episode_0045

After giving Helena some alone time, we all moved to the next room.

How will Helena react?

I wonder if the strategy I gave him when he was a cat worked, fortunately he seemed more embarrassed than angry.

I looked at Kati for a while.

The cat’s eyes, blankly looking out the window, roll like beads.

Compared to other demons, Kati has a less repulsive appearance.

White and smooth skin, three-shaped lips that look like a cat’s snout.

To be honest, she is not an ordinary woman, but rather a beautiful woman.

Katy must have sensed my gaze and slowly turned her head to face me.

“Why. Cat cat.”

Honestly, it’s a funny nickname.

How dare you be a cat to this guy.

“… … .”

When I giggle and tease him, he turns his head and looks out the window without saying a word.

It was funny because that sullen reaction seemed like a real cat.

“Vivian.”

“Yes?”

“Helena, what do you think?”

“Umm… .”

Vivian crossed her arms under her chest and pondered.

I pretended not to see the movement on my arm and looked out the window.

“Oh… . Did you see it?”

Mercy whispered softly, and I responded with ventriloquism.

“Quiet… .”

After thinking about it, Vivian sat down to my right.

Kati quietly sat down on my left.

“Honestly, I’m a bit worried. I received help from Kati, and I saw her with Ian… .”

“Of course it is.”

“But it will be fine.”

Vivian said in a confident voice.

He was so proud that he turned around and smiled when he saw me.

“Ian is the one who brought you, right? So it will happen.”

In the end, it was like saying that you trust me.

“Thank you.”

“But… . Is it true that you said you were in love with Helena?”

“Well, it’s not a lie. Of course it didn’t have any strange meaning… .”

“Aha… .”

what.

Was it a little cold just now?

“Oh, I know! Doesn’t that mean you’re suitable as a party member?”

“Of course.”

“Then maybe… .”

Vivian, who was about to say something, kept her mouth shut.

“Ugh, no. Now shall we go to Helena?”

“Well, let’s say that.”

Was it because of my mood? .

*

Fortunately, Helena did not show any hostility toward Katy.

However, this did not mean that there was no caution.

“I want to ask you one thing!”

“Something.”

“Why are you walking around with Mine?”

It was a reasonable question.

Vivian, whom I once believed and saw, is rather a rare case.

Vivian also looked at me as if she was curious.

I briefly explained how I discovered Katy a while ago.

The plan to train Mine soldiers was omitted.

It’s not a good choice to mention one of the empire’s shortcomings.

“It was a little over 4 years ago.”

“4 years, 3 months, 16 days.”

“Uh… . I remember that.”

Helena shook her head and said.

“You are the so-called savior of life!”

“I don’t know if it’s that big… . It might be similar.”

“I understand. But, I am also a little… . Oh, I’m not saying I’m leaving because I trust you, Ian… !”

I understand how you feel.

Seonghwagyo teaches that demons and demons worship a pagan god called ‘Demon God’.

Helena is also a priest of the Holy Church, so she is bound to be used to such education.

Just trying to adapt is enough for now.

Vivian became sullen, as if she was feeling regretful.

“I understand. You can gradually adapt in the future.”

“Yes!”

“If you want to become friends, you have to greet them properly. Shall we start with a handshake?”

“Yes?”

Kati took a step forward without saying anything.

Looking at that expressionless face, Helena carefully stretched out her hand.

“This is Helena… !”

“This is Kati.”

The two briefly shook hands and walked away.

“Well, let’s get along well from now on.”

“Yep… ! Thank you very much!”

Helena then formally greeted Vivian and Mercy.

“Once the greetings are over, let’s move right away.”

“What should I do first!”

“Eating.”

Just like with Vivian, Helena also has to make everything right from the beginning.

*

Helena’s reaction to seeing the table full of food was the same as Vivian’s.

“I can’t eat this much… !”

Vivian, who heard that story, laughed leisurely next to her.

“Are you sure you’ll eat it all?”

That was true.

Helena ate everything that was given to her.

