Chapter: 454
I honestly didn’t expect my arm to break just from speaking.
I mean, who would think that a drop in attack power would lead to this kind of situation?
I thought I might just get exhausted or have some muscle fatigue. But to end up with a shattered arm? Who saw that coming?
What puzzled me even more was the aftermath of my broken arm.
The pain wasn’t really an issue. I’ve been through worse, so a broken arm is nothing. It’s painful, sure, but totally bearable.
But the commotion around me? That was out of my control and really threw me off.
I had to calm down Karl, who’s crying and saying sorry in front of me.
Then I had to soothe a weeping bear who claimed it was because of the blessing I gave him.
Kicking the silly-looking Sloppy Fox who frowned at me only to see him putting a splint on my broken arm? I just let it go.
Then, I asked Arthur to fetch Phoebe, who looked just as confused.
And then there was Frey, looking at my flailing arm with curiosity.
After all this ruckus, Phoebe arrived and saw my dangling arm. Her eyes trembled, but instead of panicking like the others, she calmly healed my arm.
Phoebe’s Divine Magic worked wonders, as usual.
First, she eased the pain and then slowly healed my arm in a way that didn’t burden me. This girl was a far more skilled healer than I could ever hope to be.
What would I have done if I had to heal myself, you ask?
Well, I would’ve just gritted my teeth and endured the pain.
That’s all I know how to do!
As I marveled at my now functional arm, I started opening and closing my hand when Phoebe spoke up.
“Uh… Young Lady.”
Her voice was gentle as always, but oddly it felt cold this time.
Did I do something wrong?
She was speaking normally, so maybe it’s just my misunderstanding?
Thinking that, I cautiously looked up, and saw the shadow crossing her eyes, making me look down again.
“When you asked me to manage the forest, I nodded quietly. Because I trusted you, Young Lady.”
Right… She did hesitate a bit but still let me go.
“After we met again inside the dungeon, I didn’t say anything. Even when I saw you getting hurt, I kept my mouth shut.”
Is that really a problem? I’m the best at dungeon strategies, and I’m the tank, so why wouldn’t I be at the front?
That’s just how a tank’s role works!
No, I get it. I’ll just keep my mouth shut then.
“When you forced yourself and collapsed, I stayed quiet, fighting back my worries to heal you.”
I didn’t think I would collapse!
Even Grandpa only mentioned methods, but never said anything about side effects.
So this is Grandpa’s fault! Not mine!
Of course, if I can’t say anything about Grandpa, it ends up being my fault!
Damn it!
“But now! After everything is over, you get hurt again!”
Hearing Phoebe raise her voice for the first time, I was startled and looked up.
There was Phoebe, on the verge of tears.
Seeing her about to cry made me clueless on how to respond.
‘Hah. Grandpa!’
[You deal with it.]
‘Huh?!’
[You need to learn to handle these things on your own. Isn’t that how you become an adult?]
Grandpa’s voice dripped with annoyance.
What!? So he was mad because I broke my arm!?
He knows I didn’t do it on purpose! Why is he mad then!?
He should at least understand that I’m innocent!
“Young Lady.”
“…Yeah?”
While I was silently screaming inside, Phoebe was still trying to control her feelings.
“I’m sorry. You didn’t mean to hurt yourself.”
Nooo! Please, scold me instead!
Get mad at me for not listening and thinking of other things!
That would make my heart feel better!
“Isn’t this favoritism too much?”
As I felt suffocated, Arthur piped up from the side.
“You’ve scolded us all day yesterday.”
“Right. You went on about it for hours after we got back.”
“To be honest, I think that was more torture than a sermon.”
“Torture, for sure.”
“…Phoebe’s sermons are indeed torture.”
As soon as Arthur broke the ice, the friends behind him chimed in one by one.
Even Joy turned her head to say something, which meant yesterday’s Phoebe must’ve been pretty scary.
I was quiet since it was during the collapsing incident, but realizing Phoebe wasn’t replying to me made me slowly turn my head.
