Brain bloom

But this naiveté was the only helping hand extended to those who lived through the four seasons.

She hurriedly grasped the hand.

I wish I could stand under the apple tree and murmur in a voice too soft for a dandelion to hear: "That lazybones' feathers are always so popular... I'll have to pick a lot more when I get back... I'm making a profit, this is what it means to make money without any investment."

"A written contract, or a soul contract?" Dandelion's voice came from above.

"Verbal is fine," he replied, looking up.

"Are you sure it's that simple? What if our power as Four Seasons People is strong enough to break free from the contract?"

"This is a verbal contract I made. Even if you bring in someone from mythology, they can't break it." Yuan's voice was occasionally punctuated by harmless chuckles, and his tone was indifferent, without any deliberate boasting about his strength.

"Doing things your way is truly trustworthy."

So, when the morning breeze sways the blossoms at my feet, I wish to say in a cheerful tone—

“Princess Dandelion, it’s a promise. I will sacrifice my life for you, and you will have three chances to borrow my power.”

"If the time is right, I will allow you to join Wing Cloud."

"It's really beautiful, isn't it?"

Dandelion's gaze softened, and her tone was nostalgic: "I assure you, the moment when Wing Cloud spreads its wings in the sky will be the most beautiful moment in the history of the Three Realms."

"I won't blink when the time comes."

"Then it's a deal, no backing out."

"Yes, it's a promise, and you can't go back on your word."

The wind carried their whispers past the flower-strewn cabin. But they had already made their pact; there was no need to raise their voices to drown out the wind. But that wasn't all; the autumn wind also brought the dandelion the good news it had been eagerly awaiting.

It has the luster of a salt sprite.

It was a bit dimmer than usual, but it was still an inspiring color.

Fufu flew in from across the sea and landed on the windowsill.

Seeing this azure light, Yuan immediately tiptoed from the ground to the window and leaned against it.

Dandelion, suppressing her anxiety, asked, "Fufu, tell me, is it good news or bad news?"

"Yes...this is bad news."

Both Pu Gongying and Yuan Du had solemn expressions.

“This is bad news for me… Princess, please don’t kill me, I will confess to you.”

"What... what happened to that stupid strawberry? No, don't tell me yet! I'm going to prepare that fate magic. I don't care what the price is, I want to—"

“I drank Mori-shiki’s…bathwater.”

Fu Fu confessed, feeling wronged, and the little guy even heard the sound of air freezing.

"Weren't we going to explore the ruins? We took a bath, and they even gave you something to drink..."

Yuan's expression was strange. She racked her brains but couldn't figure out the reason. Since the Four Seasons Herb has small leaves and the bathwater is drinkable, wasn't it being used for bathing, but for making tea?!

Fu Fu, held in Dandelion's hand, finally managed to explain the situation clearly, thus avoiding being killed.

After listening, she silently released her grip, walked gracefully to the table, picked up a glass, and took a sip of the wine, its aroma long since faded. This was a celebration, a celebration of Mori's safety.

It's safe for now, that's good.

"By the way, Fufu, you said... Sen Shi picked the leaf from his head?"

"Yes, it hurt a lot when I pulled it out because it was dried up by seawater."

"That's alright, it can be picked anyway. As long as there are still roots left inside, it will grow back after a few days in the sun and plenty of water... Just try not to bother it until it grows back."

"Why?" Fu Fu's eyes flickered with confusion.

“It’s going to get really scary. Anyway, my enemy is in trouble.” She laughed heartily, a look of schadenfreude on her face. “As long as I can hold out until she comes back safely, then there’s no problem! Alright, Fu Fu, go tell her to come back as soon as possible.”

Suddenly, Dandelion and Yuan's eyes sharpened.

Immediately following, a loud voice rang out.

"In the name of the Coffin Bearer! The one who proclaims death in the Holy Coffin Kingdom, Tatum S. Bol the Gourd Slayer, has come to visit my enemy!"

Volume 1, Chapter 114: Interview

Tatum S. Pol is a name that is not uncommon in the Kingdom of the Holy Coffin.

Because people deeply respect those who carry coffins, and are grateful for the wealth bestowed upon them by God, which allows the nation to live in peace and prosperity, sacred letters are used in important places. For example, in the middle name of a person's name, as a way to pray for divine protection.

This is a custom of the Holy Coffin Kingdom.

Therefore, if someone introduces themselves and respectfully mentions that their middle name is "S" or "B," people will feel a deep respect, after all, they come from the Kingdom of the Holy Coffin and are born into a family of pure faith.

However, few dare to put the two letters together, as that would be disrespectful to God, as if to usurp the honor of the coffin bearers. In contemporary times, only the chosen daughters and servants of God, whose faith and bodies are the purest and who have been selected from among thousands, are qualified to do so.

Paul was indeed blessed by the gods; he had a strong faith and was born with an excellent physique.

After a long period of training, he became a "Death Slayer," a source of pride for the Holy Coffin Kingdom, specifically used to vanquish evil.

His sword had indeed hunted down a demon, and for this feat, Pol was honored with a unique title.

The title was decided a few months later—when he happened to visit Silvermoon City during his faith journey to dispel evil, he discovered a kind of "watermelon" that existed in the mythical era and was attracted by its sweet taste.

Lord Balzac invited him, who was famous for his swordsmanship, to cut a watermelon, and thus he decided on the extremely precious title that would accompany him for the rest of his life.

