Chapter 20
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: First Friend (6)
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After the subjugation of the Half-Moon Bear.
Ishihan and Pamela returned to the Lucadia Academy and finished their report.
Pamela, who was currently resting alone in her inn room, thanks to Ishihan's consideration for her tired body from climbing the mountain, was.
"The best friend... heh, hehe, hehehehehe...."
She was grinning foolishly, replaying the words Ishihan had said to her over and over in her head.
The words "the best friend" that Ishihan had uttered today.
Those words, Pamela had been replaying them in her head while waiting for the carriage, while riding in the carriage, and while receiving her reward, grinning foolishly.
Knowing that, Ishihan had also immediately suggested that she rest.
The intention was not to disturb her happy private time.
Pamela had never had a friend since she was a child.
Being a witch's apprentice was one reason, but Pamela's personality also played a part, making it even harder for her to have friends.
She would stutter, laugh gloomily when something good happened, and on top of that, when she tried to get closer to the other children by quickly telling them what she knew, they would leave, saying she was creepy.
That was why, to Pamela, a friend was like a mythical creature.
But now, a being had appeared who not only said he wanted to be her friend but also called her his best friend.
That was Ishihan.
Pamela still couldn't believe that she had become friends with Ishihan, but she was so happy.
Her first friend.
A first friend.
That friend had called her his best friend.
And it was Ishihan, who had shown incredible skill not only in the entrance exam but also on the mountain.
He had completely pierced through the golem made by the academy, core and all.
Even when facing the Half-Moon Bear, he had acted calmly and defeated it easily with overwhelming skill.
Pamela didn't know much about spearmanship, but recalling the successful candidates who had struggled in the entrance exam, she could tell that Ishihan's skills were overwhelming.
But Ishihan didn't just have skills.
To Pamela, he was also a kind and wonderful person.
To put it in a metaphor, he was a saint.
'H-he listened to my stories without getting disgusted....'
Especially when he had asked her to tell him about medicinal herbs in the carriage.
Pamela had felt as if she were having a happy dream.
Pamela knew from her past experiences.
That other people didn't really like stories about medicinal herbs.
Especially if she mentioned insects, they would wrinkle their noses or leave immediately.
But Ishihan had asked her to tell him her stories about medicinal herbs.
On top of that.
'H-he asked me to tell him again. He, hehe....'
When Pamela had spoken too fast and he couldn't hear her well, he had asked her to repeat herself.
Pamela had taken this as Ishihan being so interested in medicinal herbs that he wanted to hear it again.
'M-maybe Mr. Shih-han would even like stories about insects... n-no, I shouldn't think so rashly! Medicinal herbs might be okay, but he might hate insects. B-but Mr. Shih-han... if he did like it....'
Pamela imagined Ishihan being happy listening to her stories about insects in her head.
-Oh, there's a bug like that? That's very interesting. Thank you for telling me, Pamela. You really are the best friend.
"Hehehehehe... it's too much praise to be called the best friend, Mr. Shih-han~."
Pamela's body swayed as she felt embarrassed even by the lines of the Ishihan she had imagined.
It was uncertain whether Ishihan actually liked stories about insects.
But there would be many opportunities to find out in the future.
Although there were several schools in the academy, it wasn't as if they were completely divided by school for their classes.
The students in the early stages of enrollment all had to take classes at a set time.
After taking the basic classes, the new students were given a choice.
They could choose to take classes in their field of interest at a set time.
It didn't matter which school the classes belonged to.
A student who mainly used a sword could take classes from the school of magic, and a student aiming for development could take classes from the school of theology.
Or they could choose not to take any other classes besides the ones they had to take in common.
The academy was a place where talented individuals were gathered and raised, but how they wanted to grow was left to the students' autonomy.
However, twice every six months, they would be checked on how much they had grown in the time they hadn't taken classes, or how much they had achieved that would be helpful to the world.
If a student was judged to have made no progress without a special reason four times, that student would be expelled from the academy.
In other words, besides the common classes, Pamela could, if she wanted, take the same classes as Ishihan, so they could have conversations as friends taking the same classes.
Even if not, Pamela was in the same group as Ishihan.
Since they would be spending time together in the same group activities after all their classes were over, there would be plenty of opportunities to talk.
"The same group... the same group as Mr. Shih-han... hehe, hehehehehe. Hmph!"
While she was grinning foolishly again, the negative thinking that had been built up since she was a child warned Pamela.
This was no time to be grinning.
He had suggested they be in the same group.
He had said they were friends.
But that was because the magic she had learned from her master had been helpful to Ishihan.
