Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: A Shoulder to Lean On
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Unable to forget the heat of battle, I calmed the kids down, quickly ordered the Black Flag prisoners to be transported, and then left the scene.
Sorry, but now's not the time to play around with you all.
Right now, it's time to check my rewards.
As if reading my mind, the system message chimed in. Alright, what equipment did I get?
Since this isn't a game, there's no inventory or equipment slots. Instead of just popping into my hands, it drops somewhere nearby.
Thinking that, I scanned the area, and sure enough, something thudded onto the ground right in front of me.
Hmm... Uh-huh.
Is this for real?
Really?
No matter how I looked at it, it was a long silver rod.
A bit longer than my height, with a wolf carved at the tip. Flame patterns embossed along the entire length—it was unmistakably an item. Equipment, even.
The problem was figuring out what effects this gear had.
I'd expected something like a Mid-tier Crafting Kit or a Homunculus Egg.
"A long weapon like this... Staff. Rod. Melee bludgeon type, maybe?"
Ambiguous. Really ambiguous. What am I supposed to do with this? Bash and poke?
Still, they gave it to me, so I'll hold onto it for now...
The moment I picked up the staff with a swipe, I saw it, felt it, and understood why it came to me.
Equipped: Bonus to user's HP recovery.
Includes special skill.
Growth-type armament.
Hero Summoning [6T]
Applies beneficial effects to vassals based on bonds with party members.
"Holy shit."
Why the hell did a growth item drop here?
My face twisted in a mix of joy and bewilderment.
I held the staff and pondered for a moment.
It was definitely good equipment as is.
It could serve as a walking aid, and it boosted HP recovery.
Plus, the more bonds I built with party members, the more specs it gained.
It wasn't exactly the same item, but I knew of one that followed a similar path.
It probably started as a Copper Staff—bronze tier, basically.
Thanks to building enough trust with Aila, it evolved into the silver version. Next up would be gold, I bet.
Undeniably top-tier gear.
But growth items were a hassle—they required constantly meeting growth conditions while equipped to keep progressing.
How to describe it? Like the Magic-Piercing Straight Sword, a growth weapon.
Level it up fully, and it pierces 60% of magic defense after a ton of time.
But snag the Demon Sword Spell Darábi from Filtia's trial on a great success? Cuts defense in half instantly.
In other words, growth items had high potential, but innate high-tier gear let you shred effortlessly, quickly, and easily.
Sure, growth items were ideal for endgame content...
I was thrilled to get it, but raising it felt daunting.
"I get why they gave it to me, but still."
Sigh.
Whatever. The system praised me for enslaving Erhel. Something about domination, then highly rated me for giving precise commands in battle to turn an unreasonable fight into victory.
In other words, to the system, I'm positioned as a lord who commands the battlefield and embraces even enemies.
I've sunk tens of thousands of hours into this game—figuring that much out is child's play.
Anyway, system seeing the convenience store boss as an emperor? Whatever. I've got other priorities.
"Time to register for the party system."
I already had party members in mind. Quite a few, actually.
First: Aila. Nefti. Rudika. Milmieu. Those four were my core party in my heart.
But this wasn't just bromance—it was like signing a formal contract.
Putting them all in would probably explode the party synergies...
"Hmm."
Still, my mind was made up.
Wolfram von Loengrin left with a serious expression for a moment.
The rest called in the reserves from the rear to transport the Black Flag prisoners and began cleanup, finally feeling the battle's heat fade.
"...Hoo."
"My lord. Are you not pleased with this great victory?"
"Of course I am. This should weaken the Black Flag's momentum."
"Then why the dark expression?"
"Sylphia... You're not smiling either."
"......Yes. You're right."
When the battle ended, Aila Trista was the only one with a bright face.
It was a clumsy fight through and through.
Good enough for a first real battle? A victory, so be satisfied?
Excuses, all of it.
Everyone here could claim top strength depending on growth: the Jewel Sword, a genius who contracted an intermediate spirit at 17—unheard of even among fairies—magic power monsters at 20, 21, 22.
As Wolfram von Loengrin said, they couldn't celebrate taking down a few hundred bandits.
After graduating this academy, they'd stand as rulers, leading the world, sometimes throwing themselves into monster fights.
Even with few real combats, Jefrin doubled as a military academy—they'd always trained against monsters.
Yet before the fight, anxiety shook them; during, they couldn't stop their legs from trembling.
"Sylphia. Could we have rin on our own?"
"Of course."
"...You mean that?"
"......Yes. I'm certain we wouldn't have routed."
"But someone would have been injured."
Sylphia Evergreen Grove couldn't respond.
Yeah. They could've rin.
