“Do I need to remind you again? That house is *my* house!”
The next day, early Sunday morning, on the carriage heading into town, Miss Karina questioned Shad with a hint of anger.
It was nine in the morning. After finishing breakfast at the manor, Shad planned to head into the city to search for the Pus of the Demon-Man. The original plan was for Luvia and Tifa to accompany him, but Luvia had to remain bedridden at the manor due to her physical condition.
Miss Karina happened to have business in the city as well, so she joined Shad and Tifa.
She had only learned about the previous night's events this morning from Tifa, who was responsible for looking after Mia. She had held her tongue while at the manor, but once they were in the carriage, she finally voiced the issue.
Because the mission could be dangerous, Mia remained at the manor with Luvia for the time being. As for Shad, he looked at Tifa, who was sitting beside Miss Karina, and winked in hopes that she would bail him out, but the black-haired maid acted as if she didn't understand his meaning.
“But at least, doesn't this confirm that I really am a man?”
Shad spoke slowly. The witch took a deep breath, looking as if she were suppressing the urge to punch him.
“Even the clothes she was wearing were found by the maids at my request. The house is mine, the bed is mine, the quilt is mine, the pillow is mine, even the clothes are mine, and she actually...”
She clearly couldn't swallow this grudge. As she spoke, she sized Shad up, then suddenly added
“Though, it's for the best. Your kissing technique is so poor, your other techniques are likely poor as well. I heard from the maids on the night shift passing by the door that your stamina seems quite good, but stamina alone isn't enough. Letting someone else help you train will be beneficial for the future.”
Shad didn't catch one of the words in the middle, but Tifa did; she turned her head slightly, her face flushing red.
The red-haired witch huffed
“However, this does confirm that, at least in terms of physical structure, you are male—though I don't particularly like this method. I already told Sivi about your situation last night, including that strange spirit rune and your ability to enter the Corridor. Shad, you had better not use [The Witchlight of Felianna] in front of high-circle warlocks. After yesterday, more and more people will recognize this occult art.”
“I understand.”
Shad nodded, glad to finally leave that somewhat awkward topic
“For the next two weeks, the only thing I have to do is participate as a player in the Great City.”
Actually, there was one more thing: the arrival of the letter that Detective Spyro mentioned would be burned on the fifth day of this month. But since that had nothing to do with the witch, Shad didn't mention it.
“It had better be. Within two weeks, many people will come to Tobesk to investigate, especially the professors from Saint Byron's. You had better do nothing and just pretend to be an ordinary detective and a Lord-card player. Once others discover that your appearance is related to the appearance of the Fifth Epoch Witch, you will be in big trouble.”
Miss Karina paused, then asked another question
“Currently, is your spell [Toy Making] useful against that diviner?”
She was rational most of the time, so she didn't overlook this question, and Shad naturally hadn't forgotten it either
“I tried it this morning; it still doesn't work.”
“That doesn't work either?”
The witch frowned, while Shad looked at the scenery outside the window. Before entering the city, there was still a stretch of road through the outskirts. In early autumn, the scenery outside the city was quite beautiful.
“Are you there?”
【Outlander, I am always with you.】
The whisper of "her" sounded in his ear. Even during the most intimate moments last night, Luvia's voice hadn't relaxed Shad's mind as much as "hers" did.
“Any discoveries from last night?”
He inquired. The voice in his ear seemed to chuckle
【The 'Other Me' of Luvia Annate is in a state of severe injury, but it has been confirmed that she is a genuine 'Other Me,' and not replaced by an alien lifeform like Ivan Darkness, nor replaced by some strange relic. Her special divination power indeed stems from the characteristics of an 'Other Me'.】
Shad looked at the passing scenery, frowning slightly. Although he had seen a mirror in the ruins capable of harming an "Other Me," relics that could actually achieve this were extremely rare. Furthermore, the consequences of an "Other Me" of a warlock being harmed were even more severe than the consequences of the soul itself being harmed.
“So everything Luvia said was true.”
【Also, her 'Other Me' possesses a certain degree of autonomy.】
“What do you mean? Don't all 'Other Mes' of warlocks have autonomy? For example, you—don't you have autonomy?”
Shad asked, and he received another smile in response. The sound of that ancient language whispering truly made Shad suspect that she was actually right there in his ear
【The breeze of the Sixth Epoch brushes your face. When the transcendents of this era gaze behind them, what they see is their own reflection in the world, the shadow at the deepest part after the soul is inverted. I am you, and you are me. I will never harm you, and you will always trust me. This is the oldest and most primitive contract that has existed since the birth of the first mortal.】
“Um... can you put it more simply?”
