Spiritual sense extended from the point of contact, probing inward into Nfirea Bareare's sea of consciousness, where it found the boy curled up in fear.
Chu Lian let out a breath of relief. At least he still knew shame and had manifested clothes for himself. It seemed he was somewhat familiar with this place. Hopefully he wouldn't be frightened when he saw her.
"Long time no see, Nfirea."
Standing before him, her nine tails swaying gently behind her, Chu Lian showed no concern about revealing her true form. It had nothing to do with her future considerations.
"You are... Liliana?"
The terrified boy lifted his head. What he saw was a girl in a cheongsam. The moment he recognized her face, he froze—especially when his gaze fell upon the pair of white fox ears atop her head and the nine tails behind her. Fear flooded his expression.
They had only been separated for a short while. How had she changed so drastically? Compared to the pure white girl before, there was now an added allure in the way her figure swayed—an enchanting charm no ordinary girl could possess.
"Surprised?"
Chu Lian smiled, taking one of her tails into her hand and idly twirling it as she looked at him. "I'm simply a non-human race. Otherwise, do you really think a human could possess such formidable power?"
"No... no... that's impossible..."
Nfirea refused to believe that the girl before him was anything other than the goddess-like figure he had once admired from afar. Why had things turned out like this? Why?
"Whether you believe it or not doesn't matter. It's the truth—an unchangeable truth."
With a wave of her hand, a portion of her spiritual sense separated and formed into a chair. She sat down and looked at the boy, who still wore an expression of disbelief, then shook her head.
"Was the shock too much? If you keep this up, we won't be able to communicate."
"Y-you... go ahead. Why did you come to find me?"
Hearing her words, though countless doubts and pain churned in his heart, he did not pursue the matter further.
He should have realized it earlier. How could an ordinary human possess such overwhelming strength at such a young age? No wonder her home was said to be so distant. No wonder there were such strange family rules. Everything... everything was because of her race.
"Well, I was entrusted by your grandmother to rescue you. The enemies outside have all been dealt with. You're the only one left."
Chu Lian briefly explained the situation, then looked at him and continued, "I've already healed your eyes. What remains is the mental control over you. Removing it is simple—just destroy that ornament. There's nothing difficult about it."
"However, the reason I've come to you now is to ask—are you interested in making a trade with me?"
She tilted her head slightly as she watched him.
"A trade? What could I possibly have that's worth trading with you? I have nothing left now. Even my life isn't in my own hands."
Nfirea looked confused. He truly could not see what about him would catch her interest.
"Your innate ability—the power to use the abilities of any magic item. I need that."
The moment Chu Lian spoke, Nfirea understood what she coveted. He gave a bitter smile and shook his head.
"That's something I was born with. I have no way to choose to trade it away."
"No, no."
Chu Lian shook her head lightly. "With me, everything can be traded. Gods, races, strength, souls—even things utterly worthless—all have their own price. You will obtain what you desire."
As a Spacetime Traveling Merchant, the scope of trade was never limited. As long as there was demand, even selling oneself was possible—let alone something external.
"If I refuse to trade, what will happen to me?"
Nfirea did not know why he asked that question. He simply wanted to hear the answer.
"Nothing will happen. I'll still save you. Then I'll knock you unconscious and wait for my elder brother to come rescue you tomorrow. Of course, everything you see here now will fade. It won't remain in your memory."
Chu Lian did not think it was a big deal. Trade required mutual consent. If he did not wish it, nothing would occur.
"If I trade with you, what can I get?"
Nfirea needed to know what he could gain before deciding whether to exchange his innate ability.
"Wealth, beautiful women, status, power, eternal life, strength—or even becoming a god or a demon. Anything is possible, as long as what you offer is valuable enough."
With a faint smile, Chu Lian opened the fan in her hand and raised it like Yukari Yakumo, covering the lower half of her face and revealing only her eyes as she waited for his answer.
"You really are like a devil. As long as a trade can be made, even a soul, a life, or the lives of countless others can become bargaining chips. Liliana, you're not a fox—you're a devil, aren't you?"
