Chapter 310: 85. Everyone
Fisher, barely able to stand up from the ground, did not continue reading the Soul Supplement Handbook on the table. Everything that had just happened left no trace, except for the exceptionally strong Magical Circuit flowing through him at this very moment.
He sat down in the chair behind the table and looked at his body’s bright Magical Circuit, through which the magic representing his soul power continuously flowed, thick to the point of approaching a murky state.
Reading the Soul Supplement Handbook increased Fisher’s soul strength and sensitivity to the Spirit Realm even further; such an enhancement was no less than the physical enhancement provided by the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans, but it lacked the reassuring reward granted by the latter.
Fisher sighed and quietly picked up the carving knife and the magical materials stored by Haldor, preparing to begin inscribing magic. Seeing this, the Emhart on his shoulder immediately flew to his eye level, blocking his view of the magic inscription.
“Hey, you don’t remember things, do you? Your condition was off just now, and you still want to inscribe magic? Don’t you mages value preparation for magic inscription? Aren’t you afraid of being turned into a dry corpse by the magic?”
“I’m fine now; I know exactly what just happened, thanks.”
Emhart squinted as he listened to Fisher’s words. After confirming that he seemed truly aware of what had just occurred, he relaxed. He then heard Fisher’s belated thanks, which made him narrow his eyes and curl the corners of his mouth as he flew onto his shoulder.
“Wow, you’re finally grateful, huh? Not bad, congratulatory! You finally look like a person now.”
“Stop disturbing me; I want to inscribe magic. Go play over there.”
“…”
Emhart opened his mouth but, seeing that Fisher had already focused on inscribing magic, he didn’t dare speak for fear that the guy might actually be turned into a dry corpse by the magic. He could only sulkily fly over to Haldor’s bookshelf, attempting to alleviate his anger by reading.
“You annoying guy, wait until one day you make me so angry I die, and you’ll lose a book friend like me!”
Looking at Fisher, as he inscribed the magic, the magical power from his arm continuously output steadily, like an unyielding spring, making his actions for magic inscription exceptionally smooth and effortless.
Moreover, even more strangely, he clearly saw the factors composing the world’s resonance in his eyes.
The magic connected to the barriers of the real world, with waves flowing through the crevices of reality before finally reaching the Spirit Realm to induce resonance. This also meant that once the resonance from the Spirit Realm reached the real world, the effects of magic would actually be diminished, and this attenuation occurred within the crevices of the world.
This suddenly reminded Fisher that he had been exploring the properties of the Spirit Realm but had subconsciously overlooked the property of the “world’s crevice,” which is the transitional area in between. If the Spirit Realm is a high-dimensional space storing consciousness, then what is the purpose of this crevice?
In his contemplation, he suddenly halted his actions in his hands, not expecting that a low-tier magic could be completed in under three minutes.
He recalled that when he was transporting Raphael on the Southern Continent, he had inscribed a first-tier fire magic, which took him ten minutes. That was already faster than most mages, and now, he needed only three minutes to inscribe a third-tier magic, “Dance of the Bees.”
He looked down at the Magical Circuit inside his body, which had completely deformed, unable to help but frown, pausing for a long time without making the next move until he left the room to rest.
The next morning, while stretching beside his bed, Fisher checked the rewards and clues gained from the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans.
When he previously visited the Moon Rabbit Tribe shrine, he saw many murals and inscriptions, and now he possessed the same, if not higher, level of visual acuity in the Spirit Realm as Ilos. He naturally saw the murals above and learned about their customs and history, including their love for dancing at night.
So, perhaps the progress of the Moon Rabbit Tribe social research would also increase a bit? Fisher wasn’t sure, but he opened the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans with a mindset of confirmation and was pleasantly surprised to find gains.
[Moon Rabbit Tribe Social Research Progress: 28%]
[You have unlocked the first-stage reward for Moon Rabbit Tribe social research]
[Constitution +1, Reproductive Ability +3, randomly enhance one of the abilities you have obtained!]
Fisher raised an eyebrow, watching the golden light similar to discovering an Easter egg grow stronger. However, when he looked again, the below ability disappointed him:
[The ability “Mountain’s Affection” you obtained has been enhanced, increasing the range of affection, and the targets of affection now expand to other subhuman races existing in the Northern Region, except for the Phoenix Race.]
This couldn’t be said to be completely without use; he could use this ability to more easily study other subhuman races in the Northern Region, especially the Ice Owl Race and Sheepkin. However, he actually wanted to strengthen the “Spirit Realm Pollution Resistance” he had obtained earlier. This ability was incredibly useful in the previous battle against the cursed entity, allowing him to withstand a lot. It might still be beneficial in searching for the Frost Parasol Tree.
