Noticing Rei Ao's blatantly curious gaze, Marcille pursed her lips in embarrassment:
"Wh-why didn't you turn around?"
"You never told me to."
Rei Ao shrugged.
"Why that look? I'm the one who brought her back to lifecan't I, as her creator, appreciate my own handiwork?"
Truth be told, Falin wasn't exactly stunning, but her complexion was lovely, and her figure had a pleasantly soft roundness.
"You!"
Marcille was left speechless. This man was far too brazen!
[Ding! The Trade is complete!]
[Ding! You have acquired "Black Magic," "Elven Magic" both integrated into "True Demon Aspect." No changes!]
Rei Ao gave a slight smile.
"All right, the deal is done. How do you plan to pay the final part of your fee?"
""
Marcille's face went stiff. Falin, now dressed, looked over in puzzlement.
"A deal?"
Before she could ask for details, something sudden happened.
Rumble!
The entire cavern quaked violently! Lava waves rose in crashing peaks, fragments of rock rained from the ceiling. A cold voice echoed through the chamber:
"Who gave you permission to do as you please with it?!"
Everyone turned to the cavern entrance. Standing there was a short figure, long silver-white hair, pointed ears, and dark skin.
The chat group also saw him.
Akame: "A black-skinned elf?"
Sui: "He's a Dark Elf!"
Frieren: "Hm? I've never seen black-skinned elves before. Do Dark Elves have special traits?"
Sui: "In our world, Dark Elves are a branch of Elves with different magical aptitudes. I don't know about other worlds."
Izawa Shizue: "Anyway, he looks hostile."
Tohru: "Heh, a weakling."
Rei Ao felt no surprise at the Dark Elf's arrival. This was Thistle, the "Mad Mage" and master of the labyrinthonce a court sorcerer of Delgal.
He'd relocated the entire Golden Kingdom into this maze and given its people a twisted immortality, but in time his obsession and mania led him to a tragic end. Rei Ao was aware of this backstory, though neither Marcille nor Falin had any clue.
"A Dark Elf?"
Marcille murmured, confused to see such a being here.
Thistle's pitch-black eyes glittered with icy hostility. To him, these intruders were wrecking his kingdom's property. With each step he took, the ground frosted over:
"You killed the guardian. You must pay the price."
"Heh, and you think I'm going to pay that price? Bold words," Rei Ao said calmly, "but too badI don't have time to toy around."
He cast a single glance.
Crack!
The approaching Dark Elf froze, turning into a life-like ice sculpture on the spot.
"Huh?"
Marcille hadn't even processed what happened.
"He's dead,"
Rei Ao stated nonchalantly. Dealing with someone like that required hardly any effort at all.
As Thistle fell, the entire labyrinth trembled at its master's demise. Rei Ao had no desire to destroy the dungeon, so he solidified it with magical energy to keep it from collapsing. Within seconds, the shaking subsided.
"All right, let's head back. Time to settle your fee."
"???"
Back in a dimly lit room, the old oil lamp was replaced by a bright sphere of light, shining on Marcille's flushed cheeks. Only she and Falin were present.
"Marcille, what sort of deal did you make with them?"
Now that Falin was clear-headed, she guessed Marcille's contract had something to do with her resurrection.
"Ugh"
Marcille was too embarrassed to find the words. How could she explain?
Falin's face grew serious.
"If you won't say, I'll go straight to Rei Ao. I mean, if it's about the cost of reviving me, I can pay that price myself."
She made to stand. Despite her usually spacey demeanor, in matters like this she was determined.
"Wait! I'll tell you!"
Grabbing her arm, Marcille hastily confessed all about the cost required to bring Falin back. At the end, Falin's eyes widened:
"So the price wasyou, Marcille?!"
"Mm"
Marcille lowered her head in shame.
"That's"
Falin didn't know what to say; an uneasy silence settled over the room.
.
A long moment passed before:
"Rei Ao-san, please come in."
At Falin's request, Rei Ao and Sumika entered.
"Um Rei Ao-san, thank you for saving me,"
Falin said first, bowing deeply.
"Don't thank methank Marcille. Her deal is the only reason I came to help."
Rei Ao spoke plainly.
"?"
Falin paused, then looked up:
"Rei Ao-san, I already know about the agreement with Marcille. Would you please let me fulfill the contract's condition instead?"
Her voice trembled.
