Chapter 200

Chapter 200. News (3)

Sphinx ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍was the one who brought up the word "mother."

It ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍might have just been Anagin's imagination, but her voice felt as heavy as lead.

As ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍though she were mentioning someone difficult and uncomfortable.

'Ah, ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍she did say she ran away from home, didn't she? She said her mother was worried.'

Instead ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍of answering right away, Anagin finished the stew in his bowl.

Munch. ‍​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Munch. Munch.

Then he helped himself to another serving from the pot and finished a second bowl.

Even though quite a bit of time had passed, Sphinx waited silently, and only after he had emptied the second bowl did Anagin finally open his mouth.

"Phew....... Is it okay if I take this to mean you want to talk about it now?"

Referring to what she had said before, Anagin asked Sphinx directly.

Asking if she wanted to talk about her past now.

After all, Anagin had already told her that she didn't have to talk about it if she didn't want to.

Conversely, the fact that she had brought up her mother without being asked could be interpreted as meaning she wanted to talk about her past.

Though it was a little ambiguous.

So Anagin simply asked her outright.

"A little."

"Huh.... You really do whatever you want, don't you?"

"I've been spending too much time with you, Brother."

"What do you mean by that?"

"What do you think I mean?"

Sphinx smiled faintly and refused to back down even a little.

Compared to the expression she wore when she first mentioned her mother, she looked much better.

"Well, fine. Then just answer whatever you want to answer."

"Answer?"

"I'm going to ask you some questions now. Don't blame me, you brought this up yourself."

Anagin naturally shifted the responsibility onto Sphinx, but instead of objecting, she actually seemed to welcome it. Apparently, this was more comfortable for her.

"Alright, what do you want to ask?"

"Are you really a princess?"

Anagin brought up the title Aesop had used for Sphinx and decided to clear it up first. Because.......

"Everyone and their dog keeps getting called a princess. Is being a princess really that common?"

"You could've just kept that thought to yourself."

"Then you wouldn't have heard it."

Declaring that he had done it openly just to tease her, Anagin ladled more stew into his bowl.

Sphinx glared at him as if he were being insufferable before finally answering.

"Haah.... If you're asking whether I'm a princess, then yes, I am. I don't have a beautiful castle or subjects who respect and love me, but my mother is called a queen. The Queen of Monsters."

The Queen of Monsters.......

It was an impressive title, but Anagin simply scooped up another spoonful of stew without showing much reaction.

Maybe it was because he'd recently met a god and even the leader of the Barbaroi Cult, but hearing the title Queen of Monsters no longer stirred him much.

Perhaps it was like how, after meeting a king, his ministers no longer seemed all that impressive.

In any case.

Sphinx introduced her mother as the Queen of Monsters. Then she added an explanation.

"Ah, that doesn't mean my mother literally rules over every monster. 'Queen' is more of a symbolic title."

"So the monsters don't really listen to your mother?"

"That's...... not exactly true either. Monsters follow the law of the strong. If someone stronger gives them an order, they'll most likely obey in order to survive."

Her explanation wavered a bit, but Anagin understood the general idea.

It seemed enough to think of her as a monster powerful enough to be called a queen. There was one thing that still bothered him, but he decided to ask about it later.

"So your mother could come to drag you back home?"

"I didn't run away."

"You definitely did. Kids who run away always say they didn't."

"......."

For the first time in a while, Sphinx couldn't come up with a rebuttal and simply glared at Anagin.

After glaring at him for a moment, she pretended to ignore him and continued.

"...Mother probably won't come herself. She doesn't like leaving home. But she might send one of my older brothers or sisters instead."

"You have siblings?"

"Of course. Quite a lot."

Anagin suddenly found himself wanting to see what those siblings looked like.

He was simply curious.

Perhaps sensing what he was thinking, Sphinx asked suspiciously,

"What are you thinking about?"

"Ah, nothing much. I was just wondering if they're strong. Seeing how scared you are."

"I'm not scared....... But they are strong."

"Really?"

"Yeah. My mother's children, including me, are called purebloods. We weren't turned into monsters later in life—we were born as monsters."

"Hoh.... I have a question."

"You want to know who they are?"

For once, Sphinx guessed completely wrong.

"No. I don't care about people I may never even meet. If I do meet them, you can explain then."

