Chapter 9

"I'm back."

When Ophelia returned to the living room, it was enveloped in a somber atmosphere. Everyone was silent, and only Funiappy on the table was noisily eating.

"Good work. Did you go?"

"Yes, Miss Sorciere."

I want to talk alone with you, Tweni. Ophelia decided to grant Tweni's wish. She had just returned from guiding Luo to the place where Tweni was waiting.

"Oh, little Tweni. What a child."

Benjas was in deep sorrow, frequently wiping her tears with a handkerchief adorned with fine embroidery.

"It's fine to cry and wail like a child. We can support you if you do."

"But I didn't cry that much when I was little."

Recalling her distant past, young Mildi pouted.

"There's no need to be embarrassed, Mildi."

Aroma, dressed as a man, gently stroked her cheek with her fingertips.

"Sometimes it's better to act on your emotions. For yourself and for those around you."

"Aroma-nee-sama."

"I'm not just worried about Tweni."

Set, with her fluffy curls, drew attention.

"About Mr. Luo as well."

At the name, Ophelia reacted with a start.

"He was a very innocent and slightly young child. From what we heard earlier, he seemed to be hurt."

"Excuse me, Miss Set."

Ophelia asked.

"What do you mean by 'earlier'?"

"While you were talking with Tweni, we also talked with Mr. Luo. Even though you didn't know, we heard about his background."

"Oh, what a poor child!"

Benjas's handkerchief was at its limit.

"He lost his parents at a young age and was even driven out of his hometown. On top of that, he was forced to wear a collar. In my time, there was no such cruel system. Magic users were those who overcame the trials of the gods—"

"Mr. Luo asked."

Ignoring her, Set explained.

"How to defeat the evil god."

"Eh?"

If the evil god could be defeated, Tweni could be saved. It was a naive and innocent thought that Sorciere shattered.

"How so?"

In response to Ophelia's question, Sorciere shrugged.

"I clearly told him it was impossible. You don't have the power to stand before the evil god. You couldn't even withstand the weak magical aura around here."

There was a reason he couldn't withstand it.

"Destroying a god with human power is nothing more than a delusional and arrogant statement. The most we can do is pray for the miracle of the giant rock circling the distant sky. I think the boy understood, but if it comes to it, we might have to take him to the 'Gate of Transfer.' The problem is what happens after that."

She placed her finger on her chin, looking down in thought. Sorciere's expression was that of a scholar tackling a difficult problem.

"To put it bluntly, if Tweni drinks the 'Tears,' she might be saved. But it's not that simple for the boy. If he acts on his emotions, we won't be able to stop him. It might even affect the 'Box Garden.' After all, he is—"

Sorciere looked at Funiappy, who was enthusiastically eating meat.

"According to the Rock Lion, he has the same 'combination' as Prince Marteus."

Benjas blew her nose with her handkerchief.

"If he is Tweni's love interest, he is like our little brother. We will comfort him with all our might!"

With this strong opinion, various suggestions were made based on each person's expertise.

"Let's make lots of delicious food and sweets."

"Sure, I'll read him the stories I wrote."

"He worked with the Star Guardians, didn't he? He might be interested in sword training."

"Wait a moment. What if he gets hurt? He is a very rare and valuable magic user. We should finish the experiments first."

"Excuse me, Miss Sorciere."

Amidst all this, only Ophelia looked troubled.

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"I have a question."

Ophelia needed to confirm the doubt that arose during her conversation with Tweni.

"The three powers?"

"Yes. Didn't Miss Sorciere mention this before? I want to know more about it."

Sorciere suddenly looked displeased.

"That was a completely meaningless theory. It only served as a material to persuade Prince Marteus. It's an old story now."

"Please, tell me."

Moved by her serious gaze, Sorciere sighed and began to explain after moistening her mouth with tea.

"The three powers are the supernatural forces that humans can wield. If these powers could be maximized, perhaps a human could stand against the evil god. That's what I used to think."

"The power of the spirits, the power of magic, and the holy power, right?"

Benjas, the second Star Princess, who has known Sorciere the longest, often serves as her confidante.

"Yes. Those who wield these powers are called spirit users, magic users, and clerics. Among the three powers, the power of the spirits is the weakest, and the holy power is the strongest."

However, the ease of handling is the opposite.

"Spirits are capricious beings. They can leave their host at the slightest provocation. On the other hand, while it's necessary to educate and cultivate faith from a young age, the holy power—'Blessing'—is reliable and effective."

It was a blunt statement.

