Chapter – 67
✠
There were no objections to me taking all the loot items. Among the drops were a magic-use skillbook and a passive skillbook.
Most skillbooks could be bought from the cash shop, but some skills could only be obtained by defeating dungeon bosses.
Since the possession-only cash shop mainly sold versatile active skills from various worlds, it couldn’t cover every skill from every world.
Unfortunately, the magic book was a generic skill sold in the cash shop.
I thought about selling it cheaply if Seijin wanted it, but he declined, saying it was of a different type.
Moreover, the magic book was Erebo-Mancy, a form of dark magic even considered minor in the Tower of Magic.
Using Erebo-Mancy in today’s world, where the church had become a state?
One could easily be looked down upon as a dark mage—or, at worst, caught by heresy inquisitors and suffer greatly.
Since there was little demand and it was troublesome to dispose of, the magic book was shoved into a corner of my satchel. When—or if—I’d ever take it out again was uncertain.
Unlike the magic book, the passive skillbook wasn’t sold in the cash shop and was very useful.
[<Skill> “Reversal of Devouring (Passive)”
Increases critical hit chance against enemies that eat humans.]
<Oh, this is really good!>
Monstrous eaters were everywhere. I immediately learned it.
For now, I decided not to close the dungeon immediately.
Suddenly shutting down a dungeon that supported the adventurers’ livelihoods in the Nightlight Stone Mine would cause chaos.
It was time for everyone to part ways. I said goodbye to the others at the exit gate.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you so much.”
“We will never forget the favor of saving our lives.”
Including the two people who had been captured by Obsculia, all five members of the Golden Apple Guild repeatedly bowed to me.
“Please, stop. People would think Ailette handled the S-rank boss all by herself.”
Yohakim, who had only just regained his senses, once again spoke annoyingly.
The Golden Apple Guild looked at him with a mix of disbelief and annoyance.
“If you don’t know, just keep quiet! Here, our Ailette healer—”
“Brother Yohakim.”
I cut off Kana, a guild member, before she could finish.
It was exhausting to explain things nicely to a fool like Yohakim.
“Y-yes, sister! Please, go ahead!”
“Take care of the still-dazed backup healer and report properly to the Sacred Hall that the incident in the dungeon was due to your own negligence.”
“Hmph, sister. My negligence? Surely there’s some misunderstanding. In fact, there’s no proof it was me—”
“Also, watch your behavior. One day, it might get you stabbed in the back.”
“….”
I cut off Yohakim’s excuses and, after saying only what I wanted to say, turned to leave.
“Well, everyone, goodbye. I’ll watch you leave before I go too.”
“Yes! Goodbye then!”
“Stay healthy, healer!”
“May the blessings of ‘Order and Good’ be with you on your way, Ailette!”
“Cool older sister! Bye!”
I waved both hands especially to Freze. Once everyone disappeared through the gate, only two remained.
Cadet Rei and first-class assassin Ash.
“Ash is staying because I asked him to wait.”
“Understood, sister.”
“Rei, do you have something you want to say?”
“I’d like to speak privately with her.”
I asked Ash to step aside. Crossing my arms, I pretended to be annoyed and said lightly,
“You have allergies, don’t you?”
“Cough, cough, cough.”
He seemed embarrassed.
Rei, wanting to improve his image at this late stage, stood at attention with a serious expression.
“Ailette.”
“Yes, cadet?”
“You are the savior of my life. If you ever come to the Valenstein territory, you must visit me.”
“Valenstein territory?”
Valenstein territory. That name sounded familiar.
I recalled the tag I had attached in my bookmarks.
[Bookmark 291 ― The Tale of Potato #SlimeBreedingCave #SweetPotatoFriendPotato #ViscountValenstein #BrandCurse]
It was clear the viscount had no choice but to turn antagonistic toward the protagonist. Surely…
Flustered, I asked,
“Are you… Viscount Reiwin Valenstein…?”
“Yes.”
Rei, or rather Reiwin, nodded shyly but proudly.
A confirming message appeared just then.
[‘The Clairvoyant Inspector’ sarcastically notes that you contributed greatly to twisting the original plot again.]
Wait, hold on.
I was shocked because the Reiwin before me had crucial differences from the original Reiwin.
Namely:
“But you’re the second-ranked student, aren’t you…?”
In the original story, Reiwin had consistently been first in school, graduated as valedictorian, and was recruited by the royal knight order. That created the conflict with the Sweet Potato Pass.
Reiwin’s lips trembled slightly.
“Are you looking down on the fact that Valenstein’s viscount wasn’t first?”
“I didn’t mean that. I misspoke. I apologize.”
After I sincerely apologized, Reiwin no longer misinterpreted or questioned me.
