Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 540 - Witch and Iluna

"Do I need to remind you again? That house, it's my house!"

The next day, Sunday morning on the carriage ride into town, Miss Galina angrily questioned Shard.

It was nine o'clock in the morning. After breakfast at the manor, Shard planned to head to the city to search for the Demon Person's Pus. Luviya and Tifa were supposed to accompany him, but Luviya had to stay in bed to rest due to a physical ailment, so she remained at the estate.

Miss Galina happened to have matters in the city as well, so she joined Shard and Tifa on the trip.

She had only learned about the previous night's events from Tifa, who was looking after Mia, that morning. She had held her tongue on the matter while in the manor, but once they were on the carriage, she finally brought up the issue.

Considering the possibility of danger, Mia stayed at the estate with Luviya. As for Shard, he glanced at Tifa, who was sitting beside Miss Galina, blinking in the hope that she would help to ease the tension, but the black-haired maid pretended not to understand his gesture.

"But at least, it's now confirmed that I truly am a man, isn't it?"

Shard said slowly, drawing a deep breath from the witch as if she were holding back the urge to punch him:

"Even the clothes she wore, I had the maids find them for her. The house is mine, the bed is mine, the blankets are mine, the pillows are mine, even the clothes are mine, and she dares to..."

She was clearly unable to stomach the affront as she eyed Shard and then suddenly added:

"However, it's just as well, your kissing skills are so poor... your technique must be bad, too. According to the maids who passed by your door during the night shift, your stamina seems to be quite impressive, but having just stamina is not enough. Letting someone else help you practice could be beneficial in the future."

Shard didn't catch one particular word, but Tifa did, turning her face slightly red and looking away.

The red-haired witch snorted:

"At least this conclusively establishes that you are male in terms of physical structure, even though I don't like this method very much... I already spoke with Hevy about your situation last night, including the strange Spirit Rune and your ability to enter the corridor. Shard, you'd better not use 'Feliana's Witch Light' in front of a High Ring Sorcerer. After yesterday, more and more people will become familiar with that Arcane Technique."

"I understand."

Shard nodded, pleased to finally move away from that somewhat embarrassing subject:

"For the next two weeks, my only task is to participate as a Big City Player."

There was, in fact, one more thing: the arrival of the letter that Detective Sparrow had mentioned needed to be burned on the fifth of the month. However, since this matter was unrelated to the witch, Shard didn't bring it up.

"That would be best. Within two weeks, many people will come to Tobesk to investigate, especially the professors from Saint Byrons. You would do well to do nothing at all and just pretend to be an ordinary detective and Roder Card Player. Should anyone discover your association with the Witches of the Fifth Era, you will be in serious trouble."

Miss Galina paused, then asked another question:

"Now, does your Sorcery 'Toy Making' work on that Diviner?"

Most of the time she was very sensible, not overlooking this issue. Of course, Shard hadn't forgotten about it either:

"I tried it again this morning, but it still doesn't work."

"It doesn't work?"

The witch frowned, while Shard looked out at the scenery through the window. There was a stretch of road through the countryside before they reached the city. In the early autumn, the view outside the city was quite pleasant.

"Are you there?"

[Outlander, I have always been with you.]

"Her" whispering voice rose to his ear, even during last night's most intimate moment, Luviya's voice was not as relaxing to Shard as "hers".

"What did you find last night?"

He inquired, and it seemed like the voice laughed softly:

[Luviya Annette's other self is in a state of serious injury, but confirmed, it is a genuine 'other self,' and not replaced by an exotic life form like Ivan Daknis, nor by some strange Relic. Her special Divination power also indeed comes from the traits of her other self.]

Shard watched the scenery passing by the window, knitting his brow slightly. Although he had encountered mirrors in the Ruins that could harm "other selves," the Relics capable of doing so were extremely rare. And for a Circle Sorcerer, injury to the "other self" could have more severe consequences than damage to one's own soul.

"So, everything Luviya said was true."

[Furthermore, her other self possesses a measure of autonomy.]

"What do you mean? Don't all Circle Sorcerers' 'other selves' have autonomy? Like you, don't you have autonomy?"

Shard asked, and the answer he received was still in a laughing tone. The voice in his ear, whispering in ancient language, truly made Shard wonder if she was really right by his ear:

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The breeze of the Sixth Era caressed your face as the Transcendents of this time looked back at their own reflection in the world, seeing the deepest shadow of their souls after a reflection. I am you, you are me, I will never hurt you, you will always trust me; this is the most ancient and primal contract that has existed since the birth of the first mortal being.

"Umm... Could you put that in simpler terms?"

