The Mandragorazberry's Effect
「Important Quest Notification! You must proceed with Meeting the Lord of the Cliad Sect. Time remaining: 9 hours
[Quest Progress]
Step 1: Party Formation (Incomplete)
Step 2: Inspect the carcass of Hogryphon Vulcher (Incomplete)
Step 3: Go to the enemy’s hideout (Incomplete)」
Ho-yeong and the others were finishing their meal and preparing to discuss their next move. They had gathered around a flat stone that served as a table.
“No matter how I think about it, I can’t come up with an answer. Why do those pointy-eared bastards want me to bring my sons instead of this old man…?”
Marquis Iolid wore a grave expression as he stroked his beard. Stroking it was too gentle a word; he was closer to ripping at it.
“Why indeed? If they wanted the three of us together, that would be one thing, but….”
Kristian left unsaid the thought that they were being summoned despite the fact that they were not even especially gifted in magic.
“Father, what should we do now?”
Keiji wore his anxiety openly on his face.
“It’s also strange that, among the thirty holy knights gathered here, they singled out Vice-Commander Demis.”
The holy knights, too, watched their vice-commander with worried faces. Demis Ezef himself remained expressionless.
“Please, have dessert first and then speak. It will help calm your worries.”
Peach came carrying freshly baked pie and a teapot. A sweet-tart fragrance spread at once.
Everyone looked as if they wanted to say, Is this really the time for that? Still, as the scent reached them, their tension gradually eased.
“Yes, at least take a bite first. Mandragorazberry is very good for digestion and lifting the spirits.”
Female mandragorani did not grow horns on their heads; instead, a berry resembling a wild raspberry formed below the ear. Ho-yeong had named that fruit Mandragorazberry, and it had the effects of aiding digestion, improving low moods, and sharpening concentration.
Of course, it tasted good too. It had just the right balance of tartness and sweetness, with a distinctive flavor that made it perfect for pastries and herbal tea, just as they were using it now.
Huh? What’s with her? Why is she acting like that only toward the Iolid family?
Peach smiled brightly as she carried plates and cups around, but when she approached the Iolid household in particular, her expression stiffened so sharply it looked as if she might smash the teacups down.
And yet the Iolid family’s reaction was just as strange, so it was hard to blame Peach alone.
What’s wrong with those mages? You’d think they’d be offended at being treated like nobodies by a maid, so why are they just standing there?
The marquis and his sons weren’t angry at all. If anything, they were avoiding Peach’s eyes with clear discomfort.
“Then please, enjoy your meal.”
“Peach, wait a moment.”
Ho-yeong stopped Peach as she turned away with the tray.
“Did something happen with the Iolid family?”
“I’ll tell you later.”
Ho-yeong was surprised by the uncharacteristically hardened look on Peach’s face, but he let it pass for now. He had something more important to tell her.
“Don’t go. Stay by my side. There’s something I want you to take part in too.”
“Yes, Master.”
She might well have wondered why she was being included in the strategy meeting, but Peach offered no objection and took her place beside him.
“It may take some time, so sit down. Your legs must be tired.”
“May I sit on Master’s lap?”
“Then my legs will be tired. Sit in the chair.”
Even as they exchanged that brief joke, Ho-yeong could not put his mind at ease.
Should I really take Peach with me? I have no idea what might happen.
He had thought the marquis looked weak for openly worrying over his grown sons, but when the time came to bring Peach along, he finally understood the man’s feelings.
“Why have you been looking at me like that since earlier?”
Each time he saw Peach’s bright smile, his own expression darkened further.
“No, it’s not nothing… though I can’t exactly say it’s nothing.”
With the hand that had been hiding his Ring of Truth, Ho-yeong grabbed his teacup and poured it into his mouth.
“Eek! Master, isn’t it hot?!”
“Count of the Border Region, are you all right?”
Everyone was horrified at the sight of him gulping down hot tea.
“Kuhhh. Now that’s cleared up the tightness in my stomach. You all saw that, right? Don’t hold back. Drink up.”
After demonstrating his macho method of consumption, Ho-yeong made up his mind and told Peach the truth.
“Ah, I already knew.”
“You knew?”
“I heard people talking. Word’s spread all over that the lord of the Cliad Sect wanted me brought to him.”
“…I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner. I didn’t know how to say it, so I kept quiet.”
“What do you have to apologize for, Master? You were only worrying about me. That makes me happy.”
Peach smiled as though it were nothing at all.
“Still, Miss Peach, if you knew, how can you be so calm? You’d be stepping into a place that may be a den of death.”
“Exactly. What courage, young lady. There could be some kind of trap….”
The holy knights, oblivious, kept saying unnecessary things that only made Peach more uneasy.
“How could I be calm? You’re trying to act cheerful on purpose so that we won’t worry. Then why go and say such things-”
“Master, I truly am calm.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Peach stood and grabbed her master’s arm as he was about to scold them. Her face still held those clear eyes and that bright smile.
“Peach, I know your heart is admirable. You don’t want to upset anyone. But this isn’t something to think about lightly. As the holy knights said, this could truly be dangerous.”
Ho-yeong found her behavior admirable, but at the same time, it was heartbreaking.
