“…Huh?” The daughter of a cardinal. If she hasn’t changed under his tutelage, then I have no choice but to take drastic measures. I grab Stey by the collar and pull her up, then walk back to the cliff’s edge to dangle her over the expanse. There’s a thin path a few meters below, and farther down lies a drop with no end in sight. Even if the chain breaks, she’ll probably land on the path below. Probably. Stey stares into the void in horror for a moment but then suddenly turns to look at me, her smiling face twitching convulsively. “Umm… Ares? …Th-this is…a sick joke, right?” “Down you go, one more time. Stey, this is not playtime, and I’m not just doing this to let off steam.” I’m gonna show you what happens to a massive ditz on the battlefield. “Waaaahhh! Ameliaaa!” The moment she sees Amelia, Stey trips over her own feet to bury her face in her chest. However, despite Stey’s sorry state, Amelia’s expression doesn’t change one bit. She simply receives Stey’s embrace and looks at me. “…What did you do to her?” “Just some klutz-reversing training exercises. But they were worthless. It’s truly a mystery.” To be perfectly honest, she did stop falling off the cliff after the first time, but soon after, she was back to her usual clumsy self. Stey moans, “Ughhh… Ares, I haaate you!” I remove the chain I’ve been wearing as a belt and show it to Amelia. “I chained her up by the leg and held her over a cliff.” “Ares… That’s pretty medieval of you.” “Maybe, but it didn’t work at all.” Stey retreats behind Amelia and uses her thin body as a shield before whimpering, “Sniffle… I—I told you I’d b-be just…fine!” Seriously—where does she get that unlimited source of self-confidence? “We’ll continue the exercise tomorrow.” “Huh?! There’s m-m-m-m-more?!” This is my chance, while Toudou and the others don’t need my involvement. I’ll stick to Stey’s side, exhaustively, until we reach common ground. Stey rubs her face against Amelia, tears still in her eyes, and Amelia gives her a little smack without even looking at her. It was a light tap, but Stey still staggers and falls to the floor. That was harsh… “To be honest, when I heard you and Stey would be working together, I didn’t know what to think, but…” “But what?” I didn’t know what to think myself. “…But I am very relieved. It’s only natural that you’d keep work and pleasure separate.” Amelia smiles gently and pours some tea from a teapot. The sound of Stey crying, facedown on the floor, combines with the sound of tea trickling out of the pot to create a peculiar harmony. I think I might be losing it. “…How is your monster-spawning-rate survey going?” Amelia sighs as she responds. “It’s a wash. None of the mercenaries remember the number and type of monsters they’ve killed.” I’ve asked her to conduct a detailed survey on the spawning rates of the monsters in this area. If there’s nothing out of the ordinary from the data she’s collected…then we have no choice but to delve even deeper. The majority of mercenaries do not keep a record of the number and type of monsters they’ve defeated, so we’ll need to dig up legitimate records by greasing some palms and paying off each party we encounter. It’s an absurd task. I’m not sure if Amelia’s up to it. “…Ares, you really are a worrywart.” “The more you and Wurtz tell me that, the more worried I become.” If it’s needless anxiety, then so be it. But we have time right now, and we’re in no position to cut corners. I haven’t had any luck with Stey, but in contrast, Toudou is excelling, both in training and in leveling up. “Not bad. He’s holding his own.” I’m in Wurtz’s room at the church. He hands me a letter containing the results of today’s training and grunts. Wurtz Beld is a former sword master, but he never utilized refined swordsmanship techniques. Rather, his fighting style was closer to the Berserker style of swordplay peculiar to a giant’s immense physical strength and high level of battle lust. It’s been a number of years since he converted to the priesthood, but I suspect he can’t quell his true self—not yet. Having just finished a training session with Toudou, Wurtz struggles to hold back a smile. “I’m aware. He has divine protection, after all. Not to mention magical energy, and the ability to use holy techniques. Summoned Holy Warriors have always displayed immense capacity, despite coming from different backgrounds.” “Courage, Ares. On the battlefield, it’s the most crucial thing—the will to move forward when your legs are frozen stiff. No matter how strong, without courage, you cannot become a true warrior. He has it.” This is just like Wurtz—the giants venerate warrior heroes. I can see how he and Toudou are a good fit. However, that is far from the most important point right now. Now that Toudou’s surpassed level 30, it’s time to decide how we’ll get him to develop going forward. People act according to their own individual wits. In what aspects will Toudou grow the most, and in what aspects should we most heartily reinforce that growth? In the end, Toudou has to make the decision for himself, but we can subtly show him the possibilities. It’s been over three full months since we began the quest to defeat the Demon Lord. Before too long, we have to produce some form of tangible results, and if we do, investors will come flocking to our quest. This will give Toudou increased financial support. Defeating the Demon Lord is all business. Wurtz gauges my expression and laughs dryly before sharing his thoughts on Toudou’s training sessions. “He is quite weak. He’s also low in stamina, but on the other hand, he has high magical energy and his movements are nimble.” “Does that mean he’s not cut out as a sword master?” “…His lack of attack power will be compensated by the holy sword Ex. It’s not impossible for him to become a sword master.” I can sense doubt on Wurtz’s face as he speaks. A giant’s chief attributes are brute strength and endurance—the two most important qualities for a sword master. At the very least, one must possess both. “However… The Holy Warrior’s physical strength and stamina are…likely lower than Ms. Aria’s.” I know that Toudou is lighter on his feet than Aria, but I was unaware that he’s even weaker than her—a female. This is truly vexing. Among human beings, the males are larger than their female counterparts and are subsequently stronger in general. I’ve always thought Toudou was frail, but I figured it was just because he never trained his body. His leveling up isn’t exactly convincing, either. Given his disposition, his abilities aren’t increasing as quickly as I’d hoped. Given the fact that he’s still falling behind Aria at level 30, there’s a chance that he’s simply built that way. It’s a high chance, and there’s nothing to be done about that. “Lower than Aria…? What a pain in the ass.” “It’s not a matter of life and death, but…it will cause him great trouble moving forward.” The holy sword Ex and holy armor Fried are enchanted with weight-reducing magic, making them feather-light. Call it silver lining, perhaps, but without that, Toudou would probably move at a snail’s pace under all his equipment. The majority of Holy Warriors thus far have been magical sword masters. They’ve largely relied on swordsmanship—not as mages who can use swords, but as sword masters who can also cast magic. Until the existence of the supremely powerful holy sword Ex, there was no reason to do otherwise. However, if Toudou doesn’t even have the strength of a female sword-wielding counterpart, then he may just have to embrace both roles equally. I hammer all this information into my brain. I have to figure out what Toudou needs, and how best to provide it for him… We continue to discuss Aria and Glacia, who have just begun training. Aria and her complete lack of magical energy have a host of problems, but it seems Glacia is the most stable of them all, from what Wurtz has to say. We’re really running short on saving graces. After reviewing all the training results, Wurtz lets out a heavy sigh and eyes me suspiciously. “Ares… Don’t burn the candle at both ends.” “…I want them to focus on leveling up. Let’s reduce the number of training sessions and focus our efforts on leveling the party up.” “Yes, I understand. May you receive the blessings of Ahz Gried, Ares.” The real struggle begins when the demons make their first big move. Until then, we have to ready ourselves as much as we can. In the middle of giving my usual report, Creio stops me. “Ares, Stey’s father—Cardinal Sylvester—wants to speak with you. He contacted me.” “Creio… Tell him I’m indisposed. I’m not here.” Has Sylvester found out I’m treating his daughter like a gold mine? Even if he has…I’m prepared for this. Everything falls on Sylvester’s head—he’s the one who tossed