Lefiya stood frozen in place, her face a mask of complete confusion. Seeing her hesitation, Riveria simply repeated her command with a firm, unyielding nod.
"R-Riveria-sama... have you forgotten how my magic works?!" Lefiya asked, her voice tight with absolute incredulity. "Elf Ring only works on spells of other elves, and..."
She trailed off, casting a series of pointed, anything-but-subtle glares directly at Luki.
Vibrant blue hair. Three eyes with bizarre, mesmerizing pupils and irises. Feathered wings sprouting from the places where the shouldn't.
No matter which angle you look, the individual standing in front of them was categorically, undeniably not an elf.
"Hey, I know what you're thinking. And yeah, I admit I gained a few pounds and changed my haircut a bit recently. But trust me, last month I was just as much of an elf as you are. I think..."
Lefiya stomped her foot, her patience wearing thin. "That is completely impossible! Nobody changes their entire biological race without rhyme or reason! At the very least, you were never a real elf to begin with and just happened to look like one!"
"You don't know anything about Luki-sama, you rude girl!" Lili shouted back, aggressively stepping forward to defend him. "Lili spent months traveling alongside Luki-sama, and he was absolutely an elf! Your narrow-minded assumptions mean nothing!"
Tiona raised her hand, breaking into the argument with a sheepish grin. "Look, Lili-chan, I'm not trying to pick on you again, but even if he was an elf before... look at him now. I really don't think Lefiya's magic is going to work on whatever he's become."
"Enough. Stop these pointless arguments," Riveria interrupted. She stepped between them, her gaze fixing onto her student. "It is irrelevant whether he still looks like one of us or not. We will uncover the truth the moment you attempt to use your magic on him. It is as simple as that. Now, execute the spell."
Lefiya let out a heavy, defeated sigh, her shoulders slumping. "Understood, Riveria-sama..."
She clearly didn't believe for a single second that this would actually work. Still, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and extended her hands forward.
Then, she began to recite the incantation of her unique spell.
"Thou, the modern record. The historical coordinate. Symbol of the contract, accept my desire. Fill the standard, run across the field, connection of the millennium. Release the light of the high house. Link — Elf Ring!"
The moment the final words left her lips, a massive, brilliant fuchsia magic circle erupted beneath her boots. A second later, a twin circle manifested horizontally right above the first one, spinning in the exact opposite direction.
Then dozens of glowing, golden light particles shaped like flower petals began to float gracefully into the air, swirling around Lefiya's robes as her magic surged outward, locking into Luki, trying to do something.
Then the petals of light began to flicker, popping like tiny sparks. The twin circles beneath Lefiya's feet cracked, before completely shattering into particles of dissipating mana.
Lefiya lowered her hands, letting out a long, exhausted sigh. "See? I told you so. It didn't work." She crossed her arms, pouting with a rare hint of genuine disappointment. "Though, to be completely honest... I actually had a little bit of hope it would. That spell of his is just way too good to pass up."
"Heh~ Die of envy, hater," Luki mocked, throwing a sharp smirk right at her.
Lefiya gritted her teeth in pure frustration, glaring daggers at him.
"But jokes aside. If I'm not an elf anymore... then what the hell am I?"
'They told me back then that I'm a creature of Chaos, but that probably doesn't count as an actual biological race, just the origin of it.'
Riveria rested her chin on her hand, her eyes shining with curiosity. "A completely new, unique species... I must admit, this is almost as exciting as if you were actually an elf with your particularities. I suppose you should be the one to choose the name of your race."
"Oh, I know! I know!" Tiona chirped, raising her hand high into the air and bouncing on her heels. "How about an Angel?!"
Everyone in the courtyard slowly turned their heads to look at her.
"What? Are you going to tell me it doesn't fit? All he's missing is a ring of light over his head. He already showed us he can sprout wings from his back!"
Lili tapped her chin, her expression turning deeply thoughtful before she nodded in full agreement. "Lili actually agrees. Someone with a heart as big as Luki-sama's could only be an angel sent from the heavens."
Ais, still holding her paper bag of skewers, offered a quiet, soft nod. "Angel sounds cool."
Luki chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck as he shook his head. "I appreciate the consideration, girls, but no thanks. I'll just content myself with referring to myself as... well, myself."
Riveria tilted her head. "Are you certain? I believe the most normal reaction would be to feel excited about your uniqueness, and perhaps look toward propagating your species."
Despite the sophisticated and polite wording, practically everyone in the courtyard instantly understood the underlying subtext of her statement. Lili's expression immediately warped into absolute panic, Tiona's seemed strangely excited by the idea, and even Lefiya looked thoroughly scandalized.
