To clarify again, artifacts are objects containing a faint trace of the demon lord’s power. When worn, they grant the user specific abilities.
Shekina possesses two artifacts.
The bracelet increases defensive capabilities, while the tiara has an enchanting effect on others.
What about the butterfly-shaped hairpin given to Nisha?
“… What is this?”
Nisha murmured as she felt a force enveloping her body.
There’s no doubt about it.
It’s the power of an elemental.
Smirking at Nisha, who was struggling to grasp the situation, Shekina chuckled.
Warning! Deviating from the main scenario will result in penalties.
Penalty: 50% limitation on artifact performance.
Perception ability increased by 50%.
It’s an artifact that literally enhances intelligence.
A mage with higher intelligence can perform spell calculations more quickly, and for an elemental mage, it allows for a more sensitive detection of elemental energies in the air.
Shekina, currently unable to use magic, didn’t find this artifact particularly appealing. Hence, she yielded it to Nisha.
“Oh… So, this is it.”
Nisha, encountering an artifact for the first time, lightly smiled and bowed her head.
Recently, Nisha had been struggling with her lack of significant progress. However, if she utilized the power of this artifact to sense elemental energies and incorporated it into her elemental magic, she felt she could become a much stronger elemental mage than she currently was.
She could do it.
She could surpass Yurian until his return.
Nisha’s fingers tightened.
“Do you like it? So, now you might have something to say to me. Feeling uneasy?”
Shekina chuckled at Nisha’s response. However, Nisha’s expression solidified immediately.
“You just keep your mouth shut.”
“I don’t have to worry about that, so I’ll pass.”
“Ugh. How did I end up getting involved in this?”
Although Nisha regretted it now, the deed was already done. Yet, she wasn’t particularly angry or annoyed. Compared to the annoying Frey or the cunning Didi, Shekina was more tolerable.
“Hand over the artifact.”
“Ung!”
Nisha looked down at the scroll Shekina handed her, raising an eyebrow.
The clump of summoning inside the scroll had grown slightly larger than a few hours ago.
‘Is it gathering magic?’
It was quite peculiar, but considering it belonged to Shekina, it wasn’t surprising.
“This is the residue of summoning fused together with the power of the demon lord. Think of it like a swarm of mindless creatures gathered into one.”
“Hmm.”
“Normally, a summon follows the orders of its owner, being a spirit and all. But in this case, I’m not sure how it’ll behave since it’s not contracted with you.”
In essence, it meant it could be granted a sense of self and act independently. However, as Shekina had anticipated, she shrugged it off.
“I’ll figure it out. Let me create it for now.”
“It could escape.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“It might attack you.”
“Got it.”
Seeing Shekina unyielding, Nisha let out a dry laugh unconsciously.
“Why are you so confident? Haven’t you considered the possibility of failure?”
Shekina tilted her head, staring at Nisha.
Come to think of it, Nisha was only eight years old.
An eight-year-old who had just seen the light of this world. Regardless of how mature she acted, she was just a child. The uncertainty of when she might die and the conviction that someone would eventually kill her were sources of fear gnawing at the mind of this young child.
‘Did I push her too hard?’
Still, maybe I should have taken a little more care.
Shekina shrugged her shoulders.
“I don’t have much to lose.”
“What?”
“If you don’t have anything, you can’t lose anything. So, I charge into everything thinking I can handle it.”
“……”
Nisha chuckled bitterly, brushing her hair aside.
“You’re better than me.”
“I doubt it.”
Shekina shook her head.
“Without you, I wouldn’t be wandering like this. You showed everything about summoning magic without knowing, making yourself vulnerable to manipulation by the demons.”
She must be talking about revealing the demons plans about three years ago. Nisha was indeed worried when Shekina disclosed that information.
However…
Around Shekina, there are Martin, the commander of the 1st Legion, Arthur, the vice commander, and Lyat, the aide.
