Chapter 18
Now that regression would no longer happen and there was no time limit, there was no need to rush.
But somehow, as if she knew exactly what I was thinking again, a translucent system window popped up right in front of my eyes.
First Sub-Quest
~Help the Silver Moon Nymph below!~
The floating semi-transparent window moved back and forth as if scolding me, blocking my vision.
I sighed internally as I took it head-on.
‘As long as the Divine Messenger is watching me, ignoring this isn’t going to work, huh.’
But what exactly am I supposed to help Kateri with? Would it hurt anyone to explain a little more clearly?
Kateri patiently waited for my next words.
What should I say to guide her according to the quest?
At that moment, the annoying floating window shifted smoothly.
I followed its direction with my eyes.
It was pointing toward Kateri’s research desk.
On top of it were various plants.
And thanks to my unusually sharp eyesight, I could even see small buttons attached to those plants.
I blinked and stared at them.
‘What is that?’
What am I supposed to do with that?
While I was staring blankly at the window, it suddenly disappeared on its own.
I blinked again and looked back at the plants.
At that moment, Kateri spoke beside me.
“Aigle? What are you looking at so intently?”
“Ah… those plants on your desk.”
At my words, she turned her gaze as well.
Then she chuckled softly.
“Oh, those are ancient relics.”
“Wow.”
“Did you know that ‘ancient magic’ is actually found more often in plants?”
“Yes, I read about it in a book.”
It was something I had learned from a book I read in my great-uncle’s library while trying to deal with regression.
Ancient relics were divided into two types.
One was treasure artificially created by transcendent beings.
‘Like the “Reasonable Fabrication” I’m wearing today.’
The other was natural objects that absorbed mana on their own.
That fact was unknown for a long time until a single person revealed it.
That person was—
‘Daphne Sain, Lishian’s mother.’
The academic world went crazy.
For a while, many people even tore apart mountains and forests searching for magical plants.
But in the end, only one person in the world could identify plants containing ancient magic—Daphne Sain.
‘Since only one person could recognize them, interest naturally faded.’
Because of that, ancient relics ended up being valued more as treasures than as plants.
In the first place, ancient relics weren’t something for the general public; only niche enthusiasts cared about them, so outside academia it wasn’t a big topic.
Kateri continued speaking.
“So Aigle has read Lady Daphne’s books too! I’m actually very interested in these ancient magical plants.”
“Really?”
“Yes! Thanks to Lady Daphne, we now have records of so many different plants and their effects.”
She hesitated for a moment, then spoke shyly.
“I… actually want to aim even higher than that.”
“What do you mean?”
At my question, her eyes sparkled brightly.
“I want to cultivate them myself! My ultimate goal is to grow ancient magical plants directly, not just observe wild ones!”
“Ohhh—”
“That’s why I left my village and came to the Empire’s Magic Tower. It seemed much better suited for research!”
“Then… do the people at the Magic Tower know you’re a nymph?”
“Of course not!”
She laughed softly.
“We’re not all that different from humans, except that we serve dragons and use mana. There’s no need to reveal our identity.”
“That makes sense.”
So I also managed to blend in by hiding my hair and eyes.
Kateri’s hair color wasn’t exactly common either, but it wasn’t too flashy, so it was easy to hide her identity.
While I was thinking that calmly, a thought suddenly crossed my mind.
‘Wait… what if?’
I looked at Kateri.
“Can I take a closer look at those plants too?”
“Of course!”
She answered immediately and stood up to guide me.
Following her, I entered the research area and picked up one of the plants with a small button attached.
It had thin orange petals, similar in color to my hair, clustered together.
As soon as I picked it up, Kateri excitedly explained.
“Oh, that flower was collected by Lady Daphne during her expedition to remote lands! It’s so beautiful, right? It also has a wonderful fragrance—similar to a sacred incense I know that comes from ancient relics!”
I half-listened to her explanation and quietly pressed the button on the stem.
A window immediately appeared.
Sunset Fragrance
A flower beloved by the Queen of Nymphs. It releases a unique scent at sunset.
Effect: Grants relaxation and peace to those who smell it.
Duration: None.
Cooldown: None.
‘As expected.’
Just like before, its name and effect were displayed like a game item.
