Anna was leaning on the tree while watching Noel swinging his sword. This somehow became her night routine, considering Noel only rested his body according to the schedule, not because he was sleepy.
Noel would keep swinging his sword every night during their journey. She even wondered if he was possessed by the sword.
'Still, I can understand how Noel can keep up with me. Well, there will be many problems in the near future. I don't even know how much my actions influence the future. Like the case about the bandits with the demons, I'm pretty sure that there's going to be some reaction from the Supreme Devil Organization.
I have to get stronger as quickly as possible… I don't know why but the stronger I become, the faster Noel's growth is. It's as if he can keep up with me the whole time.'
Anna was watching Noel with a nostalgic gaze as if she had known him for a long time.
At the same time, she felt uncomfortable about something. Whether it was due to her using the real power of her Spirit or not, she felt the need to sort her mind.
After some consideration, she quietly closed her eyes and meditated, entering her consciousness.
Inside her consciousness was a plain white room with a man standing next to a punching bag.
The man had spiky yellow hair and a huge muscular body. His gaze was fierce and fighting intent was emitting from his body as if he was picking a fight with anyone that saw him. If Noel was here, he would have recognized this man as the highest ranking spirit, the Humanoid Spirit.
Upon her arrival, the man noticed her presence and turned around, confused. "What's wrong?"
She looked at the man and said, "I feel uncomfortable. Is it because I have used your power, Thunder Berserker Spirit?"
"Nope." The man shook his head while pointing upward. "Something is sticking in your brain. I can feel it."
"In my brain?" Anna widened her eyes in shock. "I didn't feel anything though."
"Are you sure? Why don't you check it with my power? I mean, you surely know that technique without me teaching you, right? A brat like you who seems to know everything in our first meeting." The man smirked.
"…" Anna fell silent before closing her eyes. Suddenly, she furrowed her eyebrows and felt a tingling sensation in her brain. "This is… a kind of power that can control my brain?"
"Definitely." The man nodded in agreement as if he knew everything.
"…" Anna contemplated for a moment. "Is this the mushroom? But how? I don't even feel its presence and haven't even seen its attack?"
"What does mushroom release?"
"Spores?" Anna finally understood the situation. "So, that's why Noel said that…"
Noel told her that the wind was carrying the spores, allowing the mushroom to control demons in a wide area without showing itself. It also meant that the spores had entered their brains.
"In that case, Noel is in the same situation too? He must haven't realized it." Anna gasped, knowing that the battle would be hectic. "I should inform Noel about this situation and get rid of the spores so that the battle goes smoothly."
"Are you sure about that?" The Thunder Berserker Spirit smirked.
"Huh? Noel's plan has to go smoothly so everyone can be happy." Anna tilted her head in confusion, not understanding why the man before her doubted her action.
"I'm sure that you have felt when using my power what kind of madness that will revolve in your head. But aside from that madness, I do have a working mind you know. That's why I want to ask you whether you want to do it or not. Don't be Noel this, Noel that… I just want you, my contractor, to express your desire."
"Huh?" Anna was confused.
"Are you dumber than me?" The spirit shook his head helplessly. He pointed at his head and said, "Why don't you try to outsmart Noel this time, Idiot Master? I know that you're trying to learn from him, but don't you think it's also fine to surpass him this time?"
"Surpass him? Outsmart him? How?" Anna sucked a cold breath as she asked herself whether it was possible or not. "No, wait a minute. If Noel doesn't know this, won't the demon control him at that time?
"What if I use this chance to suddenly turn around the situation by removing the mind control from his mind? Won't this also make Noel owe me a bit?" Anna muttered, falling into deep thought. However, there was one thing that stuck in her mind. "Wait a minute. I can remove the mind control from my brain by inducing my own brain, but I have the protection of the Thunder Berserker Spirit.
My brain can withstand the lightning used to electrocute my own brain.
"Noel is different… There's no way his brain can withstand the electricity. How do I remove it?" Anna tried to come up with a solution from her past life but to no avail.
The spirit smiled and asked, "Do you want me to help you?"
"Can you? If that allows me to outsmart him for the first time, then…"
"Hehe, sure…" The spirit walked to her and placed his finger on her forehead, transmitting the knowledge about a certain technique. "With your control over my power, I don't think this is a hard technique for you to use, right?"
"This technique…" Anna sucked a cold breath and stared at the spirit with a dumbfounded face. Instead of horrified, her face reddened when she fully understood the technique. "You… What the heck are you thinking?"
"I'm just helping you with a technique. It's your choice whether you want to do it or not." The spirit shrugged. "Well, I have helped you, so…"
The spirit snapped his fingers and transported Anna back to reality.
In this lonely white room, the spirit smiled with a mysterious smile. "Well, I'm simply going to help you. I don't understand why, but it already happens… So, you should treasure this second life to make everything right, Anna Stargaze."