Miss Witch's Forbidden Book Secret

But it's different in Iris. A completely different environment, complete freedom of choice, no human surveillance—except for Tia—so she can go on adventures anywhere without anyone stopping her.

So the caged bird flew freely.

Eleanor got the manuscript in just a few days.

During these few days, Tia also spent her time scouring the library’s collection and writing a book on the conversion ritual.

Five thousand four hundred nautical miles south of Ansun Island and five thousand nautical miles southwest of the Iris Flower Wave Coast, the sea is turbulent with towering waves.

On the vast ocean, two steam-powered ironclad warships, shrouded in a dazzling, otherworldly aura, cleaved through the waves, while several black-sailed pirate-flagged gunboats, like a pack of wolves, circled around them.

About ten minutes later, the gunboat circled the two ironclad ships four or five times. As the extraordinary light rose from sequence six to sequence five, and the radiance almost enveloped the entire ship and flowed onto the sea surface, the gunboat quickly dispersed in all directions.

In the ward of the flagship ship's cabin.

The druid sister with long green hair had just prepared the ointment and was bringing it to Vera, who was a little irritated.

Vera, lying on the stretcher, widened her eyes when she saw the druid enter. "Is a fight about to break out? Hurry, help me up! Those despicable pirates, not only do they refuse to surrender, but they dare to come and taunt us! I'll board them and blow them all up!"

The druid sister said helplessly, "Miss Vera, the pirates have all given up. To be honest, you didn't need to release your aura just now."

Vera was completely baffled. "Huh? How can we make them realize the disparity in strength if we don't intimidate them?"

"Pirates at sea are experienced. They can usually just unleash a little spiritual energy, reaching the level of Sequence Six, and outnumbered pirates won't dare to fight back. Besides, we were sent by the Anti-Piracy Bureau! We also have official confirmation from Saint Engard. Pirates never intercept guests from Saint Engard."

"That's right."

Vera slapped her forehead and remembered, saying awkwardly, "I forgot."

"Please take the medicine first. Besides, you're using a bit too much force to unleash your spiritual energy..."

Vera declared matter-of-factly, "I'm timid and scared!"

Chapter 461 Vera's Voyage

Vera lifted her shirt and let the druid sister apply medicine to her stomach.

The greenish-blue ointment felt cool, but since she couldn't wear a shirt right now, Vera wrapped several bandages around her chest, exposing her tummy where the ointment had been applied.

I got out of bed and ate something: a bowl of sweet and sour fruit and vegetable soup, and a large loaf of bread that hadn't turned into a brick.

Vera had barely swallowed a few mouthfuls of the thick soup, and before she could even soak the bread in it, she felt a sharp, throbbing pain in her stomach.

Outside the ward, after delivering breakfast, the druid sister came out and saw a burly man wearing a monocle and carrying a giant hammer on his back approaching. She asked in surprise, "Herlan, how is Miss Vera? We were officially hired by her. If something goes wrong, we won't be able to explain it to the Anti-Epidemic Bureau."

Druid Herlan said helplessly, "Nothing's wrong."

"Nothing happened?!"

“Miss Vera’s constitution is a bit too good… I also discovered some strange rituals on her. Like a bunch of tiny specks of light hidden in her blood. But this is clearly not her ritual…”

"Tsk, that sounds like something those snake-men would have. You're a druid, you should know, right?"

“I know. But Miss Vera doesn’t have the aura of twin serpents.”

The burly man shrugged and said, "Why bother with all that? So what exactly happened to Miss Vera's injury?"

Druid Herlan hesitated for a moment, then, seeing that Vera wasn't there, said:

"Uh... she was a little too nervous when she used the ritual. She probably doesn't exercise much, which is why she had a bad fit of breath just now."

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

Vera recovered quickly from her injuries, and within half an hour she was bouncing around again.

This is thanks to her innate healing abilities and the holy light within her body—a light that Tia left in Vera's body, in very small quantities. Moreover, Vera's strength is considerable, so there is no risk of triggering a spiritual attack.

Vera was a little surprised when she found this thing, not knowing whether it was left there voluntarily or involuntarily.

After encountering pirates, the two steam-powered ironclad ships sailed at sea for most of the day. Around three or four o'clock in the afternoon, they entered a sparse archipelago area, where they could see a small island every now and then.

Almost all of the islands have been developed, with cargo ships coming and going, and the busy docks are piled with goods and dockworkers sweating profusely, with loading and unloading machines operating non-stop.

Unlike Ansu, where the harsh winter has just passed and early spring has arrived, this sea area known as the "Broken Islands" is at the end of summer, and the weather is hot.

Vera, wrapped in her priest's robe, felt soaked through with sweat after only a short while on the deck.

On deck, the druid Herlan, who was acting as the attending physician, asked curiously, "Miss Vera, why are you dressed so warmly?"

