Faced with Alice's almost admonitory lecture, Melissa nodded subconsciously at first, then quickly reaffirmed her stance, shook her head, stood up, and walked over.
"I'll go to sleep right away, but... Miss Alice, are you in some trouble? I think... I think I saw you walking with someone in a black trench coat..."
She made no attempt to hide her concern for Alice. Although a year younger than the gentle and elegant girl before her, Melissa tried her best to project a mature demeanor onto her youthful face, as if doing so would instantly make her grow up and become a trustworthy and reliable adult like her older brother.
Ah, speaking of which, that trustworthy and reliable adult should already be in bed, sound asleep...
"Hmm, so you saw it." Alice was slightly taken aback, blinking in surprise. "It was mainly some work-related issues, but of course, they've been resolved now."
"Work-related issues... that person in the black trench coat, was she Ms. Danitalia's, um, bodyguard?" Melissa carefully chose her words, trying to fit her explanation.
Alice sighed, feeling she couldn't let the girl continue to misunderstand.
"I wouldn't say that, because I've already quit my job at the café and am planning to try something else, perhaps one that's more suitable for me."
Melissa's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and relief.
"Miss Alice, why did you suddenly decide to change jobs? The pay at that café seemed pretty good… Ah, it's nothing, maybe I shouldn't ask so many questions… So, Miss Alice, have you decided on your new job?"
Alice knew from the beginning that the young girl seemed to have some reservations about Danitali's reputation, and was probably imagining some romantic entanglements.
However, she didn't intend to explain, and after a moment's thought, she made her decision.
"Yes, I've almost done my research. I'm going to apply for an assistant position at a private detective agency."
So that's it! That person was a detective! No wonder he wore a trench coat but no hat, and didn't go home so late… If he was a private detective, that makes sense; they don't have fixed working hours!
Melissa suddenly understood, feeling that all her doubts had been rationally explained; Alice, on the other hand, silently pondered in her heart that Krest was sent by the goddess to find her, which in a sense made him a kind of unconventional detective... well, only the employer's identity was a bit exaggerated.
After giving a few more instructions to the girl to rest early, Alice was about to go upstairs with the girl, and then go back to their respective rooms to wash up and go to sleep, but she found that Melissa still had a hesitant expression.
Under her questioning, Melissa finally spoke somewhat stammeringly: "Actually, Miss Alice, I think it is necessary to tell you about some things that happened tonight..."
The girl briefly summarized what happened to her friend's birthday party that evening, and then emphasized some of her brother Klein's actions, adding a comment at the end:
"Klein's explanation was that he explained the pronunciation and meaning of some ancient words to my friend Elizabeth, but..."
She bit her lip lightly and looked up at the blonde girl with a calm expression and an unchanging smile.
"But out of all the men at the banquet, it was just Klein… just Klein who came upstairs to chat with a girl. That's really, really inappropriate, and unfair to you, Miss Alice…"
Hearing this, Alice finally realized that Melissa was complaining about her brother? Just because Klein went to chat with her friend during the banquet and even attracted the girl's attention?
"Isn't that normal?" Alice couldn't help but chuckle, meeting Melissa's incredulous gaze, and replied softly, "First of all, Klein and I haven't progressed to the point of being in a relationship,
and I respect his personal wishes. If that's what he wants to do, then I suppose other people's opinions or dissuasion are useless… Melissa, it should be a good thing that a girl is interested in Klein, it shows that your brother is charming, don't you think?" "…Yes, indeed, Klein's personality is much more cheerful than before… No, that's not the point." Melissa was almost misled by her words, and quickly shook her head, her bright dark brown eyes widening.
"Miss Alice, aren't you angry? Klein, he… he's not unaware of the unspoken meaning behind talking to a girl alone during the dinner…" Dinners like those in middle-class families often have a matchmaking aspect.
Thinking of a crucial question, Melissa's expression gradually turned worried.
"Miss Alice, could it be that you're actually a follower of the Lord of Storms, or perhaps you've listened too much to the doctrines preached by the priests of the Storm Church, and believe that men are the dominant figures in family relationships, and women should unconditionally support and tolerate every decision they make…"
What was this silly girl thinking? Why did she suddenly bring up male chauvinism?
Alice was both amused and exasperated. Seizing the opportunity during Melissa's pause, she interrupted her criticism of the Lord of Storms' doctrines, steer the conversation back on track. Then, she put on a show, feigning some jealousy but also appearing generous, indicating that they should trust Klein's character.
"Melissa, do you think your brother is the kind of womanizer who can't control himself when he sees a girl?"
