After dinner, inside the study where the pharaoh reviewed documents.
Though it was called a study, in truth it was a magnificent hall.
Alaric and Nitocris were both present.
According to the original plan, the next task was for Alaric to teach Nitocris the fundamentals of magical theory, so that she could better learn magic.
However, looking at Nitocris, sitting obediently like a child attentively listening to a lesson, Alaric did not begin teaching right away. Instead, he asked a question.
"May I ask, do you remember ever offering sacrifices to a god who looked… very strange?"
The moment the words fell, Alaric felt someone kick his calf.
"A strange god?" Nitocris thought for a moment, but still looked puzzled.
"As the pharaoh of Egypt, I have offered sacrifices to many gods throughout the land. I really can't recall which god you're referring to."
"Is that so?" Alaric shrugged.
"The god I'm talking about has extremely distinctive features. As soon as I describe him, you'll definitely remember who it is."
"Oh?" Nitocris's eyes lit up. "Go on."
"That god looks like a person draped in a white cloth, with only a pair of eyes and two legs exposed."
"Isn't that the god Mejed, subordinate to Osiris?" Nitocris smiled. "Of course I remember. A god like that really is quite… strange."
"Haha, so you think this kid looks strange too. Looks like it's not just my opinion.
Now that you've heard what the believer you protect thinks of you, you don't have anything to say anymore, do you?"
As Alaric spoke, he turned his head and looked at the ground behind him.
But there was nothing there.
Just as Nitocris was wondering who he was talking to, a white figure suddenly surfaced from the ground.
"Me! Mejed! Jed! De!"
The half-human-tall Mejed god now wore an expression of pure anger, chattering endlessly at Nitocris.
Yet with those eyes that looked as if they were drawn on, even when it was angry, it was impossible to feel any fear.
That, however, was only Alaric's impression.
As for Nitocris, being the pharaoh of Egypt, she naturally held deep reverence for the Egyptian gods. The moment Mejed appeared, she immediately recognized its identity.
"Th-that… is that Lord Mejed? I-I'm so sorry… for saying something like that about Lord Mejed.
That was truly disrespectful. Lord Mejed's form is clearly so mysterious and unfathomable, yet I failed to understand it. Lord Mejed… you will forgive me, won't you?"
"Me! Me!"
Mejed's eyes brightened happily. It really was a very easy little fellow to placate.
"Ah, thank you for forgiving me, Lord Mejed." Nitocris looked delighted.
"Lord Mejed's appearance here, do you have something you wish to ask of me? If it is Lord Mejed's request, I can accomplish anything."
So Alaric roughly told Nitocris about his conversation with Mejed earlier that day.
"So all this time… Lord Mejed has been protecting me?" Nitocris was visibly moved. "Lord Mejed's protection is truly touching. Lord Mejed is a god worthy of reverence."
"Yes, Mejed really is a very cute god," Alaric said.
As he spoke, he reached out and patted Mejed on the head.
Perhaps having already grown accustomed to Alaric's actions since the daytime, Mejed swayed slightly, revealing an expression of comfort.
Alaric's action, however, startled Nitocris.
"H-How can this be?! How dare you treat Lord Mejed in such a manner, this is far too… too disrespectful!"
Though she said that, the look in her eyes betrayed a hint of longing.
As for whether she longed for the kind of intimacy Alaric shared with a god, or simply wanted to pat Mejed's head herself, that was anyone's guess.
"But Mejed clearly enjoys it," Alaric laughed, rubbing Mejed's head even more vigorously. "Look, isn't that right?"
Mejed cooperated by wriggling comfortably.
If it were a small dog, it might already be making contented purring sounds.
Seeing how well the two of them got along, Nitocris felt even more envious.
Wuwuwu… I really want to touch Lord Mejed's head too. It looks like so much fun.
That was what Nitocris's gaze conveyed to Alaric.
"Well then, want to give it a try?" Alaric stepped aside. "Making Mejed comfortable is also a form of service to a god, you know."
Perhaps moved by Alaric's last sentence, Nitocris excitedly stepped forward and cautiously reached out to touch Mejed's head.
"Me-me! Jed!"
Mejed's eyes had already turned into happy squints.
It really did seem quite comfortable.
And so, just like petting a cat, Nitocris began to "pet" the god Mejed.
The only difference was that when petting a cat, one had to worry about petting it bald, but Mejed… was bald to begin with.
She had clearly said "disrespectful" just moments ago, yet now she was the one enjoying it the most.
Watching the young girl's absorbed expression, Alaric couldn't help but worry that her future might involve becoming addicted to petting the god Mejed.
"Ahem."
After quite a while, Alaric cleared his throat twice, finally snapping Nitocris out of her Mejed-induced trance.
However, because she had stopped her hands, Mejed, annoyed at being interrupted, immediately glared angrily at Alaric.
The little fellow seemed to have completely forgotten about being terrified by Alaric earlier that day, and was gradually becoming more arrogant.
Naturally, Alaric paid no heed to Mejed's opinion and instead looked at Nitocris.
"What, did you forget about proper business the moment you saw Mejed?"
"I-I didn't!" Nitocris lowered her head shyly. "I just… I just thought that since Lord Mejed has protected me for so long, I wanted to give something back to him."
Heh. Yeah right, I totally believe you. You're clearly just addicted to "petting the cat."
Alaric didn't expose her and instead went along with it.
"In that case, let's talk about serious matters. Through Mejed's abilities, I've thought of a way for you to master 'Ultimate Invisibility' more quickly.
That is, based on Mejed's divine power, we convert it into runic spells, and then transform those into magic with Egyptian characteristics.
That way, you'll be able to learn this ability faster, after all, compared to my magic, Egyptian spells should be easier for you to understand."
After hearing this, Nitocris also felt it made perfect sense, since she herself had attempted to convert certain runic spells into magic that didn't require divine power.
So she asked with great interest.
"Then what should I do?"
"Very simple," Alaric raised an eyebrow.
"The first thing you need to do is explain Egyptian runic magic to me. After all, I need to understand its principles before I can proceed to the next step."
At this point, Alaric's true objective was finally revealed.