Volume 7, Chapter 55 – Parallel Strategies

However, Claire wore an unconvinced expression. She set down her fork, first glanced at Anastasia behind her who was brewing tea with a silver pot and dried petals, then lowered her voice.

“This doesn’t seem like you.”

“What doesn’t seem like me?”

“The little Fia I know would surely spare no effort to get Anastasia back. Before, you said raising her tier was to strengthen the connection and speed up Ana’s return. Suddenly stopping now seems strange, doesn’t it?”

“I have my considerations too. What if Anastasia’s strength grows too fast before I can complete the body? Wouldn’t that be terrible?”

Though feeling guilty, Fia forced herself not to look away, meeting Claire’s searching gaze head-on.

Actually, telling Claire the truth now wouldn’t hurt, but it wasn’t just Claire here; others were present. The dining hall wasn’t the place for secret discussions.

Claire shrugged.

“Is that so? It’s only been three days since starting to raise Ana’s strength. Stopping now, isn’t it too early?”

“Not early at all.”

“I was just asking out of curiosity. If little Fia feels you’re in trouble, you can tell me. I may not look it, but I’m actually quite adept at creating physical bodies. I feel like if I just think carefully, I might remember the body creation method I’ve forgotten.”

Claire smiled faintly, her slightly shimmering emerald eyes betraying no hint of her thoughts.

Claire knows how to create bodies, to make vessels for souls?

Fia had never heard Claire mention this.

It felt like Claire was someone who, like herself, had forgotten her past.

I’ll talk to Claire after the meal.

Seeing an opportunity to end the topic, Fia introduced a new one. She stretched her arm forward, and then her forearm vanished into thin air as if swallowed by the void, leaving only a palm-sized black hole. The sight immediately made Liti, who had been eavesdropping with pricked ears, widen her eyes.

“Is that storage magic? Didn’t you always use the spatial backpack Claire gave you to carry things?”

“Mhm, I mastered it yesterday when Ana and I went down into The Abyss to test [Blessing of the Mother Goddess]. ‘Mastered’ is a big word; it was just a few chants.”

Until now, Fia had always used storage items, not storage magic like Liti or Claire. But as the things she needed to carry increased, the initial spatial backpack Claire gave her had become too cramped.

As for storage magic, a 4th-tier storage spell could create a 15x15x15 space. Enhanced by [Hyper-computation], it became a seemingly endless size. This also meant if Fia tossed things haphazardly into the storage space, she might have trouble finding them quickly due to its vastness.

“Hmph, mere child’s play. I mastered it millennia ago.”

After Fia finished speaking, an impolite snort came from a corner of the table. It was Helian, forcibly dressed in a maid’s short skirt and sitting farther away. The moment she spoke, Colita, standing guard beside her, kicked her. Helian, who had just been arrogant, instantly twitched her facial muscles, her expression lingering with fear as if recalling psychological trauma.

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Fia couldn’t help but click her tongue. She hadn’t invited Helian here to bond, but to ask questions.

“Living for thousands of years yet still making childish, sulky remarks—who’s naive here? I didn’t invite you to be a guest. Mind your status.”

Helian’s face changed, but she wasn’t provoked. She still wore an impatient look, her words barbed.

“Do you want me to praise you? Look at your actions. The Chaos haven’t realized the second chasm lacks the World Tree barrier yet, and you keep provoking them. If Chaos climbs out of the chasm, how will you take responsibility? Treating the lives of all beings on the World Tree continent as a game?”

“And if we don’t provoke them, they won’t climb up?”

Not wanting to argue, Fia used a [Spatial Hand] to pull a gelatinous mass from her storage magic. Over time, the originally cloudy white eyeball had turned gray-white. She extended it towards Helian, asking expressionlessly.

“Do you recognize this?”

“What is it?”

The reply came too quickly, making Fia doubt if Helian had even looked. She frowned, looking at Helian.

“You don’t recognize it? I encountered the individually powerful Chaos you mentioned. They were indeed strong, but only that. This eyeball is similar to a magic core to them. Once it’s destroyed, they become ordinary Chaos. Aren’t you the Sovereign’s close confidant? How come you don’t know this?”

“No. I’ve never seen such a thing, nor do I know what eyes you’re talking about.”

Helian ignored the sarcasm. Her expression solemn, she leaned forward for a closer look. But just as she reached out, Fia stopped her.

“Don’t touch it. The eyeball contains mana approaching the ninth tier. You’re just a puppet now; touching it will melt you.”

“Ninth tier…” A low wail escaped Helian’s throat. She leaned her head back, her eyes becoming complex. After a long moment, she spoke, “Your strength is indeed formidable, beyond my imagination.”

