Did they decide not to do any business today?
From inside, I could sense Ellie and Lydia, but the door to the Fairy and Silver Coin was firmly closed with a ‘Closed’ sign.
“Hmmm…”
Clack clack… click.
“Ellie! Lydia! What are we having for lunch? I want something with meat!”
“W-what?! I haven’t opened it yet! How did you get in here?!”
“Yona, did you break the doorknob? I didn’t hear anything…”
Just as Ellie and Lydia both seemed startled, walking toward me from the hallway and sipping their drinks, I replied by flashing a peace sign with both hands.
“I just popped in, you know?”
“How?!”
“Even if it’s not a lock, it’s still a latch…”
Ellie and Lydia looked dumbfounded. It wasn’t that impressive, really. I had just slightly applied the newly acquired power of Basilieus.
I pointed to the fully opened door frame. Oddly enough, just near the latch was a branch sticking out, unlike other smoothly trimmed parts.
“The frame is wood, right? With the power I got, I could manipulate it!”
I simply used the branch I pulled from the frame to unfasten the latch and pushed it away.
“…It’s already a dead tree?”
“Well, it’s still wood, it’s a plant, right?”
“…….”
Ellie sealed her lips tightly. Meanwhile, Lydia, staring at the elongated branch, cut it off and mumbled to herself.
“This… it’s alive?”
“It’s growing because it’s alive.”
“…How does a living branch come from a dead tree?”
“That’s a miracle, right?”
“…….”
“…….”
With an expression of having no authority—err, no power—Ellie and Lydia looked at each other, leaning in to whisper.
“Um… it’s amazing, but it’s not that big of a deal, right? If you look at the result, it seems like I revived a dead plant, but technically, it’s more like my Divine Power was converted into a branch. That’s why I can only conjure something this small—it’s inefficient.”
“I’m already shocked at how well you’re managing it?”
“Even though we don’t have powers, we’ve seen people with powers a few times. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone adapt as quickly as you, like Yona.”
“Well, that’s….”
I got my powers from the dungeon for the first time, but I’ve pulled skills and abilities from Gacha multiple times.
Forced knowledge imprinted, a strange power taking hold inside me at some point.
It was already something familiar I had experienced a few times.
Of course, I couldn’t tell either of them, so I decided to shrug and act superior.
“It’s all possible because I’m a genius. Ahem.”
“That might be true… Lydia, what do you think? You’ve been watching closely.”
“Yeah. Even in my eyes, Yona is a genius. But there’s something else besides talent.”
“That’s the blessing from the Goddess, isn’t it?”
“That might be true.”
As they nodded, casually exchanging ideas, I felt a growing awkwardness since I was joking.
Sighing deeply, I sat in one of the seats at the counter.
“Alright, both of you come here. We have something to discuss, don’t we?”
“…Ah.”
“Right?”
The teasing atmosphere from earlier shifted as Ellie and Lydia locked the door again and sat beside me.
Just moments ago, we were casually talking about nothing, but now, the air had become strangely heavy. The first to speak was Ellie.
“Yona, are you thinking about telling us now?”
“It’s okay. We’ll listen to everything properly. We’re on Yona’s side.”
“Huh? What is that about…?”
As I looked puzzled, Ellie shook her head with a bittersweet expression.
“There’s no need to pretend not to know now. I’m sorry for making you make that choice. I’m sorry I couldn’t do it for you.”
“…Huh?”
Suddenly, Ellie patted my shoulder while saying that. Lydia wasn’t much different.
“Now that we’ve cleared the first floor, Yona, you’re my porter. I won’t let you go until you repay the borrowed money. …So, you’ll keep coming with me into the labyrinth.”
She was saying it so seriously while evoking debts.
I fought alone on the first floor, but I kept all the profits for myself… If I became a porter, I’d only be able to collect the porter’s fees.
How long were they planning to drag me around?
Isn’t this child exploitation? But if I’m going to be exploited, shouldn’t it be for something more beneficial?
Suppressing the absurd thoughts threatening to spill out of my mouth, I pondered over what Ellie and Lydia had said.
I suddenly came out as a (not) Saint. Ellie apologizing for burdening me. Lydia trying her best to keep me around.
“…Oh.”
So that’s how it is. I get it now.
“Ellie.”
