Now,
In front of her, Claire stood silently, while Tina unconsciously stepped closer, clearly intrigued.
And before Hero Claire could answer—
Rena, with a wide smile, turned her attention to Hero Claire, her hands now confidently outside her large robe pockets, palms open.
…my magic… is a bit different.
Rena raised her hand slowly, as if searching for the right words.
When I drank my blood…
I didn't actually drink it…
This is… neutralization magic.
Tina immediately reacted, her eyes wide open as she tried to understand.
Neutralization…? You mean dispel?
Rena shook her head slowly, swallowing softly, then spoke clearly while looking at Hero Claire with her cheeks lifted.
No,
It's not just removing.
She looked at her hands again, now clenching both fists.
…but
changing…
Hearing that, Tina stepped even closer, now clearly beside Hero Claire, muttering.
Interesting…
I can't miss out on this valuable information..
Meanwhile, Rena paused for a moment, then continued more clearly.
I can neutralize something… for example, blood.
Then suddenly, Rena's brows furrowed.
Clearly not because of anything in particular, but because Rena was trying to explain simply.
Then, immediately, Rena continued with words she herself could understand.
Neutralization magic…
Works according to my will..
At least before it reaches the bottom of my throat..
Hero Claire, hearing that, could only close her eyes—not to dismiss the information, but precisely because of one thing. Then, with a small mutter, she said with a smile visible on her face.
Damn... this information is too interesting...
I need to really digest it..
At least my ears...
Are working well..
Rena then continued, but before that, she touched her throat gently, her eyes now slightly calmer, tears no longer falling.
And before it actually enters my digestive system…
…I can change it.
Tina now moved very close, curious as a mage hero.
Her eyes focused, her right hand covering her mouth.
Change…?
So you did that without chanting a spell?
Is there a long process inside, or does it just change instantly?
Rena's answer was simple, said with one word that all three of them truly understood.
Water...
Hearing that, Hero Tina was startled, then her lips trembled slightly, instantly understanding something, and she thought to herself.
Ah...
I forgot Rena isn't a mage...
A student who became a knight at the Lionia Royal School..
For a moment, Hero Tina averted her eyes, glancing briefly at the sword still stuck in the same spot, then muttered softly.
I shouldn't have asked in such detail...
Carrying something that heavy must be tiring...
Both Hero Claire and Tina now stood silent, seeing that. Then Rena looked at both of them with clear words.
But,
it's not just that it looks like water.
Its structure changes. Its molecules… its properties… everything.
Then Rena turned her gaze back north and spoke more softly.
At least...
That's what I learned at school...
The place where I was raised and educated,
And the place where I could often meet the Headmaster...
Hearing those words, both Tina and Hero Claire were startled simultaneously, and this time, neither of them could speak.
For a moment, the three of them
Fell silent.
The morning wind blew gently.
Both the special mage hero's robe from the Calderia Kingdom
And the glittering marksman hero's robe from the Lionia Kingdom
The wind blew both, fluttering them slowly without discrimination of origin, including Rena, wearing the special mage robe she had once received at school.
And now the sun was higher than before. The morning heat was slowly being replaced by the midday heat now enveloping all three of them.
Then Claire finally spoke, looking at Rena who was still gazing north.
…so your body doesn't just 'reject' something…
…it actually processes it.
Rena nodded slightly.
Yes… but there's a limit.
She took a slow breath, closing her eyes to enjoy the midday sun now covering her.
And the one who knows that limit is myself...
And how confident I am about this ability of mine.
Suddenly, Rena's lips trembled, and the sword that had been stuck in the ground appeared in her hand like a contract weapon.
Then Rena held the hilt with both hands and planted it into the ground.
Honestly, I wasn't even sure...
That I could neutralize it.
Rena then looked at her sword clearly, her eyes sparkling.
But... at that moment,
I was truly confident...
In myself.
How someone, as a human being, needing something so badly that they rise up and do it themselves...
At least, that's what I can explain.
Hearing that, Tina still didn't let go of her habit, her right hand still partially covering her mouth while thinking quickly, then she spoke with her cheeks lifted.
If that's the case...
Does that mean Rena has used it often?
Rena heard that and shook her head... Her hands lowered to the level of her large robe pockets.
No..
This time...
During the battle...
Was the first time I did it.
Then slowly, Rena touched part of her lip—the part that had regrown—with her left hand.
The magic I've used often, even since I've lived in this world,
Is recovery magic.
Rena continued quickly.
She clenched her left fist slightly.
With that...
I can adapt,
I can recover,
My body also… recovers faster.
Suddenly, Rena paused for a moment, then slowly closed her eyes.
At least...
If I'm calm... not stressed,
That's all I need...
Claire, hearing that, immediately said.
So...
That's why earlier Rena couldn't recover properly???
Rena answered honestly, her cheeks lifted.
That's right...
If I'm calm…
…physical, mana… everything can come back.
Tina paused for a moment.
For the first time,
She didn't respond immediately.
The morning wind blew again.
Tina slowly smiled faintly.
But not an ordinary smile.
Then she spoke clearly, and this time, both her right and left hands weren't covering her mouth. Her mouth was fully visible as she spoke with teary eyes.
I'm sorry..
I'm sorry, Rena...
How selfish of me...
Prioritizing getting information,
I should have first explained about Hero Anna.
With tears slowly falling from her eyes, Hero Tina bit her lip hard, but not drawing blood.
Something you deserved to hear from someone considered a hero, even though she herself isn't sure who she really is...
Rena, hearing that, didn't fully understand those words.
But Rena knew one thing: this time, Hero Tina was truly explaining everything.
Then quickly, Hero Tina spoke clearly and calmly.
If so...
May I begin...
And under the blazing midday sun that was starting to burn, the three of them remained there.
The physical distance between them hadn't changed at all—they were very close.
But what clearly changed was the feeling of their connection.
No longer just temporary companions.
But—
people who had begun to understand…
what it was they were actually doing.