I was drinking tea inside Raines lab. It tasted quite good, so the leaves might be of a good quality tea.

However, its not a cup Im using to drink. Instead, its a glass container called the beaker, and its supposedly used mainly for experiments.

I wonder if there was a slightly more normal cup here

My dissatisfaction mightve been a bit obvious from the look on my face.

[Whats wrong? Do you need more sugar?]

[Its not that. Its this beaker. If you dont have a cup here, shouldnt you just bring one from home?]

[Cant. Itll just get in my way. Beaker is more convenient, as I can also use it for my experiments.]

[And just what experiment youve used this on. Im curious, but Id rather not know.]

[Thats the Fate I know, so understanding.]

As long as its been washed properly, then using it for anything else should be okay.

But then I looked around the laboratory. As usual, its so messy to the point that its hard to find space for footing.

this beaker, it may not have been washed. Thinking that, I couldnt help that my face turned ugly once more.

[How rude. Im still a lady. I wont give my customer a defective item.]

[I get it. You washed this, but I still cant get over the fact that you use a beaker.]

[Right.]

I still felt wronged even if you say that.

The one who felt the most wronged at the moment was probably Mimir, who was undergoing a blood sampling.

[Please, if you want to stab it then stab quickly. If you dont then say that you dontplease be clear about it.]

Her bemoaning clearly showed her fear of syringe needle.

Raine kept retreating the needle back just right when she was about to stab it in every time she responded to me.

Mimir shouldve kept her eyes shut during the entire process. Because the needle barely hurt, it should be already nowhere to be seen when she opened her eyes again.

Ive experienced it many times myself, but not as often as Mimir did.

[Because its entertaining to watch]

[What do you mean by entertaining!?]

[Look, if I put the needle closer like this.]

[Hiiiii!]

[And, when I pull away the needle]

[Fuu~.really now!? Please dont mess around like that]

[Sorry, sorry. Seeing Mimir acting like a cute child like this makes me want to bully you. Shall we do another one?]

[Please dont. Fate-sama, please say something!]

I pretended to not hear Mimirs plea for help. The memory of her forcefully sucking my blood in the elevator was still fresh in my mind.

Please do some introspection by having your own blood taken by syringe

As for Raine, she looked just fine since she does this kind of thing on regular basis.

[You two really get along well.]

[Get along what! Your sister is in huge trouble here.]

[Ah tea after a rough day is perfect very relaxing.]

[Are you listening?]

[Definitely not]

[So you are actually listening!]

I already received the enlightenment. And I dont think I can do anything about what Raine wanted to do anyways.

Just let it flow as it is.

Thats the secret in getting along with Raine.

If youre reacting to every little tidbit she does, itll only amused Raine and encouraged her to do more.

Mimir still has a long way to go.

Finally satisfied with playing around, Raine began the blood sampling. Mimirs complexion turned blue when the needle pierced her skin.

This girl loves sucking blood, but absolutely hates having her blood sucked.

[Uuuuuuuuuuu. Is it over yet?]

[Not yet]

[Isnt it enough already?]

[Not enough]

[Thats too much blood youre taking. Ill be taking the replacement from Fate-sama later*wink*]

Just because you couldnt handle it yourself, you just had to make trouble for me as well, huh

Are you asking for more after you had your way back at the elevator? Anyways, lets just shake our head for now.

[More bloodsucking is impossible today. Ill die from blood loss]

[But I also lost a lot of blood from the previous fight.]

She certainly did. Mimir did seem to get seriously injured after protecting Roxy from an ogre attack.

The wound had been fully regenerated back thanks to nightwalker power. However, a large amount of blood was consumed for the regeneration.

Mimir had never sought for blood while shes outside of the mansion before. She was already at her limit back at the elevator.

Even so, Raine kept collecting Mimirs blood sample silently.

There were already 4 vials now.

[Hey, do you really need that many samples for the test?]

[Two for testing. Two for my experimentno, lets take one more.]

[Wait a minute there! Did you even listen to yourself just now!]

[No worries. Itll be done soon.]

[Hiiiii!]

Realizing that shes being played with, Mimir could only complain with her stare. Raine ignored her as if shes just a passing wind and continued taking samples.

When it came to research, she wont care about anything else.

Her father, Mugan, often consulted with me over what he should do when we happened to be drinking together at the tavern.

Next would be my turn. What will she do to me wondering about that makes me scared.

For now, at the very least shell take five vials of blood sample. Thats quite a lot, considering how much blood Ive lost today.

But its Raine we are talking about. She wont try to harm me, would she?

[Yes, thats it. The blood sampling is over for now.]

The sluggish Mimir was finally released from her torment.

She looked oddly exhausted. Perhaps due to losing too much blood, or because shes under heavy stress during the entire process.

She didnt even respond when I called out to her. By the way, I would be taking the blood sampling on other room.

[Please sit here.]

[Ah, so its gonna be a lot of blood after all, huh?]

[Indeed. Your case is even more special than Mimirs after all.]

[I see what experiment are you going to use Mimirs blood for anyways?]

[It also has something to do with you. I think Ive found something interesting.]

[Eh, what is it what is it? Please tell me.]

[No can do. Not until Im sure of it first. Until then, you just need to enjoy the ride. Well, here we go.]

