"Hmm..."
In response to Erica's words, Phoenix merely hummed noncommittally, showing no particular reaction. These matters held little importance to her.
Nor did they warrant excessive concern.
Turning away from Erica, Phoenix approached a nearby bookshelf and picked up a demonic manual about "spiritual speech."
She suddenly turned back to look at Erica:
"Oh, right... I heard mages have a method - or perhaps a type of spiritual speech - that can quickly transfer their knowledge to another person? Is that correct?"
As the young mistress of a noble mage family, Erica had been studying magical arts since childhood. She undoubtedly possessed considerable knowledge and skills in magic.
If Phoenix could instantly acquire Erica's arcane knowledge, she would save at least a decade of study. This was undoubtedly an excellent solution for her.
Even if she were to study slowly, though her memory allowed her to retain a book's contents hundreds or even thousands of times faster than ordinary people, it would still take years.
Spending so much time learning arcane knowledge was acceptable if she had plenty of time, but it felt somewhat inefficient. Instant mastery would be ideal.
After all, even nine years of compulsory education was enough to give people headaches. A vast system of arcane knowledge would prove overwhelming, even for someone as initially enthusiastic as Phoenix.
"Quickly imparting knowledge you've mastered to others? There is such a magic."
Erica immediately understood upon hearing this. The intelligent girl nodded.
"Then... do you know it?"
In the original story, Erica did possess this ability, having used it on Godou Kusanagi. However, considering this was one or two years earlier, Phoenix wasn't entirely certain.
Still, as a Great Knight, she should have mastered this relatively simple magic.
"Yes."
As expected, Erica confirmed with a direct answer.
"Will you share the magical knowledge you've mastered with me?" Having heard the answer she sought, Phoenix immediately approached Erica, placing her hands on the mage's shoulders. She gazed earnestly into Erica's eyes.
The prospect of rapidly acquiring magical knowledge from a genius like Erica proved immensely tempting for Phoenix.
While Erica couldn't possibly possess all magical knowledge—such complete mastery would require centuries of study—she undoubtedly commanded a substantial portion.
"Your Majesty... I would gladly share my magical knowledge. However, since you are a Campione, my spiritual words may prove ineffective."
Under Phoenix's intense gaze, Erica found herself willing to comply. This exchange of favors seemed natural enough.
Yet the problem remained: after a Campione slays a god, they gain immeasurable curse power. This makes a mage's spiritual words and magic utterly useless against them. Even beneficial effects are nullified...
"Is there no other method besides spiritual words?" Phoenix persisted, undeterred by Erica's explanation.
Though spiritual words were ineffective against Campione, Phoenix knew all too well that Godou Kusanagi had learned from Erica's teachings.
Though this method was somewhat ambiguous, it paled in comparison to the vast magical knowledge she would gain.
Besides, Erica was both beautiful and charming. Having not yet been exposed to Godou Kusanagi, she remained a "pure" goddess.
This was a completely fair deal.
"There are other ways..." Erica suddenly remembered something, her face flushing slightly with embarrassment before quickly regaining composure.
"Then let's begin!"
"What... what aspect of magical knowledge does the King require?" Erica asked without hesitation, having made up her mind.
"Of course, I want all of it!" Phoenix replied matter-of-factly. Why would a grown adult make such trivial choices?
"All... all of it?" Erica was stunned. She dared claim that ordinary people could never match her lifetime's accumulation of magical knowledge. Yet Phoenix wanted it all in one go?
The energy expenditure would be...
"If the King wants everything, we might not be able to complete it in one session..."
"Then we'll continue until the entire knowledge is transferred."
"Fine... Fine! Please close your eyes, Phoenix..." What else could Erica say in response to Phoenix's words?
"Why must I close my eyes?"
"Keeping them open is fine too..."
As they spoke, Erica suddenly embraced Phoenix and kissed her. The spiritual language method wouldn't work; only through Replenishing Magic-like transmission could this be achieved.
The moment their lips met, Phoenix didn't even have time to process the sensation of kissing before she found herself immersed in a sea of knowledge.
This was akin to the "sudden enlightenment" trope from martial arts novels, but with a more fantastical twist. To put it precisely, Erica was replicating her own knowledge and transferring it to Phoenix.
However, this replication process moved at a sluggish pace, far slower than the instantaneity of digital copy-pasting.
Five minutes later, Phoenix abruptly pushed away from Erica.
"What's wrong? Phoenix..."
Erica stared at the girl before her, bewildered. Everything had been fine moments ago—why this sudden...
"The transfer speed is still too slow. How long will this take?"
"About an hour, I'd say! After all, there's quite a lot of knowledge involved. If it were just basic information, it wouldn't take more than a minute. If... you want to speed it up further, that's possible too. Though..."
Hearing this, Erica looked at Phoenix before her, at a loss for words. Even an hour's pace would grant her one-tenth of the knowledge - already remarkably swift.
Such knowledge would normally take one or two years to acquire through traditional study, and only for someone as gifted as herself.
"An hour? That long... Let's go faster then. Who could endure such prolonged sessions?"
"As you wish, my Queen!"
Erica once again wrapped her arms around Phoenix's neck, leaning in for a kiss.
The two beautiful young girls - one resembling an Eastern immortal, the other like a Western noble lady - stood like lilies blooming in this heavily guarded Library.
But the lily comparison was merely metaphorical.
While Phoenix might have been uncertain, Erica at this moment was decidedly not interested in women. Her only goal was to gain Phoenix's trust, nothing more.
Though appearances might suggest otherwise.
"Phoenix-nee, let's go to the seaside for a vacation!"
Just as Phoenix was immersed in the ocean of knowledge, Higokumaru's excited voice called from outside the room. However, Phoenix, deeply engrossed in her studies, didn't hear until Higokumaru burst in with enthusiasm.
"Ah... you two..."