Volume 8, Chapter 1 – An Encounter That Began by Chance

Translator Note

the first half of this chapter is the previous chapter, perfectly the same, em just remastered? (idk why) on the original platform, the previous chap is free but the author put it here again on the paid chapter… so, I’ll deduct this chapy cost.

The real vol 8 start when you see this ◇ mark.

also… sighh……… Twilight Palace > twilight palace (aahhh revision TvT)

“So you’re saying… the part that could be called a soul has been preserved in this ring?”

In the bright white dining hall, Fia sat at one side of the table as if attending a family meeting. She raised her right hand and stared at the ruby ring on her little finger. Unlike when she first obtained it, the ring now consumed her mana constantly. Along with that, it radiated a restrained red luster—less dazzling, more dignified.

“Little Fia confirmed it with [Sacred Relic Analysis], and I also sensed the soul inside using my magic. It’s genuine.”

Claire, seated across from Fia, spoke.

Everyone had already finished breakfast. Now they were reviewing Anastasia’s disappearance. The ring on Fia’s hand, which had suddenly begun emitting light, was too unusual to ignore. Naturally, their attention shifted to it.

Fia was certain the ring hadn’t glowed before, nor had it slowly absorbed her mana. This only started after Anastasia vanished last night. If she thought back carefully, she realized Anastasia had actually pointed out the ring was glowing yesterday evening. But at the time, Fia’s attention had been entirely on Anastasia’s rapidly weakening body. She hadn’t noticed the change in the ring.

First, Fia used [Sacred Relic Analysis]. Then Claire probed the ring with her own analytical magic. The result: something that could be called a soul existed inside. Like Anastasia’s soul, it was unstable, in a state of slight fluctuation.

This situation almost confirmed that the previous Anastasia hadn’t returned to her original world. More likely, Anastasia’s soul was meant to swap places, but during the return process, the ring had intervened and taken custody of the soul instead.

Knowing the soul was still here, half of Fia’s unease settled. At least she didn’t have to worry about the other world being swallowed by chaos and everything ending.

“Come to think of it, where exactly did Little Fia get this ring? If you had an item like this, shouldn’t you have told me first?”

“It’s not that I didn’t want to tell Claire. I didn’t know the ring could preserve a soul either. There’s no magical item in this world that can store souls, is there? At least none of the books I’ve read about souls mentioned anything like it. As for where I got the ring… it was a wraith that looked exactly like me. She appeared before me without warning, handed me the ring without a word, and then said something cryptic like ‘We’ll meet again.’ She must have been trying to convey something.”

Fia’s gaze dropped as her eyes lingered on the ring on her right hand.

Since the ring needed to absorb her mana to preserve the soul, she couldn’t store it in a dimensional item or magic. She had to wear it at all times. From now on, she would need to be careful to protect the ring during any action—until she could transfer the soul out of it.

Transfer it out?

Fia’s eyes lit up. She looked at Claire, whose figure had become close to Estelle’s.

“Couldn’t we use [High-Level Genesis] to transfer the soul from the ring into a body? Ah, but Claire’s mana consumption is too high. I could start learning Claire’s magic from scratch and use it myself.”

Claire tapped her chin with her index finger, pondering.

“It’s possible, but that’s no different from gambling. [High-Level Genesis] requires the soul to maintain clear consciousness unless you’re creating life from zero. The soul inside the ring can’t possibly have clear consciousness. No one knows what would happen to the soul after transfer. And how to extract the soul from the ring is another problem—the mana circuits inside a gemstone are very fragile. That said, if we find the person who gave Little Fia the ring, we should get our answers. Next time that wraith who looks like you appears, we must question her.”

Shouldn’t Claire first be wondering what that wraith even was?

But this was a world full of magic. Anything unreasonable was possible. Claire was probably just accustomed to this process.

“Ahh, I see.”

As expected, she couldn’t expect a perfect solution right away.

Though a little disappointed, the feeling wasn’t strong. She understood how difficult this matter was.

It was about time.

