“Me, me being physically uncoordinated……”

I couldn’t believe it.

And for good reason, despite appearances, I could do social dances and even ride horses decently.

I might not be great at it, but this much means I’m not uncoordinated, right?

But Carlot was cold.

“You’ve been learning those for years since childhood, wouldn’t it be strange if you couldn’t do them? You’re just stupid.”

Then even Greed chimed in.

“Kiuuk.”

I could easily interpret that black fox’s strange cry.

‘1 larit more expensive.’

That’s probably what he’s saying.

Just wait until we’re alone. As I was glaring at Greed, Jansi advised me in a somewhat lighter tone.

“Lili. Physical training is important, but wouldn’t it be good to learn how to use your power?”

“My power?”

My power was Severes’ ‘purification’ ability.

So far, I have only used my power to purify toxins or purify contaminated mediums to close rifts.

I couldn’t think of any other ways to use the purification power.

Jansi, understanding my inner thoughts, added with a smile.

“I heard that the power of Severes’ head of the family can also attack, even though it’s the same purification attribute as Lili’s.”

“That’s right. I heard it’s at a level that can even rival Father.”

How can one attack with the power of purification?

As Jansi suggested, it didn’t seem like a bad idea to ask Dad for advice on how to use the power.

Still, there was no disagreement with Adenmir’s opinion that physical training was necessary.

Just in case a monster chases after me during the subjugation battle, I need to be able to run away at least.

I did have the defensive magic tool that Isis gave me, but it was just a temporary measure.

After all, it was a consumable item that could no longer use magic after being activated a few times.

Carlot, who was fiddling with Greed’s cheeks, said nonchalantly.

“Sister. Mother says to just kill them all with poison.”

“What if our allies get caught in it too?”

“Ah, right? Then if everyone dies and only you survive, doesn’t that mean we win?”

He was saying nonsense after insisting that I must take him along for this subjugation battle.

As I was trying to focus back on training, ignoring Carlot’s nonsense, Gretel, who had been sitting quietly, called out to me.

“Miss Elodie. Why don’t you take a short break? I brought some simple sandwiches.”

I looked back at Adenmir for permission, and he nodded with a smile.

“Take a short break.”

A break!

As I was about to hurry to the edge of the training ground under the tree where Gretel was sitting, a noisy commotion broke out.

The main characters were Carlot and Gretel.

“It’s too sweet.”

“Ah, Young Master! Why are you eating first!”

“You brought it for all of us to eat together anyway, right?”

“Miss Elodie should eat first!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine.”

“I’m not fine with it!”

Gretel was angry because Carlot ate the sandwich first.

Regardless, Carlot was teasing Gretel with a grin.

I watched their conversation meaningfully.

“You two, when did you get so close?”

Both of them answered my question simultaneously.

“We’re not close!”

“It’s been a while, hasn’t it?”

Did I just ask them both the same question?

Gretel denied it, while Carlot not only affirmed it but was even brazenly counting the duration.

Their contradictory answers gave me a rough idea of their relationship, but I pretended not to notice, wiped my hands, and picked up a sandwich.

“I’ll enjoy it, Miss Gretel.”

“Here, have some juice with it too.”

“It’s delicious!”

As I was eagerly eating Gretel’s sandwich, she hesitantly handed me something else.

“Ah, and Miss Elodie. Father asked me to give this to you.”

“Viscount Sangpan did?”

What she handed me was none other than an uncut diamond.

“He said it’s the first raw stone mined from the mine he invested in, and he really wanted to give it to you, Miss Elodie.”

She added that he had followed my casual advice about the business that I had mentioned through Miss Gretel before, and it had helped him avoid a big disaster.

Moreover, when he invested as advised, they really discovered a diamond mine.

Thanks to that, he had paid off all the family’s enormous debts, and their situation would become more comfortable from now on.

“He said it’s all thanks to you, Miss Elodie, and asked me to convey his gratitude.”

“That’s great, Miss Gretel!”

Come to think of it, I thought Gretel’s expression had been particularly bright lately, so it was because things were going well for her family.

I had been so busy lately that I hadn’t been able to pay attention to Gretel.

Gretel and Viscount Sangpan deserved to have the diamond mine since they had listened to and acted on my passing advice.

Seeing Gretel so happy made me happy too.

At that moment, Greed, who had been lying down, let out a sound.

“Keoeouk.”

“Oh my, the fox is burping. How cute.”

……I decided to have a deep conversation with Greed later.

The pleasant time didn’t last long. Adenmir, who had been quietly listening to my conversation with Gretel, slowly got up from his seat.

“My lady. It’s time to train again.”

I looked up at Adenmir, who was extending his hand to me, with a tearful expression.

“Sob.”

Please spare me……

***

Fidget, fidget.

“Ahem, ahem.”

As I entered the office making all sorts of noises, Dad had already covered his documents and was waiting for me to come in.

It was embarrassing to have my intentions so clearly exposed, but there was nothing I could do.

I approached Dad and casually started the conversation.

“Um, Dad.”

“The contract is still maintained.”

An answer came before I even asked. I let out a short breath and smiled brightly.

“Thank you.”

For days, I had been subtly asking because Dad disliked me having contact with sin.

