Ch.35Perhaps Summer

# 35. Perhaps Summer

I bought my new equipment from the Weapon Shop, which looked like it could spew out harsh words at any moment, and began training my skills, including Holy Magic, while maintaining my new gear, Cutjukiyeora.

And the one working the hardest was Saeaxe.

“Haa, haa, haa…”

She was continuously swinging the axes in both hands while dripping with sweat, saying she’d never felt such a stark difference between controlling a game character and moving her own body.

“It’s not just about swinging. I have to think about distributing power, speed, and reach… The axe length and blade size are different too, which makes it even more complicated.”

After taking a short break, she swung fiercely again, then muttered something as if she’d had some realization, then repeated the process of swinging again.

Without her usual robe or armor, just fiercely swinging her dual axes, she truly embodied the image of a beautiful warrior woman.

‘How is it possible that someone this cool and beautiful has never dated a man?’

They say that someone deeply focused on something is beautiful, but when the person is already beautiful to begin with, even the smallest actions become beautiful.

For example, even that simple gesture of wiping sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand looked like art.

If Cutjukiyeora was art with a static and noble feeling, then Saeaxe was art with a dynamic and vibrant feeling.

I’m definitely not trying to compare the two, but I wanted to express just how extremely different they felt.

“I got it!”

“Woooah!”

“W-what?”

I gave her a standing ovation, clapping until my palms hurt. Saeaxe seemed startled, as if she had forgotten I was watching her, so focused was she.

“Oh, you scared me.”

“Congratulations. As expected of the dual axe master herself, it didn’t take you that long.”

“Heh. I guess I had some sense for it since I first came here. That’s why. What do you call it? Game allowance?”

Game allowance, huh. It’s certainly a magical term that can cover just about anything.

“Oh right. Now that I’ve mastered this, is it about time we move on?”

“Not right away. I want you to get to level 2 in Dual Axe Mastery before we go up. To properly use it in combat, you need at least level 2, don’t you think?”

“I’ll admit that. But won’t that drag things out too much?”

“Meanwhile, Seyeon and I can earn money for Yuri’s snacks.”

Currently, Saeaxe is our raid’s only DPS.

Without Pure Healer Mulchi, we can’t use the strategy of enduring like soup, so our only option is to kill everything first to be safe.

So it was only natural to further develop Saeaxe, our sole damage dealer.

“The way you talk makes it sound like I eat a ton!”

“It is amazing how you don’t gain weight no matter how much you eat.”

“I guess that’s one advantage of being a muscular woman…”

“Um… fighting?”

I should stop teasing and get to my own business.

“Where are you going!”

“To complete a quest!”

“Ah! Have a good trip!”

“Yep.”

It was time to deliver the fully matured Alven Dew.

**

[Quest ‘Proof’ has been completed.]

[Quest details – Provide fine wine to ‘Al-Labre’, the South Gate guard of Albrant]

[Reward for success – Unrestricted entry to Albrant]

[Quest ‘Additional Proof’ has been updated.]

[Quest details – Provide the proven fine wine ‘Alven Dew’ to ‘Al-Labre’, the South Gate guard of Albrant]

[Time limit for success – None]

[Reward for success – Proportional to the ‘Alven Dew’ provided]

The South Gate guard Al-Labre became a prisoner of Alven Dew. He claimed that noble Albs like himself could distinguish fine wine just by smelling it without drinking, and that he would make an immediate judgment.

Gulp- Gulp- Gulp-

‘M-more? Is there more?’

After committing the outrageous act of chugging the entire bottle on the spot, he lamented if that was all I had.

I wanted to tease him by saying “Nope, that’s it~” but his expression was so desperate that I gave him hope, saying I might make more if the situation allows, then made my escape.

‘I don’t have the luxury to brew additional alcohol for a hater who isn’t even the G.O.A.T.’

And so, I was alone for the first time in a very long while. The feeling of walking alone felt unfamiliar.

As soon as I arrived, it was the Room of Beginnings, and after mindlessly doing what I was told, Cutjukiyeora suddenly appeared out of nowhere, saying I had an S-rank.

And not long after, Saeaxe joined.

Actually, though I haven’t mentioned it, I also harbored a desire to aim for another S-rank reward with all my might, hoping to somehow bring in another raid member.

‘Meeting raid members like Seyeon and Yuri in succession was incredibly lucky.’

