The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 150

#150.

Perhaps sensing Chersia’s hesitation, Tabi stepped forward.

“Why are you even hesitating? Let’s just take it all!”

Sometimes, Tabi seemed even more enthusiastic about stealing. Unexpectedly, Jonathan also chimed in, urging her on.

“Indeed! These items are useless to anyone but a Saintess anyway.”

Startled, Chersia blinked and feigned innocence.

“Oh? What’s with you, Jonathan, agreeing for once?”

She had been pretending to worry that Jonathan would stop her, so this was unexpected. Jonathan adjusted his sunglasses and said,

“Ahem! I’m not such a rigid man, you know.”

“Wow! So generous!”

“Why do you praise me so much? Heh heh heh.”

Jonathan, seemingly embarrassed, scratched the back of his head and let out his signature laugh.

“So, we should take it all, right? The problem is, what do we replace it with in that spot?”

In case Naaman came in, it was best to replace the items in a way that wouldn’t be noticeable just by looking.

The problem was that due to the sudden time travel, they didn’t have any jewels to replace them with.

Then Jonathan offered an idea.

“Why not use the ‘Jade of Imitation’?”

“Ah-ha? Why didn’t I think of that?”

The Jade of Imitation could create similar jewels. It was a type of alchemy, a sacred artifact perfect for deceiving by mimicking the real thing.

With the biggest problem solved, there was no need to delay any longer.

To make a contract in a safe place, they first needed to take out the jewels. Chersia was about to put the jewels in her usual pouch when she noticed.

“Huh? There’s something missing from the sacred artifacts?”

Chersia tilted her head, counting the sacred artifacts.

According to Hebel’s report, there were a total of ten sacred artifacts stored. One of them was the Peridot of Eternity, held by Naaman, and another was taken by Ella when she was recognized as a Saintess.

That meant there should be eight left, but there were only five. As she counted the jewels in the pouch one by one, Jonathan spoke.

“My main body probably disappeared during the time travel. Two sacred artifacts cannot exist in the same timeline.”

“Then why is Tabi by my side? If Ella here has a contract with Tabi, isn’t that a double contract?”

“Perhaps Jonathan disappeared because he didn’t have a contract with Ella here.”

Tabi calmly explained, examining the sacred artifacts in the pouch.

“The missing ones are the ‘Spinel of Illusion’ and the ‘Lapis Lazuli of Oblivion’.”

The Spinel of Illusion, as the name suggested, had the power to lure beasts with illusions.

The Lapis Lazuli of Oblivion had the power to erase memories, mainly used to erase bad memories.

Chersia realized something upon hearing that the Spinel of Illusion was missing.

“Could it be that the illusion used on Jabisi’s army in the other world was also…?”

“It must be the power of the sacred artifact. But you’re the only Saintess in that world, so how could that be…?”

Tabi paced around, seemingly unable to understand. On the other hand, Chersia had a look of clarity on her face.

“There’s one more.”

“Huh?”

“What do you mean?”

Tabi and Jonathan stared at her with tense expressions at her meaningful words.

A Saintess who was not recognized as a Saintess. A beastman who could wield the power of a sacred beast until she was chased away from Hebel.

Someone who used to be her older sister and is now plotting something by using her.

Chersia said with a face full of conviction,

“Ebensev.”

“!”

“It seems she’s been alive all along.”

“Wh-What!”

“That’s impossible!”

Tabi and Jonathan froze at the sudden name. It was a stark contrast to when they couldn’t remember even after seeing a woman who resembled Ebensev.

‘So that’s why they couldn’t remember.’

Indeed, the Lapis Lazuli of Oblivion could erase even the memories of fellow Guardians.

Originally, it was a power for Guardians who lived long lives, but somehow it had been misused like this.

“Actually, I met a woman who looked like her in the original world.”

“But why didn’t we know?”

“…She manipulated our memories.”

Tabi muttered in an angry voice. Jonathan flinched and distanced himself from Tabi.

“So, you’re saying that person is Ebensev herself?”

“I can’t be sure. She hasn’t aged at all, and a seizure happened before I could confirm anything.”

“Ah, that’s right, that time.”

“She was so calm, as if she knew I was going to have a seizure.”

“Then it’s possible she knows you have two pheromones.”

“The worst part is that Ebensev could trigger my seizures if she wanted to.”

Right after meeting her, the other pheromone, which had been quiet all along, started to move.

Chersia quietly recalled the time she met the woman who resembled Ebensev.

The first thing she felt after meeting her was a sense of unease.

It was as if someone who shouldn’t be here was brazenly walking around.

And as if recognizing that presence, her heart started to race. Could the seizure that occurred as if it were a signal really have been a coincidence?

After opening her eyes, Chersia realized that her body was different from before.

It felt like a blocked path had been opened.

Of course, she couldn’t guarantee that she could freely use Zerachiel enough to free him from his madness right away.

‘As long as Ella’s pheromone is in me, I can have a pheromone clash at any time.’

But wouldn’t it be different in Hebel?

That’s because Chersia was particularly free in Hebel. Now, she might be able to free Zerachiel from his madness without burdening her body.

Then Jonathan said,

“Don’t worry about that. Ebensev lost her power when she was kicked out of Hebel, and even if she regained it, she wouldn’t have pheromones that cause seizures.”

“Don’t be so sure. The opponent is Ebensev. I still shudder at the thought of what that wicked bitch did.”

Tabi visibly trembled with anger. Chersia tilted her head.

“What did Ebensev do to make you so upset?”

“It’s all because of her that Larien was kicked out of Hebel. She sent the Black Lion to separate Larien from the sacred beast.”

“…Huh?”

“That’s right. And Larien, without knowing that, broke her promise to help the Black Lion. Tsk!”

Jonathan clicked his tongue and chimed in. He had no idea that Chersia was the reincarnation of Larien.

Chersia mumbled blankly.

“Ebensev sent Bobby?”

* * *

Meanwhile, what Zerachiel encountered as he belatedly headed to the beach was an unexpected situation.

His gaze turned to Eve, who had collapsed in Ella’s arms, and Heathcliff, who was blocking their path.

Where had the Jabisi soldiers he had sent in advance gone, and why were only those two facing the Sarvan family head’s side?

But the one facing them was the mighty sub-head of Page. The Sarvan family head had already retreated with a fatal wound.

The white ferret, who should have been among them, was nowhere to be seen. Then, the Sarvan family head shouted at Heathcliff.

“To draw your sword against a fellow Northerner! Is that what your father taught you?”

“You attacked first, family head.”

“When did I ever attack you!”

The Sarvan family head protested, clutching his wounded area. In response, Heathcliff gestured towards the fallen Eve.

“Not me, her.”

“Do I need your permission to discipline my daughter? Even if Page is the leading family in the North, this is overstepping!”

“Didn’t you also try to harm the rabbit next to her?”

The Sarvan family head, at a loss for words, made excuses and berated Heathcliff.

“This is absurd. If your father knew you were acting like this, he’d collapse from high blood pressure.”

“Enough with the nonsense. Just surrender since it’s all over anyway. I don’t want to make things any rougher.”

Despite Heathcliff’s coercion, the Sarvan family head remained vigilant.

Seeing this, Zerachiel clicked his tongue lowly. At this rate, it would take forever if he left the job to that hyena.

Judging that it was no longer worth listening to, Zerachiel suddenly attacked the Sarvan family head from behind.

“Ugh!”

The Sarvan family head let out a scream as he fell in one blow. Regardless, Zerachiel stomped on the Sarvan family head’s face and asked,

“Where did you smuggle the ferret off to?”