"By the way, the power of magic can be obtained by consuming a magic beast's egg, but it's highly toxic. The mortality rate is over 90%. However, if the country leads the effort, it can solve the problem of increasing the number of magic users. That's what happened in Aroma's country, right?"

"It was an extreme military state."

Aroma's face twisted as if recalling an unpleasant memory.

"Ultimately, the magic users rebelled and the country was destroyed. I heard this from Mildi."

"Yes, Aroma-nee-sama."

Mildi, the princess of the next era, recounted the history of her country.

"After that, the magic users did not form a country, and the land was left desolate. It was a time of 'Beast Rule,' where the strong dominated the weak. The one who pacified this chaos and founded a new country was my ancestor."

It was from this era that the status of magic users declined, they were viewed with suspicion, and began to be managed by the state.

"Ultimately, they were destroyed by Ophelia's country, though."

"I'm sorry! Miss Mildi."

Sorciere brought the conversation back on track.

"The three powers are compatible with humans but have different natures. Therefore, by combining them, it might be possible to wield a vast power beyond human intelligence. I wasn't the only one who thought this."

In fact, in Aroma's country, which mass-produced magic users, experiments to enhance magic users with the power of clerics were frequently conducted. However, they were not successful.

"Because the motives were impure."

Sorciere bluntly dismissed it.

"Throughout human history, the only one who achieved this was Prince Marteus, Ophelia's knight. Unfortunately, even he couldn't stand against the evil god."

Sorciere shook her head.

"Two are not enough. All three must be combined. But realistically, it's impossible."

"Is it theoretically possible?"

Benjas, regaining her grace and elegance, sipped her tea.

"Sure, the theory is excellent. There are various conditions, but the most important is the order. The power added later must be stronger than the previous one. Otherwise, it will be rejected. In other words, a magic user who has received 'Blessing' has already lost the possibility."

Ophelia shuddered.

She slowly and carefully confirmed.

"Then, a spirit user must obtain the power of magic before receiving 'Blessing'?"

"The first hurdle. However, spirits strongly dislike the power of magic. The timid spirits will immediately leave their host. It's impossible for them to combine. That's the end of the story."

"Mr. Luo—"

Ophelia said softly.

"Has not received 'Blessing.'"

It took a moment for the words to sink in.

Sorciere let out a dry laugh.

"Is this some kind of joke?"

"I heard it from Tweni. She said Mr. Luo has never called her by her true name."

No one in the room was unaware of the significance of this.

"Then—"

Sorciere nodded as if convincing herself.

"Mr. Luo is not a 'combination.' He is just an excellent magic user. Probably a mistake by the Rock Lion."

"Third."

Funiappy, who had been eating meat on the table, lifted her head. After Set wiped her mouth with a napkin and she lay on her back.

"Meow meow."

"Yes."

While petting her slightly swollen belly, Funiappy said authoritatively.

"I've said it before. Luo's power is on par with Marteus."

"But—"

"The 'Altar of the End,' the temple above it, and the jelly-like creatures that ate his body. Luo destroyed all of them with a single blow."

"Eh?"

"Besides, a regular magic user couldn't have walked to the bottom of the 'Great Hole' and made it this far."

Taken aback, Sorciere was speechless.

But her spirit was not broken. She drank her tea and continued as if convincing herself.

"Let's organize this. Even if Mr. Luo's power is great, there's no proof he is a 'combination.' Moreover, it's very difficult to identify a spirit user who only has weak power."

"By the way, didn't the earth spirits make a fuss?"

Benjas pointed out.

The first time they met, the earth spirits surrounded and made a fuss over Luo, who had lost consciousness due to the magical aura. Not only that, they actively detoxified him and were overjoyed when he recovered.

"I've never seen anything like that."

Mildi's comment was echoed by Aroma.

"Earth spirits are the mother of all living things. They are especially weak for innocent children. Unlike other spirits, they are not bound by the land."

Sorciere moved on to the next condition.

"To combine the power of spirits with the power of magic, the parent magic beast must at least be of the same attribute."

"Rock Lion?"

"What?"

While using one hand as a pillow and petting Funiappy's belly with the other, Set asked.

"Mr. Luo's parent magic beast is—"

"The Rock King Eagle. A troublesome creature that can control rocks despite being a bird."

"The same attribute, then."

"Not yet. Not yet."

Her arm on the table was trembling. With a face like a teacher whose carefully crafted problem was about to be solved, Sorciere said.

"Even if Mr. Luo is, hypothetically speaking. No, because of that, he cannot receive 'Blessing.'"