Becoming Friends Without Friendship - (1)
The Arjen Academy grounds had grown lively once more beneath the fully risen sun. The expressions of the students in their uniforms, emerging from the dormitories, were as bright as the morning light.
"Good morning, Senior Jeff!"
"Ah, Nella. Good morning to you as well."
"You're carrying that ingredient box quite gallantly today. Last year you could barely manage your major textbooks, but you've become quite the fine gentleman, Senior."
"Hah, even for a commoner from the Republic, your flattery has improved considerably. It would have been nice if your memorization of the alchemy periodic table had improved as much."
"Are you teasing me again? The class systems of the Gallia Kingdom and the Arcana Republic are different!"
"I still don't understand the difference between a 'Noble Republic' and a 'Noble Council.' But I do know the catalyst ratios between blue mana stones and green mana stones are different."
"Honestly! How long are you going to keep teasing me about that mistake?"
"Well, I'll consider it until we reach the shopping district."
"Haa..."
The atmosphere was warm enough to blur the boundaries between nobles and commoners. It was a sight possible only at the Academy, which championed the banner of 'equality.' Even the power struggles between factions had quieted down.
—Hmm, I suppose I can overlook the reformist upstarts making noise today.
—The noble faction is strangely quiet. Let's pretend we don't notice.
—Even the heretics of the Republic deserve mercy on a day like this.
—The fanatics from the Holy Theocracy are behaving themselves. Have they finally gained some sense?
Even situations that would normally spark arguments were overlooked. Every student wore a smile. Though grueling classes continued in each department, their bright expressions came not from passion burning in their hearts.
In truth, it was because today was a day without classes.
The annual 'Sun's Day of Rest' week that returned every spring. A precious week-long holiday. In the southern continent, where the concept of weekends did not exist, it was an invaluable break.
—But the Republic guys don't even believe in the One God, do they?
—Shut up, we want to rest too.
That was why students from first to third year, graduates, researchers, assistants, and teachers alike all wore benevolent smiles. Even when shoulders bumped, they smiled and exchanged blessings. The campus was filled with such blessings.
Arty and Aria sat side by side on a bench. Aria dipped holy water onto Arty's wounds and tended to them. Then she lightly tapped the shoulder of the fidgeting Arty.
"Tsk, stay still."
"Ugh! Saintess, it, it hurts..."
"This is the process of holy water granting vitality to the flesh. Endure it."
"I don't think I could ever use this in a dungeon. I'd trip from the pain while running."
"I heard one of the Holy Knights actually fainted once."
"Really? It must have been quite an intense battle."
"No, he simply mistook water for holy water while washing his face in the morning and got it in his eyes."
"..."
Lydia was reading a book on the neighboring bench. She turned a page and glanced at Arty's face. Defeat still lingered on his features.
'In the end, he got thoroughly beaten by Mave in the sparring match. Well, the battle against the Skeleton Rider was more of an exploit using the Holy Sword's compatibility, so it makes sense. Mave has been fighting in battlefields for over five years if you include her time as a servant.'
Mave was beautiful, yet she was a heroine who had grown up among rough men since childhood. Even so, she still retained a girlish innocence. That was why she often showed sides that were somewhat defenseless as a woman.
—Whoa, Mave! Why are you suddenly wiping sweat with your top?!
—What's it to you, Arty? A quick wipe is good enough.
—Your stomach's showing!
—Honestly, a country bumpkin like you pretending to be a noble.
The reason was quite simple.
'...The Vow of Chastity. When this was a game, it was just an adult's excuse to comply with censorship regulations for an adult game.'
The Vow of Chastity—until they reached their twentieth year, girls received the protection of angels and the gods. Even Lydia, the princess (setting aside the fact that she was actually a Sword Master), had used this as her greatest justification when enrolling in the Academy with only a single maid.
In a true medieval setting, such a thing would have been unthinkable even for an abandoned royal. She would likely have been locked away in the palace before anything could happen, then sold off in marriage to a high-ranking noble from another country.
"..."
Lydia quietly placed her hand over her chest. Beneath the rather bold curves of her uniform, she could feel the sacred energy flowing from the Vow of Chastity. Thanks to this energy, she had been able to reject all troublesome proposals regarding marriage as a member of the royal family.
'I used to curse it as a forced setting to protect the heroines outside the game, but now that it's real, it's become quite convenient. It's funny. Thanks to this, everyone's become open-minded.'
Because the powerful protection of the gods was guaranteed, even if they wore Japanese-style revealing school uniforms or dated before marriage, the people of this fantasy medieval world would simply laugh it off. Of course, after the coming-of-age ceremony, that would change—they would draw their spears in earnest.
'That's why even the mana atheist Republic guys make use of the Vow of Chastity at least.'
Of course, as expected from a world inside an adult game, there were still those who abused it. That was an instinct humans could not hide.
"..."
