Chapter 100

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Translator: uly

Chapter: 100

Chapter Title: Affection Sub Quest

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Coming over to my side?

Why?

I thought maybe she was cold, but no.

Before setting up the tent.

I'd dug into the ground and buried a fire-starting stone.

In that case, the stone doesn't spew flames but radiates heat, making it a great insulator. We could spend the night nice and warm.

So, had she gotten too much snow on her?

But she'd dashed into the tent as fast as possible.

It was weird that I wasn't cold, but Milmyu was.

So what was it?

The sudden field. The bizarre weather.

The howling storm outside.

The cramped tent.

Just the two of us in this moment.

The tent was a bit big for two people, which created this odd sense of distance.

I see.

I nodded as I observed Milmyu's condition.

She's trembling faintly and sneaking glances at me.

In other words...

"Are you anxious?"

"Y-yes?"

I'm deeply moved.

In this tense situation, Milmyu is leaning on me, looking to me for support.

Not running away, but relying on a reliable senior.

Are you watching, Brother?

I've become someone people can confide in and depend on, just like you.

The neighborhood high school kids' counselor.

The guardian deity who even keeps the delinquents away so they don't cause trouble by sneaking smokes.

Now I can proudly say I'm your employee, chest puffed out.

"Do whatever. If you're anxious, come closer."

"R-really!?"

Milmyu said that, then clamped her mouth shut with a hum. She glanced around, then slid right up next to me.

"Isn't this too close?"

"No, this feels just right!"

Our bodies weren't touching.

But our breaths were.

Right next to each other.

A distance where I could feel her warmth.

I wondered if it was okay, but hey, if she's anxious, what can I do?

By the way, kids these days get anxious so easily.

"I see. Is the anxiety easing up now?"

"...Y-yes? No! I'm still a bit anxious."

"I see. Then stay like that a little longer."

"Y-yeah..."

For someone so anxious, her pronunciation was crystal clear and her voice full of spirit, but with her face flushed and body shivering, she must still be nervous.

Honestly, I feel responsible. If I'd stopped her from coming from the start, she wouldn't be anxious.

But as a senior in life, I have to give solid advice.

He's so unshakable.

Milmyu thought suddenly.

Or maybe she just couldn't shake him at all.

What if he doesn't even see her as a woman?

If so, Milmyu felt like bursting into tears right then and there.

Deeply hurt, she'd run back to the dorm, bury her face in her pillow, and sob her heart out.

Then tomorrow, she'd come find Senior Wolfram again.

It's serious.

Milmyu coldly, calmly assessed her own feelings and let out a self-deprecating laugh.

But this hurts so much.

If he doesn't even see her that way...

"Milmyu."

"Y-yes!"

"It's an honor as a senior that you're relying on me. But mind how you do it."

"H-how?"

"Your parents who sent you to Jefrin expect you to focus on your studies."

"Yes."

"So it's best to avoid actions that could lead to misunderstandings."

"......Yes?"

"Clinging like this could easily be misunderstood. Be careful from now on."

"......"

Milmyu's intellect is sharp.

And with that intellect, she desperately pieced together what Wolfram had just said to her, her eyes widening round.

This close contact could cause misunderstandings.

Meaning her senior saw her as someone who could be misunderstood that way.

So he sees her as a woman!

"...Yes, Senior. I'll be careful from now on."

"Mm."

But for Milmyu von Sabre, that misunderstanding was joyful yet worrisome.

She didn't want her senior thinking she was the type to cling to just anyone.

So... Milmyu took several deep breaths, steeled her resolve, and spoke.

"Senior. To be honest... I think I'm a failing student. I got lucky and made it this far. Being top of the year isn't my place. That's... how I feel."

"I don't think so, but this doesn't seem like a pep talk you need. Keep going."

"Because I'm a failing student. Inexperienced. Dull... So it feels like we'll never end up together."

"......"

"...It has to be my first love, or nothing."

Milmyu... steadied her breath.

She'd said it all. What if he picked up on it even a little? Would he reject her? He has a fiancée. Or pretend not to notice? Or had he not noticed at all? Countless thoughts swirled, rose, and fell.

Then Wolfram von Loengrin's mouth opened.

Hmm. I see.

I quietly weighed Milmyu's words and nodded.

It wasn't something to take lightly, and I felt like I'd said something unnecessary to her.

"Milmyu."

"Y-yes!"

"...Sorry."

"..........Ah."

Milmyu's eyes darkened coldly.

Proving my advice had been pointless.

"You have firm convictions. Your view on love is truly admirable. That settles it."

"No, I mean... uh?"

"If you've already set your life's guiding principle on how to live, my advice was worse than none."

"Eh-heh?"

"Forgive me."

"Ah, no. Wait, Senior? What I meant was..."

"Wasn't it about your philosophy on love? I think it's a great mindset."

"No... I mean..."

"I get it completely. Don't worry."

".............."

I nodded.

If we meet someone, I'll devote myself to just that one person for life.

A dream. An empty promise. Childish fancy. I could dismiss it like that, but I want to cheer her on.

After all, isn't it the pure dream only someone who's never fallen for anyone can hold?

Anyway, I'd given careless advice to a girl with such convictions.

As I nodded several times, Milmyu looked at me with more hollow eyes, then gripped and ungripped her 'Cartridge-Type Battle Gauntlet Mk.2 Founders Edition' a few times.

Why? Is there an activation issue?

"Can't be helped."

With a deep sigh, Milmyu smiled as usual and leaned back—not toward me or away, but relaxed with a soft smile that looked truly comfortable.

