Having changed into the spare clothes from the Traveler’s Pocket, Lance spoke up.
“You can turn around now, Miss Astrid.”
The Elf girl, who had been covering her face with her back turned, slowly turned around.
Her mind was currently filled with questions.
How could a Skeleton turn into a human?
Recalling the sturdy physique she had just seen, the blush on Astrid’s face refused to fade.
Still partially covering her eyes, she stammered, “W—What is going on? How… how did you become human?”
After receiving Falia’s permission, Lance began to explain the concept of Isomorphic Evolution to the Elf.
This was the first time she had ever heard such a theory.
Despite dealing with monsters for so long, she had truly never heard of something like this.
The curiosity rooted deep within her soul quickly suppressed her shyness.
“So, you mean you’ve evolved into a Ghoul?”
“That is the case.”
“But aren’t Ghouls supposed to be incredibly hideous, covered in pustules and sores? Why do you look so…”
Astrid stopped herself immediately, her expression becoming unnatural again.
Lance didn’t mind and replied casually, “It’s likely because I am a high-level variant, and that Flesh Essence was relatively well-preserved.”
“Do you have a heartbeat? A body temperature?”
Lance blinked. He hadn’t actually checked those things yet, as he had been too busy testing his new muscles.
The exceptionally curious Elf had already walked up to him.
She reached out and pressed her hand against his chest, right over his heart, sensing carefully.
Lance went still, looking down at the wide-eyed Elf girl. At that moment, a refreshing, herbal scent wafted toward him.
It was then that he truly felt the tangible sensory changes of this body… he had regained his sense of smell!
The colors of the girl before his eyes became more vivid as well.
‘So, her eyes are emerald green… Her bloodline must be quite noble… Why would she become an adventurer? Did her family fall from grace like mine? Her skin is so pale… much paler than mine is now… though not as white as my bones were.’
His thoughts drifted, scattering uncontrollably.
This was actually because his thinking capacity had been enhanced after obtaining brain tissue, though Lance was entirely unaware of it.
As she felt Lance’s body, the Elf was also deep in thought.
‘The temperature is on the lower side, and the heartbeat is significantly slower than a normal person’s… It seems he hasn’t entirely left the scope of the Undead.’
“A Ghoul, huh?”
Astrid’s face turned serious. She lifted Lance’s arm and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Very firm. It matches the muscle growth of a Swordsman.”
Lance remained silent, standing still and letting Astrid move him as she pleased. However, his expression suddenly shifted.
The Elf had lifted the hem of his shirt and was staring at his abdominal muscles with a look of deep contemplation.
Seeing a large, jagged scar, she reached out to touch it out of confusion.
At the sensation of her warm touch, Lance shuddered. He finally had to speak up.
“Miss Astrid?”
Hearing his voice, Astrid jerked and immediately snapped out of her researcher trance.
Realizing what she had been doing, her face turned a deep shade of crimson.
She hastily took two steps back, waving her hands as she tried to explain herself.
“D—Don’t misunderstand! I was just treating you as a research subject! I simply lost my composure for a moment!”
The moment the words left her mouth, Astrid regretted them.
She had indeed entered a research mindset, but those words were far too disrespectful to Lance!
He wasn’t one of those Ancient Magic Tools she usually studied!
To her surprise, Lance didn’t look displeased at all. Instead, he nodded in agreement. “I see. I understand.”
Seeing that he actually accepted her explanation, Astrid was stunned into silence.
She looked up into Lance’s crimson eyes. “Are you not angry?”
“Huh? Why would I be angry?”
“Because… well, I called you a research subject.”
Lance realized what she meant and felt a bit amused. How could he not tell that she was just speaking casually without any malice? He treated it as a joke.
Besides, it wasn’t like he hadn’t been a research subject before.
Those lunatics in the Restoration Army had nearly dissected him! If he hadn’t escaped with his sister, they would have died in there long ago.
Seeing the guilt on the Elf’s face, Lance spoke to comfort her.
“That’s nothing. Look at this wound—it was carved into me when I was a guinea pig for the Restoration Army. And this one… I didn’t have enough experience during my first escape attempt and got caught. I ran into a petty guard who nearly tortured me to death.”
After checking himself over, Lance realized the scars on his body were quite well-preserved.
‘Did the flesh reshape itself based on my memories as it grew?’
Lance pointed out each scar one by one, recounting the experiences of the past few years as if he were cataloging cherished possessions.
Astrid lowered her head and listened quietly.
Lance found himself unusually talkative.
Come to think of it, the Elf was truly his first friend in years who didn’t involve some sort of ulterior motive or conflict of interest.
The experiences pent up in his heart for so long came pouring out like a dam breaking.
He wasn’t sure what he was trying to express, but with every story he told, the heaviness in his heart lightened slightly.
Slowly, Lance stopped talking. His crimson eyes turned fierce, and his mid-to-long-term goals gradually became clear.
‘So, I still remember these things… Well, how could I ever forget them?’
Previously, it was only because he was weak; simply keeping himself and his sister alive had exhausted all his energy.
With a soft thud, Astrid leaned her head against Lance’s chest and wrapped her arms around his waist.
A slight warmth seeped through his coarse outer garment and into his body.
Behind Lance, a phantom figure that only he could see slowly emerged.
Falia, draped in her wide magus robes, reached out and put her arms around his neck, pressing one hand against his dark hair near his right ear.
The three of them remained in silence.
In this strange scene, the ferocity in Lance’s crimson eyes slowly faded, gradually returning to a state of clarity.
After a long while, just as Lance was starting to feel a bit awkward and unsure how to break the silence, a rapid knocking came from the door.
*Knock, knock, knock!*
“Lord Lance? Saint Envoy? Are you inside?”
It was the voice of the Takin Fourth Elder.
Upon hearing this, Astrid jumped as if she had been electrocuted.
She quickly released Lance, backed away several steps, and turned around to tidy her messy hair.
Lance took the opportunity to look back, meeting Falia’s teasing, petite face.
‘Master, how are you able to come out? Won’t people see you?’
Falia covered her mouth and giggled, looking entirely unconcerned.
‘Don’t worry. This is just a Mental Projection. That little Elf girl can’t see me. Why would your beloved Master ruin your good moment?’
Falia gave Lance’s head a gentle pat before vanishing on the spot. Lance stood there sheepishly, not knowing what to say.
Astrid composed herself, cleared her throat, and called out toward the door, “What happened?”
“The squads we organized have already departed,” the Fourth Elder replied. “May I ask if you and Lord Lance are still planning to participate in the crusade against the Dream Eater?”