Vera exclaimed in surprise, "I didn't know the South was so hot! It was freezing cold at sea just a couple of days ago!"

"That's because we're in the Southern Hemisphere, Miss Vera. It's still summer in the Southern Hemisphere right now, isn't that common sense in geography?"

Vera, having spent a few years at university and somewhat neglecting her studies, was momentarily stunned before confidently declaring, "I'm actually a student at St. Pantheon!"

"The school of Iris flowers? No wonder. I've heard that Iris people can't tell directions. That's why the navy suffers repeated defeats."

"Oh yes, yes. That's how they are. They even like to put bread on the table to eat."

Vera nodded with her hands on her hips, clearly agreeing.

As she gazed out with her hands on her hips, a vast island came into view at the end of the channel. Behind the white coastal lighthouse were equally white seawalls, towering fortress walls, and coastal gun emplacements.

Several towering warships adorned with silver crosses were undergoing repairs at a shipyard near the coast. A row of tall knights, ranked seventh in rank and wielding knight's swords, stood by the railings on the dock. There were also many patrolling guards, all dressed in gleaming silver breastplates, carrying classic halberds, with hand cannons and heavy elephant muskets hanging at their waists.

There were few cargo ships around the docks, but there were many wealthy people traveling in different styles on the embankment, as well as many priests distributing pamphlets.

Two ironclad warships entered the harbor one after the other, furled their sails, dropped their anchors, and slowly approached the shore. The knights standing solemnly outside the dock railings opened the railings, laid out a red velvet carpet, and then a long staircase was unloaded from the steamship in front.

A fifth-rank knight stepped forward to welcome Vera.

Vera disembarked from the ship with a completely bewildered expression.

—No one had ever told her that Saint Enggard would be so serious!

The knight captain touched his chest and bowed, saying, "Blessed by the Father of All Things and the kindness of Saint Sulph, Miss Elvira, welcome to Saint Engard. I am Selmu, here to greet you."

"This is too much enthusiasm..."

“You flatter me. This is the first official visit by the Holy Church and your country in nearly ten years, and you are also an envoy of Saint Sulph. Commander Sig attaches great importance to this. Please come with me. Commander Sig has already arranged accommodations for you. The secret scriptures you need will be delivered from the temple tomorrow.”

Vera was caught off guard by the enthusiastic gesture and followed Knight Selmu to a guild hall with a silver cross hanging in the south of the port.

Upon arriving at the reception room of the guild hall, several Sequence Six and Sequence Five guards hired by Vera were waiting outside.

Before Vera could follow the Selmu Knight inside, a series of thumping sounds, like someone gulping down water, came from the reception room.

And anxious cries.

"Teacher Big Crow! Teacher Big Crow! Stop drinking! You've already drunk over sixty bottles. You'll burst if you drink any more!"

"Drink today, for tomorrow we die~~~ Burp~~~~ Two more bottles, please."

"Sif, could you please pull Mr. Raven back?"

“Brother, this spirit is already at Sequence 5 strength, how could I possibly stop it?”

"Sif, you clearly have extraordinary items, don't you?"

"I don't want to."

"I...I'm dressed as a woman..."

"Okay! You have to wear it! I need to take pictures! Wait a minute."

"Xia Mi, what the hell are you doing?! I'm heartbroken! You've murdered the Holy Spirit! Isn't anyone going to do anything about this?! You've murdered the Holy Spirit!"

The reception room was a complete mess.

Vera found the voice strangely familiar.

She recognized the raven that was cawing loudly, but she also found the two people who looked like siblings to be very familiar.

Before Vera could think further, the Knight of Selmu, his face tense as if he hadn't heard the commotion inside, pushed open the door and said, "Lady Elvira, please come with me. His Majesty the Shrike is waiting for you."

Push open the door.

Vera saw the large, silvery-white raven with its wings glued together, dangling in mid-air, and its two legs tied together with ropes, squawking and cawing in the air.

Knight Selmu, seemingly oblivious, said, "This is His Majesty the Shrike. If you wish to go to the Golden City, you may take His Majesty the Shrike away now."

"...Given that His Majesty the Shrike has consumed nearly six tons of our precious ceremonial wine these past few days, we truly—really hope that you will take His Majesty away."

"However, it's the Holy Festival in the Golden City right now, and frankly, it's a bit... dangerous there. It would be better if you wait two months before going."

Chapter 462 The Holy Scripture of the Evil God

As Selmu finished speaking, Xia Mi Langhilde, who had short silver-white hair, raised her hand in the distance to remind her, "Miss Vera, we don't really recommend that you go to the Golden City at this time."

Vera was completely bewildered.

She definitely had to go to the Golden City—the Seven Seas consisted of seven vast islands, and the Golden City was one of them. It was the wealth center and political hub of the entire confederation, and the intelligence agency she was looking for, the "Gem Island Chain Merchants' Guild," was also located in the Golden City.