"I'm not as pretty as Marcille, but but I'll do anything you want!!!"
"F-Falin!"
Marcille gasped. 'Anything' is too extreme! Her own deal was just supposed to be once, after all.
Observing this, Fujimiya Sumika could only click her tongue in awe. So this is how trading works? Seeing it firsthand, she really had no words. But she wasn't about to stop Rei Ao either. Traveling to another world to help a strangersome form of payment was reasonable, even if that payment wasstrange.
Meanwhile, she also wanted to know how Rei Ao would respond. Suddenly, everyone's eyes were on him.
~~~
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Chapter 631: Next Day...
The Next Day
Morning sunlight filtered through a gap in the curtains, shining a golden streak across the floor.
"Howdid it come to this?"
Eyes fixed on the ceiling, Marcille lay on her back in a daze, her thoughts drifting back to what had happened not long before.
She turned her head; Falin was still asleep. Mixed feelings churned in Marcille's mind.
Rei Ao and Fujimiya Sumika had already left, but they'd left behind memories neither Marcille nor Falin would ever forget.
Weakly raising her arm, Marcille covered her face. She couldn't describe how she felt: her mind was filled with the lingering madness Rei Ao had shown her, and her body, as if by reflex, still felt warm all over.
Just then came a series of urgent knocks on the door
"Knock, knock, knock!!!"
"!!!"
The hammering sounded like a blade piercing her fantasies. Marcille's eyes snapped wide, a thin sheen of sweat gathering on her forehead. Without noticing, her hand had already been
If not for that knocking, who knew what she might have done?!
"Marcille! Are you there? Hurry and open up!"
A voiceunmistakably belonging to Laioscalled from outside, followed by even louder knocking.
On the other side of the bed, Falin rolled over, half-awake, mumbling,
"Mmwhat's going on? I think I heard my brother's voice"
She rubbed her eyes blearily, hair spread messily over the pillow. Marcille's heart pounded as if about to burst from her chest. She grabbed Falin by the shoulders and hissed:
"It's Laios! And Chilchuck is with him!"
Falin blinked sleepily:
"Why's that making you so nervous, Marcille?"
"That's not the point!"
Marcille's face showed panic.
"The point is our situation right now!"
"And how do we explain to them that you're alive, here, in this room?! They saw you get eaten by the Fire Dragon, and they're probably on their way to the labyrinth!"
Falin finally shook off her drowsiness, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.
"Ahthat is a problem."
Outside, the knocking became even more urgent.
"Marcille? You all right in there?"
This time it was Chilchuck's voice, full of concern.
"We heard voices inside."
Marcille scrambled out of bed. Her nightclothes were skewed, half her shoulder exposed. Hurriedly adjusting her clothing, she signaled Falin to hidebut the cramped room offered nowhere to stash her friend.
"I-I'll be right there!"
She called back, her pitch going shrill from nerves. Falin, though, was unexpectedly calm. Sitting up, she began dressing.
"Maybe we don't need to hide it."
"What are you saying?!"
Marcille stomped, flustered.
"How do we explain your resurrection? Telling them, 'Oh, I made a deal with some cross-world Chat Group Host who brought Falin back from the dead'? They'll think we're insane!"
"But"
Falin, looking oblivious, brushed her hair back.
"Rei Ao-kun said if we run into trouble, we can always contact him."
Marcille's eyes bulged. Yes, that man, that Chat Group host whose unimaginable power had resurrected Falin. In her greatest despair, she had messaged him through that strange Chat interface in her head, paying the required price for Falin's life. Only she and Falin knewit was a secret. Falin was also now apparently in the Chat's sub-group.
"No way!"
Marcille cut her off, adamant.
"We can't rely on him again. Our last trade already"
Her voice trailed off. Falin's expression softened, a faint, dreamy smile curving her lips.
"Maybe Rei Ao-kun is actually a really kind person."
Falin whispered, absentmindedly twisting a lock of hair around her finger.
Marcille's heart lurched. That tonethat lookshe'd seen them so many times back in school. Girls falling for someone would get that same rapt expression.
A dreadful suspicion formed in her mind: Could Falin be smitten with the man who'd taken herfirst experience? Butyes, he had treated them gently
"Marcille!"
Laios's voice behind the door sounded more anxious than before.
"If you don't open up, we're breaking the door down!"
"C-coming!"
