Ibi Ariate’s hair was dyed with a mesmerizing water color.

Some nobles gasped at the astonishing change.

For 300 years, since the establishment of the Manyana Tower, countless purifiers have called upon Manyana.

But among them, only the first Saint had ever been dyed with Manyana’s light.

Realizing anew the mystery that had only been passed down in literature, Ibi Ariate closed her eyes and raised her voice.

Following Ibi’s pitch, the lake churned and the wind rose. Ibi’s long ceremonial dress and braided hair swayed along.

As Ibi’s tone heightened, a blue light rose from the bottom of the lake. It was the light emanating from the sleeping Manyana resonating with Ibi’s voice.

The rippling surface of the lake now rotated rapidly as if hit by a small typhoon.

Though the wind blew fiercely, Ibi’s singing voice pierced through even that, awakening Manyana.

Surging waves, spreading radiance, beautiful singing, and a sacred girl standing in the center.

The nobles held their breath at the sight that never became familiar no matter how many times they saw it.

Some even felt the urge to kneel before Ibi Ariate.

But Ibi didn’t even give them the chance to prostrate themselves.

Ibi’s song grew faster and climbed to high notes. As if following Ibi rushing towards the climax, the water spray grew more intense.

This world, which violated providence to avoid destruction, is imperfect.

There were four dragons to complement the broken world, but now even they have disappeared, leaving only legends beside weak humans.

Ibi found it lonely. She thought how pitiful we are, left alone in this imperfect world.

So she sang willingly.

Though it may be an imperfect world, she raised her voice because we must live on anyway.

Ibi’s tone, which had been rising endlessly, finally reached its peak, and with it, Manyana’s light overflowed and covered the world.

As the strong light poured down, the nobles hurriedly closed their eyes. Even with eyes closed, they could clearly feel the surroundings brightening.

The wind that blew along with it shook them. So the nobles abandoned their dignity and curled up to avoid the impact.

After the storm had passed, the world became quiet again.

Those who felt the surroundings calming opened their eyes one by one. Then, their unfamiliar eyes beheld the peaceful scenery of the lakeside.

The light had already faded, and the water spray had long subsided. Ibi Ariate’s hair, which had been dyed blue, had already returned to black.

Everything was the same as before the purification ceremony, but one thing had changed.

The lake, which had been murky with salt water, was now transparent, reflecting the noon sky like a mirror.

All that water had been purified. As if to confirm this, the tower boys scooped up the lake water again and brought it to the terrace.

But none of the nobles checked the taste of that water. As it seemed like an insult to the miracle they had just witnessed, the nobles just stared endlessly at Ibi Ariate.

The same was true for Sion Laurel.

Sion couldn’t take his eyes off Ibi.

On his face, which had been only cold, surprise bloomed raw.

Just then, Ibi turned her head and looked at Sion sitting on the terrace.

Their eyes suddenly met, but Sion didn’t avoid Ibi’s gaze.

Then Ibi smiled faintly towards Sion.

That smile seemed to ask:

Do you still think I’m unsuitable to be a Saint?

.

.

.

The purification ceremony ended.

Originally, the purification ceremony was a very monotonous and formal event that high-ranking nobles attended ritualistically for the tower’s face.

But two years ago, with the appearance of Ibi Ariate, the purification ceremony became a ritual that one had to wait 40 days to see, and even then, ordinary nobles had to reserve their seats months in advance to attend.

It was no exaggeration to say that the status of Tienda nobles was divided between those who had seen Ibi’s purification ceremony and those who hadn’t.

The miracle presented by this Ibi Ariate was marvelous again today.

So the nobles, enveloped in euphoria, were either lost in the afterglow, babbling among themselves, or seeking out Ibi, the subject of this miracle.

But Ibi herself, leaving behind the cheers and acclaim directed at her, was panting in an empty warehouse.

‘Oh my, I’m exhausted. Oh my, I’m dying…’

In stark contrast to her previous sacred appearance, Ibi was crouched down, wailing. It was because she had used up all her energy in calling upon Manyana.

So although she was extremely exhausted, Ibi had to hurry and hide as soon as the purification ceremony ended. As a result, she couldn’t even change her clothes and her body was half-wet.

‘I’ll have to go out when it gets less crowded here.’

Thinking this, Ibi leaned her back against the huge crystal placed beside her.

The place where Ibi was hiding was full of minerals that looked like crystals. These were sea crystals filtered by Manyana’s blessing, in other words, salt.

When a proper purification ceremony is held, such crystals form in the tower. This was the tower’s warehouse where those crystals were stored.

To hide in such a place after performing the purification ceremony so splendidly. Ibi lamented her pitiful situation, resting her forehead on her knees.

‘I never thought my earplugs would fly away…’

Originally, Ibi had planned to return home as quickly as possible after the purification ceremony.

But the earplugs she had taken out briefly during the ceremony had disappeared without a trace. It seemed they had been blown away by the gusting wind.

So as soon as the purification ceremony ended, Ibi fled without looking back.

And now she was hiding in the warehouse, hoping everyone would go home soon.

“Huh.”

Suddenly, a low laugh escaped Ibi’s lips.

“Hehehe…”

Ibi laughed eerily with her head buried in her knees.

It was because she remembered the count staring at her in a daze.