Stey onto Creio. I’ve just made use of what was presented to me. “And also, tell him we need more funds. Stey’s involvement has proven more costly than expected. Chains and padlocks don’t come cheap.” “You should have received more than enough funds.” “Money is different from people. You can never have enough. He’s used plenty on his precious daughter’s gear—I’m sure he won’t mind.” “Ares… You’re truly unbelievable…,” Creio says in astonishment. “Here’s my report. I have no intention of playing babysitter. I’m providing support for the quest to defeat the Demon Lord, and at the same time, I’m training my subordinate who everyone else has given up on. Don’t you think I’m a model crusader?” “…Ares, there is a limit to what even I can accomplish.” Opposing a cardinal with an iron grip on finances is an exercise in futility. But all will be forgiven if I can simply produce results. Even if I have to tie her up in chains and throw her off a cliff—no matter how much she cries or screams. The thinking comes later. I feel really sorry for Creio. “Please, Your Eminence, bear with me. Please do not interfere… Oh, by the way, there’s something I wanted to tell you.” “…And what is that?” Creio’s voice is dry as kindling. I continue to speak, reaching out to jangle the freshly polished chain in front of me. “You have to draw a straight line.” “…What?” “With silver chalk, on the ground. A single line.” I’ve experimented. It’s not like I’m simply torturing Stey for fun. “And then, I made Stey walk the line. About ten meters. What do you think happened?” “…What, pray tell?” “She walked the whole line without falling. This would be pretty normal for the average person, but for Stey, who trips all the time when walking, running, or simply standing— What the—? Shit, he hung up!” The transmission has been cut. I click my tongue—but I might have hung up if I were him, too. Stey still trips a lot, but the experiment wasn’t entirely meaningless. I wrap the immaculate chain around my wrist and open the door to Amelia and Stey’s room. Stey is still lounging limply in the corner in her pajamas, but when I enter the room, her whole body shudders. “C’mon, Stey! Let’s go!” “Eeeek! Amelia, Ares is being mean to meee!” I move quickly to the corner where Stey is babbling nonsense and hoist her up by the abdomen. She squirms and tries to resist, but let’s face it—given her tiny frame, it’s pointless. She eventually gives in, realizing that it’s no use putting up a fight. As I start to carry her out the door, I glance down at her meek little face. “Stey, did you rat me out to your father?” “Huh…? Wh-wh-wh-what are you talking about?” “Well, it’s no use! Even if he ordered me to stop, there’s no way I’m easing up! I’m the one in the right here, so blab to him all you want!” “Whaaa?!” Stey’s eyes go wide as I dangle her in midair. I’ve recently realized that once Stey is focused on the issue at hand, she forgets everything else. What a dumbass! The notebook I’ve been keeping on Stey since we began these exercises is full of worthless information. “Stey, I’m not training you because I enjoy it or anything.” “Whaaaaaaa?! You call that training? Putting a chain around my ankle and pushing me off a cliff?!” “That’s right.” “A-and…getting smashed against the cliff?” “Indeed.” “And pointlessly walking a straight line over and over again, too?” “That, too. What was going on in your head when you obeyed all my orders? I explained everything at the beginning.” Stey bats her eyes repeatedly and says quietly, “I thought it was…your hobby.” “…Dammit, that’s actually kind of funny.” Quit it with the sudden curveballs! While still holding Stey, I give an order to Amelia, who’s been silent so far. Maybe it’s because I’ve made her work solo so much lately, but she does not look like she’s in a great mood. “Toudou has training today. I’m going to beat Stey into shape, so I’ll leave him and the party up to you. “ “…Perhaps it’s time you gave up on Stey’s training?” “No. Not yet. I haven’t exhausted all my options.” Today we’re going bungee jumping without a rope. “…Also, she’s still in her pajamas. I think you should at least let her change before taking her with you.” Amelia holds her head and sighs. She must have picked up my habit. I am truly sorry. I meet Stey’s eyes. Her cheeks flush as she tells me, slightly embarrassed, “Y-yeah, she’s right. I can’t go out looking like this, that would be mortifying… I’ll get changed, so please just wait here…” “…After all the times you’ve had your panties on full display, now you’re suddenly embarrassed by pajamas?” “…WHA—?????!!!!!” Stey’s voice cracks and her whole body stiffens. In the next instant, her entire face reddens and she begins to protest, voice shaking. “O-o-o-o-oh really, A-A-A-A-Ares?! Huh? I’ve… I’ve never shown you my panties!!! No way, no how!” “Did you think I couldn’t see them when you were hanging upside down off the cliff?” Her skirt is ultra short to begin with. They were on full display. “!!!???????” I know she has a screw loose, but how could she not even realize this? Stey’s eyes dart all over the room—she’s trying to escape the embarassment. “Wha… Why… Whyyy didn’t you tell meeee???” she demands tearfully, now beet red. I guess she can feel shame… “It’s too late. I’ve seen your panties so many times, I know them at every angle.” “…P-please, just kill me now.” She must really be embarrassed. Seriously, though—I got an eyeful the very first time she tripped. Hanging her upside down is beside the point. However… I can use this to my advantage, too. My voice is gentle when I address Stey, who remains frozen in place. “Stey. The next time you trip and fall, I’m going to make a detailed report of your panties. So you better not fall over.” “HUH?! You… You’re kidding, right? You, kind Ares, would never do such a thing… Right?” “It’s not like I want to… But say your reputation is on the line, or you incur serious financial damage from flagrant rumors… Then I, kind Ares, am prepared to do whatever it takes to see to my precious subordinate.” The blood drains from Stey’s face before returning to a flat norm. Training’s a bitch. “Ares… You are the worst. I am beyond dismayed.” Amelia spits an acrid barb my way to end the conversation. After a few more days of putting Stey to use, I managed to produce a result. “She has my seal of approval.” “Seal…of…approval?” Amelia looks taken aback. Even Stey herself seems perplexed. Stephenne Veronide is the most annoying woman in the entire Kingdom. I conducted a number of experiments. I tried threatening her, sweet-talking her. I included the color of her panties in my report to Creio, and I chained her up and dragged her around. I even threw her off the cliff without the chain. In turn, she tripped, got lost, forgot to wear panties, forgot the incantations for holy techniques, forgot the tools that I asked her to prepare, and so much more. The fact that I took the compassionate route and didn’t stick her with any chicken skewers shows that I am the true, kind Ares so often spoke of. I sit through Amelia’s ice-cold gaze. We need to trace this problem back to its roots and come up with a plan. Toudou’s leveling up is going well. His training is also bearing fruit, and he’s no longer experiencing problems in battle. Naotsugu Toudou, level 37. Aria Rizas, level 29. Limis Al Friedia, level 28. With the benefit of Glacia’s support, the party is steadily making their way through Golem Valley. I pat the stack of papers with Stey’s research data and continue on. It’s the thickest report I’ve compiled since coming to Golem Valley. “I’m switching things up. Amelia and I will do our work here in town. Stey, you will tail Toudou and his party on your own.” “Ares… Has the stress finally gotten to your head…?” “Wh-what does that mean, Amelia?! Hey—!” Amelia’s rude comment prompts Stey to totter to the front of the room. She squeezes my hand and fawns on me. I can feel heat coming off of her pale fingertips. “Seal of approval!! A-A-Ares, do I…have your seal of approval?” “Yeah, you do. I’ve got nothing more to teach you.” Even if I did, it wouldn’t make a difference. If I’ve learned one thing from training her, that’s it. “You won’t chain me up—” “No, I won’t.” “You won’t push me off the cliff, without any chains—” “Yeah, that’s all over.” “I—I can’t believe you actually did those things to me…” Tears well up in Stey’s eyes—she must be recalling all the horror I put her though. Behind her, Amelia’s cheek is twitching imperceptibly. I take a box that just arrived from the Church out from underneath the desk and open the metal clasps. There’s a black leather bangle inside. In a sense, this black bangle goes against the creed of the God of Order, for reasons that are difficult to explain. Stey