Though praised, the gravity in Helian’s expression did not diminish, her gaze fixed on the gray-white gelatinous object.

“I need to revise my opinion. I always considered you the culprit accelerating the Chaos erosion. Now it seems, your sudden appearance on the World Tree continent might be this world’s luck—enough nonsense. Although I’ve served by the Sovereign’s side for many years, I’ve truly never seen the Chaos you describe. Can you describe them more profoundly? I need to inquire with the Sovereign.”

“Fine.”

The Sovereign currently considered Chaos an enemy; they were all in the same boat.

Fia described the deep blue antlers on the Chaos’s heads and the massive eye occupying half their faces, especially their ability to use Faith magic to inflict minor damage on her and their use of Ancient Elvish to communicate.

The more Fia spoke, the worse Helian’s complexion became, eventually turning into an alarmed and terrible expression.

“The Chaos you describe are completely different from the individuals I’ve seen.”

“Even their strength differs?”

“If even you can be injured, the current Chaos must be far stronger than before. Moreover, the Chaos of ten thousand years ago had no intelligence, let alone using Ancient Elvish to converse…” Helian swallowed hard. “While we were resting and recovering, the Chaos were also growing stronger… The individual Chaos of the past were strong, but the Sovereign could easily handle multiple. According to your description, if they can coordinate… we stand no chance.”

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“Is that your view or the Sovereign’s?”

“Mine. But I believe the Sovereign shares it.”

Even if it’s true, don’t say it aloud for everyone to hear. It demoralizes the troops.

Fia subtly raised an eyebrow. Because of Helian’s words, the maids guarding the dining hall one after another showed nervous expressions.

She waved her silver spoon, pretending not to care.

“Those Chaos are targeting Anastasia. Perhaps even among Chaos, those antlered ones are special existences. Until we investigate their true nature, don’t dampen the morale of our own side—can you disclose how much power the Sovereign has accumulated to counter Chaos? Don’t tell me you’ve put all your resources into turning yourselves into Chaos too.”

“No comment.”

The tone was very resolute.

Helian merely acknowledged her strength; she hadn’t accepted Fia as a collaborator yet.

Even if Helian wanted to cooperate, Fia would have to weigh it against the people she had killed. If the Helian before her were her true self and not a puppet, this conversation wouldn’t be happening at all.

Fia waved at Colita, signaling to take Helian away. Simultaneously, Anastasia, seeing the conversation end, brought the flower tea to everyone.

It still carried the fragrance of honey’s sweetness and a faint floral scent. The clear orange-yellow liquid was appetizing. Learning from past lessons, Anastasia served tea to everyone, avoiding any abruptness.

“Your Highness, please.”

“Thank you.”

Fia smiled, accepting the honey-sweetened tea. But before she could bring the cup to her lips, her peripheral vision caught Liti and Claire, who had taken a sip first. They both looked into their cups, eyes filled with surprise.

“It tastes a bit bitter… or astringent?” Liti whispered hesitantly, careful of Anastasia’s feelings, doubting her own taste buds.

Anastasia, about to sit down, immediately widened her eyes.

“Bitter? The process today was the same as the past few days.”

While they spoke, Fia also took a small sip.

Indeed, as Liti said, though the honey’s sweetness was there, once it faded, only a bitterness remained, as if chewing dried leaves. None of the fragrance or trace of sweetness from the base of the tongue from days past.

“Ana, why don’t you taste it too?”

“Alright… Hmm, there really is a bitter taste that shouldn’t be there. Maybe it steeped too long? But the steeping time today wasn’t extended. Even with a slight deviation, the taste shouldn’t differ this much. Could it be the petals? I’ll go get a new bag.”

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“It’s fine really. Even if Ana’s tea is a little bitter, it’s still much better than what others brew.”

As she spoke, Liti lifted her cup and took a gulp, her snow-white neck dazzling.

“Ana, sit down and eat first. You still need to cooperate with little Fia in studying Faith magic later.”

“Uh…”

Mentioning Faith magic, especially by Claire, instantly made Anastasia blush, her movements stiffening with awkwardness.

She couldn’t very well say that yesterday, by having Fia touch her chest, Fia had mastered [Sacred Relic Analysis]. After all, Claire was the rightful fiancée, the future Imperial Empress of Silvar. Saying such things in front of the legal wife was far too bold.

“What’s wrong? Your face is all red. Did you and little Fia do something shady?”

If Claire weren’t separated from Anastasia by Fia, she’d probably have nudged Anastasia playfully with her shoulder.

So wicked.

Anastasia stammered.

“N-no such thing. Lady Claire, you are the future Empress. How can you make such jokes…”

“Really? But I’ve always told Anastasia that I hope you—hmm? Anastasia?”