Fia cautiously shifted her gaze, observing everyone’s expressions around the table. Lianne’s observation period had ended, and she had returned to the Witch Sanctuary with Friede. So aside from Fia and Claire, only Liti and Milu remained at the table. Anastasia, dressed in a maid outfit, stood behind Fia.

—Fia wanted Anastasia to sit, but Anastasia insisted on standing. At first, Fia thought Anastasia was simply being overly formal, but after carefully observing her expression, she realized Anastasia was being stubborn. Just as the forget-me-not Anastasia always tried to distinguish herself from the Anastasia of this side, the current Anastasia also wanted to set herself apart from the other version.

She put so much effort into things like this.

But that wasn’t what Fia wanted to discuss now.

“Ahem.”

Fia lightly coughed into her right fist, then stood up. Her delicate features were serious.

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“I’ve caused you all a lot of trouble this month and neglected your feelings. I’m truly sorry. From now on, I’ll be mindful of my words and actions.”

With these sincere words, Fia bowed deeply to Claire and the other three.

But both Liti and Milu immediately jumped up from their seats and hurriedly stepped aside.

“No, no. Sister was working hard for Sister Ana, right? Sister Ana isn’t Sister’s Ana alone. You don’t need to apologize. If anything, we’re the ones who should feel bad for not being able to help at all.”

“Yeah, agreed.”

“…Even so, I still have to apologize for what needs apologizing. Otherwise, I won’t be able to sleep or eat in peace.”

Fia smiled helplessly.

Claire, sitting across from her, curved her lips into a gentle, big-sister-like smile.

“From my perspective, as long as Little Fia hasn’t collapsed, that’s what matters. Honestly, I thought it would take at least a few months for you to recover. Now that we’ve confirmed the previous Anastasia wasn’t sent back, what’s next? Just thinking about goals without making concrete plans is useless, you know?”

“I already have a rough idea. But the specifics need to be carefully thought out back in the library. I don’t know yet whether the [Confessional Hall] in the Second Abyss has been completed, or what condition the chaos below is in. Anyway, I want to start with problems that have leads and can be solved. For example, reaching an agreement with the Queen of the Kingdom of Death to ensure the nations on the World Tree continent don’t fight among themselves.”

As for investigating the antler-eyeball chaos or the wraith that looked like her—those had no leads, so she could only wait until she found some.

“You want me to come along?”

“Of course. And not just Claire—Anastasia, Liti, and Milu are all coming. No one knows when those antler chaos might suddenly appear beside any of you. It’s safer to stay by my side than in the palace.”

Additionally, she needed to use transmission magic to notify Estelle. If she could find the Queen of the Kingdom of Death, that connection might help her locate Estelle’s sister, Noreen’s soul, in the boundless Netherworld.

“Then didn’t that make all the effort Sister told me and Milu to put into raising our ranks meaningless?”

Liti, having spotted the flaw, opened her mouth wide, looking dumbfounded.

Fia, in turn, planted her hands on her hips with exaggerated seriousness, putting on her older sister authority.

“How could it be meaningless? Liti is already a fourth-rank magic chanter. Not only can you protect yourself, you’re also more respected. Didn’t you notice? When we returned to the royal castle this time, the way the young nobles looked at you was much more polite.”

“That’s definitely because Sister is so strong. I’m just basking in your glory.”

That was also possible.

But ultimately, raising one’s rank wasn’t a bad thing. If Liti could reach the seventh rank before adulthood, like the eldest princess, she would surely become a magic chanter everyone admired—and not even an elf magic user from the Elf Tower.

Not wanting to dwell on this topic with Liti, Fia informed everyone of her upcoming schedule. First, she would stay in the royal castle to study various types of magic, preparing for all sorts of unfavorable situations that might arise in the future. With her photographic memory, this wouldn’t take long. In fact, the books in the Holy Tree alone might not be enough. After finishing her magical studies, she would set out to find the Queen of the Kingdom of Death.

Sharpening the axe doesn’t delay the chopping. Acting without preparation would only lead to panic in emergencies and end in tragedy. Besides, this wasn’t a solo endeavor—it was a large-scale negotiation between two major organizations.

