“…!”
Shien abruptly stood up from the hot spring and turned around, looking in a certain direction.
There, a little girl had appeared at some point.
“You…?”
Shien was stunned.
He hadn’t expected that voice to come from such a young girl.
She looked like a beastman, wearing a leather dress, seemingly around thirteen or fourteen years old.
The little girl held a fluffy, mysterious creature, blinked her big eyes, and stared at Shien from the edge of the hot spring.
Shien was first stunned by her appearance and age, then his eyes narrowed.
Because he sensed a terrifying magic power from this little girl, and a ferocious aura that seemed capable of crushing the heavens and earth.
It felt as if a world-destroying beast had suddenly appeared before him.
But this little girl with such a terrifying aura simply stood there with an innocent look, seemingly curious about Shien, staring at him.
Frankly speaking, Shien didn’t dare to look away from her.
Before she spoke, Shien hadn’t even sensed her presence, which showed how extraordinary she was.
The current Shien was different from before. His [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree] could even perceive the workings of the world, yet he hadn’t reacted to her presence until she spoke. This alone was enough to make him wary.
Of course, if he had been fully focused, Shien wouldn’t have been completely oblivious. It was mainly because he had been too relaxed and comfortable while soaking in the hot spring, and he had been lost in thought, making him less alert.
But even so, not just anyone could bypass the detection of [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree].
Yet, this little girl had done it.
“Who are you?”
Shien asked in a deep voice.
However, the little girl didn’t answer his question.
“Airi?” The little girl tilted her head, as if thinking about something, muttering, “Airi? Airi? Airi?”
She kept repeating this name, seemingly very interested in it.
Shien frowned.
“What?” Shien asked, “Do you know Airi?”
Shien decided to test her.
“Airi?” The little girl was still tilting her head, but seemed to understand Shien’s words and nodded vaguely, then said happily, “Airi! Airi! Airi!”
The little girl cheered, jumping up and down, and accidentally let go of the mysterious creature in her hands.
The mysterious creature fell to the ground without a sound, then, as if understanding human behavior, rolled its eyes and flipped over, staying in a prone position. rÃNO͍₿Ɛs
However, it stared intently at Shien, a look of scrutiny in its eyes.
Shien also noticed this mysterious creature, then he realized something.
The terrifying aura he had sensed earlier, like that of a world-destroying beast, actually came from this mysterious creature.
As for the little girl, although her aura was faint, she possessed immense magic power, even greater than Lucy’s, stronger than anyone Shien had ever met.
Just what were the origins of this girl and beast duo?
Shien subconsciously used [Outer Awareness of Heaven’s Decree], trying to see through their levels.
However, he couldn’t see anything.
“This…”
Shien fell silent.
Then, an amused voice rang out.
“Alright, stop looking, human boy. With your power, you can’t see through our level. Don’t waste your energy.”
It was a voice that sounded young, yet somehow mature.
Hearing this voice, Shien’s heart skipped a beat, and he looked at the little girl again.
“Airi! Airi!”
But the little girl was still jumping up and down, chanting Airi’s name.
That voice didn’t come from her.
“Hey, hey, where are you looking?” The voice rang out again. “Here, look at me. It’s me talking to you.”
The mysterious creature lying on the ground raised a forelimb and waved it in a very human-like manner.
Shien finally understood.
“You… you were the one talking just now?”
Shien asked in surprise.