The Strongest Daughter-In-Law Of The Black Lion Family [EN]: Chapter 27

#27.

“Because of me?”

Hearthcliff let out a cold laugh, a stark contrast to the innocent face he wore around ChiChi.

Page and Zavis recognized this side of him. From the start, there was little reason for them to have a friendly conversation.

A flicker of annoyance crossed Zerachiel’s usually relaxed face. Even as this ridiculous conversation dragged on, ChiChi seemed preoccupied.

*What on earth is she doing?*

“If you want to play judge, do it with your subordinates. I’m not interested.”

Zerachiel sighed briefly and approached the well. The murderous intent radiating from him intensified with each step.

Ivan covered his nose, frowning at the suffocating pressure of Zerachiel’s pheromones.

Zerachiel was about to pass Heathcliff and head toward the well when Heathcliff blocked his path, his face blank. “I told you not to let anyone in.”

“I’m not just anyone.”

He refrained from adding, *I’m going to be her husband soon.* He didn’t want to reveal something even ChiChi didn’t know yet.

Zerachiel smirked, staring directly at Heathcliff. His gaze promised violence, as if he’d tear him apart if he didn’t move.

But Heathcliff didn’t back down. He conjured a pure white sword from his pheromones, blocking Zerachiel’s way. “If you really have to pass, you’ll have to defeat me first.”

“Ha.”

Zerachiel sighed, running a hand through his hair in annoyance. He couldn’t fathom how ChiChi had managed to befriend such a stubborn man.

*Perhaps I should have warned her from the beginning.*

ChiChi treated Heathcliff with ease, without any wariness, as if she knew him well. It was a far cry from their first meeting, when she was wary and boldly challenging him.

Zerachiel’s patience was wearing thin.

“If you’re trying to act tough here in Hebel [a neutral territory or city], you should stop.”

“Are you willing to break the peace treaty over a mere weasel?”

Hearthcliff was confident Zerachiel wouldn’t attack. A fight in Hebel would have far-reaching consequences.

But that was a thought Heathcliff could only have because he didn’t truly know Zerachiel.

He was a beast-man with a few screws loose, despite his normal appearance.

“She’s not just a weasel.”

“What?”

“I hate to say this, but I’ve never let anyone who blocked my path live.”

“Lord Zerachiel! No!”

Ivan, sensing the danger, tried to intervene, but it was too late.

“If you thought I would back down, you’re sorely mistaken, little master of Page.”

A sword with a completely black blade materialized in Zerachiel’s hand. This was a fight to the death.

*Whoosh!*

Suddenly, spring water erupted from the well. Zerachiel and Heathcliff stopped fighting and turned toward the well.

* * *

Meanwhile, with Heathcliff’s help, I successfully entered the well and immediately transformed into my beast form. Returning to my white weasel form made finding the passage very easy.

The small passage, impassable in human form, looked like a sewer drain.

*Being a weasel is helpful at times like this.*

I scurried through it, and something sparkled at the end. As I got closer, a stone that looked extraordinary blocked the passage.

*It’s much bigger than I thought?*

I had expected the Pearl of Purification to be small.

It looked like a giant crystal ball, as big as my body.

*Well, that’s probably why it’s blocking the passage; it’s so big.*

As I approached, the white pearl emitted a radiant glow. In the darkness, the brilliant light captivated me.

I reached out to the pearl without thinking.

*Flash!*

An enormous light burst from the pearl as soon as I touched it, and then its size shrank to the size of a fingernail. As a result, the dam that had been blocking the water burst, and spring water began to pour out.

“Chyoooo!”

Drowning was not part of my plan!

Floundering in the rushing water, I saw the pearl drifting away. The sparkling pearl was in danger of disappearing into the Room of Choice [a special dimension or location] before long.

I panicked as the pearl rapidly moved away.

I quickly opened my mouth to avoid missing the Pearl of Purification. It would be over if I missed it. I used my wit and caught the pearl in my mouth.

“Cough.”

I was swept away by the water and accidentally swallowed the pearl.

At that moment, before I could spit it out, my whole body became hot, and I was summoned somewhere.

* * *

“Ugh.”

Waking up with a throbbing head, I found myself in an unfamiliar place.

I had already returned to my human form. I looked around.

The Room of Choice was entirely made of mirrors, just like in the novel’s description. The octagonal space reflected me in transparent mirrors. It felt as if I was surrounded by mirrors.

I flinched at this bizarre situation. Suddenly, something in the shape of a silver fish appeared in the mirror.

— Hello.

A clear voice pierced my ears. I stared blankly at the fish and belatedly opened my mouth.

“Hello.”

The fish figure in front of me was Tabi, the guardian who protected the Pearl of Purification. Tabi wagged its cute tail and swam through the many mirrors.

— It’s been a while since we’ve had a guest. Did you wake me up?

“Yes, that’s right. I woke you up.”

— You don’t seem surprised to see me, so you must know who I am and where this is.

I had swallowed the Pearl of Purification, but I seemed to have arrived safely. I sighed in relief and said confidently, “Yes, I know. This is the Room of Choice, and you are Tabi, the guardian who protects the Pearl of Purification.”

Tabi suddenly burst out laughing at my bold answer.

Tabi, who had been swimming in the mirror as if probing, came out of the mirror and approached me closely.

Then, she lightly revealed my secret, which I had never mentioned to anyone.

— You know my name, so you must have seen the future.

But I wasn’t surprised by this either.

I already knew that Ella was able to contract with Tabi in the original story because she was a ‘possessor’ [someone who knows the future of the world in the novel].

From the beginning, the sacred object was a vessel containing the soul of the guardian deity who protected the Amitaras Continent [the continent where the story takes place]. And only those who had read the future through the ‘Prophecy’ could contract with the guardian.

From the guardian’s point of view, the possessor was a special being who knew the future of this world, just like them. The original story was like a prophecy.

The sacred object that Naman used once a year was a guardian whose awakened state was the default. It was a kind of watchman, awake until another sacred object awakened.

Even without an owner, that sacred object could use its power to a limited extent, only for Hebel’s head. Hebel’s head didn’t even know exactly what abilities it possessed.

Most of the guardians, except for that sacred object, waited for an owner who knew their name to come because their names would be forgotten by everyone when their owner died.

The test given to those who entered the Room of Choice was whether they knew the name of the guardian who protected the sacred object and whether they knew the future.

Like any romance fantasy novel, Ella was also a possessor. The only difference between me and Ella was that Ella’s previous life was on this Amitaras Continent.

So there was no reason why I couldn’t contract with Tabi. It’s first come, first served, after all.

I raised the corners of my lips and said confidently, “So, let’s make a contract.”