rubs her bloodshot eyes with her sleeve and asks, “? What’s that for?” “It’s proof of my seal of approval. Put it on your wrist.” I lob it at Stey, who lunges hastily to catch it. She stares intently at the chic design before asking me, “Proof… Are you s-sure?” “…Yes. Secure it safely to your wrist, so that it never comes loose.” “U-understood.” Stey secures the bangle tightly on her right wrist. Her cheeks relax, and she lifts her arm, flaunting her new accessory. “Hee-hee—does it look good on me?” “Stey, don’t ever lose it. That’s an order. Aside from bathing or sleeping, don’t you dare take it off.” Even just one of these bangles is insanely expensive to manufacture. It’s called a Dizast’s Bangle, and it’s made from the skin of the eponymous calamitous demon that once laid waste to a number of villages. Needless to say, it has a shady history. It’s not cursed in any way, but any normal priest wouldn’t touch it, even with a gun to their head. For the record, the Church does not keep the skins of demons—sworn enemies of God—in their possession. This is from Gregorio’s personal collection. It’s leftover from the demon leather upholstering on Gregorio’s weapon—Pandora’s Coffin—and I had to cut a deal with him to acquire some. That son of a bitch. “Okay! I’ll be careful with it… Huh?!” I double-check that Holy Bind is still in effect. Pulled by the invisible chain, Stey starts to lose her balance and looks puzzled as I release the chain without a word. “Stey, your role is to trail Toudou and track his movements without getting noticed.” “Y-yes, sir! Roger that!” “If anything happens, update me accordingly.” “Yes, of course. I’ll be in touch!” The only thing she’s good at is replying… “Got your handkerchief? Your potions? No dillydallying. There’s no one to save you if you fall off the cliff now, got it? Don’t even dare trip—you’ll die!” “I’ll…I’ll be fine! Gosh, Ares, you’re such a worrywart… I’m not a child, you know!” Embarrassed, Stey’s cheeks flush. She sticks out her chest proudly—nope, definitely not a child. Amelia looks like she’s about to say something, but she remains silent. “O-okay, then—I’m off. Hee-hee… I’ll do my best at my new job!” “Wait a second, Stey. There’s one last thing I have to ask before you go.” “Oh… What is it?” I take out a pen and piece of paper and hand them to her. To give her some sense of the danger ahead, I say gravely, “Write your will before you leave. Your father will be beside himself.” I can hear Stey tripping outside the door, but I bite my lip and let it pass. Amelia has been standing around without making so much as a peep, but now she sits down in front of me, looking serious. “Ares.” “Yeah, I know you’ve got something to say.” “Should I trip and fall from time to time, too?” “……” I stand up silently and look out the window. I can see Stey leaving the inn with a skip in her step. She’s lightly equipped and isn’t even carrying a mace. At the last minute, she turns around and nearly stumbles, having noticed me in the window. As she waves her hand and smiles, she loses her balance and falls right on her ass. Bystanders stop to stare at the girl who fell over so suddenly. Her cheeks flush red, clearly embarrassed, and she stands up, smiling from ear to ear, waving at me one last time. She heads toward Toudou and company’s inn on shaky legs. Amelia is standing next to me before I realize it and asks softly, “I thought she stopped tripping?” What the hell were you just watching? “Did you really?” That’s beside the point. Amelia might be legitimately worried—she sends a reproachful glance my way. “…All right, we’re heading out, too.” I gather the pack I’ve prepared. Just as I start to change clothes, Amelia asks curiously, “? And just where are we going?” “To follow Stey, obviously.” Stephenne Veronide is my first-ever errand girl. Today, she’s going to prove her worth. Stephenne Veronide has an unparalleled capacity to strike anxiety into the hearts of strangers. If pressed to determine just exactly what causes such feelings in people, the largest contributor is definitely her absurdly unreliable gait. Just beholding it is cause for concern—she dizzily floats along, as if her feet never touch the ground at all. “Ares… Don’t you think this is a bit reckless?” Stey must be elated at having been told she’s got my “seal of approval”—her gait is more unsteady than ever. There aren’t a whole lot of girls in Golem Valley, and among those few, Stey sticks out like a sore thumb in her miniskirt. Everyone on the street is staring at her, but she is completely oblivious. A strapping older man running a sandwich stall hollers at Stey, “Hey there, little lady! You look like you’re on cloud nine.” “…Heh-heh… Actually, I just got my seal of approval.” Stey cheerfully answers the hard-faced man—who looks a lot like a mercenary himself—without a trace of timidity. Quit wasting time! You just left ten minutes ago! “…Seal of approval? Well, it’s great that you’re so happy, but watch where you’re walking or you’ll trip.” “? I’m walking just fine, thank you very much.” “…No, it’s just that… You seem a bit unsteady, and—” “Um, what? No, I don’t.” Stey can’t be more obviously unstable, and the older man furrows his brow. He’s probably used to slinging sandwiches to weatherworn mercenary veterans. This has to be his first time encountering a human being of Stey’s nature. Stey eyes the sandwiches out for sale with a glint in her eye and starts rummaging around in her pack for her wallet. Her face turns white as a sheet. Has she forgotten it? Stop playing around and get to work! “…Ares… This is the definition of reckless.” “No, you and everyone else have been too easy on her.” Eventually, Stey looks down dejectedly and starts to walk again. I am legitimately worried, but Stey has experience trailing Toudou alongside me. She can do it. “Just checking, but Stey can use detection magic, right?” “Ares, you cannot work as an operator without knowing detection magic. Operators use communication magic to search for contacts to speak with and to establish a connection with them.” Stey stumbles to and fro, across both sides of the road, before finally reaching the inn where the party is staying. The second she arrives, Toudou and company burst out of the door. They look radiant—perhaps due to how well things are going lately? Stey’s expression turns just a touch serious, and she manages to hide in the shade of the building. From my vantage point, she looks extremely conspicuous. Thankfully, she’s put some distance between herself and Toudou’s party, and they don’t notice her. “She doesn’t stand a chance.” “Stey probably knows this already, but just in case she’s found out, she needs to feign ignorance. Tell her now.” Amelia falls silent and connects to Stey through transmission magic before swallowing a lump in her throat and looking up at me. “…Okay, I’ve told her… She doesn’t seem to have any idea of how to do that.” “…” Toudou and the others head out of town, and Stey follows them. We take up the rear and leave First Town behind us. Toudou’s party chooses the low route—known to be shorter—while Stey chooses the high route, where she can keep an eye on them. It’s the same path Stey and I used to track Toudou the first time. Amelia and I decide to follow Stey along the path she’s chosen. Gripped with suspense, Amelia twists the hem of her mage’s robe as she stares at Stey. The roads in town are relatively unkempt, but they’re nothing compared to the paths outside it. “Don’t worry. If something happens, I’ll cast Holy Bind and grab hold of her.” “…But it won’t catch her unless it touches her bangle, right?” “What’s your point?” “I just think it seems like a pretty small target.” There are about fifty meters between us and Stey. She’s wearing the bangle on her right wrist. It is a small target. However, for someone of my level, hitting it will be easy, provided that nothing distracts me. Stey continues teetering down the narrow path, completely unaware of both how worried sick Amelia is and that we’re even following her. Stey kicks a rock, and it tumbles down the cliffs below. Given how many times she’s tripped in just the past few days, it’s nothing short of a sign of true accomplishment that she’s walking without hesitation now, all by herself. Stey is rocked from side to side each time the wind blows. Actually, she’s all over the place even without the wind. If she sticks to the left and keeps her hand on the wall, she could find a bit of support, but she doesn’t show any intention of doing so and instead walks brazenly right down the middle. In that moment, a rock the size of a human head topples off the cliff face above Stey. It comes crashing down, aiming directly for Stey’s head—but she is completely