“That Filoe girl…”
Suddenly, Almoa changed the subject.
“I never thought she would have a Gifted Skill. I had heard the rumors, but it’s really incredible how powerful a Gifted Skill can be.”
I felt a sense of joy that Almoa had opened up a bit and initiated some casual conversation.
“Yeah, I was surprised when I first saw it too.”
“It’s amazing, right? I don’t have that kind of power.”
“You don’t need to feel down about it.”
Her staff techniques were impressive. I had seen firsthand that she was strong enough to hold her own in a real fight. But Almoa didn’t seem to think so.
“I’m good at fighting with a staff. But that’s all. I can’t even come close to my mother’s skill. She taught me the staff techniques.”
“I see.”
“And I still can’t use spirit magic properly. My father was so amazing, though.”
As I nodded in agreement, I recalled the stories about Domirudo and his team.
Come to think of it, Almoa’s parents have already passed away.
“They must have been wonderful parents.”
“Yeah. I respect them more than anyone in the world.”
When she spoke about her parents, her face softened.
Just as I thought. Almoa isn’t just some unfriendly girl.
“Rod was originally my father’s contracted spirit. He’s been with me since I was born, protecting me. And that hasn’t changed since my father passed away.”
A shadow crossed Almoa’s face.
“Rod’s power is incredible. But since my father… after losing his master, Rod’s strength has been gradually fading. Even though I have my father’s blood, I still can’t use spirit magic properly. What’s worse, I can’t even interact with people well. I’m such a failure. I keep making things difficult for Rod.”
“Is that why you became an adventurer? Because you want to become independent and reassure everyone?”
As I slowly asked, Almoa nodded slightly.
“I thought if I became an adventurer and gained experience, I could make my father and mother, and Rod, proud.”
“Then you thought you could tell everyone, ‘It’s okay now’… right?”
I was glared at sharply. However, her ears were flushed red.
“…It’s kind of annoying how you can see through me so easily, even though we just met.”
“You shouldn’t underestimate your elders.”
After a bit of playful banter, I decided to speak from the heart.
“I’m the same. I’ve faced my own powerlessness to get this far. I’ve walked the same path as you, Almoa.”
I looked straight at Almoa, hoping my encouragement would reach her.
“As someone who’s walked a little further ahead, I want to tell you that you’ll be okay, Almoa. So just keep being you.”
“Isto…”
Almoa’s eyes welled up at my words.
“Almoa, even without a Gifted Skill, I’m sure you have incredible talent sleeping inside you. Because you’re so—”
《I have discovered. You can use [Awakening Appraisal] on Almoa Savants. The Gifted Skills [Heart of Life], [Staff Mastery], and [Spirit Manipulator] can be unlocked. Please execute [Awakening Appraisal] on the subject’s [Fate’s Droplet].》
Almoa tilted her head, confused by my sudden silence.
“Isto? What’s wrong?”
No way…
I can’t believe Almoa is a Gifted Skill holder.
And not just one, but three types.
“Ah…!”
The unstable presence that Raderia had felt wasn’t directed at the Minigel children—but at Almoa.
I grabbed Almoa by both shoulders.
“Almoa!”
“Eh!? W-Wait a minute!?”
Her flustered reaction was unlike her. I ignored it and rushed on.
“I need you to stay calm and listen. The power you have—”
Just as I was about to speak the truth, the sunlight was suddenly blocked out.
We both turned around.
Right in front of us loomed a gigantic ‘mouth.’
“Watch out, Almoa!”
In a split second, I tried to push Almoa out of the way.
But it was too late.
Both Almoa and I were swallowed by the giant mouth.
In an instant, my vision went dark.
I couldn’t feel the ground under my feet. I was falling. Falling.
“Ugh!?”
It felt like we fell from the third floor of a building. My body slammed into the hard ground, expelling the air from my lungs.
“Are you okay, Isto!?”
As I groaned and sat up, Almoa was reaching out a hand to me.
She appeared uninjured, which was a relief. Impressive, though; she managed to land properly even after such a sudden occurrence.
I took Almoa’s hand and stood up.
I felt dull pain throughout my body.
Fortunately, my arms and legs still moved. It seemed my insides were fine too.
“Ah. I don’t think there’s any problem.”
When I nodded with a relaxed smile, Almoa let out a sigh of relief.
I looked around again.
It was a strange space.
There were no torches or windows for light. The room was dimly lit.
I couldn’t see the entire layout, but it was clear there was a lot of space.
There were no chairs, tables, or stairs—just a vast, square emptiness.
It was too eerie. The floor and walls had no bumps or protrusions.
And what was this unsettling chill?
“What is happening…”
Almoa muttered in astonishment.
Her expression mixed surprise, fear, and oddly enough, anger.
“Almoa, what’s wrong? Do you sense something?”
“…There’s something here.”
“Something?”
“A large number of… spirits. They’re suffering as if they might suffocate.”
The girl with a spirit-user father bit her lip.
“What a terrible thing to do.”
