Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Friend (2)

◆

“-You seem to have improved compared to before?”

“……Vespa.”

Carlisle replied with a voice that sounded incredulous.

No, how could someone’s reaction to hearing that a person cut off an arm and then reattached it flow in that direction?

“Well, in the past, you would have just cut it off and left it alone, wouldn’t you?”

“…….”

“……Isn’t it true that you’ve improved?”

Should I say that Gray, who receives such an evaluation from this kind person, is amazing, or should I say that this person who can praise even Gray is amazing?

It’s somewhat ridiculous that I can’t refute it because it’s not wrong.

“More than that.”

Carlisle quietly observed the blue mist rising in front of Vespa.

Since shooting Magic at Gray the other day, she’s been immersed in practicing magic alone like this.

“You’ve become more skilled in the meantime?”

Actually, saying she’s become more skilled is a bit of a misnomer.

……She’s not just skilled, she’s really growing rapidly.

‘If the Mage Tower saw this, wouldn’t they try to kidnap her for research?’

[Those are people who would commit much more terrible acts without batting an eye.]

‘That’s true.’

When it comes to the criteria for being good at magic, there would be various standards, but basically, the measure of skill would be how fast and powerful the Magic one can use.

Calculating formulas a bit faster, deploying Magic a bit more skillfully, and putting one’s will into the deployed Magic a bit more expertly.

In that regard, the way this person practices Magic is completely different.

“How should I put it? We’re becoming friends!”

“……Excuse me?”

“When this blue stuff gathers like this – ah, was it called mana?”

“…….”

Blue mist gathered in front of the mage who doesn’t even know what Magic is.

And it soon fluttered around Vespa’s side. As if acting cute.

“Like this, it feels like it wants to have some kind of conversation with me. So I try to listen as much as possible and have conversations! It seems like communication might be possible.”

“…….”

What is that thing?

What on earth is she talking about?

She’s talking about Magic like it’s some kind of pet. The energy that represents the will of the world.

“I still don’t quite understand what we’re saying to each other…… But I feel like someday we’ll be able to communicate!”

“……Yes. Please keep it up.”

If this conversation goes any further, Carlisle’s common sense about magic might crumble.

Well, in any case,

‘It’s going smoothly.’

[Hmm. At this level, it will definitely be helpful.]

Vespa’s magic skills will certainly be a great help in the incidents and accidents that will follow.

Actually, since she’s achieved the original goal of ‘becoming friends with Miss’, she could have lost interest, but she continues to practice.

The reason she does such things is simple.

Because Carlisle asked her to.

“…….”

What should I say?

It would be natural for her to ask at least once why she has to do such things, but no matter what he asks her to do, she just says those words and gladly agrees, which makes him feel sorry as the one giving orders.

Carlisle’s words must be right!

No matter what he makes her do, only that kind of answer comes back, and she never refuses.

‘……Even in her stats, things like obedience were marked.’

Obedience means literally that – when Carlisle says something, she eagerly accepts and does whatever it is, which is quite unusual.

If Elena feels like a business partner with some kind of favor relationship with him, this side feels like she would really do anything.

“Um, uh, Carlisle-“

She even fidgets with her body while bringing up such words.

“Isn’t there anything else you’d like to ask of me?”

“Excuse me?”

“Something, I want to do something more for you, any inconveniences or things you’d like me to do……?”

“…….”

“Even if it’s difficult or painful work, I don’t mind……”

……No.

Why is this person like this?

[……She’s addicted to service.]

‘What kind of nonsense is that again?’

[If she’s not addicted to helping others, it doesn’t make sense. How can a person feel pleasure from being asked to do things?]

‘…….’

I realize anew.

This person has been able to endure by Gray’s side all this time because of this kind of personality.

Carlisle sighed and changed the subject.

“There’s nothing particular to ask for, so would you help me think of a plan?”

“A plan?”

A method to make friends for Gray.

Carlisle’s head can’t come up with anything.

“If your goal is to make friends for Miss……”

Vespa put her finger to her lips and tilted her head.

“……I don’t think you need to do anything in particular.”

“Excuse me?”

◆

Being a Hero who received the Holy Sword naturally carries tremendous political significance. Since it has the symbolic meaning of protecting all of humanity, every move draws everyone’s attention.

In other words.

No matter how much Gray finds Cardinal Felix troublesome, sometimes they have to meet and talk with each other.

Mainly in the form of Felix receiving reports on Gray’s recent activities.

“Did such a thing happen?”

As always, a gentle voice fell softly from Felix. It could be said to be the appearance of a loving priest.

That is, if the topic Gray had just brought up hadn’t been about cutting off someone’s arm because they were annoying.