Lydia looked up again at Arty and Aria. Arty, unable to bear the ticklish sensation, was touching his cheek wound with a troubled expression. Aria smacked his hand away with a sharp "thwack!" and continued applying the holy water.
"Ow! Ow ow ow."
"If you keep touching the wound with hands that have been handling dirt, impurities will gradually seep in."
"I-impurities? Isn't dirt a good thing?"
"The boundary between the dark demons and... ahem, the boundary between the dark realm and the material realm is the earth. And the element farthest from the sacred sky and sun is also earth. That is why earth contains traces of deathly energy and the impurities of the dark realm. Unlike angels, humans who eat and drink from the earth gradually age and fall ill. That is the reason."
"Hmm, I think I've heard priests say something like that before..."
"That's right! It's the most basic common sense of the One God faith!"
Aria nodded vigorously. She seemed quite pleased that Arty had received some education at the temple since childhood. She was gradually coloring Arty with the hues of the One God faith.
"So, Hero, from now on, if you get injured, don't touch the wound with dirt-covered hands right away. Make sure to wash your hands with holy water first, then apply it."
"Wouldn't it be faster to just heal it with a divine spell?"
"Tsk! You'll get scolded if you act spoiled toward the Sun God over such a small wound!"
"...Yes."
Lydia chuckled at their conversation. It was like a husband being dragged to church by his wife.
'More than anything, it's armed with pure fanaticism, yet surprisingly combines rational knowledge as well. It's funny. I suppose in a world where gods actually exist, even science is strongly connected to faith.'
At that moment, Mave made a grand entrance. She had already changed from her training clothes into her uniform. Seeing a selective female wearing a skirt made her look even more feminine. Mave grinned with satisfaction as she looked at Arty.
"Puhaha! Country bumpkin! You look like a mess!"
"Shut up, you idiot knight. Laughing like a fool."
Aria smacked Arty's arm. She had begun treating Mave naturally as a friend.
"What kind of rough language is that toward Mave!"
"S-sorry..."
"No matter how close you are, please refrain from rough words that could distort others' perception of the Hero's kindness and gentleness."
"..."
'Says the Saintess who was calling them 'filthy demons' just moments ago...'
But he couldn't say it. Arty scratched his head awkwardly.
"I didn't expect her to suddenly grab her own sword blade and throw me using her elbow. I must have rolled around dozens of times."
"Puhaha! That's the basic hand-to-hand combat technique of the Royal Knights! You learned the practical swordsmanship of the Gallia northern elite forces, yet you don't even know that?"
"Northern elite forces...? Practical swordsmanship?"
"Oh, honestly!"
Mave frowned elegantly and looked at Lydia.
"Lady Lydia, that is far too excessive a teaching for that country bumpkin. He doesn't even understand how deep the grace you've bestowed upon him is!"
"Don't say that. In the end, swordsmanship... depends more on the effort and skill of the one wielding it than on the value of the swordsmanship itself, doesn't it?"
"But still!"
"Rather than that, sit beside me. The wind is chilly."
"Y-yes. It would be an honor."
Mave tucked her black hair behind her ears, brought her legs together, and quietly sat down beside Lydia. It was a different image from someone who wouldn't care if her skirt flipped over. Lydia closed her book. Mave tilted her head curiously.
"What book is it?"
"A book about the market prices and management methods of medicinal herbs."
"O-oh..."
Mave tried to respond, but hesitated, lacking the knowledge to do so properly. Lydia smiled gently at her.
"I was doing a final review to check if the medicinal herbs we gathered from the dungeon last time were being managed properly."
"L-last time. The undead dungeon... Urgh."
Mave blushed slightly and lowered her head. Even though she had secured victory in the sparring match all night, it seemed insufficient to erase the single defeat she had suffered in the dungeon. The battle against the Skeleton Rider and the awakening of the Holy Sword had significantly diminished Mave's standing as the strongest among the swordsmanship department freshmen and the ace from the Royal Knights. As a result, she had ended up walking alone like this.
Indeed, when the swordsmanship department seniors standing near the bench shot her a glance, Mave slightly hunched her shoulders. But when they saw the princess's face, they simply passed by as if they hadn't noticed.
"..."
"..."
Before Mave could become dejected again, Lydia spoke.
"Don't let it get to you too much. Reputation is something that constantly changes anyway. You shouldn't obsess over the attention of those who would leave after a single mistake. You must believe in yourself."
"Y-yes! You're right!"
Mave gave a slightly bitter smile. No matter how accustomed she was to proving herself in the eyes of others, having someone accept her without wavering was a great comfort.
"Thank you so much. Whenever I talk with Lady Lydia, my heart always feels at ease."
"...I'm glad."
Even amid this warm conversation, what finally prompted a reaction from Arty, whose wounds had finally healed, was a single word.
"That's right, the red herb! I almost forgot completely, and it's only been two weeks."
