The Protagonist and Heroine Must Stay Together (1)
Protagonists and heroines are supposed to stick together. (1)
While the supporting character was summoning Phone to attack Lily and Lord Richard. Ju Joyeon’s lodging. After parting with Lily, Arty’s complexion had improved considerably, and she was now working on the final adjustments to the mana reactor in a rather relaxed manner, with Tiasia standing guard over her in accordance with Joyeon’s orders.
“Arty, would you like me to bring you something to drink?”
“Ah, sure. That’d be nice.”
“Coffee, tea, or fruit juice—which would you prefer?”
“Hmm~ Fruit juice, please.”
“Understood.”
The effects of Attachment have ended.
The Efficiency Increase correction has ended.
The Relief effect has ended.
The Status Abnormality Resistance has ended.
The Fatigue Reduction effect has ended.
The effects of Obsession have activated.
Arty accepted the drink Tiasia handed her and checked the notification window that appeared before her eyes.
“Tiasia, how long has it been since Joyeon went out?”
“Are you referring to Master? It’s probably been about an hour. Is something the matter?”
“Mm~ It’s nothing.”
No need to mention it. Joyeon will be back soon anyway, and I’m not planning to go outside.
Already familiar with the effects of Obsession, Arty deliberately glossed over the matter so Tiasia wouldn’t worry and continued her work. However, before long, her condition—already worsened because of Lily—began to deteriorate further simply because Joyeon wasn’t by her side.
Efficiency has decreased.
Fatigue is accumulating.
Status Abnormality: Emotional Instability has been inflicted.
Resisting Emotional Instability with high concentration.
Obsession toward the Attachment target has increased.
Thanks to her characteristic concentration, Arty managed to resist several of the status abnormalities, but the steadily accumulating fatigue began casting shadows across her pale face. Naturally, Tiasia, who had been watching her closely, couldn’t miss the change.
“Arty? You don’t look well. Are you all right?”
“Huh? Ah, I’m fine. It’s just…”
“This is the first time I’ve seen you in such poor condition.”
“It’s really nothing. I just feel a bit awkward without Joyeon nearby.”
“Master?”
Surprised by Arty’s words, Tiasia quickly realized she wasn’t joking and suggested they go find Joyeon immediately.
“It’s fine. Joyeon told me to rest. He’ll be back soon.”
“Then shall I have House pass along a message that you’re waiting for him?”
“No, no. It’s okay. That would seem… too obsessive, don’t you think?”
“……”
Judging by how her condition worsens just from being apart from Master, I’d say she’s already quite obsessive…
Tiasia swallowed the words that rose to her throat and shook her head, denying it outright. Yet even without her calling for House, one of the baby roaches that always waited nearby climbed onto her shoulder.
“Huh? House, I didn’t call you yet. I’ll call later.”
Click!
“…? Do you have something to say?”
Click.
The baby roach climbed onto Tiasia’s palm and stomped its feet energetically, relaying Joyeon’s situation. Upon hearing the news, Tiasia’s face hardened. Arty, who had been glancing at her while working, also stopped what she was doing.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen to Joyeon?”
“Well… It seems Priestess Lily Cubus and Master are engaged in combat.”
“Eh? With the priestess? Why?”
“I don’t know the exact reason. Still, since Phone is handling it, there’s no need to worry too much… Ah.”
Tiasia’s complexion grew even paler as she continued receiving reports from House.
“What? What happened?!”
“…Due to mana depletion… Master has lost consciousness…”
Neither Tiasia nor Arty could understand how Joyeon could collapse from mana depletion while Phone was fighting.
****
“…Arty.”
“Sorry, Tiasia. Please be quiet for a moment.”
Obsession has increased.
Status Abnormality: Emotional Instability has been inflicted.
Resisting Emotional Instability with extreme concentration.
“You should try to calm down a little…”
“I’m fine. I’m calming down. Just wait a bit. I’m almost done. Once I hand the completed mana reactor to Joyeon, everything will be solved.”
Obsession has increased.
Fatigue accumulation is causing drowsiness.
Efficiency has dropped.
Status Abnormality: Exhaustion has been inflicted.
Ignoring Exhaustion with extreme concentration.
Physical abilities have decreased by 30%.
“Are you really all right?”
Tiasia couldn’t help but worry as she watched the invisible notification windows keep piling up for Arty.
“I told you, I’m really fine. My mind is perfectly clear. I can finish this quickly.”
About an hour had passed since they received news of Joyeon. At first, Tiasia and Arty had wanted to rush out immediately to find him, but House had stopped their hasty actions and informed them that Joyeon wasn’t in immediate danger. Thanks to that, Arty and Tiasia had regained some composure and were now working on the mana reactor—whose final tuning remained—to resolve the mana depletion issue.
