Chapter 148: It Was Too Noisy
The small hand mirror began to shine brilliantly. It absorbed the moonlight, then reflected it onto , drawing a red aura from my body.
[Refreshing.]
The mirror seed to be extracting a trendous amount of my lifespan, yet to Reto, it was no more than a satisfying back scratch.
Lily had ntioned earlier that sacrificing a lifespan without being able to interpret one’s Divine Na was the worst-case scenario, but in this instance, her worry was unnecessary.
[Arthur Clayton – Divine Hunter (Sacred)]
[Third ntal Barrier]
[Siren’s Hymn]
[Heart of Retonicalus (25% Synchronization)]
[Guide of Other Races]
[Ring of Desire (Survival)]
Finally.
The list of Divine Na was now clearly visible on the surface of the mirror—each entry sharp and vivid.
I focused my eyes, ensuring I morized every single detail of the list.
A short while later, Lily and I completed our exchange of Divine Na information.
Both of us seed satisfied with what we learned.
Though our first eting had begun with a scream, it concluded with a smile.
If I wanted to continue tracking the changes in my Divine Na list, Lily’s help would be indispensable. Building a good relationship with her was a natural choice.
To do that, I needed to understand her circumstances better.
But then—
“I overdid it today,” Lily muttered, stretching her arms.
“I have so questions for you.”
“Are they urgent?”
“Not really, but…”
“Then ask tomorrow. If I don’t get enough sleep, my skin will get dry.”
She spoke while looking at herself in the mirror, worrying over her skin.
Without hesitation, she settled on the ground near the campfire, rolled up her cloak into a makeshift pillow, and rested her head on it.
The sound of soft snoring soon followed.
From preparing for bed to falling asleep, the whole process took re monts.
Nearby, Keros settled down beside her, sprawled on its stomach, lazily licking its paws.
The sight made chuckle.
To think she could sleep so soundly, even on the sa day she discovered new information about her Divine Na list.
Did she simply not worry about things?
Or was she the type to avoid overthinking altogether?
I had hoped to ask why she had left the forest, but that opportunity was gone for now.
Shaking my head, I turned my gaze to Karl and Lochter.
The two n were sitting by the fire, both stealing glances at while trying to gauge my mood.
‘These guys are built like bears, yet…’
Their expressions resembled baby birds waiting for their mother.
I could guess why, and with a sigh, I walked over to them.
Might as well start with this.
“I think we’ll need to stay here a bit longer.”
My body wasn’t fully recovered yet.
It felt like I still couldn’t put strength into my fingertips.
Though my voracious appetite had been sated and my recovery had accelerated, restoring the Vitality I had burned through during Burst Strike would take more ti.
Besides, I needed ti to think about my Divine Na.
“That’s probably for the best,” Lochter replied. “I have plenty of questions for you.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
I took a seat near the fire, and an awkward silence settled over us.
Since our initial encounter had been so urgent, we’d barely exchanged words outside of battle.
This was the first ti the three of us had a chance to speak with any semblance of calm.
Karl and I had built a light camaraderie back in the Laup Forest, so we easily exchanged pleasantries. But things were still awkward with Lochter.
I figured I’d need more ti to get to know him better.
“Still, I haven’t officially recruited you two yet,” I said casually, as if testing the waters.
It was more of a passing remark than a formal suggestion, but neither of them gave a clear answer.
Today didn’t seem like the right day to press the issue anyway. We had too much unfinished conversation between us.
It seed wiser to make my proposal after we’d talked things through.
For now, I decided to address the reason they were watching so intently.
“Are you curious about the details of my Divine Na?”
Lochter was the first to respond, unable to hide his interest.
“Do you an… we could know your list?”
His expression was filled with expectation, especially after watching how easily Lily and I had exchanged information earlier.
I rembered Lochter’s Divine Na list clearly:
[Lochter Felice – Knight of Betrayal (Null)]
[Master of Swordsmanship]
[Master of Fundantals]
[Unyielding Will]
Lochter’s interest wasn’t unusual. He wasn’t rely curious about knowing Divine Na; he wanted to understand them in detail.
“I can tell you,” I said simply.
“Really? Seriously?”
Karl leaned in with an eager sparkle in his eyes.
His Divine Na list was also familiar to :
[Karl Bastain – Hero’s Companion (Senses)]
[Instinctive Crisis Detection]
[Assassin’s Tactical Judgnt]
[Resonance – Target: Lochter Felice]
Smiling faintly, I nodded. “It’s not that difficult.”
“I want to know,” Karl said imdiately. “What’s the price? I’ll pay it.”
“You don’t even have money, do you?” I teased.
“Uh…” Karl scratched his chin awkwardly, clearly caught.
Lochter frowned in thought, stroking his jaw as if brainstorming ways to gather funds. But considering his straightforward nature, the best he could probably think of was working as a bodyguard or rcenary.
Even so, he’d need a lifeti of work to afford Divine Na information, which typically started at 300,000 gold in the black market.
“Forget money.”
I waved my hand dismissively.
“I’ll just tell you.”
“For free?” Lochter asked, genuinely puzzled.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Does there need to be a reason? Aren’t we comrades who’ve risked our lives together? Or… aren’t we?”
“Well…”
I could have used this as leverage to secure their recruitnt, but I didn’t want to impose conditions on them.
In this harsh and desolate world, I longed for comrades who could stand by without calculating gains or losses.
People I could entrust my life to in the future.
And trust always started with an open hand.
To win their hearts, I had to make the first move.
“Why don’t we talk over food?” I suggested.
“Even after eating so much?” Karl raised an eyebrow.
“I haven’t eaten for three days, Karl.”
“You’re a disgusting guy, you know that?”