Marcille, having tossed on some clothes, forced herself to answer. Then she turned to Falin, speaking fast under her breath:
"Listen, no matter what, we'll just bluff our way through. Not a single word about Rei Ao or the Chat, got it?"
Falin nodded. But the gleam in her eyes made Marcille uneasy. Taking a deep breath, Marcille headed for the door. Her hand trembled on the knob.
Once the door opened, Laios's tall figure filled her vision. He wore his typical adventuring gear, sword at his hip, face etched with worry. Beside him stood Chilchuck, fully equipped, his short stature exuding an air of seasoned caution 4.3.
"Why are you?"
Marcille began, only for Laios to cut her off:
"We've decided. We're heading to the labyrinth today. We can't wait any longer."
Each day passing was a day Falin The weight in his voice was heavy, a hint of grief flickering in his eyes.
"We came to get you so we can depart together."
Chilchuck chimed in:
"We have all the gear ready, extra provisions like you suggested."
As he spoke, he eyed Marcille's disheveled appearance with concern.
"You look pale, but your skin's oddly glowing. Did something happen?"
~~~
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Chapter 632: Falin's Feelings...
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~~~
"Marcille, are you okay?"
Laios and Chilchuck's questions left Marcille's throat bone-dry.
She angled her body to block their view inside the room.
"I I actually"
"Morning, BrotherChilchuck."
Falin's voice emerged from behind her, calm and clear.
Marcille felt dizzy, nearly collapsing. Laios and Chilchuck's expressions froze. In that moment, time seemed to stand still.
"FaFalin?"
Laios's voice quivered, disbelief filling his gaze. Before he could enter, Falin took Marcille's hand and stepped outside, not wanting Laios and Chilchuck to see how messy the room wasstill bearing traces of the previous day.
Standing in front of them, Falin made Laios feel as though he were in a dream. His hands trembled, reaching out yet afraid to make contact, worried this scene might vanish like a bubble.
Chilchuck was equally shocked, but soon his sharp eyes darted between Falin and Marcille.
"What on earth is going on?"
His tone was low, guarded.
"We all saw that Fire Dragon devour you, Falin."
He extended a hand to block Laios, who was about to approach. The situation was too bizarre.
Marcille's thoughts raced, struggling to produce a believable explanationonly for Falin to surprise her again.
"Marcille found a powerful sorcerer, Rei Ao, who saved me,"
Falin said, flashing Marcille a quick, playful wink.
Marcille noticed via the world's chat interface that Falin and Rei Ao were communicating:
Falin: "@Rei Ao, Rei Ao-san, do you mind if we tell my brother about what happened?"
Rei Ao: "Do not mention the chat group, but as for another world, my name, or what I did up to you."
Falin: "Understood! Thank you!"
Rei Ao: "No big deal. Is your brother over there with Marcille now?"
Falin: "YesMarcille's worried how to explain my resurrection."
Rei Ao: "You can concoct any excuse you like. Whether they believe it or not doesn't matter. The important thing is you're alive and well."
Rei Ao: "By the way, since it's your first time, would you consider becoming one of my women?"
Falin: "Eh?"
Rei Ao: "I assume you're traditional, so I thought I'd ask, but take your time to decide."
"???" Marcille was dumbfounded. Those two are so strange! Meanwhile, Laios was overwrought with joy:
"That's wonderful so wonderful"
He repeated, voice choking, caring little about the alleged 'powerful mage.' All that mattered was his sister was back.
""
Chilchuck, though, continued to stare at Marcille with suspicion.
"What sort of magic lets someone reemerge from a dragon's stomach? I've never heard of that."
A cold sweat trickled down Marcille's back. Avoiding his gaze, she stammered:
"Itit was an ancient, l-lost black magic"
No sooner did those words leave her mouth than she regretted themblack magic had quite the ominous reputation.
Picking up on it, Falin quickly added:
"Rei Ao-san is extremely skilled. He may use black magic, but he's a good person."
Marcille was amazed at Falin's off-the-cuff storytelling, yet let out a sigh of relief. It was a flimsy excuse but far better than revealing the cross-world Chat Group.
Chilchuck narrowed his eyes.
"Where is this great mage now? I'd like to meet someone who can perform such miracles."
"He already left,"
Falin replied with a soft exhale.
"Our benefactor had to go far away."
Some unreadable emotion flickered in her eyesmaybe longing, maybe regret. Laios, though, readily accepted the explanation; he was just too happy about his sister's return.
