"Oh, I see."

Irena rubbed her smooth chin, nodding seriously as she summarized:

"So you're the spirit living inside Aisha's Millennium Puzzle, and you usually help her Duel. But this time, since my body fell into some mysterious coma, you tried entering me to see if you could wake me up. Did I get that right?"

"Exactly!" Miles gave her a thumbs-up. "As expected of Irena-senpai. Most people, like Irene, don't catch on nearly that fast."

"Hehehe, well, I am the Gray Witch, blessed with beauty, wisdom, and talent."

Irena flashed her trademark smug smile, looking nothing like someone whose real body was unconscious and groaning in pain.

"So, Miles, anything else to explain?"

"Explain? What else is there to—"

"Then get ready to die!"

Suddenly turning hostile, Irena pulled a wand from her black robes and fired three sharp ice spikes straight at him.

"Wait, what are you doing, senpai?!"

Miles dove into a roll, narrowly avoiding the ambush.

"Who said you could call me senpai?! Who even is your senpai?!"

Yet, she wasn't done. In an instant, wind, fireballs, lightning—an onslaught of elemental spells rained toward Miles.

"You, a grown man, had the nerve to enter Aisha's adorable body! I haven't even done that myself—it's infuriating... unforgivable!"

'What do you mean 'enter'?! Physically? Spiritually?'

"Stop! I still have more to explain!"

Dodging frantically, Miles was grateful his soul-form had enhanced agility. None of Irena's violent spells touched him.

"Irena sen—no, Irena! This isn't the time to take it out on me. Aisha's really worried about you!"

"Aisha... is worried about me?"

As Miles hoped, Irena immediately stopped chanting. Just hearing Aisha's name calmed her.

It was obvious Aisha meant a lot to her.

'Wait... could it be?'

…Unlike Kevin Seth, who hated women, was Irena the kind who only liked girls?

"Nonsense. I like cute, healing beauties and handsome boys equally. Gender has nothing to do with it."

She read his mind.

Since this was their first direct soul interaction, Miles hadn't thought to block his thoughts. Irena read him like a book.

"Still, you're right. Given the situation, making Aisha feel at ease matters more than judging you."

"I think you should be more concerned about yourself."

Irena put away her wand and stood with her hands on her hips.

"So you're Miles. If you came to help, let's hear your plan."

"Well, this is new for me, too."

It was his first time in a pure white space like this, where neither spirit could control the body.

"Irena, have you tried waking up?"

"Of course I have! If I could wake up, I would've. But the path connecting my soul to my body feels blocked, like it won't let me through."

"Path to the body? I don't see anything like that."

Was it a witch thing? Because no matter where Miles looked, there was nothing but endless white.

"That's because it's blocked. Of course, you can't see it. It's a little abstract... how should I explain this to a Muggle?"

"Muggle?"

"A normal person who can't use magic. It's not an insult, I swear."

"Doesn't sound great."

"Oh!"

A lightbulb literally popped over Irena's head.

Only in a Soul Room could you see cartoon logic like this.

"Miles, want to try something? Instead of going through the path, I could just use magic to throw your soul straight into my body."

"What?! You can do that?!"

"How would we know unless we try?"

"Wait. If that works, why not throw yourself back in?"

"Ugh, explaining to Muggles is so tiring. Look, no matter how strong someone is, they can't throw themselves. Magic works the same. I can't throw my own soul."

"So you want to throw me?"

Despite her complaints, Irena explained it in a way Miles couldn't refute.

"Enough talk. Come closer."

"What for?"

"Grab my hands. That's how I throw you."

"You're sure this is a magical throw, not a physical one?"

"Obviously. Look into my pure, innocent eyes."

Her blue eyes were clear and beautiful like the ocean water. She could be vain, but she was undeniably a genuine beauty.

"Fine. I trust you."

As he took her hands, he noticed her scent was soft and calming, like lavender.

Irena, too, took a good look at Miles for the first time.

A boy around her age with striking good looks—even the God of Entertainment had once praised his appearance.

Albeit, beyond that, he had an aura of calm reliability. A kind of presence that made people instinctively want to depend on him.

"I think I get it now. Why Aisha trusts you so much, Miles."

"Why?"

"Heh."

Irena smiled but said nothing. Instead, she raised her hands and shouted—

"Here we go!"

Miles' soul felt weightless, then suddenly yanked downward by gravity—It really was like she'd thrown him.

"Aaaahhh!"

As he plunged, his voice shifted—he now sounded like the girl he'd just been talking to.

He bolted upright.

Now inside Irena's body, Miles sat up on the bed, dazedly taking in the sight of Kaima and Aisha.

"Irena actually woke up!"

A moment ago, Kaima had doubted Aisha's bizarre behavior.

Now, all doubts were gone.

...

If you want to support, please consider Patreon, and read advanced chapters! Your support keeps this series going!

[Patreon.com/RedZTL]