Trapped in Another World With No Magic

Chapter 97: Approaching Midnight

Daniel does his best to sit up in spite of an aching stomach from eating too many rich foods made by seven of his companions; the three Dragon Empresses, two Goblin Queens, Hekate, and Gwenesphia. Kaeralegeir, the goddess bound to the sword known as Nemaisol, just made a statement that Daniel can't ignore.

"Have you really not figured it out?"

"No. Is it related to carrying you? Have I been leaching the magic power you have been shedding?"

The goddess's voice laughs, and she replies jovially, "No. For someone so intelligent at times, Daniel, you can certainly be adorably naive."

"And, for an apparent goddess, you can be surprisingly human. Youthfully human."

"If I had a face, I would be scowling at you, Daniel. You just called me 'immature', didn't you?"

"Me? Never. Please, oh great and wise goddess Kaeralegeir, most divine and beautiful of all the goddesses here at the moment,..."

"Hey! How dumb do you think I am!?"

"Please, oh please, grant me your knowledge about how and why I have magic."

"Hmph! You're lucky we're friends, Daniel. I would have no qualms about smiting you for such insolence."

Daniel clasps his hands, pretending he's praying. "Wise goddess Kaeralegeir, I ask you to forgive my insolence and answer my question. Pretty please. Amen."

"Ugh... Fine. I suppose it'd be difficult to notice, since no one else can detect your mana as accurately as I can. In fact, your mana is currently increasing."

"I-It is?" asks Daniel. He looks at Xyreko, and the golem shakes her head. "I apologize, Daniel. Kaeralegeir speaks the truth. I can not quantify your mana; only detect that it is present and a rough idea of a lot or a little. You... still have little."

"It increases daily," replies the goddess. "In fact, it increases small amounts throughout the day. Unless I'm mistaken, and I'm not, it is consistent with times when Daniel drinks his favorite dragon juice."

"Dragon juice?" retorts Daniel. He suddenly cocks his head. "Wait... th-their milk? It's been the milk this whole time?"

"I told you you've been putting random alien food and fluids in your body, and you wonder how mana randomly appeared in you? They're among the most powerful magic beings on the face of Zenkon. And, they started producing milk, something they normally don't do. While I can't say for certain why, it probably has something to do with you."

Daniel sits up. His stomach still aches, but he is able to focus on Kaeralegeir's words. He is stunned, but it's also encouraging. He doesn't have to change anything, and he'll slowly build mana. He can't drink much more than he already does, especially if they keep preparing meals for him as well. He'll have to make a more comprehensive list of foods for variety, or they'll be the death of him well before he can make real use of his mana.

Most importantly, though, he now knows where it's coming from, meaning he can make sure he is continuing to increase his mana.

Daniel asks, "Can you tell if it has any other effects?"

"Nothing else immediately usable like the goblin milk," replies the goddess.

"Anything detrimental?" asks Xyreko. "If so, I will inform the Empresses, and they will prioritize Daniel's safety."

"Depends on your definition of 'detrimental'. The only other effect other than the permanent mana increase is longevity."

"What did you say?" asks Xyreko suddenly. Daniel, too, is unsure if it's what he's thinking.