oblivious. Amelia’s eyes bulge out of their sockets. The rock misses Stey by a hair and lands behind her. Incredibly, she doesn’t even seem to notice that it fell. Her sense of danger is so severely lacking, I can’t help but laugh. Does she even have eyes? “Ares, I’m telling you, this is pure recklessness…” As Amelia hems and haws, Stey stops dead in her tracks. She’s walked to edge of the cliff and is carefully peering down below. Amelia gulps and steps out from the shadow we’re hiding in. I grab her by the collar and pull her back. “Ares, it’s like she wants to fall.” “Simmer down. If and when she falls, it’ll be out of nowhere. I’m speaking from experience.” Stey doesn’t have a lick of concern for her surroundings. She’s probably trying to get an eye on Toudou and his party down on the path below, but I agree—she looks like she’s about to jump to her death. Use your damn detection magic! “Ares, don’t tell me— Are you trying to get rid of her and make it look like an accident…?” …I don’t even need to. She’ll probably take the plunge herself by accident. I watch Stey intently, and the next thing I know, she’s lying down flat on her stomach, slowly crawling toward the edge to look even farther down. So much for having a clear view of Stey at all times… She’s some sort of genius. “A-Ares, if she falls face-forward like that, how are you going to aim for the bangle…?” Stey’s hands are over the edge, and I can’t see it. This will definitely make it hard to hit… “I guess there’s no way to prevent her from dying now.” “?!” “Just chill out. It’s not time to panic yet.” “Your standards have…taken quite a nosedive.” Stey peers down at the path below for a while, kicking her legs in the air, before finally retreating and standing up. And so the death march begins again. As I start to trail Stey, Amelia tugs at my sleeve. Her dark-indigo eyes are peering into my soul, trying to read my mind. “Ares… Don’t you think this is enough? I really don’t think we can leave Stey alone…” “It’s only been two hours.” “That’s not enough for you?!” What does two hours prove? Admittedly, Stey does look like she might die out there. She’s riddled with blind spots, and one wrong step could easily take her down an irreversible plunge. Yet, despite all this— “I’m determined to reveal her limits. If we help her, she won’t learn a damn thing.” “This terrain isn’t the only thing threatening her safety! Even the most confident person wouldn’t think to walk alone through Golem Valley…” She’s totally right. Anywhere outside the towns here is a land of wicked remorse. Mercenaries don’t trust themselves out here alone, and when merchants or regular folk traverse these paths, they generally travel with an envoy. Monsters spawn at a relatively high rate here. The reason Toudou and his party are managing to level up here is partially thanks to their equipment and abilities, but it’s also because they’re not alone. The only reason I can get around here by myself with no trouble is because of my high level. Amelia wouldn’t venture out here all alone, either. “But Stey never said no.” Amelia narrows her eyes in response. She lowers her voice and whispers to me, like she’s telling a secret, “Ares, this is just between you and me, but Stey is… Um… A bit of an airhead.” “I already know Stey’s dumb as shit.” “…” I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I’ve noticed over the past few days. Really, truly, I know. Ask anyone—they’ll agree. Airhead. Klutz. A few screws loose. However, thanks to her, I was able to acquire the materials I need. I’ll watch after her, for as long as the goods she proffered warrant. She’s actually quite accomplished, aside from being so dumb. We can still use her. Just then, I hear another sound from the cliffs above Stey. I look up—it’s not a rock this time. Three spheres with arms and legs careen down the cliff face—ball golems. “Um… Ares?” I pick up a few pebbles and check their shape and size in my hand. Stey doesn’t need to kill the ball golems, she just needs to get them to fall to the cliffs below. Amelia looks between Stey and me repeatedly. Stey has noticed the monsters coming to attack her, miraculously, as she leisurely confirms their existence. Then, she’s obviously taken aback, mouth agape. “Ares, hurry!” “Just cool it.” The ball golems’ front claws, made for digging into boulders and stopping on a dime, are pointed directly at Stey as the monsters careen down the cliff side. Stey rushes to sidestep the first one—but she trips over her legs. Without warning, Stey loses her balance and crumples, causing the golem’s claws to whiff entirely. The golem had been aiming for Stey’s head at full speed, and now it can’t stop its own momentum, plunging down to the cliffs below. She didn’t intend to crumple to the ground, but once she does, the other two golems attack from both sides, and they also miss. What’s more, they smash directly into each other and flip backward, sailing down the cliff and disappearing into oblivion. By the time Stey stands up, wiping tears from her eyes, all three golems are gone. She must have bumped the tip of her nose, which is swollen red. She casts Heal on herself and looks around in confusion and amazement. She stands there dumbstruck for a few moments before giving up on thinking too hard and continuing down the path again. Amelia swallows audibly after watching with bated breath. I let the pebbles loose from my hand. “That was too close… Y-you’re still convinced she’ll be okay?” “…No clue. But whether that was on purpose or not—it was incredible.” “How can you be so irresponsible?” I don’t wanna hear that from the person who brought Spica to me solely because she was cute. That said, luck is just another skill. Cavorting around with me, Stey is completely useless, but alone, she’s holding her own. In other words—we can leave her to her own devices. “W-well… She’s surviving, somehow… But only just barely.” It’s a wonder that a massive klutz like her managed to make it all the way to age sixteen. I’m still unconvinced. I think everyone around her just babies her too much. “Ares, are you seriously trying to spin this in a positive light?” “I’ll inform Creio that Stey is fine to be left on her own.” “Now wait just a minute.” If anything, I have the feeling that the hack who dispatched Stey is responsible. “I told you, there’s no way… Oh, look! Another monster—” A rock golem appears in front of Stey. These are rarer on outdoor paths—in this case, the golem’s wide body takes up the whole thing. If it comes at Stey, she’ll have nowhere to run. The rock golem sends vibrations throughout the valley with each step. Stey’s face stiffens, and she looks up at it, retreating a few steps. A blow from a rock golem’s bulky arms is a true menace, but they move quite slowly. They were developed to traverse narrow paths with extreme care, so as not to fall to their deaths below. I guess this time around, Stey won’t be able to depend on luck. Just in case, I put on my mask and calculate when I’ll need to jump in and save her. I don’t particularly want her to recognize me. It’s not the end of the world if she does, but for her to learn that I sent her on a solo mission only to actually be watching her would be…awkward. Stey continues retreating until her back hits the wall then gropes along it as if searching for something. The rock golem has closed in significantly and reels back its massive arm to strike. Just as I go to step in and rescue her, the rock golem is blown off the cliff. “…Huh?” After a thunderous roar, the golem’s massive body, over twice Stey’s size, careens down the side of the cliff and tumbles far below. I rub my eyes and do a double take, but that’s really what happened. Amelia stares at her petite colleague, wide-eyed in disbelief. A bundle of gigantic boulder stakes is sticking out of the ground next to Stey. I steady my breathing and gather my thoughts. I’ve seen this exact same phenomenon before. “That’s an elemental spell… An earth-type one called Move Earth.” A pretty well-known one, too. All it does is allow the user to freely manipulate the nearby earth. It’s typically one of the more basic earth-type spells, but Stey used it to bombard the golem. I’ve never heard of such a thing. “No way… She can cast elemental spells?!” I’ve heard earth-type elemental spells are particularly difficult. Using magic requires extreme mental concentration. Being able to do so under duress is the sign of a truly superior mage. “I’ve never seen…anything like that. Of course, the term holy caster applies to priests who can wield magic… And there’s a possibility that Stey is also an elementalist… But—,” Amelia mumbles, apparently shaken. I’ve gone to full lengths to confirm Stey’s capabilities beforehand. She never