No Different From When I Was a Shut-in
No Different From When I Was a Shut-in
If before there was something to be wary of, now, perhaps, it was time to appeal to their own charms.
After a morning with a slightly more relaxed atmosphere than before, I could see with my own eyes the two of them firmly occupying Kylon's side.
Whatever, I didn't care.
I gently placed the Morning Star Kylon had given me because he trusted me beside me, and with the Dagger from the Jugyo-nim at the Cathedral previously strapped to my thigh, I let out a breath.
I was aware that if I continued to ignore Kylon with my arbitrary judgment and deceive him, Kylon and I would not be able to maintain a proper relationship in the future.
That was precisely what our conversation yesterday was about.
So, I had to do what I could.
Recalling Kylon's request not to make Potions, it seemed I had no choice but to carry a weapon and simply protect myself.
Although it was unavoidable, I also thought it wasn't so bad since I didn't have to stab myself, which was a good thing.
However, thinking about it, Linda had body enhancement abilities, and Agnes, though not flashy, possessed the ability to wield a Rapier faster.
In contrast, what exactly was I, with only an immortal body, supposed to do?
Would I, who couldn't even be a healer without any in-game stat corrections, become the only one in this party who had to protect myself with pure physical strength?
Such anxiety flashed through me, but what could I do? In the end, that's what I had to do.
Until the meal was over, Linda and Agnes subtly kept each other in check, but focused more on appealing to Kylon, and I, in front of them, blankly chewed on a Biscuit.
As long as I filled my stomach, I wouldn't die even if I didn't specifically take care of my Nutrition.
"We've finished eating, so shall we depart?"
"Has the time finally come to stretch our bodies again...!"
"Good, I'll show you the Rapier techniques passed down through my family for generations."
As they began, the two of them, having built up a certain Favorability Score, diligently responded to Kylon's words.
I wondered if it was okay to enjoy a 3P so early on, but seeing this situation, I couldn't help but think it was a bit different from the usual early route.
If the Saintess's secret and the Pope's whereabouts were all unknown, and if this action had changed that, then perhaps this was a stepping stone to the True Ending? Such excitement swirled within me.
*
On the way to the next destination, one night of camping ended, and the second day dawned.
As Kylon's 'Back Hole development' with Agnes gradually progressed, and Linda's masochistic play increased, Kylon stood there, somehow a little stronger.
In truth, he wasn't some martial arts master, and it was difficult to gauge whether he had grown stronger or weaker just by his aura, but this was a game world, and wasn't he the protagonist?
Unlike exercising in reality, clear numerical values would undoubtedly appear in his Status Window, and through that, he could clearly see that he was growing stronger just by having sex.
Therefore, he was brimming with even more confidence, which made him appear strong.
Yes, I didn't know for sure, but it felt like his anxiety had lessened compared to when he fought before. It was his well-founded confidence that allowed him to walk with more assurance.
And the more he brimmed with confidence and exuded a strong aura, the more I felt an unexplainable confidence rising within me when I was by his side.
Another day remained until the next destination.
Was there a three-day interval between each village? Or was it because this was the starting village?
I couldn't be sure, but if the distance to the second village was the same, I wondered if it would be the same when heading to the next destination, so I found myself unconsciously calculating the dates.
The first destination I wished for was where the Pope had disappeared.
It was the fifth Holy Land, or the Ninth Village if counted by villages, and I thought it would take about a month to get there, but then I quickly shook my head.
I knew that if we suddenly encountered a path that took four or five days in the middle, all those calculations would become meaningless, so I decided not to make hasty judgments or jump to conclusions, and continued walking.
Kylon narrowed his Glabellum and glanced back at the path they had walked.
At Kylon's action, everyone slowed their pace and followed Kylon's gaze, turning collectively towards where I was, that is, behind them.
At that sight, I involuntarily flinched my shoulders and quickly turned my head.
Was there something behind us? I didn't think there was anything we could have missed.
As I stared blankly, I heard a rumbling sound, 'kureureuk'.
And at that moment, Kylon, turning pale, shouted at me.
"Veronica! Come here!"
Behind his voice, something hit my body with a 'tung' and passed by.
Wait a minute, Kylon. You didn't tell me there would be something there.
Did you think I could immediately avoid it if you were the only one who knew, the only one who noticed, and the only one who said it was dangerous?
If you're serious, then I have every right to be angry, right?
But before I could even get angry, Kylon rushed towards me with a 'paat' and embraced me.
"Veronica, Veronica..."
"......Why are you so."
...terrified. My mouth, which was about to ask, closed shut.
Because a spray of blood, 'papap', indicating that nothing existed where my arm had been, splattered onto my cheek.
"Why is something like that here right now...!"
Kylon, embracing me with my left forearm gone, cried out in terror towards the monster that had torn off my shoulder.
Hearing his words, I realized that even Kylon hadn't anticipated it, and had only recognized the monster due to his protagonist's intuition.
If he had known and kept silent, only realizing it himself, I would have had something to say, but since that wasn't the case, I truly had nothing to say.
As my arm was torn off, the sensation of pain seemed to overwhelm my head.
But perhaps because Kylon was by my side, because he embraced me, it felt somewhat bearable.
More than that, I couldn't understand why he was embracing me in such terror when my arm would grow back anyway.
Look, my arm is growing back again like this.
Creating something from nothing was none other than the Goddess's Power.
With the arm torn off below my shoulder no longer existing, a skeletal structure formed, and blood and flesh followed it, taking shape and making Veronica whole again.
My white Saintess's Robes were torn from the forearm down, and that part became drenched in blood, but well, my body was fine for now.
As I stood there muttering, Kylon left me, stood up, and then opened his mouth.
"...Linda, Agnes, Flora. Hold it off for now."
At his words, everyone assumed a battle stance.
"I'll give you new clothes later."
At Kylon's words, I nodded and looked at him.
"...Aren't you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine."
I was fine. Perhaps because I knew I wouldn't die anyway, and that I would heal again, I didn't feel any particular emotion to express.
I merely held back tears at the fact that pain had been present there.
More than that, Kylon had rushed to me in terror as if I wouldn't return, and I didn't know what expression to make, so I just stared blankly at his face while being held in his arms.
"I'm fine, though."
"No, aren't you hurt?"
"I'm fine."
It was true.
Perhaps I should say that because I had 'dug into' my own body countless times, I could endure it a little better.
It seemed I was also getting used to my body gradually adapting to pain.
As I silently watched Kylon, he told me with a bewildered expression.
"...I don't know either."
"That thing?"
"It wasn't supposed to appear now when I played the game."
"Then do you remember when it's supposed to appear?"
"...Uh, I know it's supposed to appear a bit later, in the mid-to-late game... I didn't expect it to be here now, so my reaction was slow. I'm sorry."
"......."
"Just wear this for now. I'll give you new clothes in a bit."
After explaining the situation to me, Kylon suddenly stood up with a 'beoltteok' and left.
If this were a game, would it be like touching an exclamation mark bubble that appeared on the field?
But, Kylon.
I have weapons in my hand and on my thigh, so why won't you let me fight?
How long do I have to remain a weak person?
Do I have to remain merely someone who is protected?
If this is the case, hasn't anything changed at all?
I stared blankly at the Morning Star in my right hand.
The Heroines, including Kylon, took their positions and began to confront the hard-skinned, snake-like monster.
Seeing them calmly find their places and confront the monster despite its sudden appearance, I thought they looked truly cool.
It was a scene I used to watch while lying in my room corner. It was so similar that it could even be called a scene I had yearned for.
But even amidst all that, I just stood there, behind them, staring blankly.
Just like when I was stuck in my room corner.