Goddess Kaleidoscope

However, Shanis herself had no clue how to break through. She had not done any targeted training beforehand; she simply reached the fourth level naturally after accumulating enough divine power.

"Is it difficult to break through? I don't think it's difficult at all!"

"..."xN

Shanis's tone was very Versailles-like, saying something but not quite saying anything at all.

Fortunately, Marigsis, the goddess of the hearth who was summoned to the meeting, vaguely guessed something. Although she had never stepped into the fourth order, she was the most senior ancient god present, and in terms of seniority, she was even higher than Hume. Naturally, she was knowledgeable and experienced.

In her mind, the more powerful a god is, the more they like to do whatever they want; each of them has a strong pursuit, or rather, an obsession.

"The Holy Lord of Light pursues order and justice, the God of War yearns for exhilarating battles, and the Four Goddesses, when they were four instead of one, also had their own goals. They always followed their own hearts, and this almost obsessive obsession never wavered."

"What is the obsession that Senior Sister Koshanis is pursuing?"

"Third brother, is there even a need to ask?"

Croto and Lachesis, who were speaking, looked at Shanes with a hint of complexity in their eyes. Some things really are not easy to say too clearly in front of everyone. Anyway, those who know, know.

Looking at the gods who were studying and discussing, Marigis couldn't help but feel a little emotional. These rising stars were so lucky that even an old woman like her couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

It's important to understand that for traditional deities, there's generally only one obstacle preventing their ascension: insufficient faith. Their state of mind is something they only consider after they've had enough to eat. But this major problem that plagues many lower-ranking deities is nothing to Lud, a veritable missionary genius.

Lud: "Is collecting faith difficult? I don't think it's difficult at all!"

Hume & Marigs: "..."

In short, if Marigis's analysis is correct, then the root of Aina's inability to overcome her problem has been found. From birth until now, Aina has grown up under Lude's careful protection, and she has never had to worry about any problems. She only needs to listen to her master and be a good child.

This leads to an awkward problem: Aina doesn't have a clear goal, or rather, she's not quite sure what she specifically wants. Every day, she follows Rudd's instructions to be a good girl and an adorable little nun, but in reality, she's always been confused.

Previously, Lude thought the problem was that Aina's personality wasn't strong enough, so he used dreams to do a lot of targeted training, which did have some effect, but it still couldn't solve the problem.

Seeing everyone suddenly turn their attention to her, Aina, who had been looking blankly before, suddenly became a little flustered. She nervously clasped her two little hands together, lowered her head, and dared not meet Lude's gaze. She looked like an introverted child who knew she had done something wrong.

Seeing Aina like this, Lud couldn't help but feel a little guilty. He suddenly realized that Aina had indeed become more obedient without him noticing, but at the same time, she was no longer as lively and active as before. Lud, who had a parental mindset, mistakenly thought this was a good thing.

In contrast, Shanis, who never learned her lesson, was able to ascend naturally after accumulating enough divine power because she always upheld her true nature.

The thought that the problem actually stemmed from his own training methods left Lu De scratching his head speechlessly, feeling quite troubled.

Things have developed to this point, and it's clear that this isn't a problem that Lude can easily solve by simply telling Aina, "You don't have to be a good girl anymore, do whatever you want." The main issue is that Aina herself is probably also confused, and Lude can't just leave the problem entirely to her to solve on her own.

However, this kind of thing is not suitable for brainstorming, since the pursuit of such things varies from person to person, and a solution cannot be simply and crudely applied.

We can't expect Aina to become a lesbian like Shanis, can we?

Fortunately, the current situation is not critical, and Lud still has plenty of time to adjust the training plan for Aina.

After discussing the breakthrough, Lude was about to look at other recent work matters when a cute little white-haired girl suddenly ran in from outside the conference room, skipping and jumping into Aina's arms. It was none other than the baby dragon Kanna, who had transformed into human form using the Transformation Ring.

After receiving the ring, Ludwig, out of caution, did not let the little girl use it immediately. Instead, he gave it to the three sisters to study first, to see if there were any hidden traps such as mind control, and to investigate whether it could be replicated.

After repeated and careful examination, the three sisters discovered that although the ring was made by the great god, the Holy Lord of Light, it was just an ordinary, low-grade artifact with a very limited function: the ability to transform.

As for imitation, the three sisters said it was theoretically feasible, but it would be quite difficult for them, who have not yet broken through to the middle level. It would be very strenuous to do, so it would be best to wait until they break through.

So, after confirming that the ring posed no real risk, Ludwig handed the artifact back to Kanna. After all, it was a gift that Parjama had given to Kanna in person, and the two were currently in a honeymoon period of cooperation. Ludwig's excessive caution seemed somewhat unreasonable.

Since Kanna's little paws couldn't wear the ring, Rude asked Romian, who was skilled in needlework, to make a lovely lace choker so that the ring could be hung on it as a pendant.

Kanna only needs to wear this ring close to her body to freely switch between human form and her original form at will.