Fisher was a satisfied person; any enhancement would be a gain. After collecting the rewards from the Supplement Handbook for Sub-Humans, he stood up, took a deep breath, and looked outside the room.
This morning, their small team “Searching for the Frost Parasol Tree” was about to hold a meeting. It felt quite similar to the mage meetings he had attended every month at the Nali Magic Association, but clearly, Valentina’s team maintained a more harmonious atmosphere.
“I’m going to the meeting, aren’t you coming with me?”
Fisher changed into a new outfit, turned back to look at Emhart, who lay motionless on the bed. Ever since returning last night, he had been ignoring Fisher, probably angry, but Fisher didn’t have time to coax him. He felt that this clingy demeanor of his didn’t need it.
“I’m not going, anyway; it’s just watching you flirt with girls, so boring. You go by yourself.”
“…”
Looking at Emhart, who shook his body a bit while on the bed, Fisher couldn’t be bothered with his wishes. He forcibly pulled him up from the bed and stuffed him into his shirt as he walked towards the door.
“You’re so annoying; I said I didn’t want to go. Hey, Sister Ilos, what are you doing standing at the door? Wait, your belly is better now.”
Unexpectedly, as Fisher opened the door, he saw a rabbit nun standing in the corridor with her hands gracefully placed on her chest. At this moment, her once pregnant-looking belly had completely flattened. Upon seeing Fisher and Emhart in his arms, she nodded somewhat shyly and said,
“Um, after taking the medicine Mr. Fisher gave me earlier, I felt much better. It seems that petting my ears won’t result in a baby, hee hee~”
“… Only a fool would think that would get them pregnant, right?”
Fisher acknowledged Emhart’s aggressiveness. Even such unconscious sarcasm made Ilos pout in mild complaint, but she had a good temper, or perhaps nuns who believed in the Mother Goddess were all like this.
Like the nun Teresa from his memory, she merely made a gesture of prayer and did not remain angry. She then continued speaking to Fisher,
“Since Mr. Haldor passed away yesterday, Miss Valentina seems very depressed. I hope she’ll feel a bit better today. May the Mother Goddess bless her.”
Fisher thought for a moment, inevitably recalling the figure of the young lady sitting in a wheelchair, then shook his head and said,
“After last night, she won’t be like she was yesterday. Rather than saying yesterday was a break for us, it might have been a buffer for her.”
“Yeah, that does make sense. Speaking of…”
As they reached the stairway, Ilos suddenly turned her head to look outside at the snow-filled Nebarun Kingdom. The scenery outside remained unchanged, compressing years into this moment, presenting itself before Ilos. After a few seconds, she smiled and turned back to Fisher, saying,
“Mr. Fisher, I might have to return to my church soon. The help Miss Valentina needed from me has been completed, and she has obtained the mark. I won’t have anything else to assist with. So, I have made up my mind to leave the Nebarun Kingdom and return to the Healing Rot Church.”
Fisher was not surprised; the tasks Valentina had hired her for were completed. Ilos had no reason to search for the Frost Parasol Tree, even if she were to stay. For safety, Valentina would certainly send her back first anyway.
He did not continue downstairs but instead addressed Ilos,
“I thought you would stay in Nebarun Kingdom. After all, this is your hometown. You, as the last legitimate Moon Rabbit Tribe member, would not be overlooked here, and you would have a good life.”
Ilos shook her head and smiled,
“This place was my hometown when I was a child, but I promised Sister Shalu to become a nun, and I cannot go against my oath. The Nebarun Kingdom will become better without the Moon Rabbit Tribe, and the Healing Rot Church will cease to exist if it loses me. I must go back. If you, Mr. Fisher, finish your matters, you can return, and I’ll treat you to seafood soup.”
Looking at Ilos before him, Fisher truly understood her thoughts. As a “rebel” raised in an environment influenced by the Mother Goddess Church, although he did not worship the Mother Goddess, he was very familiar with the church’s history and many texts.
The church does not accept subhuman races; just as he had said before, the Mother Goddess is the mother of humanity, not of subhuman races. Throughout history, the church has served as a blade of ignorance, wielded against defenseless commoners as they hunted witches and eradicated heresy.
Thus, Fisher truly believed that the Sister Shalu who rescued Ilos, treating her as her own, was a very good person; it was the right choice for her to go back there to fulfill her responsibilities.
Fisher did not give any extra persuasion and simply sincerely wished her,
“You will be the first subhuman nun in church history and one of the kindest nuns.”
“Eh? Saying that makes me nervous. Being the kindest seems like it’s somewhat too much of a compliment?”
Ilos shook her hand, and her flushed face made her rabbit ears sway, causing Emhart to chuckle and coldly retort,
“Oh, don’t be modest. It’s not like being a nun is an important position. It’s just your church is short on people, while nuns in other places are dozens or even hundreds. They won’t miss you.”
