This Life, I Will Be the Protagonist-Chapter 1199: Divine Game, Divine Instruction 13

"Does it count?"

"Oh."

After Rita’s simple "Oh," Dawn Cicada’s arm, which had been moving like it was wound up, finally stopped. Her vine no longer tugged at her arm, shaking it violently.

Rita rubbed her arm, giving Dawn Cicada a look of pure exasperation. Just a moment ago, she had been elbowed from the middle of the road all the way to the edge, almost falling into the flower field...

The flower sea closed behind them as they passed, and after everything finally settled down, Rita took a moment to appreciate the flowers around her. Every one of them was a variety she had seen before in "Beacon."

It wasn’t until the familiar scent of flowers hit her that she realized something—she was smelling the same fragrance that had been lingering on her own body every day. The god ahead stopped in her tracks.

The group of apprentices walked through the parting flower paths. The figures ahead scattered, and Rita found herself standing in a sea of white flowers, streaked with red, just like this cloud palace flower island.

As they arrived, the white petals immediately scattered, rising into the sky and spreading out like a rain of flowers.

The young [Flower Crown Murder].

In the midst of the flower rain, the five magic round tables that had been buried under petals were revealed. Each round table had two chairs placed at either side, with various decorations on the backs of the chairs.

Crab claws, fox tails, butterfly wings, NightFury, desert whales.

Gems, vines, vines, owl feathers, changing cloud clusters.

At one end of the magic round table were two luxurious chairs with a small table between them. On the table were a fruit bowl, wine glasses, and a bottle of wine. There was also a hamster wearing a suit and sunglasses, arms crossed in front of its chest, standing perfectly straight, exuding a professional aura.

Not long ago, this hamster had been negotiating with BS Shadow.Q over world affairs, and now it was standing there waiting to serve drinks...

Mistblade looked at the hamster and felt a headache. She silently moved her gaze away and walked to her seat.

Nivalis and B80 were shaking in fear, whispering to Rita, "Do we have to change into uniforms too?"

The next second, two mini suits dropped onto their heads.

Deceitful Bloom: "You’re in charge of scoring."

Before Rita could respond, Nivalis and B80 happily grabbed the clothes and ran off, "Okay, okay!"

Rita silently shut her mouth. Just as she was about to take a step forward, the Vineborne god standing diagonally in front of her suddenly turned and looked at her, a smile playing on her lips. Her red eyes gleamed with amusement as she asked, "Are you brave enough to walk into my Flower Crown Murder?"

At that moment, it felt just like back then, in the lantern.

The same flower rain now, floating in the air.

Rita stared back at Deceitful Bloom. Vines, like serpents, crawled up to her wrist, transforming into a flower sword, but Rita’s right hand clenched into a fist and failed to hold it.

There was anger and battle intent in her heart, but reason told her she couldn’t hold that sword. The vines spread again, swirling around her.

Rita averted her gaze and walked forward into the flower rain.

Why not dare?

Amid the flower rain, her answer echoed softly: "As long as Dawn and the Vineborne are still in Starsea, what do I have to fear?"

If Deceitful Bloom dared to harm her, she would pull "Dawn" out of the Invasion Sequence.

In Quiet Mountain, the skill she received was nothing more than a three-star world skill. How could she endure the third bell?

Her reliance had never been on Deceitful Bloom’s fluctuating moods, but on the counterattacks she could deliver herself.

Deceitful Bloom turned her gaze away and walked toward her seat. Foolishness, who had been silently observing, took a step forward, saying, "This is what you wanted."

The Flower of Deceit bloomed again, and Deceitful Bloom was pleased.

This was indeed what she wanted—the counterattack of BS Rita.

Most importantly, both Deceitful Bloom and Foolishness, no, all the gods could be certain of one thing: BS Rita would use this as a method of retaliation, but she would never use the safety of a world as a bargaining chip to threaten any being. Her pride and empathy wouldn’t allow her to exploit a world’s safety for gain.

They could even be sure that, even if Deceitful Bloom did attack BS Rita today, Rita would retaliate, most likely against Deceitful Bloom, not Dawn or ordinary Vineborne.

World events were truly absurd. If BS Rita had given up and submitted, if she hadn’t fiercely retaliated against Deceitful Bloom in Quiet Mountain, Deceitful Bloom would have likely grown tired of her...

It was just like when Dawn Cicada questioned Deceitful Bloom in the temple. Deceitful Bloom hadn’t gotten angry at all—instead, she seemed to enjoy and comfort Dawn Cicada.

In the eyes of beings like them, how could a creature without anger or frustration be any different from trash?

Even gods, if you step on my bottom line, I’ll take revenge.

Foolishness was willing to bet that, earlier, when Dawn Cicada and BS Rita had their conversation, Deceitful Bloom definitely overheard.

Deceitful Bloom didn’t regret it. Likewise, she wanted to hear the answer from BS Rita, the one she wanted to hear: "Don’t, don’t feel guilty."

That was far more interesting. Anything else would be disappointing to her appreciation and attention, and she would look down on her...

The two gods sat in their respective seats.

Deceitful Bloom couldn’t help but furrow her brow when her gaze fell somewhere, and she let out a light laugh as she looked away.

BS Rita, unbeknownst to everyone, had pulled out a cat-shaped pet bib and draped it over the white vine at the top of her chair.

Dawn Cicada, clearly annoyed, asked, "What are you doing?"

She wasn’t deaf, she had heard everything between Deceitful Bloom and BS Rita. It was quiet in this area earlier because everyone had been eavesdropping... even Nuclear Flash and NightFury had stood on their stools to get a better look at the two gods’ expressions.

Rita, with equal annoyance, replied, "I’m not Vineborne. Why do you care?"

Dawn Cicada: "..." She still preferred when BS Rita acted clueless back in Quiet Mountain.

Sitting across from Rita, Ash Cinders said to Dawn Cicada, "Mind your own business. Don’t bully your classmates."

Dawn Cicada stared at Ash Cinders in disbelief. "Have you gotten stronger?" Otherwise, how would she dare speak to her like that?

Ash Cinders replied, "... Even if I haven’t gotten stronger, I still dare to talk to you like this."

Ah, the tone of an elder. Dawn Cicada clenched her nose in frustration and asked BS Mistblade, sitting across from her, "Does she talk to you like that?"

Mistblade nodded helplessly.

Dawn Cicada turned to Ash Cinders and said, "I know you Butterfly Kisses are immortal, but Vineborne are too. I’m 375 years old this year, BS Mistblade is 462 years old. How old are you? 60? 70? You haven’t even hit 100, right? Still a minor in the Butterfly Kisses, huh, little sister?"

For the first time in many years, Ash Cinders didn’t know how to react to being called "little sister" by a student. Her black eyes slowly blinked, then she looked helplessly at her apprentice.

Rita, sitting across from Ash Cinders, delivered the final blow: "Yes, Ash Cinders, sister. We’re all our grandmothers here."

Ash Cinders: ......