Sherry von Patrick (2)
The ground burned with ferocious intensity. It was as if hell itself had been unleashed; every tree and blade of grass in the vicinity had been reduced to nothing but ash. Sherry stood at the center of the inferno, staring at the man before her. Neat black hair. Distinct, handsome features that remained striking even beneath the black eyepatch covering his eyes. And finally, that flawless, perfectly proportioned physique. Most women would likely lose themselves for a moment at the sight of him. The blind man standing before her was simply that perfect.
“I’ll rescue you right away, Miss Sherry.”
The blind man looked straight at her as he spoke. Baran radiated an iron will, as though he were determined to break her brainwashing no matter what it took. At those words, her heart began to pound violently.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
While she was still lost in the lingering echo of his voice—
Bzzzzzzzzzt!!
An alarm vibration rang beside her ear. Sherry sat up with a start, her hair a wild mess. She reached over and turned off the alarm crystal orb, then fell into a brief daze.
“I’ll rescue you right away, Miss Sherry.”
The next moment, Baran’s gentle voice echoed inside her head. Ever since that day, he had appeared in every single dream she had. Even though it was a recurring dream.
“Ugh… Why do I keep thinking about Baran?”
Every time she woke up, self-loathing crashed over her. Remembering her own dark history, Sherry punched her pillow repeatedly with her fists.
A week had passed since the main episode ended. The practical assessment had been suspended that same day. Most of the monsters on the island had been wiped out because of Jack. Given that, it was only natural for the evaluation to be canceled. In the end, the practical portion was reluctantly replaced with theoretical classes.
“Haah.”
Sherry let out a deep sigh. Risa, who was now alone with her, asked in a voice full of worry.
“Did the academy change your punishment?”
In truth, Risa already knew Sherry had only received probation. They had grown somewhat close before the incident, after all. But if it wasn’t about the punishment, there was no reason for her to sigh like this. That was why she had asked again.
Sherry shook her head at the question.
“Hm? No, it’s not that. It really did just end with probation.”
“Then why are you sighing so heavily all of a sudden?”
Risa tilted her head as she watched Sherry lost in thought. Sherry took a sip of black tea. Then, in a serious voice, she said,
“Listen. This is about a friend of mine.”
“A friend?”
“Yeah! A friend!”
Her eyes sparkled as though emphasizing the word. It was obvious this was her own story, but the polite thing to do was pretend not to notice. Risa listened attentively and replied.
“Yes, so what about that friend?”
“She says she can’t stop thinking about a certain man every single day.”
“?!”
Risa’s eyes widened into perfect circles. She quickly followed up.
“And then?”
“Ah, um… Whenever she sees him, her heart races, she feels warm inside, and she says she can’t even make eye contact with him.”
Risa’s eyes instantly turned into those of a predator that had spotted prey. There was no doubt about it—Sherry had fallen in love!
‘Sherry has a crush?!’
Who was Sherry? The daughter of one of the four great families on the Manchester Continent. Known as the flower on the cliff, she drew lingering glances from every man who passed by. Yet here she was, making an adorably girlish face and pouring her heart out.
Curiosity fully ignited, Risa asked with sparkling eyes.
“Yes, yes! And then?!”
“And she says she dreams about that man every night.”
Just how much did she like him for her crush to appear in her dreams every single night? Unable to hold back any longer, Risa asked directly.
“So who is the guy she’s crushing on?”
“Uh, well… Since it’s my friend’s story, I didn’t hear every detail, but she said his eyes aren’t good. And that he uses a bow.”
“………”
The next moment, one man rose clearly in Risa’s mind. The man who covered his eyes with a black eyepatch and used a bow. It was immediately obvious that the person Sherry described was Baran.
“What should she do?”
At that moment, Sherry asked while fidgeting with her hands, her face flushed red. Risa genuinely didn’t know how to answer. After all, Baran couldn’t see.
‘Ugh. How should I respond?’
Normally she would have complimented the other person’s appearance. But no matter how much Sherry dressed up, Baran wouldn’t be able to see it. Frankly, even if she showed up wearing only underwear, he wouldn’t notice.
“First, when was the last time your friend spoke with him?”
“Um… I think the last time was a week ago…”
A week ago was the day of the practical assessment. In other words, Sherry was saying she hadn’t spoken to Baran even once since then!
“Th-that won’t do at all!”
“Huh?”
“You like him, but your last conversation was a whole week ago?!”
Risa’s sudden outburst left Sherry flustered. She hadn’t expected such a strong reaction, so her eyes darted around in panic.
“Go see him right now!”
“Y-yes!”
Pressed by Risa’s intensity, Sherry straightened her posture and answered. Though she wondered why Risa seemed so certain it was her, she still ran toward the training grounds where she guessed Baran would be.
“Pay for the drinks first!”
She had run off without settling the café bill.
A week had passed since the main episode. I quietly observed the status window floating before my eyes.
◈ Mind's Eye (★★★★★)
◈ Calmness (★★★)
◈ Divine Archer (★★)
◈ High-Speed Movement (★)
◈ Cash Shop (???)