Before Ilos could cry out in grievance, Fisher had already completely sealed away the particularly foul-mouthed Emhart from the morning, who had been sulking and was trying to vent his feelings onto others.
He would handle Emhart’s little emotions later. Although it felt like he would be fine on his own after a while.
After learning that Ilos would request to leave from Valentina soon, the two of them walked downstairs to the dining room. This time, they were not the last to arrive but instead the earliest. However, it wasn’t long before Valentina, dressed neatly and pushed in by Heidi Lin, slowly entered the dining room, glancing casually at Fisher.
“Good morning, Miss Valentina.”
“Good morning, Sister Ilos.”
After Valentina took her seat at the head table and instructed Heidi Lin to prepare breakfast, Ilos informed her about her intention to take her leave, which made Valentina start fiddling with the ring on her hand, apparently deep in thought.
Fisher noticed that whenever her emotions fluctuated or she was pondering something, she would keep rubbing the Turan family ring made of an unknown material on her finger. Depending on the situation, it produced unique movements, the specific principle of which Fisher didn’t quite grasp yet.
“…I understand. Please allow me to express heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Turan family. Your help has been incredibly important, and as a reward for this considerable assistance, the Turan family will regard you as a lifelong friend.”
After contemplating for a few seconds, Valentina tapped the table, signaling the maid standing nearby. The maid immediately understood, going outside to retrieve a small boxed silver ring, placing it before Ilos.
Before Ilos could instinctively refuse, Valentina spoke first,
“This ring does not hold much economic value; it is merely a token of our friendship. Surely, the Mother Goddess will not punish such sincere feelings, right? Furthermore, as a token, if you ever need help in the future, please present this ring at any bank in the Northern Region, and you will receive the assistance you deserve.”
“Eh, eh? Okay.”
Ilos, this “dimwit,” would hardly articulate what she thought; after a brief contemplation, she found the arrangement quite appropriate, nodded, and agreed to Valentina’s proposal.
Valentina was amused by her cute demeanor, watching her lips curve slightly upward. She shook her head and said,
“Well then, after breakfast, I’ll arrange for Heidi Lin to thank you again on behalf of the Turan family.”
“No need to thank me; I should be the one thanking you for letting me revisit the place where I grew up.”
Fisher remained quiet. Footsteps were gradually heard outside the dining room, indicating that a couple of Valentina’s employees were arriving, which also meant that their journey was about to begin. He silently placed a glimmering magic ring in front of Ilos.
“Eh, eh, eh?! Mr. Fisher, this is so… so sudden? But, I’m a nun; things like this are absolutely not allowed, uwu~”
Unexpectedly, Ilos was so startled that she jumped up, her face flushed as she waved her hands and shook her head, continuously muttering things Fisher couldn’t understand.
“What’s this, oh, a ring? Did you just get proposed to?”
Following behind, Phyllis, shaking her head, and Balzak, with a bland expression, walked in. These two were the true “dimwit and the discontent,” and upon their entry, Fisher felt a headache coming on and covered his head, unsure of how to address the situation.
“This is a ring inscribed with magic, created last night using a high-tier magic. If we encounter dangers on the way, just bring this out and use it. It’s not a wedding ring, got it?”
“Right, right, there hasn’t been a woman born yet who could make this brat take out a wedding ring.”
That Emhart fellow also secretly peeked out from Fisher’s arms, coldly and cruelly retorting, throwing the dining room into further chaos.
“Eh, eh, eh?! I-I’m sorry! Mr. Fisher, I-I didn’t know, uwu. Sister Shalu was right; I’m not suitable for learning magic!”
“Hey, is this ring valuable?”
Inside the dining room, the disgruntled Balzak took a seat; the red-faced Ilos, wanting to explain something, was trying to do so; Phyllis, however, was staring intently at the ring on the table, making one believe that if no one was around, she might just steal it.
Outside the dining room, the mechanically tired Selti yawned, immediately waking up upon seeing the commotion inside. He quickly yelled at Phyllis to move out of the way as she swung her lion-like tail; Heidi Lin came in like a parent, smiling widely, urging everyone to quiet down as breakfast was about to be served.
“Hurry! Go back to your seats!”
Valentina, having observed everything, finally withdrew her gaze from the handsome Nali gentleman. The sight before her was harmonious and pleasant, making her smile involuntarily. Ah, if only Haldor were here, she could share this feeling with him.
But, given the emptiness behind the wheelchair, she could only shake her head lightly and gently extended her finger to tap the table, bringing silence to the dining room.
Without accusations or unnecessary words, Valentina simply said,
“Let’s eat, everyone.”
