Seething with rage, Seraphina sprinted through the jungle in pursuit of that utterly repulsive, deformed creature.
Curiously, the messages carried by the head of wind were dwindling, signifying that the traces left by the monster during its flight were vanishing at a visible rate. This anomaly alerted Seraphina, who was also utterly baffled by the sensation she had just experienced.
Death... In that instant, she had felt the threat of death with an undeniable reality.
It had been some time since Seraphina had tasted this sensation. The last time she had felt death's presence was when she had resolved to face the Blazing Ice Python, but no matter when, that feeling was always profoundly... unforgettable.
Compared to the formidable fourth-stage beasts, why did this seemingly powerless creature, which fled at the sight of her, evoke such a premonition of death?
As Seraphina pondered this, a whooshing sound from behind caused her to instinctively slow her pace.
"Ravenna?" The girl turned in confusion. "Why are you lagging behind?"
"...I was analyzing the traces left by that thing."
Perched atop the swiftly gliding floating cannon, Ravenna spoke in a hushed tone, "Seraphina, I have some bad news for you."
"Hmm?"
"We may be in grave danger."
Seraphina paused, her steps slowing further, "What do you mean?"
"That thing... your prey, the aberrant one."
The petite scholar looked at Seraphina with utmost seriousness, "It's been parasitized by a dangerous creature that shouldn't be here. Its transformation, its behavior... they all point to one thing. The entity now controlling that corpse is one of the four divine species—"
"That is..." In Seraphina's stunned gaze, Ravenna spoke gravely, "It is a Tidecaller."
The girl's pace gradually came to a halt, and she stood frozen in place.
She stared at Ravenna for a long moment before raising two fingers uncertainly, "What number is this?"
"...My thoughts are clear, Seraphina, and I'm not speaking nonsense."
Ravenna produced a bottle of pale blue water, "This sample was taken from a nearby river. The water here has turned into this, and as a hunter, you should know how abnormal this is."
Seraphina gazed intently at the hue of the water, which could not possibly be found in any river, swallowing hard.
"So you're saying," she shifted her uncomfortable gaze to Ravenna, "that it really is..."
"It is indeed a Tidecaller, but a le—"
"Fantastic!"
Miss Wolf leaped on the spot, her cheeks flushed with excitement, "To think I am hunting a Tidecaller! Am I truly capable of hunting such a thing?"
"...," Ravenna fell silent for two seconds, "Although I'm unsure why your excitement outweighs your fear, this Tidecaller is not a true divine species; it's a lesser one."
Seraphina, who had been cheering with her arms raised, tilted her head, "What does 'lesser' mean?"
"I'm not entirely sure why they are distinguished as such." Ravenna adjusted her glasses, "Knowledge about divine species is exceedingly rare and valuable, and my database does not contain sufficiently detailed information. However, since it's a lesser one, we can conclude that it lacks the potential to become a deity and is significantly weaker in terms of power."
Hearing this, Seraphina's excitement instantly turned to disappointment, "So it's not that impressive after all..."
"...That's only in comparison to the mightier Tidecallers."
At this point, a slight fluctuation appeared in Ravenna's usually impassive expression. After a moment of silence, she continued, "Therefore, I suggest you abandon the hunt."
Before Seraphina could respond, Ravenna added, "This hunt is a game for you, a game prepared by Ansel, and this lesser Tidecaller is an accident within it. Logically and emotionally, there's no need for you to deal with it."
"You're free to seek other prey."
Suellen was observing the movements of the Tidecallers, naturally, Ravenna could not allow Seraphina to hunt them down. The brief span of time was certainly insufficient for the lesser Tidecallers to mature. Judging by its immediate flight upon sensing Seraphina's murderous intent, it was indeed no match for her.
Without waiting for Ravenna to respond, Seraphina hurriedly ran to her side, whispering in her ear, "Tell me, tell me! Is it true or not? What should I do? How should I help?"
"...Did you not understand what I just said?"
"Isn't this me understanding?" Seraphina looked bewildered, "So, what exactly is Ansel's plan?"
"You will do it?"
"Nonsense, why wouldn't I act if Ansel has a plan."
"Even if he's using your birthday, even such an important day, he could incorporate it into his schemes?"
"...You're quite odd, Ravenna."
Seraphina expressed her utter confusion, "Does Ansel's plan have any contradiction with celebrating my birthday?"
"..."
Ravenna remained silent.
At that moment, she truly understood why Seraphina was so cherished by Ansel.
She also realized that she could never regain the affection Ansel had poured into her three years ago.
Because she couldn't make that step, she couldn't reach Seraphina's level of purity.
After all, the issue between her and Ansel was never about simple manipulation or scheming, but an irreconcilable, absolute opposition of stances and contradictions.
So, what should Ravenna do? Should she, in accordance with her own necessities, inform Seraphina that Ansel is conspiring with Suellen to devastate the local ecosystem?
Without a shadow of a doubt, Seraphina would comply, for as long as Ravenna presents her logic, she would resolutely carry out the task, thereby enabling Ravenna to... acquire intelligence of unparalleled importance.
Given that she can no longer return to her former life, and since she is inevitably a tool in Ansel's hands, rather than continuing to wallow in futile regret, it would be most prudent to seize any advantage possible. This, undoubtedly, represents the optimal choice.
"Ansel..."
Indeed, the optimal choice.
"Has no plan."
Gazing into Seraphina's eyes, Ravenna spoke thus.
"Do what you desire, that is his wish."
Seraphina tilted her head, observing Ravenna for a moment.
"Of course I know!"
She lifted her chin proudly, "Was it even necessary for you to tell me? Let's go together and catch that ugly monster!"
Ravenna watched Seraphina's eager departure in silence.
This was a gift from Ansel to Seraphina, not for you, Ravenna.
The best choice is not to greedily destroy the beauty he has bestowed upon his beloved, but to silently, and without a sound, offer yourself as part of the sacrifice, allowing his cherished one to have a perfect birthday.
Once again, Ravenna saw through Ansel's trap, yet she found no joy in it. There was even a moment when she detested, detested how well she understood Ansel, how she could always predict what he was truly thinking.
In her numbness, Ravenna could almost hear Ansel whispering in her ear:
"Don't forget, Venna."
"You are just a by-the-way side effect."
*