“House, what’s Master’s situation?”
—Report. Lily Cubus attempted to persuade Master into becoming part of her plan but failed.
“Of course she did. There’s no way Master would join hands with a woman planning mass slaughter under the absurd pretext of ‘divine will,’ no matter how beautiful she might be. Did she attack him after he refused her offer?”
—Negative. She used an artifact that prevents mana recovery on Master and then left.
“The situation isn’t too bad, then. The hidden underground space beneath Lord Neveiria’s mansion and the one in the Curia Church’s garden… Since they’re unknown to the public, we should be able to infiltrate them secretly. We need to find the safest way to rescue Master.”
Tiasia calmly began formulating a rescue plan. Just then, House called for her again after finishing its report.
—Report. Lily Cubus and the lord have changed their target to Arty.
“To Arty…? I see. So that’s how they’re playing it.”
Tiasia quickly deduced why Lily Cubus had switched targets after hearing of Joyeon’s refusal.
—The lord is issuing direct orders to the guards, while Lily Cubus is returning to the temple.
“How long do you think it will take for the guards to arrive here to capture Arty?”
—Estimate. Within approximately ten minutes.
“We don’t have much time. I’m sorry to rush you, Arty, but we need to move. This place is no longer safe.”
“I’m done. Really. It’ll be finished in five minutes.”
“Truly?”
“Yeah. Truly.”
“…But it would be safer if you finished it somewhere else…”
—Tiasia. House called Tiasia again, who still couldn’t shake her worry despite Arty’s confident words.
“I’m busy right now.”
—Message. Master says he has no doubt that Tiasia will protect Arty perfectly.
“Oh… Even so, the current situation is a bit dangerous…”
—Master believes without a shadow of doubt that Tiasia will bring Arty back safely.
Tiasia flinched slightly at House’s words, then broke into an uncontainable smile.
“O-Of course! I will absolutely bring Arty back to Master without a single scratch!”
—If you bring Arty back safely, Master will surely praise you.
“Praise… Ehehehe~!”
Tiasia waited for Arty while imagining Joyeon patting her head and praising her.
****
BOOM!
“Found her! Over there!”
“It’s that woman!”
“Arty! Hold on tight!”
“Ugh, okay!”
The promised ten minutes had passed. Tiasia was now carrying Arty—cradling the completed mana reactor in her arms—in a princess carry while fleeing from pursuing guards and countless adventurers. Just as House had predicted, it took ten minutes for pursuers to reach the lodging. However, House had been mistaken in thinking only the guards would come; far more than just guards were after Arty.
About five minutes earlier—
The guild-designated wanted order issued by the guard corps to the adventurer guild, along with Lily’s secretly added request, meant that nearly everyone in Neveiria capable of fighting had begun pursuing Arty.
“House! Which way now?!”
—Forward intersection, take the right path.
“Is the right path clear?!”
—Negative. It has the fewest enemies among the options.
“Then how many are there?!”
—Approximately fifty.
“Fifty is the fewest?!”
—Affirmative.
Tiasia screamed in frustration while dodging the barrage of magic and weapons flying from behind, then dashed in the direction House indicated. Using the baby roaches, she grasped the overall situation in Neveiria, but Lily Cubus—thanks to her title, Ruler of the Metropolis—was tracking Tiasia’s location even more precisely than House.
“There she is! It’s that woman!”
“Grab her!!”
“Tch! I’ll break through! Arty!”
“Okay!”
Tiasia gripped Arty tightly and stomped the ground with all her might.
BOOM!
The ground shattered beneath her feet, causing the approaching guards and adventurers to stumble. Seizing that moment, Tiasia charged forward at tremendous speed, breaking through the pursuers.
Thud! Thud!
“Guh…?!”
“Kuhak!”
“W-What strength…!”
The pursuers who had carelessly tried to grab Tiasia—underestimating her seemingly ordinary physique—were sent flying like rag dolls with a single swing of her hand. Those who raised shields to block were hurled away along with their shattered shields, broken like rotten wood. Tiasia’s reckless charge was possible only because she was a zombie; she cared nothing for injuries to herself as long as she protected Arty.
“Arty! Are you all right?!”
“Ugh, yeah! I’m fine!”
Arty shouted back, her face etched with exhaustion while cradled in Tiasia’s arms.
“Just hold on a little longer! I’ll get you to Master right away!”
Confirming Arty’s safety, Tiasia smashed through the tightening encirclement and sprinted toward Lord Richard’s castle. Even in the dead of night, Neveiria remained brightly lit and bustling with noise.