episode_0119

“Thank you for your hard work.”

I spoke briefly.

It was pointless to talk at length, and there was no need to talk at length.

I know very well how hard they worked.

Although the parties involved could not do it because they were not together at the scene.

Everyone was watching from outside.

This must have been the first time something like this happened.

‘This time, you can call it a hardship since you overcame that challenge without my advice.’

People cheered and applauded generously.

Vivian, Helena, Lucia.

The three gradually calmed down and raised their heads after hearing people’s reactions.

Among those shouts, there was a nickname that was somewhat inappropriate to the situation.

“Cute Vivian! It’s the cutie Vivian!”

“… Huh?”

Vivian made a dumb noise and looked back at me.

It’s as if their eyes want an explanation.

“Lee, Ian… ? what… Something happened outside… ?”

“Well, ”

I also stood up and shrugged my shoulders in response.

“It’s because you’re a cutie, but how do I know.”

“… … .”

Vivian’s face turned red as she lowered her head.

This is why I can’t stand being teased.

Helena looked blankly at the people cheering at her.

With faintly trembling hands, she took off the helmet that covered her face.

Orange hair, drenched in sweat, was flying.

His hair was clearly braided neatly, as it always was before the expedition, but it seemed to have come undone during the fierce battle.

Orange eyes that resemble hair capture the scenery seen while shaking.

“Ha… .”

She let out a light breath and clasped her hands.

He seemed relieved, and he also looked like he was praying.

As if to be thankful for something.

“Helen-!”

Rachel, who had been watching from afar, ran to her.

“Rachel… ?”

Helena was surprised, as if she hadn’t expected it.

Helena entered the dungeon without knowing that Rachel had come here.

“Helen!”

“Rachel… !”

The two ran to each other and hugged each other tightly.

Helena’s armor was dirty with all kinds of dirt and dust.

Before meeting the skeleton, I was covered in bodily fluids while dealing with several monsters.

But Rachel didn’t care whether her nun’s clothes got dirty or not.

“Helen… . I saw it all… .”

“Rachel… .”

“You’ve really become a worthy warrior before you know it… . Just like I had hoped for so long before.”

“I, I… .”

Helena, who was stuttering, could not hold back and burst into tears.

Rachel smiled kindly as if she understood, and patted the back of Helena’s head.

‘It’s probably worth it to be jealous.’

Rachel’s grades, which I checked at MacDerlin Abbey, were always excellent.

On the other hand, Helena, despite her circumstances, always came in last place.

The two were best friends, and I also know that Helena took advantage of Salome’s bullying on Rachel’s behalf.

Still, the human mind is such that it is difficult to purely cheer and support in a situation like this.

‘… ‘Am I too twisted?’

In any case, it is fortunate that Rachel is not a person with such a temperament.

Lucia leisurely waved her hand to the people, as if wondering when she had last cried out of emotion.

“Thank you all~”

The other hand was raised high so that people could see the magic stone.

A yellow magic stone sparkled on her hand.

Every time Lucia smiled and looked around at the crowd, a scream erupted that was difficult to distinguish whether it was cheering or a scream of despair.

“LuciaAhh-!”

“Noonaaaa-! Kill me too!”

“Sister, you’re so cool!”

Certainly, Lucia’s appearance at the end was impressive.

The same goes for setting up a plan to destroy the platform in that short period of time.

In particular, performing tricks in the air and landing on an ice spear slope, throwing a halberd and using it at the right time… .

“You have a calling.”

“That’s right. I don’t know why I did this now… .”

Lucia, who had been answering playfully, closed her mouth.

Her eyes were fixed on a certain place.

I followed my gaze and saw a fairly familiar woman standing there.

It was Lucia’s mother whom I saw last time.

“Mom… ?”

I sent a letter to Lucia’s mother through Mercy.

Lucia is about to take the official exam, so if you want to take a look, please come.

‘I thought you weren’t coming because I didn’t see you before the start… .’

I quietly took the magic stone from Lucia’s hand.

“Take a look.”

“… Thank you.”

Lucia slowly approached her mother and hugged her.

“Lucy… . Really, you’re all grown up… .”

“… Yes.”

“Mom didn’t do anything like that… . I’m sorry, I’m sorry… .”

“… … .”

“I’m thankful that you grew up like this, and I’m proud of you… .”

Lucia could not answer because her throat was tight.

Just by looking at it from a distance, I could only tell that my body was exerting more strength.

“Ugh… .”

Vivian waddled over, holding something in her arms.

I kept receiving things from people, but it seemed like no one was strange, so I just kept quiet.

But I didn’t expect to receive this much?

“Why did you take it like that?”

There were so many that they covered Vivian’s face.

“Ne?”

Vivian stuck her head out next to the gift and smiled embarrassedly.

“Ah, it’s a gift for me… . He gave it to me and told me to take it. Because I received it like that… .”

From earlier, I heard a voice saying “Thank you, thank you.”

That was the answer I gave when I received this.

As soon as Vivian started receiving one, it seemed like everyone gave it to everyone.

“Can’t it… ?”

“There is nothing that cannot be done. If you become famous, you will receive many gifts. Instead, you need to check what’s inside.”

They give trash under the guise of a gift, or even send letters containing swear words.

In severe cases, they may even give you food containing poison.

It cannot be taken lightly.

Vivian seemed to understand what that meant and nodded obediently.

She hugged a tower of beautiful gifts and stared at Helena and Lucia.

Come to think of it, Vivian said she had no family.

I took a quick look around.