Luki, however, completely ignored their varied and chaotic reactions.
"Give me a break. Just because a piece of paper says I'm worthy of a wildlife reserve now doesn't mean I actually care. Elf, angel, human, or whatever the hell I am, I'm still just me. I don't give a damn about those things."
Riveria let out a soft, amused huff, folding her arms. "A beautiful, profound speech... if it weren't for the thoroughly crude language."
"I try," Luki replied with a lazy smirk.
Riveria cleared her throat, clearing the lingering tension. "Personal questions aside, let us return to the matter at hand. It is a pity that Lefiya cannot copy your magic, which means I will simply have to study its mechanics the traditional way. There are still a few tests I would like to conduct, if you do not mind?"
"Go ahead. It helps me out too," Luki replied casually.
"Excellent. Now, I would like you to..."
And so, a lengthy session of experimentation and self-discovery began. Riveria utilized every ounce of her creativity and technical knowledge to thoroughly dissect the limits of Luki's magic. By the time night began to fall over the courtyard, several concrete conclusions had been drawn, and Luki's understanding of his own capabilities had grown significantly.
The distance tests, conducted in the wide-open space of the courtyard, revealed a fascinating interaction between his eyes and his unique senses. According to the spell's parameters, Luki could teleport anywhere within his line of sight or his one-kilometer spatial awareness. However, human vision technically has no distance limit; looking at a nearby wall or staring at a star on the edge of the night sky requires the same visual input.
When Riveria had him test his limits by blinking high into the sky, they discovered a major drawback. Luki could successfully teleport outside his spatial awareness using raw vision alone, but doing so exacted a severe toll. The mental cost of the jump skyrocketed, and he materialized feeling deeply disoriented and violently dizzy. In stark contrast, any jump executed strictly within his one-kilometer spatial awareness felt completely natural and seamless. Because his brain already possessed perfect, real-time data of that area, the transition caused zero mental friction, and the Mind consumption was noticeably lower.
Next, they tackled the laws of physics regarding falling velocity. By having Luki leap from the roofs of the Twilight Manor, Riveria confirmed that he strictly retained his kinetic momentum. If he reached his terminal velocity of roughly two hundred kilometers per hour during a fall, a simple blink wouldn't magically cancel the velocity; he couldn't just drop safely to the grass. He still needed to find a way to decelerate or brace for impact.
However, a secondary test proved that this limitation was actually a devastating combat asset. While Luki couldn't erase the momentum, he could completely change its vector at the exact moment of the Blink. If he was falling downward at terminal velocity, he could execute a jump and materialize horizontally. Since the kinetic energy was stored within his own mass, changing his body's orientation mid-warp completely redirected that tremendous force. He could channel the entire velocity of a massive fall directly into a forward-facing punch, delivering a blow with unbelievable, devastating impact. Granted, the sheer force of the kinetic recoil still hurt his own body, but inside a dungeon where his unnatural regeneration could mend a sprained wrist in minutes, a minor physical toll was a very small price to pay.
The parameters of what the magic carried along also became strictly defined. Luki couldn't actively filter out what went with him. If an object was firmly attached to his body, it was dragged into the warp automatically. This explained why he couldn't simply blink clean out of his own clothes, though he mentally resolved to practice controlling that boundary in the future—purely for tactical reasons, of course.
Furthermore, carrying extra passengers demanded a significantly higher amount of energy, as both physical size and weight directly scaled the Mind cost. They verified that the connection worked like a chain; if Luki held hands with one person, and that person was holding onto someone else, the spell would seamlessly pull everyone through the coordinates.
Up to this point, Blink seemed like the ultimate tool for a hit-and-run combat style, making Luki an incredibly slippery opponent. But as Riveria had wisely warned, no magic was perfect.
They discovered that Luki struggled immensely when trying to blink into areas heavily saturated with foreign magical energy. When he attempted to jump inside Riveria's active defensive barrier, Via Shilheim, the system nearly locked him out. He had to stand completely still for five grueling seconds, staring at the glowing green wall in deep, exhausting concentration, before he finally managed to force his way inside, materializing with a fresh bead of cold sweat on his forehead.
But the most absolute limitation was solid matter. Luki could not teleport inside a stone wall or any solid object, no matter how hard he tried. The spell simply refused to execute, suggesting either a psychological safety lock hardcoded into his brain to protect his biological integrity, or a mechanical rule requiring the destination coordinates to be entirely free of solid material. This meant that while he couldn't casually blink inside a Goliath's head or its compressed mana crystal for an instant kill, targeting an open, hollow space like the monster's stomach cavity remained a terrifying possibility.