Having laid out her plans, Fia called Anastasia aside to the library.

Morning sunlight streamed through the windows, illuminating row after row of bookshelves. The scent of piled paper settled one’s emotions.

Fia walked ahead to the library’s only table. She didn’t turn around until Anastasia followed her to the center of the carpet.

Anastasia wasn’t wearing her emerald cloak or her pale purple dress. Instead, she was dressed in a black-and-white maid outfit, complete with a maid hairpin. The low-cut design perfectly accentuated her ample chest, and her exposed snow-white skin constantly drew the eye.

But that tense, nervous expression ruined the aesthetic. She should be more at ease.

Fia smiled helplessly.

“Am I that frightening? Your face is so stiff it doesn’t even look like Anastasia.”

“It’s not…”

Anastasia kept her head down, her gaze wandering over the carpet.

She was anxious.

Fia saw through it. She stepped forward and reached out to take Anastasia’s hand.

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“Don’t keep staring at the floor. Is it because of the memories that suddenly appeared in your head? You think you’ll lose to the other version of yourself, so you’ve been overly cautious?”

“Well…”

Judging by this reaction, she wasn’t wrong.

Fia couldn’t help but let out a long sigh. She wanted to pull Anastasia into a seat, but there was only one chair in the library. In the end, she gave up.

“You’re such a complete idiot. Since Anastasia has the other version’s memories, you must remember what I said. No matter which Anastasia, you’re equally important to me. And also…”

And also, the Anastasia sleeping in the ring had made her realize something. She couldn’t accept Anastasia disappearing. Her feelings for Anastasia were undeniable—a genuine affection that no longer needed time to settle. In fact, the settling had ended long ago. Back in Cold Night, she was only one step away. But she had been indecisive, trapped by the principles she’d formed in that other world. It wasn’t until the swap happened that she finally understood: her feelings for Anastasia could never fade.

From another perspective, if Anastasia weren’t important to her, would she have been so frantic when Anastasia vanished? She should have settled this long ago.

The Anastasia sleeping in the ring had pushed her to take that step.

“And also?”

Anastasia, nervous from having her hand held, stiffened her entire body and timidly asked.

Fia hesitated for a moment, then lowered her voice.

“And also… I’ve realized I can’t be without you.”

Damn it . She’d wanted to say it in a cool, composed way. She never expected it to be this embarrassing once it actually left her mouth.

Fia could hear her own heart pounding. Her cheeks burned. She quickly lowered her head and coughed forcefully to cover her embarrassment.

“Ahem. What I mean is, Anastasia, bend down a little. Crouch.”

Even though Anastasia could sense what Fia was about to do, her body felt beyond her control. Anticipation stirred quietly within her. Almost on its own, she bent her knees until her eyes met Fia’s at the same level.

Then Fia took Anastasia’s face in both hands. Lightly, like a dragonfly skimming water, she brushed her lips against Anastasia’s. She immediately stepped back, shy.

Her gaze slid away, unable to meet Anastasia’s eyes. Her face turned aside, flustered.

“This, um… that makes us even. The Anastasia from that world is important. The Anastasia standing before me is important too. That’s one of the things I wanted to say. There’s no replacing anyone. She is she, and you are you. To put it in a shameless way… you’re both people I love.”

“Ah.”

Anastasia was momentarily stunned. She didn’t know what to say or how to react. She was shocked that Fia had held her face and kissed her. She was also blushing at Fia’s bold confession. As for the shameless words Fia had spoken, she didn’t actually find them improper. If anything, her only concern was what would happen with Claire.

“If there’s something you want to say, say it. No need to hold back.”

Not knowing what Anastasia was thinking, Fia’s tone carried a hint of defeat.

“No, I… your subordinate is very happy… I don’t know what to say…”

“Don’t cry.”

Fia stood on her tiptoes and reached up to wipe the tears from the corners of Anastasia’s eyes.

Anastasia’s eyes widened in surprise. But that only made the tears fall faster.

