Chapter: 91
[Hey, Young Lady. It's about that kid, Phoebe.]
Having received a mace from Phoebe, I was on my way back.
Not long after I left the church, Grandpa cautiously spoke up.
‘What is it?’
[It seems like she's going through a lot of turmoil.]
‘Phoebe?’
I tilted my head at Grandpa’s words.
Well, of course! The Phoebe I know is like a giant tree.
Like a steadfast tree that wouldn’t budge, no matter how fierce the storm.
Someone who can let everyone rest under her vast shade.
Even if a few roots rot, she would still grow higher without any wobble.
That’s Phoebe.
Despite facing countless hardships in her personal story, she has never frowned and always presented a saintly appearance, so why would she be shaken without any trials?
[And you know... I think she might be a bit jealous of you.]
‘Oh, come on. That’s ridiculous.’
Grandpa, even if you’re trying to slander, at least say something believable.
Phoebe and jealousy are two words that are worlds apart.
I’ve tried to strategize against her in the game multiple times.
I’ve never seen our saint showing jealousy towards anyone!
Why is Grandpa trying to paint an innocent girl as a nasty one?
[Young Lady, is there any reason for me to speak falsely?]
‘… Are you really saying Phoebe is jealous of me?!’
Huh?
Why?
What is there for me to be envied for? Objectively speaking, are there any elements that would make Phoebe jealous of me?
I just can’t grasp it!
‘Why?’
[It seemed like she was envious of the blessing of Armadi bestowed upon you.]
So that’s it.
After all, I’ve never heard a voice from the god I’ve believed in all my life, only to see a Mesugaki, who used to make a ruckus in the church not long ago, receiving the god’s blessing. That would indeed rattle her composure.
If it were me, I would have said, “Screw this Pervert God! You think I believe in you?” But Phoebe is not that kind of person.
Come to think of it, I have never encountered such a situation in the game.
The Armadi in the game never speaks to the users.
I have no idea how Phoebe would react upon seeing a user favored by Armadi.
But I can make an educated guess.
Knowing what kind of person she is.
‘She’ll be fine.’
Phoebe might wander.
She could waver.
Even if she holds the title of saint and is the one closest to being a saint, she is still human after all.
But somehow, Phoebe will be alright.
In the end, she always overcomes and wears that smile, because that’s what the character Saintess Phoebe is like.
I believed in her bright smile, even at the end of a grim personal story.
[Then I hope that’s the case.]
‘Don’t worry. Have I ever said something wrong?’
<... That's true.>
‘By the way, Grandpa, let’s talk about how I can get stronger here.’
Right now, that’s the most urgent matter.
I don’t know how many threats will come my way because of being Armadi’s Apostle.
Nakrad probably ignored his original plan and came after me to kill me because he sensed Armadi’s energy from me.
I can’t even begin to guess how many more times this will happen in the future.
To avoid such incidents, the best approach is for me to get stronger.
Instead of quaking in fear of potential variables, isn’t it better to resolve to smash whatever happens?
[You are already strong enough as it is.]
‘But this isn’t enough.’
If it’s about simple physical specs, I can boost those somehow.
But fighting skills are a different story. You can’t grow those just by grinding.
Right now, I’m borrowing Grandpa’s judgment in crucial moments. However, that shouldn’t be the case.
Fighting Nakrad made me realize waiting for Grandpa’s words is too slow.
I need to be at a level where I can make the same judgment as Grandpa before even hearing him speak.
‘I don’t want to die.’
<... Hmm. I see. Let me think about what I should do.>
‘Thanks, Grandpa. And there’s one more favor I’d like to ask.’
[What is it?]
‘You remember all the classes from the academy, right?’
No kidding, I got assigned a quest to place first in the midterm exam!
I spent most of my time in the academy kissing the desk, you know?
So when I’m asked what I’ve learned so far, I can only answer with “um, ah.”
I really need Grandpa’s help!
<Sigh. Young Lady.>
‘Yep!’
[Could you please invest at least one-tenth of the passion you show during training into studying? Didn’t I say it? As a noble! ...]
Grandpa sighed at my shameless request and then began his usual lecture.
Since it wasn’t the first time Grandpa spoke like this, I just let it go in one ear and out the other.
You’re going to help anyway, right, Grandpa?
I’ve already figured out you’re a tsundere!
*
The next morning.
As I was preparing to train with Frey as usual, Joy came to find me.
She wouldn’t come to thank me again for that long, boring gratitude session in the infirmary, would she?
If she really thinks that, I’d wipe that thank you thought out with my Mesugaki Skill.