‘You didn’t come? ‘It’s too far to bring the kids.’

I asked Vivian vaguely.

“Are you jealous?”

“Neuet? ah. Umm, it’s okay.”

Although he was laughing hard, he didn’t really look good.

“Umm… . What if you say you’re jealous?”

“Yes?”

“Then will Ian hug you instead?”

“I think I already received enough support from the three of you.”

“Hmm, no. Helena was hugged the most, right?”

“I don’t know what the standard for most is… .”

“Well, I barely have arms… !”

Vivian hurriedly closed her mouth.

It was a reaction that he finally realized what he was asking for.

“Self, self.”

At that moment, Mercy flew over and sat on Vivian’s shoulder.

“It seems like our Vivian has suddenly become braver. Look, isn’t Ian in trouble?”

“Oh… .”

“So you shouldn’t do that. You know Ian so carelessly.”

“Okay… .”

“Nyaung!”

Kati also jumped onto Vivian’s other shoulder and whined.

“Ugh!”

As a result, Vivian almost spilled the gift tower, but fortunately, she managed to keep her balance.

“Sister Vivian!”

From somewhere, a young voice called to her.

When I turned my head, I saw a nun leading several children.

It was Petra, the abbot of Agnes Monastery.

The children she brought in were, of course, the children Vivian cared for at the orphanage.

“Uh, uh… ? Emma? Guys… ?”

Vivian tried to approach but was stopped by something in her hand.

“I will keep it.”

“And, thank you… .”

I barely managed to receive the gift tower with one arm.

“Guys-!”

Vivian rushed over and hugged the children with both arms.

“How, how do you know this place…? .”

“The nun told me!”

“My sister said it was test day!”

Vivian looked up at Petra and bowed her head.

“Thank you… .”

“Nothing to say. To the person over there rather than to me.”

Petra pointed at me with her eyes and made eye contact with Vivian, who was on the verge of crying.

I shrugged my shoulders and pretended not to notice.

“Ha, ha… . I’m real… .”

Are you laughing or sighing?

Vivian, who was muttering something, ended up hugging the children and sniffling.

The children chattered to Vivian.

“Sister, I saw it all! It was so cool!”

“That’s right! Just like this with magic… !”

“Especially when you say ‘apologize’ to that Vera or whatever… !”

“Yaa-!”

Vivian was outraged by the dark history mentioned out of nowhere.

Petra, who was looking at this with satisfaction, quietly approached me.

“Because there are so many people. It took a while to find it because the kids were rushing around.”

“Was it uncomfortable to watch?”

“Luckily. I was a bit lost at first, but I found a suitable spot. The stamp on the letter you sent played a big role.”

“Hmm. Well then, that’s a relief. Since I couldn’t see you, I wondered if you hadn’t come.”

Petra said, smiling gently.

“You feel safe when it is always in front of you.”

“… Well, wouldn’t that be most certain?”

Petra smiled brightly at that answer.

Around that time, other hero parties began to emerge one by one from the dungeon entrance.

Everyone looks puzzled.

It’s understandable because the test suddenly ended while I was in the middle of the dungeon.

Every party that comes out takes turns looking in this direction.

Since they came out much earlier than they did, they must be wondering something.

And when I see the magic stone in my hand, I realize.

A person who is despondent.

A person who feels unfair.

A person who disassembles.

Each reaction also varies.

In very rare cases, there were people who gave a thumbs up as if they were congratulating them, although they had a bitter look on their faces.

Finally everyone got out.

The participating parties once again gathered in front of the guild dispatcher.

Vivian, Helena, and Lucia, who were closest to the dispatcher, were smiling brightly.

Lucia, the person who took out the magic stone, heard it.

The dispatcher looked around and spoke with a faint smile.

“The official exam has ended. The party that passed the test is party number 1. This is Vivian, Helena, and Lucia.”

The dispatcher officially declared.

“Wow-!”

My warriors also shouted along with the cheers of the people who came to watch.

Vivian even jumped up and down in place.

“Thank you to everyone who participated.”

After saying hello, the dispatcher handed something to my group.

Vivian received it as a representative.

“This is a confirmation of passing the official exam. If you go to the Manager Guild and submit it, you will be able to receive a new warrior certificate.”

The dispatcher, who greeted us politely, looked back at the audience and declared.

“This concludes the official warrior promotion test.”

Several other participating parties came up and said hello.

Among them, Vera Fatih approached me cautiously and quietly apologized.

I didn’t say anything and motioned for him to go.

After receiving all the greetings, the fruit warriors quickly approached me.

“Ian!”

“Ian! We passed!”

It may seem like children to announce out loud what they already know, but it’s nice to see it anyway.

“Congratulations to everyone. Even without my advice, you solved the problem in less than half a day when it should have taken a day or two. You are amazing.”

“Hehe… .”

“If you do this, you don’t need me… .”

“… … .”

“… You don’t lose. Absolutely, yes. Um.”

Helena opened her mouth in shock, and Vivian became tearful.

Lucia glared with narrowed eyes.

… I can’t tell jokes because I’m scared.

“Just kidding, kidding. Where should I go?”

“That’s right… ?”

“I knew… !”

“Anyway, it didn’t work out.”

Lucia approached and poked his side with her elbow.

“Be careful.”

“We did so well, but what’s missing?”

“Why isn’t there one?”

I grinned and looked back at my group.

Even though I train them hard, that doesn’t mean I don’t give them time to rest or play.

Especially on days like this.

“Do you all like alcohol?”

When you play, you should play.