That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 92

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. 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 92

Following the stone path that extended from the Temple Main Gate, a plaza-like space opened before me.
In the center of the vast expanse stood a fountain with the Statue of Yulia, and not far away were the Chapel and Dining Hall.
Most of the visitors had been enjoying the festival there when the explosion erupted.
Theo now stood in the forest behind the Chapel, hidden from all eyes.
Beneath his feet, shattered beads scattered into the air with a soft whisper—パスス.
Soon they would vanish without a trace.
The ashen bead Vanessa had brought was a smoke bomb crafted by House Ashford.
Since it produced only harmless smoke, they would quickly realize it was no actual bomb.
The bead smoke bomb exploded more violently the stronger the magical power it encountered.
To create the deafening blast and thick smoke, Theo had channeled his internal mana into the bead.
It was an amount that would strain an ordinary Mage Knight, but for him it posed no difficulty.
The tremendous noise he created spread massive chaos throughout the Temple.
The smoke originating from behind the Chapel spread rapidly, obscuring its source.
Of course, the dim visibility meant nothing to Theo.
Cutting through the cascading screams, I made my way toward the Sacred Relic Storage situated between the Chapel and the Lodging.
The Sacred Artifact exhibition, opened only on the Day of Blessing, was a privilege granted to invited guests.
The exhibition would begin after the High Priest’s prayer ceremony the following day.
The Sacred Knights standing guard in front of the storage were greatly flustered by the pouring smoke.
That was when it happened.
“Ugh!”
One of the Sacred Knights collapsed with a brief cry.
“What’s happening!”
The Sacred Knight beside him looked around frantically.
Unable to see ahead, he couldn’t read the situation.
In that instant, a powerful impact struck the back of his neck.
It was an attack so stealthy and swift that he never saw it coming.
Theo swiftly brought down the Sacred Knights in succession and retrieved a key from his waist.
I felt for the door with my fingertips, inserted the key into the lock, and slipped into the Sacred Relic Storage.
Thanks to its secure seal, the interior remained free of smoke for now.
Theo closed the door again, shutting out the outside. But it wouldn’t be long before this place too was engulfed in thick smoke.
I needed to move quickly.
Along both sides of the Sacred Relic Storage stood Sacred Artifacts arranged within glass cases.
At the end of the display, an unmistakably precious Holy Grail sat in place.
Theo had come to this place for a different reason.
What he’d heard from the voice recording chamber wasn’t just about the hallucinogenic flowers.

‘We must gather more Sacred Artifacts. The Envoy desires greater sacred power.’
‘Already? Isn’t the sacred power weakening?’
‘Mind your tongue! We need strong power for the great work!’
‘Even so, I hear the Seril Kingdom is sending us the Holy Grail, a precious Sacred Artifact. It’s all thanks to the miracle we showed the princess.’

Ever since learning that in ancient times one could absorb the sacred power from Sacred Artifacts, Theo had harbored suspicions. Perhaps the Envoy was absorbing the power of the Sacred Artifacts himself.
The moment he heard the recording, Theo’s hypothesis was proven. Just as he’d suspected, the Envoy was indeed absorbing sacred power using the Sacred Artifacts.
Theo approached the Holy Grail slowly.
Below it was an inscription with the donor’s name—sure enough, it was the princess of Seril. The Holy Grail from the Seril Kingdom would only accelerate his wickedness.
Theo had searched through countless records but hadn’t yet discovered a method to absorb sacred power.
Yet his efforts weren’t entirely fruitless. He had discovered an intriguing hypothesis.
Theo withdrew Yulia’s Stone from his pocket. Then he opened the glass case and pressed it directly against the Holy Grail.
The Holy Grail trembled faintly, then began to lose its luminescence.
This was what Theo had discovered: when a Sacred Artifact comes into contact with another possessing greater sacred power, it simply transfers its strength.
It was the very reason why each Sacred Artifact was kept separated in the Sacred Relic Storage.
Among all existing Sacred Artifacts, none possessed sacred power as formidable as Yulia’s Stone.
Though he hadn’t grasped the exact nature of the Envoy’s wickedness, one thing was certain.
His plan had been thwarted.

