[Do you want to absorb that divine-tier item?]
Faced with this harsh reality, Devon sighs, both relieved and disappointed.
"So? How does it go?" Mystic asks eagerly.
Devon looks at her with a strange feeling in his heart.
'At first, I just wanted to see if she was willing to give in to my whims. But now, I guess I'm not disappointed.'
Of course, before even trying it, he knew his chances were slim, but having confirmation was better than remaining in uncertainty.
On the other hand, seeing Mystic let him try it without much thought or fear that he would break free from her hold, this boldness made him feel somehow relieved.
'She is either unaware of the consequences of her choice, or just doesn't care about those consequences.' He continued, undecided between these two hypotheses.
Regardless, he didn't let this unique opportunity pass him by.
"[Give me a second.]"
After this blurry answer, he made his decision.
'I don't know how much she'll be mad at me, but I'm not going to let that chance slip away from me.' He made his decision, despite knowing his master wouldn't like it.
The next second, the grimoire was devoured in its entirety by a black and viscous mist that escaped from his palm.
Mystic's eyes widened at the sight of this.
Then, she sighed while letting out a growl of vexation.
"You bastard! Why do you eat everything within your reach!?"
"[It's for a greater cause.]"
Hearing such a redundant answer from him, Mystic immediately regrets her decision.
She gets up from her lap, before letting herself down on her cushion.
"..."
Devon watches her actions without saying anything.
'Is she annoyed or indifferent? I can't figure her out.'
At the same time, Mystic's voice echoed.
"You know, I have no problem with your actions, but warn me before you do such bullshit. It was mine, this grimoire! I fought to tear it from its previous owner."
"[...]"
Both look at each other in silence.
Then, after a few seconds, Mystic felt her magical energy increase quite significantly.
She frowns at Devon.
Due to the familiar feeling, she understood that it was Devon's doing.
For some mysterious reason, she suddenly showed anger in her eyes.
"Stop with that!"
It surprised Devon to see her growl like a beast in rage. Unlike last time, Mystic's anger was unexpected.
'I feel like she's not happy that I'm boosting her spiritual power.' Devon wondered.
"[You don't like it?]"
"That's not it."
"[So what's the problem? As you can see, everything I do, even if you don't understand my choices, is to help us both become strong in the end.
If you have a problem with being strong, you don't need to tell me twice.]"
Hearing Devon retort those words in such a vulgar manner, she became more annoyed with him.
"Who do you take me for? Of course, I like it, I love it to be honest.
But stop treating me like a kid you're coaxing with a lollipop after making a mistake.
Today, it's a grimoire, tomorrow, what will it be?"
"[You don't need one anyway, I'm telling you that you already have one. And between us, we all know that you can't have two grimoires in your possession.]"
"Oh? You've learned some things, I must say!"
"[Why does it bother you so much!? Are you planning on showing off with it to show off your exploits to everyone instead of using it for a much better cause!?]"
"...Believe me, yes! I did intend to."
Devon looks puzzled after hearing her.
"[...You really wanted to show off with--
"No, you idiot! I was planning on using it to get points that can be exchanged for cores, artifacts, and weapons!"
"[Points?]"
She smiled wryly at Devon's confusion.
"Sigh, we'll talk about this later. For now, I need to rest so I'm ready for the evening patrolling."
After these words, she didn't give Devon any more chance to continue the conversation, she slipped under the blankets and left him alone.
With his eyes fixed on her, Devon watched her sulk in silence without feeling guilty.
'System displays her stats.'
-STATS-
[Host's Master: Mystic Shadow(1st order).]
[Lifespan: 16/260 years.]
[Species: Mutant human.]
[Class: Shadow Necromancer.]
[Spiritual energy: 330->345.]
[Body strength: 760.]
[Combat power: 1090->1105.]
[XP: 34%]
-
Skills:
-Arise (Lvl 02).
-Shadow blessing (Lvl 02).
-Tamer (Lvl 02).
..
'Sigh, still not strong enough. Compared to the others, we are still weak.'