Despite his words, Karl chuckled and headed into the forest to hunt.
For an assassin with expert tracking skills and precision throwing techniques, hunting was as easy as taking a walk.
The fire crackled softly, scattering delicate embers into the air.
In the calm, the only sound was the soft snores of those asleep.
Karl was butchering the at, occasionally glancing at Lily.
He was good at reading people, but Lily seed to be an exception.
Her unpredictable nature left him unsure of how to approach her.
“Even after three days, I still don’t get her. Are all witches like that?”
“Not all of them. She’s just unique.”
“Unique, huh… Well, considering how she’s snoring without a care in the world, she’s definitely special. Snoring in front of an assassin, of all people.”
Karl smirked lazily, lifting his blade as if contemplating sothing.
But I chuckled and glanced toward Lily’s companion.
Keros, ears perked and alert, sat nearby.
Whatever Karl was considering, it wouldn’t end well for him if he tried it now.
He didn’t seem to realize how close he’d been to dying last ti.
“So, how do you know her?” Karl asked. “You seem like you’re familiar with her.”
“I t her for the first ti today.”
“…What?”
“The at’s ready. Let’s eat.”
For the first ti in ages, I felt a sense of comfort.
Back in my old world, campfires and casual als like this were routine.
Here, they were rare luxuries.
We started with light conversation, sharing small stories as the night wore on.
The hours stretched long, and by dawn, Lochter and Karl had both learned their Divine Na lists.
A cold wind snapped out of my thoughts.
“Urgh!”
The sound of snoring and the scent of burnt wood greeted as I sat up.
The campfire had died, leaving behind black ash and scattered bones—remnants of the previous night.
Stretching, I flexed my arms. My body felt alive again, vitality flowing through my limbs.
Taking a deep breath, I checked my mana. It moved smoothly with each inhale and exhale.
The Vitality I had burned during Burst Strike was slowly returning.
Still, it had been a near-miracle.
What I had achieved in three days would have left any normal human as a shriveled corpse.
[Heart of Retonicalus]
[Ring of Desire (Survival)]
These two entries in my Divine Na list were what made my recovery possible.
A list tailored for survival.
Without it, I wouldn’t have lasted.
Running my fingers across the back of my hand, I paused.
When I infused Sacred Power, a golden glow shimred faintly.
[Siren’s Hymn]
So, that’s the na of the ancient glyph.
I had suspected it before, but its effects had changed.
The Siren’s Scream was now the Siren’s Hymn.
The other entries—Third ntal Barrier, Guide of Other Races—were within the scope of my knowledge.
Now that I knew my Divine Na list, I could objectively evaluate my own strength.
That alone was a huge advantage.
“Still, what does this an?”
[25% Synchronization]
The option tied to the Heart of Retonicalus was a mystery.
I figured I could ask Reto about it, but there was one small problem.
‘He fell asleep on .’
After boldly declaring he’d take the curse in my place, Reto had promptly dozed off.
‘Aren’t you immortal? Didn’t you say this was refreshing?’
The immortal being’s arrogance was as irritating as ever.
When he woke up, I’d definitely have words for him.
For now, I decided to set the synchronization issue aside and turned my attention to my surroundings.
“Didn’t he complain about not being able to sleep?”
Karl’s loud snoring was a stark contrast to his earlier claims that assassins who snored wouldn’t live long. He seed oblivious to his own hypocrisy.
“Didn’t sleep well?” I asked.
“…No.”
Unlike Karl, Lochter had quietly risen when I woke up.
His face looked haggard, whether from his newfound knowledge of his Divine Na or the incessant snoring, I wasn’t sure.
“It was too noisy,” he grumbled.
It was the snoring, after all.
But his gaze wasn’t on the others. It was on .
Why was he staring at like that?
Tilting my head in confusion, I heard a familiar voice.
“Awuuuung!”
Lily was awake.
She had fallen asleep by the campfire but sohow woke up about twenty ters away near the edge of the forest.
Unbothered, she casually fixed her disheveled hair, kissed Keros good morning, and returned to sit by the fire.
Karl handed her a bowl of stew.
“Welco to the blazing noon sun.”
“...”
“You’ve been the first to sleep and the last to wake up for two days straight. Are all witches this lazy?”
“The prettier the girl, the sleepier she is. I’m sleepy because I’m pretty.”
“Who taught you that nonsense?”
“Grandma. But she never sleeps. She says that’s why she has so many wrinkles.”
“That’s because she’s old…”
Lily ignored his muttering, her attention now on the stew.
“This tastes good. What’s in it?”
“Deer head.”
After briefly bantering with Karl, Lily scanned the area.
She noticed Lochter practicing swordsmanship in the distance.
She’d woken up three tis now, and each ti, Lochter had been in the exact sa spot, performing the sa motions.
Without any special interruptions, he’d likely continue until sunset.
Watching him repeat the sa actions over and over clearly bored her.
Her gaze shifted, searching for instead.
“Where’s he?”
“He went to scout the area.”
“Will he be back?”
“Why are you even asking? Of course, he’ll be back.”
“…Alright.”
After finishing her al, Lily played with Keros, rolling around and breathing out small flas for fun.
Karl cleaned up the area while sorting through the conversations he’d overheard the day before.
Each of us spent our ti in our own way, waiting for my return.
The sound of Lochter’s sword abruptly stopped.
After wiping his sweat, he turned around and spotted sothing erging from the forest.
A carriage.
Hiiihhhiiing!
The two horses pulling the old carriage neighed as it rolled into view.
Sitting on the driver’s bench, holding the reins, I scanned the group and gestured toward the carriage with a nod of my chin.
“Get in. It’s ti to move.”
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