That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 48

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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That’s not what kissing means!

 

Episode 48

 

Evelyn first interpreted the text.

 

“The white light revealed the enemies’ intentions. We were greatly surprised… and the leaders gathered to discuss countermeasures.”

 

She turned the page, but the following content was torn away.

 

Whittaker continued with a regretful tone.

 

“Throughout the tactical manual, there are diary entries written by the author. This is one of them.”

 

Evelyn immediately understood what he wanted to ask.

 

“You want to know what the white light means.”

 

“Exactly. I’m curious about what could have surprised them so greatly. It might be a tactic passed down only from ancient times. Looking at the later content, it seems they absorbed the enemies.”

 

In the end, it was the enemy who showed the light that was defeated. Evelyn carefully examined the illustration.

 

The identity of the light was a gemstone embedded in the center of a shield.

 

“How peculiar. The soldiers are holding only shields, not swords.”

 

“Back then, the power of sacred stones and magic stones was strong, so they emitted brighter light than now.”

 

“I understand, I’ll look into it.”

 

Evelyn took Whittaker’s book and left the training ground.

 

* * *

 

As soon as she entered the library, a languid voice reached her ears.

 

“Why are you only coming now.”

 

At Theo’s reproachful words, Evelyn tilted her head.

 

Though she was later than usual, there had been no predetermined appointment time to begin with.

 

“Were you waiting?”

 

“Isn’t that natural? I was curious about how the child was doing.”

 

“Yes, she’s doing well here.”

 

Evelyn placed Julia’s stone, which had spent the night with her, on the desk.

 

Since giving up on understanding him, she had been playing along with the family game to some extent.

 

They say you shouldn’t mess with crazy people.

 

“I received a request.”

 

After explaining her business with Whittaker, she went to the section filled with ancient language books.

 

“How did he really acquire all this…?”

 

No matter when she looked, it was an enormous quantity. Moreover, forbidden books that couldn’t even be found in the Royal Court were scattered throughout.

 

Evelyn paused as she was about to pick up a book related to tactics.

 

‘Come to think of it, our ancestors had incredibly strong faith.’

 

Though the entire continent still believed in the goddess Julia, their faith was woefully lacking compared to the past.

 

Back then, everything from the founding reasons to artistic works was all for glorifying the gods.

 

Should I look for content related to light in the scriptures?

 

Evelyn spent some time examining scriptures and theological texts.

 

She opened several volumes and focused intently on finding the content she sought.

 

However, it was far from sufficient to find what she wanted.

 

“Not enough, not enough…”

 

She walked toward the end of the bookshelf with a weary expression.

 

It was a space where forbidden books were gathered. One particular volume caught her attention.

 

「Light and Altar」

 

She had to stand on her tiptoes to reach the height that exceeded her stature.

 

Then, a low voice descended from above her head.

 

“You’re looking at something dangerous.”

 

Evelyn wasn’t even surprised and immediately retorted. She had grown accustomed to his approaching without any presence.

 

“Thanks to someone who acquired it for me.”

 

At those words, Theo chuckled softly. He took out the book Evelyn had chosen and whispered with a smile.

 

“There’s something interesting.”

 

He picked up another forbidden book.

 

It was a book without even a title.

 

The empty cover sparked Evelyn’s curiosity.

 

“Does it have no name?”

 

“That’s right, isn’t it peculiar?”

 

It was certainly unique. What kind of content could it contain that they couldn’t even write a title?

 

Theo continued speaking.

 

“In ancient times, gods and humans mingled together. The earnest worship of gods only began after they disappeared.”

 

When they vanished from sight, their descendants began to regard the gods as mysterious.

 

Because of this, they created sculptures and temples, wanting to know even a little about the gods. It was the beginning of religion spreading across the continent.

 

“Along with idolization, everyone’s faith deepened. Do you know what they eliminated first?”

 

Theo gently shook the untitled ancient book.

 

“It was their human-like appearance.”

 

“Could it be… unofficial history?”

 

At Evelyn’s guess, he nodded.

 

“It was recorded when gods and humans lived together.”

 

“Are we allowed to read this…?”

 

Evelyn asked cautiously.

 

After all, it was privately recorded history of the gods. It would be a book designated as forbidden for undermining divine dignity.

 

Though she was initially curious, she suddenly felt afraid.

