In the brightly lit room, Cid stood there in a black coat, flipping through a bound booklet that looked like a medical report. Behind him, Eta was explaining everything to him. After finishing the booklet, Cid thought for a moment, then turned to look at Eta.
"That's all? You're sure there's nothing else?"
"That's all. Of course, even if Master does not believe what I say, you should still believe these data. Data may be falsified, but they do not lie. And according to the current report, Master, your body is completely normal. There are no abnormal physiological activities at all."
Watching Cid fall into thought after hearing her explanation, Eta held her breath and tilted her head slightly.
"Master, why did you ask me to examine you? If it is Master, then even without using any machines, you should be able to know your own physical condition."
As she asked that question, Eta did everything she could to keep herself under control, forcing her heartbeat to remain perfectly steady and not reveal the slightest trace of guilt.
Eta knew very well that asking this carried a great risk, because with her usual personality, she would never ask such a thing.
What she was supposed to do was either obey or figure out the deeper meaning behind Master's actions on her own.
That was how their Master had always taught them. He never explained everything directly. Instead, he gave hints and made them think for themselves, training their ability to think and their ability to approach problems.
This time was an exception, because Master coming to her for an examination truly felt like a completely meaningless act.
As the person with the finest control in the entire world, Cid had no need for any kind of examination at all. If he wanted to, even the movement of particles at the quark level would not escape his perception.
And even if he absolutely had to use scientific equipment for an examination, why come to her?
If it was to prevent others from learning about his special nature, then Cid could have simply gone to Mitsugoshi Hospital himself and had any member of Shadow Garden print out the results for him to read.
The only advantage of coming here was probably having her explain it to him.
But what kind of advantage was that?
Could it be that her Master would not understand a report?
What a joke.
The person standing in front of her was the very Master who had taught her Shadow Wisdom. There was no way he could not understand a simple physical report.
Perhaps because of her guilty conscience, the fact that Cid had specifically come here and even named her as the one to perform the examination caused a suspicion she did not want to admit to surface in her mind.
Her Master had already discovered her secret.
This visit was simply to see whether she had any remorse, while also making entertainment out of her.
Yes, of course she could interpret Cid's actions another way. She could tell herself that he had not seen her in a long time, so he came here under the excuse of an examination while also catching up with her. She could tell herself that all those earlier suspicions were just her overthinking things.
But she knew all too clearly what kind of existence she was plotting against.
He was one of the wisest beings in the world.
He was Shadow, someone capable of seeing the whole from the smallest detail and of constantly absorbing new knowledge.
The only reason she dared to plot against Cid at all was because of Cid's own arrogance and his trust in her. Without those two things, she would have had no confidence whatsoever that her scheme could succeed.
And because of that, she would not have been surprised at all if he had noticed some flaw in her actions and, by following that thread, guessed the full picture of her plan.
She had that resolve.
She had long since prepared herself for failure.
But if she had to become a clown just to amuse someone else, then she would rather die.
At worst, if the plan were truly exposed, Master would beat her up and she would permanently lose any possibility of dragging him down from his throne.
Compared to before, that was not much different.
"Hm!?"
As if Eta's voice had startled him, Cid let out a confused sound.
Then his gaze fell on her.
Under that silent stare, Eta felt immense pressure.
She knew that Cid might be questioning her behavior right now. Her only hope was that Cid did not know about her plan, and that his trust in her would outweigh any suspicion.
Time passed little by little.
Under Cid's gaze, Eta forced her heart to keep beating at its normal rhythm without using even a trace of magic to control it.
Just as she was about to reach her limit, Cid finally lowered his gaze and looked back at the documents in his hands.
I won.
That thought rose in Eta's mind, but she forcibly suppressed the urge to sigh in relief.
Because I can't understand it.
As he flipped through the documents in his hands, Cid silently gave that answer in his heart to Eta's earlier question.
What does "magical power content" even mean? And what the hell is a "magical power reaction pathway"? And what exactly is a "spirit body reaction"?
Looking at the pile of data he could not understand, Cid felt a wave of despair.
It was the same kind of despair he felt every time he resolved to uncover the mysteries of his own body, only to close his eyes and sense that chaotic mess inside him. A body so contradictory it felt like strawberry mapo tofu.
I can't understand it.
I really can't understand it.
Of course, that was what he thought internally, but he could not say that out loud. Admitting he did not understand would damage the dignity of an Eminence in Shadow. He needed a more impressive explanation.
"Sometimes, the person involved cannot see the truth, while an outsider can see things clearly. If you feel something is wrong but cannot find the source of the problem, then asking someone else might help. Sometimes a single sentence from another person can enlighten you.
Believing in yourself is a good thing. But only believing in yourself, rejecting everyone else's opinions and insisting that only you are correct, that is arrogance.
And I… am never arrogant.
That is why I am the only one who will never be defeated. Pride and arrogance are two completely different concepts."
This line deserves a ten out of ten.
Cid silently gave himself a score in his mind.
It perfectly demonstrated the wisdom, humility, and pride of an Eminence in Shadow.
Ten points only because the maximum score was ten.
After hearing that speech, Eta realized that she had not been suspected.
But instead of relaxing, her tension actually increased.
"Master… you truly are a terrifying opponent."
"Hm?"
After a long silence, Eta finally spoke those words in a tone of admiration.
"I cannot even imagine how we could possibly defeat you if we ever had to fight you, Master."
A powerful enemy was not truly frightening.
What was frightening was an enemy who was stronger than you, more skilled than you, smarter than you, and even more cautious than you.
"If that day ever comes, then it means something went wrong on your side. After all, I cannot be defeated."
Cid smiled and rubbed Eta's purple hair.
You say you are not arrogant, Master.
But what you just said was not humble at all.
Because you believe you cannot be defeated, even if you were the one who made a mistake, the ones who would fall would still be us.
And if someone loses to you, then even if they had no problem before, they would be forced to have one under the pressure of your strength.
How incredibly arrogant.
No… according to Master's own theory, as long as you have not been defeated, that is only pride.
It will only become arrogance after I defeat you.
That was what Eta thought in her heart.
But outwardly, she pushed Cid's hand off her head with a slightly annoyed expression and spoke with a hint of irritation in her voice.
"Master, don't treat me like Delta."