Elisa nodded as she watched the male servant write down the prayer for invoking her.
She wasn’t a demi-god yet, so normally, she wouldn’t be able to respond to someone else’s prayers. However, she could borrow the power of the [Mirror of Mist]. As long as the male servant prayed to a mirror nearby, she would be able to sense it through the [Mirror of Mist].
It wouldn’t have needed to be this troublesome in the first place. If the male servant had accepted the [Blood] ritual, received my [First Embrace], and become my child, we could’ve communicated directly through our bloodline.
Damn it, where exactly did things go wrong for the male servant to slip away from my belly?
Elisa asked the male servant about the process of inscribing the ritual, but after failing to find anything unusual, she temporarily gave up investigating the matter.
Finally, she said to the male servant, “The [Finger Bone] in your possession is useful to me. I can exchange other Transcendent items for it.”
Elisa manipulated the mirror, projecting the images of two Transcendent items onto its surface.
She was just about to explain the functions of the two items and let Simon choose when he spoke first.
“Thank you, Teacher. I’m grateful for your generosity.” Simon bowed, took the [Finger Bone] from inside his coat, and held it out toward the purple-haired lady in the mirror.
[Simon marvels that his teacher is truly generous, trading two Transcendent items for a single finger bone]
What do you mean, one for two? No! I was letting you pick one! I wasn’t giving you both!
Elisa wanted to explain, but after the male servant had already said that, how could she possibly bring herself to correct him?
Was I supposed to tell the male servant that his teacher isn’t actually that generous and that one [Finger Bone] can only be exchanged for one Transcendent item?
Hehe, I’m not some upper-class snob obsessed with appearances. If it were anyone else, I’d definitely correct the misunderstanding properly. But this is the male servant I’m dealing with. I need to maintain my image as a mysterious, mature, knowledgeable, and powerful mentor, and generosity is an important part of that image too.
Damn it, why didn’t I just say it was a one-for-one exchange from the start? Why did I have to show both Transcendent items to the male servant first?
Those two Transcendent items cost me more than 6,000 pounds!7
Fortunately, they were both Transcendent items she rarely had any use for anyway.
Suppressing the pain in her heart, Elisa tossed both items into the full-length mirror in her bedroom.
[Simon sees two items fall out of the mirror on the table: an emerald ring and a scarab badge. He marvels at how mysterious his teacher is, actually being able to transfer objects through mirrors]
Seeing the praise in the [Log], Elisa’s heartache eased a little.
[Simon holds the finger bone toward the mirror. As though touching the surface of water, the finger bone sinks into it]
Elisa reached out and caught the [Finger Bone] as it fell out of the mirror.
Although she had paid two Transcendent items for it, she was still somewhat surprised that she had actually managed to obtain the [Finger Bone].
I didn’t expect it to be this easy. The male servant didn’t even ask what those two Transcendent items did.
He was hiding the [Finger Bone] so carefully before that I thought it would be difficult to trade for.
It must be because the male servant respects me so much as his teacher!
Elisa puffed out her chest, delighted.
She then began explaining the two Transcendent items to the male servant.
“The Greenflower Ring’s ability is [Healing]. Aside from missing limbs or organs, it can heal almost any injury within a short period of time, but it consumes an enormous amount of spirituality. It has no side effects…or rather, its enormous spirituality consumption is its side effect.”
“The Scarab Badge’s ability is [Purification]. It’s highly effective against undead and curses. When used, it emits an intense light that can dazzle your eyes at close range. Its side effect is that the user develops phototaxis, with the duration varying according to your rank.”
“Until we meet again.”
With her explanation finished, Elisa immediately deactivated the [Mirror of Mist] and released [Thousand Faces]. In front of her, the image in the full-length mirror returned to normal, once again reflecting her own appearance.
The hem of her nightgown pooled on the floor. This time, the side effect of [Thousand Faces] had taken away some of her height.
