Chapter 37: A Drastic Plan and a Deity’s Demands

Upon confirming the existence of a basement beneath the Lord’s Mansion, Xiluo’er felt it was almost certain that Rona harbored ill intentions.

Given this revelation, there was no longer any need to painstakingly search for clues. Xiluo’er decided it was time to consider a more drastic approach, directly confronting Rona.

After all, Xiluo’er had a grim premonition: if she didn’t swiftly make a move against Rona, she would be the one to face an explosive demise.

Had Eve not intervened promptly today, Xiluo’er suspected Rona might have even dared to make a move against her within the very walls of the Lord’s Mansion.

But what method could expedite this confrontation?

“Sister Eve, in a couple of days, you’re heading out of the city with the Lord and his escorts to hunt down magical beasts, aren’t you?”

“What’s wrong?” Eve gently ruffled Xiluo’er’s hair. “Why the sudden question about that?”

“Oh, nothing, just… asking casually.”

Leaning compliantly into Eve’s embrace, Xiluo’er had already formulated a plan in her mind.

****

Within a pitch-black dreamscape, Xiluo’er sighed as she watched Freya, who sat before her on a chair, rhythmically swinging her legs.

‘Ah, this is truly exhausting.’

Xiluo’er felt as though she were a customer service representative, attending to one person after another, day in and day out.

Just moments earlier, Xiluo’er had met with her contact in the courtyard. As she returned to her room, intending to snuggle under her blanket for a long sleep, Freya had pulled her into this dream.

Recalling the words spoken by the contact, Shadow, Xiluo’er couldn’t help but sigh once more.

Her journey in this otherworld was proving to be quite arduous.

Under the cool moonlight, Xiluo’er leaned casually against the wall of the Adventurer’s Guild, observing the contact before her.

Despite several previous encounters, Xiluo’er’s understanding of Shadow had not deepened in the slightest.

This individual was far more enigmatic than even she and Red Spider.

She wondered what purpose the Chaos Cult had in mind, painstakingly embedding such a person in Cana City.

“Oh, Cat Tail, there’s one more thing.”

As if suddenly remembering something, Shadow spoke. Their voice retained its sharp, gender-ambiguous quality.

“If possible, I hope you can ensure Eve and Rona maintain some distance from each other these next two days.”

Beneath her mask, Xiluo’er raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

“Hehe, although Rona’s side has encountered a slight issue recently, the Cult’s plan must proceed as scheduled.”

“However, Eve, as the Hero, represents a significant variable. I fear complications if she grows too close to Rona.”

Xiluo’er nodded, not immediately responding to Shadow’s words.

She suddenly considered that her own issues with Rona remained unresolved. What if she successfully ‘dealt with’ Rona, but this interfered with the ‘plan’ Shadow spoke of?

If the other party grew angry and withheld the antidote, she would be doomed. Shadow didn’t seem like someone easily reasoned with.

“Once the matters in Cana City conclude, the higher-ups might consider granting you the complete antidote directly.”

Seemingly noticing Xiluo’er’s hesitation, Shadow deliberately brought up the topic of the poison.

And Xiluo’er’s small hand, hidden beneath her black robe… clenched tightly.

‘Why bring up precisely what I don’t want to hear?!’

Unfortunately, Xiluo’er knew she couldn’t afford to provoke them right now, so she reluctantly agreed.

Ending her recollection, Xiluo’er looked at Freya, who now appeared utterly listless, and felt a pang of sadness.

“Honestly, I think you’re quite useless, you know.”

And just as expected, Freya instantly bristled.

Like an enraged cat, Freya leaped from the chair in two or three bounds, standing before Xiluo’er and speaking each word distinctly.

“I am Freya, the great deity who presides over [Fertility]! You dare to…”

“Alright, alright, I get it, I get it.”

Listening to Freya repeat the same old refrain they’d gone over countless times, Xiluo’er simply waved a dismissive hand.

“But I’m facing so many problems now. Can’t you provide some cheat-like assistance?”

Xiluo’er spread her hands and continued, “I initially thought I’d chosen the strongest deity, only to find the goods didn’t match the description. It’s not even as useful as a regular cheat code. Who wouldn’t complain?”

The agitated Freya raised her tiny fist, but Xiluo’er was already familiar with her routine and easily dodged Freya’s strike with a slight turn of her body.

Freya didn’t pursue further. Instead, she put her hands on her hips and spoke with a hint of displeasure.

“The problem is, I can’t solve this either.”

“If I could, I’d want to help you, too. After all, constantly shrinking away inside your body isn’t ideal. But I can’t even manifest normally right now, so how can I assist you?”

“Hmph, but having such an amazing deity like me to chat with you in your dreams is already very useful. You should be grateful…”

‘Still can’t do anything, yet calls herself a great deity…’

Muttering a complaint, Xiluo’er instinctively activated another dodge skill to prevent Freya from launching a follow-up attack.

To her surprise, Freya simply stood still, seemingly deep in thought.

“I’ve got it!” Freya suddenly clapped her hands. “Hmph, this great deity has thought of an excellent way to help you.”

Upon hearing this, Xiluo’er immediately perked up. Was her cheat-like ability finally coming online?

“Do you know why this great deity is currently forced to slumber within your body?”

Freya’s smug little face was practically emblazoned with the words “I am very knowledgeable.” This time, Xiluo’er played along, asking, “Why, then, my knowledgeable Lady Freya?”

“It’s because of magic power! After being forcibly dragged down by your rule-breaking loophole, this great deity lost my source of magic power and had to enter dormancy to sustain myself.”

“However, relying solely on the scattered magic power absorbed from the air, it would take an eternity for this great deity to fully recover.”

“Hmph, it can’t be helped, after all, this great deity is a god! It’s only natural that the mere magic power of the mortal realm isn’t enough.”

‘No, don’t just randomly boast about yourself all the time!’

Although she wanted to retort, Xiluo’er held her tongue, seeing that this unreliable deity, Freya, was finally saying something useful.

“In other words, as long as you help this great deity find a reliable source of magic power to restore my strength, I can help you.”

“Of course, you don’t necessarily need to restore this great deity completely. Hmph, I doubt you have that kind of ability. Just restoring a portion should be enough.”

Xiluo’er nodded, feeling she had discovered something new—while Freya didn’t act like a deity, she certainly had a talent for being a mischievous little brat.

However, Freya’s method sounded feasible. In simple terms, her mana bar was empty and needed to be refilled.

Having fully understood, Xiluo’er continued to ask, “So, esteemed Lady Freya, where should I find a reliable source of magic power to help you recover?”

“You ask me? If I knew, who would I ask?”

After Freya uttered these words, the utterly dark dreamscape instantly fell silent.