The playful tone instantly turned tense. Claire immediately rose from her chair, the wooden legs scraping harshly on the floor.

In that split second, Anastasia’s eyes lost focus, and her body swayed slightly. Fortunately, she instantly recovered. If Claire hadn’t been looking directly at her while speaking, she might not have noticed the abnormality.

Standing abruptly, Claire was slightly stunned. Her emerald eyes flashed with contemplation, her gaze slowly turning toward Fia. Then, as if realizing something, her expression became complex.

No wonder she stopped raising her strength. So that’s how it is.

“Lady Claire…”

Not only Anastasia looked puzzled, but Liti, Milu, and the other maids in the hall also tilted their heads, showing an uncomprehending look.

“It’s nothing. I just suddenly remembered something. I need to return to my room.”

Simultaneously, Fia also set down her fork. She picked up a napkin to wipe the corner of her mouth, her cold face betraying no inner thoughts.

“I’ll go with Claire.”

With that, the two bid farewell to those at the table and left the dining hall together.

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The walk was silent.

Traversing the deathly silent bright corridor, Fia and Claire coincidentally arrived at the magic testing ground on the second floor of the Twilight Flower Palace. It was exceptionally spacious; even the tap-tap of footsteps echoed clearly.

Seeming to think it sufficient, Claire, who was ahead, turned around. She sighed softly as if she had already guessed the truth. Though her voice was low, it felt extremely heavy to Fia.

“So, Ana is about to switch back again, which is why Fia stopped raising her level and rushed out so hurriedly last night? This morning, I saw Royal Guards moving crates into the palace. Those were materials for creating the body, right?”

“Mhm. The exchange has already begun.”

Unable to avoid this question, Fia slightly shifted her gaze. Telling Claire was fine; in fact, she should seek Claire’s advice.

“Claire noticed it too, right? Anastasia’s occasional lapses in concentration. It’s more frequent today than yesterday. I don’t know if it’s due to her strength growth or because souls naturally slowly return over time. In any case, the exchange is happening. Fortunately, it’s not as sudden as the first time; we still have some time.”

“Judging by this, little Fia realized it herself, not because Ana told you the exchange started, did she?… Hiding her own condition suits her personality. As expected, no matter which world’s Ana, she would sacrifice herself for you.”

Fia didn’t respond. Claire sucked in a breath after a moment of silence.

“If little Fia isn’t confident, I have a second method. I recall telling you before about the story from my world—how the being called the Earthly Demon Lord there, to dispel loneliness, used one of his own ribs as a basis to create his own flesh and blood. Perhaps because I have some connection to that Demon Lord, or maybe because magic is widespread in that world, I also have that spell’s memory.” ¹ no way…. Liaaaaaaa waaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh TvT i’m crying TVTVTTVTVTVTVTVTVVTVT sudden reveal waaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa i miss them already TvT

“You and Ana are sisters. The success probability should be higher between those of the same bloodline. Anastasia isn’t yet 6th tier, so it probably wouldn’t require using your rib to that extent. If you think it feasible, I can start preparing now—it’s best if Little Fia’s body creation and my method proceed simultaneously. That way, if one fails, we can use the other.”

“…Does this spell have side effects?”

Having two methods was providing help in an hour of need. The issue was that Claire had long known Fia planned to create a body for Anastasia but hadn’t mentioned it until now, likely because the spell itself had difficult-to-avoid flaws.

Claire let her left hand hang down, her right arm cradling the left. Her stunning face seemed to lack confidence.

“The side effect is that I’ve never used it. So I don’t know if it will succeed, nor the consequences. If during the creation process, the body spontaneously generates its own soul, it would lose its purpose as a vessel, making it impossible for Anastasia to enter—compared to Laplace, I have no successful cases, so don’t place too much reliance on it.”

“Having another method is already a relief. I’m sorry, Claire, for making you go this far for me.”

Fia bowed her head with a sense of guilt. But Claire extended a finger and flicked Fia’s forehead, raising her eyebrows slightly in feigned anger.

“It’s not like I don’t know Anastasia. Is there anything wrong with saving a friend? Apologizing like this makes it seem like Ana and I are strangers. To put it bluntly, we are lovers. Helping one’s lover solve problems is only natural, isn’t it?”

“But…”

“Alright, no more nagging. You should be more resolute. Let’s go bring those body-creation materials up from below. Liti and Milu can keep an eye on Anastasia’s condition. We’ll focus here on creating the vessel for her soul. And, look happier. Don’t always wear that troubled expression. Anastasia wouldn’t want you fidgeting because of her either.”

Stopping Fia, Claire pinched Fia’s face with a smile, then gave Fia’s back a light push, leaving the magic testing ground together.