Yet he still seemed a little frustrated.
“The reason I didn’t get first was because of your brother, wasn’t it?”
My brother came into this too?
[‘The Clairvoyant Inspector’ remarks that the protagonist’s brother was also remotely used to twist the original story.]
Agnes explained it clearly.
<Prince was weaker than you, so it didn’t feel real, but being the top student at the cadet school is no small feat. They even made him deliver the graduation speech.>
I turned my head and whispered while covering my mouth.
“He said he got the turn because the classmates refused the representative role.”
<The cadet school had to consider the power dynamics. Naturally, they’d prioritize the Valenstein heir over ordinary commoners.>
“So Reiwin refused it?”
<Exactly. He seems strict and upright. Gaining a position through his family’s influence wouldn’t feel honorable.>
“Ahh.”
<He’s a great example for knights. Ailette, you should meet someone like that when you grow up…>
I let the backstory slide and turned my attention back to Reiwin.
“Are you done with your muttering?”
“Yes. Um, my brother was the top swordsman at cadet school. I thought his scholarship was purely merit-based, but he doesn’t like to brag.”
“…I see. Since you’re strong, I understand your perspective.”
Reiwin seemed to acknowledge my words. The guilt I felt for being indifferent toward my brother eased slightly.
I wondered what he wanted to say. Just as I was about to ask, he spoke.
“Ailette, with your abilities, you could easily become a knight. Do you hold any title?”
“No.”
“I thought so. Then… I want to help you.”
“Oh, you mean…?”
The cadet school could certify knight status, but there were other ways too.
For instance, in the Kingdom of Winchester, only royalty or high-ranking nobility could confer knight titles.
If Reiwin’s only goal had been a knight title, he wouldn’t have needed to attend the cadet school.
His intention was clear.
“I’ll speak to my mother, the Duke of Valenstein, and have her grant you a knight title.”
Of course! I clapped my hands.
“Wow, viscount! Thank you so much!”
“Hmph, it’s nothing. So when do you plan to visit the territory? My training trip ends in a month; we could go together—”
“Oh, it’s fine. I know a duke already. I’ll just gratefully accept the thought.”
Reiwin looked taken aback.
“Oh, you know a duke?”
“Yes.”
“Who might that be?”
Who else but my grandfather, the finest swordsman of the Serentra continent and duke of the Hispenril Duchy.
“A secret.”
“That… I see.”
It seemed the matter was concluded, so I waved.
“It was nice meeting you. Take care.”
“Um, Ailette.”
“Yes?”
“My offer still stands. If you change your mind, contact me. Even if not for the title… please visit Valenstein at least once. I want to repay my debt to my savior.”
“Yes. If I have the chance, I’ll do that, viscount.”
“Thanks. I’ll go now. Stay healthy.”
I watched him pass through the gate with a lingering look.
Now only one person remained.
In the quiet dungeon, I took a deep breath and called him.
“Ash.”
“Yes, sister.”
True to his assassin nature, Ash appeared silently.
“So I’m last. I feel special, so I’m a bit nervous. What would you like to say?”
“Oh, nothing much.”
I stepped closer and warned him.
“Don’t touch children.”
“…What do you mean?”
He tried to dodge, but I noticed the moment his expression hardened.
“There’s no point hiding it. I know you’re an assassin.”
“….”
“Before joining the Golden Apple Guild, the extermination squad you were in was annihilated. That was probably your doing.”
“Hmm.”
He stroked his smooth jaw and smiled faintly.
“You’ve caught me. Is that all you wanted to say?”
“No, this is just the beginning.”
I smiled back.
“After a mission, you go home. But why did an assassin insert himself into a party weaker than himself? Thinking about it, there’s only one answer.”
“….”
“You’re still on a mission.”
Clearly, his second assassination target was among the party members.
Ash’s face paled. It was the most honest reaction.
“I hope your target isn’t Freze.”
“And if it is that kid?”
“You won’t leave here alive.”
“Scary… but if you want to make threats like that—”
With a whoosh, a dagger flew at my face. I tilted my head and dodged.
Thunk.
The dagger embedded itself deep into the rock behind me, near the left side of my face.
<How dare you? Ailette, stab him back!>
[‘The Clairvoyant Inspector’ shouts for you to pierce his head immediately.]
Agnes aside, even the inspector was urging violence? Didn’t they remember Ash was an important character in the original story?
Ash brought his face close, leaving the dagger embedded in the wall.
“…You should at least have a weapon. Don’t you think?”
He grinned arrogantly. Perhaps my sword being in my inventory made him underestimate me.
I laughed through my nose.
“No weapon?”
“Yes?”
“Look around.”
“…!”
