Chapter 42
Chapter 42
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Magic Power Revealed
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The cold dawn air made Rachel's eyes open on their own.
The stone of the pit had cooled and was no longer warm like before, and the people who should have been on either side were gone.
Rubbing her eyes as she sat up, she saw Henri and Enoch huddled together, whispering about something.
"You're awake?"
Enoch, sensing Rachel's presence, greeted her first. Rachel nodded with half-closed eyes.
"What are you two doing?"
As she asked and got up, she spotted a bird perched on Henri's shoulder.
It was the same bird that had startled her back at the inn by tapping on the window.
Rachel could guess what had happened.
"A summoning paper."
The news of the crown prince's death must have arrived with it. Rachel draped the cloak she had used as a blanket over her shoulders and headed for the carriage.
"We're in a hurry, right? I'll skip breakfast."
For Rachel, sleep was more important than food. She made up for the lost rest in the carriage.
Then, jolting sensations woke her again. Her body felt uncomfortable, but her mind was refreshingly clear.
'Solid yet cozy.'
Half-asleep, Rachel groped at whatever she was using as a pillow. It was firm and sturdy, drawing her hand to it instinctively.
"That's not good."
A troubled voice came from above. Rachel opened her eyes.
"Uh, I mean."
She saw her own hand. It was gripping the pillow—which turned out to be Enoch's thigh.
Rachel's head turned. Lifting her gaze, her eyes met Enoch's.
"Sleep well?"
"Eek!"
Only then did Rachel realize she had been fondling Enoch's thigh. She tried to lift her head in a hurry, but it bumped into Enoch's forehead. Her head settled back onto his thigh.
Unlike Rachel, who cried out from the pain in her forehead, Enoch suppressed his voice.
"I'm sorry!"
"It's fine."
But when he removed his hand from his forehead, the reddened skin was revealed.
"Are you okay, Rachel?"
"I keep realizing it every time, but your heart is angelic...!"
"Pardon?"
Perhaps because she had just woken up, Rachel blurted out her inner thoughts. She hurriedly covered her mouth and shook her head vigorously.
Enoch placed his hand on Rachel's forehead.
A warm energy flowed in, easing the pain.
"Better now?"
"Yes. Thank you. Heal yourself too, Enoch."
"Got it."
Rachel slowly raised her upper body again. But Henri was watching them with a peculiar look.
"Youth, huh."
"It's youth, right? It's spring, after all."
Rachel knew what Henri meant but played it off innocently.
Rachel poked her head out the carriage window for a moment. Sunlight pouring through the trees was warm, and the weather was wonderfully mild.
'Somehow, I feel like things will work out well this time.'
After basking in the breeze for a while, Rachel remembered what she had meant to do.
'Check the status window!'
In the 19th round, things had escalated too quickly, and she had forgotten to check it.
Rachel pulled away from the window and sat down. Her heart suddenly pounded. She shouted inwardly.
'Status window!'
[◈ Rachel Emporus
Title: Witch of the 13th Month
Attribute: Darkness
Abnormal Status: Curse of Death
Applied Effects: Regression, Amplification, Witch's Arrangement, Divine Blessing, *****
HP ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
MP ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
SP ▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅
◈ Stats
Stamina: 5
Magic Power: 10(-90)
Mental Strength: 6
Strength: 3
Agility: 8
Physical Defense: 0(-2)
Magic Resistance: 0(-10)
Attribute Power: 10]
Rachel was momentarily dumbfounded.
The status window's format was familiar. Different from the original game's, but common in many games.
However, some stats were unlike anything she'd seen in the Talent Retention System.
'Magic power? A magic power stat?'
Moreover, the values were blatantly abnormal. She had never raised it once, yet it was double her stamina.
With -90 in parentheses, it meant the original was 100.
High magic power usually meant talent for magic. In game terms, it was like swinging a sword as a mage character.
'So that's what Abyss meant when he said he's sensitive to magic power!'
She should have learned magic. Rachel clawed at her hair, then examined the status window again.
Attribute was darkness, and one applied effect looked like curse-word censorship or something.
HP, MP, and SP bars existed, but no numerical values; some stats including magic power were reduced to zero.
'What the hell is this? Nerfed because of the abnormal status?'
"Rachel, is something wrong?"
Enoch asked, noticing her ever-changing expression.
Rachel couldn't just say, "My status window is weird," so she made something up.
"What do I need to do to become a mage?"
Mages had vanished long ago, treated as fairy-tale beings now, but a temple fighting black sorcerers might have information.
Henri smiled warmly at Rachel's question.
"You've been acting so mature these past few days, but you're still a child after all. Mages only exist in fairy tales."
Rachel narrowed her eyes at Henri's words.
In the previous round, he had asked if the harpy—who called herself a magic power appraiser—was a mage, yet now he was spouting old tales.
'A guy who knows magic existed through artifacts is saying this.'
He had even dabbled in black magic in the original story. Then Enoch replied.