"Then what were you going to ask?"

"It seems like you've been away from home for quite a while. So why were you fine all this time, but now you're suddenly acting like this?"

"That's... kind of complicated to explain. My mother can be rather unpredictable."

Anagin flinched for a moment. Even he felt uncomfortable speaking badly about someone else's parent. Of course, if they were an enemy, that would be a different story.

"You could call it mood swings. Her feelings are always changing. Sometimes she's gentle, but other times she's... rather irritable."

Not having anything particularly comforting to say, Anagin simply murmured,

"Hmm......."

"Until now, she didn't seem to care that I'd disappeared. But if Aesop goes and tells her about me, things might change."

Anagin raised his hand again.

"Speaking of that, one more question."

"Go ahead, Brother."

"I don't want to nitpick little things like this, but it keeps bothering me. Your mother's called the Queen of Monsters, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then why does Aesop call her the Queen Consort?"

A queen and a queen consort. Aside from both being women, they were worlds apart.

Sphinx seemed to agree, because after thinking for a moment, she answered.

"......Honestly, I don't know either."

"You don't know?"

"Yeah. I've only heard Aesop visit from time to time and call my mother the Queen Consort. I was curious why he called her that instead of the Queen, but I was too scared to ask my mother, and Aesop would always just laugh it off, so I never found out."

He still didn't know why Aesop called her the Queen Consort.

But he had learned something else instead.

Aesop and Sphinx's mother had been in contact for quite a long time—and on a regular basis.

What kind of relationship could exist between monsters and the Barbaroi Cult?

It certainly wasn't impossible.

Even ordinary priests ended up with twisted bodies, and bishops transformed into beings that could rival monsters in appearance.

Of course, Anagin didn't ask Sphinx about that.

It would've been an awkward question.

Instead, he asked something more productive.

"Alright, I get it. So your older brothers or sisters might come to take you back, and since you don't want to go willingly, you want to become stronger?"

"I told you, I didn't run away.... But other than that, yes."

"So how do you get stronger?"

"By using Spirit-Form Manifestation (魂體化) with you, syncing our teamwork, and fighting together."

"Really?"

"A familiar contract isn't only beneficial for the master. It depends on the type of contract, but the familiar benefits from it too."

Even though it was something he'd never heard before, Anagin found it believable. A system like this would be difficult to maintain unless both sides benefited.

"I can grow stronger as my master grows."

"Oh, that's interesting. I'm curious how it works. Do we share merit?"

"I don't know the details either. But I'm not draining your growth. So—"

"Got it."

Just as Sphinx was putting more conviction into her voice to persuade him, Anagin cut her off and simply said he understood.

"...You're okay with it?"

"Why wouldn't I be? This whole thing only started because of your help. And you said you're not taking my growth away."

"Yeah."

"Then that's settled. Besides, even if you were taking some of it, how much could you possibly take?"

"......Hmph. You're awfully confident. One day, that's going to come back and bite you."

"It's fine. Even if I get hurt, I'll recover and become even better-looking.... Let's eat, clean up afterward, and go practice right away. I have something I want to try too."

Anagin filled his bowl with stew once more, looking eager.

Pleased by his attitude, Sphinx nodded.

"Ah, but remember this."

"What?"

"Even if it's your older brothers or sisters. I won't go easy on them."

"......."

"I'm going to ask you then. Think of an answer."  

"......Alright."

"And one more thing."

"What?"

"After we eat, you're cleaning everything up by yourself. Don't expect me to help."

"......."

* * *

After (Sphinx alone) finished cleaning up after the meal.

Anagin resumed practicing magic with Sphinx through Spirit-Form Manifestation.

Just like they had back at the fishing village.

However, there was one difference this time.

"Pinku-Pinku. This time, I'll explain the magic I want to use, so adjust to me."

[Brother?]

At the fishing village, Sphinx had taken the lead during their magic training, but this time, Anagin declared that he would be leading.

After a brief moment of surprise, Sphinx agreed. In the first place, Anagin taking the initiative was something they had to work on eventually.

[What kind of magic are you planning to use?]

"I want to use magic that covers our weaknesses."

[Our weaknesses?]

"Both you and I already have high firepower and wide-area attacks anyway. So I want to use magic that can precisely strike a specific target."

[For example?]

