Three hundred people!
At first glance, it seemed like a daunting number. However, if she chipped away at it consistently, she could finish within a few days. Thinking of it like a repetitive in-game quest, 300 checks isn’t that bad.
Feeling generous, Ayra hugged Pebble and gently patted it. “What a good little Pebble. Such a good one.”
With a soft pop, the flattened Pebble instantly returned to its original shape, raising its tiny pebble-sized fist in triumph.
Since the new quest was active, Ayra decided to postpone her nap. There were too many experiments she wanted to run regarding her ability. The prospect of fresh research made her a little excited.
“I wonder—can I still see a Stat Window even if the target isn’t in my line of sight? And if not, what defines ‘out of sight’? Would closing my eyes make the ability stop working, even if the target was right in front of me? If this ability isn’t purely reliant on vision, would vocal activation work as well? If so, then this could serve as evidence supporting the Parallel Dual Existence Theory—where magic simultaneously exists as both a physical and non-physical force. A potential thesis! What do you think, my dear Pebble?”
Pebble blankly opened its mouth in a tiny triangle shape before shaking its fist. That probably meant it was cheering her on.
Immediately, Ayra began her experiments, documenting the process and results in a clear, structured format.
1. Purpose of Experiment
2. Related Theoretical Background
3. Experiment Procedure
4. Results
(1) Five knights training, observed from the far-right tower on the 4th floor
(2) A single resident, observed from the central tower on the 5th floor
(3) Hess Lu Jinas, encountered in the main hall corridor
.
.
(12) Artificial Spirit, Pebble
(13) Observer, Solar Sing Ayra
<Solar Sing Ayra>
HP: ???
MP: ???
Physical Attack Power: ???
Magic Attack Power: ???
Favorability: ???♡
5. Observations & Further Considerations
6. Conclusions
(1) Formula for Mana Consumption Increase Based on Number of Targets:
Aℵ = ∆(B.N^ -2.345)⁶ⁿ₈₉₄⅓ + ĿŁ⦓4₪-⅕ↂ⦔ = ⦕2340ĿŁ + ⅚Ŧ⥁⦖
(2) While there is mana consumption related to Stat Window duration, it is negligible.
(3) Mana consumption does not increase with distance.
(4) Even when not actively viewing a Stat Window, a small, intermittent mana drain continues.
.
.
.
(28) Blooming Magic is not "Data Recording"—it is "Mind Reading."
After finishing her observation report, Ayra stored it in her subspace inventory. For a moment, she felt deeply satisfied with her work. However, that satisfaction quickly faded as a shadow passed over her face.
The more she studied this ability, the clearer it became—this was not something anyone else could know about.
I can see it now.
This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.
Her Blooming Magic was Mind Reading.
Literally.
At first, she had thought it might be some kind of sensory documentation ability, where she could visually record and categorize information. Even that alone would have been useful. But after checking multiple people’s Stat Windows, she realized something unsettling.
The system revealed full names and family lineage, even of people she had never met before.
Because...
It was reading their minds.
The most conclusive proof was the Favorability stat.
How else could it measure how much someone liked or disliked her?
This is an incredibly dangerous ability.
Ayra suppressed her excitement, forcing herself to think logically.
Blooming Magic had always been a transcendent class of magic, surpassing normal human capabilities. Records spoke of Blooming Mages who prophesied the future, resurrected the dead, or even turned back time for a few minutes. The idea that mind reading existed among such abilities wasn’t impossible.
She just couldn’t believe that she was the one who had developed it.
Now, it all made sense.
The hazy, disorienting memory of her Awakening—the unsettling sensation she had felt at the time.
Even the fact that she had instinctively created an Artificial Spirit to act as a mediator for her Blooming Magic.
Reading people's minds would never be a pleasant experience.
Even just overhearing gossip or criticism could wound a person. To be able to see every unfiltered thought someone had about her? That was an unimaginable kind of torment.
And she knew for certain—her mind was not strong enough to handle that.
In the end, she had unconsciously created Pebble to offload the ability—to filter and buffer the thoughts pouring into her head.
She gazed at the little floating spirit before her.
“I was right, wasn’t I?”
The fact that she could see her own Stat Window meant that Pebble could read her thoughts.
