Chapter 139: Responses - II

"Think about what that implies by yourselves~"

Melien’s listless demeanor turned into one of thoughtful loss, as if he were plunged into a great existential labyrinth of the mind. The words casually uttered by an S-Rank such as Lillie made him realize many things and further allowed him to deduce others.

It wasn’t just Melien either.

Safurin and Sirion were nothing if not stunned, feeling their ego shatter and reform in the span of a mere few moments.

Reurii seemed the least affected, but even then, he seemed to recount many of the ideas he had over the centuries he’d lived.

As for Clementine... Her narrower horizons as a B-Rank and her familiarity with Lillie’s personality made her a little more doubtful about why Lillie had said such things in the first place, thinking lightly of something that she had yet to actually encounter.

What was Lillie’s goal in uttering such words in that specific manner? Why turn it into a riddle they had to think about for themselves?

Though it seemed to work on her cousins, Clementine knew that Lillie was alluding to something else even then.

Such a crafty manner of speaking was very characteristic of the High Snakespawn—at least, in Clementine’s impression, Lillie was someone who seemed to scheme a lot.

’Does she want to join the Game of Walvaskaz?’

This was the main thought in Clementine’s mind, suspecting her companions’ goals and further being reminded of Aventine, whose interactions with Lillie had been...

Intriguing.

After all.

The way they looked at each other was already a big telltale sign. It felt as if they would strike at each other’s throats the moment an opportunity appeared. Whenever they interacted since the formation of the Info-Hunter’s team, everyone else would feel goosebumps on their skin.

Kuvie especially, given her sensitivity to people’s hearts.

Clementine couldn’t help but fall into speculation.

Recalling how Aventine first approached her in the exact moment when he could display his usefulness to gain her trust.

The way he treated her friends, Kuvie, Reazue, and Taylor.

The way avarice flashed in his eyes whenever Lillie appeared before him—yet his gaze had no hint of carnal lust.

Then, she thought about Aventine’s nature as a so-called ’Info-Hunter,’ the abilities he displayed so far, and the subtly terrifying sense for people’s thoughts and minds, as if he could read them all like open books—

But even such a description wasn’t enough to describe the simultaneous comfort and discomfort one would feel when speaking to him.

After all...

It might have been subconscious on Aventine’s part, but it was something Clementine realized mid-conversation with him. Aventine had a tendency to cater to one’s preferences when speaking.

’He always uses the best tone and choice of words that could get his ideas across.’

And that was why it was comforting, because talking to him was like talking to someone who knew you better than yourself. Worries would vanish with a smile, and some problems would lighten at the mention of a few possibilities.

Thus, it was also uncomfortable, because Clementine had never poured her heart out to that degree to anyone before.

Even to her closest friends.

To be so seen was to be understood, and to be understood was to be vulnerable.

’...And I still have no way to counter his mind-reading.’

Consulting with Lillie would have been a good idea; however, Clementine had a feeling that even Lillie could not hide from Aventine’s uncanny ability to ’gather’ information.

’At least I know that his information gathering is not simple magic or skill. It’s something else... An inborn characteristic? A natural affinity? Definitely not. It’s probably closer to a <Trait> that those of the myriad races have through our bloodline.’

Clementine’s frown deepened.

’But... Aventine is so clearly human. Lillie confirmed this fact—unless he can also hide his biological information from an S-Rank, then...’

Clementine shivered.

Hopefully it wasn’t to that degree.

With her thoughts reaching up to hear, Clementine cast her gaze towards Melien, deciding to seek help from her cousins. These past interactions with them had already rewritten her abysmal impression of them from the time she was exiled.

They were actually a pleasant bunch to get along with now.

Time had changed them, tempering their personalities and refining their nature. No longer were they the frantic youths from back then, fully embodying the moniker that others of the myriad races liked to use for the Snakespawn.

Coldbloods.

"Eldest cousin Melien," Clementine’s voice pulled all of the cousins out of their reveries and speculations. "How would you go about preparing for the impending malice of someone who can read minds?"

Melien, having been called out to by his younger cousin, was confused for a moment. This was the first time that Clementine had used such a humble tone towards him.

It felt odd for the rebellious brute to suddenly speak like that.

Everyone got the shivers but said nothing, sensing the weight in Clementine’s question.

’Is she dealing with such an odd foe? Mind-read... should be some kind of Psychic Technique.’ Melien thought for half a second before leaning forward to speak.

"Well, the first thing you need to figure out is how this someone is achieving such a feat. Though I doubt that even the best Psychic Technique can fully browse through your memories without you noticing, have you felt any intrusion from the other party?"

Clementine nodded slightly—before shaking her head and sighing. "That’s the thing, I don’t sense the activation of any kind of magic, nor do I feel the mental fluctuations characteristic of such Psychic Techniques. In fact, even their scent remains static despite them clearly reading the minds of those around him..."

All of the cousins caught Clementine’s slip of the tongue, shifting from them to him at the end of her words.

Still, they kept silent, allowing Melien to ponder once again. "Then let’s step back... How can you tell that they’re reading people’s minds?"

Clementine paused, looking straight into Melien’s eyes. "If you could read my mind, then you would know that I asked you a question just now. The same thing applies to them. They answer all of the questions that I inadvertently develop."

"...So they just blatantly display their ability to read minds?" Safurin seemed to find such an action appalling.

What kind of person wouldn’t hide such an astounding ability? If she could read minds, she wouldn’t be as wasteful of its advantages.

Melien fell into thought at that moment.

"So... the only reason you know is because it isn’t being hidden... I’m afraid I can’t help you with blocking out such a thorough ability. In fact..." Melien glanced at Safurin. "I think the reason why they blatantly display such an ability could be because they’ve lived with the ability to read minds for so long that perhaps what is said in reality and what are merely thoughts have become blurred."

Melien raised a finger, pointing into his head. "As far as I can surmise, it seems that they can read a person’s surface thoughts as naturally as others breathe. Next time, I want you to deliberately ask questions and say things in your head and tell me what they react to and if there’s any indicator that they are conscious of what is real and what is merely mental.

"I’ve worked with someone who has a really powerful natural Psychic Technique. This is the most common characteristic they have, and it has turned them into an anxious wreck—terrified of what others think of them."

Melien tilted his head.

"Does this person you speak of have such a problem?"

"..." Clementine seemed to fall into thought. "Ah, definitely not. Actually, I think they’ve deliberately acted in ways that invoke certain perceptions of them for fun. It’s annoying, actually."

Hearing this, Melien just sighed, "So they’re still in your circle, I see."

He couldn’t help but glance behind him, throwing his gaze out towards the terrace where Lillie had disappeared to. After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and glanced at Safurin and Sirion.

"Honestly, that person I knew personally is already a headache to deal with, but at least we can tell when we’re in her mental domain. I don’t really know a way to combat an even subtler version of her ability other than just having no thoughts."

Melien shrugged.

"What do you guys think?"

Sirion raised his hand instantly, as if waiting for this moment. Seeing Melien nod, he then leaned forward with enthusiasm in his gaze. He looked fervently at Clementine and held up three slender fingers.

"Three questions," Sirion said before putting down a finger. "First, have you tried self-hypnosis?"

Clementine shook her head. "No."

"Second," Sirion put another finger down and gestured to the terrace, "Is this entity an S-Rank like Madame Lillie?"

"...From what I’ve seen, they shouldn’t be."

Sirion nodded pensively before putting his last finger down. "Lastly, what’s their race?"

"Human." Clementine hesitated. "...They should be human. However, I sometimes hope that they’re of a race in the mental domain so it makes more sense."