“Nonsense, no, it doesn’t work… .”

As if he couldn’t believe it, he muttered after eating it all.

For reference, Vivian, whose food intake increased, ate much more than Helena.

Helena, sprawled out on the chair, muttered as she looked at it.

“You’re amazing… .”

Vivian’s hand that was picking up the meat hesitated at that praise.

“Don’t worry, just eat. Because you can eat a lot.”

“Nueep… .”

He eats well while clenching his full cheeks.

While Vivian was finishing up, I did some research on Helena.

“Helena is a battle priest, right?”

Priests are divided into two categories.

One is a support priest who fights from the rear.

Aria is a representative example, and most of the priests in the warrior party are in this case.

Anyway, Aria can have an impact in all directions, no matter where she is.

And a combat priest who fights on the front lines.

His role is to go to the front wearing plate armor, carrying a mace, and a shield.

The Helena I saw was that type.

“Yes! Every nun who participated in the public trials was trained as a combat priest!”

A combat priest is able to change positions freely, being able to move to the front and then move back when necessary to focus on support.

It’s a good thing for me because it’s so useful and rare.

“You have no intention of changing jobs, right?”

“If Ian wants to change it, I will!”

“Let’s not change.”

“Yes!”

Since they have to wear armor and fight with weapons, strength training is essential for combat priests.

I guess I can order something I couldn’t order from Vivian… .

“Ian… ? Why are you smiling like that… ?”

“Ah. I’m happy to see Helena growing up.”

“I see! We will make you happier!”

Helena answered with her eyes shining.

It’s nice to have so much motivation.

“But can I ask you one thing?”

“If there is anything you want to ask, please ask. Because you don’t have to ask for permission.”

“What happened with the first party?”

Come to think of it, I didn’t tell Helena that I was kicked out.

“I was expelled.”

“Why?”

Vivian’s hand, which was eating fruit, stopped.

When Vivian was told she was kicked out, she did not inquire deeply about the reason.

You probably thought it would be rude to ask.

“It’s not like there isn’t a reason why… . This is it, there is nothing I want to do. I’m not sure if there’s a good reason.”

“I see!”

Helena was confidently convinced, and Vivian was left fidgeting for no reason.

“Ian, then have you seen Philip too?”

Vivian paid attention again.

By the way, it’s kind of fun to see everything you’re thinking even though you don’t say a word.

It’s Philip… .

I actually saw it.

“That’s a secret.”

“I see!”

Vivian was disappointed.

“When you finish eating, get up. Helena, do you have the clothes you used to wear when training?”

“Yes! Yes.”

“I’ll change and come out.”

*

Vivian came out first wearing stretchy sportswear.

It was loose at first, but now it fits my body perfectly.

Although I feel a bit embarrassed.

Helena’s was the baggy training uniform worn at the monastery.

I have some clothes to wear right now, so I’ll get used to the training schedule first and then visit Taylor later.

The first exercise was, of course, running.

“Start.”

Vivian was accustomed to running.

Compared to when I first started training, I have become faster and can now run a lot.

Therefore, the hammer I took out today is only for Helena.

-Pop!

“pp!”

“Put your weight on your stomach and jump!”

… what.

Does it make a very unusual sound?

-Pop!

“Queng!”

“Breathe through your nose, through your nose!”

… Are you doing this on purpose?

Even though it was only the first day, Helena couldn’t keep up.

Because the attitude I pointed out kept breaking down, I had to repeat the same advice.

-Pop!

“Giggle!”

“Rest with your nose, jump on your heels, and strengthen your stomach!”

While Helena was running 4 laps, Vivian was running 12 laps.

Then, I suddenly wondered what sound Vivian had made in the past when she was hit with a hammer.

“Hmm… .”

-Pop!

“Hunyak?! Huh? I’m late… ?”

“Oh, no. that is… . It’s a mistake. Sorry.”

I’m so curious, so stop… .

“Iing… .”

Rubbing her head, Vivian ran again.

By the time Vivian had completed 30 laps, Helena had completed 10 laps.

