Entering the Soul Space

After eating their lunch, Riveria was able to get a hold of herself and thought, 'Whenever they are involved, I always lose my nerves... And it feels like it's happened more than in my whole life as an Adventurer.'

Kisuke then invited Riveria and Ais to a private room to talk about what he found out about Ais's condition.

After serving them tea, Kisuke began. "Now then. Where shall I start?" Kisuke stayed silent for a moment and looked towards Ais before continuing, "First of all, here's what I found out. You're not exactly a Human but a High Spirit with flesh and blood."

Kisuke's first revelation put both Ais and Riveria instantly on the edge. They thought that her diagnosis will only involve Ais's general health and Kisuke will only look for anything wrong in her body. They didn't expect that Kisuke could instantly dig one of Ais's deepest secrets.

"How did you..." Ais muttered.

"Judging from your reactions, you already knew about this. Well, that isn't surprising. However, don't ask me how I knew of this. You asked me to do a full check up on you and I don't want to reveal my methods. You should have expected this in the first place."

However, the two of them couldn't just easily accept that. When Ais was still small, Loki and Riveria also brought her to Altena's most famous and top doctor to check her state. But all the said doctor found out that there's something wrong with her but couldn't find out what it was. Hence, when the mysterious man from the deeper part of the Dungeon said that Kisuke could help, they accepted it, wanting to solve this hidden issue.

Who would have thought that a low leveled man who came to Orario out of nowhere could easily see through not just Ais's hidden issue but her true identity?

Not minding what's on their mind, Kisuke continued, "With that in mind, I adjusted her overall physique based on the data that I gathered. It's not just the stasis that did some minor damage to her body, but also the imbalance of her existence being between a Human and a Spirit. After all, you're an unnatural existence."

Kisuke's last words made Ais incredibly nervous, "U-unnatural existence?"

Kisuke instantly figured out what she's worried about and reassured her, "You don't have to worry. You might be an unnatural existence, but you're not an artificial one. You're definitely a child between a Human and a High Spirit."

Ais let out a huge sigh of relief after hearing him but also tremendously mystified, including Riveria, on how he knew all of this.

Kisuke then smiled and asked Ais, "So? How do you feel?"

Ais first looked down on her fist and clenched it, "...I feel light. It's like a burden that I never knew disappeared."

"That's great~. By the way, I heard that you defeated the Monster Rex Level 6 Udaeus, but it seems that you haven't leveled up."

Ais nodded, "I want to try harder." She said while thinking about Aika's words yesterday.

"Is that so. Then we're done here. Go home and adjust yourself. Don't mindlessly enter the Dungeon and ask someone of the same level to have a spar with you. Instead of overall strength, it should be your control that should improve."

Ais nodded and accepted his instructions. Since Aika's words which she took to the heart apparently came from him, she felt at ease listening to him.

"Ais, wait for me outside. I have a few things to talk about in private." Riveria said after seeing that they're finally done.

Ais nodded again and stood up. However, just as she was about to exit through the door, Kisuke called out to her, "Please wait."

Ais looked back at him with confusion and also a bit of nervousness due to not knowing what else this man would say, "...Yes?"

Kisuke smiled wryly and thought that he scared this little girl too much, "Don't look like that. It's nothing too serious. I just want to give you a piece of advice. But first, let me ask. What is your goal?"

Ais became serious at his question and recalled her past and how she was left alone due to a certain monster, the dragon that took everything away from her, "To get stronger. Stronger than anyone." She said with great conviction. Since no one could defeat that dragon, she has to become stronger than anyone in the Lower World.

Kisuke nodded solemnly, "I see." He then stared at her with the same seriousness, "Then here's my piece of advice. You would become happier if you don't get stronger."

Ais and Riveria were both shocked at his words and somehow knew that he wasn't lying or joking this time. However, Ais still shook her head.

"Achieving a goal or a dream doesn't always mean a happy ending, especially when you don't know what you're tossing away to achieve it." Kisuke continued, trying to dissuade her.

With another shake of her head, Ais said, "No. I can't do that." She then exited the room without waiting for any follow up from Kisuke.

Kisuke only stared at her leaving back and once she disappeared from his sights, he stood up and picked up a bag from the corner of the room before walking back towards the still dumbfounded Riveria and passed it to her, "Inside here are some books about Magic that I wrote personally. Study it. I'll be busy for a few more days so I can't entertain you."

"O-okay." Riveria received the bag.

"Go follow her before she does something stupid." Kisuke urged her.

"G-got it." Riveria then ran towards the door but she stopped and looked towards Kisuke, "Why did you say that to her?"

"Because I think that's what's best for her. And you should look after her carefully, or at this rate, only a tragic ending awaits her." Kisuke replied simply.

Riveria didn't know how to take those words, however, she answered, "I've always done it and I have no intention of stopping." She then left to follow Ais while thinking, 'What does he know? What did he discover?'

Kisuke sighed after the two of them left and recalled what happened an hour ago while he's examining Ais's soul after he adjusted her body and Mana.

After sealing his soul and entering her inner world so that he wouldn't contaminate anything in her soul, Kisuke found himself in a world of full of grass, except for a certain spot where it's devoid of any life except for the woman with the same features as Ais but has sharper eyes and a more mature feeling.

The woman's eyes are closed and her hair is blackened from the tips while the smoke of black corrosive aura covers her entirety. Feeling that someone uninvited entered her precious daughter's most important space, the woman opened her eyes and glared at Kisuke, "Who're you!?"

28th00's naughty(Why is it naughty now?! I don't make these additions!) Corner

28th00: Well, that's very lewd! Entering a young girl's most important space while she's asleep!? What a TRAVESTY! The fact that her mom is inside it too, means you got caught… soul handed? Close enough.

Garan: This is not a safe space …. Starts invasion

Alexander: Now it's getting interesting. There are only two ways to move forward. Either a spanking for the pervert or a cup of tea for the first meeting with her future son in law.

28th00: A bit too early for Ais my dude, at least wait till she's Aika's age… She's 13 or 14 atm after all.

Goyya: I think she's sixteen now. By the way, this corner would be a lot funnier if people could see the colors of the edits.