Chapter 136

Chapter 108 The Divine Relic and Goat Cheese

There was no satisfactory conclusion to the “why.”

The girls’ private conversation continued until the night grew darker, and faint, pleasant insect sounds could be heard from the lawns and gardens outside the tower.

They finally went to sleep one after another.

The next morning, a gentle breeze stirred the clouds.

After waking up, I didn’t linger in bed. I rubbed my eyes, got off the bed, walked to the window, and pulled back the curtain. Morning light brushed my face as it entered the room; I squinted one eye.

The goat cheese standing outside bobbed its little head, still dozing— even it wasn’t fully awake. The other three girls in the dorm had talked late into the night, so they were naturally still sleeping soundly at this time.

Opening the window, fresh, fragrant air flowed in, invigorating my spirit. I couldn’t help but take a deep breath. At that moment, the goat cheese, sensing the movement, turned its head, staring at me with its crimson eyes, ready to peck.

“Shh!”

I quickly placed my index finger over my lips, signaling for silence.

It felt a bit early. If nothing unexpected happened, the opening ceremony would surely be filled with long-winded speeches from the academy tutors. We’d probably have to stand for a while, so maybe I should let them sleep a bit longer.

The goat cheese was quite smart; it immediately closed its beak and hopped twice on the windowsill before flying away with a whoosh. I guessed it was going to find something to eat.

But come to think of it, keeping it was really worry-free. I never had to manage its eating, drinking, or excreting. I didn’t even need to prepare a cage, and I didn’t have to worry about it getting lost. No matter where I went, I always found it perched on the steps outside the window the next morning. That silly bird seemed to recognize people very well; I wonder what method it used… did it smell? Wasn’t that just like a dog… during the day, it was nowhere to be seen, so how did it find me?

… Wait, something’s off.

I suddenly widened my eyes. Looking up at the barrier high above in the sky, which now rippled like water, shimmering yet incredibly real—the “eggshell” of the royal city had existed for centuries, never closing.

Then how did the goat cheese get in?!

Wasn’t it said that only those holding a badge… the so-called “divine relic,” could enter? Or was it that this barrier only affected humans and not other creatures… but that didn’t make sense either. If that were the case, why did they make us switch to horned carriages when entering the city?

Ultimately, what was the basis for judging this barrier? If it was based on divine relics… clearly the goat cheese didn’t have any, nor would any birds in the entire city be able to fly in… was that right?

Suddenly, I remembered the flock of birds I saw in the sky as Carlos left. They indeed seemed to be flying outside the barrier. In other words, this was a city without birds… right? But I hadn’t noticed it before.

But if there really weren’t any, then how did the goat cheese…

“Mmm… Peyello, what are you doing…”

A murmured voice, seemingly still in a daze, interrupted my thoughts. I turned around and saw Sophia raising her head groggily from under the covers, looking at me with some confusion. She propped herself up with one arm, and the blanket slipped down from her shoulder, revealing a deep crease and half of a…

I deliberately averted my gaze.

“Dazing off… why did you wake up?”

“Mmm—” Sophia stretched and patted her face, trying to become more alert, “I usually wake up around this time every day…

, it has long become a habit. Shouldn’t you be sleeping more?”

“I can’t sleep.”

The dormitory had a shared wardrobe that divided into four small sections when opened. After pulling the curtains shut again, I opened my own section and took out a school uniform I had placed there last night. After changing and freshening up, I looked at myself in the mirror in the bathroom.

The school uniform was still very beautiful, fitting Ethanbell’s aesthetic perfectly. The pure white stand-up collar shirt with puffed sleeves paired with a light blue bow tie, a leather corset tightly hugging my soft belly, and a light blue flared skirt reaching just above my knees, complete with lace bloomers with knee guards underneath.

I nodded in satisfaction.

As expected of me, I can easily pull off any outfit.

When I came out of the bathroom, the other two were already awake and in the process of changing. They both exclaimed upon seeing me.

“Wow, you look so beautiful.”

I put my hands on my hips and tilted my head back. “Of course.”

“How could you be so immodest, little Peylo? I was actually complimenting our school uniform.”

I gave her an annoyed look.

“But you’re even prettier!”

“Hmm~”

That’s more like it.

“Sarah, please stop talking. Take a good look at yourself; you’ve managed to make a perfectly good school uniform look like something worn by someone who’s been homeless for years,” Sophia said, sitting at the dressing table fixing her hair, her voice tinged with amusement as she saw Sarah wearing the uniform askew.

“No, really, my waist seems a bit tight… Can I change it?” Sarah said, adjusting her skirt hem.

Daisy frowned, tugging at her collar and then straightening her corset, looking rather uncomfortable. “Me too… It feels a bit tight around my chest.”

Sarah rolled her eyes.

“Just poke your big chest until it bursts.”

“Pfft—, Hahaha!”

Sophia couldn’t hold back her laughter. Daisy blushed and fell silent, turning her back and unbuttoning the top button of her blouse, seemingly relieved.

Seeing such a small action from me, I couldn’t help but click my tongue.

Pfft, what’s so great about being big… You deserve to feel uncomfortable…

“I wonder if the academy’s cafeteria breakfast is any good…”

“It shouldn’t be bad. This is a royal academy… Even if it isn’t, you have no choice but to eat it. Would you rather go hungry?”

“That means we can’t go outside—”

Bang bang bang!

Before Sarah could finish her sentence, a series of rough and urgent knocks on the door interrupted her. The sudden loud noise startled everyone, and Daisy, standing closest to the door, stepped back two steps, her whole body tense, eyes wide, like a frightened rabbit, almost leaping out of her skin.

Then, from behind the door, came the hoarse yet resonant voice of the plump grandmother, “Wake up! Wake up!”

Several girls, still shaken, sighed in relief. Sophia patted her chest. “Oh my God, that scared me half to death…”

“I thought it might be one of the male students…”

Daisy’s voice was trembling, as if she was close to tears. Yes, this girl seemed quite timid.

“Our dorm manager is fierce.”

“Shh, be careful she doesn’t hear you!”

The banging on the door started again. I quickly called out, “Grandma, we’re up!”

“I’m here to inform you that there are only twenty minutes left before the assembly. Get ready and head straight to the training field. If you’re late, you’ll have to run twenty laps around it first.”