Chapter 61
Chapter 61
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 61
Chapter Title: They're Not Human, Right?
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A week had passed since then.
Had Mina grown at all in the meantime?
- Keeeaak!
“Hiiik!!”
Not even a little.
In that week, Mina had racked up a grand total of zero kills.
Wow! Salute to the no-kill record!
Even wearing armor that spiders couldn't scratch, wielding a magic wand that lopped off spider heads with a single swing, and she still got zero kills!
I prided myself on having decent patience, but watching her shriek "Hiiik!" and collapse at the sight of an oncoming spider made my blood boil.
There are newbies, and then there are newbies like this—stubborn ones who ignore advice with gritted teeth. Even veterans don't welcome those.
If only, like in the original story, kills I made gave her automatic EXP.
'Need a training device or something.'
My image as the benevolent saintess was starting to shift toward failed saintess.
Mina panted roughly at the dungeon entrance.
“Haa… haa…”
What did she even do to deserve catching her breath like that?
To make someone with that appearance come off as utterly unlikable. Truly impressive.
“...What was that follower's name again from last time?”
“I-It was Inia...”
Not that I was curious.
I just felt pity for that person.
Might need to thank her later.
“Got it. Let's call it for today.”
“S-Sorry. I've just been disappointing you over and over...”
'If you know that.'
Frustrated, I looked up at the sky.
A week. A whole week.
Time enough to farm ten shards if we'd been properly running dungeons.
If lucky, even aim for a rank-3 shard.
And we'd wasted it all.
'Tomorrow's the special training assignment reveal.'
Time to seriously dive into dungeons was approaching, but at this rate, a hundred years of practice wouldn't move the needle.
Unless there was a spirit room or chamber of time, I had no clever fix.
'We're screwed.'
⁎⁎⁎
The next day, lunchtime.
“You didn't pick her knowing it'd turn out like this, did you?”
“Didn't expect it to be this bad.”
“Being talented as a warrior doesn't mean you're talented as a mentor. Aren't you overestimating your own teaching skills?”
The first part was fair, but I couldn't accept the second.
At least I'd have liked them to see firsthand the nonsense Mina pulled for a week.
“Of course, I'm excellent at both.”
“Did you have to say that?”
“But it's surprising. Isn't this the first time Halibal's talked about someone else with us?”
I'd vented my frustration without thinking.
I looked up to see Senia smiling gently, as usual.
That's right.
I was having lunch with the Ren sisters.
Before long, this trio had become our fixed meal combo.
Unlike regular dungeon practice, special training sidelined followers to a supporting role.
No need to drag them everywhere for every little thing.
So the three of us had ditched our followers for meals.
“So, how's your new follower?”
“Compared to the last one, she's perfect. She actually listens, for starters.”
“Not on great terms with the Raygal family?”
“Eugene Raygal herself isn't a bad person. Not like the Grace family level of bad blood.”
Senia's new follower was Eugene.
She'd picked her directly, and Eugene accepted.
Senia got along with most people except Luna, and Eugene was the same.
Blunt in speech, but a noble who knew how to get along with those she approved of.
By the way.
“Why have you been like that since earlier?”
“Like what?”
Cecilia beside me couldn't hold back her giggling.
Her eyebrows curved like a crescent moon, making it obvious she was in a great mood.
She wasn't this kind of character originally.
Senia let out a deep sigh.
“I think Halibal's dumped Cecilia.”
“I didn't do anything.”
“Can't read her intentions since she went dungeoning with you. Look at her now—she's been like that since you started talking about Mina.”
“Has she?”
“Do you know why, Halibal?”
Hmm.
I stared at Cecilia, and she popped a seasoned broccoli floret into her mouth, grinning mischievously.
“So?”
“?”
“It means you miss me, right?”
Hm. Was that it?
Surprisingly, my mind flashed only with "Yes."
Cecilia. I miss you.
But her brazenness irked me oddly, so instead of answering, I picked up my utensils and stood.
Must be nice being the protagonist. I'm the failed saintess here.
“If you miss me that much, say so. I'll ask the instructors if we can swap followers.”
Yeah, right.
Her smile didn't fade until I left the cafeteria.
That afternoon, all first-years gathered on the training grounds for special training assignment reveals.
For some reason, dozens of students surrounded me and Mina.
This happened occasionally, but never with this many.
“Halibal Belder. You're tackling the Abyss again this time, right?”
“The saintess is going with you, for sure!”
“Heard Mina begged you first.”
Mina's face darkened instantly under the barrage of questions.
Already down from failing my expectations lately, the sudden spotlight had to feel overwhelming.
Meanwhile, a friendly guy poked his head in.
“Halibal, so is the rumor true?”
I turned, spotting Pasha exactly where I'd expected—in a corner, glaring with her follower.
Guess the rumors had spread.
A week was actually slow for that.
“The rumor...”
“Everyone, listen up!”
Adelin smacked the stack of papers on the desk to quiet the crowd.
Only once students returned to their spots did she speak.
“You've all had a week to adjust to your new followers, right?”
'Yes!' came the resounding cheer.
Why'd only you guys adjust?
I didn't.
“As names are called, come forward and grab your assignments one by one. Note: I don't recommend sharing with anyone besides your follower.”
