Volume 7, Chapter 46 – Crisis and Turning Point

Within one breath after the chant ended, three earth-yellow light spheres, each as large as a fist, appeared in front of Fia. They floated so slowly it seemed they would dissipate with a single puff of air.

[Hyper-computation] rapidly reconstructed [Guidance of the Stone Spirit] in her mind. Simultaneously, three faint wisps of consciousness connected with Fia’s awareness. Just like when using [Telekinesis], she could command the three stone fairies according to her will. However, even when she pushed their speed to the maximum, the light spheres moved no faster than falling leaves.

“Is that [Guidance of the Stone Spirit]? I recall it’s a spell that employs stone fairies to digest earth and rock for tunneling. While the digging speed can’t match a strong adult man, it’s nearly silent and difficult to detect. The user simply mentally directs them, and they’ll keep consuming earth in that direction until they vanish.”

“That’s the one. Back in Aurora City, it was Anastasia who used this magic to dig the tunnel, wasn’t it? Some time ago, I wondered why Anastasia, who was quasi-5th tier then, used only a 2nd-tier spell for tunneling. It wasn’t until I learned it myself that I realized there wasn’t much choice.”

The World Tree continent lacked magic specifically designed for warfare and excavation. Using magic leaves detectable mana traces. Therefore, tunneling spells were typically reserved for mining. For such labor-intensive work, hiring a high-tier caster costs as much as dozens of beastman laborers. Lords naturally chose the more profitable option. Without demand, such magic remained undeveloped.

Watching the stone fairies slowly consuming earth, Anastasia hesitated, her face troubled.

“Your Highness, you don’t intend to have the stone fairies dig a tunnel all the way to the Primordial Continent from here, do you? This subordinate believes carving a path on the cliff face where The Abyss lies would be more practical.”

By the end, Anastasia was cautiously studying Fia’s profile, afraid her words might have been too forward.

Fia waved her hand lightly. “I’ve considered that, of course. But I possess a spell that can enhance others. Once I use [Guidance of the Stone Spirit], a version with stronger effects appears in my mind. Like this.”

Again, at a spot two meters away, Fia raised her hand.

[Guidance of the Stone Spirit]

This time, no fist-sized spheres appeared. The moment the magic activated, a strong wind that tousled Anastasia’s golden hair manifested. Immediately after, a glaring light sphere, two meters in diameter, materialized before them.

The sphere shrank rapidly, transforming into a humanoid figure matching Anastasia’s height, complete with a pair of spread, pale yellow wings. It bore a striking resemblance to the divine angels of Milcandis Holy Kingdom propaganda.

Perhaps it was her imagination, but Anastasia felt the glowing, indistinct figure looked exactly like her—the body’s outline was identical.

“Looks like it worked,” Fia said, clearing her throat with a hint of pride. She mentally commanded the angelic figure to dig downwards. Then, her mood turned somewhat awkward.

Even in human form, the fairy’s tunneling method was the same. To dig faster, it lay prone on the ground. The surrounding earth rapidly dissolved, consumed even beyond direct contact, with an effective radius of about ten meters.

Next time, better not have it take Anastasia’s form. If it started digging with hands and feet, the scene would be terribly embarrassing.

“This… this is the enhanced effect? Your Highness truly lives up to being a 9th-tier, Miracle-level caster,” Anastasia said.

Even as she spoke, Fia detected a hint of something unspoken on her face—a subtle, troubled disagreement.

Reαԁ oո KаtRеаԁіnɡСαfe

She definitely noticed.

Embarrassed, Fia dispelled the magic and recast the [Hyper-computation]-enhanced [Guidance of the Stone Spirit], this time having the fairies dig in their default spherical form. She didn’t plan to finish today; first, she needed to dig down vertically to examine the soil and rock strata.

Excavating an army-scale tunnel was a major undertaking. The slope needed to facilitate troop movement. Reinforcement magic was required to prevent collapses during digging. Issues like water seepage and winter freezing also needed solutions.

More critically, the tunnel wasn’t just a passage. It required pre-allocated spaces for magic traps, rest areas for garrisoned soldiers, and funnel-shaped entrances to force Chaos into disadvantageous engagements. It demanded careful design, something Fia, unfamiliar with the continent’s specifics, had to leave to the Elf Tower and military planners.

Nevertheless, with Chaos approaching, the project couldn’t drag on for years. Secondary functions could be added later. The priority was establishing a safe route to transport soldiers.

For now, she would take Anastasia below to test against Chaos.

◇

A bottomless darkness rose beneath them as the cliff face whipped past. Were it not for the bright blue luminous shield protecting her, the enveloping weightlessness would have surely bred fear.

Realizing this, Anastasia stiffened. A moment later, as if waking from a dream, she raised her right hand and stared at her palm.

My strength has weakened.

Only slightly, but she felt it clearly—this body was weaker than yesterday. Initially, she’d attributed it to fatigue from poor sleep, like missing the comb this morning. But the recent episode of spacing out while walking beside Fia forced a grim realization.

She might fumble objects or feel weak from lack of sleep, but she wouldn’t walk along, utterly failing to hear Fia’s words, as if a chunk of memory had been deleted. She’d come to her senses already moved from one spot to another.

This wasn’t some spell or curse. Her body was changing quietly.

Only one possibility explained it.

The real Anastasia is returning.

Anastasia swallowed hard. Once, she’d desperately wished for the original to return, to end Fia’s pain and the strife her existence caused. But now that day approached, a cold dread seized her, as if invisible hands were dragging her back into the abyss, that desperate pitch-black well.

Rеαԁ оո КatReαdіոgСаfе

I’ve come so close to my dream. I don’t want to go back yet.