mentioned anything about being able to cast elemental spells. I take a deep breath and wonder: Did she pull one over on me? Did she lie? I never got that sense from her, but… Perhaps the most likely possibility is that she just forgot? You just forgot the magic you can cast?! Bullshit! Stey sits on the ground, regaining her composure, before standing up and darting her eyes here and there across the valley. The massive bundle of stakes blocking the path retreats noiselessly into the earth without a trace left behind. This is the nature of elemental spells, but Stey’s apparent power to destroy evidence spurs suspicion within me. “Was she pulling one over on us? What’s the point of hiding it? Is her klutziness just one big act…?” But really. If you think about it logically, there’s no way someone could be that damn stupid. Amelia and Creio both testified to her stupidity, so I didn’t thoroughly investigate it myself. Think about it, Ares. The merits and demerits. Everything has meaning. Amelia recovers from her catatonic mumbling state and looks up at me. “No… Ares, Stey has always acted that way, ever since I first met her several years ago.” “Several years ago… Are you saying she’s been putting on this act since childhood?! She’s that cold and calculating?!” “No… That’s not quite what I meant—” “Was she playing dumb just to distract me? Did she choose to get strung up by a chain and swung around like a dead cat, just to keep up the ruse?” If so, she’s got nerves of pure steel. There is nothing more terrifying than a human being with such an ironclad will. I thought she was just a mega-dumbass. Even so, I don’t understand her intentions. Was she just playing dumb until I reported every detail of her panties to my superior? Is that an achievement? It’s going too far to even consider the possibility that she’s a pawn of the Demon Lord. That is simply not an idea I will entertain. I bite my lower lip and squint my eyes, observing Stey. She doesn’t appear to be aware that she’s being surveilled. But I’ve realized something. Ever since we started trailing her, Stey hasn’t tripped once. She’s loitered by the wayside, gotten her legs tangled and nearly fallen down, forgotten her wallet and gone white as a ghost, lilted to and fro, lain on her stomach on the ground and kicked her legs in the air like a five-year-old—but she hasn’t tripped a single time. The hell?! Stey’s had some close calls, but she hasn’t actually tripped and fallen. When I was making the rounds with her, she definitely fell down four or five times, even though we were only out for as many hours. For a second, I’m impressed that she’s managed so well on her own, but clearly something’s amiss. I really hate to say it, but this is simply not normal. It’s increasingly messed up, the more I think about it. Stey is insane. I try to explain all this to Amelia, and she momentarily falls quiet before showing a rare look of concern. “You’re probably…overthinking it.” “If I’m overthinking it, then that can only mean that Stey is a complete imbecile.” “Stey is a complete imbecile.” A complete imbecile… A complete…imbecile? I glare in Stey’s direction, downright confused. The imbecile in question must be relieved to have driven back the golem as she’s now all smiles and walking again. In that second, Stey trips on absolutely nothing and plummets to the cliffs below, disappearing from view. “Oh… Huh…? Ares… Stey’s—” “Sorry. Just gimme a few minutes to calm myself down.” My mouth is dry, and my voice comes out sounding frighteningly dark. I hold my head, throbbing with pain, in my hands. Give me five minutes… No, three will do. That’ll be enough time for me to grasp all this. Stephenne Veronide was born into a wealthy family. Her father used to be one of the Kingdom of Ruxe’s most preeminent merchants. After converting to the priesthood, he rose through the ranks in the blink of an eye and was soon recognized as a man of great influence. For as long as she can remember, Stephenne has never had to struggle with money. Her parents were also blessed in terms of interpersonal relationships, and although they were always busy, Stephenne was never without an attendant to watch over her. In terms of education, the Veronide family had the highest echelon of personal tutors in the Kingdom of Ruxe on house call, and Stephenne also learned magic from a legendary line of mages. You could say that Stephenne has always gotten everything she’s ever wanted. That said, although she’s aware of her good fortune, her only complaint in the entire world would be that everyone around her has always been overprotective. Her entire life, Stephenne has hardly ever been alone. She typically has two chamberlains attending to her. Even if she finds herself alone for a moment, someone will come to find her, without exception—no matter how much she insists that she’s fine on her own. That’s why when Stephenne received her seal of approval, she was overcome with emotion. She finally felt like she was recognized as a human being. In the same moment, she realized that now, especially now, she cannot fail. If she does, there’s no way she’ll be given a real job ever again. A feeling of unease Stephenne knows all too well rises within her again. At the same time, the low-level earth spirit she has entered a covenant with—a gnome named Cacao—reacts to the sense of danger she is now feeling. It sinks beneath the quickly approaching ground and plows it soft using smooth, familiar movements. In the next instant, a powerful shock runs through Stephenne’s entire body—a fierce, blinding pain that jolts and numbs her brain. Yet, her spirit familiar has given her a buff, and she takes hardly any damage. She puts her hands on the ground and lifts herself up, slowly. “…Eek?! Wh-wh-what was that? …Huh??? It’s…a girl?” “Oof… That huuurt…” Even at level 72, pain is pain. With tears running down her cheeks, Stephenne sits back down on the ground. Her contracted spirit, Cacao, appearing in the form of a young girl, twirls and flits about near Stephenne’s knee. Golem Valley is rife with earth-type magic particles, and so the spirit feels rejuvenated. However, it appears to have no intention of comforting Stephenne. Stephenne pokes Cacao, who is doing a strange sort of dance, on the cheek, when suddenly— “Um— Excuse me— Are you…okay?” —Stephenne’s entire body shivers, shocked by the voice seemingly coming from outside her own consciousness. She looks up to see none other than the hero she’s supposed to be watching over as part of her job. The strikingly handsome Holy Warrior celebrated in legend, Naotsugu Toudou, looks at her with confusion, when— “Just what on earth is going on—? …Huh?” —just then, Limis peeks her head out from behind him, looking flabbergasted the moment she catches sight of Stephenne. Rubbing her eyes, the transparent blue of pure ocean water, Limis stares at Stey and thoroughly inspects her from head to toe. This looks like the person who will surely break Stephenne out of this fix. She beams at Limis and waves at her with gusto. “Looong time no see, Limis! What a coincidence!” Limis’s expression stiffens at Stephenne’s voice. Her fire spirit, Garnet, scrambles from her shoulder to hide inside her hat. “Wha… What are you doing in a place like this?” Toudou looks at Limis. “Wait, what? Do you know her…?” “Limis, what’s going on—? …Wait—Stey?! …Wh-what are you doing here?” Aria also appears, wearing the same stiff expression as Limis. “What am I doing here? …I’m working, obviously!” Having run into her two friends she hasn’t seen in a while, Stephenne forgets the entire point of her assignment. The color quickly drains from Limis’s face, and she raises her head to look up at the cliffs. Her hat falls off, and Garnet latches onto her hair for dear life. After checking that there’s no one up above, she addresses Stephenne with trepidation. “Huh? Working? By yourself?” “Uh-huh! Of course I’m by myself, silly! I have a…seal of approval? So, yeah…” “Wha…what sort of reckless moron sent you out by yourself?” “You know her?! You seriously know her?! Limis, you’re friends with this girl who just fell out of the sky?!” Toudou is absolutely blown away. Aria struggles to calm down through ragged breaths and explains, “Please relax. We’re only…slightly acquainted… She’s the daughter of someone famous within the Kingdom of Ruxe.” Hearing this, Stephenne smiles from ear to ear. Aria’s expression remains stiff, and she retreats a few paces. “Let’s deal with this calmly. This narrow path is…not a good place for Stey,” Aria whispers to Toudou, who’s only a bit less shaken than Aria herself. Sweat is pouring down her face. Aria puts her hand out to restrain Stey and shouts, “Stey! Do you have any idea where you are?!” “Um, on