With the weapon reinforcement complete, Lynn didn't plan on going straight home.
He rubbed his right shoulder, which was still throbbing with pain. He could feel a chill that seemed to have burrowed into the very marrow of his bones, and a shadow flickered across his eyes. Destined Death—in the Lands Between, this was the nightmare of the gods. Now that it had been brought to Orario, it felt like a drop of indelible ink falling onto a blank sheet of white paper.
"Tch, I can't exactly go back like this and make Eina cry again."
Lynn tightened the strap of the Bloodhound's Fang on his back. Avoiding the bustling crowds, he took a familiar path to a secluded spot and chose to teleport directly to the Site of Grace on the tenth floor of the Dungeon. He sat down beside the swaying golden flame, and a familiar sense of tranquility instantly enveloped him. Golden light particles flowed into his body with every breath, their warm power quickly mending his muscular fatigue.
A moment later, Lynn opened his eyes and impatiently pulled open his collar to look at his right shoulder.
"...Tch, as expected, it's not that simple."
The wound, which should have been completely healed by the power of the Grace, had closed up, but that hideous, centipede-like scorched scar remained stubbornly branded onto his skin. It seemed almost alive, curling slightly under the golden light, yet refusing to dissipate. That sense of dead silence, signifying that all things must eventually fade, looked particularly jarring in the presence of the life-giving Grace.
"Even resting at the fire won't get rid of it? Melina, your death curse is meaner than the Black Blade's."
Lynn laughed self-deprecatingly and stood up, patting the dust off his pants. Although he had been mentally prepared, his heart still sank a little seeing the Grace fail. This proved that the priority of the power of Destined Death was incredibly high. Under the reinforcement of this world's rules, it might have even evolved into a more troublesome form of true damage.
Late at night, on the rooftop of Eina's house.
Moonlight spilled through the small window onto the wooden floor. Lynn sat cross-legged and pulled the massive Star-Tear Crystal from his storage space. The crystal emitted a faint blue glow in the darkness, looking as though a miniature galaxy were flowing within it.
"Lady Witch, come out. I need you."
Lynn muttered to the empty air.
As soon as he spoke, a crisp, cold fragrance permeated the room. Points of blue luminescence gathered, forming the semi-transparent figure wearing a wide witch's hat. The four-armed spirit floated quietly before Lynn.
Ranni didn't look at the crystal she had desired for so long first. Instead, her ghostly blue single eye stared fixedly at Lynn's right shoulder. Even through his clothes, she seemed to smell the aura that made her very soul shudder.
"Lynn, take off your clothes."
Her voice was as ethereal as ever, yet it carried an undeniable coldness.
"Eh? We're going straight to that? My Lady Witch, even though we've fought side-by-side for a long time, this is still a rooftop..."
Lynn let his mouth run wild, but his hands didn't slow down as he nimbly pulled off his shirt. When the scorched scar was fully exposed to the moonlight, Ranni's previously calm expression shifted drastically.
She floated behind Lynn. One of her illusory hands trembled as she reached out to touch the scar, only to pull back the moment her fingertips were about to make contact.
"Destined Death..." Ranni whispered, her tone carrying an unmistakable complexity. "How did you get tainted by this?"
Lynn let out a helpless sigh and briefly explained what had happened after they had parted ways. He turned his head and, seeing the gravity on Ranni's face, couldn't help but ask:
"Well? Do you have a way? You were the mastermind behind the 'Night of the Black Knives,' after all. A little wound like this..."
"Those are two different things." Ranni interrupted him coldly, her four arms crossing over her chest as her brows knitted together. "I did indeed use the power of Destined Death to escape the control of the Two Fingers, but that was at the cost of discarding my physical body."
She looked at Lynn, her gaze becoming profound. "The current me is merely a lingering soul inhabiting a doll... or rather, just a spirit. The starlight sorcery I can call upon is greatly suppressed in this world."
She sighed, her figure swaying slightly as if she were feeling weak. "If I had the physical Rune of Death in hand, perhaps I could guide it out of you. But now... I cannot. This scar has been etched into the very foundation of your soul. While it isn't fatal for now, it will act like a drafty window, constantly wearing down your physical stamina and your maximum mana."
"Simply put, I've been slapped with a permanent debuff, right?" Lynn curled his lip, not looking too discouraged.
"You certainly take it well." Ranni looked at his carefree smile, a ripple of emotion flickering in her blue eye. She reached out and pressed a hand against Lynn's forehead. A cold, pure power instantly swept through his entire body. "I can only use the power of the Moon to temporarily seal its spread. Until this power is completely purged, your strength may be affected."
