#27.

“Because of me?”

Hiscleif let out a cold laugh. It was a stark contrast to the innocent face he had when he was with Chichi.

But this was a familiar face to both of them. After all, there was rarely a friendly conversation between Page and Jabisi.

Zerakiel’s relaxed face showed a hint of irritation. Even as this pointless conversation dragged on, Chichi seemed to be bustling around doing something.

What on earth is she doing?

“If you want to play judge, do it with your subordinates. I have no interest.”

Zerakiel sighed briefly and moved toward the well. As the two of them drew closer, the tension thickened.

Ivan pinched his nose and squinted his eyes at the suffocating pressure of the pheromones.

Just as Zerakiel was about to pass Hiscleif and head for the well, Hiscleif blocked his path with an expressionless face.

“She asked not to let anyone in.”

“I’m not just anyone.”

I’m going to be her husband soon, he didn’t bother to say. He didn’t want to inform this guy of something even Chichi didn’t know yet.

Zerakiel stared at Hiscleif with a menacing look, as if he would tear him to pieces if he didn’t step aside.

But Hiscleif didn’t back down. He created a pure white sword out of pheromones and blocked the way.

“If you really want to pass, you’ll have to defeat me first.”

“Hah.”

Zerakiel sighed and irritably brushed his bangs back. He wondered how Chichi had managed to charm someone as stubborn as this.

Maybe he should have warned her earlier when they were together.

But Chichi had been entirely at ease with Hiscleif, as if she knew him well. It was the complete opposite of how she had been guarded and defiant when she first met Zerakiel.

Zerakiel’s patience was at its limit.

“If you’re pretending this is Hebel, you should stop.”

“You’re going to break the peace treaty over a mere weasel?”

Hiscleif was confident that Zerakiel wouldn’t attack. A fight in Hebel wouldn’t just be a problem between the two of them.

But that was because Hiscleif didn’t know Zerakiel at all. Zerakiel, despite appearances, had a mind that had taken a turn and a half.

“A mere weasel, she is not.”

“What?”

“Sorry, but I never let anyone blocking my way live.”

“Zerakiel! You mustn’t!”

Sensing the strange atmosphere, Ivan tried to intervene, but it was in vain.

“If you thought I’d just back down, you’re greatly mistaken, little master of Page.”

At that moment, a black sword appeared at Zerakiel’s fingertips. The situation was about to explode.

Shhh—!

Suddenly, a spring of water erupted from the well. Zerakiel and Hiscleif both stopped and turned their gaze to the well.

* * *

Meanwhile, with Hiscleif’s help, I managed to enter the well and immediately transformed into my beastman form. Returning to my white ferret form, finding the passage was very easy.

The passage was so small that a human body couldn’t pass through it, looking like a drainage hole.

‘Being a ferret comes in handy at times like this.’

As I dug deeper, something shiny appeared at the end. Approaching it, I saw an extraordinary stone blocking the passage.

‘It’s much bigger than I thought.’

I had expected the Pearl of Purification to be small. It looked like a huge crystal ball as big as my body.

No wonder it was blocking the passage.

As I got closer, the white pearl emitted a radiant light. Its brilliant glow in the dark was captivating.

Without realizing it, I reached out for the pearl.

Flash—!

An intense light burst from the pearl as soon as I touched it, and it shrank to the size of a fingernail. The blockage broke like a dam, and spring water began to flow out.

“Chyoo!”

Drowning was not part of my plan!

I flailed helplessly in the current, watching the pearl drift away. The rapidly shining pearl was about to disappear into the selection chamber.

Panic set in as the pearl sped away.

I opened my mouth wide, desperate not to lose the Pearl of Purification. It was the last moment to catch it. I used my wits and quickly grabbed the pearl with my mouth.

“Gulp.”

I swallowed the pearl in the water current.

Immediately, before I could even spit it out, my body grew hot, and I was transported somewhere else.

* * *

“Ugh.”

When I woke up with a throbbing headache, I found myself in an unfamiliar place.

I had somehow reverted to my human form and looked around.

The Room of Choice was exactly as described in the novel, completely made of mirrors. In the octagonal space, transparent mirrors reflected my image. It felt like being surrounded by mirrors on all sides.

Startled by this strange situation, something suddenly appeared in the mirror—a silver fish.

“Hello.”

A clear voice pierced my ears. I stared blankly at the fish before finally opening my mouth.

“Hello.”

The fish-shaped figure before me was Tabby, the guardian of the Pearl of Purification. Tabby swam through the many mirrors, wagging its adorable tail.

“It’s been a while since I’ve had a visitor. Did you wake me up?”

“Yes, I woke you up.”

“You don’t seem surprised to see me. Do you know who I am and where we are?”

Despite swallowing the Pearl of Purification, I had managed to arrive safely. I sighed in relief and answered confidently.

“Yes, I know. This is the Room of Choice, and you’re Tabby, the guardian of the Pearl of Purification.”

My bold reply made Tabby burst into laughter.

Tabby, who had been swimming through the mirrors as if spying on me, came out of the mirror and approached me closely.

Then, Tabby lightly revealed a secret I hadn’t told anyone.

“You know my name, which means you’ve seen the future.”

But even this didn’t surprise me.

I already knew that Ella was able to contract with Tabby because she was a “transmigrator.”

Sacred relics were vessels containing the spirits of the guardians who protected the Amataras continent. And only those who had read the future through the “Book of Prophecies” could contract with a guardian.

From the guardian’s perspective, transmigrators were special beings who knew the future of this world, just like them. The original story was essentially a book of prophecies.

Naaman’s sacred relic, used once a year, was a guardian in a state of constant awakening by default. It acted as a sort of sentinel, staying awake until other relics awakened.

Even without a master, that relic could use its power within Hebel’s territory. However, Hebel’s head didn’t know exactly what abilities it possessed.

Most guardians waited for their masters, who knew their names, to arrive. If their master died, their name would be forgotten by all.

The test given to those who entered the Room of Choice was whether they knew the name of the guardian protecting the relic and whether they knew the future.

Like any romance fantasy novel, Ella was also a transmigrator. The only difference was that Ella’s past life was on this continent, Amataras.

So, there was no reason I couldn’t contract with Tabby. After all, the first person to find the guardian would be its master.

I smiled confidently and said,

“So, let’s make a contract.”