Is this…magic…?
Ireya’s mind gradually recovered, but just as she was about to realize something, a beam of light suddenly appeared before her.
That beam grew more and more dazzling, gradually swallowing everything around her.
“Eh?”
Ireya opened her eyes, feeling the swaying of the carriage and a wave of dizziness in her head, falling into confusion.
Up ahead, Jenny was still dutifully performing her “tool” role, crouched on the ground as a footstool for the young lady.
Sweat had long soaked her temples, leaving faint marks on the carriage carpet in front of her, but she still supported herself without moving at all.
She looked quite determined…
“Hnn~ smack smack…”
Suddenly, Ireya heard other sounds, and gradually realized her head was resting against something?
Glancing to the side, she saw that Veil was also sleeping soundly at the moment.
Just now, the two of them must have leaned on each other…and drifted off to sleep.
But that dream just now…
As her thoughts cleared, the young lady recalled some things.
That dark space, the wraith-like smoke floating inside, and…
The information she received after touching that thing.
Touch of Death…could it really be true?
Or was it just a case of daydreams turning into night dreams?
Ireya raised her small hand.
What should she do?
The dream only told her about the existence and effect of this magic, but didn’t teach her how to use it…
Hah!
But the moment Ireya thought about the magic “Touch of Death,” her fingertips were instantly dyed black by some force.
She could feel a portion of her mana being channeled into this magic.
Hiss…
This feeling was completely different from the “realistic” magic from before, more like learning a Skill Book in a game.
Just click and you learn it, and as long as you think about it, you can use it…
“It’s…pretty convenient.”
Muttering to herself, Ireya’s red eyes slowly turned to look at the goddess sleeping soundly beside her…
Touch of Death probably wouldn’t harm the Goddess of the Dead, right?
With that thought, Ireya reached out her inky-black finger toward Veil…
Rustle rustle…
The slender black finger slipped through the clothes and reached the goddess’s belly.
Gently…exploring, kneading…
“Mmm?”
Veil, still in her dream, frowned slightly.
At that moment, she felt as if someone was rolling a bottle of ice water back and forth on her stomach…
“Mmm…so cold…stop…stop it…don’t mess around ~”
The goddess muttered in her sleep, pressing herself closer to Ireya.
That head with a tuft of white hair slowly slid down, and after her face brushed against Ireya’s for a moment, she nestled into the girl’s neck and shoulder, as if searching for an even more comfortable spot.
This development made the young lady pause in surprise, feeling as if the other party really trusted her…and felt very safe?
Though…this was what Ireya wanted to see, and also the initial result of her “training.”
But the young lady still felt…her dignity was being challenged!
This girl…shouldn’t she be more afraid of me than reassured?
What a scatterbrained goddess…
Hah!
The black finger stretched out, poking right at the little hole (bellybutton) on her stomach! And then…
“Yahh ——!!!”
“Hmm (77)? What’s wrong…did you have a nightmare?”
Suddenly, that girl’s voice sounded in her ear, gradually pulling the terrified Veil back to reality.
She instinctively looked down at herself.
Her belly…nothing there, just her clothes a bit rumpled and wrinkled.
“…”
The goddess felt like she’d had a nightmare… reaming that something cold and icy drilled into her bellybutton!
So scary!
Thinking that, she subconsciously rubbed her little belly.
Suddenly, she felt a bit hungry.
“It’s nothing…I…just had a nightmare, I think.”
She scratched her head, answering softly.
“Don’t be afraid~”
Ireya smiled, reaching out to gently stroke the goddess’s cheek.
“I’m right here~”
Ugh…
I feel even less at ease with you here, okay…
Though she thought so, the goddess still subconsciously nodded slightly.
But…as Ireya gazed at Veil’s profile, she pondered in her heart.
She really had learned the Touch of Death magic through that “Dream Realm.”
Then, that “Dream Realm”…no, or rather, that space.
What exactly was it?
How did she enter that space?
What were the conditions?
Was it…sleeping together with Veil?
No, when they’d slept together before, nothing like this had ever happened.
Or was today’s nap different from before?
Thinking for a bit, Ireya found the answer…it was their sleeping position!
Before, when they slept together, at most they hugged, but never pressed their heads together.
Could…that be the reason?
Or…was it because of what she said that night, making this idiot open her heart to her, even if just a little?
Or maybe…both reasons?
Ireya didn’t know.
This matter…still needed to be explored a bit.
What she could confirm now was…that space really existed, and its use was definitely not just to let her learn magic so easily.
“Looks like…”
Ireya muttered, gently poking Veil’s confused little face.
“I’ll have to…keep developing it~”
Develop?
Veil looked in confusion at the wicked woman before her.
Develop what?
Meanwhile, compared to Ireya’s slow-moving group…
Blue Crow and Nolan had already reached the entrance of the Thirteenth Mine.
“Although…we were attacked, everyone can treat this as part of the Trial! If the War One Year Later reaches East County, what we’ll face will be far more brutal than bandits!”
As always, Blue Crow gave a rousing speech, then prepared to lead the group behind him into the depths of the Thirteenth Mine.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
Just as they entered the cave, Loki, who was walking beside Nolan, noticed something carved into the cave wall.
“What’s wrong?”
Nolan slowly walked over to her side.
To be honest, he really hadn’t wanted to bring this reckless guy along, since this operation was extremely dangerous.
But he couldn’t withstand her pleading and Blue Crow’s persuasion, so in the end, he let this brat tag along.
“Nolan, look here…um, are these letters?”
Loki scratched his chin, looking left and right…but couldn’t make sense of it.
“What?”
Nolan was a bit surprised, and followed her gaze to the cave wall.
It seemed to be some twisted symbols carved with a knife…were these words?
Or…some kind of runes?
They looked like a bunch of familiar characters, jumbled together to form a…
Crow Symbol?
“Huh?”
For some reason, even though Loki had stared at it for a long time with no effect…the moment Nolan saw the symbol,
B…he was struck by a strong wave of dizziness!