Chapter 122
Five minutes had passed since Luna and Rezé's standoff began.
'It's over.'
At first, I thought Luna might change her mind.
But she didn't.
Luna, turning her back on Rezé, crossed her arms firmly.
Then she sealed her lips tightly.
No matter how much Rezé cried, her determination not to look back reached me.
'Soon, Rezé will run away.'
Being such a timid child, she won't be able to withstand this situation.
From my perspective, it was a fortunate development.
Luna had taken care of the nuisance herself.
'Did she grow a bit, mentally?'
Just as I was thinking about spending the day comforting Luna.
Twinkle-.
The curtain-like bangs. Behind them, Rezé's eyes briefly shone.
At the same time, the atmosphere changed.
'...Did a skill activate?'
I opened the [Information Window] to scan Rezé's skill list.
Box creation, Concentration, Stealth, Perfect Aim, Crisis Detection, Passive Life, Timid Struggle, and lastly, Leria Family Style.
'Among these, the skill that seems to have activated now is...'
Only the mysterious B-rank skill [Timid Struggle].
Suddenly, Rezé burst out of the box. Her action was surprising.
Snap-.
She bit into Luna's forearm.
This is no joke or metaphor.
With her mouth as wide open as possible, Rezé bit into Luna's forearm.
"What, what the!"
"Fr, friend..."
"Huh?"
"If I find someone I want to be friends with... you, you told me to do it like this."
When Rodelin asked Luna and Rezé to meet.
The advice Luna gave, promising to share a tip on making friends.
-Right! I'll give you a tip on making friends. If you find someone you want to be friends with...
-If I find them?
-Just bite them.
Rezé was faithfully executing that instruction, tears streaming down her face.
Perhaps recalling that day, Luna's eyes moistened a bit.
"Are you stupid? Doing this won't make anyone your friend. The only person who would think that is that pervert over there!"
Luna, why are you suddenly attacking me?
Regardless, Luna shouted loudly, but Rezé didn't let go.
Instead, she tightened her grip on Luna's arm, clinging even closer.
"...Why are you doing this?"
"Beca, because..."
Rezé desperately squeezed out her voice.
"I, I want to be friends."
Rezé was trembling, pitifully clutching Luna's arm.
Luna muttered towards her.
"...Are you sure about me? I have a bad personality, I'm violent, and I don't know how to treat friends well."
"It's, it's okay. Me too..."
Because I'm the same.
Rezé smiled sadly. Seeing that smile, tears welled up in Luna's eyes.
"I'm sorry about before. I wasn't being sincere. I... wanted to be your friend too."
"Re, really?"
"Of course. From today onwards, we're friends. Well, I already have many friends, but the more, the merrier."
Was it to hide her tears? Luna hugged Rezé tightly.
Ah~ Youth drama, truly a youth drama.
So beautiful I want to ruin it right away.
A damned youth drama unfolding before my eyes.
Clap clap-!
I approached them, clapping.
"Keke, Luna. Congratulations on making your second friend."
"Sh, shut up! I really have a lot of friends!?"
Yes~ Sure, you do~.
I wanted to tease her more, but now wasn't the time.
"Keke, could you come with me for a moment?"
"...I'll be right back."
After calming Rezé down, Luna obediently followed me.
She must know there's something between us that needs to be settled.
"Are you angry?"
"Keke, me?"
"...You are angry."
Just as Luna said. I was very angry.
To the extent that even Luna, who's usually oblivious, could tell.
The look in Luna's eyes towards Rezé.
From that look, I could tell one thing.
Luna is...
'Thinking of accepting Rezé as a companion.'
So, it was only natural that I was angry.
I had told her not to welcome her as a companion, yet she was leaning that way.
"It's okay to be friends. But it's not okay to hang out together."
"Why?"
"Because it will put her in danger."
Luna, the child of a traitorous family.
On the surface, she possesses the talent that could devour the empire.
She must take vengence against the mastermind who made her this way.
"And on top of that, I'm even cursed by a demon. Could she really survive if she's with us?"
Disguised as a quest to defeat the hidden boss, the 'demon's curse'.
If Rezé found out that we have to fight demons periodically, I wouldn't be surprised if she fainted on the spot.
After a moment of contemplation, Luna slowly opened her mouth.
"I won't abandon a friend."
That's just like her.
That's why I'm trying to send her away before they become closer.
"I'm not saying to abandon her, but to distance yourself."
"I won't distance myself from a friend either."
Luna is more stubborn than I thought.
No choice but to play it strong.
I used the [Eye Opening] skill and spoke.
"Then there's no helping it. I'll have to leave."
"...!"
Luna's eyes widened.
It must be a shock. Since I even opened my eyes, my sincerity must have been conveyed.
Luna's response was...
"You're my friend too. I don't abandon friends, remember?"
"Keke, that's unreasonable. Now, you have to choose between me and Rezé. One of us has to be abandoned."
"I won't abandon either."
Stubborn as steel.
This won't do. Even if it means pretending to leave the party...
"I'll become stronger."
"...What?"
"I'll become strong enough to protect everyone."
That's absurd.
Not even able to defeat Daike, let alone the Four Heavenly Kings.