It seemed the “Ancient Relic Appraisal” ability I received from the Divine Messenger was working properly.
I glanced at it and asked casually.
“What kind of magic is contained in this flower?”
Kateri’s enthusiastic expression quickly darkened.
“About that…”
Her voice dropped slightly.
“Lady Daphne used to help us, but she left suddenly to write a new book. So we’ve made no progress lately. Without her, I can’t identify what kind of ancient magic is inside…”
“So only Lady Daphne can identify ancient relics?”
“Yes. Not just plants—treasures created by transcendent beings as well. If there’s no record of the magic, we simply can’t tell.”
Listening to her complaint, I blinked slowly.
‘But I can.’
Only then did I realize it clearly.
‘This is what the quest meant by helping Kateri!’
As soon as I had that realization, the previously dismissed window popped up again, flickering rapidly as if annoyed.
For some reason, it reminded me of Lily saying, “How can you be so clueless, sis!”
Ignoring the noisy window, I said to Kateri:
“Then I’ll help you!”
“Pardon?”
“I can tell what effects these plants have!”
Her eyes widened in surprise.
She tilted her head as if she didn’t understand.
“You… can tell?”
“Yes. For example, this flower is called the Queen of Nymphs’ favorite flower.”
“Oh! That’s right! Lady Daphne said the same thing before she left!”
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
She quickly grabbed a notebook and pen and began writing down my words.
“Please continue!”
Without hesitation, she trusted me completely, her eyes full of excitement.
I calmly pressed the buttons one by one and read out the information.
“This one is ‘Droplet of the Galaxy.’ It can store a fixed amount of liquid.”
“Droplet of the Galaxy…!”
“And this is ‘Bell of Grass Leaves.’ Despite the name, it doesn’t actually make any sound.”
“Bell of Grass Leaves…!”
One by one, I identified all the plants on the table.
Before I knew it, I had gone through everything.
Kateri, who had been writing furiously, looked at me with tearful gratitude.
“Oh my goodness, Aigle!”
She suddenly opened her arms and hugged me tightly.
“Thank you so much! Thanks to you, I can finally continue my research!”
“It was nothing.”
She thanked me repeatedly before finally letting go.
Then I asked her:
“Kateri, how does Lady Daphne distinguish plants? Do you know?”
“I heard she was granted a power by the Divine Messenger.”
The Divine Messenger!
At that, I nodded.
‘So she has the same ability as me!’
That meant I now had another question to ask Daphne Sain.
About ancient relics and the Divine Messenger!
Good thing I didn’t go and ask the Duke of Lapman.
‘Waiting like this actually gives me opportunities.’
“Lady Daphne is currently in another empire. When is she coming back?”
A month? Two? Half a year?
Kateri thought for a moment and answered clearly:
“In about three years.”
“Three years…”
Well… that’s longer than I expected, but still!
I can wait.
Even if something happens within three years, what’s worse than regression?
And even if regression happens again, it’s fine.
‘I’ll just say, “That Duke of Lapman is at it again,” and move on.’
Just as I was concluding my thoughts, Kateri looked at me.
“Aigle… have you also had contact with the Divine Messenger?”
“Yes.”
Unlike with the Duke of Lapman, I answered honestly.
After all, Kateri was also a nymph.
‘And she already told me about the Evening Glow nymphs. That alone is enough reason to trust her.’
Besides, I had already used my appraisal ability in front of her.
Now that I had acknowledged it, maybe I could ask her about the Divine Messenger too.
“Kateri, I actually don’t know much about the Divine Messenger. Do you know anything?”
Kateri paused.
Then she smiled meaningfully.
“That’s not something I should explain.”
She snapped her fingers.
Immediately, a sheet of paper flew over from a stack in the corner.
She picked it up and handed it to me.
“Instead, take this. I hope you’ll visit our Silver Moon Nymph village someday.”
“Pardon?”
“Our elders will explain everything about the Divine Messenger.”
“Hmm… I was actually planning to ask Lady Daphne.”
“I can guarantee it would be faster to come to our village than to wait for her return!”
…
But I can wait, you know?
Of course, I didn’t say that out loud.
I simply accepted the paper she handed me.
On it were strange, unfamiliar characters I couldn’t read.