 

What if someone found out…?

 

It was Theo who stopped her worries.

 

“At this point?”

 

Theo pointed to ‘Light and Altar’ in her hands.

 

It was a question of what difference it made since they were both forbidden books anyway.

 

He leaned down and whispered in Evelyn’s ear.

 

“You’re curious.”

 

It was a seductive voice that seemed to encourage dangerous acts.

 

“You can do anything. If it’s in my space.”

 

“…”

 

Those words gave her a strange courage. Evelyn was already deeply interested in ancient languages.

 

These were books she could never find no matter how much she wanted them once she left this place.

 

“Then just a little…”

 

At those words, Theo smiled and took out several forbidden books, placing them on Evelyn’s desk.

 

She followed and sat down, slowly opening one of the books.

 

First, she examined the untitled book containing unofficial history of the gods.

 

‘I can see why it was forbidden.’

 

Evelyn nodded. Unlike scriptures that only contained the gods’ achievements, this contained their human-like aspects.

 

They were swayed by emotions, felt regret, got excited, and even fought.

 

As Evelyn read the fascinating unofficial history, her gaze fixed on one particular passage.

 

It was a scene where gods gathered and raged at each other.

 

She interpreted the text written beside it.

 

[The Ground split open and sacred stones revealed themselves. The gods were enchanted by the beauty of the sacred stones, each possessing different colors, and fought fiercely to obtain the colors they desired. Among them, Calimedes destroyed everything before his eyes and seized the red sacred stone.]

 

It was an embarrassingly childish sight. Evelyn sighed and read the next part.

 

[Goddess Julia watched them quietly, then took the white sacred stone that none had chosen. It was a stone of unremarkable color that no one had even shown interest in.]

 

When she turned the page, a picture of the benevolent Goddess Julia was revealed.

 

[The gods reflected on their greed at her choice and stopped fighting. From then on, white light came to mean peace.]

 

They each left quietly, carrying their respective sacred stones.

 

White light was the symbol of Goddess Julia.

 

‘Could it be?’

 

Evelyn looked at the pendant placed on the desk. The white sacred stone embedded in the center caught her eye.

 

Everything she had heard and seen so far connected organically.

 

White light was Julia’s will and wish to honor peace.

 

‘If the ancient people knew this…’

 

Evelyn seemed to have found the answer she had been curious about all along.

 

The soldiers holding shields in Whittaker’s ancient book.

 

She had wondered why they weren’t carrying swords, but now she could understand.

 

They had wished for peace along with surrender. The white gemstone positioned in the center of the shield told that story.

 

‘There’s more meaning contained in colors than I thought.’

 

Now she would have to change her approach to interpreting ancient languages according to colors as well.

 

A low chuckle reached Evelyn as she was absorbed in thought.

 

When she looked up, she met violet eyes full of interest.

 

“How is it? The feeling of viewing something forbidden.”

 

“It feels like eating Wilson’s candy when I was little.”

 

“How was that?”

 

She answered Theo’s question.

 

“Mother forbade me from eating it. She said what Mr. Wilson made was just sweet and bad for the body.”

 

“So you ate it secretly.”

 

Evelyn nodded.

 

“I was nervous about getting caught, but I couldn’t give up the candy. It was so sweet it made my tongue tingle.”

 

“There’s no better snack for children than that.”

 

Theo understood whatever she said. He listened with interest even to ordinary stories.

 

Whenever Evelyn was with him, she was swept up in the illusion of becoming a great storyteller.

 

His leisurely voice continued.

 

“Now I see you weren’t entirely a good child.”

 

“I didn’t do anything terribly bad, but… I wasn’t a child who unconditionally agreed with Mother’s words.”

 

“That’s fine. That’s how a child’s world expands.”

 

“…”

 

Theo gestured toward the forbidden book.

 

“Try anything. As long as it doesn’t harm you.”

 

“I won’t get arrested for this, will I?”

 

He wore a languid smile. The ease contained in his curved lips was saying that no one would dare touch her.

 

“You’re safe, so cross the line you’ve set for yourself.”

 

In doing so, the line toward Theo would also become blurred.

 

He harbored expectations. For the day when Evelyn would break down her barriers and approach him.

 

“…”

 

Evelyn couldn’t answer easily.

 

Somehow his words, his smile directed at her, seemed dangerous.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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