Chapter 93 – Festival (8)

“Since thinking about it won’t give us answers… shall we just practice?”

“…Is that really okay?”

“Yes. Even after checking, I don’t sense any danger.”

“Well, that’s true…”

It definitely doesn’t feel dangerous.

It’s curled up so deep inside, barely noticeable even with intense focus. Less dangerous, more… awkward and foolish.

Alright, let’s try it.

“O-okay. Let’s practice.”

“Then lie down. Stretch like you’re just waking up, and try to stimulate the mana.”

“Stretch…?”

“Yes. You can actually stretch or just imagine it—either works.”

“I-I’ll try…”

I carefully lay down, keeping the greatsword from tearing the bedding. Rubia plopped down beside me.

“R-Rubia, why are you lying down too…?”

“Just because. Come on, stretch.”

“O-okay…”

With a slight nod, I stretched my arms and legs wide.

“Huuungh—!”

“Now stimulate your mana too!”

“Hiiieee—!”

Something inside me trembled in response to my movement.

“Haa, oh! It moved!”

“Hehe… Good! Again. Ready… stretch—!”

“Hiiiiaaahhh—!”

This time I stretched harder, as if trying to tear my limbs apart, stimulating the energy within.

The earlier trembling became a writhing sensation, the energy beginning to rise.

“Oh, oh…!”

I might be able to control it now!

“Rubia…! Now! Right now…!!”

“Already feeling it? Let’s try gathering it where I point.”

“Yes! Hurry, hurry—hngh…! W-what are you doing?!”

“No time for that! Just do it!”

“Eek! Rubia, you pervert! You’re shameless!”

So many things to say, but the feeling’s fading—I have to follow her lead.

I grabbed the scattered divine power throughout my body.

Pulled it all toward where Rubia pointed—my navel.

Tingling sensations swept through me, gathering at my core.

“It worked!”

“Now let’s move it here.”

“W-wait…!”

I gripped the resistant energy tighter, forcing it along. Eventually it yielded, growing docile.

This clumsy thing. Should’ve listened from the start.

“Done!”

“Now try releasing it outside your body.”

“Huh…?”

“Like… like sneezing.”

“Sneezing…?”

“Yes. Imagine releasing energy like a sneeze.”

Her explanation is… oddly vague.

Well then—

“Could you… tickle my nose?”

“Pfft… I didn’t mean actually sneeze.”

Is she laughing at me?! Mocking me?!

“Well… I don’t know how else…”

“Alright, I’ll help… hehe…”

Her fragrant hair brushed my nose, tickling.

“Ugh, ugh… haah… haahh…”

After relentless tickling—

“Ah-choo! Ah-choo! Ah-choo!”

Three massive sneezes.

Then—

“Oh… Oh! Noah! It worked! Something came out!”

“H-huh? Really? But where…?”

As I tilted my head, Rubia wiped my upper lip.

Then smiled brightly and said:

“Your snot!”

“Ah.”

***

“Wow… Noah, you’re really getting good at this!”

“Don’t talk to me…”

This is insane. Sure, I released something, but…

Why wipe it with your hand?! That’s disgusting!

I’m so annoyed.

“I was… just joking…”

“Forget it. I hate you. Go away.”

I pushed away the creeping Rubia and focused solely on my mana flow.

It resembled beasts’ dark energy. Similar to Rubia’s divine power. Like normal mana but… different.

Still, closest to mana, so that’s what I’ll call it.

“Hmm…”

From pinky to middle finger. To arm, to shoulder, back to arm.

My control is improving. No—perfect now.

Since that humiliating sneeze.

Sniff.

According to Rubia, my mana is dark red.

She says it’s pretty, matching my eyes. But really… As long as no weird rumors spread—what’s pretty about ominous dark red?

Pure red or black would’ve been better…

“Want to learn something amazing? Or are you still ignoring me?”

“…Ignoring you. I hate you.”

I turned away.

Though…

Having mana in my body… It’s overwhelming.

