Chapter 135: Will anything do?
"Princess Sylvia. This is not how our saviors should be treated."
"T-Teacher…"
Sylvia evidently felt upset because of Archer E's reproach. Her Skill Rank had dropped from S to D, which proved to be a major problem for her. However…
"Excuse me. The princess suffered at the black market, so she is mentally exhausted. She had to watch her fellow tribesmen being sold as ingredients for magic items. I ask you to forgive her."
Archer E, as the older and more experienced, made an attempt to justify Sylvia's behavior. Sylvia closed her lips at once. She knew that if she said something again, she would show herself as a narrow-minded elf. Would she demand her savior to give the skill back too? But Archer E sorted it out. From a shameless and narrow-minded elf, she turned into a victim whose nerves were frayed due to the loss of her fellow tribesmen.
"Everything is fine! Lanuvel understands everything! Right, Sir Hero?"
"Yes… Sweet Lanuvel," Luke replied. After this, he came up to me and asked so that only I could hear.
"What did you do?"
"What?"
"Sylvia lost her connection with the Spirits. We must unite with Princess Sylvia, and if she cannot skillfully control the Spirits…"
Luke's face darkened as he turned his gaze to Sylvia. He wasn't looking at her body, but at her skills.
▷ Race: Arch-Elf
▷ Level: 312
▷ Specialization: Shaman (Blessing → Spirit ↑)
▷ Skills: Charm A, Nobility B, Archery B, Blessing C, Spirit D …
▷ Condition: Despondency, Seal, Weakness
Her specialization hadn't changed yet, but she wouldn't be a shaman but an archer if this continued. Or, due to the influence of Charisma and Nobility, her Princess status could become her specialization. In any case, as a companion, it would be of little use.
"Do you need someone who can control spirits? Here I am."
▷ Race: Natural Human
▷ Level: 1216
▷ Specialization: Hero (Experience 500%)
▷ Skills: Spirit (S), ■■ (S), Interpretation (A), Stealth Killing (C), Hand-to-Hand Combat (E), Assassination (E), Hunting (E), Theft (E), Mining ( F), Farming (F), Cooking (F), Blacksmithing (F), Gathering (F), Luck (F), Fishing (F), Swimming (F), Livestock (F), Sharing (F)
▷ Condition: Good
Thanks to some friends who shared their experience points, I managed to improve several skills, and I also gained F-rank auxiliary and production skills. When spirits sexually harassed my body, these skills grew naturally.
Luke was speechless. But then, returning his peace of mind, he continued.
"It is very important to make friends with the future Queen of the Elves."
"But there is also Prince Nasus?"
In a few years, he would stage a coup d'état to take the throne of Elfheim. If you wanted to make friends with the future ruler of the elves, you didn't have to focus only on Princess Sylvia.
"Well…women Heroes follow that path."
There seemed to be no strict rule that Sylvia should be the ruler of the elves. Instead, it all depended on the preferences of the Heroes.
"So who will you choose, Luke?"
Folding my arms over my chest, I pressed him. Whatever decision he made, I thought to follow him if it would lead to graduation.
"There is no way to return the spirits?"
"No."
You can't make someone love.
"Well, if my body becomes oversaturated with spirits, then the spirits displaced back will return to Sylvia. Probably."
However, such a day wouldn't come soon. Not until at least five powerful spirits with crowns, like in the ninth playthrough, arrived, take their place in my armpits and between my legs. This wasn't an assumption, but simply intuition.
"Is that so? So this is a temporary phenomenon? Heck! As expected of your race!"
Luke nodded and exhaled calmly. Judging by his plans, he wanted to recruit only women as companions, but he also considered practical skills to be important. He had chosen Sylvia to play the future Queen of the Elves, but she would be nothing more than an extra burden if she didn't have any strong skills. At this time, Archer E, who talked to Lanuvel, took the initiative into her own hands.
"I heard that you are both legendary Heroes. I know it's shameless for me to ask this, but please help us. In the future, you will receive a reward for this. But, princess Sylvia, don't just stand there either. Is that how I taught you?"
