Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2019: Balanced (1)

The blinding burst of light compelled me to shield my eyes, though it vanished almost instantly.

Once the glow subsided, I noticed the pair frozen in their previous stance.

Not a muscle had they shifted during that intense illumination.

Indeed, they acted as though the dazzling light had never even registered with them.

"What happened?" I questioned the qilin, yet it ignored me completely, staring blankly at Dorothy.

Seeing them behave this way stirred a twinge of concern in me.

"Are you both alright? Any odd sensations?" My follow-up query finally snapped them out of it.

The qilin staggered ahead as if tumbling into Dorothy's embrace, and she extended her arms to catch it gently.

Clutching the qilin close, she glanced up at me and remarked, "I'm okay. Actually, I feel even stronger than earlier."

The qilin remained silent, but its serene expression revealed it was unharmed too. It appeared far more at ease now that it touched Dorothy this way.

A puzzled gaze escaped me as I watched them, sensing something amiss, though I couldn't quite identify it.

After pausing briefly, I approached Dorothy and requested, "May I check it out?"

She grasped my intent without clarification, yet she wavered before ultimately nodding her approval.

Brushing her hair back, I examined the spot on her neck bearing that dark mark.

But as I parted the strands, my jaw slackened in astonishment.

For the ominous black dot that once lingered there had vanished entirely.

I swept her hair further to confirm, discovering it gone without a hint. Without prior knowledge, I'd never suspect it had ever existed.

"What's wrong?"

Given that it was her form I inspected, Dorothy naturally picked up on my unusual scrutiny.

At first, words failed me, reluctant to spark unverified optimism.

Thus, I simply instructed, "Stay put with the qilin a moment. I'll fetch folks to examine you shortly."

I caught Dorothy's searching gaze, but pressed on without explanation to summon Max and the rest. Uncertain of the change, I trusted they'd clarify it better.

Alerting Max naturally drew Rose's attention as well.

Yet upon her arrival...

"How's she doing?"

Anxiety laced her tone, though her glare toward me burned with irritation.

I recognized her frustration stemmed from the potential chaos I stirred, possibly fueling false hope in Dorothy, but I followed my instincts. After all, the mark on her neck had truly faded away.

"She's stable; he's assessing her state now."

"You ought not to stir this up." Rose held back initially, but ultimately voiced her reproach.

This differed from the Rose I knew, yet I understood her protectiveness over Dorothy fueled this outburst.

"I get it, but this could turn out positive for her. I won't gamble with chances."

Some fury dimmed in her eyes, though she clearly intended to hold me accountable still.

For the moment, we lingered, awaiting Max's verdict.

However, the delay stretched unusually long.

Max typically oversaw Dorothy's health, and we'd witnessed his routine checks before. Hence, the variance in his current procedures stood out.

He performed additional examinations, hinting at an alteration in her state.

Whether this shift boded well or ill remained unclear.

Time dragged on before Max emerged, his face etched with bewilderment. He seemed lost in contemplation, mingled with evident perplexity.

Rose, impatient for clarity, pressed, "What's the verdict? Good or bad?"

Max shook his head uncertainly before admitting, "I believe it's positive?"

We both shot him sharp looks at that vague reply, prompting me to demand, "Elaborate on that."

Max paused, his features shifting as he organized his mind. At last, he explained, "To start, her abilities appear subdued at present."

Surprise hit us both, though we'd half-anticipated it with the mark's absence from her neck. Still, this offered scant detail.

Aware of our need for more, Max continued, "Something seems to be holding it in check, but that's not quite accurate wording."

"Not accurate? Care to explain?" My voice carried clear confusion.

Max fell silent again, his look flickering through emotions.

Eventually, with a heavy exhale, he confessed, "I'm at a loss too, as this is unprecedented for me. Still, it resembles a force stabilizing her energy."