Nfirea stood up. The once-timid boy suddenly seemed braver as he looked directly at her.
"Even if I am a devil, so what? As long as you obtain what you want and I obtain what I want, what does it matter?"
Her beautiful eyes narrowed slightly, her voice lowering.
"Everything in this world has a price. The only difference is how high that price is. As long as you are willing to pay, anything can be obtained. Isn't that fair? Isn't that correct?"
"Every devil claims to be fair. But few truly uphold fairness. What they want is what benefits them—not fairness."
Nfirea clenched his fists. It seemed he did not wish to trade.
"Very well, young man. The trade has failed. I won't force you. Once I leave, all memories here will vanish. I will still save you. When you awaken tomorrow, you will have forgotten everything."
Chu Lian snapped her fan shut and made no further attempt to persuade him. If he was unwilling, then so be it. Trade without genuine consent could never be completed.
Rather than waste time here, she might as well resolve his issue and move on to something more useful.
"Wait. I never said I was unwilling."
Nfirea called out, stopping her. When the girl turned back and sat down again with a curious look, he remained silent for a moment before speaking.
"What can I exchange it for?"
"Mm. It seems my previous explanation was too general. In that case, let me show you some things of equivalent value."
"These are bloodlines: Eighth-Tier Dragon Bloodline, Eighth-Tier Elf Bloodline, Eighth-Tier Wizard Bloodline, Eighth-Tier Enchantress Bloodline, Eighth-Tier Succubus Bloodline, and so on. You probably don't know what bloodlines are. A bloodline can change your race, granting you instincts and growth potential beyond that of humans."
"And there are weapons: the legendary Dragonspine Bow, the legendary Dragon Scale Armor. Well, those are the only two I have for now. There will be more in the future—make do with them."
"Lastly, there are some more unusual options. For example, pets whose strength rivals those giant dragons, powerful experts of other races, or certain miraculous items."
After hearing her explanation and recalling what she had said earlier, Nfirea asked in confusion, "Liliana, didn't you just say, 'Wealth, beautiful women, status, power, eternal life, strength—or even becoming a god or a demon. Anything is possible, as long as what you offer is valuable enough'? Why aren't those things among what you're showing me?"
Chu Lian froze at his question and nearly choked. Suppressing the urge to roar, she replied with a pleasant smile, "Of course those are available. I simply assumed you wouldn't care much for them. These options should be more than enough for you, right?"
On the surface she appeared gentle and composed, but inwardly she was complaining nonstop.
Do you think I don't want to give you those things? I'm still a beginner myself. This is my first time entering a dungeon, my first time killing so many enemies. Strictly speaking, this is only the second time I've used a Bloodstained Reward. Being able to obtain these is already impressive. I haven't even calculated the rewards from all those undead I just killed. Damn it—if I'd known, I would've exchanged for more things before coming in.
"Oh, I see."
Nfirea nodded as if enlightened. Indeed, as the girl had said, he did not crave beautiful women, status, power, or eternal life.
Strength and wealth were likely his true goals. As for beautiful women... was there anyone who could stir his heart more than the girl before him? And choosing powerful experts? He would rather strengthen himself. Only then might he one day stand worthy beside her.
"If I trade for a bloodline, will my appearance change?"
Nfirea was most interested in the bloodlines. But he also understood the terrifying persecution non-humans faced in human society. If discovered, he might endure it—but what about his grandmother? If they could not find him, they would surely trouble her.
"Well, that depends on you."
After secretly communicating with Ayase, Chu Lian gave her answer. "After replacing your bloodline, there's a high chance your outward appearance won't change. However, once you use abilities that belong to that bloodline, you'll immediately transform into its true form. Think carefully."
"Wealth—I can obtain that with my own abilities. But strength... without relying on other means, I'll never reach the Hero tier in my lifetime. I..."
Nfirea muttered to himself, clenching and loosening his fists repeatedly. Finally, he lifted his head and looked at her.
"I am willing to trade my innate ability for one of these bloodlines. Please accept my sincerity."
