"Is this the monster?"

Hilia turned back to confirm with Anarce.

Anarce nodded.

"If I recall correctly, this monster should be called the Dark Nightmare."

Hilia searched her mind for information about this serpent-like creature with four legs.

She remembered reading about it in the alchemy textbook—it was a Tier Two to Three demon, with attack methods of devouring and intimidation, using intimidation when capturing prey to destroy their spirit and leave them defenseless.

Its mention in the alchemy textbook was due to its saliva being a valuable magic material, and its skin could also be used to make scrolls.

"This kind of demon typically only lives in dark, damp areas. This forest is near Huijin City, where they shouldn’t be distributed, right?"

Hilia was a bit puzzled.

But there was no time to think further as the monster charged forward.

"Hilia, this monster is terrifying; it will..."

"No need to worry, I’m aware."

Hilia controlled her magic puppet to rush forward, simultaneously turning back to smile at Anarce.

Anarce’s lips moved slightly, controlling her own magic puppet as she followed, charging at the monster.

"Let me help you..."

"No need, your magic puppet will just be in the way."

Hilia pointed towards Anarce’s magic puppet, and the Mage’s Hand blocked it.

"Just watch me perform."

The girl smiled slightly.

Mere Tier Two demon, hmph, can be easily killed!

Timid when facing Tier Three, but with Tier Two she’s all out!

Hilia’s magic puppet, under the Dark Nightmare’s charging attack, clenched one fist and delivered a punch straight to the monster’s head.

Then, the puppet leaped into the air, rapidly condensing icy vapor, and a spear formed by the magic "Ice Spike" took shape, fiercely stabbing into the Dark Nightmare’s forehead!

Whoosh!

The lance instantly pierced the Dark Nightmare which Anarce thought invincible, pinning it to the ground forcefully.

Its body struggled, but to no avail, unable to break free.

Until it finally died, only nerve reflexes kept its limbs twitching.

Before long, the limbs stopped moving, the body went limp.

Dead, completely dead.

Hilia clapped her hands, the magic puppet transformed into a stream of light and was taken back into her Storage Space.

She turned to the astonished Anarce beside her, smiling, "Your nightmare has been eliminated, Anarce, it’s time to leave."

At that moment, she seemed like an angel descending.

Anarce nodded heavily.

Everything around slowly dissolved into shimmering particles and dispersed.

In reality, Hilia opened her eyes and sat up.

Before she could check Anarce’s condition, Mier’s voice came next to her, proud as if seeking recognition, "Hilia, did you see what I did..."

"Mier!"

Nosen’s stern voice interrupted Mier, he gave a cold glance at Mier, then looked at Hilia, "What’s Anarce’s condition, Miss Hilia?"

Hilia took a thoughtful look at Mier, then nodded, saying, "I believe her spiritual lock is removed."

As she spoke, she called out to Rose in her mind—

"Lord Rose, are you there?"

"What is it?"

"Anarce’s Dream World is so odd, if it’s carried by memory, it indicates it happened; they really encountered the moisture-loving demon in the dry forest near Huijin City, it’s too strange."

"What do you think it is?" Rose asked, amused.

"This Dark Nightmare must have been deliberately placed by someone, during the fight, I felt it had ferocity but lacked the keen instinct of a wild demon, and fought clumsily."

Rose said nothing, Hilia paused, got off the bed, went to the side, handed Anarce to the two medical priests, then continued analyzing in her mind:

"I guess Nosen and Mier set a trap for Anarce, using her debt to me as an excuse to lure her to take on their assignment, then arranged the Dark Nightmare to ambush them, leveraging the nightmare’s traits to lock her soul, looping that memory incessantly."

"What’s their motive?"

"Motive...I’m not sure, but it’s definitely related to me."

Hilia recalled Mier’s fixation on her in Anarce’s dream, feeling goosebumps rise.

"Could it be Mier wanted me to hear his disgusting words?"

On further thought, this does fit something that idiot Mier would do.

Especially with him boasting first thing after she awoke.

It’s too obvious.

But...

Hilia felt it wasn’t that simple.

Because another person was added to the mix.

Mier’s brother, Nosen.

She knew nothing about Nosen.

Just felt this Nosen was far smarter than his foolish brother.

Although Mier could be exasperating, he wasn’t as off-putting and verbose as in the dream.

Thus, it surely was Nosen’s doing.

"I could tell from Anarce’s situation in the dream, she needed someone to save her the most. Nosen could’ve made her loyal follower saving her via the Master-Follower Contract in her dream, but he did not."

Rose laughed slightly, hinting, "He couldn’t get in."

"Eh? Why?"

"In a locked spiritual world, only those trusted can enter; Nosen is not her trusted person."

"So that’s it, but then, isn’t everything just coincidence? Besides the sudden appearance of the Dark Nightmare..."

Missing key information, Hilia could not figure out Nosen and Mier’s intentions.

Finally, she gave up thinking.

"Whatever, whatever they’re trying to do, if it threatens me, I won’t spare them!"

The status of Holy Daughter candidate was no mere title. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

If caught plotting against her, she could use the Holy Court’s name to bring them to justice.

Of course, the intent must threaten Hilia’s safety, unlike last time with the flying contest, she couldn’t use the Holy Court’s name.

She entered the flying contest first, as long as it’s not reported by the school, even ten times wouldn’t matter.

And Mier complaining to the mentor about it...

Only showed his stupidity.

The flying contest wasn’t for ordinary civilian students.

Can ordinary people afford off-road racing?

Increasing vigilance against the Deville Clan, Hilia refocused on Anarce.

With the spiritual world’s lock broken, her consciousness gradually returned to her body.

With the healing from the two medical priests, her eyelids twitched, slowly opening her eyes.

"You’re awake?" Hilia approached, asking with concern.

As she spoke, keeping an eye on Nosen’s behavior.

The other did not approach, instead stood on the periphery, ensuring Anarce did not see him first.

His subtle movements would go unnoticed if Hilia wasn’t especially observant.

She began to question the condition of the Master-Follower Contract he had with Anarce.

Rightly so, Anarce’s ordeal in the dream might unlock the next piece of the puzzle.

Hilia found Rose’s conversational habits extremely interesting.