I will never do anything you don't want to do, but her other self might.

The carriage rocked back and forth, Miss Galina still pondered, Tifa pulled out a notebook from under her skirt to check the day's itinerary, Shard sighed softly, and then he thought of the girl with purple eyes who was sound asleep in the manor:

"Do you know why Luviya's other self is so special?"

I can only feel and probe; I cannot give a reason.

Shard then ceased to ask and turned his attention to the scenery outside the window.

Just like she said, the wind brushed against his face, reminding him that this was reality, not a dream.

After last night, to an outlander, this world was like a black and white photograph with drops of paint added, becoming more real and vivid.

After entering the city in the carriage, Shard didn't immediately drop the Human Pus liquid into his eyes but went to the Sun Cathedral first. He met Iluna holding an umbrella at a street corner one block away from the cathedral.

When he had left the manor earlier, the weather was merely overcast, but after entering the city, a misty drizzle began to fall persistently.

Last night, when Miss Galina had sent a letter to Priest Augustus, Shard also had the servants deliver a letter to Iluna. The duchess had a way to contact people inside the church safely and secretly. After getting the consent of Miss Galina, he briefly told them about Tifa and Miss Galina's situation and that they were safe now.

Iluna's reply came to the manor that morning; Iluna was worried that the Human Pus would lead to other issues, so she wanted to act with Shard; this time they had to solve the problem.

"The church is really on the verge of being overwhelmed."

Shard shifted inside the carriage, moving the God's Gift Box at his feet further in. The seventeen-year-old girl who got on stuffed her umbrella in the side storage box and immediately sat down next to Shard, politely greeted Miss Galina, then turned to Shard to complain:

"Shard, you actually left all the work to me, I was writing the report until one o'clock in the morning before I could rest!"

Shard thought for a moment about what he had been doing early this morning, the sound of someone's breathing, Luviya's hot kiss, and the softness of the bed immediately came to mind:

"Has Weeper Helmons been caught?"

Hearing him ask this, Miss Galina also looked towards Iluna, who after a moment's thought said:

"It seems Helmons had already prepared for the possibility of Daknis's failure; moreover, with Mr. Hog Lendel of the Sunlight Greatsword needing to reinforce the Dark Realm, he managed to escape. But after directly receiving a hit from Mr. Lendel's Sublimation Incantation, he's probably going to have to recuperate for several decades. Besides him, we basically captured all the other helpers gathered by Weeper of the Twelve Rings of Vampire Kind, and even the Prophet's Society caught two members of the Truth Society. The Church achieved a complete victory in this operation."

Iluna was in high spirits:

"Of course, the matter concerning Miss Mana Feliana is the most troublesome aspect to deal with afterward. I heard from Mr. Hog Lendel that the Church of the Five Gods had jointly sent a letter to Saint Baylens, demanding an explanation for last night's incident."

"Hmm... What does the Academy say? Is there any news?"

Shard asked, and Iluna smiled slightly:

"This morning we received an official reply from Saint Baylens. They were also very angry. Your headmaster, 'Silver Guardian' Professor Pickman, instead accused the Church of exploiting the founder's power of the Academy and demanded the Church to explain last night's incident. This matter will definitely not be clarified in a short time, and I only mentioned seeing a robed God Summoner appear, but because the Arcane Technique used by Miss Feliana in the end covered all other traces, even if there was intent to investigate, nothing would come of it."

The Witch sitting beside also chimed in:

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"However, Miss Beyas, since you took credit for killing The Chosen One, I assume the Church has some reward for you, right?"

Iluna looked at the Witch, hesitated for a moment, then nodded:

"Yes, but they haven't said what they will give me yet."

"With your achievements and status, I think by the time you ascend to the Inner Ring, you will be the first person in the last hundred years of the Church of the Five Gods, aside from those venerable popes, to be sainted while alive."

Miss Galina stated, and she wasn't joking—Iluna genuinely could become "Saint Beyas" in the future.

"It doesn't really matter to me, I didn't put much effort into this matter. Looking at the circumstances at that time, even without me, Shard would have had his own way."

The seventeen-year-old girl murmured quietly.

That was obviously modesty—if she had not barely suppressed the power of the Human Pus with her "Balance" Talent, Shard wouldn't have lasted until the end to summon Miss Feliana.

"Chosen of Balance, I think Shard has already informed you of my identity. So, are you interested in following me to learn? There's no need to become a Witch, but to follow me in learning the path of balance, the 'Edict' series of Arcane Techniques."

The Witch asked again, apparently having decided the night before. Shard was quite suspicious that her reason for coming to the city with them was to have an excuse to meet Iluna in his presence.

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