After putting away the [Finger Bone], Elisa walked forward.
Her head bumped straight into the full-length mirror. The side effect of the [Mirror of Mist] made it difficult to distinguish illusions from reality, and she had mistaken the bedroom reflected in the mirror for the real thing.
Rubbing her head, Elisa turned around, went back to bed, and pulled the covers over herself.
One last look at the male servant before going to sleep.
[Simon picks up the vanity mirror, intending to move it somewhere else]
Elisa smiled smugly.
Sure enough, the male servant is scared. He’s going to hide the mirror so I can’t spy on him through it!
He’d never guess that I don’t rely on mirrors to spy on him at all, but this magical little screen!
Your countermeasure is completely useless!
[Simon places the mirror by the head of the bed, positioning it so that the entire bed is reflected in it]
“……?”
Huh? You’re not hiding it?
Miss Elisa slowly realized what was happening, and a chill ran through her heart.
What are you doing?! Where’s your modesty?!
When I approached you in my real body, you were constantly scared of me, avoiding me, and lowering your affection toward me. But the moment I switch to Teacher’s body, you become this proactive? How is that fair?!
It’s just a few pounds less flesh!
Damn it! Once I become a demigod and reshape my body, I’ll definitely be even more impressive than Teacher. When that happens, I’ll make you regret this!
Filled with resentment, Elisa set up [The Young Lady’s Late-Night Lessons], viciously selected [Firearms Shooting], and drifted off to sleep.
***
[Elisa has arranged a course for you. Firearms Shooting]
Looking at the interface, Simon felt his head starting to ache. He had no idea how long Elisa planned to shoot him tonight.
Fortunately, pain could be disabled in dreams.
Rather than rushing off to get shot, Simon raised his hand and examined the two Transcendent items he had just acquired.
One [Greenflower Ring] and one [Scarab Badge]….both Transcendent items he was familiar with. He hadn’t expected Elisa to actually be too embarrassed to correct him and end up giving him both.
Compared to the [Blood Queen] she would become later in the story, the current golden-haired young lady was still as naive as a child.
In a little while, I’ll trick her into giving me the [Finger Bone] back. Then I’ll have three Transcendent items.
After lying in bed for a while without being able to fall asleep, Simon got up, left his room, and wandered around the servants’ quarters.
As he passed the butler’s room, he saw that the light was still on. There was no need to guess. It had to be Lady Maria.
Elisa had completely forgotten about promoting Maria. As a result, Maria was now doing the work of both the head maid and the butler. And after what had happened with the previous butler, she was constantly on edge, meticulously checking the estate’s expenses every day.
Simon went into the storeroom, took a bottle of sherry from his own allowance, and poured two glasses. One for himself and one for Lady Maria.
After returning to his bedroom and finishing his sherry, he drifted off to sleep.
…….
…..
[…It was already late at night when Simon noticed that Maria was still going over the accounts, so he poured her a glass of sherry]
I’ve stayed up all night going through [Simon’s Log] too! How come you never poured me a drink?!
I’ll remember this grudge!
Elisa sat at her dressing table while her personal maid Eve carefully combed her hair beside her. Behind them, two other maids were preparing her dress.
Today was an important day. It was the day of the picnic hosted by Eleanor and Mabel, the second step in Miss Elisa’s entry into high society.
The picnic would be held at an estate in the countryside and last until evening. Hmm, Mabel and Eleanor might even invite me to stay the night, so I should be prepared to sleep over.
“Miss Elisa, we’re finished.” Eve put the finishing touches on her jewelry.
Elisa nodded, gave herself a quick glance in the mirror, and headed downstairs. At the entrance to the mansion, the carriage and coachman were already waiting.
“Good morning, Miss Elisa,” Simon the coachman greeted her.
“Good morning, Mr. Simon.” Elisa responded with a faint smile before boarding the carriage with Eve.
[Coachman Simon drives Miss Elisa and Eve toward the estate in the countryside]
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