"…No, I believe Klein isn't that kind of person." Melissa seemed to have finally regained her confidence in her brother.
"That's right, that's what I think too, so let's leave it at that. Now, you should put these worries aside and go back to your room to sleep."
Alice gestured towards the grandfather clock in the corner of the living room, urging the girl to go upstairs and rest without room for argument.
Glancing at the hour hand that was almost pointing to twelve, Melissa stuck out her tongue resentfully, a feeling of being caught staying up late by her mother when she was a child welling up in her heart. She quickly nodded and prepared to turn off the lights and go upstairs.
"Wait a minute," Alice called out, placing a beautifully wrapped candy into the girl's small hand. "This is a sleep aid candy that's been popular in Backlund lately. Remember to brush your teeth after you eat it, then lie down, and you'll have a sweet dream in less than five minutes… Okay, go to sleep now. Goodnight, Melissa."
"Ah, okay," the girl replied slowly, looking down at the candy's iridescent wrapper reflecting the light. "Goodnight, Miss Alice."
…
After resolving the magic mirror divination incident at Selena's birthday dinner, Klein's life continued to move forward steadily.
On Monday morning, he completed his Night Watch induction mission, resolving the lingering resentment of the ghost surrounding Sir Deville.
Through dream divination, Klein felt with unparalleled clarity and directness the various misfortunes befalling the poor people of this era.
It was a heavy burden that was impossible to shake off.
He didn't know how Alice viewed these people and events. When she had told him about her experiences, she had hardly shown any personal emotion.
But Klein knew he couldn't observe with the same detachment as her. He could only keep what he saw and thought in his heart, adjust his mood, and live his own life. If possible, he would help others within his power.
Because no matter what attitude you take towards life, time will flow equally. Instead of wallowing in negativity and despair, it's better to face every challenge with a positive attitude.
Every…challenge…
But! But this shouldn't include corporal punishment-style combat training!
No, those exercises weren't combat training at all; they were just a combination of dumbbell exercises, squats, running, and jump rope!
Tuesday afternoon's three-hour training session almost completely exhausted Klein's physical and mental strength.
He went to the restaurant with his colleagues like a zombie, enjoyed the celebratory meal for his official induction, and then was transported home by carriage like a living dead, collapsing into his room in a truly lifeless state.
Klein didn't even have the energy to think about or explore why he hadn't seen Alice much these past two days.
He was just… too tired, so tired he wanted to stop his brain from working…
Perhaps it was the alcohol, but in his dazed state, a thought suddenly jolted him awake.
—That's right, that potion! The one Alice gave him before, said to restore energy and relieve fatigue!
Klein struggled to get out of bed, and with a "nothing to lose" mentality, he moved to the bookshelf, rummaged through the bottom drawer, and retrieved the small bottle containing a light green solvent.
Of course, he had already confirmed the potion's safety, and had even secretly divined its ingredients and preparation method... Although he hadn't managed to learn how to make potions, he now intended to test the effects of this otherworldly product—
upon opening the cap, a sweet apple scent wafted into his nose.
Klein hesitated, then curiously brought the rim of the bottle to his lips, intending to taste it before putting it away. Before he could even taste anything, the light green solvent was gone in a few gulps; he even had to smack his lips to recall a faint hint of green apple.
"It's like counterfeit juice..."
Klein muttered, then immediately felt a surge of joy, sensing his mental fatigue rapidly dissipating, as if he had slept for over ten hours, brimming with energy and vitality.
"This potion from another world is really effective..."
he thought to himself, trying to stand up again, but suddenly realized his body was so heavy it was almost uncontrollable, and he nearly fell to the floor.
What was going on?!
Wasn't this a potion to relieve fatigue? Why was his body still so weak and powerless?
Klein, somewhat dazed, leaned against the wall and struggled to his feet, while simultaneously sensing the active and lightness of his own spirituality, and suddenly realized something.
The energy potion Alice had given him was essentially similar to "The Goddess's Gaze," only serving to restore mental energy and prevent his spirituality from feeling fatigued! Moreover, she had never said that this energy potion could restore a person's stamina!
To him, it was like a blue potion to restore MP, but the color of the potion was a misleading pale green!
Klein cursed himself inwardly for the stupidity of his momentary lapse in concentration, dragging his sore and weak body back to bed, feeling that it was better before he drank the potion, at least then he could fall asleep from exhaustion.
Well, at least he now knew Alice's potions were indeed very effective. If she was in a good mood and was willing to give him a few more bottles, he could keep them by his side and drink one when his spiritual energy was low…
But what should he do now? His physical strength was completely exhausted, but his spirit was full of energy…
That's right, he could go to that palace above the gray fog! To continue the exploration he hadn't been able to finish before!