Special training assignments were tailored to individual capabilities.
Word getting out meant rivals would try to sabotage.
Students grabbing theirs showed varied reactions.
Sighs of relief, groans of dismay, open complaints, satisfied grins.
While Mina and I waited, Adelin dropped an unexpected line.
“Halibal and Mina. Sorry, your assignments will be briefed separately later. There's an ongoing meeting about it.”
“...I see.”
“So you had to pick celebrities! You and I need a word later!”
Some murmuring at Adelin's chummy tone, but no big fuss.
Sure, special treatment, but awkward as it is to say, I deserved it as a student now.
Most just shrugged it off.
My mind naturally recalled Alicia's words from a week ago.
'We'll conquer the third Abyss within this practice period, after all.'
She was probably pushing for an Abyss-related assignment.
After assignments were distributed, post-class.
I'd dragged Mina—like a lamb to slaughter—to the spider dungeon again.
At the entrance, a familiar presence.
I turned to see a black-robed figure waiting, shoulders hunched.
Red hair peeked from the robe.
“Senior? Were you waiting for us to come out?”
“...Do you often hear you're clueless?”
This time, Alicia was the clueless one.
Missing her cue, she stepped out arms crossed.
“Here.”
She held out a slip of paper pinched between thumb and forefinger.
Obviously a practice assignment.
As I started to unfold it, she added,
“But heads up—it's not dungeon-related.”
“?”
“I-Is that true?”
Joy and sorrow crossed our faces.
Mina: joy.
Me: sorrow.
Hadn't she strutted off telling me not to worry?
“Can't be helped. Forces against your dungeon runs have grown lately, plus instructors worried purely about Mina's state.”
“Then what was with that confidence earlier?”
“You'll see when you check.”
I unfolded the paper, eyes scanning the text.
[Special Training Assignment Notice]
Team: Halibal Belder, Mina Rose
Special Observer: Alicia Cyrus
[Overview]
A Tartarus Cult branch was discovered midway up the Ronwood Mountains.
Goal: Achieve one of the following.
1. Subdue and eliminate all cultists at the branch.
2. Completely destroy the branch outpost itself.
[Notes]
This practice reflects real combat. Submit a report including strategic rationale and detailed execution records.
My free hand naturally stroked my chin.
Mina let out a soft "Ah..."
I folded the paper, asking again,
“What was with that confidence earlier?”
“N-No need to repeat yourself!”
My head throbbed.
'Why bring this now?'
Tartarus Cult branch.
I'd crashed at one when I first arrived in this world, so I'd planned to wipe one out someday.
But now? Not feeling it.
In the original, the cult branch extermination quest came after the third dungeon.
Given then to Aren, who'd ascended to powerhouse status, as a bounty.
Rewards? Just cash. Cultists? Trash mobs, no rare items.
Yet required serious firepower—not Abyss-level, but inefficient.
And handing it to first-years?
Didn't they just worry about Mina?
“Mina bears the saintess title. With the recent Divine Church incident, that's why this assignment.”
“Even so, wiping a cult branch? This risks our lives, no?”
“Worried already, junior? Someone said risking life is your hobby.”
“Who?”
“Cecilia Ren.”
Cecilia, you sold me out?
I'll deal with you later.
“Don't fret. Our intel says their forces aren't that strong.”
“Then why not have the investigators wipe them out?”
“Large troop movement, and they'll scatter like rats.”
'...Fair point.'
I'd reported the branch I escaped from before.
By the time soldiers arrived with me, it was gone without a trace.
They ditched the outpost the moment they confirmed my escape.
“What actually worries me is you, junior.”
“Why?”
Alicia's eyes suddenly sharpened.
“Have you... ever killed a person?”
“...”
Killed before?
Yes. Right after arriving in this world, once.
But I didn't answer.
Mallias kill was Cecilia's finisher, so officially, no human kills.
Bluntly saying yes here would invite needless suspicion.
No answer would tip them off too, though.
“...I see. Unfortunate or fortunate, not sure.”
Catching my silence's meaning, she softened her gaze.
Moments like this, the ditzy princess shines like a red scale.
'Sigh. My fate.'
I sighed inwardly, glancing at Mina.
“Assignment's unavoidable, but... what about Mina? She still can't even enter dungeons properly.”
A girl who fainted all week in the spider dungeon—how's she killing people?
Alicia looked at me utterly baffled.
“What are you talking about, junior? Why would a cult branch be a dungeon?”
“...?”
Huh? Hearing it, yeah, true.
Even in dungeon-centric End Academy, normal fields existed.
If monsters were dungeon-only, no reason for humans to fear Evil God Abysses.
Dungeon miasma pollutes fields, spawning monsters there too—but far fewer. Dungeons and fields are distinct.
'Still smoke and mirrors, right? Dungeon phobia only for 'dungeons'?'
No way.
Then Mina, who'd been listening, said casually,
“...As long as it's not a dungeon, I think I'd be fine.”
“...For real?”
I asked, stunned.
No failed vibe from her now.
She even looked like the imperial saintess I hadn't seen in ages.
“Yeah. And don't worry too much about killing people, either.”
Mina nodded, adding,
“The Evil God's followers aren't human, right?”