TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 224
-The Favorability Restriction has been lifted.
-Yuria’s Favorability has increased.
[Favorability: 100↑]
(!) Yuria’s Awakening as the ‘Saintess of Purity’ has begun.
“Hm?”
As I was receiving a heart-fluttering Flirting, the Blue Window appeared with a notification, completely oblivious to the mood. It could’ve shown up just a little later, but it appeared without any sense of timing. I almost committed Blasphemy against the Blue Window, but since it contained unexpectedly important information about Favorability, I barely held back my irreverent words and let out a Deep Sigh of relief.
‘Saintess…?’
Perhaps it was because I kissed the sleeping Princess, but the Status Window’s message about the lifting of the Favorability Restriction and the beginning of the Saintess’s Awakening was surprising.
With a Question Mark on the Head at the Status Window’s nonsense, I openly expressed my doubt. Then, shaking my head slightly, I looked at Yuria, who was blushing.
“No… that’s not what I meant.”
Yuria, whose face had turned as red as Tomatoes and who was mumbling to herself, looked like she might burst if nudged.
“That doesn’t mean it has no meaning at all… Ugh, what am I even saying…”
I wanted to tease Yuria as she fanned her face and avoided my gaze, but there was a more pressing matter at hand, so I turned my trembling eyes to the Favorability Window.
[Yuria Lv. 41]
Job: Saintess of Purity (Awakening in Progress)
Favorability: 100
Favorite Topics of Conversation: First Love. Ricardo. Family. I Must Get Stronger. My Own Promise. Child Planning. The Person I Like.
Disliked Topics of Conversation: Ruin. Heretics. People Who Harm Ricardo.
It felt like many things had changed.
Starting with the Favorability Restriction and the Saintess’s Awakening, there were many elements I had been unaware of that were now showing significant changes. As I looked at the golden glow of the changes in ‘Favorability’ and ‘Job,’ a small defiance welled up in me. ‘If you were going to tell me, you should’ve done so earlier,’ I thought.
If it was something this important, couldn’t it have at least given me a hint through a Quest? I couldn’t bring myself to like the Status Window, which was rarely considerate.
‘Still, it’s better than not being told at all.’
Letting out a Deep Sigh as I read the shameless text in the Favorability Window, I realized there had been a reason why Yuria’s Favorability hadn’t risen despite my efforts. And since the problem I had considered the biggest—Yuria’s Awakening—was resolved, I decided to look on the bright side.
With a satisfied gaze, I looked at Yuria and patted her head.
“Thank you.”
*
A peaceful Young Lady’s Hospital Room.
“Grrr…”
The Young Lady, with a Dog Chew in her mouth, bristled as she saw me return.
Not Chocolate, but a Dog Chew.
Rubbing my eyes, I double-checked what was in the Young Lady’s mouth, but the unchanging presence of the Dog Chew made me let out an Empty Laugh and shake my head.
‘Where did that even come from?’
There were many questions I wanted to ask the Young Lady, who was nibbling on the Dog Chew, but first, I had to take action. Watching the wary Young Lady with her hair standing on end, I cautiously reached out.
“Tsk.”
“…”
“Wait.”
“…”
She looked entirely like a dog.
As I seriously pondered how to turn the Young Lady back into a person, she spat out the Dog Chew with a “Ptooey.” Crossing her arms, the Young Lady looked at me with a sullen expression and spoke in a blunt tone.
“Ricardo.”
“Yes.”
“You met a woman, didn’t you?”
“Have you really become a dog?”
“Huh?”
As expected, the Young Lady’s dog-like hunch was sharp.
Letting out a small laugh, I slowly walked toward the Young Lady sitting on the hospital bed. Dressed in patient clothes due to the lack of a change of attire, the outfit surprisingly suited her.
As expected of the most beautiful woman in this world, the Young Lady could pull off any outfit. Admiring her appearance, I picked up the Dog Chew that had fallen to the floor and asked.
“Where did this come from?”
“The Mister gave it to me.”
“The Mister?”
“Yeah, the Innkeeper.”
“Ah…?”
The Young Lady pointed to the Hospital Room Door and said, “The Innkeeper came looking for Yuria,” recounting a conversation she had with James.
“He thought she might be here, and when told she wasn’t, he left this.”
“That…?”
“Yeah. He said to give it to Ricardo.”
“To me?”
“Yeah. Remember when you said you were raising Gomtangi?”