"Thanks, Lady Witch." Lynn felt waves of coolness emanating from his shoulder, and the burning, stinging sensation indeed lessened significantly. He casually handed over the Star-Tear Crystal.
"Here. This was the trap Melina used to track me. But I think it really is a special item. Why don't you study it?"
Ranni took the crystal, and a hint of curiosity finally appeared in her eyes. Her four slender hands cradled the crystal as countless blue incantations flowed across its surface.
"Very interesting. The reason I was able to manifest a physical form earlier might have been due to this item." She looked up, giving Lynn a deep look. "Lynn, this world is not as simple as it seems. The fact that Melina could cross dimensions to hunt you down suggests that the rules of the Lands Between are permeating this place in some way."
"I know." Lynn stood up and walked to the window, looking at the towering Tower of Babel in the distance. His gaze grew sharp. "And I don't plan on just waiting around."
Seeing this, Ranni said no more. "Please be careful, my King."
After bidding farewell to Ranni, Lynn returned to his bed and let out a long breath while staring at the ceiling. Although the Destined Death in his shoulder still throbbed, the seal of Moon magic suppressed the decaying, burning sensation like a block of ice.
He closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into his mind as he practiced calling out the UI interface that only he could see. Hidetaka Miyazaki's smile appeared before him again, making his forehead tighten instinctively. Fortunately, he had saved up quite a lot of Runes, which improved his mood.
Strength: 941 -> 1541
Endurance: 938 -> 1538
Dexterity: 945 -> 1545
Agility: 948 -> 1548
Magic: 932 -> 1532
As his Runes dropped to zero, a warm and violent surge of power exploded from his spine, flowing into his limbs and bones. Lynn sat up abruptly and clenched his fists, his knuckles letting out a series of sharp cracks. The air in his palm was squeezed so hard it let out a muffled pop.
"All stats at fifteen hundred. In Orario, that probably counts as a top-tier Level 2. I might even be able to go toe-to-toe with some fresh Level 3s," he muttered to himself, though a hint of dissatisfaction crossed his eyes. "Tch, still a bit short of my goal of two thousand for all stats."
The Runes required for leveling up were getting more and more expensive. He needed to find a place in the Dungeon with more monsters to farm. He rolled over and, clutching his desire for Runes, fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, Lynn was woken up by a faint but persistent knocking at the door.
"Eina? Don't you have the morning shift at the Guild today?"
Rubbing his messy hair, he pushed the door open with sleep-crusted eyes. However, the person standing outside wasn't the bespectacled, maternal half-elf lady.
In the faint light of dawn, a young girl wearing a deep blue long-sleeved maid outfit and a snowy white apron stood there, looking flustered. Her pair of golden fox ears twitched anxiously, and a fluffy, large tail hung behind her, swaying slightly with her nervousness.
"...Haruhime?" Lynn froze, his sleepiness instantly vanishing. "What are you doing here? Didn't Mikoto take you back to the Take-mikazuchi Familia to look after you?"
Seeing Lynn, Haruhime's face, which was as delicate as a porcelain doll, instantly flushed crimson. She bent forward sharply in a ninety-degree bow.
"L-Lord Lynn! I am terribly sorry for disturbing you so early!" Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, carrying the sweet softness characteristic of the Renard race. "Haruhime... Haruhime has come to repay her debt!"
"Repay your debt?" Lynn leaned against the doorframe, watching the fox girl he had rescued from the Pleasure Quarter with interest. "I told you there was no need for that, right? Besides, how exactly do you plan on repaying me?"
Haruhime looked up. Her eyes were bright, yet held the specific stubbornness of women from the Far East. She pulled a small cloth bundle from her bosom, which contained a few neatly folded changes of clothes—her entire worldly possessions.
"Lady Mikoto and Lord Take-mikazuchi have both been very kind to me, but..." Haruhime twisted her fingers, lowering her head shyly. "Haruhime has thought about it. It was Lord Lynn who pulled me out of that dark abyss. You gave me a freedom I never dared to hope for. If I cannot serve by your side, Haruhime... Haruhime will not be able to eat or sleep in peace."
Seeing how serious she was, Lynn became serious as well. "Serve me? But I'm staying at Eina's house. This isn't exactly appropriate, is it? And the wages..."