Vera asked, confused, "What Holy Scripture Festival? A special holiday related to secret texts? Don't they work on holidays?"

Sif, who was sitting at the long table with a rope in her hand, stood up and bowed slightly, saying, "Miss Vera. The Holy Festival has nothing to do with the Secret Codex; it's more of a 'festival of divine grace'... However..."

Sif glanced at Selmu.

The stern, robust knight commander remained silent for a long time before explaining, "You should know that the Seven Seas had no orthodox faith before Saint Engard's arrival—not even prophetic worship or ancestral spirit worship."

Vera was even more confused and hesitated, "Huh? Do I need to know?"

Serme: ......

Vera felt like she hadn't been paying attention in college.

But the problem is that this isn't among the topics we need to cram for the final exam!

Xia Mi and Sif whispered to each other, feeling that the scene was familiar, as if they had seen it somewhere before.

Knight Selmu explained helplessly, "The Seven Seas are isolated overseas. Before the establishment of the Solomon Empire, their last large-scale cultural exchange with the continental countries dates back to the year of the Holy Grail faith—which is estimated to be six or seven thousand years ago."

"Although the ancient papal priests once crossed the vast oceans and rebuilt their faith with the local priests of the Seven Seas, this faith has been completely distorted and deformed over thousands of years... It would not be an exaggeration to say that it has become a belief in evil gods."

“And Holy Day is the day when evil gods bestow their grace.”

Before Vera could finish listening, she slammed her hand on the table and stood up, exclaiming incredulously, "My God! Evil God! Have these businessmen gone mad?!"

The so-called evil gods are naturally false gods in the form of spirits.

As someone who had dealt with evil gods, Vera knew all too well how dangerous these deep-sea spirits were—one wrong move and you could be tricked into giving them your body!

For example, she was completely fooled by a witch who hung upside down...

The latter point will not be mentioned, but the danger posed by the evil god is obvious.

Shami and Selmu, both present, are Silver Knights of Saint Engard and followers of the Holy Grail. Sif could also be considered an intellectual; she is an outstanding graduate of the Golden City Mage Academy.

Everyone knows the dangers of false gods and spirits.

Sif, composed and clear in her elegant voice, said unhurriedly, “Of course not, Miss Vera. Everyone in the Golden City, and indeed in the Land of the Seven Seas, knows the terrors of the deep sea. No one understands the dangers of the deep sea better than those who make their living on the ocean and its waves.”

"But... He gave so much. 'Lord of Reversal and Victory,' 'Crown of the Wind God,' Valon—that's what the locals of the Golden City call Him. Although he is revered as a god, he is actually a spirit that was forcibly imprisoned and bound to a contract thousands of years ago by the church's expeditionary priests in conjunction with local superhumans and priests, in order to quell ocean storms, reverse misfortune, and bring wealth."

"But unfortunately, this spirit was already out of control long before Saint Engard arrived. That's why the Seven Seas Kingdom offered up Saint Engard Island, covering 80,000 square kilometers, as a fief eight hundred years ago in order to win over the Knights."

Vera frowned and said, "So, even Saint Enggard didn't manage to deal with this so-called spirit Valon?"

"It's resolved—but the merchants and bigwigs of the Golden City disagreed with Saint Enggard's decision to banish it back to the deep sea, and forcibly took it back under their control."

Sif crossed her hands on her lower abdomen, shook her head and said, "Perhaps they think that after this accident, they can continue to control this god who can quell storms and earthquakes for thousands of years."

"However, considering that the Seven Seas are a region prone to tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanoes, without Walloon, the Seven Golden Cities might one day become underwater cities."

"And the reason why Knight Selmu doesn't recommend you go is quite simple. During the Holy Festival, foreigners entering the Golden City will be subject to strict scrutiny, and there are also... well, heretical rituals everywhere. Considering your status as a nun, Knight Selmu is probably worried that you might not be able to resist taking action."

Vera felt like she was hearing a fairy tale.

What era are we living in? How can there still be cults? And a nationwide cult at that? What about the church? Can the church come to the rescue?

Vera asked cautiously, "You don't mean to say..."

Selmu clenched his fists tightly and said calmly, "That's right. There will be blood sacrifices. These include not only death row inmates, but also captured pirates, slaves from various continental countries, the Southern Continent, Tianfang, the Far East, and even the Seven Seas. There are living people and corpses."

"A few years ago, a body theft occurred in Ansu. I don't know if you are aware of it."

Vera was slightly surprised.

She really knows a lot about this. In fact, she could almost be considered a party to it.

Selmu said, "Lawrence Security, which now belongs to Silver Castle, was one of the suppliers of corpses and slaves to the Seven Seas during the time of Little Lawrence."

"Besides, there is also the danger of being corrupted by the evil god's rituals when going to the Golden City. Although this danger is 'positive,' being tainted by the evil god's aura is never a good thing."