The needle is approaching my skin, so I adjusted my stat so that Area-E toughness would not obstruct it.

At first, the needle wont even pierce my skin at all due to Area-E. Only when I consciously accept the needle that it could stick in.

Area E offers a lot of convenience in battle. But when it comes to treatment and testing, it becomes a hindrance because normal medical tools or treatments wont cut in.

[Hey, how does it feel like to be an Area E? Painful? Hurt? Enjoyable? Comfortable? How is it?]

Raine asked while collecting the blood sample. She seemed to be very interested in Area E, seeing how she always throw this kind of question in during every check up.

[Its just normal. Neither painful nor comfortable.]

[The statuses. Because its a realm away, I thought there will be a change in terms of mentalityor am I wrong?]

Shes actually half correct. If a person who reached Area E lost their humanity and heart, they will turn into something that is no longer human. The collapse phenomenon.

Rafal became the brutal Undead Archdemon. And the goblin shaman we fought earlier today, it forcefully raised regular human status to reach Area E, but at the same time turned them into ogres. Its certainly not a good thing.

[I think that ones mind needs to be in balance with the stats, otherwise one will be very unstable.]

[Thats a good guess. There was that case with Rafal. And there were also those ogres.]

[What do you mean by ogre?]

[Ill tell you as we proceed with the check up.]

While she took the blood sample, I told Raine about what happened during the fight against the goblin shaman.

Under the hobgoblin forest, there was actually what seemed like a Gallian laboratory.

The people that had gone missing were held there, forced into a human experiment that forcefully raised their stats to Area E, but turned them into a monster called ogre in exchange.

[People changing to ogreits interesting to note that a person can become a monster. What happened to the facility after youve beaten the ogres?]

I suppose that she wants to see it with her own eyes. Raines eyes were sparkling like a child in front of their favorite toy.

Shell keep asking about it until I give her an answer.

[The facility was sealed by a powerful freezing field, so we cant enter there. The ogres on the other hand, should still be salvageable.]

[I will be going to the site tomorrow. So Ill be counting on you.]

[I knew it. You need me to escort you, right?]

[Un, correct. Nothing less from Fate.]

You are welcome. If I dont come along, youll still insist on going there on your own.

Mugan asked me to watch over his daughter so that she wont get involved in any mess. Although the mishap with the goblin shaman was over, the hobgoblin forest was no less dangerous.

It was originally the goblins nest after all. If Raine, who has no battle capability whatsoever, went on her own and came across the goblins, shed be in big trouble.

[How fun!]

[Dont fuss about it so much.]

[Im older than you. No longer a child.]

The blood sample collected in the vials would be transferred to other researchers. There were 4 vials in totalone less from Mimir.

I guess I should be happy with that? I lost a lot of blood before this after all.

[Yes, thats it. Were done.]

[Now, please take off your clothes!]

[EEEeeeeee]

[No buts]

This is to check if there is any change in my body. Raine would do direct hand checks to see if there is a problem.

[Looks like there is no change in your body. The problem is]

[Is it my blood?]

[Yes.]

Raine picked up the report on my blood sample test, and said.

[Your blood is so much more altered than Mimirs. Its hard to say that youre still human.]

[Is it because of Area E?]

[Thats unlikely. Because Aaron-samas result was normal. Your gluttony skill is more likely to be the cause.]

[And what if this continues on?]

[I think itll eventually alter your body as well. When that happens, I doubt the form will still be that of a human.]

So, pretty much turning into a monster. And the time is drawing closer.

As of now, Raine is trying to find a solution to suppress the symptoms. However, no cure has been found so far.

[We still have time. So dont be quick to give up.]

[Yeah, Im not giving up yet, so dont worry.]

[In that case, please refrain from consuming Area E enemy for a while as much as possible.]

I supposed she warned me due to the ogres appearance.

[It might be a treat for the Gluttony skill. But for you, its an action that will cut your life even shorter.]

Raine advised me while correcting the position of her glasses. I guess I understood what she meant.

At that time my right eye bled after consuming the ogres. By eating those ogres, my blood experienced a change, and the regular human blood that has lost its place inside my body was ejected out of my body through my eye.

A long time ago, Greed also told me. A Mortal Sin skill owner is easy to recognize through looking at their eyes

Because the transformation always started from there.

[I will try my best. Ive come this far after all.]

[. you really should. Oh, right. I received report that something interesting was found at the mountain city.]

[Is it related to Rafal?]

[En, a new ruin was found in the mine managed by the Burix. I heard they found a philosophers stone. It will arrive here tomorrow morning it seems.]

[Philosophers stone!?]

The origin of nightwalker was separated into collective lifeformswhich was actually Shins body. Its a dangerous item that has a life of its own and will seek to infect a host.

It parasitically latched on Rafal, and eventually turned him into undead archdemon.

I mustve looked so worried. So Raine reassured me with a smile.

[Dont worry. Its contained in a special compartment so that no one could touch it.]

[Is that so]

[Weve dealt with various dangerous things in Gallia. Well be very careful in handling it.]

Tomorrow morning, the philosophers stone and the result of the blood sample test should arrive before we head out to the hobgoblin forest.

Is it really Shinns body? If it is, then we might be able to use it to locate the main body, and that means, Myne as well.

Its nothing but a farfetched thought for now, but still a glimmering light of hope nonetheless.