Chapter 194: Chapter 192: The Sudden Curfew

The Sea God Divine Fragment can’t be used by Hilia directly, so she can only use it to enhance the power of her magic puppet’s existing Divine Fragment.

This process is much simpler than actually merging a Divine Fragment.

It’s just kind of time-consuming.

The Divine Format of the Twelve Main Gods and the Lower Gods are worlds apart, especially as Hilia’s fragment is barely a tenth as potent as the full version.

Boosting it is like Hilia eating beluga fin—needs to be done in several rounds.

The girl stared expectantly in her spiritual space, watching Rose work. She couldn’t train here, and couldn’t understand Rose’s actions, so she felt a bit bored and couldn’t help but ask:

"Lord Rose, both of these Hearts of Magic Puppet are Water Element, so theoretically they should be from the same origin, but I feel like they’re not as identical as they should be, right?"

Rose replied, "If you think of your Heart of Magic Puppet as the Water God, then this heart is more like the Sea God. Are Water God and Sea God the same?"

Hilia shook her head, "They’re not the same—Sea God is one of the Twelve Main Gods, Water God is just an ordinary god."

Saying that, she got an even more bored idea—

"Speaking of which, why is the Sea God stronger than the Water God? Doesn’t water include the sea?"

"Haven’t you seen it in the Holy Word?"

"The Holy Word doesn’t mention it. It just says Sea God is a Twelve Main God, Water God is just an ordinary whatever."

"It’s simple. Sea God became a god earlier. Back then, humans often encountered storms at sea, so they prayed for the Sea God’s protection. Sea God’s faith came from everyone along coasts and islands. As for Water God..."

Rose paused, "Even though water includes the sea, Water God became a god later than Sea God, and Sea God had already claimed total authority over the seas. Water God couldn’t get that, so ended up only as god of mountains, rivers, and lakes.

"Disasters in mountains, rivers, and lakes only happen in summer, so people only pray for help then. His power can’t compare to the Sea God at all."

Rose’s expression became odd: "But here’s the thing—when flooding hits, people don’t think of Water God, but... River God instead."

"Water God and River God fought over faith from rivers and lakes, but River God won. Water God had to rely on mages using Water Element magic for some flimsy power of faith. Trouble is, Water Element magic is gentle, not as strong for attacks as Fire or Ice, and not as good for support as Nature or Holy. Its role is totally awkward."

Hilia got excited at this secret god lore: "No wonder Ice God made it as one of the Twelve Main Gods but Water God didn’t. That’s so useless—I mean, Water God’s really laid-back about fame and fortune! Totally fits that saying ’water benefits all things and doesn’t compete.’"

Rose couldn’t help but laugh.

No kidding—even after dying, the scattered Divine Fragments are so cheap, Hilia could snatch one up for just 20 Gold Coins.

Hilia felt a little guilty for badmouthing gods, but Rose’s secret about Water God was way too exciting.

But she didn’t stay excited long, suddenly freezing.

"Wait, I’m using the Heart of Water Magic Puppet right now... Am I gonna end up like Water God, get bullied by other candidates, and then just sob in a corner with my little blanket?"

Imagining losing, and the winning Holy Daughter laughing at her for picking Water Element instead of the better Ice Element, Hilia lost her smile.

Rose said, "Water Element is only temporary. Once you hit Tier Four, we’ll search for an Ice Element Heart of Magic Puppet to swap in. Hmm, let’s find something powerful—like an Ice God one."

Rose hinted at something, but Hilia didn’t realize the Heart of Magic Puppet was a Divine Fragment, so just thought she needed to find the strongest Ice Element heart.

The smile she’d stopped returned once again.

Upgrading finished, Rose put the heart back inside the magic puppet.

Hilia regained control, rubbed her tired shoulders, and grabbed a blank scroll to start drawing.

"I need to work hard too! My goal is—beat a Tier Four Mage...’s henchman!"

The next few days, other than eating, Hilia stayed in her room all day: either drawing scrolls or Rose upgrading the Heart of Magic Puppet, or else brushing up on magic and meditating.

Once she’d stockpiled scrolls, she’d take her low-tier scrolls to the Mercenary Guild to sell for some gold coins.

In downtime, she’d check in with Vanessa, ask about the Divine Hall rebuild, or just gossip with school friends and teachers.

That was it—she did nothing else.

Until half a month later, Rose finished fully evolving the Heart of Magic Puppet.

By now it’s December, winter already.

Southern Border City sits on the southwest of the Starfall Continent—nice weather, no snow, but the sky’s gloomy, like rain’s coming but never actually does.

When he finished evolving the heart, Rose set it back in the magic puppet, but instead of letting Hilia take over right away, he went to the window and looked out at the cloudy sky.

"Yeah, timing’s just about right."

"Heretics are finally coming, huh?"

"Yep—should be tonight, maybe."

"Tonight, huh? Okay, I’ll go out tonight!"

Back in control, Hilia packed all her scrolls in her bag, tossed it over her shoulder, and headed out.

At the inn’s front door, she sensed the staff gawking at her in total shock.

When she reached the entrance, the staff reminded her, "Miss, our inn closes at 10 PM sharp. Please be sure to return before then."

Hilia paused, looked back, "So early? Why?"

The staff said, "Lord City Lord just announced a ban on nighttime business. We have to close before 10. Doors open again at 5 AM."

"What? Why?" Hilia was confused.

The staff shook his head: "Sorry, I’ve no clue either. Just please come back early. If not, you’ll have to wait till 5 in the morning."

Hilia stepped closer, "I’m not sure when I’ll be back—could you give me a spare key?"

The staff shook his head, "That’s not allowed. If the boss finds out, I’ll be out of a job... But honestly, a beautiful lady like you must be gentle and kind."

While he spoke, Hilia dropped 10 Silver Coins. Instantly the staff changed tune—one hand taking the coins, the other handing over a key.

This inn charged 2 Silver Coins a night, so 10 Silver Coins was nothing to scoff at for the lobby staff.

"Thanks."

Hilia thanked him politely, secretly grumbling.

I act like an ordinary person but still get called pretty—it’s the money that’s pretty, right!

Leaving the inn, she was curious about the sudden curfew, but Hilia had bigger things to worry about right now.

It was 6:30 in the evening, totally dark outside, lanterns lit up and the streets started buzzing.

Hilia hurried to the city gate, but before she could leave, she saw a notice by the gate:

[By order of the City Lord, the city gates will close at 9 PM. Please plan your time accordingly]

"Did something happen in Southern Border City?"

Hilia frowned.

"Don’t tell me it’s related to the Deep Sea Mutual Aid Association?"

She shook her head.

No way!