We took another break in the middle because it was difficult, so the results were worse than Vivian’s first training.

“Huh, huh, huh… .”

I touched Helena’s wrist for a moment as she lay down and caught her breath.

It’s very thin.

I didn’t notice because she usually wore clothes that were large and covered her wrists, but Vivian was extremely thin when I first met her.

I didn’t know I was this thin because I lost less fat on my face.

You said you were 19?

The monastery won’t provide a generous meal, but it won’t be as bad as when Vivian starved in the past… .

On the way back, I heard what happened to Salome and other people at the monastery.

Was it because I was under so much stress at the time that my body couldn’t absorb it properly?

The flow of mana throughout the body is also very unstable.

“Get up and walk around to catch your breath.”

“Yeah, I understand… !”

Even though he is out of breath, he listens well.

He walked next to me and asked.

“Did you not eat much at the monastery?”

“Yeah? Not really! Of course, it wasn’t as good as what Ian gave me!”

“Then, have you ever vomited or anything like that after eating?”

“… … .”

“That’s it. It’s okay if you don’t answer. Take a break and come back.”

“Yes… !”

Vivian, who is running far away, is looking this way without looking ahead.

When I gesture with my hand to tell him to look in front, he looks straight ahead.

“Why were you looking here?”

I’m used to seeing Kati, but this is my first time seeing Vivian like this.

While Vivian finished running and Helena caught her breath, I prepared for Helena’s next exercise.

It’s time for strength training that Vivian wasn’t told to do.

***

Vivian, who had completed 50 laps, was resting while receiving a massage from Mercy.

Even after training, I needed a massage to relax my muscles, so Mercy has been taking care of it.

I don’t know why I received it, but I felt refreshed and happy when I received it, so I just followed it.

‘They say that’s what Ian ordered.’

She looked at Ian and Helena over there.

Helena, whose whole body was drenched in sweat, was breathing heavily, and Ian was hugging her from behind.

“I can’t do it anymore… !”

“Just once, just once for the last time!”

“Ugh… !”

Helena was currently doing pull-ups with a bar that Ian had taken out of his pocket.

Helena’s physical strength was much lower than expected, so Ian had to carry her and assist her.

“Hold on even when it comes down! Why is it getting heavier?”

“I feel weak!”

“Hold on, though!”

“Ugh!”

Helena barely filled five and fell to the floor.

A simple question rose in her mind.

“This is my first time training like this… ! Why do we need to do this kind of training!”

It was a valid question.

Vivian was also curious.

No matter where you go, there is no one who orders things like Ian.

Ian pushed aside the many reasons that came to mind and came up with the magic word.

“The first party trains like this.”

“I’ll do it again!”

Helena jumped up, but Ian made her rest more.

Meanwhile, Vivian quietly approached.

“Can I try it too?”

The reason Ian didn’t make Vivian do strength training was because it wasn’t particularly necessary.

But when it comes to exercise, the more diverse it is, the better.

There was no reason for Ian to refuse.

Let’s do “.”

Vivian, who had been trained through Ian’s diet and endurance and agility training for several months, was able to do pull-ups well.

Ian looked at it and clapped with satisfaction.

Helena asked while Vivian smiled awkwardly.

“Did everyone in the first party do this!”

“Kylie and Beatrice were fixed, and Aria barely played. Sylvia sometimes?”

“I want to be like Aria!”

“You have to look higher than Aria.”

“Ma, that’s right… ! Let’s try it!”

Helena agreed, as if fascinated by the ridiculous request.

These are the words of Ian, who was the first person in the world to recognize his usefulness and value.

Even if it was an unrealistic request to surpass Aria, I believed that with his words, it would somehow be possible.

‘Silvia sometimes… .’

Vivian was fascinated by that thought.

Vivian followed along well enough to be compared to Helena, so she didn’t need Ian’s assistance.

“As expected, Vivian! great… !”

“Hehe, is that so… .”

Although I was embarrassed by Helena’s praise, I also felt a little sorry for Helena.

