“Th-This is…”
After unrolling the blueprint, Elena was stunned for a moment, but soon a smile spread across her face.
She carefully stored the blueprint and then walked out of the room.
“I’m spent (ヽ(ー_ー)ノ)…”
Just after stepping out of the room and rounding the ice crystals, Elena saw Aier lying on the ground.
At the same time, Aier noticed Elena.
The silver-haired girl immediately jumped up from the ground and walked quickly toward Elena.
“Elena, which room were you in just now? Also! How do you open those doors anyway? QAQ!!”
Bombarded by Aier’s questions, Elena was stunned.
But when she heard Aier talk about going around the left side of the ice crystals to the back and seeing five doors, Elena’s face instantly turned pale.
“Aier, you—you didn’t go into those rooms, did you!?”
Suddenly grabbed by Elena, Aier, who hadn’t snapped out of it, just shook her head and said, “No, no.”
“If not for your guidance, the visual magic of this place would guide intruders to the left side of the ice crystals. After entering from the left, one would indeed see five doors, but behind each of those doors were deadly traps. The emblems on the doors corresponded to the five basic elemental magics. Only those who were not proficient in the corresponding magic could enter the respective door—and behind that door was a trap specifically designed for such people. But, but if Aier couldn’t enter any of the doors…”
“An all-element mage? Or perhaps… the blood clan is special? But it doesn’t matter. Aier, it’s good that you’re okay, good that you’re okay. I’ve found what I needed. Shall we go up?”
When Elena flew back to the ground with her eyes closed, Aier in her arms, Sebas was already waiting at the entrance.
Placing Aier down from her arms, Elena gave Sebas a meaningful glance.
“Miss Aier, would you like some cake?”
“Eh? Cake… Wait, is it the handmade cake from a year ago?! I-I wanna eat it (^﹃^)!”
After watching Aier, now energized by the talk of cake, leave under the guidance of a maid, Elena’s smile faded.
“Sebas, have people continue to monitor the Marquis Residence. Also… keep an eye out for any suspicious individuals entering the Duchy recently.”
The Black God Church.
If she could find direct proof of cooperation between the Black God Church and Sirius, she could simply have the Empire deal with Sirius.
“And then, there’s something else I need to give you…”
Elena said as she handed the blueprint she had brought up to Sebas.
On the blueprint was a dress. Below the design was a line of text: [Dedicated to Little Elena’s birthday gift, first draft].
“Have the clothes made according to this design, but make two sets. One set white, as in the design. The other set, a dark blue.”
One set predominantly pure white, like moonlight.
The other predominantly dark blue, like the night sky.
“This old servant understands.”
Before joining her Aier for cake, Elena decided to first deal with the box she had obtained from her mother’s place of rest.
But even so, the girl couldn’t help but think—about when the two dresses are finished, about when she puts hers on, about when Aier puts hers on in front of her—
“The bright moonlight can only release its radiance under the protection of the night sky… Aier, just freely release your light in the sky. And I—I will become the night sky that shields you.”
Elena finished speaking and slightly curled the corners of her mouth.
…
After thinking it over, Aier decided to eat her cake in the pavilion in the garden.
After all, the first time she had tasted cake at Elena’s home was in this pavilion.
“This is what they call sentimental value~ Mmm! So good!”
After stuffing a cake into her mouth, Aier happily hugged her puffed cheeks.
Even though subjectively it hadn’t been long, this body had gone over a year since last tasting this cake.
The moment she smelled the aroma of this cake, desire was stirred within Aier, making her unable to wait to put the sweet softness into her mouth; until the flavor exploded in her mouth, as if overflowing from it, Aier knew—she probably couldn’t live without this cake.
“I just wonder when Elena will come over.”
Sighing, Aier popped a new piece of cake into her mouth.
A maid had just come to tell Aier that Elena had some matters to attend to first and would come see her later.
This so-called matter must be related to the box Elena obtained.
In that case, she didn’t need to be too anxious…
After all, this was also one of the reasons she had insisted on Elena returning to the duchy this time.
[Reminder:]
[Additionally, the points deduction for maintaining the transmigration will occur tomorrow afternoon.]
[Current remaining points: 8.]
…Speaking of that.
Aier put away her smile, set down the cake in her hand, and looked at the [Remaining Lifespan: 178 days] in the center of her vision.
‘System, what you call “capture” is just absorbing Elena’s mana, right?’
The system remained silent.
‘If I absorb Elena’s mana, will that cause you to evolve or something? Then you can provide me with new assistance?’
The system was still silent.
‘If I had actually completely absorbed the mana in the ice crystals just now, would I not have died either?’
The system’s silence remained unchanged.
‘…Not talking? Fine. But let me make myself clear first: I don’t know what your goal is, and I don’t care. The only thing I care about right now is this—if you need Elena’s mana, I can help you absorb it. I don’t care at all about this body’s lifespan. But you must ensure that this does not affect Elena’s ability to achieve her pursuits. Furthermore—I asked you earlier, if I really ran out of points and returned to the parallel universe where Eve is, would there be a way to get system points? You said there is a way. Then does that also mean… in this world, besides absorbing Elena’s mana, I have a way to get system points?’
Ai’er spoke calmly, asked calmly.
Although the system was still silent, Ai’er was sure in her heart—the system must be listening to what she said.
No matter what, she had to get an answer today.
‘What exactly is the so-called contract signing? If I can sign the contract at full capture progress, does that mean I don’t need to stay by Elena’s side all the time? Can I just absorb the mana, abandon this body, and leave directly? But I want to tell you this—if that were really possible, I absolutely, absolutely would not do it! Even if you threaten me with insufficient remaining lifespan, I absolutely—’
[Why?]
At that moment, the system responded to her.
[If it is to obtain the power of the witch, the power to return to your original world—]
[Why don’t you choose the most efficient form?]
Something was different…
Ai’er couldn’t explain why, but the system now felt like it was a different person talking to her, even though it was still the same as before.
Cold, objective, devoid of any emotion.
‘Why…’
This was not a hard question to answer.
Ai’er wasn’t stupid; when it came to matters of her true feelings, she was absolutely the most clear.
‘System, do you remember? You told me before—Elena’s impression of me is “moonlight”. Moonlight… there are so many images. But the only thing I can associate it with is that the world’s malice toward Elena once turned her world into a pitch-black eternal night… And moonlight is the only light in a starless night. I want to witness until the very end, watch Elena take back what belongs to her, watch her bring down Sirius! If that’s not enough, I have an even clearer reason.’
She took a deep breath, and then the silver-haired girl gently curled the corners of her lips.
‘These thoughts in my heart, these emotions, could only have come from one possibility… I want to stay by Elena’s side. I want to see this witch lady stand in a place with light again… Because— I love her.’
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