top of a cliff, duh?” “So why are you here if you know that?! You’re gonna fall to your death!!” Aria yells angrily, and Stephenne ponders the sequence of events that brought her to this place before responding, head atilt, “Well, I’ve already fallen a few times, and I’m still alive, aren’t I?” “Did you power up?!” Limis shudders, her eyes now open as wide as they can possibly go. Stephenne can’t believe the reception she’s getting, and she sighs in annoyance. She doesn’t know what’s going on, and she’s certainly been discovered, but her first order of business is to get her new companions to calm down, right now. Stephenne laughs shyly and takes one step toward Limis—just one. “Heh-heh… Anyway, I’m just so incredibly happy to see you guys again… Oh—” Stephenne finally remembers just what she was sent out to do. Monitor Toudou. Surveillance. What’s more, she’s supposed to be doing all this from afar, so that no one notices her. She takes one last hard look at Toudou’s face and nods imperceptibly. Sure, she’s been discovered and all that…but she hasn’t said anything about Ares, so maybe she’s still in the clear? “Well, it’s about time I got back to work, so… See ya later, Limis!” “…Huh?” “Bye for now!” Stephenne approaches the cliff face she just fell down from and touches it with her right hand. She quietly recites an incantation, and Cacao, only visible to its contracted mage, casts a spell. The wall shudders, then forms the shape of a hand and gently grabs hold of Stephenne’s body. She’s an elementalist contracted with each of the spirits but has a particularly high affinity for earth. In Golem Valley, which is teeming with that element’s magic particles, Stephenne can wield her powers to an incredible extent. Stephenne’s arms obey the spell’s command and she begins to climb the cliff face. She looks down at her companions with a smile and waves before saying good-bye. “Let’s go out for a bite to eat somewhere next time!” “Hey— What the…?!” Limis cries hysterically. The Holy Warrior stares at Stephenne in utter disbelief as she disappears into the cliffs above. When Stephenne reaches the top, the earthen hand disappears silently into the ground. She pats the dust off her skirt and takes a deep breath, not able to help herself from breaking into a smile after running into her old companions. She’d been told to not let the Holy Warrior notice her, which really put a damper on her chances to meet him. But now she finally did, and they even spoke! Stephenne hadn’t expected to fall off the cliff only to be discovered by the Holy Warrior, but hey, all’s well that ends well. Just as she starts back on the path— “You seem to be enjoying yourself, Stey.” “Yes! I love my job!” “That’s great to hear. By the way, do you know Limis and Aria?” “Yes! They’re my friends from way back. We lived close to one another!” “I see. You’re friends. Friends are so important in life… So why didn’t you tell me?” “…Huh?” —Stey whirls around, hearing a familiar voice. It’s her superior, smiling gently. Stey grins back, as if beckoned by him. “So… Who is she?” Aria and Limis have been completely unfocused since their encounter in the valley, and after Toudou rushes them back to the inn, she doesn’t waste any time getting to the question on her mind. It’s highly unusual for the both of them to be so aloof. Limis doesn’t answer and sits on her bed. She lies down and remains silent for a few minutes before finally saying, “…She’s…an old friend.” “Wait, a friend? …But she fell out of the sky— And what was up with that magic—?” Limis smacks her hand against her forehead and doesn’t say anything else. Instead, Aria glances up, looking just as haggard as Limis, and begins to explain in a somber voice. “Nao, that girl—Stephenne Veronide—is a childhood friend of Limis’s and mine.” “A childhood friend…?” “Although… She’s always been involved with the Church, so her status is different from ours.” Toudou brings the girl’s appearance to mind and compares her to everyone she’s ever met so far that’s connected to the Church. For starters, her outfit is different from any priest Toudou knows. Her short black skirt is practically designed to show off her bare legs; definitely not very priest-like. “…That was a miniskirt she was wearing, right?” “How should I know? It’s been years since I last saw her… And back then, she was always dressed conservatively…” Limis offers a curt reply, perhaps controlling her agitation by petting Garnet, who sits in her palm. A look of disgust appears on Aria’s face as she adds, practically spitting out the words, “I heard through the grapevine she’s working at the Church headquarters… But to run into her in a place like this…” “Do you guys…have some sort of problem with her?” Aria and Limis look up at the exact same time and respond almost simultaneously, as if they conspired beforehand. “She’s not a bad person! It’s just the timing!” “I don’t hate her, but… We really shouldn’t be running into each other here.” Surprised by the force behind their voices, Glacia, who is nibbling on beef jerky, looks up suddenly. They shouldn’t be running into each other here…? What does she mean, the timing is…bad? Toudou is still perplexed by the situation, while Limis and Aria exchange serious glances. “So what’s she doing here?” “How should I know?” “She said she was working… What kind of work?” “Like I said, I don’t know. She did mention a ‘next time,’ though…” Aria purses her lips tightly and stomps once on the floor. “Limis, is Stey a priest now?” “…I dunno. But she definitely seems like one, right? I mean, look at her dad…” The conversation is flying by—Toudou can’t get a word in edgewise. An uncomfortable silence falls on the room again. There are so many things Toudou wants to ask, but the atmosphere isn’t making it easy. Toudou waits, feeling like she’s lying on a bed of nails. Aria turns to her and says, “Nao… There’s something I’d like to discuss with you.” “…Discuss?” “Yes. According to our schedule… Starting tomorrow, we’re going even deeper into the valley to continue leveling up, right?” “That’s right. Wurtz said we should go deeper if we really want to level up.” The party’s average level is already over 30. They’ve been alternating training and leveling up until now, but Wurtz has advised them to reduce their training sessions and focus on leveling up in earnest. “Moving forward, we’re going to fight stronger golems, and I don’t think we’ll be able to avoid taking damage. You can cast Heal, and we still have a decent supply of potions. We have Glacia with us, but without a real priest, things are going to get rough.” On the whole, Toudou’s party leans toward the offensive side of things. Limis is attempting to learn healing spells through sprite magic, which includes many supportive spells—but at the end of the day, she is an elementalist. None of them know what Spica has been up to since she broke away from the party for an apprenticeship. Considering how gloomy Aria sounded, Toudou infers what she’s really trying to say. Aria’s childhood friend just fell from the sky. She’s alone in Golem Valley—she must be high level. Spica has a standing invitation to act as the party’s priest, but there is no doubt—they severely lack members who can use holy techniques. If they can acquire someone capable now, their level-up rate will improve dramatically. Aria faces the highest odds of taking damage from golems, given her light equipment and lack of a shield. Adding a different priest to the party at this juncture makes it feel like they’re betraying Spica, who they’ve promised the position to, but Aria is convinced that because it’s for the safety of the party, she’ll forgive them. Aria looks torn, and Toudou nods, offering a warm smile to assuage her anxiety. “I got it. Let’s get Stephenne to join the party.” The following morning, Toudou and company are eating breakfast in the inn’s dining hall when the girl they just saw last night appears at the door. Stephenne Veronide. Limis notices before Toudou and pokes her. Toudou glances up. Stephenne looks flustered, her eyes darting around the room, but when they land on Toudou, she breaks into a smile. They exchange glances, and Toudou looks her over from head to toe. Seeing her again, Toudou still can’t imagine she’s really a priest. Yet, although she didn’t notice yesterday, today she can clearly see that Stephenne has proof of her priesthood hanging from her ear. Stephenne stumbles between the tables and rushes over to where the party sits. Aria and Limis look irked. When Stephenne arrives directly in front of Toudou, she puts both arms straight down by her side and smiles from ear to ear. “It’s so nice to meet you, Toudou! Please let me join your party!” No introduction, no explanation, nothing. Aria