Chapter 495: Two People, One Umbrella
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 495: Two People, One Umbrella
"So, what do we do now?"
After a fruitless moment of contemplation, Muen turned his gaze toward Celicia.
It couldn't be helped. Although Muen claimed to have reached the pinnacle of mastery when it came to Illumination Spells, the blood of the reckless Campbell clan flowed through his veins. When it came to the broader field of magic, he was utterly out of his depth.
As for Elizabeth’s Alchemy Domain, it could indeed isolate this interference magic. However, once the magic was excluded by the domain, the original caster would be able to clearly sense the "void" left behind—provided they weren't currently preoccupied with something... scandalous.
This was a different approach from typical warning-type magic, but it highlighted the ingenuity of those who had set up these anti-intrusion measures.
Yet, at the same time, it only made one more curious about what was hidden inside.
"Aren't you supposed to be an expert in this area?"
Facing Muen’s plea for help, Celicia merely blinked softly. Her thick, long eyelashes were like frost-covered trees shedding snow—aloof and flawless.
"...My deepest apologies. I shouldn't have been showing off earlier."
Muen’s lips twitched, but his expression quickly turned solemn.
"But Celicia, if you don't help me, I'll be forced to cling to your legs. And I mean that literally!"
As he spoke, Muen actually struck a pose like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey. His target was none other than the long, black-stockinged legs beneath Celicia’s skirt. He looked every bit the rogue, banking on the fact that she wouldn't dare cause a scene here and thus wouldn't resist.
"..."
Celicia lightly pressed a hand to her forehead, a hint of helplessness appearing on her cool, elegant face.
She gently gave the parasol in her hand a slight twirl.
"Here. Hold on."
"Hold on?"
Muen blinked, then immediately reached out and grasped Celicia’s soft, small hand.
Her hand was tiny, delicate, and a bit chilly, but it felt incredibly comfortable to hold.
Holding her hand and leaning in close, Muen could even catch the faint, lingering scent of the girl’s body fragrance.
Celicia’s gaze turned icy.
"I meant hold the handle!"
"Oh, sorry. Misunderstood."
Muen kept a straight face, pretending he really had just made a mistake. His large hand slid upward, gripping the handle just above Celicia’s small hand.
"So, this umbrella really is something unusual, isn't it?"
Muen was asking something he already knew the answer to.
From the first moment he had met Celicia, he had noticed the parasol was out of the ordinary. After all, given Celicia’s personality, even if she were in disguise, she wouldn't go out of her way to carry such a cute, dainty parasol just for show.
The parasol definitely had another purpose.
"It is an Ancient Artifact," Celicia answered.
"Its name is 'Single's Resentment.' It can mask one's aura and is extremely durable, serving as a defensive tool. But its true function is that anyone standing under the umbrella will have their presence completely vanish from the perspective of outsiders."
"Presence... vanish?"
Muen was slightly taken aback. "Presence" wasn't like sight or sound; it was a concept that was difficult to define.
"Exactly. Like this."
Celicia led Muen into the range of the alert formation.
In the distance, the searchlights continued to sweep back and forth, leaving no area of the darkness unchecked. After a moment, a beam of brilliant light shone directly onto the two of them.
Without a doubt, this was a level of exposure that any sentry should have noticed.
However, before long, the beam naturally moved away. It was as if, in the sentry's vision, no one had been standing there at all—not even a hint of an anomaly.
"Incredible..."
Realizing the sheer power of this Ancient Artifact, Muen couldn't help but praise it aloud.
To be seen, heard, and sensed, yet have one's existence subconsciously ignored—this was far more sophisticated than any mere cloaking magic.
"It even fools magic?"
"Don't you have your own ways of bypassing warning magic? Interference magic and warning magic can't be used simultaneously."
"Understood. But 'Single's Resentment'? What kind of ridiculous name is that? And I've heard that Ancient Artifacts almost always have side effects. This umbrella wouldn't happen to have one, would it?" Muen asked, his eyes narrowing suddenly.
"..."
Celicia remained silent for a moment, turning her small head away. "I'm not sure about the origin of the name, of course. But as for side effects... there is one."
"Wh-what is it? It's not one of those terrifying ones, is it?"
Muen’s eyes widened. A certain case of PTSD, born from being screwed over too many times, showed signs of flaring up again.
"Relax. Most high-danger Ancient Artifacts have been sealed away. The side effect of this umbrella isn't severe. It's just that when it's activated, your heart rate increases slightly."
"What?"
Muen froze, thinking he had misheard.
"I said, your heart starts racing," Celicia repeated coldly.
However, before her voice had even faded, Muen’s expression shifted abruptly.
Suddenly, he felt his heart begin to beat rapidly. He hadn't been exercising, nor had anything happened to cause a strong emotional surge, yet the thumping from his chest echoed against his eardrums like a small leather drum being struck. Thump-thump, thump-thump.
Muen let out a soft breath, his throat feeling a bit dry.
He glanced sideways at Celicia and noticed a fine layer of perspiration on the tip of her dainty nose—a natural physiological response to an accelerated heart rate.
He wasn't sure if it was because the sound of the heartbeat was too distracting, or if the faint fragrance was too alluring, or if the blood rushing through his body was affecting his perception, but the currently flushed Celicia looked exceptionally captivating in Muen’s eyes, as if she were bathed in a soft, ethereal glow.
Muen swallowed hard. "Is it really just a racing heart?"
"Only a racing heart."
Celicia snapped her head back toward him. Her voice was cold, but the frantic pounding of her heart had caused the ice in her eyes to melt considerably.
Muen estimated it was nearing zero degrees; he wondered when he would get to see her completely "melted" state again—the way she looked when she was truly overcome with emotion.
"Don't overthink it. The side effect of this umbrella is purely physiological. It has no mental influence whatsoever."
"Un... Understood."
"Let's move. We only have ten minutes."
"Ten minutes?"
"It doesn't matter for one person, but if two people use the umbrella at the same time..."
Celicia’s voice turned chillingly cold.
"If you exceed ten minutes, your hearts will burst, and you will die."
Muen: "..."
He understood now why this umbrella was called "Single's Resentment." In the distant past, just how much resentment and bitterness did the creator of this artifact hold toward couples sharing an umbrella to have made something like this?
"Then let's go."
Muen followed Celicia, the two of them huddled under the umbrella as they moved quickly through the guarded area.
"Get closer. The effect only works if you're under the umbrella."
"Right."
Because they were sharing the umbrella, they had to stay very close, their shoulders practically touching.
The girl’s rapid heartbeat and slightly heavy breathing could be felt through the occasional contact of their skin.
Outside was a mix of darkness and light, but inside was a small, undisturbed world of its own.
Muen stole a glance at her. Although the girl still maintained her expressionless, icy facade, who could say for sure that this physiological pounding wouldn't bring about a slight change in her psychological state?
That "single dog" from ancient times... he was actually a pretty great guy.