"Please…Heroes."
Both elves bowed their heads. Luke simply smiled.
"Don't worry. We will protect Princess Sylvia until she regains her strength, and we will also rid you of the demonic curse."
With this, the number of dummies at our party increased.
*
Our next target was Saint A, who lived in the Holy Kingdom, as the demonic curse of Archer E could only be removed by a Holy or High Priestess. But unfortunately, there was neither the first nor the second in the Dumpling Kingdom. Therefore, there was nothing left but to go to the Holy Kingdom.
Luke smiled as he explained. "Everything is going according to my plan."
Or, more precisely, according to the guide. But I decided not to focus on this. Instead, future Sword King Alex, who wished to get out of the stuffy palace and transferred all his powers, joined us.
There were enough problems in the Dumpling Kingdom. Apart from the struggle of the heirs for the throne, the followers of the demons were ready to sell their soul and body to get at least a little Dark Energy. And even the king's beloved wife was a follower of demons.
"Luke. What is there to be done with the problems in the kingdom?"
"But now it's peaceful there," Luke answered calmly.
"I see…"
This was the first state that the Hero approached after being summoned, so everything about it must be described in detail. They also couldn't help but mention it in the guide. However, Luke pretended not to know anything. This meant that it wouldn't be too late to solve the problem after it had already grown.
"It's hard to decide right now. It is difficult to prove that the queen is a follower of demons, and if this is revealed, the king and princess will be sent into exile. The king will be branded a worthless ruler, and the state will fall apart at the seams."
"Well…"
I didn't argue with him but just nodded along. In the 2nd playthrough, I arranged something similar, but it didn't come to the collapse of the state.
►Explanation: Isn't it because you dealt with aristocrats who could do this? I wasn't with you then, so I don't know what happened there, but the report says that the Hero sentenced the royal family and the aristocrats to death, and everyone was so afraid of the Hero that they couldn't say anything.
Miss Trainee, there is an error in the report. At that time, my popularity was peaking.
"Brother, just trust and follow me. If you like someone, you can start a relationship with her, just enjoy life in this fantasy world. I have been watching you for several days, and it seems that you lack freedom."
"Hmm. I will take note."
Wasn't that too relaxed? It was difficult to support Luke's decision not to use the Space Transference Magic Circle and walk to the Holy Kingdom, but I didn't ask too many questions. I didn't want the course of events indicated in the guide to be disrupted because of me. I would endure anything if it would lead to release.
► Surprise: I feel your determination, Kang Han Soo.
Miss Trainee. I said that if I take up something, I will do it.
"Ogre!"
"Someone help!"
"Guard the carriage! Oh! There are two of them?!"
Not even an hour had passed since we left the kingdom when the incident occurred. Luke and the dummies rushed towards the noise at the speed of light and easily dealt with the two ogres.
Boom! Boom!
The massive ogres collapsed to the ground, leaving a middle-aged man bowing deeply.
"Thank you for saving us! When two ogres appeared in front of us, everything went dark before my eyes."
"My name is Luke. Although I still haven't been able to get the Holy Sword, I am a Hero. And this is my younger brother and also Hero, Kang Han Soo."
"H-Hero?"
They were some important people heading from the Dumpling Kingdom to the Holy Kingdom.
"Thank you again. Hero Luke. And Hero Khan…Kan…sorry, it's hard to remember right away."
"No problem."
I just shrugged. However, it bothered me that he instantly remembered Luke's name the first time he heard it, and he couldn't pronounce my name. And this concerned not only the representative of their group. The rest of the mercenaries guarding the carriage, too, couldn't remember my name and simply called me a Hero.
I think this would affect my reputation and fame in the future.
►Question: Do you want to take a pseudonym?
We need to think it over well, Miss Trainee!
On Earth, many singers and actors, and writers who were promoted under a pseudonym became more famous. But Hero isn't some kind of cultural figure. Is he closer to being a Great Man? And I do not know any great people who declared themselves under a pseudonym unless people gave them some nickname for their achievements.
"Hero Luke. If it doesn't bother you, could you escort us? We will provide you with the best accommodations and food."