Even if the others find Mystic progressions unrealistic, in his eyes, Mystic and he are advancing with chameleon steps.
'No matter your complaints, I intend to make you one of the most powerful.
My life is related to yours, in other words, your life does not belong to you alone, but to both of us.'
He was like a psychopath unable to resonate like the others.
However, the glint of determination in his eyes was currently frightening.
If Mystic saw him right now, she would no longer see him as such.
After a while, Noha entered the tent.
Seeing Devon, quietly sitting on the stool with one leg over the other and reading a book, near Mystic, he frowned.
He first checked that Mystic was asleep before focusing on Devon.
"Can you even understand the contents of what you're holding in your hands?"
At his words, Devon didn't even look up at him.
The only time he looked at him was when he went back into the tent, then, he lost interest in him.
'Heh, what am I even talking about? Although it acts like a human, this creature is not human, but a beast.'
He mumbles with an ironic smile.
But his presence doesn't seem to be thoughtless, after all, he was on watch outside the tent the whole time.
This allowed him to overhear Mystic's conversation.
But he couldn't hear Devon speaking to Mystic telepathically.
So, it wouldn't be an exaggeration for him to call Mystic a crazy woman who talks alone.
However, as a summoner, he knew exactly what was driving Mystic to do this.
'To strengthen our bonds with our pets and increase their intelligence, conversation with them is essential.
Although, ...in pure and simple terms, it's one-way. Although they can hear us, they pick up very little information. But this thing... is it trying to learn to read?'
He thought to himself as he cautiously approached Devon.
'Sigh, that's all that was missing. How am I supposed to act in this kind of situation?'
--
A little to the north, just thirty meters from Mystic's tent, is Eleanor's and Ivan's tent at the same distance.
"Young master, with these grimoires, you will get enough points to buy a wonderful weapon."
His escort, Shin, praises his prowess through these words.
Ivan's grimoires had all been downgraded in a rather unexpected manner.
Those who were silver rank have been downgraded to iron rank.
The same thing happened with the gold rank, it was downgraded to the silver rank.
The time it takes for them to be usable by another person is longer than the iron rank grimoire.
If iron-rank only needs twenty-four hours, the time is doubled for silver rank; and quadrupled for gold rank.
However, the advantages won't be the same.
Having previously reached a high rank, the grimoire will require less effort from its next contractor to evolve, that is where its value lies.
"...We are only allowed to use basic weapons within the clan. Don't tell me you forgot that, Shin?"
"No, Young Master. But judging by your accomplishments, the esteemed patriarch of the clan will have no choice but to--
"Flattery is futile with me."
"I beg your pardon, my lord."
After these words, a brief silence reigned under Ivan's tent.
After a while, he glared at his bodyguard.
"Anyway, can you tell me what you were planning to do by making a fool of me in front of the others?"
The tone of his voice became menacing and apathetic, following the rhythm of his emotions.
Shin shuddered for a moment upon hearing this reproach and feeling the coldness in his master's gaze.
'Sigh, I thought he had decided to let it go for that one, but I was wrong.' He whispered, clenching his fists behind his back.
Shin knew very well that Ivan was talking about the discord that had taken place between Mystic and him in the forest.
Seeing him silent, Ivan frowns. "Have you lost your tongue?" He did not appreciate Shin's silence.
"Yung master, I'm confused, I don't know what you--
"Not with me, Shin! You know how much I hate that."
"..."
Shin frowns, wearing the same expression as his master.
"I was only acting according to my master's will."
"Explain yourself." Ivan instantly retorts.
Shin takes a deep breath before expressing the depths of his thoughts.
"That girl is unbearable in my master's eyes, I just wanted to put her in her place so she wouldn't think she was superior to you and...!!
-Gulp!
He swallows nervously as he sees a blade whizzing towards his neck and stopping just after a light contact.
"The next time you react like this in front of a member of our clan, no matter if he is trash or the shame of our clan, I will kill you with my own hands."
"..."
"Do we understand each other?"
"Yes, young master."