【I will never do something you do not wish to do, but her 'Other Me' might.】
The carriage swayed. Miss Karina was still lost in thought, and Tifa was taking a notebook out of her skirt to check today's itinerary. Shad sighed softly, thinking again of the purple-eyed girl sleeping peacefully in the manor
“Do you know why Luvia's 'Other Me' is so special?”
【I can only sense and investigate; I cannot provide the reason.】
Shad stopped questioning and shifted his attention back to the scenery outside.
Just as she said, the wind brushed against his face, reminding him that this was reality, not a dream.
After last night, this world felt more real and vivid to the Outlander, like a black-and-white photograph that had been infused with color.
After the carriage entered the city, Shad did not immediately drop the collected Pus of Man into his eyes. Instead, he first headed to the Sun Church. At an intersection one block away from the church, he met Iluna, who was holding an umbrella.
When they had departed from the manor, the weather was merely overcast, but after entering the city, a misty drizzle began to fall.
When he had asked Miss Karina to send a letter to Priest Augustus last night, Shad had also asked the servants to deliver a letter to Iluna. The Duchess had ways to contact people inside the church safely and secretly. After obtaining Miss Karina's consent, he had briefly explained the situation regarding Tifa and Miss Karina, stating that they were now safe.
Iluna's reply had arrived at the manor this morning. Iluna was worried that the Pus of Man would cause other troubles, so she wanted to act with Shad to ensure the problem was resolved this time.
“The Church is practically driven crazy with work.”
Shad shifted further into the carriage, moving the [God's Gift Box] at his feet inward as well. After boarding, the seventeen-year-old girl tucked her umbrella into the side storage compartment and sat directly beside Shad. After greeting Miss Karina politely, she complained to Shad
“Shad, you actually dumped everything on me! I was writing reports until one in the morning before I could rest!”
Shad thought about what he had been doing in the early hours of the morning. The sound of someone's panting, Luvia's fervent kisses, and the soft bed immediately flooded his mind
“Was the Blood-Weeper Hermons captured?”
Hearing him ask this, Miss Karina also looked at Iluna, who thought for a moment and said
“It seems Hermons had already prepared for the possibility of Darkness failing. Additionally, since Mr. Hog Lundell, the Sun Greatsword, needed to return to reinforce the Dark Realm, Hermons managed to escape. However, having taken a direct hit from Mr. Lundell's Word of Ascension, he'll likely be recovering from those injuries for decades. Aside from him, the twelve-circle vampires and other helpers summoned by the Blood-Weeper were almost all captured. The Prophet Association even caught two members of the Truth Society. The Church can be said to have achieved a complete victory in this operation.”
Iluna was in a good mood
“Of course, the matter regarding Miss Mana Felianna is the most headache-inducing part of the follow-up processing. I heard from Mr. Hog Lundell that the Five-God Church has jointly sent a letter to Saint Byron's, demanding an explanation for yesterday's events.”
“Hmm, what did the academy say? Any news?”
Shad asked. Iluna smiled
“A formal reply from Saint Byron's was received this morning. They are also very angry. Your principal, Professor Pickman the 'Silver Warden,' instead accused the Church of utilizing the power of the academy's founder and demanded the Church provide an explanation for last night's incident. This definitely won't be cleared up in a short time. I only mentioned seeing a robed Summoner appear, and because of the occult art used by Miss Felianna at the end, all other traces were overwritten. Even if they wanted to investigate, they wouldn't find much.”
The witch beside them chimed in
“However, Miss Beas, since you took the credit for killing the Chosen, I imagine the Church must have a reward?”
Iluna looked at the witch, hesitated, and then nodded
“Yes, though they haven't said what it will be yet.”
“Given your contribution and status, I believe that once you promote to the Middle Circle, you will be the first person in the last century within the Five-God Church—aside from the venerable Popes—to be canonized while still alive,” Miss Karina said. She wasn't joking; it was truly possible for Iluna to become "Saint Beas" in the future.
“That doesn't really matter; I didn't put in that much effort. Looking at the situation then, even without me, Shad would have had his own way,” the seventeen-year-old girl said softly.
This was, of course, modesty. If she hadn't used her "Balance" talent to barely suppress the power of the Pus of Man, Shad wouldn't have lasted until the end to summon Miss Felianna.
“A Chosen of Balance. I imagine Shad has already informed you of my identity. So, are you interested in studying under me? You wouldn't need to become a witch; you would simply follow me to learn the Way of Balance and the 'Decree' series of occult arts.”
The witch asked again. It seemed she had considered this since last night. Shad strongly suspected that her reason for coming into town today was to have an excuse to meet Iluna while he was present.