whereabouts of the Saintess Larien. It only mentioned that the first Saintess had broken her promise with the Divine Beast and was banished.

‘I never imagined the reason for her banishment would be because of the Black Lion.’

The memory I just saw didn’t reveal how Barbie died or what promise Larien made with the Divine Beast.

However, one thing was certain: I now understood the fundamental reason why Hebel was so wary of the Black Lion.

To Hebel’s priests, the Black Lion was an evil being that corrupted the Saintess.

So, even after so many years, they still wanted to shackle Jabez with outdated, century-old issues.

‘Seriously, holding a grudge over something that happened over a thousand years ago is just petty.’

Come on, falling in love isn’t a crime, is it?

I momentarily simmered with indignation, empathizing with Larien’s feelings.

Of course, I couldn’t be sure if Hebel knew the exact story of Barbie and Larien.

Hebel’s scripture could only be read by Naaman, the head. I heard that the contents of the scripture were usually conveyed to the priests through Naaman’s words.

That was the ultimate reason for establishing the authority of Hebel’s head.

* * *

When Ella and I went outside Mishir, numerous priests were already lined up, waiting for me.

Naaman, who was at the front, paid his respects to me.

“We have been waiting.”

“Everyone’s here.”

“It is to celebrate the birth of the Saintess.”

Naaman smiled and glanced at the Mishir River. The Mishir River had been dyed pink since the moment my pheromones were accepted as an offering.

It looked as if my pheromones had spread throughout the river. That alone was proof that I was the Saintess, and the priests immediately prostrated themselves before me.

“Oh, great Saintess!”

“Freedom to Hebel!”

They cheered and gave me respectful looks. Some were still skeptical, but no one could say anything in the face of the clear evidence before them.

“Before celebrating, please allow me to see the sacred objects first.”

I boldly requested, seizing the opportunity. Now that I was recognized as the Saintess, there was no need to waste time in Hebel.

“Yes, of course. However, there is something we need to confirm beforehand.”

“Confirmation?”

“You must have read the Divine Beast’s memory while offering the sacrifice. May we ask what memory it was?”

Naaman’s gaze slowly shifted to me. Sensing his expectant reaction, I skillfully lied.

“It was just ordinary. It was a scene of the first Saintess, Larien, making a contract with the Divine Beast.”

It wasn’t entirely false. That was exactly the scene Ella saw in 『Ella’s Kingdom』.

I lied to Naaman just in case. I couldn’t be sure if Hebel was as virtuous as in the original story, especially considering what happened at my wedding.

“I see…”

For a moment, disappointment flickered across Naaman’s face. But it was so fleeting that one wouldn’t have noticed unless they were watching closely.

I tilted my head innocently and asked.

“What’s the reason for asking this?”

Naaman seemed a little taken aback by the blunt question before continuing.

“Whenever a Saintess appears, we have always read the Divine Beast’s memory and revised the scripture accordingly. They generally recall memories related to the contract with the Divine Beast, just like Cheryl-ssi.”

“Were there cases where they read other memories?”

“Not yet, but everyone is waiting. Waiting for a Saintess who reads new memories.”

I seemed to see a sense of awe for the Divine Beast filling Naaman’s eyes. As I silently stared at him, Naaman said,

“We formally ask about the memory each time because of the last revelation the Divine Beast left behind.”

“Revelation?”

“Yes. Before the Divine Beast left the continent, he left a revelation about a Saintess who sees a special memory.”

“A special memory?”

“We do not know the specifics. It is only said that a great change will occur in Hebel when someone who reads a different memory appears.”

“Is that so…”

I murmured softly, lost in thought.

In a situation where I couldn’t fully trust Hebel, saying that I had read a different memory was a dangerous thing to do.

It was possible that the special memory Naaman was talking about was the memory I had seen.

‘I should stay still for now.’

Frankly, I wasn’t sure if what I read was the ‘special memory’ mentioned in the revelation. Besides, if it was such a significant event that would cause a great change in Hebel, there would have been some clue.

It would have been nice if the memory hadn’t been cut off in the middle, which was a shame.

Then Naaman said,

“Then I will guide you to the vault. Afterward, please join us for a meal and enjoy the festival. It’s the birth of a Saintess after 100 years, so we can’t just let it pass, can we?”

“Okay.”

I smiled brightly, as if I had never been serious, and followed Naaman closely.

* * *

When we arrived in front of the Holy Sanctuary where the vault was located, Rachel said following behind.

“Shout immediately if anything happens.”

Rachel couldn’t enter the Holy Sanctuary and had to wait outside. I shouted energetically.

“Yes, Mother! Don’t worry.”

“Your very existence is a worry. You’re so tiny, always scurrying about.”

My face stiffened as I glared at Rachel with a smile. I wondered how long she would keep calling me a booger [a small, insignificant person].

I was afraid she would call me a big booger when I became an adult.

“Let’s go.”

It was the moment I entered the vault inside the Holy Sanctuary at Naaman’s urging. The dark space lit up all at once, and the displayed sacred objects were visible at a glance.

“Choose one sacred object you like and make a contract with it.”

Naaman stepped back and quietly waited for my decision. I calmly examined the sacred objects.

The dormant sacred objects were in the form of raw stones. It was the moment I stood in front of a blue jewel in the shape of a sapphire.

Before I could even say a word, I was instantly transported to the Room of Choice, and I looked around.

The Room of Choice, reminiscent of a humid cave, was very dark, unlike Tae-bi’s Room of Choice.

Then, with a solemn voice, a mole emerged from the ground.

― Are you the one who woke me?

He was wearing sunglasses even in the dark cave. I wondered if he could even see in them, but he was nonchalantly showing off his style.

Seeing the mole with only his head sticking out and wearing sunglasses made me want to laugh.

To make matters worse, my gaze was drawn to his sparkling forehead, and I couldn’t help but want to stroke it.

But the other party was the Sapphire of Order, also known as the Old Man Mole. If I touched his head disrespectfully, he would probably run away, contract or no contract.

‘I have to hold back.’

It was when I was gritting my teeth and enduring. Suddenly, the mole popped out of the ground and stood with his hands behind his back.

The mole, exuding the poise of a noble scholar, was smaller than I thought.

The moment I saw his short, stubby body, about the size of my forearm, I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“Pfft, hahahaha!”