Because I asked too often, I had no choice but to be hesitant like this due to feeling self-conscious.

But I could only feel at ease by checking on Raeyan’s life and death several times a day.

‘Raeyan. Where on earth are you?’

Now, people no longer wondered about the Black Ravine subjugation team members who had disappeared.

How long had it been since they went missing? They were completely forgotten.

As if they never existed in this world, to begin with.

But I couldn’t give up on Raeyan. Of course, the mercenary group was still searching.

I believed in Raeyan.

That no matter how long it took, he would surely return.

Although I could only confirm his life or death, I wanted to confirm that Raeyan existed in this world, even if only in that way.

“Elodie. Are the preparations for the subjugation battle going well?”

“Umm….. I’m trying, but……”

In fact, I couldn’t say it was going well.

We had just finished selecting the participants for the subjugation battle today.

The total number of participants in the Western Magic Tower’s monster subjugation battle was five, including me.

Carlot, Jansi, Urania, Stephen.

Since Carlot’s power and ability alone were stronger than the high-ranking mages of the magic tower, we deliberately excluded mages.

With Gabe Jenade not participating, Isis also couldn’t attend for the sake of fairness.

Unlike the four people with outstanding individual abilities, I could do nothing and would be fortunate if I didn’t hold them back.

‘I don’t want to be a burden just receiving protection.’

I wanted to be a force that could at least pull my own weight.

Suddenly, Jansi’s advice to try using my power came to mind.

“Dad, how do you use the purification power?”

“The power, you say?”

“Yes. I heard that you can use strong power even with your ability.”

Dad, who had been silent for a moment, got up from his seat and sat on the reception sofa.

“I understand. We need to talk, so please sit down, Elodie.”

Although he was my real father, this was precious advice from none other than the head of the Severes family.

I quickly sat down opposite him and perked up my ears as if to listen intently.

“The power of purification is known to purify contaminated things. The range of power that Elodie has used so far probably hasn’t deviated from that.”

“That’s right.”

“If you change your perception of purification, it becomes possible to implement a wider range of abilities. Instead of making contaminated things clean, interpret it as eliminating things that threaten me.”

“It feels similar to annihilation.”

The power of annihilation that Jansi possessed was also the power to eliminate things that touched his hand.

“Annihilation doesn’t have the condition of only being able to eliminate the subject that is contaminated or threatening, does it? That’s why the price is so high.”

Ouch.

I was reminded of Jansi, who always suffered from the risk of going berserk. I tried to manage my expression at Dad’s words, which seemed to know even that fact.

After all, it was Jansi’s secret, so I needed to keep it.

“If you handle the power of purification well, you can sufficiently protect yourself.”

“How?”

“When an opponent with power attacks, you can nullify the opponent’s power.”

“……!”

Nullification. It was an incredible ability.

It means that at least with power, they can’t harm me, right?

I asked Dad with sparkling eyes.

“Can I do it too?”

“……Well. It would be possible if you train, but I don’t recommend it. The training method is extreme, and it can’t be acquired in a short period of time anyway.”

Dad’s words were longer than usual, as if he really didn’t like it. As what little hope I had of being able to do something quickly faded away, I naturally became dejected.

“I see….. I understand.”

Anyway, I knew that I couldn’t practice nullification now, with the magic tower battle approaching soon.

Is there really no choice but to do physical training and run away diligently?

As I let out a deep sigh, Dad asked me a question.

“Do you need a means to protect yourself?”

“Yes, that’s right. After all, it’s hard to protect myself with my own strength.”

Dad, who had been staring at me intently, suddenly stood up.

“Wait a moment.”

“……?”

Dad left me perplexed and went out of the office.

Huh?

I waited obediently as Dad said, fortunately, he soon returned.

In Dad’s hand was a box that wasn’t there when he left.

Dad put the box down on the table in front of me and sat down opposite me again.

“Open it.”

Click-.

When I opened the ornate box, its contents were immediately revealed.

It was a bracelet. A beautiful bracelet shaped as if to embody a bird.

“What is this?”

“It’s Arcelia’s weapon. It will be helpful.”

“A weapon? This bracelet?”

As I was looking closely at the bracelet Dad handed me, I was soon startled.

It wasn’t something to be given casually.

This bracelet was none other than Ishtar’s sacred object.

‘The Bird’s Spear!’

It was a weapon blessed by the god, said to summon birds that transform into sharp blades and fly to attack the opponent.

I had heard that when the owner of the sacred object disappeared, the sacred object also vanished with them, but it was in Dad’s hands.

I muttered blankly, dumbfounded.

“What kind of person was Mom……”

“She wasn’t an ordinary person.”

I knew she was a priestess since she was said to be Ishtar’s scribe, but I didn’t know she was chosen by the sacred object.

“Is it okay for me to receive this?”

“Arcelia would prefer you to use it rather than me keeping it.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yes. Certainly.”

Since Dad was certain, my anxiety was relieved, but one big problem remained.

The sacred object chooses its owner.

If I wasn’t chosen by the sacred object, the Bird’s Spear would be just a pretty bracelet.

I took a deep breath and picked up the bracelet.

Could I really become the new owner of the sacred object?

It was at that moment when I put the bracelet on my wrist.

“……!”