Because Nothing Can Be Achieved Through Prayer Alone
Because Nothing Can Be Achieved Through Prayer Alone
Hollow eyes. I heard they were leaving after breakfast, but thanks to not getting proper sleep, I listlessly tore off a piece of bread, put it in my mouth, and chewed without energy.
Since it tasted awful, nothing I ate gave me energy. It was just mechanical nutrient intake, so I simply moved my jaw without feeling any particular emotion.
In contrast, Linda, with her refreshed skin, happily took the seat next to Kylon and was stuffing large cuts of steak into her mouth from early morning.
Since they're both fundamentally strong in stamina, perhaps staying up late having sex doesn't tire them out that much.
It wasn't a fact I particularly wanted to know, so I let the fleeting question pass and put soup into my mouth.
Slurping, I repeatedly put soup into my mouth, and before I knew it, breakfast was over. I then rose from my seat after finishing my post-meal prayer, as I had been taught.
As I lifted my heavy, fatigue-laden body and was about to move to return to the Holy Kingdom, Kylon suddenly approached me and handed me something, which I accepted without thinking.
The cold bottle he handed me was something I had received before during meal times.
"Drink this."
A Stamina Potion. Was it because I had dark circles under my eyes, or did he just notice my haggard look and realize I was tired? Whenever I felt a bit weary, he would immediately hand me a Stamina Potion.
I blankly accepted it, then let out a deep sigh and mumbled in a low voice that only Kylon could hear.
"Kylon. Next time you have sex, let me be alone."
There was no need to beat around the bush. If I were to say something like 'I'll be alone from now on' here, my words would likely be dismissed as a misunderstanding.
When I spoke bluntly, Kylon's eyes widened in shock, as if realizing he'd been caught, and his mouth gaped open. Then, as if slowly accepting the truth, he soon let out a deep sigh and slumped his shoulders.
"Haa, were you awake?"
"No, I woke up because of you, and now I'm tired."
After I whispered softly, Kylon made an apologetic expression and looked around.
He glanced at Agnes, Linda, and Flora, who were walking some distance away. Realizing they were out of earshot, Kylon moved his lips as if to explain himself to me.
"I'm sorry, I originally tried to hold back because you were there too... but, Linda kept touching my dick and making it hard, tempting me... No, well, it's my fault for not controlling myself."
"No, it's fine. I just thought you were trying to use me to raise your Favorability Score again."
"......"
Perhaps because I forgave him too easily and moved on, Kylon seemed even more uncomfortable, simply staring at me with a furrowed glabellum.
A brief silence followed, with only the sound of footsteps. I gave a bitter smile and told him clearly.
"I'm really fine. Hurry up and capture Linda, and then quickly capture Agnes too."
And I didn't forget to urge him on to the next.
At that, Kylon gave an awkward, bitter smile.
"Ah, alright. Then I'll go."
"Okay."
Kylon said that, then quickly walked forward and began talking with the heroines who were ahead.
Even such trivial things must be points for accumulating Favorability Score.
Following them from a distance behind, they looked truly joyful.
If I had played this game, would I have been able to live a slightly more enjoyable life? Or would I have lived an even more painful one?
It was something I didn't know, but I just found myself envying the Hero's life.
Even though my body had changed into a woman's, and even if I wasn't in a position to capture them, Linda, Agnes, and Flora—each with their distinct personalities and appearances—could certainly be called beauties.
Linda's charm, with her cheerful and tomboyish personality; Agnes's charm, with her outstanding beauty and mature aura; and Flora's charm, cute yet sharp-tongued—all were enough to earn someone's love.
But seeing Kylon surrounded by such women, talking joyfully and exchanging smiles, I couldn't help but feel envious.
Every time I saw such a scene, I truly envied it.
But I shouldn't get lost in such thoughts.
Snapping back to reality, I checked my body.
I had properly put on the stockings and Garter Belt I received back from Kylon, but I hadn't gotten my bag back.
The knife had gone back to the innkeeper, and the potions had also ended up in Kylon's possession.
Originally, I couldn't carry all the potions if my bag was taken, so from the moment I didn't get my bag back, there wasn't much point in having the potions either.
What should I do from now on?
Right now, at this moment, no one would question my necessity, but it was obvious that eventually, during a fight, my uselessness would be revealed.
I can make potions. I'm also the one who distributes them. So, they might think there's a need for me.
However, if I can make potions but Kylon is the one distributing them, it's clear they would question if there's any need to include me on the front lines.