"Fortunately, after the deathly energy has been neutralized, drying it for about ten days is written as a reliable safety measure. It was rather helpful that you forgot."
"That's a relief. And it's fortunate that Lady Lydia's dormitory is one of the few devout ones where we can dry the herbs..."
Aria spoke with an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry, Lydia. My dormitory is also devout, but because of the holy relics and holy water, the red herbs might turn completely to powder, so I couldn't help."
"What? No! It's not your fault, Saintess."
"That's right. Give me your shoulder, Aria. This isn't a matter of responsibility, but of role distribution."
Mave was shocked upon hearing their conversation.
"C-country bumpkin! You insolent fool?! You dared to use the royal's bedroom as a workshop for drying herbs—!?"
"No, Lady Lydia was the one who took them directly..."
"That's right. I collected them myself."
Lydia stood up as she spoke.
"Since the topic has come up, I shall go to the dormitory and bring the bundles of red herbs. Arty, Aria, Mave—do you have any plans afterward?"
"None."
"I'm free today as well."
"None!"
"Good. Then let us sell the red herbs as they are and use the proceeds at the shopping district."
Arty's eyes widened enormously.
"D-don't tell me, the kingdom's special steak...?"
"That's right. After selling the herbs to the alchemy guild, let us have a meal."
"Ooh!"
Lydia looked at Aria and spoke.
"Since it's the Day of Rest, the shopping district will surely have prepared events as well. Once everyone has finished their meal, the 'two of you' should take your time strolling and enjoying yourselves."
"!"
Aria blushed slightly and nodded. Then, after glancing at the drooling Arty, she quietly approached him.
—Hero, are you interested in the events held during the Sun's Day of Rest?
—Huh? Events?
—Yes, during the Sun's Day of Rest, they paint fruits in front of the temple...
Lydia looked at Mave. She was hesitating at this sudden party atmosphere.
"Mave."
"Yes."
"My maid is currently very busy following orders. So, as a friend, help me move the herbs."
"Yes!"
"And..."
"?"
"Would you accompany me around the shopping district and tell me about your time in the knight order?"
"!"
Mave smiled brightly and nodded.
"Yes!"
Lydia watched Mave following behind her with quick steps, then looked ahead. The warmth in her eyes gradually faded. What settled in its place was cool analysis.
'I've managed to induce stable emotional exchanges with Aria, Arty, and even Mave. This level of warm atmosphere should suffice going forward as well. But the remaining heroine—the witch 'Morgan'—is an extremely unstable individual.'
Morgan. The petite mage girl with red hair. Among the three main heroines, Morgan was the standout popular heroine who represented 'magic.' Despite her sharp tongue and irritability from the very first meeting, she was far more popular than the kind Aria. The reason was simple—
'...Her sharp tongue and cold attitude were both a self-defense mechanism to hide her affection deficiency.'
Once she fell in love? She would never let go. In the game, there wasn't even a jealousy gauge, which was fortunate. Yandere. Menhera. Dependency. Deficiency and obsession... All were descriptors for Morgan.
"..."
Simply providing growth and resolving inferiority complexes like with Mave wouldn't be enough. In the original work, Arty had to become 'the man for Morgan' and devote himself entirely to her. 'That was why she was a companion with extremely low NTR or betrayal elements, being emotionally deeply intertwined. Her tremendous magical ability was also helpful.'
However.
Arty already had Aria. No conflict elements between the two could be allowed. And pushing Morgan onto Arty would inevitably create conflict elements.
'That is why I must step in.'
Just today, hadn't Arty and Aria grown even closer? Lydia thought to herself that it was fortunate she had set aside some of the red herbs in advance, proportional to the amount of Morgan's favorability events that would occur. Indeed, in male-female relationships, would someone who had been obsessed still follow if that emotion was replaced with friendship?
"...Now, the last heroine."
*
A deep, dark workshop. In a place where broken glass and materials lay scattered, a red-haired girl moved about restlessly. She rummaged through cracked jars and dust-covered shelves. Eventually, she muttered irritably. Her hands desperately groped the shelves.
"Red herb... red herb!"
What her hands found was only dust. Though her mind had already recognized that her money had run out, her heart refused to accept it.
"Damn it, the expensive materials needed for the exam are gone again...!"
Damn it, damn it...! Again. Again, no money...
"Damn it...!"
If I can't make this, I'll disappear just like this. I need to quickly prove my results and get hired by the alchemy guild. To get a degree, I need alchemy materials. To earn money, I need money. But there was nowhere for her, abandoned by her family in the Republic, to turn to...
She flipped the shelf over in irritation. Empty jars and rotten materials fell to the floor, creating a mess.
Crash! Clang!
Then she crouched down on the dusty floor. She didn't care that her red hair was getting covered in dull chemicals and dust. Her small frame made her look even more pitiful.
"...This is pathetic."
This entire world...
I wish it would all die. After all, I'm the only one who's always alone.