Though it was the time everyone had desperately wished for, instead of rejoicing, the people just desolately stared at the traces left by the curse.

The fog expelled by the cursed dragon spread at the eastern and western ends of the village. It remained there, clearly defined as though it was cotton.

The barley field covered by the fog was rotting black. Thus, the state of the few houses covered by the fog could be known without verification.

What’s more, there’s another village beyond that barley field.

Considering the speed at which the dragon’s breath advanced, the fog must have reached that village as well.

So the people were utterly speechless about the destruction that had taken place overnight.

Zion, who returned to the village, also clenched his teeth at the sight before him.

The fog that had swallowed part of the village was bitter and poisonous. Even Zion, familiar with the poison of Amaneser, felt a sting in his throat.

So he ran straight to a house buried in the fog and pulled out a woman and two children.

They could not support themselves as if they had lost consciousness, and their skin was stained black in places.

Yet one of the children feebly opened their eyes as if sensing Zion’s touch.

“Teacher……”

“We’re going to another village. Hang on until then.”

Zion tried to take them outside the fog.

But the onlookers screamed.

“Don’t move!”

“What will you do if the poison spreads!”

Their cries froze Zion’s heart.

He was furious but couldn’t lash out.

Being weak is not a sin. Neither is wanting to survive if you are weak.

So even if their weakness turned into cruelty, he had to forgive them. It was their unavoidable way of surviving.

While Zion paused, the child coughed up blood.

The child was dying quickly, unable to withstand even the breath of the spirit, far too weakly.

Zion clenched his teeth and looked up. He was prepared to call Tardes’s daughter if needed.

But an unexpected figure caught his eye.

Evie Ariate.

That girl, who should have been quietly at home, was coming his way.

Evie had already walked up to the fog, and Zion warned her before she came any closer.

“It’s poison.”

“I know.”

The voice that came back was absurdly calm.

So Zion narrowed his eyes, and Evie spoke again.

“Put those people down.”

Zion could not understand Evie’s intent. So, looking at her suspiciously, Evie grinned lightly.

“Hurry.”

Hesitating, Zion reluctantly put down those he was holding. Evie’s face, calmly demanding, was so serene that he couldn’t resist.

And Evie smiled bitterly after recognizing the child’s face on the ground.

Ah, the one who wanted to marry the teacher.

You have to become an adult to get married, but how can you if you’re like this?

Evie scolded herself silently, took a deep breath, and began to sing calmly.

It was like a simple humming tune.

In this situation, a song? People stared at Evie, astonished.

Nevertheless, Evie sang without care, even in that precarious silence.

As her clear voice continued, people began to lower their heads one by one. The song seemed a lamentation for the dead, and their hearts ached for it.

But Evie had no intention of mourning.

As Evie sang, suddenly the sky brightened.

People thought the sun had suddenly risen and looked up, only to gasp in surprise.

High above, Tienda was pouring out blue light into the sky.

Along with it, Evie’s long hair was also tinged with water’s hue.

People staggered unknowingly at the mysterious sight, unsure whether to back away or kneel.

The surroundings were chaotic, but Evie continued to sing, unfazed.

Then, Manyanaya, having heard Evie’s affectionate voice, spread her protection in the world.

Endlessly spread fog melted away like a lie. Even the scorched barley fields gradually regained their blue hue.

The child’s cheeks brightened again, and her unstable breathing slowed.

Without warning, people began to bow down one by one at the miracle that had unfolded. Some collapsed from weakness, while others knelt deliberately.

The child opened her eyes and then asked Evie in a faint voice,

“Are you really the saintess…?”

“Not yet.”

Evie answered in a small voice and smiled warmly.

People said nothing, just gazing at the noble girl.

Zion Laurel was no exception.

Zion could not take his eyes off Evie, whose hair had turned black again, but who still retained her mystique.

And so for a very long time, he simply stared, lost in thought.

The village did not regain calm until late afternoon. Too much had happened overnight.

At that time, Evie Ariate was in a twostory house in Ye.

People had rushed to see the saintess, but Dies had blocked access, and now it was quiet.

So Zion was able to sit face to face with Evie without much disturbance.

“How is the child?”

“Healthy. …Thanks to you.”

Evie asked as soon as she saw Zion. So Zion answered briefly and then added after some thought,

If Evie looked surprised, Zion averted his eyes and changed the subject.

“This matter will soon be known to the Tower.”

“Perhaps there will be a penalty?”

To Evie Ariate, who borrowed Manyanaya’s protection without even the Tower’s permission, without intending to mourn.

Evie spoke lightly, as if she already knew her fate. So Zion felt more uncomfortable.

The Tower strictly manages its possessions, from Manyanaya to purified water, salt crystals, and even the purifiers’ songs.

Therefore, there are strict rules for purifiers, and the first was this.

Do not sing without the Tower’s permission.

But Evie not only sang without permission but also borrowed Manyanaya’s protection.

Both were serious violations that would justify stripping her of her purifier’s qualifications.

Of course, Evie Ariate, with her extraordinary abilities, will not be expelled from the Tower.

However, the path to becoming a saintess must now be considered completely closed.

She broke the Tower’s rule while angering Laurel.

Now Evie can’t become a saintess.

He certainly wanted this, but Zion was not happy at all.

“Why did you intervene, knowing this?”

“It seemed like the fair thing to do.”

It was an inexplicable statement.

As Zion narrowed his eyes, Evie explained with an awkward smile,

“Just once, I was saved without any cost. So I thought it would be fair if others had something like this too.”

Evie’s explanation was calm and strange.

So Zion felt even more confused.

He gave up the position of saintess, which he had been so obsessed with, for such a reason.

He could not understand what kind of person Evie was.

Certainly! Here’s the translation, keeping the guidelines in mind:

She thought she knew everything through the astrologer, but the real Evie, who she had seen, had been out of control from the moment she met her until now.

That foolish man gave everything to Evie Ariate, who was recklessly carefree.

She made frequent mistakes and loudly claimed to be calculating, but in fact, her calculations were slow.

She was precarious and weak, but stubborn, constantly getting on her nerves.

But at times, she was captivating, continuously confusing him.

“Count, I have something to tell you before we go back to the tower.”

Evie said, when Zion was silent for a long time.

Then she added this.

“Actually, I’m cursed right now.”