Chapter 22 Questions and Answers

The hat bombarded Kailey with questions, further deepening its misunderstanding of Kailey's thoughts about the things inside and leading it to desperately string out words to explain the things in the hut. However, Kailey's inner thoughts were entirely dissimilar from what the hat had envisioned. 'Oh, cool! What kind of magic is this that has lifted me into the air? How is it that I am unable to detect the distortions that are always evident when casting?' Kailey inwardly cheered.

While still in the air, Kailey shouted to the witch hat to lower her down, but the hat became startled and dropped her due to its flustered state. As Kailey felt her body plummeting to the ground, she thought of which spell to cast to slow her fall. At the last second, before hitting the ground, Kailey used the [Air Shield] spell to create a platform to land on and reduce the impact. After landing somewhat clumsily, she dusted off her clothes. Following this action, Kailey complained about the rough treatment she received but relented after seeing how remorseful the hat was. Kailey collected herself and questioned the hat about the golems in the room. She also sought information about how the previous golem had gained the ability to act independently.

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The hat, still caught up in its delusions, spoke in a voice that started to calm down as it gathered its thoughts. "During the first few weeks of finding myself in this hat form, I explored what I now know to be a mana-powered bunker or base, which had a maze-like structure. This location we are in was already occupied by golems when I arrived. When I first studied them, they weren't as functional as they are now," The hat's tip drooped as it remembered the past filled with exciting exploration but also with persistent loneliness.

Upon seeing the witch hat tilted to the side, Kailey felt sympathetic, knowing that it must have been lonely with no one to talk to since gaining consciousness. Having been alone for most of her travels, Kailey felt she could relate to the hat. Kailey had avoided forming close relationships, understanding that attachments would not last long. Kailey seldom allowed herself to become too close to others, as she knew it would only bring them earlier grief.

Kailey felt an affinity with the hat and wanted to make the most of her time in the ruins while with it. She thought it wouldn't be so bad to form a close relationship with the hat.