Chapter 226

  Rachel Rotmuller

  “Forgive me for not being able to stand for too long. I have only just recently come out of my half-year seclusion. The kneeling took a lot of this old body. Please take a seat. I have some refreshments ready.”

  The three then sat around a wooden table where three cups and a teapot had been set. Babblebrook stood up to pour the tea, but the old woman reprimanded him and took it upon herself to serve them.

  “Please, try the tea, a friend of mine had gifted it to me on her last visit. They have been aged appropriately.”

  When she took a sip of the tea, she noticed that it was still hot. It seemed that the teapot had an enchantment that allowed it to keep the heat inside. She took in the calming aroma of the tea for a final time before setting it down.

  “Your Eminence,” Connie began after perusing of her hospitality. “May I know why Lady Allenca wanted me to meet you?”

  “Lady would be fine. That title is no longer mine,” Rachel spoke. “Allenca said that you wished to visit Seasong Grotto?”

  “Yes,” she replied with a nod. “Is this possible?”

  “That request puts us in a bit of a spot…” the old woman gave a short pause. “Do you…know what the Seasong Grotto is?”

  “I don’t, honestly,” Connie spoke with a straight face.

  “You see, Duchess, that place is a sacred location that only those of the highest echelon knows of,” she explained. “Strangely enough, your father had also asked to be allowed to visit the grotto in the past, which we had to refuse, as it is a place not just anyone can visit. If I may ask, do you know how your father came to know about it?”

  “It is a mystery to me too. I only just found out about it in his diary,” she replied with a half-truth. “Now, why am I here then? Surely a rejection would not necessitate all this effort?”

  “Yes, indeed. Normally, we would have refused your request. But things have changed,” Rachel said. “The Seasong Grotto had turned into a Dungeon.”

  The news caused Connie’s eyes to widen in shock. “How is that possible?”

  “That is a question none of us can answer,” she sighed. “We have tried sending men into the Dungeon, yet none have returned. We lost more than twenty men, two of them were precious Unrestrained Candidates. And with the war currently going on, we are stretched too thin.”

  “So…the matter with Archmage Elfriede…”

  “As you might’ve guessed. The reason why we cannot send more people to either the border or the Demon Continent is because of this. How can one rest easy when a Dungeon is right next door?” Babblebrook added. “And based on our investigation, the Dungeon is enlarging at a very fast speed. It would not be strange if it were to break anytime soon.”

  “Why don’t you just ask for help from Archmage Elfriede and her men, then?”

  “It isn’t that easy,” the old woman said. “Allenca had only just taken over my position as the Maiden of Water. If she was to ask for help, then people would think of her as soft. With her precarious position and new world view she was bringing to the Church, that is not something we can afford.”

  Connie grimaced. “I see…let’s get to the core of the matter, then. What is it that you want from me?”

  “Soon we will send another party to the Dungeon. I’d like for you to go with them and destroy the Dungeon.”

  “Such a high expectation, Lady Rotmuller. A Dungeon that could take the lives of Unrestrained Candidates is not something simple. What makes you think that we would be able to destroy it?”

  “I cannot think of anyone better than you, Duchess. I have heard of your exploits. They are the stuff of tales and songs. Someone who is willing to endure pain and humiliation for the sake of the greater good. I believe that alone is enough for us to trust you.”

  Connie smiled at her words. Despite her best efforts, the people view her as some kind of a saint or hero. but hearing it from someone else - especially someone like Rachel - did make the back of her neck tingle.

  “Of course, we are not asking you to help for free. In exchange, you will be allowed entry to the Seasong Grotto. A place only the highest authority of the Church of Junnaveil may enter. Even the Royal Family themselves had never been there. Also, a sufficient reward will be given once we confirmed that the Dungeon has been destroyed,” she paused. “Of course, officially we are not asking for help, but that you are offering help to us out of compassion.”

  “Oh?”