We chatted about trivial things after that.

Just like always.

For example...

"About the Cartridge-Type Battle Gauntlet Mk.2 Founders Edition—I want to upgrade it."

"Modding the Cartridge Chirp Punch No.2 Founders Edition again?"

"Aila suggested attaching a ring from wrist to backhand that uses up spare mana stones for a spinning effect. She named it Explosive Chirp Screw Punch..."

"...Wouldn't that be dangerous if you trip? It could strain the joints too."

"Indeed. Scrapped. Gotta go with the actual user's opinion. Do you have any requests, Milmyu?"

"I'd love a balance mechanism too."

"...Ho. I'll prepare something then."

As we bantered lightly, a brief silence fell.

And in that moment, we both sensed it.

"...Ah."

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

"Looks like ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠it stopped."

The hush inside the tent spread outward, signaling the blizzard had ended as the whole world fell into a deep stillness.

"Will Senior Aila and Patrascheu be okay?"

"They'll be fine."

Actually, while talking with Milmyu, I'd been checking Aila's status window.

No abnormalities. She must've just stayed in her tent.

Outside, the snow had only lightly accumulated, as expected.

Map effect, huh. Good thing.

"Aila."

"...Yes."

"You look displeased. What's wrong?"

"I got trapped in the tent mid-snowman. It's not treasonous..."

Turning from pouty Aila, I saw Patrascheu snoring in the tent corner, belly-down on the floor.

Yeah, nice and warm, so sleepy time for you.

"No more freak weather for a while, so play freely."

"Really? As expected of Wolfram! Only Wolfram!"

Aila jumped up, dashed out, and raised both hands high.

"Rise! Treasonous Snowman!"

Then amethyst crystals boomed from the ground, gathering surrounding snow into a massive snowman.

Towering over my height—twice, no three times that. No telling how high it'd go.

"...Senior Aila's amazing."

"I think so too."

"Always so bright, drawing everyone in. Not timid like me."

"......Is that the image?"

"Yes. She's super cool. I admire her."

I nodded at the three-story snowman now moving with amethyst joints, shouting "Treasonous Snowman."

Definitely.

That Aila isn't the Act 3 boss Aila Trista I knew.

Anyway.

"You say it's cool, huh..."

"Yes? Ah... Yes, really cool."

"Hm. So the final form of the Cartridge Chirp Battle Punch is a giant robot?"

"...Senior?"

Our chatter continued into the night.

We lit a fire with the camp set, ate, sat in chairs stargazing.

Snowfield, but Aila's black crystals blocked the wind—not too cold.

About nine o'clock now.

Still time before Aila slept.

So the talk went on till dinner.

"I see. Chirp Punch No.2 has upgrade potential."

"Mm. Note: Rolling Chirp Punch mod scrapped for safety. External ring needs solid base and joint reinforcement for spin... not easy."

"Too bad. What about launchers? Like my black crystal—pwang!"

"...Hoo."

"No other topics...?"

Other topics?

Of course.

A super fun one.

"Aila. How many chairs did we set up?"

"Hm? Four."

"Yes. Three of us—why four?"

"For Patrascheu?"

......

Don't say that; it kills the conversation.

"No. Patrascheu gets floor heater stones. And she's been sleeping in the tent since the evacuation."

"Ah, right. We reset chairs after the blizzard. So why?"

"It's from the legends of this Poyoung snowfield."

"Oh? Legends here too?"

"Mm. The great ancestors hid tons of legends and secrets in Jefrin. More I haven't uncovered than have."

"What legend?"

"This Poyoung snowfield is home to snow and ice fairies."

"Different from the fairy paradise Patrascheu mentioned?"

"Different core. Fairy paradise centers on Fairy Queen Elphira. Her blessed fairies form armies, so it moves at her will. Here, eternal ice 'Yeongbing' anchors it—hard to move. Even the founding emperor struggled."

"That Yeongbing that impressive?"

"Of course."

I said, gazing at the snow mountain beyond the moonlit snowfield.

Vast eternal snow. A peak touching the sky, like it could crash down on me.

"See that mountain?"

"Ah. Yeongbing there?"

"No. The mountain itself is Yeongbing."

"......Pardon?"

"The great ancestor moved that Yeongbing to northern artificial island Jefrin and planted it."

"...Uh, mm."

Can't fathom how humans did that. It's lore, so whatever, but now it's real—means it's possible?

And Eve, who'll rival the founding emperor at her peak, can do it someday?

......

Don't overthink.

"Fun story anyway."

"No, not done. Why four chairs?"

"Right. Why?"

"Yeongbing's power reaches here, so legend says prep an extra chair, chat about fairies, and one might visit."

"...Really?"

"No. It actually came."

See. Milmyu's been blankly staring at the empty chair, ignoring our talk.

Her mana sensitivity let her notice first.

"Se-senior..."

"Oh my..."

On the empty chair sat a girl all in white—white everything: skin, dress, long hair.

The about-ten-year-old stared at us, then beamed.

......

No idea how many times, but first-meet fat joke? Or not.

"No."

"That's not it either."

She said, lounging in the chair.

"Here."

I handed her cream-filled black bread; she placed a snowball on my hand.

Just compacted snow everywhere, but from a fairy, it means something.

"Nice gift. I'll put it to good use."

Anyway, we met the 'reason for trekking here.'

Lilia Snow.

Mid-story sub quest NPC.

The one who hands out snowfield materials for food.

Affection run. Affection build. Affection beggar fairy.

"Eat."

In other words.

Sucker.