While eating, Luo Yu noticed that compared to when she had first arrived in the morning, Miko Yotsuya had become much more shy. She kept her head lowered the entire time, quietly focusing on her food.
Confused, Luo Yu glanced toward Ranni.
Ranni merely returned a faint smile.
That only made Luo Yu even more puzzled, but he decided to set the matter aside for the moment and instead brought up tomorrow's plans.
"Miko, Ranni and I will be going out tomorrow, so you don't need to come over. Just practice at home, alright?"
Miko Yotsuya hurriedly swallowed the food in her mouth and nodded.
"I understand! I'll practice properly at home!"
Ranni then added calmly,
"This afternoon I will teach you a few more basic spells. That should give you enough material to practice for the coming week. If there is anything you don't understand, you may also ask the King at school. He is quite knowledgeable about the finer details of spellcasting."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"Additionally, evil spirits occasionally appear around the school. You may try eliminating some of the weaker ones yourself."
Miko Yotsuya glanced shyly at Luo Yu before speaking.
"I'm still a complete beginner… is that really okay?"
Luo Yu smiled and explained,
"Spirits that appear around schools are usually very weak. There's nothing to worry about. When the time comes, I can accompany you and we'll deal with them easily. You're still overestimating how strong evil spirits actually are. Truly dangerous ones are quite rare."
Even so, Miko Yotsuya still lacked confidence.
After all, she was still a novice who could barely use basic spells properly. Feeling uncertain was only natural.
As for tomorrow's plan to investigate the ones secretly watching Miko Yotsuya, Luo Yu had no intention of telling her about it. Revealing that information now might place her in danger before her strength had properly developed.
After all, she was Ranni's first student. Protecting her was only reasonable.
After lunch, Ranni and Miko Yotsuya went upstairs to continue their magical training, while Luo Yu once again immersed himself in various magical texts, researching how to create a new body for Ranni.
He had already developed several ideas regarding the process of human body creation, but refining them would take considerable time.
As for materials, his inventory contained numerous Runes imbued with power, as well as various potent magical resources.
Most importantly, when Luo Yu had previously encountered Ranni's original body at the Divine Tower, he had carefully collected several strands of her hair and preserved them intact.
Fortunately he had done so at the time. Otherwise, even if he successfully created a new body now, the compatibility would inevitably be worse.
Taking out a transparent bottle from his storage, Luo Yu examined the strand of red hair sealed inside.
Turning the bottle slowly, he murmured to himself,
"With this as the core, once the new body is successfully created, Ranni's strength should recover immediately. Alright… time to keep working."
After putting the bottle away, Luo Yu continued his research.
At four in the afternoon, Miko Yotsuya did not stay for dinner and instead said goodbye before heading home.
After spending the entire day learning magic with Ranni, she was completely exhausted.
Sitting on the bus ride home, Miko Yotsuya gazed out the window while her mind repeatedly replayed the things Ranni had said to her earlier that morning.
Her face gradually turned red again.
Ranni's guess had been correct.
She did have some feelings for Luo Yu.
After all, when she had been trapped in despair, Luo Yu had been the one who extended a helping hand. Because of him, she had gained power and learned to control the Spiritual Sight that once tormented her.
More than that, with the encouragement of both Luo Yu and Ranni, she had finally gathered the courage to speak with the spirit of her father at home, resolving his lingering regrets and allowing him to pass on peacefully.
On top of all that…
Luo Yu was undeniably her type.
Handsome, reliable, and someone whose presence made her feel safe.
The more she thought about it, the harder it became to reject the suggestion Ranni had made earlier.
Quickly shaking her head, Miko Yotsuya stepped off the bus when it reached her stop and hurried home.
Sunday.
At nine in the morning, after finishing their preparations, Luo Yu and Ranni left the house.
The first place they planned to visit today was naturally the library—the location Ranni had been most interested in.
Taking a taxi, Luo Yu brought Ranni to the city library.
Upon entering, Ranni looked around at the countless towering bookshelves filled with books. Excitement gleamed clearly in her eyes.
"King, these books are categorized, correct? I would like to begin in the history section."
"Sure. Let me check."
After finding a guide map of the library, Luo Yu led Ranni to the historical literature section.
Ranni immediately selected a book on world history and began reading.
Luo Yu sat beside her, casually flipping through another book.
After reading for a while, Ranni asked,
"King, can I purchase books from here? I do not particularly enjoy borrowing them."
Luo Yu nodded.
"Don't worry. These aren't rare manuscripts. Most of them can easily be purchased outside. Just note which ones you like. We'll explore other sections here first, then visit some bookstores this afternoon. If we can't find certain titles, we can always order them online."
Ranni looked satisfied.
After returning the book to its shelf, she continued browsing other sections with Luo Yu.
They remained in the library until noon before finally leaving.
After having lunch at a nearby restaurant, they visited several bookstores and purchased a number of interesting titles.
Then it was time to deal with the second matter of the day.
Releasing his spiritual perception, Luo Yu led Ranni from the city center toward the outskirts, eventually arriving at a remote, barren mountain.
Looking at the slope ahead, Luo Yu narrowed his eyes.
"You see it, right, Ranni? Hidden behind an illusion."
Ranni nodded and immediately took out her Carian Regal Scepter.
"King, I can sense a gaze concealed above us. They've already noticed our arrival."
Luo Yu responded by putting on the Raging Wolf armor set, then took out Maliketh's Black Blade and rested it across his shoulder.
As the two prepared themselves, the barren mountain path ahead distorted slightly.
The empty hillside transformed, revealing a long stone stairway leading upward.
The previously desolate hill became a forest-covered mountain, and at the very top stood a shrine.
A faint aura of chaotic energy drifted down from above.
"So they're inviting us up," Luo Yu said lightly. "Do they really think they've already won?"
Ranni smiled calmly.
"There were many people like that in the Lands Between. Their endings were always the same."
"Then let's go."
Walking up the stone steps, the two quickly reached the shrine at the mountaintop.
As soon as they arrived, they saw two spirit-like figures standing there. Both wore fox masks and shrine garments.
Looking at them, Luo Yu spoke coldly.
"You're the ones who have been following Miko Yotsuya all this time, aren't you?"