NOVEL NEXT Chapter 227: Alfia’s Desire
[Artificial Dungeon, Twelfth Floor]
"Noise, it's happening again," In the early morning, Alfia opened her eyes, and her emotions began to grow irritable again.
Since the day she had heard that man's, [Heracles'], heartbeat, Alfia had not sensed the 'noise' that had entangled her since birth for more than a full day.
Alfia didn't like him.
He covered his face like some shady character who couldn't show himself, used a name like [Heracles] that reeked of insincerity, and on top of that, hit women so hard. It was obvious he wasn't a good man.
'But… I want to hear his heartbeat again…'
Alfia shook her head, 'What am I even thinking?'
Being able to sleep peacefully for a rare night was already enough. After all, her remaining life wasn't long. No matter how much torment she suffered, it wouldn't last much longer.
Thinking this, Alfia walked out of the room.
"Zald, I'm hungry. Make me something to eat," she shouted.
Today, just like usual, Queen Alfia bossed around her older senior.
"The food's ready in the dining hall… Honestly, what would you do if no one took care of you?", Zald's voice came from another room.
"I'll be dead soon anyway, so whatever," Alfia replied as she headed to the dining room.
After eating a spoonful of fried rice and sipping a bit of miso soup, Alfia's eyes brightened slightly, "Delicious…"
"Zald, have your cooking skills improved?"
"Ah, that… it was made by Mr. Heracles."
Alfia clicked her tongue softly, "Tch!"
She left the dining room, leaving behind the barely touched fried rice and miso soup.
.
.
.
About three minutes later, Alfia snuck back in. After confirming there was no one around, she quickly gobbled down the fried rice and soup in a few bites.
———
"Where are the adventurers now?", asked the blind [Sword Saint].
"The fourth floor. They're moving fast," said Haruhime.
"So this is the 'certain victory of the desperate'?" said the [Celestial Fox], as she fine-tuned the artificial Mystic Eyes made by Emiya.
"It's unbelievable. What level of [Mystery] has Lord Heracles reached?"
The [Sword Saint] nervously clenched her hands, "Is it really okay?"
"Yes. These Mystic Eyes were created through Lord Heracles' [Mystery] and [Forging], combined with my [Mystery] and [Gold Carving]. I'm confident in them," the fox woman said, "Want to try them?"
"Will surgery be needed?"
"No, just install them directly. They'll automatically link to your mana circuits, alright, Tama, help her install them."
"Yes, Master!", Haruhime carefully removed the [Sword Saint]'s blindfold, took out the two glass-made prosthetic eyes, and inserted the pale-golden Mystic Eyes.
"Ah!", The [Sword Saint] cried out in pain.
After a while, she opened her eyes.
Tears slipped from the corners of the girl's eyes, "I… can see…"
"These [Mystic Eyes] only have one function, mana detection," said the fox woman, just as Alfia arrived, "Come, compare my mana with Alfia's."
The [Sword Saint] wiped her tears and said, "There's about a 20% difference."
"Wah, that big? But my magic power is S999 too."
Alfia stared blankly at the [Sword Saint], "Melvette-neesan…"
"Yes, I… can see now," The [Sword Saint] Melvette smiled and wiped away the tears unknowingly falling from the corners of Alfia's eyes.
Just then, Emiya entered the control room.
"It's finished, Miss Mashiro," he said. "Please give it a try."
"Mm," [Celestial Fox] Ichijou Mashiro nodded lightly, this was the first time Alfia had seen this senior look so anxious and uncertain.
Back then, after the crushing defeat in the Black Dragon War and losing both legs, she was the most optimistic among all survivors, the only one who could still smile, even encouraging everyone to start over.
Once again, a wave of pain pierced through the mana circuits. But this time, the [Celestial Fox] endured it with a smile.
"Luna, look, I'm standing again," She looked to the elven girl, "You don't need to blame yourself anymore."
[Stella Bow] Luna could no longer speak. She simply leapt into Mashiro's arms and wept softly.
"There's also this prosthetic arm and Mystic Eye. Please deliver them to Hippolyta," Emiya said, handing a case to [Sword Saint] Melvette, who accepted it seriously.
[Empress] Hippolyta had taken Emiya's request and gone to the Elsos Ruins, where [Antares] was sealed.
She only needed one kick to stomp out the scorpion, but the round trip would take a bit of time.
"Alfia, even now, do you still insist on giving up your life?", Mashiro asked, "Meteria also hoped you wouldn't stay bound to the past, but live on well."
Alfia believed her sister was weak because she had stolen her talents, believed that her own body had despicably taken both their talents, so she had always carried deep guilt.
However, in her final moments, Meteria had left a letter for Alfia, expressing her hope that Alfia would pursue her own happiness.
Alfia fell silent. She raised her head and locked eyes with Emiya.
At that moment, Emiya wasn't wearing the [Nemean Cloak]. Staring at his handsome, resolute face, Alfia momentarily dazed.
Moments later, she slowly approached Emiya. Amidst the startled cries of Melvette and Luna, she rested her cheek against the man's chest.
Thump-Thump! Thump-Thump!
That drum-like heartbeat drove away the noise wrapped around her soul.
"Can you… stay with us, always?", Alfia asked softly.
Emiya was silent for a moment and was about to answer, but Alfia stopped him.
"No, don't speak," she whispered, closing her eyes as if trying to absorb the man's warmth and heartbeat into her very being.
Moments later, Alfia spoke, "I'm hungry. Make me food."
Emiya: "What?"
Alfia: "The fried rice this morning wasn't enough."
"Actually, I also…", Melvette murmured, "would like to taste your cooking again."
Mashiro shouted, "Me too! As payment, I'll dance for you~"
Luna: "I-I as well… I can dance too…"
Emiya scratched his cheek, "But… the adventurers are about to reach your assigned floors."
"..."
"Let's go, Melvette, Luna. Let's finish the battle quickly," Ichijou Mashiro brushed her hair aside, "It's been a while since I danced (used fox arts). I miss it."
Luna said, "Ah, speaking of which, shouldn't we go find Hera and update our stats first?"
Melvette agreed, "Let's do that. After regaining my sight, I feel different, maybe I can level up…"
Emiya: "…Please, go easy on them."
Hearing the three girls' footsteps fade and the door close, Alfia reached out and hugged Emiya tighter, taking a deep breath.
The aura of [Golden Physique] nourished [Silence]'s nearly-dried-up source of life.
"I want to… feel more," Alfia murmured to herself.
———
[Artificial Dungeon, Twelfth Floor]
Ryuu arrived at the quarters where the goddesses were temporarily housed.
They hadn't mistreated the goddesses who had been "invited." Each was given a clean, private room, though they weren't allowed to go outside for now.
Except for Goddess Freya, she was forced by Hera to change into a maid outfit and assigned cleaning duties, seemingly as petty revenge from some personal grudge.
Freya, though constantly complaining, seemed to somewhat enjoy it.
In front of one of the rooms, Ryuu hesitated for a moment before summoning her courage to open the door to Goddess Astrea's room.
But facing the goddess, Ryuu remained silent.
The awkward atmosphere lasted for a full minute. Ryuu began to waver, turning to escape.
At that moment, the goddess spoke, "Um, I'm not sure, but… are you Ryuu?"
The girl could no longer hold back. She turned and threw herself into the goddess's embrace, crying like a downpour.
"Lady Astrea… I miss them so much. I really… really miss them!"
The goddess simply held Ryuu gently.
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