Chapter 63

"Eugene...!"

I leaned forward, chasing the streaks of light.

Don't hit him! Disappear! Please!

I clenched my hand with all my might and wished for it.

The ball of light, at the moment it was about to hit Eugene, made a popping sound and burst.

"Oh, you can even nullify magic."

Mary's cheerful laugh made me exhale the breath I had been holding.

Mary waved her hand as if to dismiss Warp.

Warp tightened around Eugene's neck for a moment, then suddenly let go.

Eugene fell to the ground with a heavy thud.

I was stunned by the sequence of events and stared at Eugene, who didn't move at all.

Suddenly, a cold sweat broke out.

Magic nullification?

Was it like when Quincy threw a ball of water at me?

I had never used it consciously before, so I didn't realize I had done it.

"Anything not in the plan is unnecessary, Warp."

"I'm sorry, Lady Mary!"

Thorn reprimanded Warp, who then twisted his (her) body strangely and apologized to Mary.

"I've learned one of his abilities, so I'll forgive you. Now, our friends are asleep, so let's play another time. It's time to answer my questions."

Warp must have only intended to knock him out, but is Eugene okay?

The tension was continuous, and my stomach felt cold and heavy.

"Actually, my skill doesn't require a hostage."

Thorn put a hand on my shoulder.

"I can read minds to extract information."

Thorn's hand dug into my shoulder.

I felt the same unpleasant sensation, as if someone was intruding into my mind, that I had felt in the guild.

"If you can read it, you should know without going through all this trouble..."

Why do you keep prompting me to answer?

I instantly thought of something, looked up at Thorn, and activated my skill.

Thorn let go of my shoulder, but it was too late.

"...So you have a double skill too."

That's why I couldn't read your skill.

I felt all my previous doubts being resolved.

Thorn had been using two skills, Empathy and Rejection, in the guild.

Empathy is the skill to read what someone is thinking.

Rejection is the skill to prevent others from reading your mind.

From Thorn's actions, it seemed that touching was the activation condition.

And apparently, both skills can't be activated simultaneously.

That's why I could read Thorn's status when Empathy was activated.

"You let your guard down, Thorn."

"I apologize, Lady Mary."

Thorn's fingers dug into my shoulder.

"However, knowing that doesn't hinder my ability to read thoughts. People tend to think about things they try not to think about."

Thorn's point was valid.

If I'm asked about something, I think about it once and then try to hide it if I don't want it known.

I'm not the only one; most people would do the same.

"Tell me the third thing. About Quincy Cue's true identity. What do you know about that monster?"

Why is the third question about Quincy?

What particularly caught my attention was the term "monster."

I can't see Quincy's status either.

I can't help but think about it once I'm asked.

"He's not normal. You know Quincy's age, don't you?"

Indeed, Quincy looks too young for his age.

"You seem to be waiting for that monster to arrive. Do you really trust him that much?"

Mary whispered with a voice full of malice.

"What do you mean..."

As I was about to ask, I heard someone shouting.

"---, this way! Hurry!"

Quincy and the others must have come to rescue us.

"Time's up. I like you. I'll come back to see you again."

"Oh, you're not taking him?"

Mary stood up from her chair, and the sound of her dress rustling filled the air.

Warp said something that sounded regretful.

By "taking," she meant moving me to another place, but she decided not to.

Warp and Thorn disappeared into the darkness where Mary was.

I clenched my sweaty hand and couldn't help but ask.

"Why not take me?"

The sound of heels stopped with a click.

"I do what I want. I don't do everything just because someone requests it. Besides, I can go anywhere I want, anytime."

Mary's tone was haughty but exuded absolute confidence.

"Let me give you a piece of advice. About Quincy, whom you trust. Is he the kind of person who can be kidnapped so easily? I wouldn't want a guard like that."

"Wha..."

Mary said this and vanished.

The rustling of her dress and her breathing were gone.

A moment of silence.

Then the door opened, and multiple footsteps rushed in.

The room was filled with blinding light.

My eyes, accustomed to the darkness, squinted, and I blinked.

"Noah...! Are you okay!"

It was Luke's voice.

Luke, who entered first, quickly untied my restraints.

"Are you okay, Noah? Noah!"

"...Huh"

The words Mary had said were swirling in my head.

I was slow to respond to Luke's calls but managed to tell him I was okay.

"Are you really okay, man?"

"Fran, why are you here... No, I'm okay. Right, Eugene is..."

While Luke checked my body, I finally adjusted to the brightness and looked where Eugene had fallen.

A rabbit-eared beastkin was by his side.

"He's fine. He's just sleeping."

The beastkin's voice came with the cries for help from outside the door.

The brown hair was cut to a bob, and the face was androgynous, neither clearly male nor female.

"My name is Melts. I'm sorry I couldn't help you sooner, Noah-sama."

I shook my head at the girl named Melts.

"No, thank you for calling for help."

"Beastkins are your allies. We always watch over you. I can't stay here long. See you, Noah-sama."

Saying this, Melts moved her long ears back and forth and left the room.

Melts must have been watching over me from the beastkin district—Talon.

Finally calming down, I looked around the room where I had been held.

I hadn't noticed from the floor view, but the furniture was familiar.

"This... This is the Stern family's mansion..."

I remembered Mary's words.

She can appear anywhere she wants, anytime.

I clenched my cold hand.

Fran gasped.

"Noah, your hand is bleeding."

"Really, don't clench it, Noah. This isn't a scratch..."

Luke slowly opened my clenched hand and wrapped it with a bandage he had taken from somewhere.

"Ah, they got away. Hey, Noah, are you okay?"

The new face that silently appeared in the room was Quincy.

"What were you doing, boss!"

"Shut up. I'm having my comrades chase them. The mansion's young master is also moving the knights to search."

I just listened to Luke and Quincy arguing.

I had a lot to think about, but my mind wasn't working properly.

Blood seeped through the bandage and dripped onto the carpet, leaving a stain.

Thank you for waiting!

Even though the ending was decided, it was hard to wrap up the middle part.

I'm sure you all thought about it too.

1. Eugene dies or gets injured

2. Noah uses the spirit's power

3. Quincy or Luke comes to the rescue at this point

4. Noah's level up

There are other possibilities too.

I tried writing all three, but I didn't like it, so I stopped.

Revealing the spirit's power would make the story even more complicated.

That will come a little later.

In any case, thank you for always reading.

2015/01/12 Revised