Chapter 95: Siloque Wakes Up

“See you tomorrow, Cass.”

“Bye-bye, see you tomorrow.”

Cass stood in front of Bried’s house, watching her go inside.

He lingered for a moment, observing her cheerful conversation with her Mother, then turned to head home—except he didn’t.

It was late.

At seven o’clock, most people were already home enjoying dinner.

Cass didn’t take a taxi; instead, he walked to the subway station.

He rode Subway Line 2, then transferred to Subway Line 6, heading for the terminal station—the Dungeon Commercial District.

Cass sat in a nearly empty train car, watching the scenery flash by outside.

Even at home, all that awaited him was dinner and some anime; the new episode of Light Pretty Cure wouldn’t air until midnight, so there wasn’t much to do.

With Duel Day approaching, it was better to grind some Monsters.

He didn’t plan to overdo it—just fight for about half an hour before heading back.

During battle, Cass realized a current problem.

He lacked powerful attack skills.

The skill was enough among his peers, but if the opponent was a member of the Evil Demon Society like Myut…

Cass clenched his knees, his expression grave.

Ever since that day, Cass had regarded Myut as an imaginary enemy in his heart.

He wanted to be ready in case an enemy of that level attacked, to have the means to fight back.

He’d been searching for a good method.

Hertanid had told him that people who used to worship her performed a pretty good Sword Dance—maybe he should give it a try…

After all, Cass didn’t dislike fighting.

Becoming stronger meant a better chance of graduating, and more composure when dealing with his Mother, Vitoris.

Lately, every time he visited his older brother’s room, he’d always run into Vitoris for some reason.

He figured Mother’s work stress had increased again, so she was seeking amusement from him.

But he wasn’t going to the first floor—he went to the second.

Monsters on the first floor had become boringly easy.

Most Explorers felt a thrill mowing down a horde of Monsters; Cass could too, but it just felt dull.

So Cass ventured to the second floor, searching for stronger opponents.

It was also better for practicing the sword technique Hertanid told him to try.

Unfortunately, Hertanid couldn’t quite remember the full form of the sword technique.

He could only practice bits and pieces, and even after feeding her lots of Bananas, she still couldn’t recall it.

Cass wasn’t looking for the strongest foes on the second floor, but started with isolated small Monsters, getting used to it step by step, little by little.

At the same time, Cass—no, Cassia—had a small hope in his heart—

That after not seeing him for a few days, Siloque would be amazed by how much stronger he’d become and praise him greatly.

Then invite him home to watch the Light Pretty Cure movie together, spending the night like close friends…

Just imagining it, Cassia, sitting in the train car, couldn’t suppress a smile, her legs twisting shyly together.

“What are you laughing at? Shouldn’t you be disappointed if your goals weren’t achieved?”

“Uwaah! Ailulu?! No, Hertanid, why did you suddenly appear?! If someone sees us—…”

Cassia quickly glanced around the car.

Besides herself and Hertanid, only three other people were present, heads down playing on their phones.

Hertanid wore a white baseball cap, with a silver ponytail peeking out.

She had a blue hoodie, shorts, and black tights, her slender legs swinging back and forth on the seat.

No matter how you looked, she was just an elementary school student riding the train, and Cassia at her side seemed like her older brother.

“Your thoughts were so noisy you woke me up. Don’t worry. I appear only in the blind spots of human vision. As long as you act normal, no one will notice me. So stop flailing your arms and legs.”

“It’s your fault for suddenly appearing and scaring me, Hertanid!”

Cassia deftly took out a Banana from her Ring Chart, handed it to Hertanid, who immediately started munching.

“What a hassle… this is your information society, filled with surveillance. Back in my era, you could eat when you wanted, sleep when you wanted, use magic however you liked—there weren’t so many restrictive rules.”

“Ancient times and the modern world are different. Don’t you usually sleep all day? I’m happy you can come out, but I don’t want anyone else noticing you and targeting you. By the way, what do you mean by saying I didn’t achieve my goal?”

Hertanid corrected, “It’s the super-ancient era,” and continued.

“Weren’t you hoping to use the visit as an excuse to enter that male human’s room and mate?”

“!!!”

“Even if you disguise yourself as male, your essence is still female, right? It’s a human instinct to be drawn to males and bear offspring.”

“You misunderstood, Hertanid.”

Cassia replied calmly, righteous and dignified, as if the blushing, apple-red version of herself from a second ago never existed.

“Ho~~oh?”

