The ultimate form of greed [intermission chapter]

“Shiidou, indulge in me query?”
“Hmm? What’s up?”
“I believe it’s possible for darkness mages to extend their lifespan by using mana drain against animals, correct?”
“With difficulty, but yes.”
“Is that why you choose to face down monsters head on instead of simply using ranged magic?”

Along the nearly three days of our journey so far, I’d taken down six different monsters using mana drain. With the exception of the serpent, it had been my weapon of choice for every encounter.

“Nah, I’ve not mastered life-drain yet. Absorbing a monster’s mana is easy, but actually harvesting it as life energy is much harder. I use mana drain as a way to avoid exhausting my own supply while on the road.”
“I see. Then, given the opportunity, would you learn such a power and allow yourself to live longer?”
“Hell yeah, I would. In fact, I fully intend to. It’ll take a while, but I wanna get good enough at life drain to live for 150 years at least.”
“I see. You wish to achieve the ultimate form of greed. How heathenous.”

Ouch, I forgot how sharp Ann’s tongue is when she decided to speak her mind.

“Hey, mana drain also means mana transferral, y’know. I was planning to share half the life force I drain with you, so we can be together for longer.”
“You would not simply find another maid to replace me after my death?”
“You can replace a maid, but not a best friend.”

Her ears go red yet again. How do words like ‘best friend’ get this girl so flustered?

“Do not jest about such a thing, I could never ask you to give years of your life to extend mine own.”

I wasn’t joking. I was dead serious. I will keep this adorable human being alive as long as I feasibly can. I can do no greater service to the world than that.