Chapter 47: Lifa: New Equipment

“Huh?”

“Hold my hand.”

Isis’s footsteps grew slower and slower, and after the pair had taken a dozen or so steps toward the camp, she came to a complete stop.

“Sister Ash… are—are you okay?”

Lifa supported one of Isis’s arms with both hands. Only when she stepped closer did she realize that sweat was constantly streaming down Isis’s cheeks, and the white hair in front of her bangs had already stuck together.

“My body is having some issues. Anyway, let’s return to the camp first.”

Isis raised her head and saw Ron jogging toward them as well.

“Teacher, please come and take a look.”

Lifa couldn’t find any obvious signs of injury on Isis, but she could feel that her companion, who was originally far stronger than herself, was now in an extremely weak and terrible condition.

“Mr. Ron, Lifa.”

Isis raised her other hand, stopping Ron from attempting to examine her further.

“Your spiritual energy also needs to recover. I know my own condition.”

Isis lowered her eyes, looking at her right hand, which she tried to clench into a fist but could only manage a half-grip.

Indeed. Ron and Lifa’s efforts dealt a heavy blow to Casalima.

But in this protracted battle within the spiritual and soul world, Isis knew she had lost far, far too much. A brief victory could not reverse the progress of the severe erosion by the demon race’s power.

“I doubt it will be long before dawn.”

Under Isis’s persistent insistence, Ron gave up and looked at the pitch-black night sky.

“I propose we return to Enid first. The matter of the origin crystal can wait a day or two…”

“No.”

Out of consideration for Isis, Ron had proposed the most prudent suggestion, but the Hero immediately refused in a tone that brooked no argument.

“Mr. Ron, let me take the lead on finding the origin crystal.”

Isis glanced at Lifa again.

“Although the magic beast forest is vast, if we search specifically for it, it’ll only take a day or two.”

Beneath her outwardly tough attitude, Isis was struggling to adjust her weakened state.

In at most two or three days, Casalima could make a comeback.

By then, with his guard up, whether Ron and Lifa could still help her was another matter—likewise, the Demon King would also target them as priority attacks. This was a situation Isis did not want to see.

“How much combat strength do you have left?”

Ron, who had always tried to keep his distance from Isis, now took the initiative to ask a clearly pointed counter-question.

“The demonic beast bound to the origin crystal is at least sixth tier in strength, and compared to ordinary sixth-tier beasts, it also possesses some special abilities.”

Ron knew that Isis had a stubborn and twisted side to her personality—once she set her mind on something, it was extremely difficult to change it.

“I’m saying, just in case, originally you and Lifa together could defeat it, but if your curse suddenly flares up, then you’ll become a burden to us instead.”

These words were somewhat harsh and heartless, but seeing Isis lower her head, Ron knew they were still effective.

“That’s right, Sister Ash.”

Lifa, who was nearby, also tried to console her. She didn’t have a more concrete concept of the origin crystal; the safety of her companion and teacher was the most important thing in the young girl’s heart.

“Come on.”

“Your own health is the most important. Look, Teacher was just able to suppress the curse together with you, so he can definitely cure you later.”

Lifa’s smile was sincere and relaxed. She had full confidence in Ron.

“We’ll go back, rest for a day, and then return here.”

Ron continued to strike while the iron was hot. He paid even more attention than Lifa; after the fierce battle, Isis’s weakness upon awakening was fully exposed.

“No.”

Her crimson eyes blinked repeatedly, slowly opening and closing. Just as Ron thought Isis was about to agree, the white-haired brave placed her hand on her personal weapon to show her determination.

“Why?”

Ron’s tone carried a hint of interrogation and some anger.

The existence of Casalima could also explain Isis’s abrupt change in the previous save.

Ron could imagine that after his identity was exposed, that bratty Demon King must have used all kinds of malicious fabrications to lead Isis astray.

And now, he could discover this and decided to keep his promise with Isis. So aside from continuing to hide his identity, before leaving, Ron wanted to help Isis get her condition back in order.

“Defeating that demonic beast is no problem.”

Isis didn’t answer directly. At the same time, she felt that Ron now gave her a strangely familiar sense of déjà vu.

“Just listen to me first…”

Afraid that if Ron continued speaking she would be persuaded or waver, Isis pulled her hand back from Lifa’s support and her expression turned serious.

“To wake up as quickly as possible, I paid some extra costs.”

“Although my strength and condition have dropped a lot, I won’t be disturbed by that curse for these two days.”

Isis still did not directly tell Lifa that a remnant soul of the Demon King existed in her spiritual world.

“Lifa, I have a spare weapon here that I can give you.”

“With the aid of magical items, I hope to obtain the origin crystal in one go, so that before the curse backlashes, I can use the crystal to suppress her.”

Ron’s idea was based on self-confidence. He hoped to be cautious and also believed he could help Isis.

Isis’s plan also prioritized her current situation. But even with the emotional and close contact earlier, she still couldn’t fully follow Ron’s arrangements.

She wanted to suppress Casalima in one go, even if it meant being a bit aggressive and risky.

“Sister Ash’s weapon?”

Among the three, Lifa’s attention was immediately diverted. She was actually quite envious of the hero’s sword that Isis wore.

Even without knowing the grade and origin of that weapon, Lifa knew from her swordsman’s intuition that this sword was extraordinary.

“Mm, it’s also a famous sword, much better than the one you used before.”

Seeing that she had quickly won Lifa to her side, Isis glanced at Ron again.

“I originally planned to give it to you as payment for this commission. It’s no big deal to give it to you early now.”

The storage item Isis wore was a brooch set with an emerald teardrop-shaped gemstone. With a light touch, she pulled out a longsword wrapped in dark green thorns from thin air.

“Wow~”

Lifa leaned in to examine it closely, and Isis cooperatively raised the sword.

“Gold-grade weapon, Thorn Blade.”

Isis wanted to demonstrate some techniques combining her swordsmanship with this weapon, but thinking of what Ron had just mentioned, she simply reversed the sword and handed it to Lifa.

“Miss Ashen, thank you.”

In this save, Ron was seeing Thorn Blade for the first time, but he knew that in the original timeline where he hadn’t intervened, this weapon was Isis’s personal sword.

“Thank you!”

The pendant.

After receiving the sword, Lifa realized that she had been too excited to thank Isis. After making up for that, she reached out and touched the storage item on her body.

“During the battle just now, Lifa didn’t have her full equipment on, that’s why that happened. Sister Ash, don’t worry, I won’t be careless from now on.”

“Good—huh?”

Isis gave a soft exclamation of surprise, her gaze falling on the armor Lifa had taken out.