I look at Nerina, who just demonstrated roughly how to use domain powers outside of them! She gave a really interesting explanation!

First, she explained that the powers a domain has are actually just the powers the person already wields masterfully, and the domain is merely a means to amplify, facilitate, and maximize their range to guarantee an advantage.

In other words, while my domain can temporarily turn weak enemies into puppets, if I use that power outside the domain, weak enemies will become puppets permanently.

And I can do this because I’ve already mastered the most important part—learning to use the domain efficiently—and have fully mastered the normal power I have, so all I need is to replicate the domain’s effect externally.

"Nerina, watch!! I’m going to try turning this insect into a puppet!" I say to Nerina while holding an insect the size of my palm.

"We’ll see, Evelyn! Try it, and I bet you’ll get it soon!!" She says as I take a deep breath. I release my magic so that it forms a kind of "capsule" in the area.

Forming a thin veil of Hikishin, I focus on the domain’s ability—my domain turns weak opponents into puppets using organic transmutation, converting any and all living material into puppet materials.

’I know how to transmute matter. It’s not hard because I do it all the time when I’m making a puppet... but transmuting something still alive is something I’ve never tried...’ I stare at the insect in my hands.

It’s writhing and trying to escape while attempting to bite me, but I completely ignore that fact as I attempt the transmutation. At first, it even works—its wings change into puppet joints, but then the insect explodes.

"Urgh." A fruit falls out of nowhere and hits me on the head, knocking me face-first into the sand while Nerina stifles a giggle.

"Try again, Evelyn. How about trying with something farther away, like that monster in the ocean?" She points at some kind of strange fish-monster. It’s inside the Hikishin veil.

"Okay..." I concentrate even harder, trying to understand which process converts first. The insect exploded, maybe because I started with the wrong part and its body became overloaded.

’Maybe the heart...’ I begin by trying to transmute from the heart outward, and to my surprise, the monster actually starts turning into a puppet completely. Unfortunately, right at the end, it dissolves into Hikishin particles.

"Nerina!! I almost got it! Did you see?" I say, utterly astonished. I actually managed to use the domain’s power outside of it.

’Wow... the possibilities...’ With this, I could turn a massive number of enemies into disposable puppets. The possibilities are so vast.

"Evelyn, you’ve got a pretty dark smile on your face."

"R-Really?..."

"Hahaha, yeah. I bet you’re thinking about how many fun things you can do with this!!! Don’t worry, you have no idea how many possibilities really exist." She says, approaching me with an eager smile.

"Yeah... I just need to practice—"

"Evelyn, you’re so talented. What I just taught you took me years to even be able to do. Isn’t it sad that the people in your past never taught you properly?" She says this out of nowhere, making me feel strange.

"W-Well... I guess... I guess so?" I don’t even have muscle memory for this kind of thing, which means no one ever really tried to train me. It only makes me wonder if Nerina is right. Is there really nothing but bad things in my past?

’But then... why do I keep making vague little dolls of that same person?’ I don’t know. Nerina doesn’t seem to have noticed the dolls yet. If I really don’t like my past, why do I keep trying to recreate that mysterious appearance?

"Thinking about something, Evelyn?"

"Ah... nothing... thank you for the lessons. Learning magic with you is really interesting. It’s getting late—how about we head back home? You spent hours explaining how to use domain powers outside of them. I’ll need to practice more, but practicing without rest doesn’t yield results." I give her a smile, and she nods.

"Of course! Let’s go!! I’m really looking forward to tonight’s dinner... and a few other little things!"

’Was she flirting with me?’ I’m not sure, but I walk on in silence, not wanting to get into that awkward subject again. Though the idea of someone flirting with me feels so... uncomfortable.

’Strangely... it’s kind of disgusting getting flirted with by Nerina...’ I swallow the strange feeling that comes over me, not wanting Nerina to feel bad about me.

...

...

...

"Hmmm." I watch Evelyn get out of bed. She leaves the room to have breakfast, and I have to say—I’m irritated and frustrated.

’I made it clear yesterday that after our training with her domain ability, Evelyn could attack me while I slept. So why didn’t she do anything?!!’ She even stared at me during the night for a while, but then made a strange expression and left the room to entertain herself alone.

