Unspeakable bubbles

"What is a duke?"

"A duke... is someone second only to the king."

"Isn't the grassland fighting against the Duke, not the King?"

Tana shook her head and gave a bitter smile: "The Kingdom of Sain is the strongest country in the world. If the King of Sain were to go to war with the grasslands, the Kheshig army alone would probably be unable to stop him."

"Simon is so powerful, aren't you guys in a lot of danger, Tana?" Bubble asked with some concern.

“Sean is powerful, but the entire Kingdom of Sein is not of one mind.”

Tana said coldly, "Perhaps King Sain would rather see that duke fail than the grassland people."

"...It's so complicated." The little girl was confused.

"Phew, let's not talk about these pointless things anymore."

Tana changed the subject: "Bubble, you're from the Federation, what brings you to the grasslands?"

"Bubble needs to complete the project."

"Topic?"

"Yes, it's an off-campus internship, once a year!"

"So it was an off-campus practice, but coming to the grasslands at this time of year, your school is really something."

"Bubble, what do you think of the grassland?" Tana asked casually.

"The sky is so blue!"

"The air is fresh!"

"There are lots of sheep!"

"The grasslands are great."

"I see..." Tana seemed very pleased with Bubble's answer, her face beaming with joy.

"Bubble, would you be willing to stay on the grassland forever?"

"Bubble has to go back to school," the little girl shook her head.

"Well"

Tana secretly blamed herself for being too hasty, but what could she do when bubbles were so special?

"Bubble, do you like plants?" Tana suddenly asked.

"Plants? I like them! Bubble also likes small animals!"

"So, Bubble, have you ever encountered anything strange before?"

Tana stared intently at Bubble with her bright eyes: "For example, the plants we keep at home suddenly started talking."

"For example, Bubble, the flowers you grow always grow better than others."

"Tana, why do you say these are strange things?" the little girl asked, looking at her with a puzzled expression.

"...No, it's perfectly normal. For bubbles that are loved by nature, this is nothing out of the ordinary."

"Does nature like bubbles?"

“Yes.” Tana nodded emphatically.

"The stigma between your eyebrows is the best proof."

"Bubble, you are one in a million, a person blessed by nature."

'She's also the most suitable person to become the next Holy Maiden,' Tana added in her mind.

Bubble touched her brow, and she thought of her good friend Kuroro.

"Tana, when will Bubble's Saint, Saint Mark, bloom?"

"Blooming?" Tana was taken aback. "How can a Holy Mark bloom?"

"Kuroro said it would bloom!"

Tana smiled at the little girl's serious expression: "I don't know why Kuroro would say that, but I've never heard of a stigma changing shape."

"Really not?"

The little girl looked quite disappointed: "Bubble still thinks the flowers are prettier."

"Seeds, flowers...petal-shaped stigmata?"

Tana was momentarily lost in thought. She suddenly remembered that supreme being, His brow...

Tana quickly dismissed this disrespectful thought, shook her head, and resumed chatting with Bubble about the interesting things that happened on the grassland.

Section 256, Chapter 255: The Reward

We're back!

With so many people brought back at once, all the children from the Hada tribe ran out.

"So many horses!"

"They all had swords at their waists, and some even carried bows on their backs. They looked really impressive."

"Their clothes are so beautiful."

"Your bracelet is so beautiful!"

Although everyone is young, boys and girls obviously have different focuses.

"Your Holiness, welcome to the Hada tribe."

Accompanied by Bagen, who had arrived at the tribe earlier, the old chief led a group of people over, their faces beaming.

"May the Great Black God protect the Hada tribe." Tana did not dismount; she gave a flawless smile and said calmly.

"Oh!"

The leader immediately led a group of people to kneel down: "Praise be to Mahakala!"

The members of the Hada tribe who came out to greet him all knelt down, making the person who was still standing seem very out of place.

Miri looked completely unconcerned; she wasn't from the grasslands, so she wouldn't kneel.

Even after witnessing this scene, Misato, who had grown up in the Federation, developed an inexplicable sense of disgust towards the so-called saintess.

'This charlatan is quite the actor.'

Tana's eyes flickered slightly. She glanced at Misato, who was standing there, and then looked down at Bubble, who was sitting in front of her, and asked, "Is she your wizard friend?"

“It’s Misato! But when did she become a wizard?” Bubble asked, puzzled.

Tana smiled. It's good that they're not from the grasslands. If they were, they would be so arrogant, and things wouldn't end peacefully today.

She dismounted and personally helped the old chieftain up.

“We are all servants of Mahakala, there is no need for such formalities.”

"Yes, yes, yes, what the Holy Maiden says is true."

The old chieftain said warmly, "The Hada tribe will be hosting a banquet for the Holy Maiden tonight. You must do us the honor of attending!"

With the harsh winter approaching, life will be tough for these small tribes.

Just as Tana was about to decline, she saw the old man's anxious gaze.

"The Hada tribe is so hospitable, I will definitely attend on time tonight."

Tana sighed inwardly, knowing that if she refused, the Hada tribe's situation would become even worse.

If word gets out, people won't think that they are showing compassion for the small tribe's difficulties; instead, they will criticize the Hada tribe for its poor hospitality.

The Holy Maiden has arrived, and you can't even hold a decent banquet? That's really... too impious.

Seeing that Tana did not refuse, the old man breathed a sigh of relief.

"Your Holiness, please don't stand outside. Come inside the tent and rest."

"Good work."

..................................................................

"Bubble, where did you guys run into that charlatan?"

Inside their tent, Misato winked and asked.

"Tana?"

"That's her!"

Misato coughed and, mimicking Tana, said, "We are all servants of Mahakala, there is no need for such formalities."

"Haha, since they're all servants, why should anyone else kneel before her?"

"Tana didn't make anyone kneel before her."

"Hey, that's why she didn't dismount in the first place, isn't it?"

Miri shook her head: "This trip to the grasslands was definitely worthwhile; I learned a lot."

“Misri, this is their custom.”

Bubble said, "Didn't Ninomiya-neechan also tell us to do as the Romans do before we left?"

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If I did, wouldn't I be forced to kneel down too?"

Miri curled her lip: "Don't even mention her being a charlatan, even if that so-called Great Black Heaven stood in front of me, I would never kneel!"

"Hmm, Bubble thinks Tana is pretty good. She even chatted with Bubble the whole way there."

"I didn't have much contact with her, and I wouldn't say I hated Tana that much."

"It's just that I don't like her way of doing things."

Miri waved her hand and said, "Sigh, never mind her, we won't be staying on the grassland for long anyway. The most important thing right now is to find the missing Hisako."

"Why don't we ask Tana for help?"