「Peach is extremely anxious.」
He didn’t even need the Evil Eye of Anxiety to tell him that much. Being told to enter the den of fanatics when she didn’t even know who they really were—how could she not be afraid?
“So let’s calm down and think of a plan. We have the finest knights and mages on the continent here. We still have time, so we can work something out. There’s no need to be so anxious-”
“It’s far more frightening to send only you into something dangerous like that, Master.”
Peach’s smile faded.
“I’ve been like this ever since I started serving you. Every time you went off to battle, I prayed to the god of heaven again and again that you’d return safely. In my heart, I wanted to follow you to the battlefield like a retainer and tend to your needs, but you refused me. I don’t resent you for it, of course. You only did it because you were worried about me. Still, I couldn’t stop worrying. And when you went out to subjugate the ogre… well. I don’t want to wait alone and worry anymore.”
Bitten with remembered pain, she pressed her lips together.
“So I’m happy right now. I can be of help to you, Master, and I can go with you. I was only anxious because… I thought you might leave me behind again and go somewhere dangerous alone.”
That was the last thing Ho-yeong had expected to hear.
So that’s what she meant by anxious?!
“And I was worried by the shadow on your face from earlier. I thought you might be carrying some other burden. If it was worry about strategy or tactics, I would have been sad. I can’t help you with matters like that…. But if it was simply because you were worrying about me, then I’m truly glad.”
Looking down at Ho-yeong, Peach smiled again.
“My poor Master… you already have so many things on your mind, and yet you were fretting over such needless worries. If I go with you, I may become a burden to you, but… at the very least, I don’t want to be a burden on your heart. I’ll do anything I can. Even if it means giving my life.”
The Ring of Truth shone with a transparent light.
“I’ll follow you wherever you go, Master. Even if it’s inside the fiery barrier of the Six-Headed Dragon. Even if I’m suffocating in smoke and flame… if I can breathe my last breath in this world beside you, then I’ll be happy.”
Peach wrapped his face in her large, beautiful heart.
“I feel like I’m suffocating right now, though….”
If it had been any other day, he would have shoved her away on the spot, but this time Ho-yeong only held her waist gently and patted her back.
“Thank you, Peach. Your words gave me strength. And you’re absolutely no burden.”
“Really? I’m not a knight like Lady Lilian, and I can’t use magic like Meyril….”
“If we go there, there’s a good chance a fight will break out. But even so, you can still do your part as well as any ordinary soldier!”
During their travels, Peach had learned various martial arts from Ho-yeong whenever they had a chance. Of course, Ho-yeong had not intended to awaken her as a combat type; she had been the one to ask for it.
『Master, please teach me martial arts too.』
『Martial arts, of all things? Why the sudden interest? It’s not hard to teach, but….』
He had seen her knocking around thugs in Rainpa and assumed she was about to say, “I just want to be able to protect myself.” But instead—
『I want to protect you, Master.』
『Guh. Th-thank you.』
『And if possible… I’d like to protect the people around me too.』
『Oh. Yes, you even shielded Meyril well earlier. That was truly admirable. All right, let’s start training!』
According to the status window’s guidance, the discipline Peach had the greatest aptitude for was taekwondo. Ho-yeong had once worked as an instructor at a taekwondo gym, and with Blooming, he could accelerate the training.
“But only ever use your martial arts for self-defense. And don’t think you can solve everything through fighting alone. There are things only you can do, Peach.”
Influence Conversion, cast through S+ rank charm and SS rank edification, had the potential to serve as a trump card.
“Ahem, ahem!”
Only after the marquis coughed loudly did the master and maid finally separate.
“Oh dear, I got so emotional that I… I apologize, everyone.”
“No, we are the ones who feel moved.”
The holy knights, whom he had expected to frown on such an intimate embrace, instead looked deeply touched. Demis Ezef, especially, offered fervent praise.
“That young lady’s courage has strengthened even my own resolve. I offer my sincerest respect.”
The Iolid sons, who had been anxious, seemed to have steadied their hearts as well.
“Indeed. If even such a frail young lady does not shrink from danger, then I, as the heir of the marquis house, should not cower either.”
“My brother speaks truly. We may not be knights, but we are mages, and we will summon our courage! We’ll bring out even our paltry mana!”
“Yes, good spirit. But don’t bring out your mana. You can’t cast magic, remember.”
「The ally anxiety raised by Peach’s Influence has subsided, and courage is surging forth! Just as the Guardian said earlier, combat strength is not a character’s only value. If you have an outstanding influence-bearer like Peach, you can turn a crisis into an opportunity!」
「Ability level increased! The passive skill Influence has risen from level 16 to 17. In addition, the main skill tree Influence Conversion has increased from level 4 to 6, and the sub skill tree Influence Leadership has risen from level 3 to 4. Since both skill trees are now at a higher level, the efficiency upon reaching Tier 3 enhancement will be immense.」
Seeing the status window message, Ho-yeong caught on to something.
Influence... enhancement.... Oh? Right. There was that method.
A good idea struck him, and Ho-yeong immediately decided to put it into practice.
“Marquis, would it be possible to bring the fourth son here right now?”
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