When Kanna used the ring for the first time, Rudd and the others made the necessary preparations in advance. As expected, the little girl was completely naked after transforming, but she herself did not feel shy at all. She even wanted to go out and let Rudd, who was waiting outside, see her new form. She was hurriedly dragged back by a group of older sisters and dressed in a set of children's clothes that had been prepared in advance.

It has to be said that Kanna in human form is incredibly cute. Her first public appearance almost caused the Saintess group of girls to go berserk. They rushed over and surrounded the little girl, shouting how cute she was. Kanna was so scared that she quickly transformed back into her baby dragon form, but she still couldn't escape their clutches and got a good rub from the girls.

Meanwhile, the group of male students watching could only stand by and watch, unsure of who they should envy.

In short, Kanna adapted to her new form very quickly. As Parjama said, the human body structure may not be strong, but it is very convenient, especially the human's dexterous hands, which are much more adaptable than claws or tentacles. Therefore, many monsters inevitably became addicted to being human after using the ring, and Kanna was no exception.

It's worth mentioning that after Kanna became human, her progress in learning human language accelerated dramatically. In just a few days, she was already able to communicate with people using simple short sentences and words.

Dragons are different from humans. Their vocal cords and oral cavity structure make it impossible for them to speak like humans. Communication among their own kind is very radio wave-like; they can communicate simply by looking at each other. However, they communicate with humans through a kind of sound-mimicry magic, and they do not need to open their mouths to speak.

However, for dragons to master sound mimicry magic, they generally need to be at least a hundred years old.

As Aina's best friend and playmate, Kanna loves to snuggle into Aina's arms for petting, a habit that hasn't changed even after she transformed into human form. The little guy plopped down on Aina's lap, holding up a bag of cookies and offering it to her.

"Aina...let's have some snacks together...it's fun..."

At this moment, Aina was still feeling a little down, but seeing her good friend care about her and share some delicious food with her, a smile appeared on her face. She took out a cookie from the bag, broke it in half as usual, and put it in her and Kanna's mouths respectively.

Seeing this, Lude couldn't help but smile. With Kanna by her side, Aina's mental state should be fine.

After the meeting, everyone left the underground conference room one after another. Lu De saw that it was getting late and he still had to go to the training camp the next day, so he prepared to go to bed early. However, he did not notice that as soon as he stepped out of the conference room, a dark figure quietly followed him from the corner behind him, and followed him all the way to the bathroom door.

Although Lu De was an undercover police officer in his previous life, possessing top-notch vigilance and counter-surveillance skills, it still depends on the time and place. His behavior at home and outside are not on the same level.

Once inside the bathroom, Lude first took off his clothes and showered, then comfortably soaked in his private hot spring pool, letting the warm water wash away the day's fatigue, and hummed a "hometown tune" with contentment.

But just then, a slight sliding sound came from the bathroom door. The steam made it impossible for Ludwig to see the person's face, but the figure in the mist was very shapely. Ludwig subconsciously thought that it was Hume sneaking over to ask him for "offerings" again.

"That's strange. She refused to take a bath with me before, saying she was afraid of being seen. Why is she suddenly being so proactive today?"

Just as Ludwig was wondering what was going on, the newcomer had already gone down into the pool. When the two were less than three meters apart, Ludwig finally saw the other person's appearance clearly. The newcomer was not Hume, but his eldest disciple Shanes.

The black-haired nun was wrapped in a bath towel, the top of which barely reached the equator, and the bottom almost reached her thighs, so taut that it looked like it might burst at any moment.

Shanis wore the same smile as always, but her eyes held a hint of something unusual, captivating yet dangerously alluring.

The breathtaking scenery left Rudd completely stunned. Logically, Rudd, possessing the Primal Fire, should be completely immune to divine magic, and Shanis's charm should theoretically have no effect on him.

However, there are some things where there is a slight difference between theory and practice!

"Shanis, what's wrong with you...?"

"Master, I've finally broken through to the fourth level, and I'd like to ask you for some rewards. Is that too much to ask?"

Lu De had always believed his will was strong enough, and that he had never wavered in the face of the various temptations posed by criminals during his undercover work. But now he realized that the reason he had always been able to resist was probably because the temptations he faced weren't "big" enough.

Ultimately, Lu was a perfectly well-rounded, high-quality adult male. He was a good person with moral principles, but he was by no means a saint without desires. Therefore, when faced with a stunning beauty like Shanis throwing herself into his arms, he was actually quite shaken.

"Shanis, don't do this...we are master and disciple..."

"There's no rule that says a master and disciple can't do this, is there?"

"Uh, this..."

“Master! I’ve been waiting for this day for so long! It’s not right that the God of Love has never even experienced ‘real combat’, right? So after breaking through to the fourth level, this is what I want to do most. And you, Master, have always been the best and only choice in my heart. Or... Master, do you not even have the slightest interest in me and want me to go outside and find any man to do this kind of thing?”

"..."

Shanis's words cornered Lud, especially the last sentence she whispered in his ear. Lud subconsciously imagined a very vague scene in his mind and felt a strong sense of displeasure.

