The light filtering through the window slowly pulled her out of sleep. The room was bathed in a soft golden glow. Outside, the cries of merchants and the clatter of hooves on cobblestones already signaled the bustle of morning.
Eleanor, already awake, bowed slightly.
"I will return to your shadow, if you allow me."
Yawning, Amane nodded in agreement.
After a quick warm bath in the small common room, she went downstairs. The innkeeper served her breakfast: hot bread, berry jam, and a steaming cup of fragrant tea. She finished her breakfast quickly. She thanked him and settled her bill.
"I leave you now, the duty awaits me."
The innkeeper replied kindly,
"Goodbye, little one. I hope this isn't a farewell."
"Stop joking, I'll be back tonight, and the nights after," Amane answered with a faint smile before leaving the inn.
"I wanted to test their food, but nothing beats Japanese dishes… Actually, demons do not need a eat?," she mused, puzzled.
"I will offer Eleanor one of my favorite dish… sushi with rice, or something close," she thought as she walked.
---
She headed straight to the guild.
Pushing open the door, the familiar noise greeted her. The receptionist from yesterday immediately noticed her.
"Hello, Mademoiselle Amane. I suppose you're here for your card. One moment, please."
With a contagious smile and sparkling eyes, the woman handed her a small metal plate engraved with a badge.
Amane smiled, accepted the card, and thanked her warmly.
"Now, let me explain some essentials," the receptionist continued.
After a long explanation, she offered Amane some easy quests.
"For the moment, I don't intend to take any quests… but thank you anyway," Amane replied, a little embarrassed.
"That's fine, but make sure to complete at least two quests per month if you're below rank B, otherwise your card will be invalid."
"Noted. By the way, could you tell me the way to the library?"
The receptionist gave her directions.
"Thank you, see you next time."
"Have a good day."
Amane left the guild and followed the indicated path.
When she arrived, she couldn't hold back her voice:
"It's huge… the library is immense!"
People turned to look at her, and she quickly realized her mistake.
"Damn, I'm drawing attention! I need to stay discreet," she thought, slightly flustered.
The vast, silent building stood near the central square. Its carved wooden doors opened onto an ocean of shelves filled with books, scrolls, and strange globes. The scent of old paper floated heavily in the air.
"I need to find the books with the most powerful skills," she thought, scanning the shelves before pulling out one that looked intriguing.
But as she opened it, she realized she couldn't read the language.
"Damn… how am I supposed to write my skills like this? Hmm… Actually, maybe I don't need to overthink this."
→ [Japanese Translation]
"Wow… everything is in Japanese now. This will make research much easier," she said with enthusiasm, before starting to write:
→ [Care – Level 999]
Effect: heals injuries and diseases.
→ [Magic Wall – Level 999]
Effect: invisible barrier that blocks physical or magical attacks.
→ [Sacred Shield – Level 999]
Effect: protection against evil or cursed attacks.
→ [Stone Skin – Level 999]
Effect: reinforces the body's physical resistance.
→ [Force Field – Level 999]
Effect: invisible barrier rejecting any enemy attack.
→ [Magic Absorption – Level 999]
Effect: cancels and absorbs an enemy spell.
"But why do some skills have no level, like Japanese dishes? Maybe some skills just can't evolve… I really need to understand how this works," she thought, typing on her keyboard.
Suddenly, a voice pulled her from her concentration.
"Excuse me… may I know what you're doing with your hands?"
She looked up. A man in his twenties stood there, dressed in a long grayish coat, a worn bag slung over his shoulder. His brown hair was slightly messy, framing a face marked by thin scars. His dark green eyes gleamed with calm curiosity.
"He can't see my status screen… that's a sacred privilege. Lowering the levels was pointless," she whispered.
"What did you say?"
"Oh, nothing. And you are…?"
"Erynd Kael. Member of the 'Black Wolf' party, Rank A. And you?"
"I'm the one and only Amane Seiren… Rank F."
"Nice to meet you, though I've never heard of you," he said frankly, sitting across from her.
"That's obvious, since I'm Rank F," she replied with a serious, sarcastic tone.
"And so, what were you doing with your hands?"
"Well uh… it's just my way of focusing while reading. Weird, right?"
He tilted his head, surprised.
"Not at all. I find it impressive you put in so much effort."
Her mind flashed back to a memory—an injured boy at sunset, telling her the same words. His face was blurred, but the warmth of the memory stung her heart.
"Would you like to join our party? …Amane? Amane, do you hear me?"
"Yes—yes, of course," she answered, snapping back. But her voice carried a faint trace of nostalgia, the kind she hadn't felt since becoming a goddess.
"For now though, I prefer to keep a low profile…"
"As you wish."
With a sly smile, Amane asked,
"Tell me, dear Erynd… what are the most powerful skills you know? Ones that don't involve time or high-level space magic."
"Hmm… I know of Astral Sword, Flamboyant Cataclysm, and Thunderbolt. Those are some of the strongest. As for time and space, I don't know any I could explain," he admitted.
"Why the question? Planning to master them?" Erynd teased.
"Of course not. I was just curious."
"If you say so."
He pulled out a green-covered book, opening it to an illustrated page, and began to read.
"Yes… those skills must be incredibly strong," Amane thought with growing excitement.
Under the table, she revealed her keyboard and tried to write them down—
But every single one appeared in red.
"What does that mean!? No way… I don't get it. Why are those skills locked in red?" she panicked internally.
"Amane, are you okay? You look… different," Erynd asked, concerned.
"It's nothing serious, just a little problem-solving. Tell me instead—you seem to love reading, despite being an adventurer," she deflected.
He gave a small smile.
"Well, I get criticized a lot for wasting my time reading instead of fighting. But honestly? I might be the most carefree man alive. I always do what I want."
"What you want… what you want… Got it!" Amane's golden eyes lit up.
"Thank you, Erynd. You really helped me."
She stood suddenly and rushed out, her excitement impossible to contain.
"Delighted to have been useful…?" he whispered, baffled.
Running through the streets, Amane thought to herself,
"Finally… I understood the concept of my power. And to think I once believed there was a skill to charge my phone… I really am an idiot!"