Even that arrogant Sion Laurel, after seeing the purification ceremony, was so surprised that he couldn’t take his eyes off Ibi.

Ibi was so elated by this that she hit the floor with her hands and feet in joy.

‘Now he can’t say I’m unsuitable anymore.’

As Ibi was chuckling smugly, a familiar voice was heard from the corridor outside the warehouse.

“I saw her earlier, Ibi Ariate coming this way.”

With that, Ibi’s heart, which had been floating, sank back down with a thud.

Ibi held her breath in surprise, and along with pattering footsteps, a sharp voice was heard again.

“Saying we’d talk later and then running away, how frivolous can you be…!”

This voice belonged to Rio Tuha, the purifier who had quarreled with Ibi earlier. Recognizing this, Ibi covered her mouth.

‘Don’t tell me she’s looking for me because of that?’

Ibi shuddered at Rio Tuha’s inflexibility.

People who take phrases like “See you later” or “Let’s talk later” literally and follow up are scary, regardless of gender.

The footsteps approached the door of the warehouse. Ibi hurriedly hid her body in the corner of the warehouse, and immediately after, the door of the warehouse opened with a clatter.

“The warehouse?”

Rio muttered in disbelief. Then she clicked her tongue and snapped irritably.

“Where on earth did that person go!”

Fortunately, that noble lady didn’t know that people could hide in places like this.

So Ibi, relieved by that narrow-minded common sense, waited for Rio to leave.

“I can’t stand how shamelessly Ibi Ariate is getting away with this. Look at what that person did. No matter how desperate for social climbing, how dare she to the Count…!”

But instead of turning away, Rio Tuha started venting her frustration on the spot.

“It’s so shameful to be associated with someone who begs for attention so vulgarly. If one lacks cultivation and dignity, one should at least be humble, but that person is just, as expected of someone from Bis!”

Ibi quietly rubbed her forehead at Rio’s colorful criticism.

If asked to name the one person among the purifiers who hates Ibi the most, Ibi would choose this Rio Tuha without hesitation.

Rio is the second daughter of the prestigious Tuha family, which has produced many Saints for generations.

Moreover, her older sister is Roble Tuha, the Saint of this generation.

Rio, who had such deep ties with the Manyana Tower, had a dream.

To become a Saint, following in her sister’s footsteps.

So, standing side by side with her sister and leaving their names in history was Rio Tuha’s precious dream that Ibi Ariate had thoroughly shattered.

‘She’s full of energy today too.’

Ibi quietly clicked her tongue at the fuming Rio.

Ibi knew well why Rio hated her, so she wasn’t affected at all by those remarks.

So Ibi was patiently waiting for Rio Tuha to tire herself out and leave when…

“I think there’s someone inside.”

A calm voice that wasn’t Rio’s was heard.

“What?”

Rio stopped complaining in surprise, and Ibi also covered her mouth in shock.

‘Did they notice I’m here?’

How, when I didn’t make any sound?

As Ibi was bewildered, not knowing what was going on…

“Is someone there?”

“Yes, there is!”

“Ibi Ariate!?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

The disaster happened in an instant.

Ibi, who had cheerfully answered Rio’s question, closed her eyes tightly in distress.

Hurried footsteps approached, and Ibi reluctantly got up from her seat.

Emerging from behind the salt crystals, Ibi faced two girls.

One was Rio Tuha, who had been ranting until now, and the other, who had noticed Ibi was here, was none other than Miel Sedro.

‘Of all people, these two…’

Seeing them, Ibi’s mood became even more gloomy.

Rio asked Ibi in a surprised voice.

“What are you doing in a place like this?”

“I was listening to Miss Tuha badmouthing me.”

Ibi let her mouth move freely with a tired feeling.

So Rio’s fierce face became blank.

Usually, Ibi acted so docile it was annoying.

Of course, Rio thought it was all pretense, but still, this Ibi Ariate had never talked back like this before.

So Rio blinked at the unexpected retort, then belatedly raised her eyebrows.

“Y-You! So you’ve decided to show your true colors!”

Rio exclaimed in an excited voice. Apparently, she was very embarrassed about being caught gossiping.

“And w-what badmouthing are you talking about?”

“Saying I’m vulgarly begging for attention to climb the social ladder is badmouthing, Miss Tuha.”

“What did you say?”

“I said, saying I’m vulgarly begging for attention to climb the social ladder is badmouthing, Miss Tuha.”

Ibi gave the same answer twice to Rio’s question.

Thus, she succeeded in creating a confrontational atmosphere.

‘Butler, what should I do!’

At this continued disaster, Ibi mentally called out to Dies.

She had only answered five questions, yet this chaos had broken out. It really felt like some kind of wretched curse.

Though she felt like exploding inside, Ibi tried hard to calm herself down.

The sword dance was already over.

Now, Ibi’s remaining options were either to become the craziest person in the neighborhood or to come up with a plausible excuse to escape. It was one or the other.

Of course, Ibi chose the latter.

“…I know. That you dislike me, Miss Tuha.”

“What are you saying now…”

“But even so, you didn’t have to say such things.”

Rio tried to say something, but Ibi finished her words without waiting or holding back.

Then she glared coldly at Rio Tuha.

With a deeply hurt face, with very upset eyes.