"I'm serious, Zero."
Luna's eyes shone.
I can tell. Even if I actually leave, she'll keep clinging to me and be annoying.
When I slightly pushed Luna away last time, the eyes of the Academy students, who were rooting for our relationship(?), followed me all day.
This time, the same thing would happen, and it was likely to restrict our future activities.
'...It's become a bit bothersome.'
I couldn't give up on Luna, who had grown so well, just because of Rezé.
Above all, abandoning the highly loyal Luna wasn't an easy decision for me.
Especially since she would support me no matter what the future held.
I sighed deeply and said.
"Alright. We will accept Rezé."
"Really?"
"But, there's a condition."
"...Condition?"
"She will start training. And it will be very intense."
"Fine. But only as much as Rezé can handle. We can't overdo it."
After nodding, I continued.
"Please understand if Rezé decides to leave after learning your secret. I mean, don't be hurt."
"That's... obvious."
A bitter smile appeared on Luna's lips.
Though it's called a false charge, being treated as a traitor's family is a fact.
Rezé might die from a heart attack.
And one more thing.
"If Rezé wants to leave the party, she needs my permission."
"...What do you mean?"
"It means that if Rezé wants to leave our party, she can only do so with my permission."
She has to stay with us until she gets my permission.
In other words, unless I allow it, Rezé must remain in our party.
"Isn't that too... like a poison pill clause?"
"You saw last time. The portal that transports to another place."
The portal leading to the hidden boss Lérang.
Luna nodded.
"As you know, I'm cursed. We have to fight a demon, and if she bails right before that, it will mess up the strategy I had in mind. I can't take that risk."
Planning a strategy including Rezé and then she runs away right before the attack?
Perfect timing for betrayal. Of course, assuming we're still alive by then. Anyway.
"Rezé can leave the party after that. I have no intention of holding her back then."
"..."
"If you can't agree, then I can't accept Rezé."
"...This isn't for me to decide. We should hear her opinion, shouldn't we?"
Luna nodded and brought Rezé over.
I briefly explained the situation.
Since Rezé had seen the portal to Lérang, explaining was not difficult.
"I, I'm... okay with it."
"Really?"
"I'm, I'm scared but... I'll, I'll try to endure."
Oh ho, quite a strong will.
I wanted to pat her head and praise her for it.
Well, despite her strong will, she'll probably run away the moment she becomes a target.
"Don't worry too much. If Zero tries to keep you and won't let go, I'll take care of it."
"Keke, you're not planning to use violence on a friend, are you?"
"I can use it on you. Anyway, we're friends now, right?"
Quite hasty.
Clap clap. I clapped a few times and said.
"Yes, congratulations again on making your second friend."
"She's not the second, okay!?"
Luna waved her arms in denial.
Seeing this, Rezé let out a small laugh.
And so, I welcomed Rezé as the second party member.
'Rezé...'
If I had been tough, Luna would have had no choice but to give up on Rezé.
After all, I was the one who allowed their friendship. Luna would have been satisfied with just that.
The reason I accepted Rezé.
Moved by their youth drama? Hardly.
There are three reasons for it.
First, as mentioned before, she can be used as a shield in a crisis.
But now, she's become an even more useful shield.
Luna recognizes Rezé as a friend.
'But what if, Rezé dies?'
Afterwards, Luna will obediently follow my words.
Realizing that a strong party member is needed and that her choice led to Rezé's death.
'A long-term move to help Luna grow mentally. It might not be bad to use her for that much.'
Even if Rezé is a master of running away, she can't escape death.
Second, because she can be useful for a while.
We're just starting Chapter 2.
There's no entity to threaten Rezé.
The condition for Rezé to leave the battlefield is becoming an 'attack target', but Rezé has an S-rank [Stealth] skill.
Low-level enemies can't find Rezé.
'If there were area-of-effect or attack all skills, it'd be different...'
In Chapter 2, those with area-of-effect skills are few.
Not to mention attack all skills.
'In other words, even someone like Rezé can play the role of a ranged dealer for a while.'
Though there's the downside of Rezé snatching experience points, it's a loss I'm willing to accept.
And the last, third reason.
'Why didn't she run away?'
Rezé, who didn't run away but shot arrows after fainting during Bineus's attack.
I thought it was strange, but now I understand why.
The B-rank skill [Timid Struggle].
'That skill prevented the activation of the Coward Trait.'
If that skill becomes A or S rank?
Rezé might not leave the battlefield.
Then she could be used in many situations.
Being able to freely use a character with 100% accuracy.
Looking at Rezé smiling in the box, I thought.
'100% accuracy, and a bow...'
A good idea came to mind.
"Kekeke..."
"What's with that ominous laugh? What are you planning now?"
"Planning something? That's a hurtful thing to say."
"Suspicious..."
Luna hugged Rezé, taking a defensive stance.
"How about you two spend some time together today? We'll start training tomorrow, so make sure to rest well."
"Huh? I don't mind, but... where will you go?"
Keke, that's.
"A secret."
After placing my index finger to my lips, I headed out.
My destination was.
Principal Dwener's Healing Pond.
--TL Notes--
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