“Ha?”
Motifiel looked in surprise at the tall black-haired woman beside her, but was defeated by the sincerity in her eyes.
“You, your unusual perspective, unusual thoughts… hmm~ don’t say it, really don’t say it…”
Yeah, maybe trying to trick that Saintess could actually work and get us in.
“But, but she may be kind-hearted, but she’s not an idiot, right?” Motifiel frowned, pulling back her legs that were swinging in the air, standing up and patting the dust off her rear.
“Besides, as a Saintess of the Church, she’s already someone close to the core. How could she not be on guard against us? What if we accidentally cut her arm and her blood turns out to be black instead of red? We’d be doomed…! Once we get into the Inner Region of the Church, escaping won’t be easy.”
Villeres also stood up.
She was getting irritated, so she took some tobacco from her pocket, lit it, and took a puff.
“Phew~”
The smoke curled around, making Motifiel frown in disgust and step back half a pace.
“Weird habit. Darkspawn don’t need stuff like this to relieve stress!”
“Got used to it.” Villeres replied coldly.
The black-haired woman thought for a moment and said, “But Motifiel, you have to face reality: even if we start from the lowest-ranked priests, we still have to go in circle by circle, killing one by one. Do you think… that’s not dangerous? That it won’t be easily exposed?”
Her cold red eyes swept over Motifiel.
“The fact is, it’s not only dangerous and easy to be exposed, there’s also the chance of being counter-killed. The closer we get to the Church’s core, the higher the risk. But our task is to get closer and closer, mandatory, at least up to the priests’ ranks. Do you think killing circle by circle is an easy job?”
Her question left Motifiel speechless.
She was right.
But Motifiel was naturally timid.
She had hoped to just coast through this task…
Who knew Villeres would stay glued to her side, forcing her to be diligent, no slacking off, even making her, who had never killed before, do the killing. It was too hard on her timid nature.
Yes, all her bravado was just for show; at heart, Motifiel was a Chihuahua.
“Alright, you have a point.”
She could only agree, but still didn’t say she wanted to start with Liang Lai.
“We still have plenty of time anyway. The Lord’s plan gave us two years to prepare, and it’s only been three months so far. No need to rush… I’ll think of other ways first. If it really comes down to it, I’ll start with that eager Saintess.”
After all, she was a Saintess, ranked even higher than priests.
Motifiel felt uneasy about trying to trick a Saintess, and feared being exposed and counter-killed.
She was just a small lungworm trying to survive in this world, with no grand ambitions.
She’d thought about making the world better… but that went against the Darkspawn’s principles, so she never dared say it aloud.
Villeres stared at Motifiel for a while, then finally sighed softly.
“Alright~ I won’t force you. But I’m going to try. What if it works?”
After saying that, Villeres jumped down from the bell tower.
Motifiel watched the instant her figure disappeared, then finally unclenched her tightly gripped fists, letting out a small breath and sitting back down.
She dug into her cute little bag, took out a piece of candy, and popped it into her mouth.
“Still better to be human.”
She sighed.
Elsewhere.
Liang Lai returned home with the four little ones.
Dolosa finally breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the Garden of Purity.
At last, they were safely back.
No encounters with stray animals outside, and no new girls showing interest in Liang Lai. How nice!
It seemed those few times before when she’d found children to bring home had just been coincidences.
There was no need to be so nervous all the time; there aren’t that many kids to find in the world! Really! From now on, no need to be so tense when going out…
Dolosa gave her cheeks a couple of firm pats.
She was in an excellent mood, but when she turned and saw Illucy clinging tightly to Liang Lai’s arm, her expression immediately darkened again.
These past few days she had been busy with the Examination and hadn’t ‘competed for favor’ in a long time, so she hadn’t paid much attention to how close Liang Lai was with others.
Now that the first hurdle was over and the next Examination was four months away, she finally had time to settle the score properly.
“Liang Lai.”
Dolosa forced out a smile and came over, using her height advantage to drape an arm over Liang Lai’s shoulder.
“The Examination recently… I haven’t played with you in so long… Now that it’s finally over, will you play with me for a while~?”
Dolosa was actually acting coquettish.
She had never done this before, and this first time being sweet and clingy made her a little shy, her cheeks flushing red.
Though the words were addressed to Liang Lai, Dolosa’s gaze was fixed squarely on Illucy.
Illucy was startled by the look, instinctively stepping back half a pace, shrinking a little.
But she still refused to let go of the Saintess’s hand, quietly lowering her head, avoiding eye contact with her so-called big sister.
Liang Lai didn’t notice anything unusual about the two children.
She just found Dolosa’s coquettishness rather cute, and knowing how tired Dolosa had been lately, she readily agreed.
“Alright~ Little Dolosa’s so good, of course you can do whatever you want~”
Whatever she wanted?
Hearing that, Dolosa’s mind suddenly flooded with images that definitely couldn’t be shown.
“Shua!”
Her face turned even redder, so she turned her head away, doing her best to keep Liang Lai from seeing.
The one involved is always blind, the outsider sees clearly.
Though Liang Lai saw nothing, Asterys and Delucia witnessed everything perfectly.
Dolosa, however, was completely unaware.
Her mind was filled with memories of that one night when Liang Lai was poisoned by Asterys and Delucia, lying asleep on the bed, completely unreachable…
She desperately wanted to experience such a night again. Next time, she promised herself, she wouldn’t stop at just a little kiss.
The only problem was… where to get such a drug?
Dolosa was confused, her gaze unconsciously drifting to the Yingyi Twins.
Only one option left… ask them?