Truth was directly led away by Ya, who fussed over her with warm concern.
Before leaving, Ya also gave Kost a “Saintess’s order” to register the news about Deya’s underground labyrinth reopening within the mist in the city’s newspapers.
Right now, Kost was urging his subordinates to hurry up and handle the matter, putting aside the previous case of the Suho family’s stolen high-tier potions:
“As long as the newspapers currently circulating in Deya City are concerned, you must negotiate with all of them— quickly! This is an order personally issued by Her Saintess!”
Is this really the Saintess personally appointed by the Goddess? She’s truly selfless! If it were anyone else, they would probably have chosen to cooperate with the Enforcement Bureau to hide the labyrinth’s reopening, waiting until most of the valuable items inside were cleared out before selling the information.
But the Saintess simply said:
“Only by doing this can we attract more adventurers to Deya City. Isn’t that how our city will become more prosperous?”
Kost’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. No wonder other major cities scrambled to secure the Twelve Saintesses, unlike those slaves who would shout and wail over even minor losses. The Saintess can truly bring development to the city!
Soon, the Evening News of Deya carried the headline: “Enforcement Bureau Reveals Underground Labyrinth in Deya Reopened Within the Mist,” and this news reached every adventurer.
“What the heck? The labyrinth reopened?”
That night, all the taverns were abuzz with discussions about this. Most adventurers didn’t quite believe it, and even if they did, they were pretty scared of the mist’s “Lost” trait, fearing that once they entered, they might never come out.
“But the newspaper also says that due to the Meteor Impact’s effects, the mist’s ability to disorient people is temporarily gone, right?”
Some adventurers found this crucial piece of information in the paper, but the crowd still thought it was fake news and kept debating back and forth, hesitating.
While this group was still unsure, adventurers in another tavern had already lit their torches and charged into the mist. Less than twenty minutes later, dozens of adventurers were visible within the fog.
“This way, the entrance to Deya’s underground labyrinth is this way.”
Near the meteor crater, adventurers were surprised to find a strange woman with a thin, eye-catching red string tied around her ankle guiding them:
“Why is it a different person now? Where did the one who didn’t want to show her face go?”
“Probably a shift change. Let’s ask her if she has any tips.” …
Ariel was very annoyed. She was a seventh-tier Disaster-class Mage, someone who could single-handedly guard a small country.
Yet now she was being bossed around by a Blood Demon. Being ordered around was one thing, but why were all the tasks she got such trivial chores?
I admit you’re powerful, but can you at least show me some respect?
Washing your clothes, guiding you through the mist— why not just make me your nanny?!
Hmph, you’ve picked the wrong one to mess with!
By now, Ariel had already removed all the marks identifying her as a Disaster worshiper. Her hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, and to others, she looked like a lively girl next door—if she weren’t always frowning.
“What? You’re asking me about the labyrinth? I don’t know anything…”
Ariel didn’t expect these adventurers to actually approach her to ask questions.
“Don’t know anything? How can you be so useless? Your work attitude is miles behind your colleagues’!” The adventurer in front of her pointed and scolded.
Huh? I have colleagues? Ariel was utterly confused. Wait, what do you all take me for?!
The two sides started trading insults like “idiot” and “fool” nonstop. But since the adventurers were eager to descend into the labyrinth, they didn’t bother arguing much with Ariel.
Still, every time one passed by her afterward, she would bug them, causing most to instinctively avoid her.
“Damn it, I’ll find a way to escape this Blood Demon’s grasp. I’ll make it realize that some birds are never meant to be caged!”
After giving directions, Ariel gritted her teeth and resolved to break free. Then she returned to the pond’s edge to silently wash Truth’s priest robe, her own red string on her ankle now extended by Truth.
“This is so annoying! And no one gave me any cleaning tools. How long is this going to take to get these bloodstains out?”
“Um… Lady Heavenly Fire, why don’t you come save me? The other party is just a Blood Demon who can one-shot Original Demons…”
After tonight, the matter of Deya’s underground labyrinth would once again stir up a sensation in Deya City, and by the way, the mist’s new guides’ poor work attitude would also be reported in the papers…
At the academy, Tia lit the candle in her office, carefully examining Truth’s injuries, though the latter refused to even take off her clothes:
“I told you I’m fine!”
“No, what if there’s some hidden injury? You still have to participate in the Divine Selection Ceremony soon. There can be no problems. Let me take a look!”
Tia tried to pull off Truth’s casual clothes, but Truth immediately squirmed away:
“No!”
I thought you rushed to find me because something urgent happened, like the Goddess of Life called or something. Turns out you just want to take advantage of me!
I have a lot of important things to do, okay? I can’t stand this. Truth punched Tia in the chest but caused no harm.
So soft…
Instead, Tia grabbed Truth and held her in front, both hands glowing with a pale green light as she pressed on her chest to check for the ribs most likely to be broken in battle.
Then she felt two small bumps and instantly froze. Truth was silent for a few seconds before suddenly yelling, face flushed red, completely abandoning her usual gentle demeanor and sounding more like a mini Ariel:
“Uwaa! You bastard! How dare you defile me! I’m going to steal you!”
Tia calmly asked:
“Truth, why aren’t you wearing any underwear?”
“Underwear? Why would I wear that? Let me go!” Truth bit Tia’s hand, causing slight pain.
“But girls are supposed to wear underwear, you know?”
“I’m a boy… uh, no, a girl… wait, that’s not right. Anyway, it’s none of your business!”
Ignoring Truth’s confusing words, Tia lifted Truth’s collar with her saliva-soaked hand, revealing smooth, pale skin. Then Truth headbutted her:
“Ugh!”
“You’re already on the path to death!”
Truth was genuinely angry now. When Tia touched her stomach earlier, she hadn’t minded much, but now she dared to go further— outrageous!
Both pupils quickly turned blood red as she entered Hermit form, transforming! Truth intended to teach this pervert a lesson, but the next moment, Tia’s sympathetic words whispered in her ear:
“You’ve never worn underwear? You must have been very uncomfortable all this time.”
“What kind of logic is that? How does not wearing underwear make life harder?” Truth was confused and couldn’t connect the two.
“Don’t you think it’s painful? Clothes rubbing all the time, just thinking about it hurts…”
Tia rubbed her chin, wondering what was really going on with Truth. Was it a gender identity issue? Or was she simply never treated like a girl?
She remembered Suna once said Truth came from five hundred years ago. Could it be that she was raised by the Hermit Lord? If so, everything made sense…
That would mean Truth was treated as a tool by the Hermit Lord, a tyrant, and was never regarded as a girl at all!
How pitiful…