The shop assistants pulled back the coarse linen cloth covering the handcart.
Two hundred rock-hard rye bricks were stacked on either side, while two large wooden barrels reaching waist-high sat right in the center.
Even before the barrel lids were lifted, a rich, warm, sweet aroma of milk drifted into the air, wafting straight into the nostrils of every believer present.
The noisy crowd fell dead silent, as if caught by the throat, their curses stuck in their necks.
Several elderly believers twitched their noses, their eyes wide and staring, their throat apples bobbing up and down:
“T-This smell...”
“It's beast milk! Heavens, it's fresh milk from a spotted-cow beast!”
A middle-aged believer shrieked in astonishment:
“It doesn't smell gamey at all! This is definitely premium milk freshly drawn!”
The entire crowd erupted with a boom.
In a remote and destitute dump like Glimmer Town, fresh beast milk was a luxury reserved exclusively for wealthy merchants and high-ranking clergy.
Normally, commoners like them wouldn't dare splurge on a tiny bowl even after working themselves to the bone for a month.
The assistant wiped sweat from his forehead with his sleeve and bellowed at the believers:
“Don't crowd, everyone! The Saintess is merciful. Knowing the rye bricks are too hard for you to chew, she paid out of her own pocket to have us bring two whole barrels of the freshest spotted-cow beast milk!”
The assistant patted the wooden barrel forcefully as he spoke:
“The Saintess said that soaking the rye bricks in hot beast milk is not only filling, but also builds strength! Everyone here today gets a share—eat your fill!”
At those words, the smile on Sister Fina's face froze.
Staring at the two barrels of genuine fresh beast milk, she shrieked:
“Impossible! Two barrels of fresh beast milk cost several silver coins! How could she afford this? This must be fake!”
“Shut your mouth!”
A burly man who had chimed in most fiercely earlier whirled around, veins bulging on his forehead and his eyes bloodshot as he pointed at Fina and cursed:
“This milk aroma carries for two li! How could it be fake?! What kind of rotten heart do you have, trying to make us doubt the merciful Saintess!”
“Exactly! Rye bricks soaked in beast milk—even the wealthy merchants in town wouldn't dare eat like this every day!”
Several believers who had led the questioning pulled back their necks in shame, wringing the hems of their clothes with both hands and burying their heads against their chests, not even daring to look at the tips of Lilian's shoes.
“We... what nonsense were we talking just now...”
The believers who had joined the cursing dropped their heads one by one. After being slandered so harshly by them, the Saintess hadn't uttered a single word of defense. Several of them felt tears welling up in their eyes.
Plop!
Without knowing who started it first, dozens of believers who had slandered the Saintess fell to their knees on the bluestone ground all at once, kowtowing repeatedly toward Lilian.
“Lady Saintess! We are sinful! How could we doubt your mercy!”
“We beg the Lady Saintess to forgive us ignorant believers!”
Sister Fina standing on the steps was completely dumbfounded.
The fire she had tried so hard to kindle was thoroughly extinguished by two barrels of beast milk, and her antics ended up elevating Lilian even higher.
Below the steps, Lilian wore a tranquil and holy expression, her eyes lowered as she looked forgivingly at the believers kneeling all over the ground in repentance:
“It's all right, everyone. Please do not blame yourselves. The Goddess's forgiveness is with you.”
Yet beneath her eyelids, her eyes were practically rolling into the back of her head.
You bunch of idiots! I only spent sixty copper coins in total! Veto paid for the milk out of his own pocket—why the hell are you poor wretches blaming yourselves?
Just as Lilian was complaining to herself, that mechanical yet gentle voice echoed in her mind once again.
【The believers feel guilty for their actions and now support you even more from the bottom of their hearts. Faith value increased.】
【Believers' affection for you has increased. Faith value increased.】
【Faith Value +1】
【Faith Value +1】
...
【Current Faith Value: 122/100】
【Ding! Your talent 'Favored of Heaven' has triggered, drawing the gaze of the Goddess...】
Light gathered above Lilian's head once more, showering down upon her.
Lilian: Again?
Still, she wasn't particularly worried this time. She had been on her absolute best behavior over the past few minutes.
The Goddess's voice resounded in Lilian's mind again, carrying a trace of doubt. It paused for a moment before continuing:
【For the virtue of forgiveness and kindness to the believers, the Goddess is never stingy with rewards for good children.】
In the next moment, dazzling, colorful light erupted in her mind.
A high-tier drop?!
Not only is this Goddess of Light blind, she's an absolute sucker!
Lilian suppressed the excitement in her heart and locked her gaze onto the three rainbow-colored cards that refreshed into view.
The first card read:
【Prismatic Augment: Celestial Blessing (Enhanced)】
【Gain 25% Omnivamp. Overhealing is converted into a shield, up to 1000 HP, lasting 1 minute.】
(Battle—hell yeah!)
The second card read:
【Prismatic Augment: Coronation】
【Acquire a Crown Clone. The Crown Clone can act independently, inheriting 100% of the owner's stats and skills, and can be equipped with independent modifiers and sigils. 48-hour cooldown upon death.】
(The clone possesses a degree of intelligence, grows smarter alongside your growth, and is absolutely obedient.)
The third card read:
【Prismatic Augment: I Am the Main Character】
【Gain 1 extra permanent sigil slot, 1 sigil remover, and 1 random sigil. (Base sigil slot limit: 3)】
(Break human limits, young lady—you are the main character!)
Looking at the first card, 【Celestial Blessing (Enhanced)】, the corner of Lilian's eye twitched violently.
Gaining 25% Omnivamp, with excess healing converted into a massive shield.
It looked nice, but unfortunately, her offensive power was just too low. Even if she unleashed all her skills to maximum damage, she would get less than 50 points of shielding.
At best, it would change her from easily dying to not quite as easily dying.
It was pretty meaningless at her current stage.
The second card, 【Coronation】, made Lilian's eyes light up, however.
Although she didn't know what modifiers and sigils were, a clone skill that could infinitely revive was tempting enough by itself.
The only thing making her hesitate was whether that clone would be intelligent enough.
As for the third card, 【I Am the Main Character】, it put Lilian into a dilemma as well.
From the looks of it, this talent's ceiling was likely extremely high. After all, everyone could only equip three sigils, but this increased that upper limit.
Plus, it threw in a random sigil, which was basically full service.
If she missed it this time, who knew if she would ever get another chance to roll it.
The problem was that, let alone three sigils, she didn't even have a single sigil right now.
Wouldn't having an extra fourth slot be no different from empty promises?
Besides, Lilian was somewhat traumatized by the word "random"...
After agonizing over it for a moment, Lilian's gaze fell back onto the second card, and she smiled.
Rate on N.U.