Is she saying such things with them around? Doesn’t she trust them? They would protect Shekina.
“Do you think the demons around you would do that?”
Shekina shrugged her shoulders.
“I have no idea.”
And she continued without hesitation.
“Since the situation hasn’t actually happened, it’s all speculation. Many people who you wouldn’t expect to act a certain way often do, and those you think would act a certain way sometimes don’t. It’s just unknown.”
As Nisha pondered Shekina’s words, she formed a bitter smile.
“You don’t believe me either.”
Nisha sighed and placed the scroll on the desk.
“Wait for about a day. Come around this time tomorrow.”
“Hmm. Alright. I’m out. I’m tired.”
“Yeah. Get going now.”
“Mm-hmm. I’m out.”
Shekina ambled across the room towards the door. Watching Shekina’s retreating figure, Nisha clicked her tongue.
“Hey.”
This is a gesture of goodwill regarding the artifact.
Just granting self-awareness to the Phantasm isn’t a fair deal.
That’s why I’m telling you. It’s not for any ulterior motive.
“Yurian’s here.”
“Ah. The eldest?”
Nisha nodded.
“Be careful.”
And she left with just one remark.
“That guy, he’s really insane.”
***
“Ugh!”
Dehan jolted awake.
The bed looked like a mess, indicating that he had probably stirred up the sheets while tossing in his sleep. His body was drenched in sweat. Dehan wiped the cold sweat from his chin with the back of his hand and surveyed his surroundings.
“Where is… this?”
He was sure he was in the canyon. Fleeing from monsters, he fell into the canyon and lost consciousness…
– Are you dead??
– Hey. Wake up. It’s so cold that if you lose your mind, you’re really going to die here
The youngest of Margrave Daimon.
Shekina Daimon.
He encountered that child.
Did Shekina bring him here? What about that little kid? Dehan’s mind began to become complicated.
“Dehan!”
At that moment, Yuriel rushed in, holding a wet towel.
“You’re awake! Ha… I’m really relieved… You, you have no idea how scared I was…”
He hugged Dehan, his voice choked with emotion.
“I thought you were going to die, you… How terrified I was…”
Yuriel’s platinum-blonde hair, once soft and luscious, seemed to have become dull a long time ago. His pale face gave an idea of how serious Dehan’s condition was.
After consoling Yuriel a few times, Dehan pulled away and asked,
“What happened? Where are we?”
“W-well, someone from Daimon Margrave family helped… He sent a sleigh to get us here…”
Yuriel replied, hands clasped together.
It’s better not to mention that someone from the Daimon Margrave tried to kill him. There’s no need to cause unnecessary worry.
And…
‘He said he spared me.’
For now, he shouldn’t be threatened. Yuriel made a conscious effort to redirect the conversation toward hope.
“Speaking of that, what about you?”
Yuriel shifted the topic toward Dehan.
“How did you meet that child…?”
Referring to Shekina.
Dehan sifted through his hazy memories.
– I fell while taking a walk.
It sounds funny to say it so bluntly, but since someone heard it, he had to say it.
“She fell while taking a walk.”
“A walk… in that kind of gaze?”
“It’s probably a lie.”
“Hmm…”
Yuriel nodded and assessed Dehan’s reaction.
“Well, whatever. The important thing is that you’re alive.”
“Yes. We received help.”
“Hmm, yeah.”
Dehan briefly glanced into the air and then clenched his fist, saying,
“I want to express my gratitude properly.”
“W-well, I’ll ask, but it might not work… because they might hate us…”
“It’s okay.”
“Oh, okay…!”
Leaving behind Yuriel, who answered solemnly, Dehan slowly lowered his eyes.
And he thought of Shekina.
That Shekina who was shocked upon seeing him,
That Shekina who kept talking to save him.
And,
– Talking like this brings back old memories.
– You might not remember, but I do.
That Shekina who used to say incomprehensible things.
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