Time Healer Ceres - Chapter 118

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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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“So that’s why? You’re worried the shop will close?”
“Yes. They bring their own food and clear their own dishes afterward. Does that make sense? They pay for a meal and then we’re supposed to do all these trivial tasks for them……?”
“This is mine, isn’t it? I’ll take it.”
“What? No, I can bring it for you…….”
“Never mind. Never mind. What is this? That table over there? Hey! Aren’t you going to clear those faster? Take those finished bowls away quickly, quickly!”
…Good grief.
The deputy guild leader Rot, who had risen from his seat at some point, watched the guild leader Skal hurrying about with food and clearing dishes with his own hands, and pressed his brow with his fingers repeatedly.
Right. What could he expect from that man?
The one most terrified of this shop disappearing — that was Skal himself.
“Jay, this is for table two.”
“Yes! I understand… Huh?”
In one swift motion.
“Oh, no. Customer, I’ll bring that for you.”
“That’s enough.”
Rot snatched the bowl of stew from the maid Jay’s hands and let out a short sigh.
“I’m against this place disappearing too.”
“Pardon?”
Leaving the wide-eyed Jay behind, Rot moved about with the same diligence as Skal.
Chapter 33. In the Temple
“…What is all this?”
“These are gifts sent by the Grand Duke, hoping for your swift recovery.”
As if he should just pay back debts — what gifts could there be?
“As you can see, I’m already fully recovered.”
“That’s truly wonderful news. I’ll make sure to convey it to Kainel.”
Kainel, who had already heard from someone called Ben that Seres was ill, had been about to go find her himself.
‘Seres won’t like that.’
‘Why not?’
‘Because having someone visit you while you’re ill is a terrible nuisance. If you go see her now, Seres will find you extremely bothersome.’
‘…She’ll find me bothersome?’
‘Yes.’
‘Is it all right with you?’
‘Well, I’m only delivering a gift and leaving, so it doesn’t matter to me.’
‘I’m only giving the gift and leaving too.’
‘Really? You won’t be any trouble at all?’
‘…….’
Kainel stepped back, apparently lacking confidence that he could simply hand over the gifts and leave quietly. Instead, he filled the carriage to the brim with even more presents.
‘If she looks very ill, bring her along.’
…was what he also said.
“If you’re still feeling the slightest bit unwell, please come with me…….”
“I’m fully recovered.”
Seres shook her head firmly before Del could finish speaking.
She had no intention of staying in bed eating that bland food, unable to move again.
And Herion had already stopped by after learning the news.
“Ah, I see. You’re all better now…….”
Del nodded with a smile that somehow seemed slightly disappointed.
Muttering softly about how Kainel hadn’t been eating well lately.
“Still, I’m relieved. You’re going to the Temple tomorrow, correct?”
Ah, I had forgotten for a moment.
Word had come from the palace yesterday.
Princess Nailia’s bracelet — they would go to the Temple tomorrow to confirm whether it was indeed a Tamer Artifact.
And at that time, they would conduct an examination to verify whether everyone who had ever touched the bracelet was its true owner.
“How did you know? Did Kainel tell you?”
She could learn about her own visit to the Temple from Kainel, but she was surprised he knew the exact date.
Her own visit to the Temple — and even the exact date?
At Seres’s question, the aide Del smiled softly, as if asking why she was posing such an obvious question.
“House Persha, of course.”
“Ah…….”
Of course — with House Persha’s intelligence network, they could have learned anything, even without using the Sky organization.
Still, it was remarkable.
I’d heard that until it was certain, they would keep the Tamer Artifact strictly secret.
“It’s not just us—several noble families have likely found out by now. Everyone’s desperate to get their hands on the list of who’s being tested.”
They wanted to build relationships with the candidates in advance.
“Of course, the Princess is the strongest contender, but the Tamer Artifact carries so many variables.”
Simply having possessed the artifact for a long time didn’t automatically make one its chosen master.
“I hear many are preparing to participate in the test this time, just on the chance.”
Most noble families who’d learned of the artifact’s emergence had already filed their applications with the Temple and the Palace.
All of them harboring the hope that they might become its master.
“Is there any way to get out of it?”
“Ha—is there?”
There wouldn’t be.
Seres breathed out a short sigh and genuinely hoped the ceremony at the Temple tomorrow would pass without incident and she could return home.
* * *
“Welcome.”
The day of the Tamer Artifact’s judgment had arrived.
When Seres reached the Temple at the appointed hour, a young priest greeted her with formal courtesy.
Following him, she entered a chamber deep beneath the Grand Temple.
What was remarkable was that despite being underground, somehow the sky was visible above, and the surroundings were thick with trees like a forest.
And in the center of it all, a small spring.
The Holy Spring—where the Tamer Artifact would be judged—came into view.
“Now that everyone has gathered, we shall begin.”
Moments later, with the Pope’s arrival, the judgment of the Tamer Artifact commenced.
The Pope, who appeared to be in his early sixties, stepped forward and carefully lifted a silver bracelet that already rested on a pedestal before the spring.
He offered a quiet prayer before the spring, then lowered the bracelet very slowly into the water.
Everyone present held their breath, watching intently, waiting to see what reaction would come from the spring.
Hummmmmm—
“Ohhhhh…!”
“Ah!”
As a faint tremor rippled through the air, a soft luminescence began to emanate from the spring that had consumed the bracelet.
Gasps of wonder burst from the gathered crowd.
If anything other than a Tamer Artifact fell into the spring, it would immediately spit it back out.
But when a Tamer Artifact entered the spring, it produced this gentle resonance and soft glow, just as now.
“It is indeed a Tamer Artifact.”
At the Pope’s declaration as he turned back, the people swallowed their mounting cheers.
Their eyes shifted toward Princess Nailia.
Now they had to find the artifact’s true master. And the first test would be conducted by Princess Nailia herself.
“Princess Nailia, please step forward.”
At the Pope’s call, Princess Nailia approached the spring.
With expectant gazes fixed upon her, she stepped into the position the Pope had vacated and plunged her hand into the spring’s water.
If the artifact responded when her hand touched the water containing it, she would become its master.
But…
…
If nothing happened—if the spring simply remained still, unchanged from its initial calm state—then the person who had immersed their hand was rejected by the Tamer Artifact.
“Ah…”
After five minutes passed with no reaction, people let out sighs of disappointment at the unchanged spring.
She had held the artifact for so long that the greatest hopes had been pinned on her.
“What a pity.”
Crown Prince Aseraian, present on behalf of the Palace, exhaled silently and regretted the outcome.
It would have been a blessing for the artifact’s master to appear at all, but how much more joyous it would have been had that master been of the royal family.
After Princess Nailia, several others came forward and immersed their hands in the spring.
Attendants and ladies-in-waiting who had touched or maintained the bracelet for Princess Nailia.
And several nobles and their children who had registered in advance, hoping against hope to be tested, stepped before the Holy Spring.
“Ah…”
“Sigh…”
“What if we kept it immersed just a bit longer…?”
Yet for all their repetitions, the spring that held the Tamer Artifact produced no reaction whatsoever.
Hope drained from the crowd, and those who had participated in the test withdrew, heavy with disappointment and regret.
“Next is Miss Seres Drew.”

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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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