Chapter 14
Episode 23: Activation of Parallel Thought
After finishing lunch, I called out to Mom and shared our usual hug before heading out for a gathering quest.
「I’m off to the gathering quest. I love you, Mom!」
「I love you too, sweetheart!」
Meeting up with Gai-san in front of the house, we were about to head to the grasslands for the gathering quest, but I had something I really wanted to try first.
I decided to activate 〘Parallel Thought〙.
『Selen-sama, do you need something?』
A slightly mechanical male voice spoke to me within my consciousness.
『Are you Parallel Thought? It’s strange to have a conversation without speaking.』
『Yes, you might feel some discomfort until you get used to it.』
It would probably take some time to get used to, but I had something I needed to investigate urgently, so I decided to ask 〘Parallel Thought〙 for help.
『Um, I have a request. Can you look up how to use the 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙?』
『Yes, leave it to me.』
『Thank you, I appreciate it!』
Since 〘Parallel Thought〙 and I have separate lines of thought, I asked it to investigate the unfamiliar 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙.
It’s really convenient that it can look into things even while I’m doing something else.
Leaving the investigation of 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙 to Parallel Thought, I continued gathering materials in the grasslands with Gai-san for the designated request, and hunted any single-horned rabbits or large boars we came across.
Before sunset, we finished gathering the materials and returned to Poro Town, headed to the Adventurers’ Guild to deliver the materials and settle the accounts, and then went home.
The reward for today’s completed request was 50 silver coins, which I split evenly with Gai-san as usual.
The meat obtained from hunting was shared with our neighbors, and the remaining portions were taken back to our respective homes.
Lately, our household’s diet has become quite luxurious!
After having a fun dinner with Mom, I took a bath with her, then returned to my room and practiced magic manipulation as Mystique-sensei had instructed.
That’s when 〘Parallel Thought〙 spoke to me again.
『Selen-sama, I have information about the 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙 to report.』
『Okay, please go ahead.』
I hadn’t expected 〘Parallel Thought〙 to figure out the usage of 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙 in such a short time since I asked at lunchtime.
Looks like 〘Parallel Thought〙 is an incredibly useful skill!
–
Episode 24: Conditions for a Familiar
〘Parallel Thought〙 investigated 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙, so I decided to listen to what it had to say.
『Selen-sama, 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙 is a spell that allows one to form a master-servant relationship with a monster through a familiar contract. There are three conditions that must be met to make a monster into a familiar.』
Here are the three conditions that 〘Parallel Thought〙 told me about:
- The monster must have a magic core. (This can be confirmed through appraisal.)
- Before the battle, you must have the intent to make the monster your familiar and then defeat it in battle.
- Extract the magic core from the defeated monster and infuse it with magic power to establish the familiar contract.
『If all three of these conditions are met, the familiar contract with the monster will be established. In other words, the monster must be one that Selen-sama can defeat. Once the familiar contract is established, the familiar usually remains in its magic core state. By focusing your thoughts on the magic core, the familiar can transform back into its monster form, so you can always keep the core with you.』
『Thank you! Is there any way to level up 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙?』
『〘Familiar Contract Magic〙 does not have levels. However, familiars can become stronger as they level up. As their level increases, the bond with their master deepens, and they may further evolve, achieving even greater growth.』
『Got it. Thanks a lot!』
『You’re welcome.』
I need to consult with Mom about this.
Deciding whether or not to form familiar contracts with monsters isn’t something I can decide on my own.
While continuing to converse with 〘Parallel Thought〙, I maintained my magic power control practice.
Feeling quite tired, I decided to spin the 〘Daily Gacha〙 before going to bed.
『Gacha… 〘Labyrinth Compass〙 Rank A』
I thought about appraising it, but I was too sleepy, so I asked 〘Parallel Thought〙 to do it and then lay down on my bed.
『〘Labyrinth Compass〙 is an item that, when used, guides you to your destination in a dungeon without getting lost. This will be a useful item for Selen-sama.』
–
Episode 25: Mom’s Intentions
The next morning, after waking up and hearing the appraisal results of the 〘Labyrinth Compass」 from 〘Parallel Thought〙, I left my room and headed to the kitchen for breakfast.
After eating breakfast, I reported to Mom about the 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙.