If she were to just be relieved by the fact that they were in the same group and not grow at all....
-To think you haven't grown at all after all this time... I'm disappointed in you as a friend. You're out of my group, Pamela. You witch lower than a caterpillar!
An extremely negative and fabricated imagination flashed through Pamela's mind.
"N-nooooooo!"
Trembling, Pamela screamed, clutching her head at the terrifying situation she had just imagined.
"N-n-no. I-I have to get stronger. I have to do my best so that Mr. Shih-han won't abandon me...!"
Her first friend that she had finally made.
To not disappoint Ishihan, who had called her his best friend, Pamela burned with a desire for strength for the first time in her life.
'If I get stronger....'
-Oh, Pamela! My best friend! To think you're this strong! I'm so proud of you! Please continue to be my best friend!
"O-of course! Mr. Shih-han! Hehehehehehe!"
Pamela's body swayed again at the happy imagination.
The next morning.
After finishing my meal, I spoke to Pamela.
"Then let's head to Valendia, Pamela."
"Huh!? Wh-wh-what do you mean by that?!"
'I guess what I said yesterday didn't register at all.'
On the way to Valendia in the carriage.
I had spoken to Pamela, who was grinning foolishly.
"Pamela, we're going to be in the same group now. In line with the group's purpose, we'll be traveling to many regions."
"Heh, hehe, that's right~."
"So, I'm thinking of going to Valendia once to get you the equipment you need."
"Hehehehe, I think that's a good idea~."
"Alright, then let's set out tomorrow morning."
"Yes~ he, hehehehe...."
'Is she really understanding me?'
She had been answering well, so I had let it slide, but it seemed I would have to explain it again.
"Didn't I tell you on the way back in the carriage yesterday?"
I told Pamela the same thing I had told her yesterday.
"So we're going to Valendia now."
"S-so that's what it was. Ah, ah, I-I'm sorry! Are you annoyed that someone like me ignored you? Because even if we're friends, ignoring someone is a bad thing. You're not supposed to do it! Ah! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry for being a stupid and foolish witch lower than an earthworm who ignores a friend's words! No, in fact, I'm sorry for comparing myself to the earthworm-sama who enriches the soil!"
Pamela repeatedly bowed her head to me.
"No, you must have been tired from climbing the mountain, so it's understandable."
"Ah, th-that, that's not it...."
Don't worry, Pamela.
I also ignore most of the latter half of what you say.
"Pamela."
"Y-yes!"
"Let's go. Is there anything you need to pack?"
"N-no!"
"Then let's go."
"Y-yes!"
As always, I ignored Pamela's low self-esteem apology and set off for Valendia with her.
And two days later.
I arrived in Valendia after almost five days.
"Th-this is V-V-Valendia...."
"Is this your first time in Valendia?"
"I, um... I took a different route by carriage and arrived at the Lucadia Academy."
"I see. Then after we finish our business, let's go to a cafe I recommend. Their cookies and... apple pie are very delicious."
"Y-yes!"
After getting off the carriage, I headed to Cat's Commerce Guild with Pamela.
The employee at Cat's Commerce Guild recognized me.
"Sir Ishihan!"
"Is Shasha in her office?"
"Yes! The boss is inside."
"Good. Is she with a client by any chance?"
"No. She's alone."
"Understood."
"The person with you is...."
"A friend. Someone I'll be introducing to Shasha as well."
"Understood."
The employee bowed his head and returned to his work.
"U-um, u-um, u-um, Mr. Shih-han."
"What is it?"
"Th-that employee was extremely polite to you, Mr. Shih-han. Were you, by any chance, a noble?"
"No. I'm just an acquaintance of the owner of Cat's Commerce Guild."
"An acquaintance of the owner of a commerce guild...! Uh, uhhh...."
It seemed Pamela had thought I was just here to buy equipment at Cat's Commerce Guild.
Well, I hadn't intentionally gone into detail.
That way, I could enjoy Pamela's flustered appearance more.
Look at her trembling, dumbfounded expression.
Isn't it a very nice sight?
It was a pity that there wasn't a community live-streaming function like in some game possession novels; it was a sight too precious to see alone.
And with Pamela, I arrived at Shasha's office.
Knock, knock.
First, a polite knock.
"Yes~ who is it~."
"Shasha, it's me."
"...!"
A moment later, the office door burst open.
Shasha, her eyes sparkling, greeted me with her characteristic playful smile.
"Mister~! You failed the exam and finally decided to work for the guild!"
"No."
I immediately took out the academy badge from my inventory and showed it to her.
"I passed."
"Tsk."
There was no playfulness in her click of the tongue.