Refusing to answer, Lynen’s nose and lips wandered slowly across the white palm, caressing it.

His increasingly intoxicated expression looked like he was savoring the aroma of wine.

In the dim underground, the faint light from the minerals cast distinct shadows over Lynen’s eyes and bridge of his nose.

Calliphe bit her lip.

Thump thump.

The louder his soft lips caressed her palm, the louder her heartbeat echoed in her ears.

‘This has happened before too.’

But this time, she found it particularly impossible to take her eyes off him.

It felt like all other senses had fallen asleep, with only her palm that touched him remaining awake.

“…”

Lynen slowly rubbed his cheek against the inside of Calliphe’s hand.

It was then that he opened his eyes that had been half-closed, his lips buried against the inside of her wrist.

Wolf-like eyes staring straight at her. The cold blue color rippled with heat.

Like acting cute, or seeking silent permission before devouring.

“I…”

Calliphe’s voice cracked.

She belatedly tried to suppress her loud heartbeat.

However, as though demonstrating that process, when Lynen slowly and gently bit her wrist.

“Ah.”

Calliphe’s toes curled reflexively.

With that movement, the pain in her scraped heel came back to life.

“Ouch!”

The short cry that burst out instantly shattered the increasingly strange atmosphere.

Calliphe quickly took off her shoe.

“Barefoot would be better… Eek!”

While grumbling, Calliphe’s body suddenly lifted into the air.

Lynen had picked her up in his arms like a princess.

“Wh-what are you doing? Put me down!”

“What did you say?”

“I said put me down.”

“Not that.”

“…What are you doing?”

Looking down at the confused Calliphe, Lynen smiled slightly.

‘She switched to formal speech.’

He couldn’t help but smile at the subtle but clear difference.

Ignoring Calliphe’s protests, he began walking through the underground space while carrying her.

Though his ears burned remembering how he had just indulged in Calliphe’s magical power, he tried not to think about it.

Instead, he shared the information he had learned in this village with Calliphe.

“For someone who said they were hurt, you sure moved around a lot.”

Calliphe shot back before organizing the information he had shared in her mind.

“The Special Magic Unit. That’s definitely Young Marquis Caiman’s direct unit. Do you think they’re behind what happened to Imelen becoming a monster?”

“Yes. If we can find the traces they left behind, it will become more certain. Perhaps even the missing light spirit…”

That’s when it happened.

The High Cardinal’s bracelet that Calliphe was wearing glowed with a weak vibration.

“Did you do something?”

“No, how could I? Why is this doing this? It’s glowing on its own. And it feels like it’s pulling me too.”

Calliphe stretched out her hand wearing the bracelet.

“It seems to be that direction.”

“I can see the path too.”

Boom boom boom…

The underground ceiling shook slightly, like something had happened above ground.

Calliphe made a quick decision.

“Let’s go check it out.”

Lynen started running while carrying her. Calliphe didn’t forget to keep using her ability on him repeatedly.

As they ran, the narrow path widened into a cavern.

The two of them opened their eyes wide in surprise at the sight before them.

“This is…!”

Calliphe touched the white minerals protruding from the wall like bamboo shoots.

“It’s white spirit stone!”

“The empire’s only white spirit stone mine should be owned by Young Marquis Caiman… but even there they wouldn’t produce ones this size.”

“Right. The purity looks incredibly high too.”

Just one of these would be enough for the High Temple’s priests to use for a year.

The densely packed chunks of such high purity all around suggested an enormous deposit.

For a natural cave, how did no one know about such resources until they accumulated to this extent?

“Wait, could this be.”

There are various events in <Marino>.

Among them was a very short event where Noah discovers precious ore in an abandoned village during combat training.

‘It was definitely white spirit stone.’

This village was remote land abandoned by its lord long ago due to difficult management.

According to imperial law, such places belonged to whoever invested in and managed them first.

That was why Noah could obtain the ore in <Marino>.

‘Could this be the white spirit stone deposit that appeared in that event?’

It was a random event so she had no idea where it was located, yet to discover it like this.

“Jackpot.”

Holding her cheeks with both hands, Calliphe gave her acceptance speech.

“I dedicate this glory to the Young Marquis who sent the familiar.”

* * *

“That’s not where it goes!”

“Oh, please step aside. We’ll handle this ourselves.”

House Offensa’s servants busily moved around the chapel, touching up all sorts of decorations.

It was preparation for Calliphe Offensa’s blessing ceremony in a few days.

Due to their insistence, even the priests who were the actual owners of the High Temple had no choice but to step aside.

Since Young Marquis Caiman held the white spirit stones, they weren’t in a position to protest either.

That’s when Young Marquis Caiman visited the site.

After looking around the interior decorated with all sorts of gaudy devices that didn’t suit the High Temple, he asked.

“Are the preparations complete?”

Henrik, the captain of the Special Magic Unit, bowed his head.

“Don’t worry, Young Marquis. We’ve spared no expense for dramatic effect, even creating an artificial waterfall.”

Thanks to forcibly remodeling part of the historic High Temple for that, the elderly priests shed tears, but that’s beside the point.

“Since the High Cardinal said he determines corrupted magical power by the color of water, a waterfall is perfect for showing everyone the blackened water.”

“Excellent.”

The Young Marquis and Henrik gave a crooked smile to High Cardinal Willien standing beside them.

The High Cardinal could only lower his gaze without saying anything.

His grandson Mihail, watching from behind a distant pillar, was tearing up in frustration.

The High Cardinal sent him a look telling him not to interfere, then tried to respond calmly.

“That’s right. Since my holy power can reveal evil magical power, it will be the clearest evidence above all.”

“I’m worried about how shocked Their Highnesses the Crown Princess and Prince will be when they come to give their blessing.”

The Young Marquis’s eyes sparkled with anticipation. At the same time, he patted Henrik’s shoulder.

“You must be tired after rushing back from the monster subjugation. But I hope you’ll do your best until the end.”

“It’s what I must… ugh.”

Henrik, who had been responding smoothly, suddenly clutched his chest. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

Quickly realizing the cause, Henrik reported to the Young Marquis in a very small voice.

“The familiar has died.”

“…”

Young Marquis Caiman’s eyes narrowed for a moment.

But he soon put on a gentle expression.

“You must be tired from acting in place of the priests’ noble duty. Go rest for a while.”

“I apologize. Then I’ll take a short break and return.”

After Henrik left, the Young Marquis  soon departed as well.

Only after seeing the Young Marquis off could the High Cardinal clench his fist in anger.

‘Acting in place of priests’ duties? Who was it that’s strangling the High Temple with white spirit stones!’

He suddenly lamented while looking at the waterfall.

Though he had honestly disliked the Offensa lady until she was kidnapped.

‘To think I would participate in such acts. I can’t even tell who the black mage is anymore.’

Watching the situation that had already slipped from his hands, the High Cardinal hoped that the Offensa lady would bring the saint.