and Limis exchange doubtful glances. Neither of them were expecting Stephenne’s request to be so sudden. Even as a member of the same sex, Toudou nearly swoons at Stephenne’s smiling face—she’s cute as hell. “…I’m sorry. You can’t,” answers Toudou. As guilty as she feels, she can’t simply deny Aria and Limis. Per Aria’s discussion the day before: Sure, it will be difficult moving forward without a priest. But above all else, we absolutely cannot let Stephenne into the party. Stephenne must not have expected this refusal. Her smile stiffens, then disappears altogether. Tears instantly well up in her large, dark eyes, and she gives Toudou a look that strikes guilt into her heart. “But… Wh-wh-why not? Huh?! If you don’t let me in, then… Did I— Was it something I did?!” “I’m sorry. I’m really sorry… But there’s no way. You just can’t.” Toudou puts her hand over her aching heart and says it once more. “They sure made the right decision…” That’s the only thing I have to say to Stey, who came running back to us with tears in her eyes. “Waaah… Wh-what does that even meeean?” Stey is latched on to Amelia and crying her eyes out. Amelia looks annoyed as she pats Stey on the head carelessly. Stey is a ditz. So much so that she probably doesn’t even know what the word ditz means. Not to mention she also lacks self-awareness. Of course, her father knows this, and he pushed his money and connections to the limit to devise an antidote. From what I’ve learned, Stey had originally studied in the Kingdom of Ruxe to become an elementalist. Speaking of the Kingdom’s elementalists, Limis’s family are among the progenitors. It goes without saying that Stey’s father knew them. Sylvester is a native of the Kingdom and thus has a lot of clout there. Limis and Stey are approximately the same age, so I should have considered the fact that they could be acquaintances from the moment I learned he’s Stey’s father. But seriously, she should’ve told me herself… Stey doesn’t appear to have nefarious intentions, but her stupidity is far more of a pain than any ill will. I’m used to detecting animosity, but I can’t tell from the get-go if someone’s an airhead or not. The reason she kept quiet about her elementalist training is also pathetic. When Stey was still learning spells, Sylvester instructed her to never tell anyone about them unless it was absolutely necessary—treat them like her ace in the hole. As the father of a moronic daughter who lacks self-awareness, it’s understandable that he wanted to give her some method of self-defense. But seriously, at least make mention of it—to me! “Anyone else” shouldn’t include her damn boss! This is her job, for crying out loud! Is this dumbass really only capable of doing exactly—literally—as she’s told? “I told you to just give up on Stey… She’s a waste of time.” “Waaah… Wh-what does that even meeean?” Amelia’s words cut deep for Stey who, for some reason, is nuzzling her head against her. Not exactly a mind like a steel trap. Toudou rejected Stey’s bid to join the party. From one perspective, this is highly fortunate. And the fact that Limis and Aria know Stey can also be used to our advantage. There’s a correct tool for every job, as they say. “Regarding Stey’s role, I’ve been thinking… For example, if it looks like Toudou’s about to mess things up, we can throw Stey in the mix at that exact moment.” “So, essentially, harassment?” “I’ll patch up anything she can’t deal with herself. Of course, it’s a pain to imagine how Toudou’s perception of the Church might degrade as a result, but…” Stey stops burying her face into Amelia and looks up at me, bewildered. “…Ares? What do you mean?” “On my signal, you’ll get close to Toudou and create a diversion.” “Create a diversion…h-how?” “Don’t worry. Just be yourself. All you have to do, Stey, is get close to Toudou and act like you always do.” Stey’s capacity to create chaos wherever she may be is staggering. This will work. Stey looks perplexed, but after a few seconds, she smiles. Maybe she thinks I was complimenting her? Phew—don’t make me have second thoughts. “Stey, we’ll have you pretend to be a messenger from the Church. If you already know them, it will be a perfect cover.” My strategy for making use of Stey is coming along well. If this turns out to be a success, supporting the party will get a lot easier. Amelia raises her hand and voices an objection. “Shouldn’t I be the one to go?” “No, Stey won’t put them on their guard.” “Well… Perhaps that’s true, but can you trust her…?” “I’ve thought this for a while now, but your opinion of Stey is ridiculously low.” Anything is worth a shot… At the very worst, Toudou and his party won’t face sudden death, or anything of the sort. Stey might die, but from what I’ve seen, her spell-casting ability is more than sufficient. There aren’t many powerful offensive earth elemental spells, but conversely, there are many that provide excellent defense. Plus, she seems able to cast magic relatively quickly. If anything, this girl might show her true merits in moments of imminent peril. I beckon Stey, and she stumbles over to me. And falls down. She gives me a perfect view of her white lace panties, and I stare down at her icily. I lightly step one foot on her back and tell her, “Stey. There’s no point in me giving you a bunch of orders, so from now on, I’m only going to tell you what you must absolutely not do.” “Hnngh… Do you really have to say it when I’m like thiiis??” I’ve already paid significant dues thanks to Stey. If this strategy fails, it will be a total loss. My tolerance is being tested. Just a bit more, now. Just a bit more until I can actually get some use out of her, I know it… “Ares, you’re the type to gamble and lose everything, aren’t you?” “I don’t gamble. I have terrible luck.” “You’re taking a gamble right now.” Don’t call this gambling. “Ares… Are you trying to cost me my job?” Creio’s voice enters my head thanks to communication magic, and I’ve never heard him sound so exhausted. He normally doesn’t show much emotion, but it looks like this is what happens when I talk about how to best make use of Stey. “Please don’t worry, Your Excellency. The other thing I ask of you…is that you bear full responsibility.” “?!” “It’ll be fine. If Stey becomes a real problem…I’ll bury her. I have no intention of letting my priorities get mixed up.” Toudou’s existence is paramount. Stey certainly requires delicate handling, but if we manage to defeat the Demon Lord, any strikes against me will be forgiven. All or nothing… That’s what we’re dealing with here. I can tell that Creio is speechless on the other end of the line, but I hang up regardless. “Ares, shall I bury her?” Don’t take me so literally. Stey looks at me with absolute despair in her eyes. “Don’t bury your junior.” “If you really want her buried, just give me the word anytime. I will bear this sin, too.” Stey tumbles off her chair onto the carpet and crawls over to me like a zombie, grabbing my leg. She holds on like grim death and pleads, “Ares… P-please don’t abandon me! I can still work…” You can work? Talk about an empty promise. You really do think too highly of yourself. “Stey, I still have a use for you. I have permission…from Creio.” “Ares, that makes you sound like some sort of villain.” As usual, Amelia pipes up with an unnecessary comment. Just shut up. Stey must not have heard Amelia. She tries to clamber up my leg and hollers, “Ohhhhh, thank you so much, great and noble Lord Ares!” “‘Lord’? …You can’t seriously be the daughter of a cardinal.” That’s unacceptable, even as a joke. Amelia circles around behind Stey and grabs her under the arms, prying her off me. As she slowly peels her away, Amelia asks, “Are you really entrusting Stey as a messenger? Honestly, I don’t know if that’s something she’s capable of—” It’s true that Stey isn’t of much use. If anything, I’d say she’s a pile of hot garbage with incredible stats. No—she’s a high-powered explosive. At close range, she might be dangerous if she blows up, but even explosives have their uses. “Stey, I know I just said your role was messenger, but I want you to instill a sense of danger into Toudou and his party.” “…Huh? Sense of danger?” Stey sits flat on the floor and blinks repeatedly. She wouldn’t know what a sense of danger was if it punched her in the face. The Church of Ahz Gried has the Sacred Nation of Ahz Gried as its head sect. It has a great number of believers scattered across many different locations across the world and is one of the largest organizations of its kind. The scale of the Church has surpassed that of every other major power, and due to its incredible influence, the kingdoms generally keep a respectable distance. The Kingdom of Ruxe is no exception. However, when