Chapter 65: The Flower Field Brain Saint in the Physical Sense.
Despite Suna’s explanation, Pepas frowned, plucking a Corona Flower petal and clapping her hands, conjuring a stiff photo paper between them.
“Magic Snapshot.”
As Pepas uttered the spell, the paper on the table began developing rapidly.
The image showed Suna wearing her veil, but her head was entwined with blurry, root-like light veins. These veins not only invaded her brain but extended along her skull toward her neck.
“Your blessing obscures detailed mapping of the affected areas, but you think this isn’t a big deal? As a mimic beast, you should know your body’s condition better,” Pepas said.
“I know. I’ve studied my blessing in my spare time. Overuse causes these mana-draining Corona Flower trees to grow on my head and roots to burrow into my body,” Suna replied, then clarified, “Not ‘grow,’ exactly—my body starts transforming into a Corona Flower tree. It also siphons some of my soul’s aura. If I overdraw the blessing, my soul could take damage.”
“You’ve experimented to the point of sprouting roots in your head and still aren’t worried? That’s some composure,” Pepas remarked dryly.
Suna shrugged. “For a mimic beast, this is nothing. I think farming these trees could make a fortune…”
Before she finished, Pepas cut her off. “Sorry to ruin your get-rich-quick dream. I won’t let you profit by growing flowers on your head. Find another way. I don’t want you turning into a literal flowerbed-brained saintess.”
Suna, slightly annoyed, protested, “Hey, are you mocking me? This is the most reliable way I’ve got to make big money. These are worth several times their weight in gold!”
[She wants me to earn funds but bans the easy route. What, am I supposed to take honest commissions like a grunt? It’s just some roots in my head—I can reshape my flesh and pull them out.]
Grumbling inwardly, Suna didn’t notice Pepas narrowing her eyes, clenching her fist, and waving it at her.
“Hmph, believe me, I’ll knock you into a wooden head right now.”
“Wait, I’m using my blessing—how are you reading my mind? How do you do that?” Suna asked, exasperated.
Even if Pepas was slightly higher-ranked, a high-tier golden operative, she shouldn’t pierce [Veil of Truth] so easily.
“You think I, heir of a witch clan, don’t have a blessing?” Pepas countered.
Suna’s jaw dropped. “Hold on. I didn’t know you had a blessing! Since when are you your clan’s heir?”
“You never asked. And in the Demon Lord’s domain, you were too busy slacking and chatting with colleagues to care about their abilities or family stories,” Pepas said, exposing her.
Suna averted her gaze, guilty. “…”
She knew blessings, beyond those granted by Deep Space-tier powerhouses, could be developed. Blessings were essentially permanent enchantment magic, but creating stable, effective ones required either extensive group research or exceptional genius.
Hereditary blessings existed due to conditions allowing transfer via bloodline. Pepas’s blessing likely wasn’t one, as witch clan blessings were typically granted to chosen heirs through rituals, tailored to their magic—like Pepas’s origami—and likely included truth-piercing abilities.
Curious, Suna was about to ask, but Pepas shifted topics. “Enough about blessings. Back to business. Write two brief reports on Skull’s intel and your mimic beast encounter.”
Pepas stayed seated, clearly not leaving, prompting Suna to ask cautiously, “I can do it, but are you watching me write them before you go?”
“Problem?” Pepas replied.
Knowing she was stuck working late, Suna grimaced, quickly compiling intel and analysis into two reports for Pepas.
By the time she finished at 3 a.m., Pepas was casually enjoying afternoon tea and pastries in front of her.
“I’ve got the reports. I’ll take these too,” Pepas said, collecting the Corona Flowers. “But don’t cause trouble for a while. Intel says big players are converging on this city—Golden Branch Temple and Demon Hunter Guild included.”
Yawning, Suna waved her off. “Got it… yawn I’ll avoid them. Worst case, I’ll find an excuse to leave. Don’t worry about me—you’re in more danger. Go already.”
Sighing, Pepas, carrying a bundle of Corona Flowers, transformed into a swarm of origami butterflies, deftly opened the window, and slipped out.