It seems that the time pa.s.sed in a blink of an eye as I groomed the silent black sword.
This should be enough. It always feels satisfying when Iām finished polishing the small details.
The reflection of my face appeared on the mirror polished blade.
My left eye was shining red.
I didnāt even notice that Iāve entered a semi starving state.
It just happened without any sign.
[This is badā¦]
In the end, I didnāt get any sleep at all. I was scared.
In addition to that, I wanted to avoid confronting my other self in the spiritual world.
If I were to face it alone this time, thereās a huge chance that Iāll get swallowed.
I could no longer borrow Lunaās or Greedās power anymore after all.
Although I said to Roxy that Iād do my best⦠it seems that I still need to buy some time until I find some clues.
But that thing wonāt wait even if I avoid facing it in the spiritual world.
[Looks like someone did not get enough sleep.]
[Aaaahā¦]
Roxy, who was napping beside me, replied.
I was a little worried about her since the angel mode is quite exhausting for her, and she hasnāt slept all that long.
[How are you doing?]
[Thanks to you, it is perfect. Looks like they are still asleep.]
[Theyāre just acting like usual.]
Myne and Snow were sleeping soundly.
Sleeping peacefully like kids.
To them, thereās no such thing as tension.
Roxy approached me as I was laughing bitterly.
[What happened to your eye!?]
[This⦠wellā¦]
I tried to explain the situation to Roxy as best as I could.
Listening to me thoroughly, she finally nodded.
[So it is different from the usual starving state? And it will probably disappear if you drive the creature back?]
[Itās different alright. Normally, Iād feel a great inclination to eat something. But now⦠thereās nothing.]
Itās strange. Usually Iād be attacked by the urge to feed when the semi-starving state kicked in.
There is something wrong after all.
[Is it related to that other Fai you mentioned who attacked you in the spiritual world?]
[Maybe⦠maybe itās working on something]
I stood up while putting the black sword back to its scabbard.
Right then, I felt my body was lighter than usual.
[!? This isā¦]
[Is there something wrong?]
[I actually feel alright. My stats will get boosted up during a semi-starving state, so I become stronger than normal.]
[That is good⦠is what I would like to say.]
[Too good that itās creepy⦠knowing myself, itās like a calm before a storm.]
[Even if you think so, you should not jinx it.]
[I know.]
For better or worse, this is probably the best state to enter Gallia.
Well then, should we wake Myne and Snow up? When I thought so, the door was opened from outside.
[Good morning. Libra-sama is waiting for you.]
As before, Eris appeared dignified in her maid getup.
She bowed gracefully.
[Alright. Please wait a moment.]
I turned around to wake the two girls up⦠but found that itās not necessary.
Myne no longer looked sleepy, already neatly dressed, and the black axe was ready in her hand.
Snow was still yawning, but otherwise ready.
Itās normal for a veteran warrior like Myne. Sheās been like that since I started travelling with her way back then. So Iām not too surprised.
Itās Snow who has changed. Since the battle at Hauzen, sheās been showing a lot more thoughtfulness and a lot less childishness. She actually sometimes sounded mature.
[Letās go, Fate!]
I received Snow who was jumping at me.
Her blazing red hair was still unkempt from sleeping. But she managed to arrange it by hand.
[Okay, letās go.]
Everyone nodded and left the room.
Eris guided us toward the deck.
[Hey, donāt you want to take some more rest?]
[Iād rather be told that by anyone else but you.]
[Ahaha, weāre on the same team now, so why canāt we get along.]
[Same team? I loathe to think about that. And you wonāt be jumping to fray directly anyway.]
[Donāt say it like that. You see, I have a representative here]
Saying that, LIbra pointed at Eris.
[You should be familiar with her strength. And I have readjusted it, so sheās stronger than ever.]
[Youā¦]
I stared dagger at Libra, but his laid back face didnāt change one bit.
As if deliberately waiting for my reaction, he finally continued.
[Still not satisfied? Then how about if I give you a full set?]
He then took out a black weapon from nothingness.
[Thatāsā¦]
[The black bayonet Envy. This one has also been readjusted. Itās been acting like a noddy child while I was away. Here, have a look.]
He tossed the weapon to me as heās throwing away trash.
[Well, itās a support type weapon, so it wonāt have a lot of firepower. That said, Eris should be able to handle it to its full extent now.]
[So youāll be just watching from high up here?]
[You still donāt get it. Iāll be here praying to G.o.d so that youāll be successful in your endeavor.]
[Donāt get in the way. Or else Iāll break this ship to the ground.]
[Ahaha, so funny. Alas, if you do that, Erisā head will roll on the ground immediately.]
[Kuhā¦]
Thereās no use in talking to him.
I tried calling into Envy with ćMind Readingć.
But there was no answer.
Itās gotta be the influence from the readjustment. Just like what he did to Eris.
The ego mustāve been sealed away.
[Eris, here.]
I handed over Envy to the silent Eris, then turned my sight toward the direction of Gallia.
Itās such a huge ma.s.s of land floating in the air.
It looked magnificent from a distance, but it was even more impressive from near.
Adding to that was the tingling I felt on my skin.
Caused by the enormous amount of magical power emitted by the numerous monsters habitating the floating land.
[That looks like worthy to be eaten]
[Let me tell you once more. Anyone else but you.]
Laughing, perhaps finding it funny, Libra pointed at a certain location.
[Weāll be landing over there. That place has always been quiet.]
[That place isā¦]
[The green canyon.]
Roxy looked on with a nostalgic gaze.
It must have been a place to mine rare minerals to be supplied to the royal capital.
And I once came here to gather the magic crystal necessary to craft the scabbard for the black sword.
At that time, although the purpose was different, it was also a memorable place to fight with Roxy.
Although it looks like an oasis of devastated land, it is actually made up of piled up dead monsters.
[Isnāt it dangerous? There are many monsters sleeping there.]
[Sadly not. They have long lost their souls and are merely fossils now. They cannot be revived.]
[Lost their soul? Fossil?]
[Simply put, itās safe.]
d.a.m.n. heās not going to answer.
But well, as Libra said, thereās no sign of monsters nearby.
I looked to Myne who had remained silent all this time.
She responded with a quiet nod.
[It seems safe.]
[Ohoho, so you donāt trust me.]
[Naturally.]
Libra then looked up to the sky, seemingly deliberately.
But he soon turned to me again and grinned.
[Alright, Iāll land there. Looking forward to it.]
Instead, Libra seemingly directed that last part to Snow.