’I don’t get it. Why won’t she touch me? She should have lost control a long time ago... Did I underestimate her feelings for that wife of hers?...’ Maybe I’m giving her too light of an influence.

"Tsk..." I get up. It’s around five in the morning, and maybe I need to be more proactive with Evelyn.

"..." For a moment, I use my powers to enter Evelyn’s spiritual plane, where Arial is waiting for me.

"It’s tough, isn’t it? Evelyn seems pretty complicated." Arial says, and I agree with her.

"Yeah. She won’t touch me, even when she has the chance. And the desires for pleasure... even with frequent contact with my magic, I know the fact that she’s a nymph reduces the effects." It’s natural—a nymph’s powers have less effect on other nymphs.

"But still, I don’t understand why she doesn’t even try. She seems to think about doing it, but every day she backs off before attempting anything."

"Maybe it’s because of her love. Besides, Evelyn isn’t exposed to bad things anymore. You’re protecting her from anything unpleasant, so Evelyn has no reason to seek comfort."

"And let’s be real—Evelyn isn’t an animal. Just because she’s full of lust and dissatisfaction doesn’t mean she’ll attack the first girl in front of her."

"..."

’She’s right...’ At first, both Arial and I thought the same thing. A sad Evelyn is an Evelyn we can obtain. But I can’t talk too much about the past, or she might try to remember or accidentally recall something. Yet if I avoid it 100%, then she simply doesn’t get sad.

"Hahaha. How complicated. I like it. I love a good challenge. No target of mine has ever made me change my approach in my entire life. Evelyn has already made me change my approach twice—and that’s exciting."

"I think I have a good idea, and I need your help. Tell me—you’ve been suppressing Evelyn’s negative emotions and eating them, haven’t you? Stop doing that. If you stop, Evelyn will probably have small nightmares and little lapses of past emotions."

"...You said you wouldn’t hurt Evelyn."

"I know. I won’t hurt her. But I can’t leave her 100% safe if it interferes with my plans. Are you in? Or... do I need to make you disappear from in here?"

"...Tsk. Fine. You’re right. But I don’t want to lose my delicious meal, so I’ll only do it at night or at certain times of the day."

"Great. That’s all I need. I’m going to leave Evelyn alone for a while. When people are alone, that’s when their deepest feelings attack." I start to leave, satisfied with this for now. Meanwhile, Arial begins dropping small spheres of emotions onto the floor as they dissolve.

...

...

...

"U-Urgh..."

"Evelyn, are you okay?" I hear Nerina’s voice while I’m panting, gripping the counter with a horrible headache.

"I-I’m fine..." I murmur, finishing putting the food onto a tray. The image of the "girl" in my mind suddenly became more solid, but I still can’t see or glimpse who she is.

’That’s the first time I’ve seen an image...’ Before, every image I had was of faceless puppets with messy shapes. But this time, even though the white light won’t let me see clearly, I could make out the general physique.

"Nerina, the food is—is ready." I take the meal to the living room, where Nerina is already waiting for me with a big smile.

"You look happy."

"Yeah. I just thought of something good." She says, immediately starting to eat. I sit on the other side of the table.

"Evelyn, why didn’t you do anything last night?" She asks very directly, making me choke for a moment.

"I-I don’t know what you’re talking about..."

"Am I really that undesirable?..."

"That’s not what I said."

"But that’s what you made it seem like. I get it if you don’t like me, but if you don’t like me, you could just say so directly. It’s pretty cold of you to completely ignore me..." She stands up to head outside, but I don’t do anything. I’m not sure what she expected from me, and worse, I don’t know what she really feels or what I feel.

I’m not some easy girl who would let just anyone "use" my body like that. I feel strange trying anything with her, no matter how pretty she is.

"I’m going to check on the outside. I’ll be gone for a few days, but I’ll leave some magic to keep the monsters away."

"W-Wait, what!? Y-You’re leaving me alone?" I’m alarmed by this. I don’t want to be alone on this island. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"I’m busy, Evelyn. A week at most. You can manage. In the meantime, practice using your abilities. See you soon." She gives me a weak smile as she walks out the door.

’A-Ah no. Is this my fault? Why didn’t I answer?’ I feel extremely unsettled. She’s the only one on this island with me, and I didn’t want to be alone.

"Nerina!" I go outside to talk to her, but she’s already completely gone, having truly left me alone.