And at this very moment, with my blades taken away and the very act of making potions blocked, I've become an incompetent saintess unable to provide healing medicine for the injured.
Because I can't shed blood, and because prayer alone can achieve nothing.
How on earth can I maintain my position?
Even if I don't join them, it would be perfect if I could just get permission to follow along.
To overcome this moment, I could only rack my own brain.
*
"By the way, Kylon, can I ask again why we're returning to the Holy Kingdom?"
During lunchtime, Linda, who was spooning Kylon's stew like soup, tilted her head and asked, as if a question had occurred to her.
At that, everyone's gazes turned to Kylon, as if agreeing with the question.
Kylon, who had been gulping down the stew's broth as if drinking from the bowl, only opened his mouth after swallowing everything in his mouth.
"...Because there's something I need to check briefly."
Kylon merely stated the situation, but didn't answer in detail.
However, since it was an answer nonetheless, Linda, unable to press further, looked at Kylon with a 'hmm' and a furrowed glabellum.
It was also a look that showed she wasn't satisfied with the answer.
But the seemingly experienced Agnes's mouth demanded a detailed answer to Kylon's words.
"Oh? In that case, I could use my family's power to help you."
A trustworthy, soft yet strong voice flowed out.
As expected, she's the heroine whose Favorability Score rose second, I suppose. There was nothing more reassuring than her offering to use her family's power for Kylon.
No matter that Kylon was the Hero, he was still an outsider from another world. So, it was a good thing that she could lend her support when telling the nation that this otherwise untrustworthy Hero could be trusted.
However, Kylon, upon hearing those words, didn't rejoice but merely wore a troubled expression.
"It's fine, I'm sorry if I made you worry unnecessarily. It's really okay, I just need to go and see something."
Kylon politely refused, without awkwardness and without making Agnes uncomfortable, then continued speaking.
"If anyone has anything they need to pick up in the Holy Kingdom, it might be good to re-equip and come back."
"...Then I'll go get my Grimoire from the Magic Tower. I don't really like putting such crude books in my Grimoire bag."
It seemed like he said it to change the subject, but Flora nodded at Kylon's words and patted the Grimoire bag slung over her back.
More than that, was the magic she was currently using coming from crude books?
She already seemed strong enough, so what on earth awaited them if she brought even stronger books?
Even though Flora was small and looked weak, her position as a magician proved her strength.
Compared to my incompetence, it was a huge difference.
Sitting in the corner and watching, I blankly sipped my stew.
It was clearly a stew that looked spicy, but since I couldn't even taste the spiciness, it was no different from a bland, thick soup.
Gulping, I swallowed and glanced at Kylon, who was smiling and nodding at Flora.
"Then, after I'm done with my business, should I go to the Magic Tower?"
"A Heojeop Hero of magic can't enter the Magic Tower, can they?"
"But I've already been in and out, haven't I?"
Flora was extending her words annoyingly at Kylon's statement, but Kylon replied indifferently.
At that, a seemingly flustered Flora, with an 'Huh?' expression, looked at Kylon as if asking 'How?'
Kylon then shrugged his shoulders at her expression and answered.
"They let me in because I'm the Hero, you know?"
"Ah, no... it's fine! You don't have to come. I'll go."
The Magic Tower seemed to be a matter of a magician's pride.
It seemed she was trying to assert her status by the fact that the Hero couldn't enter a place she could, but failing to do so, Flora's subtly displeased expression caught my eye.
A Mesugaki concept, huh? Perhaps because her Favorability Score hasn't risen enough yet, she just seems to be in an annoying position, and she's even revealing a clumsy side, which evokes a sense of pity.
Since she's small, she'd probably win over the Hero easily just by appealing to cuteness.
It would be easier to aim for an Ending if she just acted naturally from the start.
I needed to solve the immediate problems at hand, and thinking too far ahead wasn't good either.
So, shaking my head from side to side to clear my thoughts, I shifted my focus.
Well, Kylon would know more about capturing heroines, so I was just pondering which route to take once we returned to the Holy Kingdom this time.
As long as Kylon doesn't do anything close to treason, the heroines won't turn their backs on him this time, so I just need to prevent that.
If, by any chance, something were to go wrong with Kylon, I would have no choice but to sacrifice my body, asking to be saved right before the Ending.
Thinking about that for no reason made my neck feel itchy.
They say it's foolish to worry about things that haven't happened yet.