Close your eyes, or look away!
Anything is fine, just don’t look anymore!
It was as if a voice was screaming in her mind.
Krexia instinctively averted her gaze.
Only then did the terror that nearly consumed her whole body subside a little.
Then came a wave of lingering fear that filled her heart and eyes.
What on earth is this thing!
“Did you feel it?”
Coutia asked.
Krexia wanted to reply, but found her mouth open, struggling to speak, yet no sound came out.
This time, there was no external force restraining her actions.
It was simply the immense pressure and fear brought on by Coutia’s released power.
Coutia seemed to have expected Krexia’s reaction.
Just now, if Krexia hadn’t looked away in time, she would probably be busy rescuing her little follower by now.
Although this follower was a bit rebellious.
“The reason Divine Power is called Divine Power comes down to two important factors. First is the suppression of Authority—creatures without the proper level don’t even have the qualification to look at it.”
“If I hadn’t injected processed Divine Power into you, that single glance would have been the end for you.”
“The second is the need for corresponding Authority. Authority is the primary way to wield Divine Power—only with Authority can the true effects be realized. Otherwise, you can only use it in the most mundane, plain way, wasting power like you just did.”
Wasting power…
She called that wasting power.
Krexia admitted her use was a bit rough, but she was only trying it out.
That manifested purple flame—if she’d thrown it at that Goblin Brute from before, it would’ve killed it dozens of times over, with plenty to spare.
“Authority… Just hearing the name makes it sound like something out of my reach.”
“Right. You can’t touch this yet. It’s still far off for you, so don’t worry about it.”
“What I left in your body is more than enough.”
“So, do you like it, this power?”
“I…”
The feeling of fullness from the power inside her was slowly dissipating, returning her body to its original state.
Even as the power faded, the emptiness that spread from deep inside left her uncomfortable.
“Like it? Of course I do. Who wouldn’t like something that makes them stronger?”
Krexia finally gave her answer.
In truth, she still had many questions about Coutia—like the origins of the contract they signed, where Coutia came from, why she left her world, and the true nature of the power within her.
These doubts had existed for a long time, but Coutia didn’t seem willing to answer, and forcing the issue would get her nowhere.
All she needed to know was that Coutia could grant her the strength to rapidly grow into someone capable of standing alone in battle.
That was enough.
There was no point in dwelling on trivial details.
“Alright. Then it’s settled.”
“If you want this power, you have to learn to accept your current identity. Remember at all times—you’re a girl. You’re a Witch. Understand?”
“I suddenly feel like I don’t want this power as much. Maybe keeping my mindset as it is now is better.”
“I realize Magic Power looks pretty elegant too. I suppose using Magic Power would work…”
Coutia tilted her head slightly, smiling brightly at Krexia.
“What do you think, Kressia Yadin?”
The hair on Krexia’s body instantly stood on end.
Thinking carefully, this seemed to be the first time Coutia had ever called her full name—or even called her by name at all.
But the way she looked now just felt all kinds of wrong.
“I think… I think it’s fine…”
***
A night passed, and morning arrived.
Krexia opened her eyes to the now-familiar ceiling above.
Pulling back the covers, she found that Coutia’s strange power had changed her into a brand new, gothic-style dress—still similar in style to the Blood Clan’s fashion.
It was obvious Coutia really liked this type of clothing.
Also, Krexia felt that the four damn bandages on her chest had finally disappeared, replaced by the long-lost comfort of underwear.
But she had no energy to be happy about such trivial things.
Her mind was filled with memories of Coutia’s ruthless methods last night.
She’d tried to refuse Coutia’s way of adapting to the power.
Why refuse?
It was obvious—Coutia wanted her to accept the fact that she’d become female.
She’d even created a detailed and bizarre set of behavioral rules, including but not limited to “always carry an Apple with you”. “in daily speech and actions, adhere to all the standards of a Noble Lady—no trace of male behavior allowed,” and “if conditions allow, use every possible method to tease high-status beautiful women within your line of sight—the higher their status, the better.”
What was this?
Was she being raised to be a perfect lady?
Okay, maybe making her soul match her body was understandable.
If Coutia wanted her to accept being a girl from the bottom of her heart, fine.
But making her tease others and act according to the standards of a Noble Lady—
That was pushing things a bit too far.
Krexia thought back over fifty years of her life, past and present, and she’d always lived as a man.
Turning into a girl was bad enough, but now she was being forced to uphold the complex etiquette of a female noble?
That was too much.
As for teasing others, that was even more absurd.
She’d never had a girlfriend since she was conscious, much less flirted with someone.
In her past life, she’d been busy with studies as a child and with work as an adult.
After crossing over, it was still studies—and when she grew up, she’d likely inherit her father’s title and continue working.
She didn’t consider herself to have any luck with women.
Now, as a pure-blooded single warrior—especially in a female body—she was supposed to actively flirt with little girls?
She’d rather be killed.
Thinking this way, Krexia found herself less resistant to the behavioral guidelines.
It was absolutely not because she’d refused Coutia in the consciousness space and got punished with a cold, wet little whip.
Absolutely not.
With that thought, Krexia quickly washed up, took the Scarlet Storage Ring Fana had given her from beside her pillow and slipped it onto her finger, put on her low-heeled boots, and walked out the door.
She wasn’t in a hurry to take on any requests today.
No idiot would rush into the Mageling Forest after what happened there.
(1/2)