This feeling made Lud realize for the first time that he had been deceiving himself all along, thinking that his relationship with Shanis was simply that of a teacher and student, without any romantic feelings involved!

And so, Shanis, who had been plotting for so long, succeeded. Lud, an elder who had lived two lives, was ultimately no match for the well-prepared sneak attack.

Afterwards, having regained his saintly composure, Ludd stared at the familiar ceiling, feeling a complex mix of emotions, primarily guilt. He felt he had wronged many people, especially Hume, and felt he wouldn't be able to face him again for a while.

"Sigh! Does this count as cheating?"

"I guess it barely counts."

"Ouch, I'm so sorry..."

Suddenly hearing Hume's voice in his ear, Ludd was so startled that he almost jumped out of bed, but fortunately, Shanes clung to him like an octopus, preventing him from flying away.

Hume, who had appeared in the room at some unknown time, sat on the edge of the bed, calmly watching Ludwig and Shanes lying naked in bed.

"Don't be nervous, I'm not here to catch someone cheating. But then again, if it were some other shady woman, I might actually get a little angry, but this girl is one of us, so as long as we don't let the good stuff go to outsiders, it's fine."

"..."

Hume's magnanimous remarks secretly relieved Ludd, but she still felt something was amiss. As for Shanes, Hume's arrival had no effect on her; she remained fast asleep.

Seeing Ludwig's nervous expression, Hume couldn't help but smile slightly. He then took off his boots and slipped into bed as well. This sudden embrace of two women surprised Ludwig considerably.

"You..."

"Don't worry, I've sealed the entire room with a barrier. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will hear you."

"You're making me a little panicked!"

Although he spoke in a suggestive manner, Hume merely took two-thirds of Ludd's pillow and lay down, without taking any further action. Ludd was momentarily confused about the situation, so she simply gave up trying to figure it out, cleared her mind, and quickly fell asleep.

The next morning, Shanis, having thoroughly enjoyed Lud, tiptoed back to her room, but the noise she made when she opened the door woke up her roommate, Aina.

Seeing her senior sister return from outside early in the morning, the sleepy-eyed Aina was not surprised. Shanis often stayed out all night and sneaked out to eat "midnight snacks" late at night, so she assumed it would be the same this time. In addition, she had just woken up, so she did not notice the fleeting guilt on Shanis's face when they met eyes.

"Good morning, senior sister... haha..."

"Uh, good morning, Aina. Did you sleep well last night?"

"It's alright, but I had just fallen asleep for a short while when Olivia suddenly came to me and said that she heard strange noises when she passed by the bathroom, which scared her so much that she thought it was haunted."

"Uh... it's probably just a hallucination, maybe a cat meowing or something. This is a temple, how could there be ghosts here? It's getting late, you should get up early too, there's a lot to do today."

Before Aina was fully awake, Shanis subtly brushed off the matter, and the two washed up before heading to the cafeteria. Romian, who had already prepared breakfast, placed a large bowl full of steamed buns on the table.

The people in the temple sat around the dining table, first performing the customary pre-meal prayer before starting to eat.

"Wow! These meat buns are so delicious! I love them!"

"Yes, our master also really likes big meat buns."

"Ahem! Don't chat while eating, just focus on your meal."

After breakfast, Ludd began assigning tasks for the day. Hume would still accompany him to the training camp, while Romian and Olivia would go to school—one to teach and the other to give classes. Hydra would be the nun on duty, responsible for looking after the house.

Aina and Shanis received a temporary business trip assignment; Lude asked them to fly to Oyster Harbor later. At Lude's suggestion, the hospital there would periodically hold exchange meetings between doctors and priests.

Lude had been there a few times before, but he couldn't get away right now, so he asked Shanis to represent him at this meeting and also to go to the school to call up Ger from the medical department and take her back to her hometown to check on things.

Ger's father, Dr. Nandin, was the vice president of Oyster Harbor Hospital, but because the president, Lud, was mostly absent, Nandin essentially managed the hospital. Lud had tried several times to promote him to the full president position, while he himself would only hold the honorary title of "honorary president," but Nandin refused each time.

Lu De was the savior of hundreds of thousands of people in Oyster Harbor, and no one recognized him as the hospital director!

"Master, what is the theme of this exchange meeting?"

"It's about how to treat fractures more effectively. Oh, and the Cult of War will also be attending this exchange meeting. I reckon you're very likely to run into Bishop Ural. If he asks you about our cooperation with the Holy Church of Light, just tell him the truth, understand?"

Ural was the bishop of the Northern Diocese of the Cult of War in the Kingdom of Duran. He had business dealings with Rud and would purchase a considerable amount of potions from him every month. This transaction was once the Pantheon's largest and most stable source of revenue.

During the visit of the Holy Light Church delegation, Ural sent several letters to Lud. At first glance, they seemed to be ordinary greetings, but he casually asked a few questions about the Holy Light Church, as if he was worried that the Pantheon would completely side with the Holy Light Church.