Pebble bobbed up and down—nodding.
So that was its purpose.
A filter. A way to process the endless flood of information into something manageable, something that wouldn’t drive her mad.
Right now, it only showed basic things like names—but if it leveled up, who knew what else it could reveal?
How fascinating... Even though it’s my own ability, it’s an incredibly interesting research subject.
More importantly, this would be an invaluable tool in governing her territory.
I’ll never run out of things to study for the rest of my life.
A radiant smile spread across Ayra’s face.
Watching her, Pebble trembled slightly.
❄
“Shinje, may I come in?”
Knocking politely, Ayra called out.
Shinje was her personal guest—having even attended the funeral. As a matter of courtesy, she wanted to check in and ensure he was comfortable.
“Come in.”
The response came immediately. When Ayra pushed the door open and stepped inside, Shinje closed the book he had been reading and looked up. She spoke in the warmest tone she could manage.
“How are you feeling? Is everything comfortable?”
“It’s just fine. Thanks.”
“You came all the way here with me, so I should be the one thanking you.”
...That aside, I haven’t gathered any samples from other mages yet, have I?
“How’s the food? Is it to your liking? Are you cold at all?”
“The food is great. It’s a little chilly, but it’s manageable. You, though... you look cold.”
Shinje’s gaze swept over Ayra’s thick layers of clothing, and his expression turned slightly sympathetic. In fact, it wasn’t just him—nearly everyone in the castle seemed to look at her that way. Clicking his tongue lightly, Shinje’s eyes drifted toward the small Pebble perched on her shoulder.
“...Are you casting magic on me right now?”
“Huh? Do you feel something?”
“Not really, but your mana is moving.”
Since Shinje didn’t seem to have a surname, his Stat Window remained almost identical to when she first checked it.
So even mages don’t really notice anything?
Ayra stored that valuable piece of information with a pleased smile, only for Shinje to narrow his eyes in suspicion. She quickly averted her gaze, feigning innocence.
“You experimented on me before too, remember?”
“Well, yeah, but...”
His words trailed off, likely because he had just recalled a particular incident—the one where Ayra had ended up growing gills and had to live submerged in a bathtub until a nullification spell could be cast.
And of course, Shinje didn’t let it slide.
“Don’t act like you’ve never done the same. Remember when you gave Arak that ‘health drink’ you got from the estate?”
“Oh yeah, that made his skin turn transparent. We could see his organs. But honestly, it was useful for medical examinations.”
“The problem was that he wasn’t just turning transparent—he was disappearing! Arak almost died that day.”
Ayra pursed her lips, trying to suppress her laughter—but in the end, she couldn’t hold it in. A series of absurd and hilarious magical experiment failures flashed through her mind.
Shinje, too, eventually let out a snicker.
“Hah... yeah, that was a real mess. But if it weren’t for that potion, Arak wouldn’t have even known he had organ displacement syndrome. That idiot.”
“He was supposedly born that way, but I’m convinced it was one of the side effects from an older experiment. And almost died? Please—his blood just turned a little too transparent. It only looked like severe blood loss.”
In the Mage City: Labyrinth, almost everyone was a mage. Naturally, most test subjects were either themselves or another passing mage. There was an unspoken rule that everyone was fair game for experiments, and if you got caught off guard, that was your problem.
Of course, when things got truly out of hand, a senior mage would step in, clean up the mess, and scold the perpetrator. But even as they were being punished, they would already be planning their next experiment.
Reminiscing about those chaotic yet fond memories, Ayra asked,
“By the way, when do you plan on heading back?”
“Hm... I think I’ll stay a little longer. It’s been nice to take a break, and this is my first time in such a cold region. It feels refreshing.”
“Stay as long as you’d like. ...Oh, right.”
Ayra reached into her subspace storage, pulled out a quill and a scrap of paper, and scribbled something down—a temporary pass allowing Shinje to freely explore the estate.
“There are some decent books in the castle’s library. Stop by if you get bored.”
“Perfect timing. I needed something to read—thanks, friend.”
Friend.
He had come all the way here for the funeral. There was no need to reject the sentiment. And considering how much his Favorability had risen, Ayra simply smiled and responded,
“Yeah. Anytime.”