The Reincarnations of Veldanava

Tempest Battle Tournament

Manas Lucia had never considered anyone to be her equal. There were two types of people in her eyes: those above her and those below her. Only Lucia Nava and Veldanava were in the first group, so anyone else would automatically be in the latter group.

Even Manas Michael, who showed great strength and influence, wasn't held by her in high regard. Their alliance was mainly beneficial.

Lucia, being a result of Knowledge King Raphael, was an analytical manas. It would be redundant if she had to fight by herself, so she joined hands with Michael and Feldway.

They were not her comrades, just tools. She wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice them to advance her own goal, and they wouldn't think twice to do the same when she outlived her purposes.

Manas Lucia didn't have anyone whom she could call a friend, and had never gone out of her way to make some. Every move she made had to be the most optimized. She wouldn't do anything that didn't contribute to her main goal.

'Yet I don't mind Ciel and that man at all. Why is that the case?' She didn't know why, but she felt calm and relaxed around that girl. 'Maybe it's because she could match my brilliant mind. For the first time ever, I didn't feel like I was talking to a brick wall.'

Lucia knocked on the door until Ciel came out to invite her in. Ciel's master was kind enough to sympathize with her circumstance. "First of all, I apologize for the inconvenience."

"No need to apologize. My master said that you are always welcome."

Rimuru only allowed it just so they could spend more time together. Ciel had no friends to begin with, so when she did make one, Rimuru wanted to preserve it for her own sake.

'Her dedication to me is admirable, but I want her to have an actual friend as well. Raphy-san is a rare type of person who could give Ciel-san a run for her money, so I put my faith in her.'

After being invited in by Ciel, Lucia entered the room. This place was called a ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn made per Demon Lord Rimuru's request.

The room was as luxurious as it was costly. In the middle of the room was a queen-size bed which was occupied by the sleeping Milim. Next to the bed was Rimuru who remained in his disguise.

"What a lovely place."

Lucia was more focused on the sleeping dragonoid when she said that. Three months ago, Lucia got to run an analysis on Milim and found out that her mental health was on a decline.

But the most recent analysis from a few hours ago showed that she had recovered, not fully, but still significantly better than where she was months ago.

'I don't know what happened, but it's still a pleasant update to get.' These people might be just humans, but they did know how to make Milim happy. That was the most important thing for Lucia.

"Please, make yourself at home."

"Your hospitality would always be appreciated."

After making sure that Milim really was deep asleep, Lucia took off her face mask. Although she changed the color of her hair to blend in with the crowd, she wore a face mask for a different reason.

Lucia knew that Milim would be in this festival as well. Aware that her face might provoke the dragonoid and make her vaulted memories resurface, Lucia had to hide it.

This face mask might look like an unassuming thin fabric, but it possessed many layers of defense that would keep her identity a secret. It perfectly blocked Magic Sense, Universal Sense and even the all-seeing Milim Eye.