At this point in time, Shien had already to the solemn looking temple.
Before him, Nien came up to welcome him with a smile on her face, but she suddenly froze.
“Eh? Why are you…?”
Nien seemed to have discovered something, and a shocked expression came over her face.
Shien could see that Nien was somewhat shaken from the look in her eyes.
He didn’t pay any attention to that however. He just spoke his next words without a hint of emotion.
“Can you send me back now?”
Shien spoke simply and clearly with a cold expression. It made Nien shudder involuntarily before she suppressed the uncertainly that came over her heart.
Although that kind of thing was very important, comparatively speaking, Nien naturally cared more about Shien.
“A-are you angry?”
Nien weakly spoke. Her previous obstinacy and forcefulness was nowhere to be seen now.
“No.” Shien just shook his head without any emotions, “Send me back then.”
Nien seemed to have wanted to say something more in response to that, but she was met with Shien’s focused stare.
Truth be told, the way he was acting really did kind of made Nien scared.
(Oh no, oh no. He really is mad.)
Nien couldn’t help but regret things a bit.
If she knew that this was going to happen, then she would have used a gentler method.
Now she’s done it. She had made the Hero what she yearned for day and night angry with her.
If Shien was to start hating her in the future, then Nien feels like she would have no reason to keep on living.
As she thought that, Nien decided to try and peak at Shien’s thoughts.
However, that quick peak showed Nien a problem.
(I-I can’t see it anymore?)
How could this be?
Could it be…
(Is he already so angry that he doesn’t have any thoughts in his mind anymore?)
The regret in Nien’s heart thickened.
Nien however did not know that, back in the Holy Sanctum, Shien had gained a new skill due to his strong with to teach her a lesson.
「Skill gained – [Clear Mind] – Would you like to learn?」
It’s a skill to purge oneself of all ravenous thoughts. A way to enter a meditative state.
There are sayings about how a clear mind leads to true enlightenment, and this particular skill lets one calm themselves and be unaffected by outer forces.
Now, Shien had entered this state to calm his mind down to the point where he had no thoughts at all.
In this state, it’s only natural for Nien to be unable to read Shien’s mind, making her ignorant of his thoughts.
Of course, Shien wasn’t just planning to make it so that Nien couldn’t read his mind.
Since she had seriously tripped him u here, he can’t call him Shien anymore if he doesn’t do something to retaliate.
Thus…
“Send me back.”
Shien spoke up again with an utterly calm expression.
This time, Nien had no choice but to acquiesce.
“A-alright. Go ahead and go back to calm down your anger first. I’ll come to talk with you later…”
Nien acted like a little kid who just did something wrong. She hesitated and tried to avoid looking at Shien as she tearily waved her hand to start warping the space around Shien.
Just at that moment though…
“A chance!”
Shien suddenly exited his [Calm Mind] state. His eyes flashed as he released all his might and charged right at Nien.
“Shit…!?”
Nien finally saw Shien’s thoughts and reacted with alarm.
But it was already too late for her.
“Bang!”
With a dull impact, Shien chopped down with his hand onto the back of Nien’s neck, making Nien fall over unconscious without her even able to let out a sound.
Only then did Shien finally carry Nien and laid her down on the ground. Then, he immediately charged back to his original position, inside the spacial warp currently unfolding.
The entire process took less than half a second of time.