Klein wanted to jump up from the bed, but in the end, he could only give up the idea helplessly. He awkwardly propped himself up on the bed and slowly sat up, then tried to stand up straight.
After sealing the room with a wall of spiritual energy, he chanted the incantation and took four unsteady steps backward, barely fulfilling the requirements of the ritual. He rose into the gray fog as his spiritual energy suddenly became lighter and freed from its constraints.
However, perhaps due to the limitations of his own spiritual energy, although Klein had never relaxed his role as a "diviner" during this time, and the feedback from the potion digestion was ideal, even better than expected, the gray fog world was still as boundless, mysterious, and quiet as when he first entered.
Even after his mental energy was nearly depleted, he hadn't gleaned any useful information.
Of course, it wasn't entirely without gain.
With his current strength, he couldn't unravel the mystery behind that gray, foggy world—knowing this only strengthened his resolve to improve.
Klein simulated the feeling of falling; his consciousness suddenly grew heavy, his vision blurred and shifted, finally settling on the familiar scene of the furniture in his bedroom.
"I might as well take another hot bath..."
Although he had already showered at his martial arts instructor's house that afternoon, washing away the sweat, he now intended to relieve muscle fatigue with the gentle hot water, and perhaps relax his mind to help him sleep. He limped into the bathroom as a reward. After
several attempts, Klein returned to his bedroom after his hot bath, checked his pocket watch, and saw it was already past eleven at night. He was about to lie down to sleep when he suddenly felt thirsty. Remembering that the alcohol he had drunk at dinner had already been circulated out of his body, he reluctantly opened the door and went downstairs to get a glass of water before returning to bed.
It was on his way down the stairs that he encountered Alice, who
was returning home late, face to face. "Why are you so late..."
Klein blurted out instinctively, then suddenly stopped.
No, there wasn't any particular reason, but... but, at that moment, she was wearing a pair of gentle, elegant brown-rimmed glasses, her beautiful light blonde hair was loosely tied in a side ponytail, and her clothes seemed rather formal. Her shirt was stretched high, revealing a graceful curve, giving her a charm that seemed to possess a blend of innocence and maturity beyond her usual girlish appearance.
It felt like this witch from another world could effortlessly carry off any style...
Klein stared blankly at Alice for two seconds before blushing and remembering to make way for her, but his heavy, weak body made it difficult, allowing her only enough space to pass sideways.
"Because there's a lot to learn at my new job, I was late if I wasn't careful,"
Alice replied with a light, gentle smile, seemingly unconcerned about his clumsy and strange behavior, and began walking up the stairs.
For some reason, as she drew closer, Klein suddenly felt even thirstier, his mouth so dry he could barely breathe.
...Ah, yes, it must be because of that deadly alluring power.
Recalling this crucial point, he tried even harder to shrink back, practically praying that this wicked witch wouldn't play a trick on him at this moment.
But was that even possible?
Klein silently counted down in his mind, three, two, one...
Huh.
He turned around in surprise, and Alice had already gracefully passed him, reaching the top of the stairs on the second floor.
Seeing him look up, she seemed not to understand, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked back at him.
"Is something wrong?"
Klein suddenly realized, shaking his head repeatedly, "No, no, nothing, nothing..."
Perhaps the shame had instantly gathered his strength, and he ran downstairs, rushed into the kitchen, and gulped down a large glass of water before feeling his weak limbs and leaden weight again.
Damn it, why am I feeling a little down about something like this... Did I get dumbbells in my head?
It wasn't until much later that Klein, having calmed himself down, slowly made his way upstairs, turned off the hallway light, opened his bedroom door, and groped his way to the bed to lie down and sleep.
Just then, a soft, gentle female voice with a familiar tone came from the darkness, as if the speaker was standing very close to him on his left!
"Klein, I noticed you seem particularly tired today..."He was startled, almost performing a high jump on the spot.
Fortunately, he immediately recognized Alice's voice. While patting his chest to catch his breath, he asked in surprise,
"You, how did you suddenly get into my room?! I almost had a heart attack from her!"
"Well, I noticed you seemed particularly tired, and I had an idea for an experiment..."
Her voice approached step by step in the quiet darkness, the end of her tone rising slightly, giving Klein a slightly ominous feeling.
"So, here's the thing—" The girl finally stopped just a step away from him, then raised her hand, her fingertips lightly touching the center of his chest, the cool touch spreading through the thin summer shirt.
"Want me to help you feel you, hmm?"