Chapter 51
Chapter 51
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: 10. The Dullard and the Genius (8)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Vivian and Helena, sitting side by side, looked down at the contract on the desk.
Since they would soon be heading into the next dungeon, Ian had brought it out to handle beforehand.
"Just sign here."
Ian, who had finished explaining from across the table, handed over the quill pen.
Vivian glared piercingly at the contract.
The last time at McDullin Abbey when Ian had brought up the contract, Vivian had asked to put it off until later.
To Vivian, contracts brought to mind Felix and the managers before him.
They had used her illiteracy and ignorance of legal clauses as an excuse, berating her or threatening her with penalties if she tried to quit.
Seeing a contract triggered those memories reflexively.
'I don't think Ian would do that...'
But the trauma rising instinctively was unavoidable.
Still, to Vivian, who had escaped those memories, this contract now felt fresh and welcome.
'Our official... Ian's and mine...'
A poignant scene from the romance novel she'd recently started reading kept coming to mind.
The item exchanged at first meeting between the two lovers symbolically defined their relationship...
Ian gazed curiously at Vivian, who had suddenly frozen up with flushed cheeks for some reason.
She was staring at the contract as if hunting it down, pondering something so gravely.
"Is it here that we sign?"
As if Helena's question were a signal, Vivian quickly signed.
It was the moment she became the first official member of Ian's party.
"...Yes, that's right."
Ian replied in a daze, watching Vivian's combative signing.
Helena followed suit and signed as well.
Two copies each had been prepared.
Ian kept one set, and the other went to the contracting parties, Vivian and Helena.
"You probably won't need to show it around much, but having it official makes things easier for everyone."
Revenue split was 8:2.
Ian took 2, the hero party took 8, which they then divided among the members.
Vivian repeatedly read the first clause in her mind, defining the relationship between contractor and contractee.
Helena scanned the entire contract with a proud expression.
Ian, though not quite sure why, organized his copies while watching the two who seemed satisfied.
Mercy chuckled at the sight of the three, but seeing Kati firmly planted in Ian's lap like a rock, she couldn't just keep laughing.
*
Far from declining after fainting and resting a day, Helena's prowess had soared dramatically.
Not only miracles like healing, scorching, and protection.
Her physical strength and muscle power had noticeably increased as well.
To her, mentally cornered before, Ian had become a complete sanctuary.
No fear remained, only a manageable anxiety she could use appropriately.
After a brief commotion where an overly excited Helena suddenly lunged at and hugged Ian.
"Hm. Helena."
Ian called her.
It was originally meant for after she'd grown more, but he'd changed his mind today.
"From now on, you'll develop protection-type miracles in two directions."
"Yes!"
"One is focusing protection on others, not yourself."
Applying protection not to herself, but to someone else.
It was essential for the future.
"Yes...?"
"It seems impossible, but it actually is possible."
"Yes! Got it!"
Helena didn't quite grasp it but trusted him for now.
"The second is making protection thin and small."
"Thin and small... you mean?"
"It's like... you have clothes, right? Wrap protection around the body's contours like clothing. Like armor."
Right now, she deployed protection like a shield, but later it needed to be like wearing clothes.
That way was much harder, but it allowed freer movement.
A sort of 'aura armor'.
Applying protection to others, and wrapping it like clothing.
Someday, Helena would reach the level of cloaking others in aura armor.
"And you have to maintain intensity and repulsion, so it's diffi—"
"Like this?"
A soft light bloomed over Helena's shoulders and head, forming a barrier.
Just as Ian described, protection worn like clothing.
"...Why does this work?"
"Uh... No idea!"
Ian observed Helena for a moment.
The protection centered on her head, neck, and shoulders, biased toward the upper body.
It didn't extend below the elbows.
Nor below the waist.
'...That's weird. Usually starts from the fingertips.'
Wondering how this anomaly was possible, he recalled how Helena had lived at McDullin Abbey.
'No way. The spots Salome hit her often...'
Wanting to answer Ian's doubt, Helena pondered seriously.
Not wanting to prod old wounds, Ian didn't ask further.
What mattered was that she could do it; the reason wasn't crucial.
"Great that you can. That reduces my tasks a bit. Now spread it evenly over the whole body and apply it centered on others. Got it?"
"Yes! Understood!"
"Not right away; develop it gradually, so just keep it in mind."
"Yes!"
Next was Vivian's turn to show.
The coordinate-targeted spells Ian had instructed: 'Flame Strike' and 'Ice Bloom'.
All five spells Vivian could currently handle were projectile types.
Projectiles formed a magic circle near the caster's body and launched from there—a fixed format.
These two new spells were cast from coordinates designated far away.
For temporary heroes, five projectiles were plenty.
But ironically, Helena's massive protection hindered those projectiles.
To enable smooth teamwork between Vivian and Helena, Ian had her learn these two.
"I'll do it."
Helena waited expectantly for Vivian's magic.
She'd been awestruck speechless at her first Ice Spear.
What would she show today?
Ian waited with mild anticipation too.
......
Nothing happened.
A magic circle did appear on the ground ahead of Vivian, but the spell didn't activate.
'...Huh?'
Flame Strike casting failed.
Vivian calmly tried the next, 'Ice Bloom'.
Same result.
The training ground buzzed around them, but awkward silence enveloped the three.
Ian broke it first.
"That can happen."
"I, um, huh..."
Vivian glanced cautiously at Ian.