"Mages do exist."
Blushing under the focused gazes, Enoch continued.
"They just don't show themselves. Records confirm their existence. Of course, it would be hard for Rachel to become one."
"I see."
Enoch had watched over her despite knowing she had no sword talent. For him to say outright it was difficult meant it was.
Rachel hadn't thought learning magic would be easy either. Without the status window's magic power stat, she wouldn't have considered it at all.
'But if I learn it, the status window says I can excel.'
This created yet another reason to seek Abyss's help.
'He hoards artifacts like that; he must know how to learn magic.'
They say dig one well deeply. But wells are like finding veins— if no water, dig elsewhere.
Catching up to her mother, Enoch, or Deyner with her current physical abilities was impossible.
Her defense was 0, too. Brushing a blade in close combat with the able-bodied meant high regression odds.
'Yeah, enough to protect myself, so the effort isn't wasted.'
Rachel decided to investigate magic based on the stats.
Knowing her status objectively was a good experience.
'No regrets for not trying sooner; lucky to learn now.'
She thought the status window away, and it vanished.
***
They switched to a capital-bound carriage in a village en route and arrived in the capital after two more days.
Henri had expected the kids to be amazed, but both Enoch and Rachel reacted indifferently to the bustling streets.
"It's your first time in the capital, isn't it? Not exciting?"
"Places where people live are all the same."
"Not my first time."
"I see."
Rachel sighed looking at the beautiful Flora House. Henri's filthy room came to mind.
"Enoch, steel yourself."
Enoch only showed slight puzzlement at Rachel's warning. When they passed the hall and opened Henri's door, he gave an awkward, troubled smile. More nonchalant than expected.
Rachel looked up at Enoch behind her and tilted her head.
"The room's this messy, and you're not surprised?"
"Helping the needy, you see worse environments. Luckily, no bad smell."
The temple does regular volunteer work. Enoch, who had followed Priestess Peace on many, joked lightly.
"Yeah, life happens; it can get this dirty."
Rachel noticed Enoch was being considerate, but Henri brushed it off casually.
'Dad, you're really oblivious.'
"Then I'll head to the palace. Wash up and rest."
He tossed his outer coat onto a chest and said. But this place was hardly restful.
"Rest? We need to clean first."
"No need for a guide?"
"Yes. Probably no one around; I'll wander and figure it out."
"Alright."
As soon as Henri left, Rachel set down her bag and rolled up her sleeves.
As she flung open the window, Enoch rolled up his priest robes' sleeves and fetched a large sack.
"Let's tidy up!"
Rachel and Enoch worked in perfect sync. Unlike Henri, Enoch was diligent and clean.
"Enoch, you seem used to cleaning."
"Temples are lived-in places too."
"So this isn't?"
"That's not what I...!"
Rachel teased Enoch lightly and continued cleaning.
Doing alone before was tough; together, it was easy.
'Found it!'
While cleaning, Rachel found what she was looking for.
A card with a papyrus drawing—Daimon's invitation. Not sure if needed, but she pocketed it.
Henri, fresh from washing, stopped by midway. Seeing the half-cleared floor, he rummaged in his pocket.
"Good work. Buy something tasty for lunch."
He handed Rachel a silver coin and left immediately.
"Have a good trip."
Perhaps because of the farewell on his way out, Henri's face looked bright leaving Flora House.
They saw him off and finished cleaning.
The sack too heavy to push alone before, Enoch now lifted effortlessly outside.
"Thanks! I'd be in trouble without you."
"Not a big deal. Let's eat once done."
"Stuff cleared, rest is quick!"
The blanket she shook alone before, they shook from both ends and finished fast.
Enoch, taller, reached the ceiling cobwebs Rachel couldn't.
Rachel fetched broom and mop; together they swept and mopped the floor. Cleaning was done before they knew.
"Cleaning done!"
Outside the window was still bright. Before, one cleaning took all day; now, half that time or less.
"Together, it's fast. Alone, it'd take forever!"
Spoken from experience. Rachel's joy made Enoch smile.
"You're cute."
"Me, cute?"
Rachel said cutely on purpose; Enoch smiled lightly without closing his mouth.
Expecting shyness, but his fond look disappointed her.
"No blushing now?"
"You're enjoying my reactions outright."
"Of course, your reactions are great. Hate it?"
"No. Thinking of it as friends makes it fun."
When she wanted blush, he was calm—then he smiled and flushed. Seeing his pink cheeks, Rachel fanned herself.
'Coming at me like that suddenly...'
Before, his pretty-boy face was just beautiful. Now, for some reason, it stirred her heart.
"Bit hot. Messy from cleaning; let's wash."
Rachel turned to hide her flushed cheeks.
Pretending to rummage for clothes, she glanced; Enoch was pulling out his too.
"Bathhouse first."
"I know where."
"First time here, right? Your ability?"
Enoch reacted strongly, knowing Rachel's visions were limited to ominous futures.