  The old woman laughed. “Though asking for help from the Kingdom is out of the question, receiving help offered by a friend has a different meaning.”

  “…aha,” Though Rachel Rotmuller might look frail and weak, one must not forget that she had been the leader of the state religion for a few decades. One would not be able to hold such a position through goodwill only.

  “I have conditions. One, I am allowed to bring my own men. Two, I need some Holy Water. Not just any Holy Water, but one with the highest quality. The faster the better.”

  “That’s not a problem,” Rachel said. “But what are you going to use it for?”

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “That’s a secret,” Connie replied.

  “As you wish,” Rachel nodded solemnly. “We can accept both conditions. Then I take it that you agree to help us?”

  “Yes, I agree,” Connie voiced her decision firmly. Her main purpose here was to get Dauthisaz, so she did not bargain much.

  “Excellent,” the former Maiden smiled approvingly, a trace of her past beauty lingered at the edge of her smile. “We will inform you when we are ready to leave for the Dungeon. In the meantime, please prepare well for the dive.”

  At the same time, in another location in the Temple, in the dimly lit office of Archdeacon Lowen, the owner of the bleak room was glaring angrily at his assistant.

  “Repeat that again.”

  Deacon Oslo squeezed his hands behind his back to gather enough courage to eke out an answer. “The…Assassin’s Guild refused to accept the job ti assassinate the Duchess, Archdeacon.”

  “Did you give them the numbers?”

  “I - I have. The Receptionist said that during the war, all request for domestic target assassinations by the Calendian Branch have been frozen and no new request with domestic targets will be approved. Also, the Receptionist said that we are welcome to try the Vorzennian Branch using the extenuating circumstances for a generous ten percent discount.”

  “What in Sud-Ghazid?” he roared angrily. “Those useless swamp rats! Even after all the money I’ve spent on them!” he grabbed the inkwell next to him and threw it with all his power.

  “GRAAH!”

  Oslo sweated profusely. An inkwell took a glancing blow at the side of his forehead before hitting the wall and broke into smithereens, the ink staining the flag bearing the Symbol of the Faith next to it. The assistant ignored the blood starting to trickle from the fresh cut and bit his lips to steady himself.

  “Archdeacon, if I may…” the man gulped.

  “I don’t want excuses! I want results!” the man huffed and puffed. “And it’s your job to make it happen. Or do you want to be replaced?! There are many that can replace you, Oslo.”

  Hearing this, Oslo quickly knelt down in fear. “Please give me some time, Archdeacon! I’ll find a way!”

  “Then go! Get out of my office and do your job!!”

  The Archdeacon watched Oslo scurry away like a frightened rat and pushed back on his chair with a weary sigh.

  Ever since the Duchess came to Grottenstadt, the Maiden of Water grew bolder in her action. Seeing the impure creatures walk in the hallowed halls of the Temple was hard enough to stomach, but to force one of his bloodline to apologize to them was an insult most grave.

  Already complaints had come to him from those who shared his distaste.

  And what was more puzzling was when he asked for information about the Duchess from the Nobles connected to him through mutual interests, they would feign ignorance. Even the Gladstones did not answer his letter.

  What had happened in Courandhel to shift the political currents so drastically?

  Archdeacon Lowen shook his head to dislodge distracting thoughts.

  “No matter. One thing at a time. I will make sure those young women regret messing with me.”

  After dinner, Connie relayed the result of the meeting that had transpired earlier in the day to her companions.

  “There you have it.”

  “It’s never easy, is it?” Nick folded his arms and sighed. “A new Dungeon where even Unrestrained Candidate could lose their lives…sounds like a good time.”

  “Nevertheless, we have to go into the Dungeon if we are to get to Dauthisaz. It is worth the danger,” Martell said. “A legendary armour sealed within a Dungeon. The minstrels would love it!”

  “I’ll just follow whatever you decide, Connie. But truth be told, I’d rather not have people from the Church with us,” Illumca said. “The stunt that we pulled yesterday had made us more enemies than friends.”

