The Stargazing Witch & The Dungeon Planet
Chapter 140: A Little Talk

Chapter 140: A Little Talk

So I returned to speak with Nina. If Lila was right, she was a little suspicious of me, but more importantly, they had a lead on Dominous Hood. Honestly, my original plan was to test the limits of my new [Star Mapping] to slowly explore, well, everything, and start hunting down all Dominous Hood idiots in space that I could find. 

It might not have sounded like the greatest plan, but my new range was massive and I could store the information I received so much better. The perks of having an evolved brain and soul that can do the work.

“Hello again, Nina.”

I had already split ways with Lila, who went back to her station.

“Afternoon, Ceella, I didn’t expect to see you so soon.” 

I walked up to her with my hand out, saying, “Well, I had to thank you and apologise for destroying the armour. It was very useful.”

She shook it, “Armour is supposed to protect the user, so as long as it does that job, then everything is fine.”

It was pretty good armour, so it was kind of a shame it got destroyed, but that was the worst environment for it. Wel,l most things wouldn’t do good in a place with sand that disrupts mana to such an extent. 

It survived well enough, though, I don't think any armour will be better than my current body and magic… Actually, that has reminded me, I need to test my [Disruptive Starlight].

[Disruptive Starlight], when it was an ordinary skill, allowed me to use Starlight to mess with technology and, in some cases, detection skills. That functionality still remained as part of my general Starlight manipulation, but there was a small divergence in my ability that I noticed but couldn’t properly explore. 

When I tried using it in the real world, it was affecting more than using the technology, and it was impacting the mana within it. Similar to the golden sand, but on a much lesser scale but it still had an impact.

I should add that to the list on my new and improved Soul Page, for my eyes only version.

Nina asked, “Anything else?

I gently smiled, “I did want to talk to you about a few more important things, mostly about the boogeyman in space.”

She asked, already believing the answer to be yes, “Did Lila tell you?”

“Yes and no, she did, but I already found out when I returned.” I let my eyes sparkle for some visual effects. “I had a quick look around when I came back in and saw it on your notes.”

“How…?” 

I shrugged, “Always been one of my abilities, three sixty plus vision is very handy in combat and navigating streets.”

Nina awkwardly smiled, “Well, I can’t prevent you, but would you kindly not read important documents?”

“Sure, but can we talk somewhere quieter if that is the case?”

Nina agreed, and so we went to her office. 

After we sat down, I asked, “So is the plan to just blow up the whole base?”

“No.” Nina declared. “That cannot happen, we have no idea what devices exist within their base and the untold number of hostages.”

“Hostages?” I leaned forward. 

“Yes, it has been confirmed that Dominous Hood was an illegally acquired workforce.”

“Some slave labour? How did they manage that?”

“Years of collecting people from everywhere. It seems they mostly captured people from their smaller missions. If they needed to raid a place, then they might pick up a person or two.”

…

I asked, “...Is it a confirmed fact?”

Nina explained, “This is mostly speculation based on what we do know. The most common labour force was crews from spaceships, as they are the hardest to track once lost.”

I couldn't lie. 

Maybe it was because Lila brought up the memories yesterday.

For a moment, I couldn’t help but imagine the possibility of my friends being alive, but captured for all these years.

It was a silly little thought.

But I knew that couldn’t be true. 

I saw Benard's corpse, I remember the conversations, and the remains of the ship that crashed in the Espr left most bodies in a mushy state.  

…Well… Looks like I can’t blow the whole thing up.

There was really no need for me to destroy everything, while that may be the easiest solution, there was no need for me to take the literally easiest possible way out.

“Okay… whenever this raid is planned to happen, make sure I’m invited.” 

“Are you for it?” 

Of course.

My output, even under the restrictions I faced, was about the same as my previous level 300 output, but my output was never a problem. The main issue was that I needed more mana, some of my strongest attacks actually harmed me, and my movement was limited. 

All three of those concerns had been solved. My supply of energy was massive, my body could even handle [Starlight Annihilation] mixed combinations, and I finally had better movement options. I could perfectly recreate [Burst] with my control over Fire energy, I had limited floating abilities, and I could create magic wings that allowed for proper flight.

I said with a smile, “I would be delighted to join.”  