“…….”

Gray quietly looked at Felix.

This person basically gives the same reaction no matter what she says.

Some might see it as accepting whatever she does, but from the perspective of directly facing her, she knows that’s not the case.

It’s not ‘accepting’ but closer to ‘not caring’.

As long as she properly performs her ‘duty’.

This Cardinal is truly not interested in what Gray does in the slightest.

……At least that’s how it seemed to Gray.

In that regard, this status report was a little special.

“Do you have any idea why you’re doing such things?”

“……?”

Gray looked at the Cardinal with raised eyebrows.

Until now, no matter what happened, there had never been such additional questions.

It was always just acknowledging that such things happened and moving on.

While she was reluctant, she somehow managed to give an answer.

“It seems like someone wants to make friends for me.”

Cardinal Felix’s hand paused for a moment.

As if something was bothering her.

But such signs disappeared quickly. It was an emotion revealed for such a brief moment that even Gray, the Hero, couldn’t notice it.

“A friend for Lady Chasefield?”

“……Well, I think it’s useless. But when I told Father, he said it might be something like that.”

“I see.”

“…….”

Gray looked at Felix for a moment.

Since the other person had done something different from usual to her, she could also do something a little unusual.

“……What do you think, Cardinal?”

“What do you mean?”

“Me making friends. Is it necessary?”

Felix smiled slightly.

“How unusual. Isn’t Lady Chasefield someone who does whatever she wants?”

“…….”

“To ask for someone else’s opinion – you’ve changed a bit from before.”

That’s true.

But seeing Carlisle wanting to make friends for her.

Maybe that’s something she ‘needs’.

Since he’s someone who would never do anything harmful to her.

“You can just do as you feel like, as usual.”

“I don’t know what a friend is in the first place.”

“Wouldn’t it be someone you enjoy being with?”

“Hmm?”

“Someone you’re curious about, someone you want to know more about, this and that.”

“…….”

“If you feel that way about someone, you could call them a friend.”

Felix said with a smile.

“Does Lady Chasefield have such a person?”

“Uh”

……There is.

Such a person.

There’s a face that comes to mind first.

“…….”

So that’s what you call a friend.

Gray quietly nodded her head.

And Cardinal Felix was quietly observing her like that.

Carefully observing each reaction.

Meanwhile, Gray answered bluntly.

“There isn’t.”

“It seems there is.”

“…….”

Gray flinched.

“You can’t lie, Lady Chasefield.”

“…….”

“We promised, didn’t we? The two of us would share everything with each other.”

“…….”

“Who were you thinking of?”

“Someone you know too.”

“…….”

“……Cardinal Felix.”

Gray quietly raised her eyes to look at her.

“You’re plotting something, aren’t you?”

“…….”

“……Don’t. That thing.”

At what Gray was saying, Felix smiled faintly.

“No.”

Definitely.

Even though she told Gray not to lie to her.

“There’s no way I would dislike you making friends from the start.”

“…….”

As for her, herself. 

It was clear that she would absolutely never reveal her true feelings.

◆

System Message

▶ ‘Gray Chasefield’ has made a friend. 

▶ ‘Linked Quest’ has been completed.

“……What?”

While lying in the lodging, the window suddenly appeared before his eyes.

Carlisle looked at it with incredulous eyes.

[Is there something going on?]

“It seems Miss has made a friend.”

[……Hmm.]

The Holy Sword quietly sighed.

[Someone must have told her.]

“Excuse me?”

[There’s such a thing.]

“What are you talking about?”

[There’s such a subtle thing that trash like you would never know.]

“……No, what are you talking about?”

[Actually, making friends was likely already completed.]

“…….”

If you think about it that way, the low difficulty makes sense.

It was a quest that would definitely be completed even if you didn’t do anything in particular.

The problematic point is,

“……Then why didn’t you tell me that until now?”

[Because it’s embarrassing.]

“…….”

[I absolutely didn’t want to say it with my own mouth.]

“…….”

[Well, if it’s completed, good things are good, aren’t they?]

“……Isn’t it a bit too much to try to get past everything with those words?”

◆

System Message

▶ Confirming completion of ‘Linked Quest.’ 

▶ ‘Main Event’ will occur soon. 

▶ The direction of the event’s progression will change. 

▶ Rewards are increased. 

▶ As a reward for the Main Event, the relationship type between the ‘Gray Cardinal’ and the ‘Hero’ will change. 

▶ As a reward for the Main Event, additional functions of the ‘Holy Sword’ will be unlocked. 

▶ As a reward for the Main Event, form changes of the ‘Holy Sword’ will become possible!