Chapter 29: Hey, I have a ridiculous idea.

“Miss! Miss!”

North of the capital, near the walls. Maid Jenny finally caught up, hands on knees, gasping.

“I… finally… caught you. The… bouquet thief?”

Nora gazed wistfully at drifting petals. Softly:

“Escaped.”

“WHAT?!”

Jenny horrified.

Closest to her miss—knew Nora’s terror. Honorary duke—earned slaying monsters.

Three years ago—legendary. Even low magic: LV70+.

Aust Empire—few matched, save ancients.

Yet… couldn’t catch a flower thief?!

“Stronger than me.”

“Huh? That strong—why steal the bouquet?”

Political intrigue?

Jenny frowned.

Such power—not unknown. Steal bouquet—purpose. Disrupt rite? Undermine Oracle?

But Oracle = goddess challenge. Stupid—goddess real.

“No idea. Doesn’t matter. Saw Oracle saintess… not what I imagined.”

Black silhouette in sky—interest lost. Doubt crept.

Wrong from start?

Beloved—not in capital?

Jenny saw dejection. Sighed.

“Miss, give up. Some missed forever. Other noble ladies—no worse.”

No worse?

Nora shook head.

To her—worlds apart.

Nobles: self-styled elegant. Public shine—private greed, power.

Comparison, arrogance… human darkness—all in modern nobles. Original meaning—forgotten.

Accepting nobility—felt fallen.

Disliked.

Couldn’t topple—so pursued ideals. Freedom. Adventure. Best traits.

That girl—perfect lover.

Every smile—pure, kind. Heart beat for her since.

Noble ladies—uncomparable.

Believed.

Now—lost.

If not capital—where? Overlooked?

Puzzled, Nora to central street. Jenny behind—knew persuasion futile.

Stubborn miss.

“Right—see? New saintess hosting rite—beauty rivals Isabelle!”

“Saw! Silver hair with wreath—like mythic goddess!”

“True! On float—smiled at me!”

New saintess?!

Oracle… more than one?!

Steps halted. Nora turned to passersby. Answer struck.

…

Post-Flower Festival—five days to demon subjugation.

First team cleared Golden Dungeon Floor 10: Leanna’s.

Closest to abyss—monsters stronger, cunning.

Yet—hard struggle (their words). Rumor: Floor 10 monsters now feared humans.

Too despicable!

[Traps solve—why fight fair?]

[Must fight = careless.]

[1/1000 death chance—abort. Monsters die infinite; us once.]

Joyna’s Floor 10 quotes.

Two near-deaths—360 shift. No certainty—no action.

Clear reward: one day off.

Five left—train four.

Demonic—effective.

First holiday—team ecstatic. Agreed: flower shop, missed festival.

Melin excepted.

“Melin—not buying flowers?”

“You go. Errand. Meet later.”

Waved off Leanna—central street.

First capital visit—grander than home. Easily lost.

Locals kind. Asked—reached newsstand.

Theory: Isabelle = Celis.

Knew absurd—couldn’t stop. More thought—more clues.

Never together?

Gem broke—Isabelle first?

Unclear.

Timing: rescue = Blossom Rite day.

If same—rite clues?

E.g., one saintess absent.

Thus—newsstand.

“Boss—paper on recent Blossom Rite.”