The Girl Who Hacked The Magic System

There's a lot of info to be gathered from this antechamber's books, but we'll have time for that later.

Right now, we'll delve into the dungeon and bring back Lovelace's memories.

She's walking at my side, and I can see she's trembling a bit.

I had my own share of trauma in my past life and also had to deal with a harsh betrayal. So I have a bit of an idea of how she's feeling.

That's why I'm holding her hand right now, as we walk down the stairs that lead to the dungeon. Even though it's a stupid thing to do, in the sense of readiness against attacks.

The girls also sensed that she needed that support, so they formed a perimeter around us to make it safer for us.

Thank you, girls.

:::

We proceed through the dungeon at a very fast pace. The monsters here are high level and some are actually dangerous, but our team is even more dangerous than them.

We work swiftly and in silence, stopping once in a while to recover our energy.

We have no idea of what time it is outside, but I've checked with the base a couple of times through the communication device, and it seems that there is no important news on their side.

It might seem a bit stupid to deprive the hidden army of all its most important commanders, but the fact is that we can teleport back there at a moment's notice if the need arises.

Spatial magic is so convenient.

:::

When we got too tired, we used a wax ball to have an anchor to come back, then used the portal to go back to our office to sleep.

I was already getting into my bed when I heard someone knocking on the door.

"Yes?"

"Aurea, it's me."

"Lovelace. Just a moment."

I rush to the door and usher her in.

"Is something the matter?"

Obviously there is. I didn't need to ask it, but I didn't think of any other thing to say.

But she didn't answer my question. At least, not with words.

She hugged me and buried her face on my shoulder.

In the last two years I had a burst of growth, so I am now taller than her by half of a head. But I don't think that I'll grow anymore. This is as tall as I'll get.

"Can I stay here a little bit?"

"Of course, Lovelace. Of course. But my legs are in need of some respite. Do you mind if we sit down?"

"It's okay."

We head to my bed, and instead of simply sitting down, we end up lying on it, and she rests her head on my shoulder.

I could feel the moisture of her tears through the fabric of my uniform. We simply stayed like that for a long time as I caressed her.

How could that monster of a goddess treat this little girl like that?

:::

I wake up the next day to find Lovelace still in my arms.

She is with her eyes closed, but I can see that she's awake. Before I can say anything, she greets me with a smile and opens her eyes.

"Good morning, Aurea."

"Good morning. Did you stay the whole night here?"

"Yes. It was too comfortable. Was it improper?"

"No, no. Do you feel better?"

"Yes. Thanks to you."

"I didn't do anything."

"You exist, and you love me for what I am. That is more than enough."

Lovelace, your healing capabilities are through the roof if you can heal trauma like that.

But to have that face so close to mine, smiling, and saying those words… it's just too much for me to handle.

"Lovelace…"

"We have a mission today, and I can hear that some of the girls are already having breakfast, so we should join them."

"You're right. Let's go, then."

She gave me a quick kiss on my lips and then stood up before I could react to it.

That's not fair!!! My body can't hold back with all that!!!

:::

"Did something happen, Lovelace?"

Everyone was a bit distraught with the way she has been behaving today, but it was Yawarete that brought the issue up.

We're already halfway through the dungeon, and she has been a completely different person compared to the downcast and traumatized person she was yesterday.

"Actually, yes. I made peace with myself."

"Huh?"

"I always thought that I must've done something horrible to Julia for her to treat me that way. Seeing that bit of her memories yesterday showed me the truth."

"The truth?"

Everyone stopped paying attention to our surroundings, as we all focused on her.

"Yes. I didn't do anything, and there was nothing I could have done that would change what happened. She planned it from the very beginning."

Even though I've told her something like that countless times. Even though she already knew it all. The access to the goddess' memory was what made her accept it.

"Even though I knew it on a rational level, my emotions hadn't accepted it all yet. But now, having seen her emotions and seeing the people who are around me today, I'm able to finally push forward."

"There's a place where the scorpion is the sign that symbolizes the capacity for rebirth and rebuilding themselves after literal or metaphorical death. You've just embodied that. Welcome back to life."

She's the truest Scorpio woman, besides being a scorpion woman.

"Yes! Welcome back!"

"Welcome back, Lovelace!"

As everyone is celebrating her, I sense something approaching us from behind.

"Girls, gotta kill some guys there. I'll be right back."

:::

A couple days later, we've finally arrived at the heart of the dungeon.

While the first floors were a walk in the park, the last ones had us having to actually fight our way through.

But we're here.

A completely lit room, with white walls, ceiling, and floor. Pure and unadulterated white, without even seams to mark the start or end of stone slabs or bricks. Or even to mark where a wall ended and a ceiling or floor started.

At its center, a sole pedestal, with a pink sphere floating over it.

And an overarching foreboding feeling, as if someone was watching us from very far away.

An emotionless, expressionless gaze. It doesn't convey any feelings of hatred or love, or even curiosity. And that's what made it even more unsettling.