Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: How to Grow Slothfully (5)
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‘…Let’s go see the cats?’
I blinked slowly.
Artel’s unusual atmosphere, something I’d never seen in the original story, was surprising enough.
But what was even more shocking was the suggestion that had come out of her mouth.
Artel, proposing we slack off—for once, the other way around.
‘…This is really out of left field.’
Artel of [Stella Academia] was a character who lived in a routine stricter than anyone else’s.
After classes: training. At night: previewing and reviewing lessons. Then bedtime.
A razor-sharp routine like a machine, with no actions whatsoever outside of getting stronger.
But if we went to see cats now, that routine would break.
In other words, she was saying she would break her own routine ‘herself.’
This was something I’d never seen even once in the game.
Not even when affection was maxed out.
‘Maybe the petting therapy was more effective than I thought.’
I stared at Artel with that thought, and she averted her eyes slightly, as if my gaze was burdensome.
“…D-don’t stare like that. Say something.”
“Sorry. It’s just a bit unexpected.”
I said honestly.
I really hadn’t expected her to suggest this first.
“Jeron, you said sometimes I should just go with the flow, follow my heart…”
Artel glanced up at me as she spoke.
“For tonight, I just… feel like it. …Is that okay?”
As she said the last part, she gauged my reaction.
It was right then.
Ding!
A welcome system window popped up in front of me.
[Sudden Quest Occurred!]
[Midnight Truanting]
[Objective: Late at night, spend a slothful time with Artel watching cats.]
[Reward: Slothfulness +100]
It had been quite a while since I’d seen a sudden quest like this.
‘No way I’m turning this down.’
The moment I saw the quest window, I answered without the slightest hesitation.
“What’s not okay about it?”
I reached out my hand and helped Artel to her feet.
Her face lit up brightly.
But soon, she looked down at her sweat-soaked self and blushed.
“Th-then… I need to wash up first…. Let’s head to the dorms…”
And so, we headed side by side toward the girls’ dorms.
But the girls’ dorms at this hour—would that be okay…?
I felt a bit cautious, worried about weird rumors spreading, but luckily, it was late, so no one else was around.
When we reached the dorm building entrance, Artel said in a small voice.
“Wait just a bit. I’ll wash up and come right out.”
“Got it. Take your time.”
I decided to sit on a nearby bench and wait for her.
***
Splash—
A stream of water poured over Artel’s head.
A refreshing sensation, as if her fatigue was washing away along with the sweat.
She closed her eyes, letting the warm water hit her, and slowly replayed what had just happened.
‘…I ended up asking Jeron on a whim.’
The plea, like a child throwing a tantrum: Let’s go see cats since I worked hard today.
Even thinking about it now, it was embarrassing enough to make her face burn.
On top of that, skipping studying or training late at night for something else…
Borrowing Jeron’s words, it was ‘playing hooky.’
If the family head saw this, they’d surely scold her as pathetic.
But even so, she didn’t regret it.
The pleasant excitement outweighed any fear or guilt.
Today’s sparring had been truly strange.
A string of defeats, yet not unpleasant at all.
It even felt enjoyable.
Jeron’s shadow tentacles, which had at first only overwhelmed her.
But as they matched rhythms, she could feel them gradually adjusting to her.
Like an experienced partner matching steps to a clumsy dancer.
And when she slipped up, they’d gently wrap around her, lifting her back up and granting sweet rest.
He’d personally seat her in a chair, fan her, give her sweet strawberry milk…
And…
‘A massage, too…’
Thinking about the massage from Jeron made her a little embarrassed.
No one had ever kneaded her body like that before.
If it weren’t Jeron, she never would have allowed it.
Of course, he probably didn’t mean anything weird by it…
Like with Abuba before, he occasionally made these casual physical contacts.
Not directly, but with shadows—still, since he controlled them, it felt like his touch, which was quite strange.
Even so, she definitely felt her body moving better afterward.
‘Today, Jeron wasn’t just sparring with me simply.’