a cardinal emerges from within the Kingdom—that is a different story. One of the current cardinals, Sylvester Veronide, was originally a merchant native to the Kingdom and is extremely well-known throughout its entirety. Money is power. At times, it surpasses even authority. Sylvester is not an aristocrat, yet, his power exceeds that of regular nobility. He has an intimate relationship with high-ranking noble families, including Limis’s and Aria’s. Limis ended up meeting Sylvester’s only daughter through this connection. She was a cheerful, adorable girl. If one were to describe her disposition in a word, one might choose innocent. Limis’s first impression of Stephenne was that she was a bit of a natural airhead, but that changed in the blink of an eye. Stephenne had visited Limis’s home in order to receive training in elemental magic. She was intelligent and possessed high magical energy, and she picked up spells quickly—but the short time she was there was enough to sow seeds of trauma in Limis’s mind. She can’t even remember how many times she worried for Stephenne’s safety during that brief period. “I can’t believe she hasn’t changed one bit, after so many years…” For Limis, Stephenne is like something of a clumsy little sister. Aria finishes polishing her sword and puts it back in its sheath before frowning. Toudou looks puzzled. “Okay, but what should we do about her?” “? We already told her no.” “…That’s all well and good, but… It seems like there’s something more going on here…” “Besides, is she even capable of a job in the first place…?” Limis and Aria exchange dubious glances as they discuss. Just then, a knocking sound resonates throughout the room. Glacia, who remains silent as always, looks up and stares at the door. Limis is suddenly gripped with a horrible premonition, and her shoulders shiver. Aria immediately gets up and presses her ear to the door. In that second, they hear a spirited voice coming from the other side. “Helloooo? Limis? Aria?” “Wh-what do you want…?” Aria’s voice trembles with fear, but Stephenne’s doesn’t change. She replies playfully, “I’m here for work! The Church sent me as a messenger…” “An assassin from the Church…?! Why would the Church hire an assassin?!” “Not an assassin, silly! A messenger. Open up! Knock, knock!” Stephenne mimics the sound of knocking on a door. Aria pushes her entire body up against the door and questions her. “A messenger…? Are you saying that the Church decided to give you the responsibility of an actual job? Who sent you here as messenger?” “Of course, that’s Ar—” Stephenne’s voice cuts off. Her boisterous temperament trails off, and she goes quiet, as if it was all a ruse. “…Ar?” “Um, ar… Ar-arrrgh, just who was it, again? I forgot. But really, I’m just here as a messenger!” Is this for real? Seriously? An intense doubt surges through the party. Aria makes a face as she opens the door. “So anyway— Due to that person’s orders, I will be representing the Church and acting as backup for your party! Yaaay! Clap, clap, clap.” Stephenne beams as she gives a solo round of applause. All of a sudden, Limis feels like she’s having a nightmare. Stephenne’s proclamation has Aria and Toudou at a loss for words. “…You’re our…backup? Are you for real?” “Heh-heh… That person asked me to… This is the first time I’ve been given a real job!” “Who the heck is ‘that person’?!” “If I say their name, they’ll bury me. So I can’t.” “Huh?!” Limis is dumbstruck, and Aria taps her on the shoulder. Time to switch players. Aria already regrets opening the door and letting Stephenne in. She pleads, “Stey. I’ll be honest. It hurts to say this to a friend, but we just can’t have you as our backup.” “That’s simply not true. I’m totally capable of working!” “It’s…not a question of capability. It’s simply not happening. You can’t join!” Aria is completely sincere, taking Stephenne aback. Regardless, she remains tenacious. “B-but… If I don’t do what I’m told, that person’s gonna bury me!!” “Seriously, who is ‘that person’…?” “I’ll be forced to bungee jump without a rope!!” “What?! W-w-wait a sec!” Stephenne’s shoulders are shaking. Toudou taps Limis and Aria on the shoulder, and they huddle in the corner of the room. She’s not particularly keen to make a girl who looks younger than her bawl her eyes out. Toudou drops her voice to a whisper. “Is this for real?” “Stey is always so cheery. To see her shake like that… It’s not normal.” “She’s the daughter of an authority within the Church. Sylvester always doted on her, so…if she’s truly that terrified, then…‘that person’ must be—” There are only a select few individuals within the Church of Ahz Gried who are superior to cardinals. Aria swallows a lump in her throat. A cold sweat forms on her brow as she continues. “Could it be…the Pope?!” As far as Aria knows, aside from the Saint and the Holy Warrior, the only person who outranks the cardinals in terms of status is the Pope. The Saint is largely a figurehead and doesn’t have any real power. Her presence is perfunctory. Toudou’s eyes go wide as saucers. She doesn’t have any direct acquaintance with the Pope, but she understands this is not an everyday occurrence. Aria begins to explain in detail, but Stephenne interjects. “Ummm… Toudou, may I continue?” “Oh, uh… Sure…” Toudou nods, and Stephenne puffs up with pride. It’s a distinguished gesture, but Stephenne is baby-faced, so it holds no real gravity. “So, long story short… Because of that person’s orders, I will now be supporting you!” “…Just how are you going to support us? We already have a prospective priest on reserve.” “Well… Um… Just give me a moment…” At Limis’s questioning, Stephenne hastily shoves her hand in her pocket, removing a crumpled piece of paper. The party is completely flabbergasted as she spreads it out. “Um… So, for starters, because you’re all doing quite well, I don’t have any specific tasks!” “…What the hell?” “Hmm… Well, this says that I should leave you guys be when you’re doing well at leveling up. You don’t need my help.” She’s right—the leveling-up process has been going exceptionally well lately. It won’t be long before every member of the party surpasses level 30. Toudou and company all exchange sighs of relief. Aria had been tensed up, but she also relaxes her shoulders. Okay then, what exactly does Stephenne plan to do…? Representing the entire party, Toudou proceeds to ask. “Umm… Stephenne?” “Toudou, please call me Stey. Everyone does!” “…Okay. So, um, Stey… What do you plan on doing?” Stey puts the piece of paper back in her pocket and smiles from ear to ear. She assures her, “If leveling up gets tough, I’ll join the party temporarily and help you out!” It’s a half-baked, experimental strategy, but it soon produces unexpected results. The party is en route to Third Town, and their every facet is burning bright with purpose. Toudou is defeating golems left and right without any sign of danger. Aria is resolute on the front lines and is managing to keep her damage low. Limis freely wields her flame magic, and as an added bonus, Glacia is thrashing golems with abandon. Limis and Aria are showing the greatest prowess, flourishing at a previously unseen level. Toudou is slightly baffled by this transformation, but she is also spurred on by them, and the party’s overall battle performance has skyrocketed. This is the first time they’ve set out toward Third Town, but they arrive effortlessly, without any holdups. “Nicely done, Stey.” “Heh-heh… This is what happens when you depend on me.” Stey puffs out her chest proudly. We’re now in the bar of the inn we’ve chosen as our base in Third Town. She smiles brightly and asks, “…Also, Ares. When should I go to help them?” Stey still doesn’t understand the meaning behind her assignment. No matter how many times I explain it. Her task is not to actually help the party, but rather just insinuate that she can. “You really do think highly of yourself, don’t you?” “I’d like to use some healing magic on Limis and the party, to help them recover.” Unfortunately, healing magic doesn’t cure broken hearts. Stey’s eyes well up as she pleads with me in a saccharine tone. She doesn’t think things through when she gets these ideas in her head. “Stey, meaningless support does nothing for Toudou and his party. You understand that?” “Um… Uhhh… Huuuh? No, I don’t understand.” “…Get it through your head. Or I’ll bury you.” I’ve already threatened her. Can I just give her back already? Whoever managed to get Stey all the way to level 72 is something else. They have my undying respect. “O-okay, I understand,” she answers readily in a low, dark voice. Her entire body shivers. There we go. That’s the spirit. Don’t think about it too much, just do exactly as I say.
Chapter 23
62 min read