"Like using wind to control the trajectory of the feathers and stones I throw."

Anagin took out the wing guards wrapped around his forearms, along with the sling he hadn't used in quite some time.

"I noticed that when you launch your feathers, some of them slip past defenses and pierce the enemy. I used that as inspiration."

[I get the general idea. But I'm not sure it'll be easy. The more precise the magic, the harder it is to master. In a way, magic that simply pours in raw power is actually easier.]

It was far too difficult a spell for someone like Anagin, who hadn't managed to get the hang of magic during their earlier practice.

Even so, Anagin insisted they give it a try. There was nothing to lose by attempting it.

Besides, he had gained confidence.

After receiving the subordinate woman's blessing and controlling seawater, he had finally started to get a feel for it.

And that confidence...

[Huh?]

...wasn't baseless confidence at all.

* * *

To Sphinx's astonishment, Anagin had become incomparably more proficient with magic than before.

Even taking into account that he was borrowing Sphinx's magic through Spirit-Form Manifestation.

It felt as though the blessing had awakened a talent that had been dormant all along.

'Or maybe blessings and magic are fundamentally the same thing.'

Anagin thought to himself as he practiced magic alongside Sphinx.

After all, using magic with the same sensation as using a blessing wasn't particularly difficult.

Still, he chose not to say that out loud.

Their training had finally picked up momentum, and he didn't want to interrupt it. He figured it would be more efficient to bring it up later when they had time.

Stopping their practice over something like that would only be a waste.

[Oh, I'm starting to see the direction now. Use the feathers against groups of enemies at close range, and the sling against enemies farther away.]

"You seem pretty happy."

"I really enjoy learning magic. Besides, I can use this spell too. Aren't you happy? You finally managed to use the magic you were struggling with."

"I am, but I'm thinking it's about time we practiced something else."

As he spoke, Anagin ran a hand over the Beast Devourer hanging from his waist.

[Already have something in mind?]

"At least a little."

Anagin began explaining his idea, and Sphinx listened with obvious interest before offering her own thoughts.

For someone who claimed she hated fighting, she was surprisingly enthusiastic.

'Well, I guess she just enjoys talking about this sort of thing.'

Anagin and Sphinx exchanged ideas, filling in the weak points and trimming away the unnecessary ones until their direction became much clearer.

Then they decided to put it into practice immediately.

[Sorry, Brother. I'm starting to get tired.]

"Then let's head out to the sea and try it there. Who knows? Maybe you'll recover your stamina too."

[...I'm actually curious about that.]

Intrigued, Anagin and Sphinx headed out over the sea and discovered something.

They found that, during Spirit-Form Manifestation, blessings could also be shared.

As the energy of the sea flowed into Sphinx's exhausted body after their training, her stamina gradually recovered.

"I guess it's about time I asked that girl too."

[About what?]

"About the blessing. I only received one blessing, but it comes with way too many abilities. There are things I'm curious about. If she comes tomorrow, I'll ask her."

[Do you think she'll come?]

"What do you mean?"

[You acted like it didn't matter whether she came or not.]

"......Do you think she'd forgive me if I apologized now?"

* * *

Despite Anagin's concerns, the subordinate woman showed up again the following morning.

Specifically, during breakfast.

Seeing her, Anagin silently praised both Sphinx's cooking and his own brilliant decision to have Sphinx do the cooking.

"As expected, I'm a genius. Someone praise me."

"You're so loud, Brother. It's embarrassing, so be quiet."

Even as she coldly told him off, Sphinx skillfully prepared the food and set the plates and bowls before them.

A hearty breakfast of rice porridge with beans, seasoned grilled meat, boiled eggs, and sausages filled the table.

"I always think this, but you eat quite the feast for breakfast."

"If it's too much, just say so. I can—"

"Hands off."

As Anagin reached for the food placed in front of the subordinate woman, she immediately rejected him with a stern expression.

Fortunately, she didn't seem particularly angry with him anymore.

Evidence of that was...

"As soon as we're done eating, we'll do the treatment again today."

She made it clear that she intended to help with Anagin's self-healing.

Fortunately.

Not wanting to waste the opportunity, Anagin immediately made a request.

"Hey, do me a favor."

"That's a pretty rude way to ask for one."

