“What… is this?” Gadelia pointed at the small writing on the bottle, a bead of cold sweat sliding down her forehead.
“It’s water.”
“But why does it look… more like some kind of poison to me…”
“How could it be poison? Come on, hurry up and drink it!” Tia stepped forward and grabbed Gadelia’s hand, trying to force the potion into her mouth.
Unfortunately, Tia was too weak— Gadelia didn’t budge at all, her face full of shock. Under the torchlight, Tia’s smile looked especially sinister.
Is this Priest actually trying to poison me? Wait, we don’t even have any grudges!
Gadelia immediately slapped the potion away and shoved Tia aside. The potion spilled onto the ground, bubbling with white foam.
But right after, Tia grabbed a feather from the top of Gadelia’s head, making her too afraid to push her away again:
“Uwah! Let go, let go! I don’t have many feathers left on my head!”
“No way!”
How dare you offend the Hermit! Very good, looks like you’ve chosen your own way to die!
The gentle Hermit may spare your pitiful life, but I won’t!
I didn’t expect this stupid Birdman’s nose to be so sharp— couldn’t poison her directly. Looks like I’ll have to fight her up close!
Tia gritted her teeth and clung to Gadelia’s feathers and hair, using her legs to kick at her with all her strength. “Feel the wrath of a fourth-tier powerhouse!”
Damage -1… Damage -1… Damage -1…
Gadelia: “…”
Feeling the Priest’s completely harmless attacks, Gadelia didn’t know what to say. What did she do to deserve being attacked by a Priest?
“Hey, calm down for a second, will you!”
Gadelia gently squeezed Tia’s hands, and Tia yelped in pain, letting go of her feathers and hair. Then Gadelia easily pinned her to the ground.
Tia lost…
As expected, I’m still too weak as a Priest. I can’t protect the Hermit’s dignity at all. The Hermit, who truly holds Priestly Authority, is so strong, and yet I…
Fine, looks like I have to use a Priest’s ultimate move!
Tia took a deep breath and shouted:
“Help!!!”
“Huh?”
Gadelia was startled by Tia’s sudden cry for help. Hey, do you really have the nerve to call for help right now?
Shameless as it was, it worked. Soon, a deep and raspy voice echoed in both their minds:
“What are you two doing?”
In Deya City, Truth, who sensed her follower’s cry for help, was utterly baffled. Why is Tia in the Mist?
And not only is she there, she’s pinned to the ground by Gadelia?!
I only took my eyes off the Mist for a moment…
The Hermit?!
Tia panicked instantly. Why did her cry for help summon the Hermit directly? Shouldn’t it have attracted some nearby adventurers?
Why does the Hermit care about me this much… I’m so happy…
But letting the Hermit see me in such a sorry state is just too humiliating!
Gadelia was a bit spooked too. How did this Priest manage to call an Ancient Monster over with just a shout?
Luckily, she was in the right here, so she just kept calm.
Truth had Gadelia briefly explain what happened, and found out that Tia had attacked first. That made Truth laugh.
Pretty gutsy—this is like a little boy running into a succubus, only to get completely crushed.
“Little bird, just ignore her. She’s with the Church of the Goddess of Life. If she dies in the Mist, it’ll be a pain to explain. Go work somewhere else. As compensation, I’ll deduct 1 point of Energy from your Debt— consider it a work injury.”
Truth spoke in Gadelia’s mind, not planning to reveal any connection between Tia and herself, using the Goddess of Life as a cover.
Gadelia, knowing her place, let out a soft snort and released Tia, turning to head toward the new coordinates that had appeared before her.
She was just a bit unsure if this compensation was generous or not— surely an Ancient Monster wouldn’t cheat her, right?
Once Gadelia had completely disappeared, Tia finally burst into tears, like a whole different person:
“I’m sorry, Hermit… I’m so useless…”
“Indeed.” Truth nodded.
Eh? Why so harsh all of a sudden? Tia was choked by the Hermit’s reply, but somehow, this felt more like the Hermit in her heart.
After briefly asking about Tia’s reason for attacking, Truth felt a headache coming on.
So you wanted to kill the Birdman just because you thought she offended me?
Tsk… Tia might be a bit extreme. Was all that gentleness and virtue just an act?
Maybe she just worships me too much. Looks like I can’t be too nice to her in the future— she’s got a bit of a yandere streak, maybe even a little scheming.
In that case, I’ll have to take her down a notch as a Mist Follower, or she’ll dare to poison even the Goddess of Life one day.
“This was your fault. That little bird is actually working for me. Go apologize to her now.”
You hate Birdmen? All the more reason for you to apologize. And to prevent you from causing any more trouble, from now on, you’ll only get simple little tasks.
For example, go move my Dragon Egg of the Illusory Realm to the Mist Core.
“Apologize…”
Tia was a thousand times unwilling, but since it was the Hermit’s command, she could only grit her teeth and go find Gadelia again:
“Hey, little bird!”
“Huh? Little bird?!” Gadelia was a bit angry now. It’s one thing for an Ancient Monster to call me that, but who do you think you are?
Tia lifted her head and turned away, glancing sideways with a look of disdain as she muttered:
“Sorry.”
“You!”
Gadelia clenched her teeth, wanting to rush over and teach this annoying Priest a lesson. So what if someone powerful backs you up? You still have the nerve to provoke me!
But in the next moment, Tia seemed to hear someone scolding her, and reluctantly lowered her head, puffing her cheeks and whispering:
“Sorry…”
Now that’s more like it. Gadelia nodded in satisfaction. Looks like the senior monster told her to apologize— didn’t expect the senior to be so reasonable.
Come to think of it, when I broke the Mist, all the senior did was make me stay and repay my Debt, never really did anything bad to me. Maybe they’re not so bad after all.
Guess I was just prejudiced before.
Still, the senior is one thing, but this mentally unstable Priest in front of me needs to be put in her place.
Gadelia struck a listening pose, the corners of her mouth lifting as she said:
“What did you say? I couldn’t quite hear you.”
“You!”
Tia stomped her foot hard, wanting to say something, but with the Hermit’s order hanging over her, she could only turn away so Gadelia couldn’t see her face:
“Sorry!”
With that, Tia strode away from the scene.
Damn it, I know it’s my fault, but I just can’t stand it. No, tomorrow I have to go and touch Truth to calm down!