I went down and entered the tree to wait for Serie. A nervous feeling started to build inside me. I could tell this wasn't going to be as simple as it seemed. "Back then, I just sat with the little elf and received the dual conversion option."
But will it really be that simple this time?
Do I just have to sit next to Serie?
Huff~~
I let out a long sigh and climbed the stairs to wait for her. She took longer than I expected. When she finally entered the tree, I asked, "Did you tell Lyuu we might take a few hours before coming back?"
"Yes, I told her. Lyuu was actually quite excited about taking care of all the other elves. I was surprised," Serie replied as she climbed the stairs.
"I see. The elves have eaten already, right?"
"Lyuu said everything was fine, so I think it should be fine."
I hadn't prepared food for the elves yet today. Should I really trust Lyuu with that?
"All right, what do I need to do?" Serie asked as she reached the top of the stairs. She looked at me, sitting inside the wooden coffin, and said, "Do I need to get inside with you, or can I stay out here?"
She was about to sit outside the coffin near the steps, but I stopped her. "We need to be touching for this to work."
"I can hold your hand." Serie sat outside and stretched out her hand. "But what's going to happen? Will I also be able to strengthen my magic by doing this?"
"I'm not exactly sure what will happen either."
"Huh?"
Serie pulled her hand back. "You don't know what's going to happen? What if it's harmful to me?"
"What do you mean?"
"It could drain all my mana, or weaken my magic. What if you drain my potential?! This training is strange… I don't know if I can trust it."
"You're overthinking it. If anything happens, I'll take responsibility. Come on, give me your hand."
"..." Serie stared at my hand for a few seconds, then sighed. Huff~~ "All right, I'll trust you."
I took her hand, and our fingers intertwined firmly.
Her hand was soft and warm, very pleasant to the touch.
I closed my eyes and activated the conversion.
[ Dual Conversion Initiated ]
[ Conversion Bonus +10% ]
"Huh?" I opened my eyes in shock.
Only 10%? The first time, the bonus had been 100%!
I searched my memories for what had been different back then.
'That time, the elf was sitting on my lap. Our bodies were practically touching everywhere. Does that mean the more our bodies touch, the higher the bonus?'
I swallowed hard, feeling both nervous and uneasy.
How could I ask Serie to do something like that?
'This…' As I thought of ways to increase the bonus, strange ideas started swirling in my mind.
Memories that weren't mine began to surface.
Something called "Dual Cultivation."
It was peculiar, and it made my face burn.
'These must be that man's memories. What on earth did he experience in his life?!'
"Did something happen? I don't feel anything different."
"It's nothing. I'll keep going."
I didn't dare ask Serie to sit on my lap.
I activated the conversion while holding only her hand, receiving just a 10% bonus.
####
Pov: Serie
When the queen closed her eyes, I did the same. I didn't know what to expect, and nervousness started to creep in. That's when I felt something in my hand.
A pleasant feeling.
Warm, comforting.
The queen's hand had always been soft and warm, but now the sensation of holding it felt five times better. 'What is this?' I thought, slowly opening my eyes—only to see a light.
A golden, beautiful light glowing in our hands.
My mouth opened slightly, ready to say something, but I stopped myself and stayed silent.
'I'd better stay quiet. The queen looks very focused.' Her eyes were closed, and she seemed incredibly calm—so calm it was as if she had stopped breathing. I couldn't even hear her breath.
Yet her expression was serene. The expression of someone experiencing deep satisfaction.
'What is she feeling?'
I shut my eyes again and focused on the sensation in my hand.
As I concentrated, I began to feel something else.
A warmth in my chest, in my mana reservoir—my heart.
It was soothing, deeply pleasant.
Then, in the darkness, something appeared.
'What is that?'
A circle. Golden, radiant, glowing brightly.
'That's…'
I searched my memory for something the queen had once mentioned about her training. I recalled a brief comment she made at dinner, though she hadn't explained much.
"Magic circle," I said aloud.
Realizing what I'd done, I opened my eyes. The queen's gaze was fixed directly on me.
"You saw it?" she asked.
"What? The circle?"
"Yes, the circle. You could see it?"
"Yes, it was a circle. A beautiful golden color, glowing so brightly." I closed my eyes again, but it had already vanished. "It's gone now."
"Just one circle?"
"Yes."
"Then you can also evolve your magic circle." The queen smiled—a genuine, beautiful smile.
'I can evolve my magic circle? But I didn't even know such a thing existed. What kind of magical concept is this?'
"Can you explain exactly what a magic circle is?"
"Well… I don't really understand it myself. I only started seeing them after I woke up."
"I see. So your training is…"
"Yes. Evolving my magic circle. It increases my magical power."
Hearing this, excitement surged through me.
It had been years since I had been stuck, unable to advance my magic. Especially after the fall of the World Tree.
'This is an opportunity…'
My heart began to race.
####
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