Phoebe’s face, which had just moments ago been about to cry, was now flushed.
“Sloppy Saintess?”
“Er… um, yesterday’s sermon was a must-have.”
“I know that. We messed up. But why don’t you scold Lucy Allen?”
“Seriously, that’s unfair.”
“W-why is she any different? Phoebe?”
The moment Joy spoke, the atmosphere shifted.
All eyes that were about to burst out of Phoebe’s face turned toward Joy.
Joy, who was just staring at Phoebe, suddenly felt the gazes and started looking around confused.
“Why is everyone suddenly looking at me?! Wasn’t this supposed to be revenge for Phoebe’s nagging?!”
“You said Lucy.”
“You said Lucy Allen.”
“I said Lucy.”
In that moment, I realized I had a way out.
If I shift the focus to Joy, I might escape this embarrassment!
“Right. Joy said my name in a silly tone.”
Naturally, I called her Joy, and the friends’ expressions turned even more serious.
Joy looked hurt, as if she felt betrayed, but I just tilted my head in cluelessness.
What did I do wrong? I just called my friend by name!
“Joy. I’d like to talk for a bit.”
“I agree with the Saintess.”
“So do I. I really want to hear it.”
As I watched Joy get into more and more trouble, all I could think was one thing.
Thank you! Joy! You saved me! I won’t forget this sacrifice!
For at least thirty minutes!
*
Erin, Lucy Allen’s maid and now at the Academy following her mistress, was doing various chores assigned to maids.
When Lucy asked why she was working for other sloppy people, she told Erin to sharpen her own skills if she had so much spare time. But Erin refused.
Being a dedicated maid was already a privilege, and if Erin did nothing, the bad rumors about Lucy would only grow.
Wanting to help Lucy and not become a burden, she insisted on doing her tasks.
Of course, she wasn’t completely without worries. A sudden outsider tends to get scrutinized by others.
Though Erin had decided to endure the pressure as an outsider, contrary to her expectations, other maids didn’t say anything to her.
In fact, they found Erin intimidating.
They suggested she take a break and not worry about work.
If she insisted on helping, they gave her only simple and easy tasks.
In such an atmosphere, Erin once again realized how impressive her mistress was.
How much work must the Young Lady have done for even a lowly maid like her to feel her radiance?
While praising Lucy, Erin had no intention of just resting in her shadow. She sought out her own tasks, even without being told.
Not to trouble Lucy.
Lucy wanted others to hear praises about her maid.
Erin displayed everything she had learned from the Allen family among the other servants.
Her skills, which were praised even in the low noble Allen family where maids worked, amazed the Academy’s servants and quickly transformed Erin from a source of hardship into a pillar of strength for them.
Now that Lucy had gone out for work, Erin was hoping for her quick and safe return while diligently doing her tasks.
“U-uh, Erin.”
“Yes?”
“Can you help me for a moment? There’s something I can’t do alone.”
“Of course! What is it?”
“It’s hard to explain with words, so please come with me for a moment.”
Erin, cocking her head, followed the servant.
The place the servant led her to was somewhat out of the way at the Academy. Was there really anything for a servant to do here?
As Erin pondered, she felt a bad premonition and stopped her feet.
“Erin?”
“You… Who are you?”
“Huh?”
Studying the servant suspiciously, she felt discomfort radiating from them.
It was something she couldn’t define, but it was a nauseating vibe.
“What’s your deal?”
“…Tsk.”
Just as Erin took a step back, the one pretending to be a servant lunged at her.
As a mere servant, Erin could do nothing but watch the hand flying toward her.
She couldn’t withstand the speed of that hand.
Oh no. If something happens, the Young Lady will be sad.
In that moment, as time slowed down while Erin worried about her mistress…
A sudden hand shot out to block the attack.
“Oh boy. The Power of Void is troublesome. I thought I had it organized, but not like this.”
“…You.”
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