Chapter 74
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: Reward
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“Last night was enjoyable. Right, Enoch?”
“You mean the conversation was enjoyable, right?!”
I reflexively pulled up the blanket to cover my body.
Just in case, I checked my body again. My lower half was properly clothed. Just as she said, only my upper body was bare.
...And for some reason, Ellis was in her underwear with just a coat draped over her shoulders.
I desperately racked my brain, but nothing unusual came to mind.
Ever since my body had overflowed with mana from overdosing on spirit medicines, I hadn't gotten drunk on ordinary alcohol. But the Fairy's Embrace interfered with my mana circuits, so I did feel a buzz.
Still, we'd just laughed and chatted normally before drifting off to sleep from exhaustion.
“Enoch, I never knew you could make a face like that. If I'd seen it sooner, I would've used it more often.”
“...That might've stopped my heart for good.”
“I'm kidding. Don't worry. Nothing happened like you're imagining. The Fairy's Embrace kicked in with its effects, heating up your body, so I just took off your top.”
“Then why are you dressed like that?”
“Obviously, I was getting up to change. You woke up midway, so I covered up with the coat.”
“I see...”
It wasn't in my memory, but seeing her like that at first made me briefly suspect Ellis.
But of course, Ellis wouldn't do that while I was asleep.
...Though I had no idea why she was leisurely smoking her pipe mid-change.
I let out a deep sigh and lowered the blanket as I sat up.
At the same time, I felt her rather blatant gaze. But it wasn't laced with any particular intent—it was just observational, plain and simple.
“What are you staring at? Is something weird?”
“That pattern. Are you deliberately channeling power right now?”
“Pattern...? Ah.”
Looking down at my upper body at Ellis's words, I finally understood what she meant.
Unlike before, when I had to squeeze out my power, it now surfaced automatically when I drew on my aura. And since I'd been diligently training my aura lately, I'd grown too accustomed to it to notice right away.
Geometric patterns starting from my heart and spreading across my entire body naturally blanketed my torso.
Even though I wasn't actively drawing on my aura or flexing.
Just to check, I suppressed my energy as much as possible, and the patterns faded, returning my skin to normal.
Slowly focusing, I released my energy to a comfortable level, and the patterns subtly reemerged.
“Tch... So this is a side effect.”
My mana was already overflowing, and thanks to Jevella, I'd stuffed myself with spirit medicines until my stomach nearly burst. I'd been thinking my existing mana circuits weren't efficient enough anymore.
Normally, I'd have to spend ages training my aura to expand them, but Ellis's Fairy's Embrace solved it all at once.
But since this growth came from a drug-fueled leap rather than gradual adaptation, maybe that's why.
Control was off. My mana circuits were clearly wider and sturdier now, which was great, but the unfamiliarity made the energy flow uneven and rough.
The energy circulating my body had nearly doubled in a single day, so it was only natural.
“Still, once I get more used to it, it'll be fine.”
“No real issues, then?”
“Yeah. It's just that my body needs time to adjust. Think of it like being constantly on edge until then.”
Eventually, I'd reach a state where the patterns don't show, but it feels like my power is always primed—like now.
I might even instinctively dispel aura or spells to some degree against surprise attacks...
“Hm?”
Thinking about it, isn't this a pretty unique ability?
I'd never delved deep into the reason before. It was just like how I'd gained resistance to dark magic during those human experiments.
It had emerged naturally from clashing with foes hurling aura and spells.
It was necessary and useful, so I used it. That was the extent of it.
Maybe it really was for similar reasons.
Ignis had told me dark magic was just various manas mixed into a black, murky sludge—nothing inherently unique.
Gaining resistance to dark magic would naturally grant resistance to most other mana types.
But that raised a question.
If dark magic was a blend of multiple magics, it should be far harder to resist than any single type.
Pure single-attribute mana might output more raw power, but resistance was a different matter.
If I could resist most single-attribute manas, gaining dark magic resistance would make sense by extension...
...What if it's not the mana?
What if my resistance isn't to the magical properties of dark magic, but to something else embedded within it?
Resistance to the divine power of the God of Tragedy?
It wasn't innate resistance to dark magic from the start. It developed over time, strengthening through battles with dark mages.
A unique power, but acquired rather than congenital.
Then what could enable resistance to something as exalted as divine power?
The answer was simple.
A gift bestowed upon intelligent beings, incomprehensible in reason, principle, or origin—manifesting solely through bloodlines.
A Bloodline Ability.
I couldn't be certain yet... but there's a high chance my mysterious Bloodline Ability is adaptation itself.
I'd uncovered another clue from an unexpected angle.
I lifted my head, which I'd tilted in thought, and spoke.
“Ellis.”
“Yeah. Done thinking?”
“Yeah. You said it'd be fine until the imperial throne contest ends? I have one piece of info I want to know—mind helping?”
“Of course. You know why I named this organization the Ellis 'Family', right?”
Ellis set down her extinguished pipe and approached.
On all fours, crawling across the bed. The coat over her shoulders only covered her back, naturally exposing her underwear-clad figure to my view.
Not flashy, but not plain either.
Elf-like, without much volume, but not lacking presence. Her overall slender lines made those features stand out even more.
This must be what they call slender.
Admiration was admiration, embarrassment was embarrassment, so I subtly scooted back. But just as I was about to ask what she was doing...
Ellis's mouth opened first, her expression utterly serious.
“Enoch, you called us the Orphan Fam, so I did.”
“...What?”
“Orphan's just our common point of dead or abandoned parents... but 'fam' means family. I just extended what you gave me to the others.”
“Ellis...”
“My family is your family too, naturally. Just say the word. If needed, I'll find out what underwear the Emperor's wearing today.”
“...The Emperor's a man right now. And old.”
“But you're actually a Zahav, right?”
“Zahav... what even is that...”
I sighed deeply and shook my head.
“Anyway, not that. There's a house I want you to investigate a bit.”
“Which one?”
“Strictly speaking, not info on a specific house. I want to know which houses match the conditions I'm about to describe.”
I cleared my throat and gathered my thoughts before speaking.
“Adaptation, rejection, evolution, resistance... Find houses with Bloodline Abilities related to those—or similar.”
“Got it. I was planning to scour the entire Empire looking for you anyway... So it's just adding to the task. Shouldn't be hard. Though I can't guarantee we'll find what you want.”
“It's fine. Investigating myself would draw too much attention, and House Zahav lacks intel anyway.”
Aaron the head butler seemed capable in such matters, but individuals and organizations were bound to differ.
Ellis nodded with a bright smile.
“I'll start today.”
“Thanks.”
“No problem. Now, mind turning around for a bit?”
“Huh?”
“Even if we've been inseparable since we were kids, showing you me changing clothes is a bit...”
“Ah.”
I turned away, and the sound of fabric rustling came from behind.
I spotted my own shirt nearby and slipped it on.
Then waited for Ellis to finish changing.
“Oh, Enoch. Mind helping with something?”
“What?”
Like how she'd help me, I'd help her whenever possible, so I turned back.
“Could you zip this up?”
There stood Ellis in a dress—flashy yet surprisingly modest in exposure. A look I'd never seen her in back in Calypso Territory.
It clung a bit to her body, but her slender figure made it suit her perfectly.
Averting my eyes from certain lingering spots, I zipped it up while asking.
Zip.
“What's with the dress all of a sudden?”
“Figured I'd need it soon enough.”
“Hm?”
As I tilted my head, the zipper snagged midway, and I fumbled to fix it.
That's when a polite knock sounded from beyond the firmly shut door.
Knock knock.