Jeron had been guiding and leading her.
During the spar, he’d looked like he was just blankly watching his shadow fight her.
But that wasn’t it.
He was hiding the most meticulous consideration.
For her growth, he was doing his utmost in his own way to help.
‘…Jeron.’
He was always like this.
Seeming languid and indifferent, yet always considerate, acknowledging, and looking after her.
‘Why to someone as boring as me…’
If you keep doing this…
I’ll start getting the wrong idea.
Lost deep in thought like that, Artel suddenly caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and felt a slight shock.
‘Ugh, was I making that face…?’
In the mirror, instead of her usual cold, stoic self,
stood a girl wearing an expression she’d never seen before.
‘Jeron’s waiting, so I should hurry out…’
Finding her own appearance unfamiliar and embarrassing, she quickly turned her head away and rushed to finish her shower.
***
“Jeron, sorry to keep you waiting.”
Artel approached the bench, seemingly done with her shower.
Instead of her usual neat uniform, she wore comfortable casual clothes.
Her blue hair was still slightly damp from rushing to dry it, carrying a faint shampoo scent.
We headed to the back of an old warehouse in the corner of the academy.
“Oh, but I didn’t prepare any grilled fish today.”
We had nothing for the cats.
As I said worriedly, Artel smiled faintly.
“It’s fine. I prepared some.”
She pulled a small pouch from her pocket.
Inside were what looked like high-end cat treats, packed full.
When did she even prepare these?
When we arrived behind the warehouse, the nocturnal cats spotted us and approached meowing happily.
Meow—
Now quite familiar with us, the cats rubbed against us more actively than before, acting all cute.
We crouched side by side and distributed the treats Artel had brought to the cats.
A peaceful time passed for a moment.
“Thanks a lot today, Jeron.”
Artel, petting a silver-furred cat, broke the silence first.
“Thanks to you, I learned a lot. How much I still lack, and the direction I need to head in.”
‘Ahem.’
Her sincere gratitude made my conscience prick a little.
I’d just had Kerr do all the work for an easy training session.
But it was true she’d grown, and that was part of my plan, so… it wasn’t entirely wrong.
I nodded appropriately to her words.
In the quiet stillness, only the cats’ satisfied purring echoed softly.
“Should we keep doing it sometimes? This kind of training.”
I asked.
For her growth, we needed to continue this slothful training method.
At my question, Artel hesitated for a moment.
Then answered in a small voice.
“…Yeah.”
“How many times a week would work?”
“For me… if you’re okay with it, Jeron, even every day…”
I looked at her for a moment.
…Every day?
‘Oh, classic Artel.’
Even diluting her drive with slothfulness, her core was still a hard worker.
After rolling around so brutally today, her sense of accomplishment and motivation were burning even brighter.
Perfect!
With her being this proactive, I could definitely temper her solidly until the comprehensive evaluation.
I replied readily.
“Sounds good. Every day it is, then.”
Since all I had to do was sit back anyway.
“…Yeah. Thanks.”
Artel bowed her head slightly.
“I still have a lot I don’t know…. Teach me more new things.”
When she lifted her head again, a faint but definite smile graced her face.
“Of course.”
I smiled back.
Her thirst for learning ablaze— a great sight.
***
[Sudden Quest Completed.]
[Slothfulness +100!]
Having sweetly cleared the quest too, I parted with Artel and returned to my dorm room.
I lay straight on the bed and opened the Slothfulness Shop.
I’d already picked out items to gift to Artel and Yuria respectively.
‘For Artel’s, it’d be perfect timing to give it after training wraps up a bit.’
Like a completion reward for the training— that’d maximize the effect.
And since it was what it was, how to deliver it naturally was important too.
‘Alright. For now, let’s buy this first.’
Putting Artel’s gift on hold, I purchased the one for powering up Yuria.
It matched my current Slothfulness perfectly.
[Spend 2000 Slothfulness to purchase 'Spirit Summoning Scroll'?]
‘Purchase.’
Now it was time to grow Yuria.