In the afternoon, Iana was mopping the floor in the main hall of the Starry Dream Café.
“Too funny,” Iana thought, a smile spreading across her face as she recalled Ethelrina’s expression watching Veronica that morning.
Ethelrina’s opinion of Veronica must have plummeted. Iana leaned on the mop, lost in thought.
I wonder how Lillian should thank me. Should I ask her for some gold coins?
“What gold coins?” Lillian asked, holding empty plates nearby. She’d overheard her name in Iana’s muttering.
“Ahem,” Iana coughed awkwardly. “Nothing, you must’ve misheard.”
“Is that so?” Lillian didn’t dwell on it, carrying glasses and plates from the tables toward the staff area.
Watching Lillian’s retreating figure, Iana sighed in relief. That was close. I almost got caught.
I really don’t want Lillian to find out I’m Ian. The fewer people who know this secret, the better.
Only four people know right now, and Isabella seems to have known from the start.
I feel like I’m standing naked in front of Isabella—no secrets at all. She even knows things about me I don’t.
The other three who know are my roommates. Two of them have already agreed to join my team for the Sacred Trial.
Next up is getting Sephiroth on board.
As Iana was lost in thought, a sudden hand chop landed on her head with a thwack.
“Who was that!” Iana snapped, but when she turned and saw it was the manager, her anger deflated instantly.
“What are you standing around for? The café’s closed, and the cleaning’s almost done. Go home,” the manager said.
“Yay!” Hearing she could leave, Iana’s bad mood from the hit vanished. After a long day, nothing felt better than clocking out.
When Iana reached the door of Room 131, she tried to revert to Ian, but the Senro Breath Pearl displayed an error: she couldn’t transform back.
“What’s with this stupid pearl always causing trouble?” Iana grumbled, glaring at the text on the Senro Breath Pearl.
[Damaged Senro Breath Pearl: After disabling bloodline suppression, this function cannot be used again for two days.]
Iana stared, dumbfounded. “So every time I disable bloodline suppression, I have to stay like this for at least two days?”
I need to avoid using this function unless necessary. Otherwise, I’ll be stuck as a girl for days.
Iana sighed helplessly, took out her key, and opened the door. Someone was already in the dorm’s living room—Yiserin, who had finished her maid shift early and returned.
Yiserin sat on the couch, intently reading a booklet about the Sacred Trial rules.
Hearing the door creak open, Yiserin set the booklet down and greeted Iana. “Back already, Iana? I thought you’d turn back into Ian.”
“Don’t tell me you’re reluctant to change back?” Yiserin teased with a mischievous smile.
“No way,” Iana said, turning her head. “There’s a problem. I can’t change back until the day after tomorrow.”
“So you’ll be Iana tomorrow too?” Yiserin said excitedly. “Let’s go have fun then! With a beautiful girl like me by your side, you’ll agree, right?”
Yiserin flicked her silver-white hair, speaking with a touch of narcissism.
Iana rolled her eyes at Yiserin’s words, scoffing. “I’ve never seen someone so full of themselves.”
“I’m just stating facts. No need to feel inferior. After all, you’re the second-best-looking person I’ve ever met,” Yiserin said.
Iana couldn’t stand it anymore and cut her off. “I can’t go out with you tomorrow. I already have plans.”
Curious, Yiserin asked, “What plans are more important than hanging out with me?”
“It’s a secret.”
“Tch, if you don’t want to say, don’t tease me about it,” Yiserin grumbled, picking up the Sacred Trial booklet again when Iana wouldn’t spill.
“By the way, has Sephiroth agreed to join our team?” Iana asked curiously.
“She wasn’t going to, but when she heard you were leading the team, she agreed right away,” Yiserin replied, flipping through the booklet.
She joined because I’m leading the team? Iana was puzzled. I don’t think I’ve had much interaction with Sephiroth.
Whatever, as long as she’s in, our team is complete.
“How long until the Sacred Trial?” Iana asked.
“Three days until the first event,” Yiserin said, frowning. “We’ll likely be scattered randomly in a Secret Realm.”
“I’m not too worried about the others, but what about you and Lillian?”
“Especially Lillian. If we’re too far apart and can’t regroup quickly, I’m afraid…” Yiserin trailed off, interrupted by Iana.
“You’re worried Lillian will be taken out by demons first, right?” Iana understood Yiserin’s concern. It was exactly what she planned to address tomorrow.
With only 3% bloodline development, Lillian’s too weak. Tomorrow, I’m helping her gain recognition to pass the first Saintess Trial.
The easiest people to win over are kids. Give them some candy, and they’ll genuinely accept you. There were plenty of kids like that at the orphanage where I grew up.
I planned to take Lillian to the orphanage as Ian, but it looks like Ian can’t show up now.
Yiserin nodded. “Exactly. And I heard participants in the Sacred Trial get to skip classes.”
“So a lot of people have signed up this time, and the rewards are supposedly the best ever.”
“Is that so?” Iana rubbed her chin.
In the original story, this Sacred Trial wasn’t anything special. Why has it changed so much? Is it because of me?