If she were to read meaning into the look in its eyes, it seemed to be begging for her touch.
So she knelt beside it and ran her hands from its head to its spine.
It leaned in for more.
Probably because it was a fat snake, touching it was quite nice, Hazel thought.
Unknown to her, the man she was giving guidance to had opened his eyes, and his once-pale face had turned completely red.
“You had better stop asking for her touch,” he warned the snake, which acted as if it did not hear him.
Hazel ran her hands from its head to its spine again.
“Mmngh.”
Simon shuddered, feeling the brush of her soft fingers against his spine.
Since his spirit body was also his body, they shared all sensations.
‘Does she not know about this?
Why is she rubbing the fat snake?’ he thought, feeling another tingling sensation down his spine.
“You had better stop rubbing against her, or else you won’t see her for a week,” he warned.
This time, the snake answered, though it was clearly displeased.
The thought of not seeing this pleasant-smelling woman for a week made it sad.
Hazel noticed that the snake stopped clinging to her.
Then she said goodbye to it, her tendrils wrapping around it one last time.
She opened her eyes, only to find a pair of green eyes staring at her.
She quickly let go of his hands.
“I was giving you guidance,” Hazel said awkwardly.
Simon stared at the younger woman.
Under the soft light, her long silver hair shimmered, paired with her soft purple eyes.
Dressed in her nightwear, she looked like a pampered, wealthy heiress.
Seeing that he was staring at her, Hazel suddenly remembered her outfit.
She quickly stood from the bedside.
“You should be okay.
I should get going.”
After she left, Simon’s brain terminal flashed.
[Domain corruption value: 20%.]
‘20%.
When was the last time his domain corruption had dropped this low?
Probably when he was eighteen.’
Simon rubbed his temples as he remembered how she had run her soft hands along his spine.
Then he stopped himself from dwelling on it and lay down to sleep.
Hazel left his room, where she saw the people waiting outside.
“He is fine now.”
This somehow relieved the crowd, while Jane, despite knowing Hazel’s low rank, believed in her because of how calm she was.
“Let me drop you and Jane off,” Louis said.
Hazel nodded, then followed behind him alongside Jane.
Upon getting to her room, Hazel fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
The next morning, after drinking a nutrient potion, she headed downstairs to wait for Jane, who planned to take her to the Marshal’s office for registration.
“Here.”
She gave Hazel the bread.
“I have eaten.”
“Still, take it.”
Then she pushed it into Hazel’s arms before walking ahead.
Jane took her to the entrance of the building, then left.
“I want to greet a friend of mine nearby.
Can you go back on your own?”
“Yes.”
Hazel had glanced at the environment as they walked there, taking everything in and committing it to memory.
“Alright, then.
Bye.”
Hazel walked into the building and was directed to the Marshal’s office by a passing Sentinel.
Knock!
Knock!
The door opened, and Hazel entered.
The man looked different from how he had looked in bed the previous night.
His features had become colder after putting on his uniform.
Simon went straight to business.
“Name?”
“Hazel Xu.”
Simon typed it into the form.
“Spiritual power rank?”
“F-Class.”
An embarrassed look flashed in her eyes after replying.
“That does not seem to be right.”
Simon paused, then looked up from the screen.
“Are you sure that’s your rank?” Simon asked.
“Yes.
You can check my profile to confirm.”
Hazel was sure about it.
After all, other than the memories she had gained, that was what was on her profile on her brain terminal and even in the academy.
Simon clicked on her profile, and just as she had said, it was indeed F-Class.
“Your spiritual power rank is likely to be incorrect,” he said with certainty.
After all, he had received guidance from her.
For his domain corruption value to fall to twenty percent, her rank was probably higher than A-Class.
He had received guidance a few times, but nothing could compare to the state of his domain after Hazel’s guidance.
Remembering the soft brush against his spine again, he suppressed the thought.
The door suddenly opened, and his subordinate entered.
“Marshal, not good. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
Contamination Zone 009 has spread further.”
After saying this, he played a video.
That morning, as usual, people went to the foot of the mountains to forage for wild vegetables, while others went to their farmland.
A husband and wife had just arrived at their farm, where the husband helped his wife sit down before beginning his work.
Ah Xing had not been sitting for long when she saw fog coming from the top of the mountain.
The people at the foot of the mountain were completely unaware of the danger.
“Husband, look.
Why does it look like the fog on the mountain is moving?”
Hearing the word “fog,” the man dropped his hoe and turned to look at where his wife was pointing.
His face paled, and he quickly walked towards his wife.
“The contamination zone is spreading…”
Then he shouted to the people at the foot of the mountain, since his farm was quite close to it.
They heard him, and everyone packed their things and hurried away.
By now, Ah Xing had been carried into her husband’s arms, and he ran at an incredible speed.
The fog behind them was moving forward quickly.
Most able-bodied people carried their children or even the elderly, but some elderly people were caught in the fog.
Those whose family members were caught in the fog immediately went to report it, begging the soldiers to help.
The video ended with a ten-year-old boy begging them to save his grandmother.
Hazel felt the green shade become deeper in her Spirit Domain.
Simon stood up from his seat.
“Go prepare the gear.”
Hazel also stood up and followed behind him.
Then he stopped walking.
“You can go back.
The registration is complete.”
“I am going into the contamination zone.”
Simon turned and stared into her eyes.
“Guides don’t go to contamination zones.”
“I am going,” she informed him.
Because of the urgent situation, Simon simply gave her a long glance before going to change into his protective combat suit.
Then he handed her new protective gear and the necessary weapons.
“Here.”
Hazel quickly changed into the protective combat suit, then followed behind Simon, who went to where the soldiers were gathered.
“Guide Hazel, you are here.
Wait, are you going with us?” Louis asked.
“Yes.”
The crowd of men was surprised.
A Guide wanted to go into the contamination zone.
“Are you sure you want to go?” Simon asked for the last time.