How should I use it?

Can’t release it like Rubia does. Can’t even form shapes with it.

“Hmm…”

“Don’t know how to use it?”

Rubia snuggled close, linking our arms.

“I’ll teach you.”

“No thanks… Don’t talk to snot-nosed kids…”

“Pfft… No, no… You’re cute even with a runny nose.”

“It’s not cute! It’s gross…”

“Not at all. I like that side of you too.”

“Ugh…”

She unlinked arms to hug me tight instead.

I was really mad just now. So frustrated, but getting mad feels petty… which makes me more frustrated.

What? All this anger building up.

But in her arms, breathing her scent… I feel calmer.

This is why I tried keeping distance…

“J-just this once…”

“Hehe… Okay.”

“I mean it… Really.”

“Mm-hmm. Thank you.”

I scattered my practiced mana and leaned into her.

So soft.

“So… how do I use this?”

“First off, you can’t shape it like I do?”

“No…”

“Then use it for body enhancement.”

Body enhancement?

“I can’t do it myself… but I’ll show you the feeling.”

I nodded and sat up.

“Starting.”

I focused intensely, mapping her divine power.

It emerged briefly before sinking smoothly beneath her skin.

“Like this… understand?”

“J-just a moment…”

Her power seeped into muscles and veins, spreading thin like coating. Circulating continuously.

“Hmm… I think I get it.”

Before forgetting, I tried immediately. Following her example, drawing mana from everywhere…

“It might not work first try.”

But will surface coating really enhance anything?

“Most people take six months to a year to reach this stage.”

Wouldn’t pushing it deeper into each fiber work better?

Why don’t they do that?

Too hard to control maybe?

“So take it slow, Noah.”

Ah… maybe I can do it because I can visualize with my senses? Can’t feel it but can see the details.

Well, whatever. I let the mana seep into each muscle—not just coating but into every fiber.

“You’re already strong enough, no need to rush… W-wait, what are you doing…?”

Directing mana through my entire body—every muscle fiber, every blood drop.

Blood flow quickened, muscles growing taut and powerful.

My body felt light.

“Noah… did you just… succeed?”

“Um… I think so?”

“How…?”

What should I say?

“I just… did it well?”

“That’s not how it’s supposed to work…”

“But… I just did it?”

Rubia pinched my cheek, exasperated.

“Say that to others and you’ll get smacked.”

“Ow… Not so hard…”

“Sigh… Feel any different?”

“Hmm…”

Besides feeling light and refreshed…

“Need to try using it…”

“Want to swing your greatsword?”

“Here? Not outside…?”

“Yes. We’ll move furniture like before.”

I hesitated. Going outside means dressing properly, wearing robes, walking…

“What if… furniture breaks…”

“We’ll pay Charlotte. She won’t be that mad.”

“T-then… let’s do it here.”

“Hehe… Good choice.”

Rubia immediately started clearing tables and chairs.

Creating enough space for greatsword swings.

“Enough room?”

“Yes, perfect.”

Even space to step and swing again.

If I break anything with all this room… I’ll call Rubia unni.

If not? No more jelly. Really. Promise.

“I-I’ll try…”

After Rubia stepped back, I gripped the greatsword.

The leather-wrapped hilt creaked.

“Hah…”

Steadying my breath.

Left foot forward— Thump.

Greatsword over shoulder— Creak.

Then swung.

KWAANG—!

“O-oh… Noah…?”

Left wall, right wall, front wall— All collapsed. All furniture destroyed. Only bed and sofa remained.

Creak—BANG!

“What’s happening?! Under attack?!”

Charlotte burst in.

Crumble—

“Lady Rubia! Lady Noah! Are you alright?!”

Yuria climbed up through tree roots.

Thud—Crash—

Then the ceiling fell.

“Rubia… unni.”

I saved my jelly.

And Rubia—

“Haa… Noah tempted me first. This… This isn’t my fault.”

—licked her lips.