My battle against Alma lasted straight up until dinner. Lia wanted to eat with us again, but since I noticed that she kept glancing at Aishie I forcefully teleported her away.
After dinner, everyone went to their separate ways, with Aishie staying with me. I went to my room behind the throne and began writing down my thoughts about the battles earlier. My memory was basically perfect, but I could analyse things better this way. More than political schemes and battles that lasted the entire night, I felt more comfortable spending my time like this.
I would have liked to enjoy a night like this until I wanted to sleep or it was time for breakfast, but unfortunately I had a visitor around the period of time when the children, including Aishie, went to bed.
"Is it okay for you to be walking about when your summoner is asleep?" I asked, seemingly to no one.
However, I soon got a response, "Maybe not for an inferior spirit, but it's simple for me since I can rely on my own powers to stay in this world."
I felt a cool breeze before a handsome young man appeared before me. Although he was good-looking, he didn't really stand out, as if he was just another face that would be lost in the crowd.
"Is this your usual form?"
"You can tell?"
"It matches some of the anecdotes I've read."
"Oh, a scholar I see. Yes, the form you saw earlier is just to make me seem intimidating. I usually walk the mortal realm like this."
His current form suited my image of the wandering wind so I had no questions regarding that.
Instead I asked, "So, did you need something?"
"Oh come on, I'm sure both of us have questions for each other."
"I suppose, but I'm not sure if I want to answer your questions."
"Well, that might be the case. Then, how about I give you a little gift first."
As I looked at his serene smile, I didn't detect a hint of malice, but that actually made him more creepy.
"...Go on."
"You're not the only outsider in this world."
!
It was something I had guessed, but it still shocked me to get confirmation. It wasn't something I was dying to know, but it was enough to make me start seriously considering his offer.
I sat up straight and looked him in the eye.
"I'll answer what I can."
"Oh, really? Big or small?"
?!
So bewildered was I by his question, that my left eye started twitching. Barely restraining my shock, I managed to utter, "What?"
"Well, I can't tell based on the girls around you so I thought I might as well ask."
"Can't you ask another question?"
"Don't wanna."
I gasped at the behaviour of this stubborn child that was several thousand times my age. I wouldn't be surprised if he was playing with me while wearing that faint smile, but my strong curiosity eventually won over my shame.
"...I don't know what you're talking about, but I tend to like more rather than less."
"Hohoho, we have similar tastes then. In that case, I think you'll be quite satisfied by my contractor's development."
...I didn't know how he knew that nor did I particularly care. Seeing that dirty smile on his face, even my immense curiosity began to fade.
"Ugh, if that's all you have to say you can leave now."
"Don't be so quick to run me out. Tell you what, since we're a pair with similar tastes, I'll share something you'll definitely want to know."
With the little faith I had left in him, I rolled my eyes and asked, "And what's that?"
"How to become a true dragon."
...
Needless to say I was enraptured by Ryzen's next few lines, but I was left disappointed. What he said made sense, but unfortunately it wasn't a method that I could test at the moment.
After that we continued talking, but before I could get anymore information from him, he literally vanished into thin air. And I knew that if he didn't want to come out, even his contractor couldn't force him.
'Still, I'm surprised that he acknowledged her as his contractor rather than just a summoner. She's more talented than I gave her credit for. Even so, I wonder what oath she swore to convince him.'
I took a moment to think about my precious student before getting back to my research. Once breakfast was over, Lily and Kaili snatched Aishie away so I was alone. I took this opportunity to study my innate talent like I planned to.
I would have loved to talk to Ryzen about it, but thanks to the old books left in the castle and the faint memories I managed to awaken, I was able to figure out the function of Laplace.
When I learnt what Laplace was, I was sure that it was definitely the ultimate mental assistance talent. This wasn't something that could be disputed, it was simple fact.
Laplace wouldn't make me smarter and technically it didn't make me think faster either. The only thing Laplace did was provide the perfect place for me to contemplate. While I was in the space provided, time in the real world froze. Furthermore, I wasn't just given more time to think and left alone with my thoughts.
By tapping into the 'truth' of the world, I could also create simulations in the space, which would allow me total control of the virtual world like a god. Because of this, I chose to call this place Eternal Heaven (provisional). However, I would just refer to it as the Laplace space.
I could feel shivers as I tried to imagine what it would be like in the Laplace space, but it wasn't easy to activate. I had a feeling that I almost activated it a few times before, but I was only vaguely aware of the conditions to make it work.
'If I can master this power, I might not get stronger, but my chances of survival will jump. I have to do this.'
I was about to continue my research, when my anxious familiar entered. As I was busy, without looking up I asked, "Do you need something?"
I could sense her fidgeting in front of me, but I kept my head down. I wanted to help her, but my desire to keep researching was too strong.
"Well, no. Do you need any help, Master?"
"Not really."
"Really?"
My hand froze. At first I wanted her to leave, but I couldn't ignore that clear panic in her tone. I finally raised my head to see what expression she was making, and it was unfortunately just as I expected. She was forcing a smile to hide her fear.
I sighed and opened my mouth, but then I thought, 'Isn't this a perfect chance?'
I immediately attempted to use Laplace. There was only one condition that I needed to focus on, the strong desire to solve a problem.
'How do I help her?'
Thankfully, I was actually interested in helping her and so things went better than I thought they would. In less than a second, the world before my eyes seemed to freeze like a photo and then colour was removed from the scene. There was no notification or a sign hung up, but I knew this was the right place.
As I pictured the current state of the room in my head, a transparent blue diorama of the room appeared above my hands. It was several times smaller than the room itself, but I could tell that every detail had been replicated, even the personalities of Jeanne and I. Satisfied by this 3D image, I got to work.
"Now then, time to begin."