Not satisfaction, but a smile of understanding and comfort.
Grateful, yes.
She wanted his attention, true.
'But not like this...'
Dejected, Vivian said nothing.
'What do I do...? How can I satisfy Ian again...?'
***
After training, we went out to scout the next dungeon.
Vivian seemed shocked by her first failure, but I wasn't too bothered.
Perfectly executing five projectiles without a single miss was enough.
Unlike Helena's case, no scolding.
Magic has affinities; these might not suit her.
'No affinity doesn't mean she can't ever use them. She'll improve gradually.'
Thinking of the King Slime incident, Vivian was stronger in real combat anyway.
Static training couldn't replace real-battle insights.
'Can't wait forever if she can't use them. Worst case, Helena adjusts her protection.'
In the second round, these weren't public, but third round's empire boost revealed many hidden dungeons.
This one might be too, so we hurried.
Sure enough, listed at the Managers' Guild dungeon request office.
'Two parties allowed, one already registered? Good we weren't too late.'
Registered immediately.
'The other party... E-rank temporary hero party, four members.'
Brian, Dominic, Ailin, Claudia.
All unfamiliar names.
No Memory Correction hits.
Not future powerhouses.
They'd clear the dungeon and snag the hidden piece fine.
***
The day after the casting failure.
Vivian left Agnes Abbey with somewhat vigorous steps.
She still couldn't pull off the coordinate spells Ian taught.
She wanted more training, but Ian suggested visiting the kids briefly to calm down.
It worked well.
Seeing the children brought back tough old memories, but also gratitude for her current lot.
It sparked determination to do better.
Instead of anxiety or impatience, it made her calmly motivated.
'Still, can't get complacent... I disappointed Ian. Need to focus harder.'
The biggest progress: getting close with Helena.
"The kids really took to you!"
Ian had suggested they visit Agnes Abbey together.
They'd spent time together but never truly bonded.
Only official familiarity and cautious awkwardness.
But today, seeing each other's genuine care for the children drew them much closer.
"Hehe... I've looked after them for a while. You seemed natural with them too, Helena?"
"I volunteered at the abbey occasionally before!"
Mercy smiled contentedly at the now-close pair.
In the 1st Party, teammates glared and fought constantly.
Seeing them cautiously warming up, jealous yet effortful, was endearingly admirable.
"What a heartwarming sight."
Kati didn't reply but felt the same.
She hoped they'd continue like this without hurting Ian.
As relieved Vivian walked briskly ahead.
"Vivian?"
Someone blocked her path.
Four in total, standard party setup.
"Oh, Ailin..."
She held a staff and wore robes like Vivian, a fellow mage.
But her clothes were ragged by comparison.
Compared to the mage robe Ian bought, or even Vivian's simple daily wear, the difference was stark.
"I hoped it wasn't true, but here you are. Back after running away, so shameless. Heard you've gotten famous lately?"
Open contempt.
Helena, Mercy, and Kati, not knowing them, were taken aback.
"...Yes, thanks to meeting a good person."
"So, how'd trash like you get so lucky..."
The archer Dominic behind her stepped forward.
"That King Slime story's a lie too, right?"
Unfamiliar yet familiar mockery.
Vivian knew these unwelcome faces well.
They were with Felix back then.
Ailin, from another party, had especially belittled her.
"Fame's made you bold? Look at that smug glare."
Ailin spat the words venomously.
She was right.
Vivian's mood felt novel.
Calm.
Even coldly rational.
Before, she'd have averted her eyes, apologized blindly, or forced a servile smile.
No urge now.
No reason to.
She just smiled leisurely.
"Yeah, fame and recognition for my skills have me feeling great lately."
"Hah..."
Her changed demeanor drew scoffing laughs from all.
The priestess Claudia stepped up too.
"Vivian. Impure deeds are wrong."
"...Pardon?"
"You couldn't possibly be that strong. It must be some shady trick."
"......"
Courteous sarcasm.
Vivian deemed them unworthy and turned to leave, but Helena intervened.
"Apologize!"
"...?"
"I don't know who you are or your relation to Vivian! But ganging up in the street to insult someone is wrong! What do you gain from this?!"
"...Who's this kid?"
"Helena, it's fine. Let's go."
Vivian didn't want to escalate.
Above all, it might trouble Ian.
Helena, getting her intent, backed off.
Finally, knight Brian hurled words at their backs.
"That Ian guy's the ex-manager of the 1st Party, right? Bet you sold your body. He propped you up with power or money."
Helena turned pale, looking back.
What had Vivian done to deserve such vile words?
Good people could do evil, so maybe Vivian had wronged them.
But still, this was too much...
Glancing back, Helena realized.
It was pure envy.
Ugly jealousy at someone once beneath them now thriving.
"......"
Brian was the man who'd once suggested she sell her body.
She felt no unbearable humiliation like before.
Only his insult to Ian was intolerable.
As she turned back with a frosty expression.
Brian was already airborne.
"Gurk...!"
Before Vivian, Kati snapped first.
Brian flailed midair, throat gripped.
In the blink of an eye, Kati had approached and hoisted him by the neck.
"W-what the...! Where'd she come from?!"
Kati eyed the panicking three.
A chilling gaze pierced through her eyepatch.
Surveying them coldly, Kati intoned.
"Apologize."
"...What?"
"Or this."
"Grk..."
"I'll kill you."
The mere warning blanched their faces blue.