“Huh? Is your subordinate crying? Th-this shouldn’t be. Your subordinate is only happy. Why would I cry? How unbecoming…”

Even as she said this, Anastasia’s tears flowed even more. She kept wiping them away, yet her gaze remained fixed on Fia, as if she could never look long enough. Only after wiping her eyes three or four times did she venture a timid question.

“What about… what about you? Claire, and the me who disappeared… Your subordinate, truly, just knowing how you feel is enough. You don’t have to tell everyone…”

“Since I’ve said it, I’ll see it through. I’ll explain things to Claire. As for the other Anastasia—what were you trying to say?”

“I thought you might be sad, so I wondered if I should occasionally wear her usual clothes and pretend…”

“Don’t ever do something so unnecessary. You’re two independent people. It’s not a matter of one replacing the other.”

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Her confession to Anastasia now wasn’t entirely unrelated to the Anastasia sleeping in the ring. But the relationship was simply this: the Anastasia in the ring had made her recognize the fact that she loved Anastasia. It had given her the courage to express her feelings.

Embarrassed beyond measure, Fia was forced to turn away. She waved her hand, expression serious.

“So don’t misunderstand. What I said to Anastasia just now wasn’t because I’m conflating the two of you. I said it knowing full well that the Anastasia before me is the Anastasia of this side. I was conveying my feelings to her. Ahh, that was too indirect. I should have been braver.”

Fia turned back, a little awkwardly. She lifted her gaze with effort and looked straight into Anastasia’s blue eyes. Then she took Anastasia’s right hand, removed the cat ring, and spoke slowly, deliberately.

“I love you, Anastasia. Will you accept my feelings?”

As if she had glimpsed something dazzling, Anastasia’s blue eyes opened to their widest. The mist that had just receded returned, faster than before. Even as tears streamed down her face, her smile shone brighter than anything.

“I… would be honored!”

◇

Several days later.

Upon the gray earth—barren, jagged with strange rocks, devoid of any vegetation—a black figure and a blue figure slowly descended to the ground.

Fia released her hands from under Calista’s arms and placed a money pouch into her hands.

“With this, I’ve fulfilled my promise. As for luring the goddess you spoke of into a trap, that will be up to you. If you encounter any difficulties, send a messenger to inform me. I will do everything in my power to help you.”

“I see… Understood. If I have trouble, I will definitely come to you.”

Saying this, Calista—a Stellacryst Beast with ice-colored hair—subtly distanced herself from Fia. Her small movements kept stealing glances at Fia’s profile, as if she were seeing her for the first time.

“What is it? You’re looking at me strangely.”

“Nothing! I was just thinking how kind the elf princess actually is.”

“It’s not like this is our first meeting. You haven’t forgotten who I am, have you? And I recall your hair being ice-blue, not this ice color. I should test you: why did you stay in Cold Night for so long?”

“To buy more cheap magic ore and sell it on the southern continent where magic ore prices are higher.”

“Correct answer.”

But Fia’s suspicion didn’t fade. She and Calista, if not exactly friends, were at least acquaintances. Yet ever since Fia found Calista in Cold Night and, as promised, transported her to the southern Netherworld near Eternal Daylight Mages, Calista had been watching her with unnatural restraint. As if she were seeing something rare, something extraordinary. Granted, Calista did have a shrewd, mischievous personality—but not to the point of acting this way with an acquaintance.

Calista took the money pouch carefully. Fia teased her.

“Come to think of it, aren’t you treating me like a transport carriage? Load all your ore into a storage item, then have me fly from Cold Night to the southern continent at top speed. Saves you a lot of time and cost. You should pay me a transport fee.”

“Then… how much do you want?”

“Huh?”

Was this really Calista?

A large question mark appeared over Fia’s head. The Calista she knew would never part with money so easily, especially when she was only joking.

Had she hit her head? Or had something happened?

“Hey, are you sure you’re all right?”

“There’s nothing wrong. At least, I don’t think so. It might be because the goddess sent me another dream recently. Dreams seem to affect my personality. But this won’t interfere with our agreement. I’ll earn the goddess’s trust and help you lure her out.”

Unable to meet Fia’s eyes, Calista looked away and spoke awkwardly.