Lastly, the mechanics of the transition itself left Riveria deeply intrigued. The spell didn't utilize an intermediate sub-dimension or a pocket realm where Luki hid before moving; the displacement was truly instantaneous, down to the smallest measurable unit of time. Yet, because he occupied space instantly, his arrival gently pushed the atmospheric air out of the way, creating a soft, distinct breeze that anyone standing right next to him could easily feel.
With the exhausting physical tests finally drawing to a close, a far more embarrassing situation suddenly unfolded. The girls finally put the pieces of his sensory mechanics together, suddenly realizing that Luki's one-kilometer spatial awareness allowed him to perceive absolutely everything within that radius from every conceivable angle—entirely independent of walls, leather armor, or clothing.
Luki nearly got beaten to a pulp on the spot because of it.
"I believe that is quite enough for today. We are finished," Riveria announced, adjusting her robes.
"Phew, finally. I was starting to smell," Luki complained, wiping away the sweaty fringe of hair plastered against his forehead. "Are you sure you don't want me to keep going? I think I could last until tomorrow morning."
Tiona grinned mischievously. "That is what he said."
Both Luki and Riveria turned dead, expressionless eyes toward her. Tiona instantly looked away, whistling innocently as if she hadn't said a thing.
Riveria strictly redirected her attention to Luki. "This is far from enough. All I have managed to do is map out the basic limitations of your spell, not its intrinsic function. However, it is getting late, and it would be bad manners on my part to keep our guests any longer."
"Yeah... now that you mention it, I am starving," Luki muttered, rubbing his stomach.
"We also still need to find an inn to spend the night," Lili added, looking up at him with a sigh.
"Ah, right, that too. I completely forgot about the lodging situation," Luki admitted. "I guess we really should get going."
"Please, stay for dinner," Riveria offered graciously, a polite smile on her face. "Consider it a demonstration of our hospitality."
Suddenly, Tiona aggressively bounced forward, grabbing Luki by his hands and dragging him toward the mansion's entrance. "Yeah, exactly! Stay a bit longer! You haven't seen what the rest of our crew is like, you're gonna love it!"
"Hey! Take your hands off Luki-sama!" Lili shrieked, desperately chasing after them.
Being pulled away with an entirely unnecessary amount of strength by the Level 6 Amazon, Luki simply resigned himself to his fate. Not that he was actually going to refuse, of course. Everybody loved free food.
The group gathered and made their way through the elegant corridors toward the grand dining hall. Bell finally left her hiding spot behind the pillar, quietly joining Ais and Lefiya as the three girls engaged in a soft, casual conversation.
"I believe that is quite enough for today. We are finished," Riveria announced, adjusting her robes.
"Phew, finally. I was starting to smell," Luki complained, wiping away the sweaty fringe of hair plastered against his forehead. "Are you sure you don't want me to keep going? I think I could last until tomorrow morning."
Tiona grinned mischievously. "That is what he said."
Both Luki and Riveria turned dead, expressionless eyes toward her. Tiona instantly looked away, whistling innocently as if she hadn't said a thing.
Riveria strictly redirected her attention to Luki. "This is far from enough. All I have managed to do is map out the basic limitations of your spell, not its intrinsic function. However, it is getting late, and it would be bad manners on my part to keep our guests any longer."
"Yeah... now that you mention it, I am starving," Luki muttered, rubbing his stomach.
"We also still need to find an inn to spend the night," Lili added, looking up at him with a sigh.
"Ah, right, that too. I completely forgot about the lodging situation," Luki admitted. "I guess we really should get going."
"Please, stay for dinner," Riveria offered graciously, a polite smile on her face. "Consider it a demonstration of our hospitality."
Suddenly, Tiona aggressively bounced forward, grabbing Luki by his hands and dragging him toward the mansion's entrance. "Yeah, exactly! Stay a bit longer! You haven't seen what the rest of our crew is like, you're gonna love it!"
"Hey! Take your hands off Luki-sama!" Lili shrieked, desperately chasing after them.
Being pulled away with an entirely unnecessary amount of strength by the Level 6 Amazon, Luki simply resigned himself to his fate. Not that he was actually going to refuse, of course. Everybody loved free food.
The group gathered and made their way through the elegant corridors toward the grand dining hall. Bell finally left her hiding spot behind the pillar, quietly joining Ais and Lefiya as the three girls engaged in a soft, casual conversation.
However, the moment they crossed the threshold into the hall, they were greeted by a scene the guests certainly didn't expect—except for Luki, who had already known what was happening from the very beginning thanks to his spatial senses.
In the corner of the hall, a group of bards played a chaotic, fast-paced tune with lutes and flutes, while several adventurers pounded their fists on the tables to keep the beat. On top of the long wooden table, Loki and Miach were holding hands and swaying unsteadily, leading the entire room in a roaring tavern song.