As he spoke, the blond boy knelt down and lightly kowtowed several times toward Chu Lian. He needed this display of devotion to win her favor—to maximize his gains.
"Doing that is useless, young man."
Chu Lian did not tell him to rise. She merely spoke softly. "In my trades, you receive exactly what you give. No more, no less. It will always be equal."
Seeing that he remained kneeling, she clicked her tongue in resignation.
"Alright, alright. I'll present you with the bloodlines most suitable for you."
Hearing this, Nfirea lifted his head, his face slightly flushed. "My deepest thanks, Liliana."
"Here—this is the Forest Elf Bloodline, this is the Dark Elf Bloodline, this is the Wizard Bloodline, and this is the Succubus Bloodline... These are all extremely beneficial for spellcasters. They will increase your potential without drastically altering your appearance."
"I know about Forest Elves and Dark Elves. But what are the Wizard Bloodline and the Succubus Bloodline?"
"The Wizard Bloodline enhances close-combat capability without affecting spellcasting. It is a bloodline where every individual is born a mage—and also a formidable warrior."
"As for the Succubus Bloodline, it belongs to a race known as Succubi. They are natural-born spellcasters, capable of wielding various forms of magic with ease. Their spell damage is significantly amplified—roughly fifty percent stronger than races without special bonuses."
After hearing her explanation, Nfirea was clearly tempted. After some thought, he asked, "How long does it take to transform into another race?"
"Anywhere from one to three hours. There will be some pain—it depends on the extent of the change. Dragon blood, for instance, is extremely powerful, but it takes the longest to transform and is unbearably painful."
"So there will be a fairly long transformation period... and some pain?"
At the mention of pain, Nfirea shrank back slightly before asking.
"Hey, hey—you're a man, aren't you? Don't tell me you can't endure even a little pain?"
Chu Lian looked at him speechlessly. Hadn't he already made his choice? He should be prepared to bear the consequences.
"I'm just a bit afraid of pain."
Nfirea scratched the back of his head sheepishly. He truly did fear pain. But if that pain could make him stronger, then he would endure it.
"While I'm transforming, will you stay here to protect me?" he asked his final question.
"Of course. The commission I accepted was to protect you. Even though my elder brother will rescue you later, my task isn't finished yet. I won't leave."
Chu Lian waved her hand dismissively. If that was his concern, it was unnecessary. She was an adventurer—she had her own standards and bottom line.
"Thank you, Nfirea, for your trust and care. If you truly need my innate ability, then I will trade it with you."
The meaning behind his words was clear: I am doing this for you, not for myself.
Unfortunately, Chu Lian had never been interested in men, nor did she care to analyze their feelings. She paid no attention to the implication. All she knew was that the trade was complete.
"Then—the trade is concluded."
Seeing him agree, the weight in her heart lifted. She raised her hand and produced a vial glowing with an eerie, enchanting light, handing it to the boy to drink.
Nfirea looked at the red liquid in his hand. Once the change was complete, he would no longer be human. Yet for the sake of the future, he could not hesitate.
Taking a breath, he uncorked the vial and drank it down.
Brilliant yet uncanny light enveloped his body. In the next instant, a sphere of light drifted out from within him.
Chu Lian took the sphere and nodded in satisfaction. "S-rank innate ability: the power to use any magic item. Of course, proficiency will depend on your own experience, girl."
Exiting the spiritual space, Chu Lian stepped back several paces. Pulling Hare Menjou along, she sat atop a pillar above the altar and watched his transformation.
The first hour passed. Chu Lian began to feel that the time seemed unusually long.
The second hour passed. Her brows knitted together in thought. Something wasn't right. Shouldn't it have taken just over an hour at most?
The third hour passed. The eerie light surrounding Nfirea slowly contracted and merged into his body. Then, suddenly, his body dissolved into light and vanished, replaced by a pitch-black radiance.
Chu Lian grew visibly tense.
Please don't let anything strange happen.
Moments later, the black light dissipated. The figure that emerged left Chu Lian completely dumbfounded.
What in the world was going on?!
Did I grab the wrong script? Hey—did I just forget something important?