...The Bone of Fearlessness.
Annan lapsed into contemplation.
It must have been because he helped them purify the Sporogenesis Mill that his "favorability" had risen in one breath, reaching a level where he could be inford and involved in this matter.
If their relationship were that of rely passing acquaintances, Naifertali certainly wouldn’t have spoken of such things.
If Annan had not kept his promise and spread the news instead, she would definitely have encountered trouble. Even her brother could beco a target, and the prestige of her teacher, the Bone Healer, would be damaged as well.
It was precisely because the players had fully displayed their illustrious savior image in front of her and Niusel... that Annan could already count on a rather high base favorability before even appearing.
And the way Annan decisively resolved the nightmare of the Sporogenesis Mill proved his capability; his actions to vindicate Deword showcased his sense of morality.
—These incidents, stacked together, beca the opportunities for Annan to be given the holy relic.
...It was almost like inexplicably completing an epic quest, and only when the rewards were distributed did they simply hand over the quest items to Annan as well.
Had it not been for Annan’s quick reaction, he wouldn’t even have realized what he had done to be gifted the holy relic upon their first eting.
Without doubt, the holy relic was one of the top-tier curse items in this world, and an artifact second only to the Book of Truth.
Of course, that was for the general populace.
Annan himself possessed scraps of the Book of Truth, and he was still in search of the Heart of Justice.
He didn’t actually crave the Bone of Fearlessness that much...
He was even unsure whether he could be acknowledged by the Bone of Fearlessness.
—Perhaps it would take beseeching from the Bone Healer himself before he could reluctantly accept it.
Annan thought... would it be too cruel to reply directly to Naifertali like that?
Because he truly had no particular thoughts about the Bone of Fearlessness.
[Steadfastness] or [Patience] might suit Annan better.
Annan believed... true courage shouldn’t be about being fearless, but rather about knowing fear and despair clearly and still possessing the [courage] to face that fear and despair.
Just like the predecessor of the previous generation knew retreating would an life and not retreating certain death, yet they still faced their inevitable demise.
Annan simply couldn’t feel fear.
So what courage was there to speak of?
After pondering for a mont, he replied in a more euphemistic manner, "If I can be certain that the ’simultaneous use of two holy relics’ thod you ntioned is safe, I could consider doing so tests.
"But if possible, I would still prioritize finding the Heart of Justice."
"As long as you’re willing to help with the tests!"
Naifertali hastily said, "If we don’t have enough evidence to convince you... then you don’t have to inherit this holy relic!"
"...Hmm, that’s no problem,"
Annan coughed lightly.
Such a pitiable look.
He was even starting to feel sorry for her.
Had it not been for the shielding of the Winter’s Heart keeping Annan free from guilt, he might have agreed already.
...This eager to hand out equipnt but not being able to do so was indeed too humble.
Annan quickly changed the topic, "I rember there are ways to seal the holy relics. The ’Dragon Sleep Potion,’ for example, can do it."
"Of course, we know that, and the formula for the Dragon Sleep Potion isn’t particularly secret knowledge."
Naifertali sighed as she said this, "But dragon blood is too expensive.
"As everyone knows, dragons belong to the Dual Aspects: the more chaotic society is, the stronger their desires; and the more peaceful it is, the more they sleep and the more mild their temperant becos. It’s been peaceful for a long ti now, and the temperants of several giants have gradually beco milder, and their greed for treasures and thirst for them have faded as well.
"Now dragons are almost impossible to find. They are all tucked away sleeping sowhere... Even wanting to trade treasures for dragon blood, it’s difficult to tempt them to sell."
Which ans, as the world beca peaceful, dragons gradually beca more zen-like.
"Dual Aspects seed, huh..."
Annan pondered.
Although he did not know the aning of this term, he roughly understood from its literal sense why his ancestress and Sui Father, both of the Dragon Race, could be one the god of fire and creation and the other the god of ice and Tradition.
Perhaps that was also the reason there was no third dragon among the True Gods.
However, this was the first ti Annan had heard of such a concept.
Paper Princess clearly did not have this strange dragon trait... oh right, she was a paper dragon.
Paper dragons don’t defecate, so they wouldn’t have such instincts.
A thought struck Annan.
Is this why the ancestress chose "dragon slumber" as her sacrant?
If the Dragon Race would fall asleep during peaceful tis in the world and naturally awaken when on the brink of chaos...
"...I see."
Annan murmured.
So the ancestress had never abandoned her children!
She was not a capricious deity—her dragon slumber was a manifestation of her love, as stern as that of a strict father.
It was not that the ancestress happened to wake up during critical monts, nor was it that the Winter clan in danger aroused her... but because she would naturally wake up whenever a crisis arose!
—In peace, she would pressure her children; in war, she would shelter them.
Just like a grumpy old father who would sternly chastise and douse his child with cold water when they achieved sothing but would be the first to step forward and thrash anyone who dared bully them.
Although she had never spoken the underlying rules of her behavior nor explained them to anyone.
Whenever her children needed the ancestress, she would awaken.
"So, when we can’t get hold of Dragon Blood, we have to seal the sacred relics in another way."
Naifertali explained, "Even if the sacred remains could tempt the qualified to co in their direction, they would not mark the specific location for them. Finding them is also part of the trial.
"In other words—as long as the sacred remains are placed within a labyrinth, it can be effectively ’sealed.’ At least it won’t let weak mortals take it away and cause a disaster.
"And the Underworld is a natural labyrinth. It even has varying levels. Unless the sacred ones stray from their path and are abandoned by the sacred remains... as long as they draw breath, they will find a way to the Underworld and create labyrinths to hide the sacred remains. Unless they do not wish for posterity to obtain this sacred bone, they would rush deep into the Mist—equivalent to throwing the key inside a safe."
...So that’s why.
Annan suddenly understood.
To his knowledge, aside from the Tower Master and the Pope... most of the Gold-rank Transcendents dwell scattered throughout the Underworld.
Annan did not know why before. He thought they might not wish to submit to worldy authority, or perhaps they were trying to escape their responsibilities, or just desired peace...
Now it seed, they were likely searching for sacred remains in the Underworld.
But the Underworld had no limit to its layers, and its terrain was more complex than Chongqing’s overpass. Truly a natural maze... mortals would lose their way as soon as they entered.
...So, was that why Vladimir the traitor ca to the Underworld?
Was it because he was not fleeing disaster, but because he believed he could bond with a sacred bone—thus he stayed underground, remaining there for years on end?
If that were the case...
"I will go."
Annan’s expression beca a bit more serious, "Please tell the related details."
Even if it was just to thwart him or cause him trouble, Annan had to go test his qualifications.
Because Annan had just realized sothing.
If the ancestress would sleep throughout peaceful eras...
...Why was the ancestress now on the verge of awakening?
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