She didn’t outright deny the idea of taming monsters, but she said it’s best to prioritize our life in Cavia Town for now.
So, until she gives me permission to use 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙, I decided not to form any familiar contracts.
Having reported to Mom, I then headed out for my magic practice with Mystique-sensei, exchanging our usual hug before I left.
「Mom, I’m off to practice magic with Mystique-sensei! I love you!」
「Okay, do your best. I love you too!」
➖・Carmen’s Perspective・➖
With Celestia off to her training with Mystique, I called the Shadow Leader to discuss the details of the 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙 and sought his opinion.
「Celestia-sama’s 〘Familiar Contract Magic〙 seems entirely different from the general monster taming methods we know. To infuse magic power into a magic core to control monsters… it’s very difficult to say, but the only one capable of such a thing is the Demon Lord.」
Hearing the Shadow Leader mention the Demon Lord in reference to Celestia, I couldn’t remain calm and questioned him more assertively.
「Are you suggesting that my Celestia is a Demon Lord?」
「Not at all. However, for one to possess both holy and demonic powers, such a being, apart from the Almighty God, does not exist. Celestia-sama might be a divine apostle or perhaps an incarnation of God.」
「My daughter… If there’s even a possibility of that, I need to reconsider how to raise Celestia.」
「What do you mean?」
「If Celestia is indeed a divine apostle or an incarnation of God, she must become someone who leads the world to peace beyond the restoration of the Holy City.」
「My lady, that path is far more arduous than what we have aimed for.」
「Celestia might have to bear unimaginable burdens. This could be her fate as one born as a Celestial Being. We need to reconsider all possibilities.」
「Understood.」
It would be some time before Celestia would understand her mother Carmen’s feelings.
To meet her beloved Mom’s expectations, Celestia would embark on a challenging path.
–
Episode 26: The Pursuer
Two months ago in the town of Criceto.
Agents of the 【Darkness】, a direct organization under the royal family of the Kingdom of Leone, had arrived in the town of Criceto.
They were tasked by the king with a special mission to find the Celestial Being.
After thoroughly investigating the kingdom’s territories, they had finally reached the remote town of Criceto.
「Hey, if we can’t find any clues about the Celestial Being in this town, does that mean they either left the kingdom or are no longer alive?」
「Well, the unknown status of their life or death is the real issue… It’d be best for us if the Celestial Being were dead, then we, the 【Darkness】, could be relieved of our duty.」
「If the Celestial Being is alive, there must definitely be a 【Shadow】 protecting them. Honestly, I don’t want to fight them…」
「After all, the 【Shadow】 managed to survive the attack from us, the 【Darkness】, and the treacherous guard knights. They disappeared without a trace with the First Saintess Carmen and the Celestial Being when she were just a baby.」
「Well, if we can’t find anything here, it means the Celestial Being either fled the country or is dead. If they fled abroad, it’s out of our jurisdiction, and our mission is complete. Let’s thoroughly investigate the town and get this over with.」
「Yeah, let’s do that (laugh).」
Finishing their conversation, the two men began walking through the town, looking for anything unusual.
As they searched meticulously for any small traces, a slight pain shot through the heads of the 【Darkness】 agents when they passed by a certain man.
『Tch..』 The pursuers of the 【Darkness】 had special information implanted in their minds by magic.
This magic would cause pain in their heads when they encountered specific information, alerting them.
Along with the pain, the men recalled the information implanted in their minds.
「Hey, that guy is Darren, who used to be a trainee in the guard knights. What’s he doing in this remote place? This is suspicious… Should we tail him and see what’s going on?」
「No, let’s kidnap him and torture him. If he doesn’t talk under torture, we’ll use mental magic to probe his subconscious. If that yields nothing, we’ll kill him and be done with it.」
「Yeah, let’s finish this ‘quickly’.」
With that, the two men followed Darren, and when the opportunity arose in a deserted place, they kidnapped and took him away…
「Tch, this is the worst-case scenario… With the 【Darkness】 involved, rescuing Darren will be tough.」
A 【Shadow】 agent remaining in the town of Criceto witnessed Darren being kidnapped by 【Darkness】.
Determined to eliminate the 【Darkness】 agents before they could probe Daren’s subconscious, they began to follow them.
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