My abilities overall had far surpassed what I could do before, but I knew I couldn’t be too careful. 

Espr, what is the chance that what interfered with me last time would reappear?

The bastard who had an arrow teleported into me was someone I was worried about. They were likely also a Spiritual Being, now that I knew what that was, and so I was probably stronger than I was. There were all the bullshit artefacts that Dominous Hood had, knowing them, there could be plenty of stupid unexpected crap. Not that I was currently worried about dying by one of their artefacts, but it was a roulette wheel and getting launched across the universe again was not something I wanted.

(“ The chance isn’t nothing, however, it is not high either, what was done ”)

…Since I am a Spiritual being, doesn’t that put me under the same stipulations?

(“ The rules are mostly an agreed-upon harmony. Existence does restrict us in minor ways simply because that is the nature of our existence, but we could do far more. However, in your case, you are very weak, some know of you already, and it will only become a point of complaint once you are strong enough and have control of your wider Spiritual abilities. For the time being, under Existence restrictions, you are basically only in the top echelons of humans, not something to extremely worry about destroying Existence of Expansion ”)

‘Just in the top echelons,’ thank you for making a girl feel special.

(“ Technically speaking, you do not have a gender ”)

Fuck you, rude, I can be what I want to be, and wait, does that mean no Spiritual beings have genders?

(“ Your blood is cold liquid fire within a shell made of light ”)

There are some muscles in there.

(“ Yes, but they have been completely rebuilt from the ground up to fit your new physiology ”)

Actually, what does that mean for healing spells? 

(“ There are some that would work for you, but the ones that heal you by mimicking human techniques to repair the body or filling your body up with mana will not work. Your body already has a supply so large that any extra mana won’t really assist in your natural healing process, and more importantly, you still have healing abilities that surpass your original ones when using the skills I gave you ”)

I know, but I was still curious. 

With that question answered, I told Nina, “If you need any suggestions, put me in the spot where it requires me to blow the most things up.” 

“I hope you are joking…” Nina sighed, “You just got back with your family.”

“No, I am not,” I replied. This was one of my long-time wishes, of course, I wasn’t going to hold back blowing them up for all the stars to witness. “I appreciate the worry, but I will be fine. I have never felt better than ever.”

“Sigh… I will let you know when something is planned.” Nina pinched her nose. “Just enjoy your time with your family.”

I replied, “Of course. Thank you for your time.” 

“Before you go.” Nina said, “You also took the marble with you last time.”

Oh?

I answered, “Yep, repairing it since I would rather it be working next time I use it.”

All Nina said was, “Okay.” 

“If you have people wanting to study it, I am fine with that, but you need to wait until it is fixed–” aka when I have figured out how to make more than one. 

“Understood.” She added, “Your brother also took an artefact that was meant to support your mana recovery.” 

“I am happy to still take it.” I said, “It could be a good gift for my family.”

She was hesitant, “I’m… not sure if it is necessarily an artefact a civilian should have. Did Tyell tell you about the nature of it?”

“Yes.” It was a quick conversation we had in the morning because he knew I was coming back here. “But, even without the murder part, it can still take mana within the environment, which makes it a handy item to have anyway. The fact that the regeneration is only a small amount might make it better for a civilian since the regeneration should be within their ballpark.” I paused again, “Well, since it is about absorbing the life of killing people, maybe it should just be destroyed.”

I said that last part mostly to gauge Nina’s reaction. 

She replied, “There would be some people upset by that decision, but I am not one of them. The only thing I would question is, are you sure you don’t want to use it for what is to come?”

I thought about lying for a moment. When it came to mana, my own regeneration would surpass the artefacts with the lifesteal effect active if I used my horns. “You know what, I will keep it for that, but I will trash it after the fact.” 

Tyell might’ve put the effort into getting the artefact, but I didn’t want him to keep a murder item. Though I had the thought.

Maybe I can do some modifications. 

If I could, why not try? There was still so much about my current abilities I hadn’t explored. Espr had mentioned, and I had seen Spiritual Beings' power be used through artefacts.

My curiosity has been piqued. 

I might have unnerved Nina somehow as she asked, “Are you okay?”

“Sorry… umm, yeah.”

…Let’s wait to modify artefacts later.