  “And I do not regret a thing,” Connie said as she looked into the eyes of everyone in the room. Akula and Illumca felt a warmth in their chest from her honest words.

  “But the threat that this Dungeon posed is something that we shouldn’t wave off. Illumca and Martell are progressing well in their Techniques. And Nick…well, you’ll just have to buckle up and prepare more.”

  “What about me?” Akula asked.

  “For you, Akula…we will be preparing for you to take on the Memory Bestowal Ceremony and start you on your path to Cultivation.”

  “Finally!” Akula shouted in joy.

  “However, for this one, we must prepare well. The memory that I will bestow you is…unique,” Connie spoke. “And with you being a Centaur with a body blessed with more resistance than normal people, the Marrow Cleansing Broth must be…improved. First thing first, starting tomorrow, you must fast.”

  “F-fast?” Akula repeated in horror. “You mean…I am not allowed to eat?”

  “Nothing that drastic. You will be allowed to drink water and eat on handful of fruits and nuts. But no meat or bread.”

  “H-how many days will it take?”

  “Give or take a week,” she said “The fasting will prepare your mind to accept the Memory. Also, it will make it easier for the Marrow Cleansing Broth to cleanse the impurities within your body.”

  “Cleanse impurities? What does that mean?”

  “In simple terms, it’s defeca – “ before she finished her words, Illumca had clasped her hand around Connie’s mouth.

  “Out!” Illumca shouted. “All the men, get out of the room!”

  Seeing the expression on Illumca’s face, Nick said nothing more and quickly grabbed Martell by the neck and ran out in a panic.

  Connie then removed Illumca’s hand with a frown. “What did you do that for?”

  “You are about to say something offensive, Mistress,” Lihua said sternly.

  “But it is the most natural thing one can do!” Connie said, uncomprehending of the stares that Illumca and Madame Sui were giving her. In her work, examining stools were one of the main ways to find out about diseases. “Drinking the Marrow Cleansing Broth is a rite of passage for Named Disciples!”

  “That does not make it any better!!” Illumca said exasperatedly.

  “But you’ve done it before!” Connie defended herself.

  “I didn’t know what that vile thing was for! And there was only Ethel in the room!”

  “Mistress, It’s not just about the words. You are going to talk about such things in front of the men,” Lihua explained. “You are capable of such eloquent words, but sometimes, you astound me with your indelicacy.”

  “What’s everyone talking about?” Akula asked, confused. “What is…defecation?”

  “…do you not know what it means?” Lihua furrowed her eyebrows

  “I think there is no exact word for it in Azut-Baydarian language,” Illumca said. “Come here, Akula. I’ll tell you what it meant.”

  After hearing her explanation, Akula’s face turned deep red.

  “Connie! You are my Ezenu. But there are limits about what you can say!”

  “Look, all I mean is that, with your size,” she waved her right arm vaguely at Akula. “…I fear that it might result in a more…severe reaction.”

  “Is there a way to avoid this?” Akula asked.

  “Well, do you want to become stronger? This is the only way I know. I’ve gone through it in my past life. Illumca and Martell had also done it too!”

  Akula glanced at the reddening Illumca, whose trembling hands were starting to move toward Connie’s face. “…I don’t want to talk about it.”

  Connie raised her hand and sighed. “There is no shame in it. Well, maybe a bit. But if it makes you feel any better, I will look for a more private place so that things are properly…hidden.”

  “Connie, my Clan used dried dung from livestock as fuel to cook and heat our houses. It’s connected to our everyday life. But to talk about such things in front of Martell and Nick is a bit much. Despite everything, I’m still a woman, you know,” Akula said, her face clearly showed that she was hurt.

  “To be lectured about manners by Akula of all people,” Illumca shrugged.

  “Urgh. Fine, it was my mistake. I’m sorry,” the blonde-haired girls raised both arms in surrender after seeing that she had no way of defending herself.

  “But I am not joking about the broth.”