But a perfect victory with zero even minor injuries, like this?
"What did Wolfram tell you?"
"Two things: Don't step back five paces or forward two. That's your zone. If you're that worried about my lord, send Lapis Lazuli as a detachment for protection."
"Clean. Precise, too."
"......Yes."
Eve sighed again.
Thinking back made her dizzy.
Battle's end. The archer detachment's ambush caught Eve and the mages completely off guard.
They should've spread mana to scan the field, but fixated on enemies melting away, they showed a brief opening.
The enemy exploited it perfectly.
But as if reading that gap too, Wolfram sent his wolf to block the arrows, crafting a flawless, injury-free finale.
Ridiculously simple. Effortless. Clean.
It wasn't just Eve and Sylphia who faltered. Isolde Cruel went berserk; Regina Cielra seemed distracted throughout.
Strictly speaking, the only one who pulled full weight was Black Crystal Aila Trista.
She missed the ambush too, but her chant speed and magic traits would've blocked the arrows easily.
"He scolded us: 'What disgrace from those who'll stand at the pinnacle of hundreds of thousands?'"
He was right.
They were top geniuses even in strict Jefrin.
So what position did he hold, commanding them so simply?
Sympathizing with Eve's turmoil, Sylphia chose encouragement over self-loathing.
"There will be a next time, my lord."
"Pardon?"
"Wolfram von Loengrin will lead countless expeditions ahead. He won't sit still. And our fight with the Black Flag isn't over."
"True... Yes."
"Join and learn then. You can do it, my lord."
"Thanks. Right, there's a next time."
Eve von Loengrin finally smiled back.
"Glad your spirits are up."
"By the way, Sylphia."
"Yes, my lord."
"You know Wolfram's command style pretty well?"
"......W-Well, you see. Um."
Seeing Sylphia flustered, Eve wondered if she'd teased too much and stood without waiting.
"Yes. There's a next time. A next..."
Next time, she wouldn't lose.
Heading back to the convenience store after the expedition.
"Wolfram. You worked hard on this expedition."
"Mm."
"We'll settle the rewards separately. This was an official request, so don't worry—your merits will be properly accounted for."
Eve said that and left coolly.
Whatever.
"Aila, aren't you heading to the dorm?"
"That wouldn't be bad, but... could I stop by the convenience store for a quick breather?"
"Go ahead."
Thus, we split from the full student council midway; Part Razu's cart carried just me and Aila.
"You really worked hard this expedition, Wolfram."
"...Mm. I just gave orders from the back."
"No. Thanks to you, no one got hurt."
"......"
Hmm.
This is...
Aila's voice trembled slightly; checking the party window showed status ailments.
Anxiety. Low tension. Something like that.
She looked fine outwardly, and I'd glimpsed her smiling during cleanup, so I thought she was okay—but apparently not.
"What are you anxious about?"
"......Pardon? I'm fine."
The status window doesn't lie.
"Then why's your voice shaking? Aila... Are you lying to me?"
"......Ugh."
At my question, she finally shook her head no, then nodded yes. Which is it?
"I'm scared... Anxious."
"About what?"
"...My own strength."
......
Ah, I see.
"Is that so..."
"N-No! It's not stupid! ...W-With Black Crystal, I smashed people and they went flying—boom!"
"Mm. Yeah."
"Seeing that scared me..."
"Haven't you launched plenty at Jefrin? Kelters, Regina Cielra too."
"Th-Those were at least Jefrin's top ranks! I believed they'd endure!"
"Didn't you hunt monsters while inspecting the mines?"
"...You're mean."
Aila puffed her cheeks and glared poutily.
The sight drew a smile; I shrugged unconsciously.
"Using magic on people with killing intent outside Jefrin... Truly frightening."
"Yes. Exactly. I realized for the first time—my magic can really kill. That anxiety. Fear. Losing myself in the unfamiliar heat, failing to control my power..."
Aila Trista.
In the original story, Act 4's boss charging at Kelters and crew with intent to kill.
Now, terrified of her magic's might and its lethal potential.
Words slipped out unbidden.
"Don't worry."
"...Pardon?"
"...I'm here. With me around, you'll be safest even in life-or-death battles... And you won't face fields where you must take lives."
"......Pfft."
"Don't believe me? My trust rating must've tanked."
"No, no. I just thought... Wolfram's amazing. Commanding flawlessly, staying cool even there."
Well, yeah.
You don't survive this gig getting swept up in a skirmish like that.
As I mulled my next words, something leaned against me.
Aila rested her face on my shoulder, eyes closed, expression serene.
"Then I'll trust you, Wolfram, and rest like this a bit."
"...Go ahead."
No need for more words until we reached the convenience store.