When I was at the orphanage.

I have seen existing children become territorial towards a new child.

He was worried that his actions might have been seen that way by Helena.

‘It’s still time for us to become friends, so I need to be careful…’ .’

*

After a few days of training, Ian defined Helena’s level.

‘Dunjae.’

Vivian, who has followed much better than expected from day one and has grown without stopping since, is clearly a genius.

It’s because the environment didn’t support it.

On the other hand, Helena still has many shortcomings, except for the miracle of protection.

Once again, Ian wasn’t worried or anxious about that.

If you have to, you can simply attach artifacts and relics to it.

I initially chose it because of its outstanding defense miracle.

However, something similar to curiosity and competitiveness arose.

‘How far can this Helena grow?’

They are different from the four people in the first party who, although their personality is unknown, are guaranteed to grow.

A definite protégé, different from Vivian.

If Helena grows to the point where the word ‘dungeful’ becomes meaningless, what will Helena look like then?

I was a bit curious about that.

‘Rather than that, I think he’s anxious because he knows he’s not keeping up well these days… . I guess I’ll have to have a consultation sometime soon. The mental aspect also affects my skills, so I have to take good care of it.’

*

Sylvia muttered as she sat on Aria’s back.

“I remember the first time I met Aria. At that time, I was scared of losing Ian for no reason, so I got irritated with Ian, and I also subtly paid attention to Aria… .”

At that time, Sylvia’s feelings did not amount to love.

At a time when dependence and desire for exclusivity were growing, Aria’s presence ignited the fire.

To myself, I thought it was subtle, but from Aria’s perspective, it wasn’t subtle at all.

Aria was dumbfounded when she first arrived, but soon recognized Sylvia’s value.

Aria didn’t covet Ian back then either.

It was a time when I wanted something else.

“I shouldn’t have done that… . How much trouble must Ian have been in… . Even if we cooperate, it’s not enough, so… .”

Even if Aria didn’t answer, Sylvia muttered to herself.

I didn’t really cry or sob.

But the tears flowed helplessly like a river overflowing after rain.

“Do I feel the same as Ian right now? When Ian gets kicked out? No, I don’t think so. It must have been worse than this… .”

“Yes, it was something like that… . This is what kicking someone out means, declaring that you will never see someone again. This must have been how Ian felt at the time… .”

Aria didn’t want to hear those complaints.

But I couldn’t abandon Sylvia.

“Why is it too late to regret? Is there no regret that is not too late? ? It’s so strange… . I did something like that when I was learning writing from Ian. Did you say wrong answer? After solving Ian’s problems within the scope of my study, I review what I got wrong. Then I can see what I did wrong.”

“Something like that… I did it with Ian… . Why didn’t I think of making a note of incorrect answers in my life? Why did I… .”

It was unpleasant, as if dirty sewage was digging into my ear canal.

Sylvia’s voice, which she could not refuse, pulled Aria’s consciousness into the past.

I didn’t want to think about it.

You can desensitize your hearing and put protection on only your ears so you can’t hear, but it’s already too late.

Sylvia’s regret has already eroded Aria’s spirit.

I wanted it because of Sylvia.

The one who gave up because of Sylvia.

Now, I’m thinking about Sylvia again.

This situation was so pathetic.

“Aria… .”

It was a call to be answered.

“Yes.”

“Why did Aria love Ian?”

“… Yes?”

Aria almost fell for a moment.

“I’m sorry… . Actually, I heard it that day… .”

I had no idea that Sylvia knew that.

I was complacent.

Just as I overheard Sylvia’s conversation, the reverse is also possible.

“After that, I became so anxious that I told Ian… .”

One of the causes of Sylvia’s runaway, which started at some point, was herself.

Aria didn’t say she loved Ian because she loved him.

That’s possessiveness without any emotion.

What would happen if Sylvia found out?

“… Aria?”

This is my first time feeling this way.

Now Aria is feeling the emotion of ‘fear’ for the first time in her life.