So I waited for Joy’s words, but what came out from her mouth completely caught me off guard.
“Please help me get stronger.”
Uh… what?
Really?
Help her get stronger?
Why is Joy, a wizard, asking me for this?
If she needs advice, there should be many more reliable places than me.
Like the other professors at the academy or teachers invited using Partlan’s connections.
Of course, I could help Joy out.
What other characters have I raised in the Soul Academy besides melee characters?
I’m a veteran gamer who knows all the training methods for all the roles in the Soul Academy!
I’m just curious why she’s asking me such a question.
‘Why are you asking me for that?’
“Foolish Young Lady, are you really that foolish? Why is a wizard asking a knight for help?”
“I’m not asking about magic. I simply want to be someone who can stand next to you. To repay my debt.”
I kind of understood what Joy was saying.
She wants to stand by my side to repay the debt for saving her life.
So she wants me to help her become someone I’d want beside me?
If I put it another way…
‘You want to party with me, right?’
“Wow~ Foolish Young Lady. Do you want to party with me? So it turns out you secretly enjoyed being teased by me? Perverted Young Lady~ Gross~”
“… Let’s put aside the last part. It’s true that I want to be in the same party as Lady Allen.”
Having Joy as a party member would be great.
She was a wizard with great performance in the game.
Depending on how we design our party concept, things might vary, but Joy was always a priority when wanting a powerful backline.
I felt a lack of damage every time we fought, so there’s no reason to refuse her wish to join the party.
However…
‘If you want to be a party member, I won’t refuse. But…’
“Begging wouldn’t guarantee entry to the party! Can you even enter a dungeon, you sloppy cowardly Young Lady?”
That’s the problem.
Joy has a trauma from falling into an alchemist’s dungeon in the past.
No matter how outstanding a character Joy is, if she can’t enter a dungeon, she’s useless.
I cannot accept Joy as a party member unless this problem is resolved.
As I quietly urged for her answer, Joy hesitated and then slowly nodded her head.
“I think… it’ll be okay.”
‘Really?’
“Foolish Young Lady, I know I’m wonderful, but little bravado isn’t okay. I might really trip this time?”
“Other times may be different, but surely, with Lady Allen at my side… it’ll definitely be okay.”
With me around, it’ll be fine.
The words Joy cautiously let slip made me unable to hold back my laughter.
Seeing the message that my favorability had surpassed 70 was already immensely joyous, but witnessing my favorite character rely on me right before my eyes made it impossible to contain this happiness.
‘So, I’m okay to have around, huh?!’
“Aha♡ Are you saying you can’t do anything without me? Sloppy cowardly Young Lady~ You won’t be scared to go to the toilet at night if I’m not around, right?”
I could see Joy’s hands trembling tightly in front of her, but there was nothing I could do about it.
This was a scene I had so long wished for but couldn’t see come to fruition.
How can I be told to keep a straight face?
After laughing so hard that it hurt, I finally saw Joy blushing with her head down.
Hmm. Maybe that was a bit over the line.
‘Alright, Joy. Let’s dive into the dungeon together.’
“Got it! You’re a Young Lady who can’t do anything without me, right? I’ll make sure to watch over you.”
“Thanks.”
Joy’s voice shook as she responded.
Joy, you might be regretting this now, but it’s too late.
Coming in freely doesn’t mean going out freely!
Now that Joy has said she wants to join the elite party, she has to meet the level I expect her to be at!
‘But there’s a condition.’
“But Foolish Young Lady, I can’t take care of you for free! There’s a condition.”
“What is it?”
‘You have to follow my lead to the end.’
“Just do as I say until the end! Don’t you dare give up halfway like a sloppy coward!”
Back when this world was a game, I couldn’t specify the training schedule for NPC allies.
I could at most give them direction.
But now it’s reality.
What the game’s system was blocking is something I can do without any burden.
In the past, all I could do was have them learn good skills and equip good items; but now, I can craft the jewel that is Joy from start to finish.
Is there any veteran who wouldn’t be excited in this situation?
I can say with confidence that there’s none.
Joy, unaware of what kind of plan was forming in my mind, crossed her arms and confidently spoke.
“What do you think of me? Do I look like the kind of person who’d give up easily?”
‘Really?’
“Seriously! Are you confident? The sloppy foolish Young Lady absolutely cannot endure this?”
“I won’t let you down.”
The moment I saw the determination in Joy’s eyes, I nodded.
If she’s saying this much, I can’t stop her now.
Sigh. It can’t be helped.
I don’t want to torment my favorite character, Joy, but what can I do?
I’ll have to roll her.
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