"Sure."
Luke agreed, with the result that we escorted the VIPs to the Holy Kingdom. There were small events on the trip…
And my experience in the fantasy world was now twenty-six years old!
"Now I understand why parents grumble every birthday…"
Birthdays weren't something to celebrate. This simply meant that the time for playing tennis was gradually decreasing. Therefore, three times a year (for father's birthday, mother's birthday, and wedding anniversary), they always went to play tennis until they were exhausted, as long as their age allowed.
I began to worry about how much more I needed to rot in this fantasy world. Fortunately, I thought that this time I would be able to graduate. I liked it, except that the journey was too slow.
Clank!
As our long journey came to an end, a VIP handed us a bag of silver coins the size of a newborn baby's hand.
"Thanks to your escort, we were able to safely reach the Holy Kingdom. Thank you very much."
Of course, you should be grateful. They made the legendary Heroes work for silver coins, not even gold. In addition to this, the accommodation and food they provided were just awful. We slept on solid ground, and the food was no different from livestock feed. If this happened in my 1st playthrough, I would have suffered from insomnia and developed anorexia.
But now? For a Hero with twenty-six years of experience, this was nothing. Meanwhile…
"Well, what are you, hahaha…" having received the money, Luke replied with a deplorable expression.
He had a high level, so there should be more stability, but his condition was even worse than mine in the first playthrough. So I asked carefully.
"Luke, are you okay?"
If he was okay, then I could get out of this wild world, so I couldn't help but worry about him.
"No. It sucks."
"Was it like that before?"
"No. After all, I was younger then."
After defeating the Demon Lord Pedonar, a bright future awaited Luke's land. Based on the skills of the fantasy world, he built a successful business, and due to the alien invasion, his value rose even higher, due to which he gained wealth and fame. So naturally, his life was serene.
This was the problem. He used to eat corn soup with dried beef, but after enjoying wealth and fame, he couldn't eat that now. Not to mention sleeping on hard ground with a mattress in the form of fallen leaves.
"I see. It sucks…"
After listening to Luke, I began to feel guilty. However, although it was uncomfortable for me, it was tolerable. The spirits warmed my sleeping place, and they also shared the fruit. These were only minor improvements, though. If you were a civilized inhabitant of the Earth, then Luke's reaction was quite normal.
► Consolation: Kang Han Soo, cheer up.
Thank you, Miss Trainee. I'll give you one night later.
► Confusion: No, don't!
After parting with the dignitaries in the capital of the Holy Kingdom, we headed towards the grand temple next to the shabby royal palace. The difference between these two buildings only proved that it wasn't the royal power stronger here, but the ecclesiastical one.
This was the whole essence of the Holy Kingdom.
"Stop!"
"Only believers who have received permission can come here."
The monks standing at the entrance blocked our way. But it cannot be that the Hero chosen by God couldn't enter the temple. And this time, Luke spoke.
"I have permission."
"Then show it to us."
"God permitted us. My name is Luke, and I am a hero. This is my group of companions."
"The Summoned Hero…"
The frightened monk ran inside. And after a while, Saint A appeared. She knew right away that Luke and I were Heroes.
"You are Heroes, as the prophecy says."
If there were two summoned Heroes, the contents of the prophecy seemed to change. Luke spoke confidently. "Saint, your mission is to help the Hero defeat the Demon Lord. Finally, the day has come. Please help us."
This was different from how he coaxed Alex. She was a Saint, and that was enough reason to join us. It wasn't altogether wrong. The saint was a high healer who could revive the dead. The saint existed to help the Hero. Her skill Resurrection existed to prevent the bulk of the Hero's party from dying, which would make it difficult to continue the journey.
The saint, with a cautious smile, answered. "First, bring the Holy Sword. I will serve whoever passes the Holy Sword test."
"Holy Sword first?"
Not expecting such a turn of events, Luke didn't know what to say. In the third playthrough, when Sieg appeared, it was the same as if there were two Heroes.
"Holy Sword…"
Hearing Saint A's demand, I rubbed my chin. So any Holy Sword would do?