Hertanid stretched the sound, making a judgmental face.

“Siloque is my benefactor. He’s helped me a lot. This time, I just wanted to return the favor. With issues about my older brother, Mother, and hiding my gender until graduation—right now, I can’t think about romance.”

She laughed self-deprecatingly, rubbing her face.

“……..”

Hertanid had to admit—Cassia was strange.

The ones who found Hertanid were usually seeking rain, revenge, to destroy kingdoms, or to kill demon kings, treating her as a miracle and hope, coming to beg.

She could drive them away with just a few words.

The offerings they brought were always young men, or what they claimed were beautiful women—all looked the same to her.

Sometimes, they even performed gruesome acts of self-mutilation for her amusement, or brought Monster extracts that needed to be censored.

It was all meaningless.

She’d clearly said Bananas were enough for offerings.

Why did they always misunderstand and bring all sorts of strange and bizarre tributes?

Hertanid spent ages half-asleep in the ruins, until Cassia offered her Bananas.

At last, someone who understood what she truly wanted.

The one who offered Cassia advice was also odd.

Could the little human she favored be an old thing as ancient as herself?

Otherwise, how did they know her wishes?

She’d mentioned Bananas several thousand years ago—was it once, or three times?

She couldn’t recall, but it was thousands of years back.

Cassia, who preferred to stay in a young girl’s form, laughed oddly and liked to take her pictures.

Compared to those burdened with hatred and the fall of nations, this human’s only worry was whether she could graduate.

So trivial.

Hertanid found it interesting.

She spoke expressionlessly, in a tone as if she’d never known joy, anger, or sorrow since birth.

“When you were on the second floor, you tried to steal a kiss, hugged photos to sleep at night, and sometimes rubbed yourself to start fires. Your words aren’t convincing at all.”

“Y-y-y-y-y-y—”

Cassia’s face and neck instantly flushed deep red.

“You saw?

You even know that?

You’re absolutely forbidden to tell anyone! Absolutely! Or else I won’t give you any more Bananas!”

“Stop—don’t shake me to death just to hide your embarrassment.”

The remaining passengers couldn’t stand the noisy antics between a male high schooler and an elementary school girl.

They eyed them like criminals, some even readying their phones to call the police.

***

April 25th, Wednesday.

A bead of water slid down his cheek, falling into the sink and creating a small ripple.

In the chilly morning air, only the dripping sound of water could be heard.

Siloque slowly opened his water-blurred eyes.

Through hazy vision, he saw the dawn streaming through the window, making the water shimmer.

In the sink, the water reflected a face that seemed unfamiliar after not seeing a mirror for days.

He pulled the plug.

The figure floating on the surface, tinged with milky-white, slowly flowed away.

Grabbing a towel, he roughly dried his face, letting out a heavy sigh.

The air he breathed in was laced with the minty scent of facial cleanser.

Thanks to the cleanser’s cool sensation, Siloque felt much more refreshed, the lingering fatigue from lying down for so long swept away.

He brought up his Ring Chart, displaying the ability status window—

Siloque

17

-Rising Priest-

2nd Floor

HP Max: 163→280

MP Max: 165→281

STR: 150→230

END: 162→242

AGI: 183→263

DEX: 180→260

INT: 167→267

Yes!

Siloque clenched his fist, as if gripping hope.

To think he was now even higher in level than Cass!

He’d jumped 4 levels in one go—it was no wonder his body felt so exhausted.

It was like getting a reward once a day felt great, but getting it four times in a minute left you drained and wanting to die.

“But it’s only four levels…”

Reflecting on his experiences inside and outside the independent space, it almost felt like too little.

But nothing could be done—his body’s absorption rate for experience points was just too low.

His HP and INT increased significantly, by 117 and 100 points respectively, with an extra 20 points over the original value.

It was mainly thanks to overusing his skills until he collapsed.

He felt weak and unwell for quite a while; without Beiren’s help, he might’ve been out even longer…

Including his own younger sister, those who protected his safe return and cared for his family.

He was truly grateful to them.

Without them, he wouldn’t have been able to greet the early Wednesday morning in good spirits.

Siloque smiled in relief, but when he looked up and accidentally caught sight of himself in the mirror, the tiny flame of excitement was instantly doused.

Soft lips slightly parted, long lashes trembling.

He gazed at the beautiful white hair, glistening eyes, and pale cheeks.

The figure in the mirror seemed to bite its lip, closing its mouth, then its eyes, then reopening them.

“Is this still me?”