After the battle, Mina and the others made their way back to the cat rock and its shrine.

  The time had come to try the second key.

  “We should do this at the shrine,” Arc said, and so they ventured into the cavern where the collapse had occurred.

  They cleared just enough debris to squeeze through the passages. It was backbreaking work.

  Mina complained to Arc that this was no job for a girl—though in reality, Arc did almost all the heavy lifting.

  “Here we are. This section opens up into a fairly large hall.”

  The three of them made their way to the shrine at the far end of the hall. Before the shrine’s altar stood a platform designed for laying out cards.

  “Mina… spread the purple cloth on the platform.”

  Mina nodded, unwrapped the purple bundle, and set the cards aside. She spread the cloth across the surface.

  “Alright… I’m going to touch it.”

  Arc and Nox gave small nods. Mina pressed her fingertips to the cloth.

  This time, different lines from before began to glow.

  “Look—six cards this time.”

  The glowing lines indicated a pyramid-shaped arrangement for six cards. If Mina remembered correctly, this was called a Pyramid Spread. Nox’s eyes went wide.

  “Mina… numbers are appearing.”

  “Can you read them for me?”

  “Let’s see… 0, 7, 6, 11, 17, 9… all upright.”

  “Thanks.”

  Mina began searching through the deck. Arc spoke up.

  “How do you read this Pyramid Spread?”

  Mina answered while sorting through the cards.

  “The bottom three cards represent the current situation. The middle two show what kind of change is coming. And the card at the top of the pyramid is the final outcome—the future.”

  Nox leaned in with curiosity.

  “So what’s the message?”

  “Well, the current situation is the Fool, the Chariot, and the Lovers. That means a journey, victory, and companionship.”

  Arc’s eyes widened.

  “That’s Nox, isn’t it? It’s spot on!”

  “You’re right—it really is!”

  Mina smiled.

  “Next, the middle row is Justice and the Star. So… the path to truth, and a light of hope appearing?”

  Arc nodded.

  “Maybe it means the way forward is about to become clear?”

  “Could be. And the final outcome is… the Hermit.”

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “What does that mean?”

  “It says a guide will appear—someone who possesses wisdom.”

  Arc folded his arms.

  “Maybe some kind of mentor is going to show up.”

  Mina nodded and began placing the cards she’d selected.

  “I’m going to touch it now…”

  When she pressed her fingers to the cloth again, the patterns shifted, and a hexagram symbol appeared at the center along with a new message.

  “…This time it says all three of us need to touch it together.”

  Arc and Nox nodded and placed their index fingers on the hexagram. When Mina added hers, the cloth blazed with light, and in an instant the entire chamber was bathed in radiance.

  “Here we go again… back to that space.”

  The light enveloped them gradually. Mina waited patiently for it to settle.

  When it faded, they found themselves in the same place as before—that vast, star-filled expanse like outer space.

  And there, standing before them, was her mother. The ram-like horns and purple bob gave her a distinctly demonic appearance, but everything else was the same gentle mother Mina had always known.

  “Mom!”

  Tears welled in Mina’s eyes.

  “Mina… the angels came after you again, didn’t they? But you fought hard. I’m so glad everyone is safe.”

  “You have no idea how rough it was!”

  Mina wiped her tears and beamed with pride.

  “Well? Haven’t I gotten a little stronger?”

  She smiled at her mother through her tears.

  “Mina… you really did your best.”

  “I did! So give me lots of praise.”

  Her mother laughed warmly. Then she turned to Arc.

  “Arc… you sacrificed so much of your magical power for Mina’s sake. I can’t thank you enough.”

  “Please—what benefits Mina benefits you, Lady Lilia. This hardly counts as hardship.”

  Arc puffed out his chest. Lilia smiled at the sight.

  “You’ve grown so dependable.”

  The compliment turned Arc’s face bright red. Mina smirked.

  “Oh wow, I didn’t know you could make that face, Arc.”

  He glared at her, still blushing.

  “Shut up!”

  Next, her mother gazed at Nox.

  “So you’re Nox. Thank you for saving Mina.”

  Nox smiled happily, her cat ears twitching with delight.

  Then her mother came to Mina’s side.

  “Mina… you’ve learned to use beginner magic properly now. I can tell.”

  “Yeah… I read the grimoire like you said.”

  “And you’ve gained Nox as a companion.”

  Mina smiled.

  “She’s such a wonderful girl. I’m really happy.”

  Her mother smiled gently.

  “I’m glad. Now, Mina—you’re going to take Arc and Nox and go to your grandmother’s.”

  “To Grandma’s?”

  Mina’s eyes went round with shock.

  “Mom! I have a grandmother?!”

  Her mother laughed.

  “I’m sorry for keeping it a secret.”

  “Why? If I had a grandma, I wanted to meet her!”

  “Well, it wasn’t exactly possible… since Grandma’s house is in the Demon Realm.”

  “Oh, the Demon Realm… wait—THE DEMON REALM?!”

  Her mother gave a sweet smile.

  “That’s right. The Demon Realm. It’s not easy to get there as a human.”

  “Mom, I am human! I’m human, right? Yes—I’m still human!”

  Her mother laughed.

  “Of course you are. When I gave birth to you, I was already human.”

  “Oh, thank goodness!”

  Mina let out a sigh of relief.

  “But Mina, you were a bit too weak to make the trip to Grandma’s. That’s why I had you read the grimoire.”

  “So that’s what it was about… you could have just told me.”

  “There wasn’t enough time… Oh! That’s right—time!”

  Her mother suddenly cried out, as if remembering something. Time! Time!

  “Huh? What’s wrong? What about time?”

  “Oh no—it’s already time to say goodbye.”

  “Goodbye?! Mom, you haven’t told me anything yet!”

  Her mother nodded.

  “Listen carefully. I’m going to give you three boxes. One for each of you. Understood?”

  “That’s way too vague!”

  But her mother pressed on.

  “Arc, Nox—I’m going to give you both some of my magical power. Come closer.”

  As Arc and Nox approached, her mother hurriedly pressed orb-like objects into each of their chests.

  “Aaagh!”

  “Nyaaah!”

  Arc and Nox clutched their chests in pain.

  “Arc! Nox!”

  Mina rushed to their sides.

  She looked up to see her mother already fading, wrapped in light.

  “Mina! Go to your grandmother’s!”

  “Mom! I don’t even know where Grandma lives!”

  “Have Arc guide you.”

  “Mom, wait!”

  “Time’s up…”

  “Mom!”

  And then, enveloped in a cascade of sparkling light, her mother quietly vanished.

  “I love you, Mina.”

  Mina watched her disappear through her tears.

  “…Mom… I love you too.”

  When the light faded completely, Mina found herself back in the hall with the altar. Arc and Nox lay sleeping on the floor nearby.

  Mina held her hand toward the darkness and tried casting “Light!” A glowing orb floated into the air. At her feet sat three large boxes.

  She examined them and found a name written on each. Mina opened the one bearing her name.

  Her heart fluttered with anticipation.

  A weapon, maybe? Or a magic staff?

  “If it’s a magic ring, that would be so cute!”

  Brimming with excitement, she lifted the lid—and found three grimoires inside.

  The smile vanished from her face.

  She picked up a letter resting on top of the books and unfolded it.

  “Dear Mina, Read these books and study your magic.”

  “Damn it!”

  Mina slammed the lid shut.

  “More studying?! This is the worst!”

  Her mood plummeted to rock bottom.