In games, you sometimes hear about and experience “regression to the mean”…

If it’s regression to the mean that my team’s sniper and colleague from reality were replaced overnight with Cutjukiyeora and Saeaxe, then perhaps the next raid member might be someone of a different type than the previous two.

‘It doesn’t make sense for a kidnapper to be picky about their victims.’

A strong beneficiary of the suspension bridge effect and Stockholm syndrome, the one and only JoanofArcisaSaint.

These few weeks of intense isekai life seemed sufficient to change a part of my essential nature.

At least in terms of guilt about matters outside my fence.

‘As Seyeon said, let’s be selfish for now.’

I can pay it back later, right?

If the fourth member denies reality and gets angry at me…

I’ll tell them not to be so angry and to forgive me, since I’ll be adding “Traveled to a world inside a game” to their life achievements.

Being alone made all sorts of thoughts come to mind.

“Ah, Captain. You’re here.”

“Oh. When did you arrive?”

When I came to my senses, I was near the open space behind the inn. Cutjukiyeora, who had been watching Saeaxe just like I was earlier, saw me and tilted her head curiously.

“Captain. Do you have something on your mind?”

“Ah. It’s nothing.”

“Is it something you can’t tell me?”

Her golden hair fluttered in the brilliant sunlight. It was a dazzling sight, both physically and mentally.

Truly, it was a beautiful color that made comparisons feel unfair.

“It’s not that. Remember when Seyeon comforted me before? I was just thinking about that.”

“Before… Ah.”

Cutjukiyeora’s face turned red. She was quiet and shy. Yet she occasionally made bold moves, then became embarrassed about them later, which was quite endearing.

“Just between us, if we get another S-rank reward, I’m thinking of letting Yuri choose this time.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Since who comes is purely random anyway, who would you like as our next raid member?”

Cutjukiyeora blinked her clear, large eyes. Then she tapped her lips with her index finger as she pondered.

‘Given Seyeon’s personality, she’s probably not deliberately trying to look cute.’

I watched Cutjukiyeora with the sound of Saeaxe swinging her axes as background music.

“Anyone would be fine, but if necessity is the primary factor, I’d like one of two people.”

“Oh. Who?”

It would be fun to compare with the candidates I had in mind. What would be the answer from the game expert Holy Knight ranker Cutjukiyeora?

“If you want to run the raid aggressively, then Yebeop-nim, and if you want to run it stably, then Mulchi-nim.”

Wow.

“Why?”

“Hmm… Yebeop-nim is an Elemental Sorcerer who mainly uses fire magic, which is top-tier in terms of pure destructive power, and Mulchi-nim is an Arc Bishop who’s top-tier in protection and healing. Everyone knows Yebeop-nim can manage aggro while delivering both burst and sustained damage, and Mulchi-nim is really good at staying alive without overhealing.”

As expected of a game expert. As expected of Cutjukiyeora.

Her thoughts were exactly the same as mine.

“But if you had to choose one?”

“I’d choose… Mulchi-nim.”

“Really?”

“Yes. With Mulchi-nim, our stability would be on a completely different level. If we’re a bit less greedy, I don’t think we’ll often encounter situations where extreme offensive power is necessary.”

This is where our opinions diverged. I was leaning toward Yebeop.

Being able to hit with a powerful AoE skill before approaching was a huge merit from a tactical standpoint.

“And no matter how well we block or dodge, having insurance versus not having it makes a big psychological difference. Especially from my perspective as a tank.”

“Ah. I admit that.”

From her position as the one who has to take and endure the most hits, a healer would truly be a lifeline.

Until now, we’ve somehow managed with her holy magic and minor health potions, but thinking about the future, our current members might not be enough.

“So if we get a backdoor or water-something instead, we shouldn’t be instinctively disappointed?”

“How could we be? Far from disappointment, we should be grateful and help them understand. I was just speaking freely since imagination is free… Ah. But you’re the one who asked in the first place, Captain!”

“Breaking news: Cutjukiyeora declares all members except Physical Therapist unnecessary, faces expulsion…”

“Captain!”

“Hey, when did the captain get here?”

I fled behind Saeaxe to escape the red-faced Cutjukiyeora. Then Saeaxe, who had heard Cutjukiyeora’s words, grabbed me without hesitation and presented me before Cutjukiyeora.

“Ah Yuri, even you!”

Ugh! Hahaha! I surrender! I surrendeeer!

Afterward, I was thoroughly messed with by both Cutjukiyeora and the sweat-drenched Saeaxe.

It was summer (perhaps).