Chapter 1750: Chapter 1750

"Are you sure you want me to help you deceive someone? I'm not very good at it."

After meeting with Miss Audrey, Jenkins explained his plan. The two of them conversed as they walked back to the building that housed the sermon hall, making their way down the corridor until they stood outside the room where Jenkins had been poring over books with the professor just half an hour earlier.

"Don't worry," Jenkins said with a casual shake of his head. "The professor isn't the type who's skilled at seeing through deception."

"But are you certain there's no danger?"

"Yes, I'm absolutely certain," Jenkins insisted. "The Church's earlier plan failed, so we need a backup. I know the Church can defeat that thing with brute force, and they'll undoubtedly win. But wouldn't it be better if we could minimize our losses?"

Hearing his reasoning, Miss Audrey gave a hesitant nod.

Soon enough, Jenkins called Professor Burns out of the room. The professor didn't recognize Miss Audrey, and it was only after Jenkins's introduction that he understood she was a demigod from another faith. After they exchanged greetings, Jenkins gestured for Miss Audrey to speak. She shot him a reproachful glance before turning to the professor with a serious expression.

"Mr. Burns, you've likely heard from Papa Oliver that I am Jenkins's divination teacher. While he was out with Bevanna earlier, I performed a divination for him. The revelation I received told me that he must obtain the method to enter the Mysterious Realm from you, right now. This will play a crucial role in our victory against the Children of the Mist."

This wasn't entirely a lie. If Jenkins's intuition was correct, he was about to gain some additional power within the Mysterious Realm.

"I am Jenkins's teacher. I would never harm him."

The corridor was exceptionally bright, with all the gas lamps on the walls lit. This, combined with the church's architectural and decorative style—which favored reflective, glittering objects in every corner—meant Professor Burns could clearly see the expressions on both Miss Audrey's and Jenkins's faces as she spoke.

Both of them wore intensely serious expressions. This was typical for Jenkins, and as a diviner, burying secrets deep within her heart was a fundamental skill for Audrey.

"Regarding this matter, I believe it would be best to consult with the Church. At the very least, we should devise a rescue plan in case Jenkins becomes trapped in the Mysterious Realm."

"No, we can't do that."

Jenkins had anticipated the professor's response and had already prepared a counter-argument for Miss Audrey:

"My divination revealed... that the guidance you received comes from a great being from beyond the material world. It is best that not too many people know of such an existence. Mr. Burns, you must also be aware that any information from outside the material world is knowledge that burdens mortals."

The professor agreed with this point, but he still hesitated. So, Jenkins added the final weight to the scales of persuasion:

"If I thought this was dangerous, I wouldn't want to go into the Mysterious Realm myself. My instincts and my inspiration both tell me this will be a safe journey. I even plan on taking Chocolate with me. Professor, you know how protective I am of this cat. Do you really think I would bring him along if I believed there was any danger?"

At these words, the professor glanced from Jenkins to the cat, and then back again. After a long moment, he finally sighed.

"Well... alright then."

According to the professor, entering this particular Mysterious Realm required no summoning ritual, nor did it depend on any specific time. He found a piece of paper and wrote a sentence in Elvish, handing it to Jenkins. He confessed that he didn't recognize the slender, branch-like letters himself, as he was not familiar with the Elvish language.

"Hold the World Tree Seedling, recite this phrase, and then kiss the seedling. The gate to the Mysterious Realm will then open for you..."

The professor explained with a worried expression, then seemed to have second thoughts.

"Perhaps we should tell Oliver after all. I have a very bad feeling about this."

"If you are that worried, then I can accompany Jenkins into the Mysterious Realm." Thɪs chapter is updated by novel※fire.net

Miss Audrey's sudden proposal startled Jenkins, but after a moment's thought, he realized it wasn't entirely out of the question—as long as their mysterious host didn't object.

"No, that's impossible," the professor quickly intervened. "This Mysterious Realm can only be entered by an Enchanter of Middleton blood. I'm afraid you cannot go with him."

"That's alright," Miss Audrey said with a nod. "Jenkins isn't the only Middleton here. There is someone else who can accompany and help him. That person, though of another faith, is also very reliable."

Jenkins knew who she was talking about, but he didn't want to drag Sigrid into this trouble. However, he couldn't use that as a reason to object, because he had just assured the professor that this journey into the Mysterious Realm would be free of danger.

"Actually, it wouldn't be impossible for Sigrid to come with me," Jenkins mused to himself. "She is indeed a descendant of Elven priests, and her Elven blood has begun to manifest. Perhaps this trip could bring her some benefits as well... Maybe I could use this opportunity to ask for her third of the seedling... but how would I compensate her?"

Once the plan was settled, Jenkins went to find his distant cousin. Although she had come to the Sage's Church with the Church of Nature, her combat skills were not strong, so she was serving as part of the medical team. Her duties were not demanding at the moment, so when she heard Jenkins was looking for her, she emerged amidst the laughter of the other young nuns. With her head lowered, she walked with Jenkins down the corridor to an empty room they had prepared, where they met Miss Audrey and Professor Burns.

With time being short, Jenkins quickly explained the situation. Sigrid was surprised that this was why Jenkins had sought her out, and even more surprised to learn the true purpose of her 'metal pendant' from him. But she agreed to enter the Mysterious Realm with him without a moment's hesitation—truly, not a single flicker of doubt.

Meanwhile, Professor Burns, who was starting to regret being so easily persuaded, warned Jenkins that if the two of them didn't return within two hours, the Church would undoubtedly notice their absence, and it would be impossible to keep the matter a secret.

Considering that the flow of time between a Mysterious Realm and the real world was not fixed, Jenkins had no idea when he and Sigrid would be able to return. He understood the professor's concern and said that if the Church found out, he should just report the matter directly:

"It's not like it's illegal, anyway."

With that said, he nodded to the professor and Miss Audrey. He and Sigrid then turned to face the wall, each taking out their portion of the World Tree Seedling.

"Do you know Elvish?" Jenkins asked suddenly.

The young nun beside him thought for a moment.

"I know a little, but I'm not fluent."

"Alright, the pronunciation is ..."

He whispered, and then the two of them, in less-than-perfect Elvish, recited the words the professor had written on the paper:

"Praise to the Lord of Blossoms, guardian of nature, symbol of life and proliferation. You are the essence of all things, all things return to nature, may blossoms flourish for eternity."

The phrase bordered on blasphemy against the Righteous God, the Spirit of Nature. It was a good thing Jenkins had only provided the pronunciation without a translation, otherwise Sigrid, as a devout believer in the Spirit of Nature, would certainly have refused to utter it.

After completing the recitation, they each lightly kissed the World Tree seedling they held. Then, without any warning, a crack radiating white light appeared on the white wall before them.

The gate to the Mysterious Realm had appeared before Jenkins once again.