I will not die a Villainess's death

Chapter 179 179: The Illusion Of Waters [Pt1]

Elysia watched Enma's back leave the crowned hall and then she made her move. The paper in her pocket was making a lot of movement now and that mean the recipient was nearby.

Behind her, she could also see the young priest whom she had met outside following after her. He was looking all around in an attempt at finding Elysia.

'For now, the biggest obstacle in my way is to narrow down the recipient of this box. I cannot let my guard down until I finish this task.'

It would not have been that difficult for any other priest to perform this kind of task. But it had been entrusted to Elysia for some reason and she was suspicious of the Head Preist's intentions.

That was also why she had not informed Lucas or even Chrome about this.

'Now then, which one of these priests is the Head Priest? Since I have never seen him before, I cannot tell who it is.'

Everyone in here wore the same robes as Elysia. They all looked the same to her and the crowd seemed to be delighted to see them

The hall she was currently in was filled with males of all age groups and they treated each other roughly. It made moving around difficult for Elysia since she did not want to use magic to enhance her body.

And she was not like Eve, someone gifted with strength even when it was not magically enhanced. Elysia was quite normal in that regard.

"Look, there he is. It's the Head Priest. I heard that he took over the temple young. He's only 25 now but he already does an amazing job."

"I hate to admit it but that bastard is really good-looking. It's a good thing for us that he will not marry outside the temple. And that is if he is even allowed to. Isn't the temple really strict in that regard?"

"That's true. I heard that you had to leave the temple if you want t get married so I don't think the Head Priest will marry. But man, he doesn't know what he is missing. A woman is-"

That was all Elysia wanted to hear. The commoners had no filter on their mouths and their manners were lacking.

But this was just their way of life. Elysia only found it odd because she was not used to it and she could also not get used to it.

So instead of focusing on what the commoners were saying, she decided to turn her attention toward the Head Preist instead. She wanted to have a look at what the real deal was.

Her head barely reached the visibility line and her vision was too blurred at the distance she was at, but she could make out a head of silver hair and red eyes.

He did look like a beautiful man and he even gently held his body but there was something about him that struck Elysia as fake. It seemed like he was forcing himself to be at the ceremony when he did not have to be.

She was about to duck back into the crowd and try to find her way in front when her blue eyes met the red ones.

The Head Priest was looking directly at her and Elysia felt her breath get caught in her throat as fear filled her being. The darkness in those red eyes could be felt even from this far away.

'W-Why is a person like that-?'

Elysia's stomach was revolting as her breakfast threatened to come back up and out of her mouth. She quickly put her hand on her mouth to stop herself from doing something foolish.

No matter how much it sucked, she had to keep her reactions in check. She could not show weakness right now because it would disturb the ceremony.

"Priest, you don't look so good. Would you like me to take you to the restroom? Also, are you new? I have never seen a beautiful priest like you before today."

The man at Elysia's side asked her this question. His eyes were disgusting and filled with barely concealed lust and intoxication.

His breath also reeked of alcohol and had not faded away in the slightest. He was drunk and had still come to the temple in the morning to pray. Just what kind of man did that?

"There is n-no need to be bothered on the m-my account. I will be alright once I rest a little."

Elysia denied the man before he could touch her. She did not need to have perfect vision to see the filth in front of her.

This man was trouble and Elysia was not in the mood to create a scene right in the middle of the temple. It would expose her for sure.

"Don't say such harsh words priest. Just let me help you out"

Elysia used a small portion of her power to knock the man out. It would cause a small commotion for sure but it was a small price to pay for getting away without revealing her identity as a female.

She was also apt at running away in such situations so she easily made her way in between the concerned men around her.

"H-How did this happen?"

"Why did this man collapse? Is he sick?"

"Should we call for a priest to help us out? What can we even do here?"

Elysia heard all the people gossiping around her but she did not stop until she was a safe distance from where the man had collapsed.

She could see what was happening clearly from where she was currently standing. It seemed like the Head Priest of this kingdom had come down with a worried expression on his face as well.

He instructed people to help the poor unconscious man out and they seemed to be taking him out. Elysia was about to head out as well when she felt someone staring at her.

Red met blue again and Elysia was frozen in place. The Head Preist was looking directly at her and his lips seemed to be wording out something.

'Head to the third corridor.'

That was what the Head Priest said to Elysia before turning back to his patient.

Those words left Elysia rooted in place and unable to decide what to do. Should she follow what the man had asked her to do? Or should she be on her merry way and not care about the Head Preist?

Elysia was confused and her head hurt. The note in her pocket tried to move toward the Head Priest and that was what made Elysia's decision.

She needed to head out and meet the Head Priest anyway. And he was even telling Elysia where to go to achieve her goal.

She was not sure if the Head priest of the Akatsuki capital had recognized who she was or not, but she did know that he was taking Elysia seriously.

She quickly walked out of the doorway and the hall and started heading toward the third corridor.

Most of the internal structure of the temples was similar. So Elysia more or less knew where she was headed toward.

Nostalgia hit her as soon as she entered the familiar-looking corridor. It was the ceremonial bath corridor and it looked the same as it had in her home temple. She wanted to be there and not be there at the same time.

There was a familiar energy tugging at Elysia's heart and she decided to follow after it. She was walking like a zombie after her target but she did not seem to care much. It was not until she had opened the ceremonial baths that she even realized what she had done.

'I should not be here. The curse will affect me and I might even lose control.'

Elysia took a step back in a hurried manner. She had almost touched the ceremonial water while in her dazed state. It was not right for her to do so since there was no ceremony right now.

Touching the water right now would attract disaster, just like it had all those years ago with Eve.

"Not good. I should get out of here right now."

But Elysia's decision seemed to be a little late. She felt someone push her into the pool. She tried to keep herself out of the water and even use her magic but it was of no use.

Her body hit the water and her robes pulled her in deeper. The water felt the same as it did back home and it should have since the source of this pool was the same as the one in her home temple.

'N-Not good. The curse-'

Elysia was worried but there was no time for her to be worried about the others. Her breath was being cut short and breathing was getting difficult to do. Elysia was going to drown at this rate and there would be no stopping that.

Above the water's surface, a beautiful face broke out into a sinister smile as he watched his handiwork. He had done great this time.