* * *

The moment Theo left, Vanessa pulled something from her bag.
“I bought these because they were cute, but I never expected them to be this useful!”
What she’d retrieved were a rabbit mask and a frog mask.
“How do you feel about the rabbit mask, Evelyn?”
“You want me to hide my face with this?”
Vanessa pulled the hood attached to Evelyn’s priest’s robes deep over her head.
She secured the back of her head and hood firmly with the strings attached to the mask, then pulled the mask up over her face.
“It suits you perfectly!”
“I feel rather embarrassed, to be honest….”
“There’s no better way to hide your hair and face than this, is there?”
Just as I finished the disguise.
Boom—!!
An explosion echoed from a distance. It was Theo’s signal to begin.
Before Evelyn left the room, she explained the location to Vanessa.
“Aside from the two Lodgings and the Garden, there’s only the High Priest’s Residence. It’s diagonally positioned from here, so it should be easy to find.”
“I’ve already memorized the layout from the Garden. You mustn’t let go of my hand until we arrive.”
Vanessa took her hand and opened the door.
Just as Theo had promised, smoke billowed through the air.
Evelyn couldn’t see anything ahead, yet strangely, Vanessa walked forward without hesitation.
Soon, the confused voice of a Sacred Knight rang out.
“We must report this situation to the superiors at once!”
“But guarding this place takes priority… Ugh!”
The Sacred Knight collapsed, clutching his abdomen in sharp pain.
Vanessa had struck him with her sword hilt.
She held Evelyn’s hand with one hand while knocking the Knights unconscious with the other.
“The smoke will reach inside here soon. I’ll keep watch, so find what you’re looking for quickly!”
Evelyn hurried into the High Priest’s Residence. Fortunately, the interior seemed empty—there was no sign of anyone.
I passed through the quiet Corridor and Central Courtyard, rushing toward the Office. I passed by the neatly organized desk and began searching the bookshelf behind it.
“Ledgers, hallucinogenic herbs….”
I had to find anything related to either of them.
Time was running out. The Envoy would come rushing here to protect his important documents.
My heart tightened in this urgent situation, and cold sweat dripped down my back.
“Where on earth could it be….”
I searched through every pile of unnamed documents, but ultimately found nothing.
Should I give up like this?
I sighed, my exhausted eyes turning toward the small statue of Yulia sitting on the desk.
“If you’re going to test me, you should at least show me the answer….”
Please….
I touched the statue with a desperate expression. That’s when I felt something strange.
“Why won’t it move?”
I checked the other decorations just in case, but only the Statue of Yulia was fixed in place.
It didn’t budge at all—it seemed to be connected to the desk itself.
I examined the Statue of Yulia slowly, but there was nothing particularly distinctive about it.
As a final attempt, I grasped the pedestal supporting the Goddess Yulia and turned it.
Creak—
The statue rotated in the direction I applied force.
But the real surprise came next.
The bookcase embedded in the wall began to move, opening a gap.
Whirrrr—
Another bookcase was revealed within. I approached it as if entranced.
I reached out and withdrew a stack of bound documents.
“Found it.”
Inside were the ingredients and mixing ratios for the hallucinogenic herb, along with a list of high-ranking officials who had been exposed to it.
I pulled out a video recording device from my pocket. When I pressed the button to activate it, the liquid inside the magical artifact turned green.
Viewing the footage would require Theo’s mana. Until then, I focused on recording as much of the visible content as possible.
Just as I was about to close the bookcase after documenting all the crucial information.
A thick tome caught my eye. Despite knowing time was pressing, my entire attention shifted to it.
Perhaps it was because of the title written in ancient script.

[Immortality Ritual]

Immortality Ritual…?
As I turned the cover of this ominously titled book, faded pages came into view. It was a collection of old materials bound together.
Ancient script was interspersed throughout, but that posed no difficulty for me.
I read through the text on the pages I opened, and as I took in the engraved illustrations and their contents, a chill ran through my entire body.
“This is insane….”
The deeper I delved into the ancient text, the more violently the shock struck my mind.
At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed from outside the office. The crude movements drew steadily closer.
I was certain it wasn’t Vanessa’s gait.
I placed the book and ledger back in their original positions, then rotated the statue again to restore it.
The office door burst open violently.

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