"Oh, the gods came down to drink and fight!" Loki screamed at the top of her lungs, waving her tankard.
"A-And we'll d-drrriiiink all nnn-iigghhht untiiil the l-liiiggghhht! Hic!" Miach slurred, stumbling over his own boots but laughing maniacally.
The newcomers stood completely frozen in the doorway, staring in absolute incredulity at the rowdy celebration. Riveria slowly raised her hand, pinching the bridge of her nose tightly as her eyes closed in deep frustration.
"I leave her alone for two hours..." Riveria muttered under her breath.
"Hey, look, that's my sister!" Tiona chirped, pointing toward a specific spot in the hall to draw Luki's attention.
Tione, a noticeably more mature and physically developed version of her sister, was currently locked in an arm-wrestling match. A massive line of challengers stretched behind the table.
Within seconds, she slammed her opponent's arm flat against the wood. The defeated man slunk away, and Tione casually swept his coins into her ever-growing pile of Valis as the next challenger stepped up, placing his entry fee on the table.
Luki raised an eyebrow. "What exactly are they doing?"
"Donating money to the rich," Tiona joked, giving a small laugh. "But seriously, at first, this was supposed to be a small courtship ritual for us Amazons. Everyone knows we seek out strong men, but it's kind of hard to actually prove your worth to us. So, arm-wrestling."
"Wait, really? Isn't your sister famous for being completely crazy for your Captain?"
"Exactly! So nobody ever had a chance from the start. And I have enough self-respect not to just go around throwing myself at anyone either."
Everyone nearby cast a highly suspicious glance in her direction; her overly friendly behavior with Luki suggested the exact opposite.
Tiona completely ignored them and kept explaining.
"So, it just turned into a little house game. The challenge is to last a single minute against one of us. Win, and all the gold on the table is yours."
"And has anyone actually won?"
"Nope. Like I said, donating money to the rich," Tiona chuckled before spotting someone else. "Oh, there's the Captain! Come on. He might not look like it, but Finn is a total blast at parties when he wants."
She didn't even try to drag Luki along this time. Instead, she bolted forward, grabbed a small plate of food, and hurried over to join her friends.
Riveria looked over at the chaotic divine duo and sighed. "I don't think you two will be leaving anytime soon. I will ask someone to prepare a room for you and your god." She marched straight toward Loki, her intentions were deadly clear.
"Come on, Bell-chan! I think they have cake over there," Lefiya said cheerfully, looping her arm through Bell's and beginning to pull her away.
"U-Um... wait, Lefiya-san!" Bell stammered, completely flustered as her eyes darted back and forth toward Luki. She clearly wanted to stay by his side a little longer, but her shy nature made it impossible to resist the eager elf dragging her along.
Meanwhile, Ais silently dissolved into the background. By the time Luki even noticed her absence, she was already sitting in a quiet, secluded corner of the hall, happily devouring a plate piled high with party snacks and sweets.
With everyone scattered, only Luki and Lili remained standing near the entrance, looking entirely lost.
"Yeah... We probably should have come here some other time."
"At the very least, we should have rented an inn beforehand," Lili sighed, looking up at him.
"My bad. I didn't think Loki would completely corrupt Miach like this. I should have paid closer attention."
"There is nothing Luki-sama could have done. After all, Luki-sama were far too busy enjoying the attention of all those girls," Lili remarked, her voice dropping into a playful, slightly teasing pout rather than real anger.
"Fufu~" Luki let out a low chuckle from his throat. "What's this? Is my little pallum actually jealous?" He spoke in a deeply amused, affectionate tone as he bent all the way down, wrapping his arms around her from behind.
Lili huffed, though a soft pink dusted her cheeks. "Oh, so now I'm Luki-sama's 'little pallum'? Lili is supposed to be upset with you. After all, Hestia-san specifically put me in charge of looking after Luki-sama, but Lili couldn't stop any of this from happening."
"And what does my upset little pallum want me to do to make it up to her?" Luki asked softly, his lips near her ear.
Lili turned her head slightly, her eyes shining. "Luki-sama could start by taking Lili to the dance floor. Lili has never danced with anyone before, but Lili would be incredibly happy to share her very first time with Luki-sama."
"Uhm... the height difference is definitely going to be an issue, but we'll figure something out," Luki smiled, coughing slightly to clear his throat as he offered his arm with mock formality. "Would Lady Lili grant me the honor of a dance?"
"Hihihi~" Lili giggled happily. She eagerly took his arm, practically throwing herself against his side as she excitedly dragged him right into the middle of the festive crowd.