"Oh, most beautiful goddess. Please, I humbly beg you to—"

"That's enough. Stop. You're making me feel worse. What do you want?"

"Explain the blessing you gave me."

"...I suppose it's about time. Fine, I will."

The subordinate woman's brief silence had made Anagin uneasy, but fortunately, she agreed.

For a moment, he'd thought she might refuse.

'Learning through trial and error isn't necessarily bad, but it's way too inefficient....... If I can learn it properly from the start, that's obviously better.'

Things were going better than expected, putting Anagin in a good mood.

However, that mood immediately sank after the subordinate woman's next words.

"Ah, but it won't be me. Hippocampus will teach you."

"Ah, why?"

* * *

Anagin made no effort to hide his displeasure.

The reason was simple.

He hated Horse-head.

"That's exactly why I'm leaving it to him."

As wicked as ever, the subordinate woman said that before calling Horse-head over.

Apparently, he'd been waiting nearby, because the moment she called, he appeared like the wind.

"Hippocampus, you heard me, right? Help him."

"Yes, Princess."

"Is it too late to take back my request?"

"You're not the only one who's unhappy about this, so shut up."

"Ah, damn."

Although Anagin groaned, he still did as he was told.

Together with the subordinate woman, he headed to the middle of the sea and, following her advice, began using the sea's power to heal his body.

Just as usual.

"Now then, let me tell you about the Blessing of the Sea bestowed upon you by the Princess."

The only difference was that, instead of focusing entirely on his recovery, Horse-head kept talking nonstop beside him.

"As the name suggests, the Blessing of the Sea encompasses the sea as a whole. Though I'm sure you already know that."

Just as Horse-head had said, Anagin had already grasped several of the blessing's abilities.

The ability to heal by drawing upon the sea's power.

The ability to strengthen his body with the sea's power.

And beyond that, the ability to forge seawater into weapons, walk on water, and even breathe underwater.

"However, that's not the end of it. There are many other abilities as well."

"Such as?"

"There's no point in me explaining every single one. They only have meaning if you awaken them yourself."

At first, Anagin wondered if Horse-head was simply being lazy and brushing him off.

But after giving it some thought, he decided that probably wasn't the case.

Even though Horse-head constantly grumbled, he always carried out the subordinate woman's orders diligently.

"So what you're saying is... once I become more familiar with the blessing, I'll naturally discover them myself?"

"Correct."

"Huh. I really did hit the jackpot."

Anagin muttered in admiration.

Out of every blessing he'd seen so far, his own honestly seemed like the best.

Which also made him a little worried.

Is it really okay for her to hand out a blessing like this so casually?

When he asked Horse-head about it, the creature simply remained silent.

"Well, whatever. I get the general idea. Instead of focusing on what I can do with seawater, I should focus on controlling the seawater itself."

"I sincerely hope you master it well."

It was an unusually gentle tone coming from the normally abrasive Horse-head.

Anagin sensed that something was off, but he didn't bother dwelling on it.

He already had enough things demanding his attention.

After gaining a better understanding of the blessing's abilities, Anagin spent the following days immersed in training.

He would return to eat, practice magic with Sphinx, then repeat the routine the next day.

Breakfast.

Self-healing out at sea.

Practicing the blessing.

And asking questions whenever something came to mind.

"Can this blessing work with ordinary water too?"

"It can, but the efficiency drops."

"Ah, damn."

One day passed.

Then another.

Before long, Anagin's body had fully recovered.

Perhaps because he'd suffered such severe injuries before healing, he felt as though he'd grown slightly taller and broader.

Not that he had actually grown.

It was simply the feeling that he had.

"So, you're leaving now?"

Having transformed into her human form, the subordinate woman asked.

Anagin nodded.

"Yeah. It's about time."

"When are you leaving?"

"Right now."

A very Anagin-like answer.

The moment he finished what he came to do, he intended to leave.

The subordinate woman, who had thought she'd grown accustomed to him, found herself caught off guard once again.

Though she quickly regained her composure.

"That's a shame."

"Why? Got something to say?"

"Yeah. I do."

Anagin paused.

There was something about her tone that caught his attention.

It didn't sound like she was making casual conversation.

"What is it?"

"Do you remember the plague that swept through your hometown?"

"...Why?"

"I think I know what that plague really was."

"............Oh."

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