"I don't need wages!" Haruhime waved her hands frantically, the tips of her ears burning hot. "Haruhime can wash clothes, cook, clean the rooms... although Haruhime is a bit clumsy, I will definitely work hard to learn! And... I can even serve Miss Eina as well!"
As she spoke, she took a bold step forward, bringing with her a faint scent of cherry blossoms. "Please let Haruhime be your maid! I beg of you!"
The afterglow of the setting sun filtered through the window frames, casting long, slanted shadows on the wooden floor. Haruhime remained in her ninety-degree bow. The fluffy fox ears atop her head twitched with tension, and her tail was pressed tightly against her leg, showing her unease. Her amber eyes were full of sincerity, as if she would melt into a puddle of snow the moment Lynn rejected her.
"Um, Haruhime..." Lynn scratched his head, his gaze moving past her into the house. This house belonged to Eina. Although he lived here with full confidence, bringing someone into the home was something he definitely had to clear with the homeowner.
Before he could find the right words, a series of crisp footsteps sounded behind him.
"Lynn? What are you doing at the door? Did you lose your key?"
Eina walked over, carrying her Guild briefcase, her uniform skirt fluttering in the wind. She immediately saw the fox girl doubled over, trying to shrink into a ball. Eina's footsteps came to an abrupt halt, and her eyebrows shot up.
"Miss Haruhime?"
"Miss Eina!" Hearing the voice, Haruhime reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She shot upright before dropping into an even more standard bow. "S-sorry for the intrusion! Haruhime has come... to ask Mr. Lynn to take her in!"
As she spoke, she incoherently repeated her intentions. Her cheeks were as red as ripe berries. Finally, she didn't forget to add her trademark, suggestive clarification:
"As long as I can stay by Mr. Lynn's side, Haruhime... Haruhime is willing to do anything. Whether it is serving your daily needs, or... or anything else, I am willing!"
Lynn silently rolled his eyes, wondering if this girl's vocabulary only consisted of sentences that were easily misunderstood.
Eina's expression became subtle. She looked at the awkward Lynn, then at Haruhime, who looked like she might faint from nervousness. She let out a helpless sigh and pushed the door open.
"Come inside first. Standing at the door like this is unsightly. People will think I'm running some kind of strange recruitment here."
After entering, Eina skillfully brewed a cup of black tea and handed it to Haruhime. Haruhime held the cup with both hands, her knuckles turning white from the grip. She sat on the edge of the sofa, her posture so upright it looked like she was participating in a sacred ritual.
"Alright, have some tea first." Eina sat opposite her, her gaze piercing. "What about the Take-mikazuchi Familia? Did Miss Mikoto and Lord Take-mikazuchi agree to you moving out?"
Haruhime took a tiny sip of tea and nodded carefully. "Lady Mikoto... she patted Haruhime's head and said if it was my own decision, she would support me. Lord Take-mikazuchi also said that as long as Haruhime is happy, it's fine."
"Honestly, that guy is still such a pushover," Eina muttered. She turned to Lynn with an inquiring look.
Lynn spread his hands, adopting a "don't look at me, I'm just a guest with no authority" stance. "I'm fine with whatever. This is your house. As long as you don't kick me out to sleep on the floor in the Dungeon, I have no objections."
Eina glared at him then turned back to stare at Haruhime for a while.
"Since you've put it that way... you can stay, but I have a few conditions."
Haruhime straightened her back immediately, her eyes incredibly bright. "Please say them! Haruhime will follow any condition!"
"First," Eina held up a finger, "Stop calling him 'Lord.' This is a home, not the Pleasure Quarter. Just call him 'Mr. Lynn.' It sounds too awkward otherwise."
"Yes... Mr. Lynn!" Haruhime corrected herself immediately, her voice small.
"Second, you are not allowed to think of yourself as a servant. You are not anyone's property. Here, you are a roommate. You don't have to pay rent, but chores must be shared. After all, both of us have to go to the Dungeon."
"Roommate..." Haruhime chewed on the word. A layer of mist suddenly formed in her eyes, and her expressive eyes shimmered with an unspeakable light. To her, this wasn't just a place to live; it was the first proof of being treated as an equal by this world.
She nodded frantically, tears welling in her eyes, but she forced herself to keep them from falling. "Haruhime... Haruhime understands! Thank you, Miss Eina! Thank you, Mr. Lynn!"
Lynn looked at her and couldn't help but smile. He walked over to Haruhime and patted her head, the movement as natural as petting a puppy he had picked up.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Eina's voice suddenly sounded in his ear.
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