At least… at least let me obtain what I desire first. Then I can wait in the well with hope, until this omnipotent, goddess-like girl comes for me again.

Time is running out.

A cloying bitterness spread from her tongue, its intensity nearly twisting her expression.

If you gave me this chance to start over, why take it back so soon?

“Anastasia? Spacing out again?”

“Huh?”

Questioned by the black-haired girl beside her, Anastasia forcibly suppressed her anxiety. She couldn’t tell Fia the truth. Or rather, she already had—she’d lied before, claiming her connection to her other self was strengthening to calm Fia. Now, that lie was becoming reality.

Even as the lie comes true, my heart fills with such reluctance.

“You’re acting very strange today. Is there something else you’re hiding?”

“N-No,” Anastasia answered, her voice trembling.

Lying again.

Her breath hitched, a heavy stone seeming to press on her chest. But without an explanation, Fia would surely press the matter. She forced a smile as best she could.

“I feel the connection to my other self has grown stronger.”

“Stronger again? We haven’t even started today’s hunt.”

“It’s probably the result from the past two days, only manifesting now.”

“Hmm… possible. You hunted three 5th-tier skeleton whales; your mana has grown. A stronger connection makes sense. So the original Anastasia truly is within this body. Good thing I didn’t use the Key of the World Tree back then, or losing memories would have been troublesome. I wouldn’t want her to become unable to recognize me. Hehe, then there’d be two Anastasias. I wonder what this Anastasia would think upon meeting you.”

Fia turned with a smile, but it only made Anastasia’s lips pale as she managed a strained concurrence.

“Th-that’s true. I must apologize properly to her then, for using her body without permission.”

Reаⅾ оո КаtRеaԁiոgСаfe

“Don’t worry. You’re both gentle and considerate. You’d become good friends with similar tastes. Or rather, sisters? Twins?”

“This…”

Anastasia’s gaze shifted. She couldn’t picture herself standing beside her other self. Fortunately, Fia didn’t dwell on it. They continued their descent, surrounded only by the desolate wind.

The same calm held different meanings in their hearts.

After a minute, Anastasia suddenly asked, “The first time we met was in the Barony of Khesa, correct?”

“Yes. Has it been forgotten already after just half a month? You hugged me immediately, then let go, saying I wasn’t me.”

“There was such a past…” Anastasia replied, her eyes shifting away guiltily, her golden hair floating upwards in the descent.

“Back then, I had just arrived in this world, my mind was unclear… Actually, the night before, I was thinking about washing my piled-up clothes tomorrow. I felt bad always having the maid Lady Colita assigned to wash them for me.”

“I remember you said in your world, you could lie in bed all day, too lazy to change. Hard to imagine you being so undisciplined. Didn’t that Anastasia gain weight?” Fia asked with blunt curiosity.

Anastasia wore a pouty, indignant expression. “Your Highness, even out of curiosity, that’s too impolite. How can you ask a lady about her weight? I may not have taken care of myself, but I wasn’t that incompetent. We elves are naturally fair.”

“Anastasia calls herself a ‘lady’ too…”

“Am I not a lady?”

“It’s not about whether you are. The previous Anastasia would never call herself that. Thinking about it, you are more… casual than her. Could it be Anastasia is serious and earnest as my subordinate in front of me, but another person in private? I recall that light green nightgown from our first meeting. It was practically lingerie. Do you have a collection of such things? It makes me wonder about your special interests.”

“That must have happened within this past year! I don’t own such provocative sleepwear. It must be the other me’s taste!”

Is that so? Even though you’d stay up late, burying your nose in my undergarments.

Fia thought it but didn’t say it aloud.

If I weren’t so restrained, I’d have to search your room to see what else you’ve taken.

Silence fell again. Anastasia asked out of the blue, “Actually, what I meant to ask earlier was: before I came here, were there any changes in the other me? Physical abnormalities?”

Rеαⅾ оո ΚаtReаdingСafе

“There were.”

“What were they?” Anastasia asked almost instantly.

Noticing the flicker of surprise in Fia’s eyes, Anastasia realized she’d overreacted. She quickly leaned back, placing a hand over her chest, slowing her tone. “I was merely wondering what caused the me from another world to come here. Honestly, if we might switch back suddenly later, it would have been better never to know this world.”

“Anastasia, you’re overthinking. I won’t let you be switched back. Once we create a vessel capable of housing your soul, we can keep it here permanently. As for the other side, if we find a way back, I’ll go immediately to deal with Chaos.”

“Ah, I haven’t answered your question. Before the transfer, Anastasia would occasionally lose consciousness, even unable to stand, and forget a short period beforehand. If the same happens to you, you must tell me immediately. That’s an order.”

“Yes, your subordinate will remember,” Anastasia said, placing her right hand over her left chest and bowing.

I don’t remember what happened while walking, but everything before is clear.

I really was overthinking.

Dofi is right. Even if the other me is awakening, I needn’t worry excessively. She will master Faith magic in less than five days. Once a new vessel is ready, I should be able to remain, even if she awakens.

This realization eased the suffocating pressure in her chest. She began to imagine the scene of meeting her other self.

I must apologize properly.

If I were in her place, facing my other self stealing Her Highness away, I’d be upset for days, unable to eat, wondering why such misfortune befell me.

Especially being beaten to it by my own other self, having Her Highness’s love taken first.

Anastasia stole a glance at Fia’s profile. The wind rushing up from The Abyss whipped Fia’s jet-black hair wildly, making her cool, beautiful features appear even more striking.

In that case, it’s time to do something lovers would do. I must take the initiative! Even if it’s shameless, I must get ahead of my other self!

But then again, doing intimate things with my other self’s body… does it count for me, or for her?

The profound question left Anastasia stunned, unable to react for a long moment.