There was definitely something off here.

But as long as Calista could properly fulfill their agreement, even if something was strange, Fia could let it be. If her life were truly in danger, she would have sought help long ago, not stood here thinking about how to use Fia to make money for magic items.

Speaking of magic items, Fia recalled the new magic of the Witch Sanctuary. In the other world, it was Calista who invented new magic. If she handed over the new magic to Calista now, she might discover directions the Witch Sanctuary had overlooked. With a great enemy looming, now was not the time to be stingy.

She took out the new magic texts from her storage magic, along with a Mana Furnace and some high-grade magic crystals, and handed them to Calista.

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“What’s this?”

“A gift for you. This is the latest magical tool developed on our side. Take it back and experiment with it. Eternal Daylight specializes in elemental magic. I believe you’ll make unexpected discoveries.”

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

“Yes. I’ll continue the rest of the way myself. Goodbye.”

“Don’t forget our agreement.”

Leaving Calista with a smile, Fia spread the light wings from her back. Her feet left the ground.

“Goodbye…”

◇

After parting with Calista, Fia didn’t use teleportation. Instead, with [Flowing Wind’s Blessing] combined with the [High-Speed Flight] she’d recently learned, she raced north across the Netherworld sky.

Rumor held that the Kingdom of Death lay in the central Netherworld, at the continent’s easternmost edge. She wanted to see it for herself. Especially the [Wall of Sighs]—that barrier between the living and the dead, spanning from the heavens to the earth. Just hearing about something like that made her pulse race. This was a world of magic, not the Shining Era. It was surely a sight she had never witnessed before.

But before Fia had flown far north—maybe two or three hundred kilometers—a glimmer of light on the ground caught her attention. If the Netherworld’s scenery weren’t so monotonous, or if her dynamic vision weren’t astonishingly sharp, she might have missed this anomaly.

She slowed her speed and altitude, backtracking a short distance, until she could finally make out what the pink light was.

A ghost.

And it appeared to be about to jump off a cliff. From a jagged, rocky summit, down onto the solid ground over a hundred meters below.

A ghost? Jumping off a cliff? What kind of way to die was that?

Could a ghost even die from falling? The question surfaced in Fia’s mind. Surely a ghost couldn’t be killed that way—they weren’t affected by physical damage. But this pink ghost, standing on the mountaintop with arms spread, was clearly about to leap. She must have had a reason for doing this.

She was genuinely curious.

Fia concealed herself with [Cloud Moon of the Illusory Sea] and quietly approached. Then she watched—no, she leaped together with the ghost, falling from the summit toward the solid earth.

And just as Fia had imagined, even though the ghost accelerated toward the ground (completely defying the laws of physics), when she hit the earth she only made a loud “thud.” Her form neither shattered nor faded.

What stood out, however, was that at this close distance, Fia realized the pink ghost was a beautiful human woman. Her figure was on par with Anastasia’s, but more mature. Tall and long-limbed, she was old enough to be Fia’s mother.

The ghost picked herself up, dirtied and disheveled, clicking her tongue in frustration.

“Damn. Even this doesn’t work?”

“What are you doing?”

A first-rank ghost with a clear bodily form, retaining self-awareness—that was almost impossible. Fia stepped out of her concealment. If this ghost was merely lost in the Netherworld, she could send her wherever she wished to go. The Barony of Khesa, for instance, permitted harmless undead to live there.

“What voice? Huh? A human? No, an elf? Alive? Since when—no, hello. My name is Venex. What’s yours?”

Huh? Venex? Wasn’t that the Queen of the Kingdom of Death?

Fia looked the imposing pink ghost up and down. She possessed none of a queen’s dignity. Not to mention her strength was merely first-rank.

Her mind was probably clouded.

Fia sighed inwardly, while keeping alert to her surroundings. Because of her presence as a living being, the undead burrowed in the earth were beginning to stir.

Fia put on her white gloves—mainly out of concern that her potent life force might cause the ghost before her to dissipate. She extended her hand.

“Dofilia Alexia Yushir. You may call me Fia.”