“Yeah?”
“You and I will always be seeing each other, right? Isn’t that so?”
“Um… y-yeah?”
“Then please don’t say sorry. I’ve received a lot of help from you until now, and I’ll continue to do so in the future. You’re always someone I’m grateful for, Ellie. Always.”
“Yona…”
With tears welling up, Ellie looked a bit moved. Good. That made things clear. Now it was Lydia’s turn.
I stared intently at Lydia’s impassive face and slowly opened my mouth.
“Lady Lydia.”
“Yeah.”
“You said you’re always on my side.”
“That’s true. I’m Yona’s…”
She trailed off, not finishing her sentence, but it was clear that Lydia had favorable feelings toward me.
However, unlike Ellie, she wasn’t willing to help for free; she seemed to want something clear in return.
It must have something to do with me being (not) a Saint.
“Hmmm.”
If Lydia has a strong reason to go this far, it has to be one thing.
A knight.
Lydia’s ultimate goal isn’t simply to become a successful adventurer living in abundance like others.
The labyrinth and adventurer lifestyle are merely means to an end—a way to gain power and prestige as a knight.
What she truly desires is to become a knight and restore her family’s honor.
Given that, one question inevitably arises: can’t she become a knight right now?
It’s not like she wants to become a duke or something; she merely wants to be a knight. Who would refuse someone who has already earned the title of ‘noble’?
Yet, there’s a single reason why Lydia remains an adventurer instead of a knight…
The reason a proven talent with both skill and character isn’t receiving a knighthood from anywhere.
There’s likely some degree of ‘dishonor’ hanging over her family.
From this perspective, the title of being a companion of a Saint would undoubtedly be an irresistible bait.
Who would dare to label the party member of a Saint as dishonorable?
I may not have plans to enter the temple just yet, but I can’t keep my distance from the temple forever, so becoming an official Saint is only a matter of time.
So from Lydia’s view, I’m the perfect underpriced asset to invest in right now.
Who knows? Once I officially become a Saint, I could make Lydia a knight of honor.
The knight of honor is a position that, unlike ordinary knights, does not embroil itself in hereditary authority but guarantees higher prestige than an ordinary knight.
At minimum, it should be sufficient to dispel the disgrace hanging over her family.
Once I finished organizing my thoughts, I patted Lydia on the shoulder, just like when knights are appointed.
“Lady Lydia, even if you said not to, I genuinely think you’re already a wonderful knight.”
“That’s…”
“Keep your waist straight. Puff your chest out, and lift your head high. My knight. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“…….”
Her lips barely parted, and her eyes widened to the point where they couldn’t get any bigger.
I smiled at her, combining it with the performance of a noble that Lydia had previously obsessed over.
“Thank you for everything until now. And I look forward to working with you in the future.”
“…Yeah!”
Lydia nodded with a stiff expression, half a beat late.
Good. With that, my (not) Saint coming out is settled for now.
While I’m still hesitant to reveal the Gacha ability, there’s no longer any need to hide what I’ve gained from Gacha or fabricate plausible excuses.
I can simply say, “The Goddess of Love gave it to me,” and that would suffice.
Inside the now quiet tavern, even though it felt like I was the only one talking after suggesting we discuss something…
Anyway, the outcome seems positive, so that’s okay, right?
Collapsing onto the table, rubbing my cheek against the cold wood, I spoke.
“Oh, by the way. I just went to Eden and met Eve, didn’t I?”
“Hmm?! Oh! Right! You did say you had business to attend to!”
“Exactly. When making the Unicorn Dagger, I promised to borrow some power from the World Tree in exchange for the payment. Today, I only showed what that power was.”
“…I can’t believe she let you off so easily. That’s practically making it for free.”
“She probably thought she still had some debt from rescuing Lemon and Apple. Oh, and just in case, I’ll mention this.”
“What is it?”
“I got proposed to by Eve.”
“…….”
“…….”
As I instinctively reached for my Mana Herb cigarette, Ellie froze.
And Lydia, covering her mouth with both hands, started rolling her eyes.
A suffocating silence.
Exactly three seconds later, Ellie stood up while lighting her cigarette.
“Alright. I’ll just go take care of this Eve person.”
“Stop making murder threats…!”
What are you saying so calmly!
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