◈ Mana Application Lv. 2
◈ Archer Mastery Lv. 3
After the main episode, I had become incomparably stronger than before. My stats and level needed no explanation. A single quest had raised my level by five, not one. I could now use Possession without any doping as well.
‘Speaking of doping… that reminds me.’
After the incident on the day of the practical assessment ended, the side effects had nearly killed me. I had known the pain would be severe, but I never imagined it would feel like my bones were being wrenched apart.
‘No wonder Kanya is still suffering from the aftereffects.’
Thankfully, the level-up had finally allowed me to move properly. If I hadn’t leveled up, I would still be groaning in agony just like her.
“It feels refreshing to come out after so long. The stuffiness is finally gone.”
At that moment, Miroel breathed in the outside air with an utterly relaxed smile. Because of the Possession, she had been trapped inside the Bow of the Beginning for an entire week. I didn’t know what it was like in there, but her reaction suggested it wasn’t a pleasant place.
“By the way, you’ve grown quite a bit in just a week, haven’t you, my disciple?”
“Have I?”
“Yes. At this rate, you should be able to use the second form without Possession.”
I nodded quietly. In fact, I had tested it yesterday just to loosen up my body. The result was that I had successfully used the second form—Space Arrow.
Of course—
“Its power will be infinitely weaker compared to when you use Possession, and the range won’t be very wide either.”
“Yes, that makes sense. How long can I maintain Possession right now?”
“Hmm. It looks like fifteen seconds is the limit.”
Miroel declared I could only use it for a mere fifteen seconds. This was under perfect condition, of course. If used in the middle of combat, it would probably be around ten seconds at best.
‘It’ll be difficult to use in real combat, then.’
Even if I did use it, it would have to be saved as a trump card.
‘In that case, let’s think about our plans.’
There was one thing I had realized after the last main episode. No matter how passively I tried to act, the butterfly effect would still occur. In that case, it seemed far better to act proactively. Wouldn’t that lead to better results? My growth would probably improve as well.
‘What was the next episode again?’
The field trip episode that would happen soon. The route would change depending on who the protagonist chose. If it had been the old me, I would have avoided getting entangled with supporting or main characters at all costs. However, I already had someone in mind.
None other than Lillia, the daughter of the Eldorado Merchant Guild. I needed to help her this time.
‘That way the Eldorado episode will become much easier.’
Therefore, I had to pair up with Lillia.
‘Now then, let’s see.’
I slowly recalled the episodes that would occur during the first semester.
The student council request. The Holy Federation school trip. The final exam episode.
There were roughly three main episodes like this. Especially the final exam—just like the practical assessment—was a major event. So I needed to prepare proactively before then.
‘In the end, all these episodes are simply preparation for the final exams.’
While I was busy turning the gears in my head and making plans—
“Now that I think about it, that young lady is nowhere to be seen?”
Miroel looked around. The woman she referred to was none other than Sherry. Normally she would be training hard around this time, but lately she had been avoiding me.
‘Hmm. Why is she avoiding me?’
As that question crossed my mind, Miroel let out a pleased hum beside me.
“Hmmm. It’s been a while since I’ve had my disciple all to myself.”
“We’re alone together every day once I enter the room, though.”
“Th-that’s true. But we rarely get to be alone together outside like this, don’t we?”
She waved her arms in protest. It seemed she had grown quite lonely while trapped inside the Bow of the Beginning.
“Tsk!”
At that moment, Miroel suddenly clicked her tongue. Thanks to Mind's Eye, I turned my head toward the source. The next instant, I spotted Sherry peeking out from behind a pillar, only her face visible.
‘Wait, why is she hiding there?’
She had been avoiding me until yesterday. Yet now she was suddenly hiding behind a pillar and staring intently in my direction. Wondering what she was doing, I activated High-Speed Movement.
“Ugh, how can I talk to him naturally? Where did he—”
“Miss Sherry?”
“Kyaaaaah?!”
At my call, she screamed as if she had seen a ghost. She was so startled she even jumped. Feeling a bit awkward, I scratched my cheek and asked.
“Are you alright?”
“Ah, y-yes! I’m fine! Hello, Baran! The weather is really nice today!”
We were indoors. What was she talking about? There weren’t even any windows, so she couldn’t possibly see the weather outside. I found her rambling rather absurd, but I played along for now.
“Yes, the weather is nice.”
“R-right?”
“Yes. More importantly, did you need something from me?”
“Ah, um, well…”
Her eyes spun in circles. I had assumed she came because she had business with me, but seeing her so flustered, it seemed she had nothing prepared to say.
‘Why did she come, then?’
It was then.
Bzzzzt!
A sudden vibration came from Sherry’s subspace pouch. Coming back to her senses, she pulled out a crystal orb. The next moment—
She flinched. Her face hardened abruptly. Wondering who was contacting her, I watched quietly.
‘Hmm?’
The person calling was Gray, the head of the Patrick family and Sherry’s father.