What exactly does that mean?
Naked, hugging each other closely?
Ayla hesitated for a moment but couldn’t hold back: “Miss Leah doesn’t have to use your hands.”
“No problem.”
Zero answered instantly, “I can do it without using my hands too.”
“You don’t have to…”
If you don’t use your hands, then what are you going to use?
You don’t have a big rice cake either, what can a little hill really do?
Ayla almost said it out loud but caught herself just in time.
“Not use what?”
Zero filled in the blank herself, “Not be so polite?”
“No… I just wanted to say, it’s fine.”
You could at least be a little more polite.
Anyway, Ayla agreed to Zero’s request to be naked and snuggle next time, and to have her come along tomorrow—whether to kill traitors or whatever else.
After all, this was an unofficial team now.
“See you tomorrow~”
The girl left satisfied.
Ayla wasn’t sure if she really left.
She didn’t dare speak or move until drowsiness washed over her.
Zzzz
The next day, morning came. Time to get up.
Sunlight filtered through the leaves of the canopy, lighting up the forest beautifully.
The breeze from the woods blew through the window, making the room bright and fresh.
Ayla sat up, staring absentmindedly outside.
She was thinking about last night—the assassin girl who climbed onto the bed and then slipped away in a hurry, taking nothing, not even a single pair of panties, just wanting to experience what it was like to be with the Saintess.
She wants this, she doesn’t want that—what exactly does Zero want?
Ayla didn’t dare think too deeply about it.
She washed her face to refresh herself, got up, and set off—there were still many things to do today.
Isadora was waiting outside the treehouse.
Seeing her come out, she waved and greeted, “This way, Miss Ayla. Please follow me.”
Zero didn’t appear but was likely nearby, following silently.
The shadowy forest was full of hiding spots; if she didn’t want to show herself, no one could detect her presence.
Elsewhere, Celes, Leah, and Vina gathered with the envoy group and some younger elves to visit Elder Trinia.
Not only were they forbidden to participate in the battle, but having outsiders from the Human Kingdom watch over them made Tereka and the others feel utterly stifled.
“I really don’t understand the elders,” Vina snapped, not sparing any softness.
“They’d rather trust a few outsiders. What kind of mind-altering potion did you feed them?”
The young elves were fuming silently but dared not speak out or stray from the group.
What if she really reported them to the elders?
Ayla was almost at the Holy Spring Seal.
On the way, she couldn’t help but ask curiously, “Why me?”
There were five of us in the Human Hero Squad, all young and beautiful girls with unique skills—even two powerful thunder wielders.
Why did you single me out?
Isadora looked back at her with a puzzled expression, as if she couldn’t understand why she asked that.
“You are the core of this team and the decision-maker. That blue-haired girl made it very obvious.”
Obvious?
Was it really that obvious?
Celes, as the nominal leader, would politely greet people, looking poised.
But whenever something needed to be decided or answered, she immediately looked to Ayla—either reading her eyes or gauging her expression.
If one day I wore a mask and closed my eyes, I really wonder what she’d do.
Isadora then said, “Miss Ayla, if it’s convenient, may I ask how you came to know the name Yiselis?”
After they were alone, that’s the question she asked?
Ayla didn’t answer immediately but countered, “Is this why you called me alone? Something you can’t say in front of others?”
“It’s not against you or anyone, including my own people,” Isadora said.
“Some things are better known by fewer people.”
That answer was as good as a confirmation.
At this point, Ayla decided to share a little information: “We were dealing with the sirens by the sea, you know—the Nearsea Sirens who once joined the Alliance. They’re stirring up trouble again, trying to summon an Evil God through an evil ritual. That Evil God’s name is Yiselis.”
Upon hearing the word “ritual,” Isadora’s expression noticeably stiffened.
“I remember the sirens. Over a hundred years ago, we were still allies, but they lived far by the sea and rarely ventured inland. Only the Dragonhawk Riders ever saw them.”
After a brief chat, she led Ayla to the perimeter of the Holy Spring Seal.
“We’re here.”
Some elven guards stood watch, encircling the seal site.
They looked worn out and had cotton balls stuffed in their ears.
When they saw the two arrive, the outermost guard approached and removed the cotton balls, saying,
“Elder, same as last night. Aside from some sounds, the seal hasn’t changed.”
“Sounds?”
Curious, Ayla stepped forward and indeed heard a chilling laugh.
[Gigglegiggle…]
The laughter was spine-chilling.
She quietly stepped back and heard Isadora say, “Do you think she’s awake?”
“There’s a chance. Maybe she’s just dreaming.”
Ayla tightened her pretty face, “It’s definitely connected to the power of the Evil God Yiselis.”
She likes to send strange noises into others’ heads too.
Isadora nodded.
“I think it’s a sign. Based on the changes in the sound, it tells us how soon she might emerge.”
At first it was laughter, but later it might turn into words with clear meaning.
She turned to the elven guards and gave orders: “Send another team over to relieve you. You all can rest.”
Using the sound to gather information meant the guards had a hard job—no other good ideas besides shift changes, and the rotations had to be frequent.
Ayla stepped forward again.
The plant patterns in the barren field now formed a big smiling face.
“Alright, looks like that’s how it is. Inform me promptly if anything happens.”
She stepped back a few paces and looked up at the sky.
She couldn’t really tell the time by the sky but felt at least an hour or two had passed—time was pressing, and it was time to get down to business.
“Miss Ayla!”
Isadora suddenly called out to her. Her expression was no longer gentle but sharp and resolute.
“Please handle what I asked of you. No matter what, I won’t let her succeed.”
A sudden, inexplicable show of determination—why tell me this now?
Ayla murmured a brief “Mm” and turned toward the Dragonhawk Roost.
She found her own Dragonhawk, climbed onto its back, and prepared to take off.
Suddenly, a pair of small hands wrapped around her waist from behind.
“Are we going to kill someone?”
Zero’s voice was close to her ear, tinged with excitement.
“Don’t worry, I’m the best at this. I’ll definitely be able to help you.”