The one who cuts the melon.

It was of extraordinary significance, as if he had arrived in the age of mythology. He would gracefully cut open the fruit eaten by the gods and offer it to the god who bestowed peace and abundance upon the Kingdom of the Holy Coffin—the Coffin Bearer. In fact, this was precisely how Bohr interpreted faith.

But today, he received an order: a thief had stolen the skull of the first Pope, and happened to be in Silvermoon City.

Even without the bishop's order, he, still in Silvermoon City, cleaned his sword, donned his armor, and led a troop of followers to the enemy's location. For them, reclaiming the first Pope's skull was something they were willing to do at any cost, even die for.

"Four Seasons One! I thought you also had an eye for the beauty of watermelons, and besides, the Holy Coffin Kingdom did indeed bring disaster to your small country, so you've always felt guilty. But... I never expected this!"

Outside the winery, the melon-chopping man's loud voice soared through the wind as he angrily pounded his breastplate.

"Thief, come out and face our wrath! Hand over the sacred relic!!"

His deputies, attendants, and several apprentices of the deceased who had come to broaden their horizons also shouted and made a great commotion. They even threatened to set fire to the entire vineyard if he didn't come out.

Dandelions were then forced to reveal themselves.

She dressed in her four-piece suit (including the white knee-high socks), took her oak staff, and, along with Elsalia who had heard the commotion, went to the door. She looked a little flustered, but the cleaver felt that the princess didn't seem afraid.

“I didn’t steal anything from you. I swear on your damned coffin-carrying ways,” Dandelion shouted.

"How dare they openly desecrate the coffin bearers..."

“You’ve got the wrong person. I really didn’t steal it. I hate your gods, but I don’t have the guts to steal the Pope’s skull.”

Dandelion wasn't lying; she also felt very wronged because the thing had fallen from the sky and almost broke her leg—it was just a hair's breadth away.

"There's no point in saying more. Hand over the goods while I can still call you princess."

He drew the holy sword bestowed upon him by the divine servant, sprinkled holy water on the blade, and slowly traced the lines on it with his fingers. This weapon had not only cleaved watermelons, but had also slain countless evils.

Dandelion asked calmly, "If you believe the Holy Skull is with me, you must have evidence, right?"

"Of course, the attendants of the gods can sense the sacred aura of the first pope's remains, and we can track him down no matter where he is."

As he spoke, his adjutant, another burly, strong warrior, silently took out something, which looked like a small silver bowl.

There was a small ball in the bowl. Ignoring the normal laws of nature, it did not fall to the bottom of the bowl, but instead trembled on the edge of the bowl as if it were stuck to the dandelion, and it would not fall back to the bottom of the bowl at all.

Having confirmed the direction, the melon cutter held his sword upright in front of him and explained:

"This was lent to me by the attendant when she relayed the orders. She modified it so it could pinpoint the direction of the holy skull. Look, the silver orb is pointing right at you and your house! The proof is in your hands."

"...Really? Elsalia, that thing isn't a lie?" Dandelion turned her head and asked her own laborer, who was also from the Holy Coffin Kingdom and had once been a saint. Maybe she knew something.

Aisalia nodded.

As the melon-cutter was puzzled, his apprentice behind him exclaimed in surprise, "Senior Elsalia? No... why is she dressed as a slave? Impossible... she was so strong back then..."

"You mean Elsalia? Who?" the melon-cutter asked.

"Very famous, the one who was assassinated by the Peda Empire..." the henchman stammered as he explained.

"Really? You didn't see wrong?" The man's eyes were extremely intimidating, and under his questioning, the henchman nodded frantically.

Then, the melon-cutter glared at Aisalia.

"Are you an apostate?"

Aisalia shook her head, a hint of grievance creeping into her otherwise blank face. She had come to become a slave for ascetic training, only to encounter such a troublesome master as the Four Seasons, and now the Holy Skull had been stolen—what bad luck!

"Do you still believe in coffin bearers?"

She extended two fingers and brought them together. On her chest, where her heart was pounding, she drew a perfect "S".

This is a death ceremony that embodies piety, a rare sight even in a devout church.

This caused a stir among the group.

If, after doing this, the heart continues to beat, it means the faith in the coffin bearer is pure. It's a way to prove one's innocence without needing many words, and the melon-cutter's gaze softened considerably.

"In that case, things are simple. Aisalia, did you see the Holy Skull during your ascetic training here?"

She shook her head and then gestured to indicate that she didn't think the dandelion was a thief.

Because the dandelion looks like a silly princess, drinking wine and growing some little yellow flowers every day, pretending to be very dignified, but in front of another seasonal being, she is a little bird clinging to him.

She doesn't seem like the kind of princess from a fallen kingdom who could accomplish great things.

Meanwhile, Dandelion, who had remained silent until now, had already devised a way to handle the matter. She seized the moment when the melon-cutter fell into deep thought and fell silent, and spoke—

“I will make way for you. To prove my innocence, you can continue to probe with that silver orb. If you really intend to target my house, then go ahead and attack me.”

"Then let's give it a try."

The adjutant approached Dandelion with the silver orb but didn't react, instead indicating it was further away. Dandelion thought this made sense, since Yuan had said that Mori had brought the orb with him before they went shopping together.

It's probably still in her magic bag, wandering around the ruins with her.

So Dandelion crossed his arms, looking indifferent, and saw the silver ball pointing to the sea instead of his own wooden house.

"See?" she snorted.