"Yolanta!"
With a scream, she woke from her dream, drenched in cold sweat, as if plunged into a frigid lake—
Although she had only seen her for an instant in the dream, she was still sure that it was her beloved Yolanta.
Though not her birth mother, she was her most important family member.
The backs of her and Snitz seemed to have saved her once again in the dream.
She gripped the bedding tightly.
She didn't know what this dream meant, but whether it was that towering figure or Yolanta and Snitz, they all seemed to be fighting against something in that circular building, or rather… some existence.
Just a glance from that existence was enough to make her soul tremble, making her hands and feet cold, even unable to move.
And if it hadn't been for that sword-spear severing it, she might have been affected by that existence even in her dream.
Although it seemed like just a nightmare, the fear of being glimpsed pierced through the nightmare, directly into her heart, planting a seed.
A seed of fear.
"What's wrong?"
Kuro's voice at that moment was like heavenly music, directly pulling Noah out of the embrace of fear.
"Did you have a nightmare?"
"Mm…" Noah nodded, "I hope that's what it was… a dream…"
If it wasn't a dream, then the opponent Snitz and Yolanta wanted to defeat… was too powerful, even making Noah feel despair.
How could one resist an existence that could even pollute dreams?
She couldn't find an answer, nor could she imagine how the two of them could win.
She closed her eyes, grateful for the first time that she was blind, so she wouldn't see anything strange in reality.
That feeling of being locked onto, even though it was just a glance across time and space in a dream, was truly terrifying.
However, she quickly regained her composure.
If she panicked now, Kuro would definitely be affected too.
Right now, she didn't need to consider what that circular building in her dream was.
It looked like a strange portal, and there were those eyes within the door, the towering figure who protected her, and Snitz and Yolanta, and that song… that… pastoral song?
A pastoral song once again surfaced in Noah's mind; it was as familiar as if carved into her very bones, seemingly ready to be sung completely the moment she opened her mouth. Meanwhile, Kuro subconsciously tightened her grip on her weapon, because ever since a moment ago, or rather, since Noah woke up, there seemed to be a faint presence behind her. She could only feel its existence but couldn't see it, and from that moment on, this terrifying aura seemed to intensify.
"...Noah! Why am I at your house?" Just then, Noah's door was pushed open, and Zofia, fully dressed, burst into Noah's room. She seemed completely oblivious to the strange aura around Noah and the eerie phantom behind her, simply asking Noah, "I didn't say anything weird last night, did I?!"
"...Not really?" Noah blinked, scratching her cheek a bit awkwardly, "It's just... you seemed to mistake me for Aunt Yolanta."
"...I knew it! Don't tell anyone! Especially not Maria! Damn it, you two really do look alike!" Zofia's cheeks suddenly flushed crimson. "Ah... I knew I shouldn't have drunk so much. Besides mistaking you... there wasn't anything else, right?"
"No, there wasn't," Noah thought for a moment before nodding with certainty. For Miss Zofia's mental health, she really shouldn't say anything more. Otherwise, Miss Zofia would likely spend the entire day in silence. No matter what, she shouldn't kick someone when they're down; Noah was always very gentle with those around her.
"...Really?"
"Mm."
"...Fine, it's better to expose it to you than to Maria and Manner."
"Hehe, does this mean my relationship with Zofia is better than with Maria?" Noah said, quite pleased at this point. "You don't mind telling me secrets, is that why you're saying this?"
"I... I guess so." This time it was Zofia's turn to be shy. She put her hands on her hips. "Anyway, don't tell Manner and Maria, or else I... I'll move in with you."
"That's always welcome. Compared to dealing with Maria, dealing with Zofia isn't something that would give anyone leverage—" Noah said with a smile, "Should I prepare a special room for you?"
"From your tone... don't tell me."
"Maria does have a special room."
"I knew it!" Zofia exclaimed, exasperated. "I want one too! It's a must!"
Kuro observed from the side. After Zofia appeared, she confirmed that the phantom behind Noah would not be seen by ordinary people, so it probably wouldn't have any major impact. Secondly, the phantom behind Noah didn't seem to pose any threat to Noah. Although the sudden appearance of such a thing was unsettling, it was best not to act rashly for now. Kuro silently released her grip on the sword hilt.
After sending Zofia away, Noah stretched, feeling an unprecedented surge of power in her body. Even her usual morning low blood pressure had disappeared.
"My condition today seems surprisingly good—"
"Noah..." Kuro was still deliberating on how to tell Noah about the invisible phantom that had appeared behind her. However, as Noah fumbled to pull her wheelchair closer to the bed, before Kuro could help, the phantom directly pulled the wheelchair over, just within Noah's reach. Noah then pushed herself up with her hands and sat in the wheelchair. "Kuro, why are you spacing out?"
"...Ah... nothing." Kuro stared at the phantom, and the phantom seemed to be staring back at Kuro. The person and the phantom stared at each other for a long time, until Kuro was the first to look away. "Noah, are you feeling unwell anywhere?"
"No?" Noah shook her head, "I don't feel anything wrong with my whole body."
"Is that so..." Kuro was at a loss, but decided to inform Noah about it first. So, she tried to describe as concisely as possible that there was a floating black phantom behind Noah... and that it had just helped Noah get her wheelchair.
After hearing Kuro's description, Noah turned her head. Of course... she couldn't see it; she just instinctively turned her head.
Then she said, somewhat confused, "Phantom? What is that?"
"You don't know either?"
"If I knew, would I be asking you...?"
Both mistress and servant fell silent. Even the phantom itself seemed to be contemplating the meaning of its existence. This black shadow, it seemed, was invisible to Zofia, otherwise she would have cried out long ago. For now, only Kuro could see it, and it seemed Noah could control the phantom's movements to some extent.
In short... it should be harmless for now, right?
---------------------------------
If you'd like to read the next 40 chapters in advance, you can support me on Patreon.
I regularly post chapter previews there, so you'll always be up-to-date and won't have to wait too long.
patreon.com/SolyuraMT
And if you enjoy the story, don't forget to give me a Power Stone. Your support really motivates me to continue translating!