“Ah… But why were you chewing on it?”
“He said it was super expensive and edible for humans, so I tried it. Ricardo, you should try it too. It’s made of Beef Jerky, and it tastes good.”
“Ah…”
Even so, eating that seemed like a stretch. Pushing aside the trivial question, I smiled as I patted the Young Lady’s head, who was making a sullen expression.
“Well done.”
“Yeah.”
“You didn’t fight, did you?”
“No.”
What a kind Young Lady she was. Regardless of the reason, she had entertained a bored Middle-Aged Man. Taking the Chocolate out of my Pocket, I handed it to her and spoke in a Gentle Voice.
“Wait.”
“I’m not a dog.”
“…”
She was a clever Young Lady.
Talking about Dog Chews for so long, it was already past midnight, and dawn was approaching.
The clock pointed to 3 a.m., and outside the window, the large moon shone brightly in the sky. The Young Lady and I spent the night in the North, gazing blankly and smiling.
In the Hospital Room, where a pleasant silence filled the air, the Young Lady cautiously opened her mouth.
“Ricardo.”
“Yes.”
“Did you make up with Yuria?”
“…”
As expected. The Young Lady was the culprit.
Letting out a small laugh, I pinched the cheek of the Young Lady leaning on my shoulder and said.
“Didn’t I tell you not to say anything? Did you end up spilling the beans?”
“Eeeek… It hurts.”
“It’s fine if it hurts. A blabbermouth Shepherd Girl deserves to be scolded.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… Eeeek! I’m sorry!”
“Honestly…”
Releasing the Young Lady’s cheek, I smiled and spoke. Rubbing her cheek as if it hurt, the Young Lady muttered, “It feels like it’s stretched.”
“Thanks to you, we had a good talk.”
“…”
“The misunderstanding was cleared up, and we made up.”
The Young Lady nodded and gave a small smile.
“Ricardo, you were a bit of a Push-Over.”
“That’s an insult.”
“I know.”
Looking at the brightly shining moon, the Young Lady softly muttered. In a voice too quiet for me to hear, she murmured, “You’re such a fool,” before resting her face against my shoulder again.
The moon was bright.
The moon in the night sky was so bright that it seemed there was no need for a Lantern. The tranquil and introspective moon, which brought out the stories buried within, was especially beautiful tonight.
Staring at the uneven surface of the moon, I cautiously spoke. This was the kind of moment that called for a Joke.
“Young Lady.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know there’s a Rabbit on the Moon?”
“A Rabbit?”
I pointed at the moon with my finger as I looked at the Young Lady, who tilted her head with a Question Mark on the Head.
“There, starting from that spot and going to there, that’s the ears.”
“Oh…”
“And from down there to up here, that’s the Pounding Mortar.”
“Pounding Mortar?”
“Yes, because the Rabbit on the Moon makes rice cakes.”
“Rice cakes? Are they tasty?”
At the Young Lady’s question, which was focused solely on food, I let out a hearty laugh and shook my head. I hadn’t tasted them either.
“Well, I wouldn’t know. I’ve never tried them myself.”
“Hmm…”
“Do you want to try them?”
“Yeah.”
The Young Lady gazed intently at the moon, her Bright, Shining Eyes wide open. She seemed to be pondering what the rice cakes made on the moon were made of. Watching her pure expression, I let out a small laugh and opened my mouth.
“It’s a Lie.”
“…Huh?”
“There’s no Rabbit on the Moon. And no rice cakes, either.”
“…Eeeek.”
With her innocence shattered, the Young Lady gave me a resentful look and raised her Fist. Since long-range attacks wouldn’t work, she switched to close combat. Seeing her raised Fist, I couldn’t help but laugh and smile.
“Don’t tease me! I really thought it was true!”
“Pfft!”
“Don’t laugh!”
“I didn’t think you’d actually believe it.”
“Eeeek!”
It’s fun.
Perhaps because one worry had been erased, everything felt more amusing, and my laughter became lighter.
Looking at the moon, I cautiously spoke to the Young Lady. With the end of our Northern Travel approaching, there was something we hadn’t yet addressed.
“Young Lady.”
“Yes?”
The Young Lady, mid-swing with her Fist, stopped moving at the sound of my quiet Voice and looked at me. Her lips pouted in anger, and her expression made me want to laugh, but I held back with a small Smile.
“Wasn’t there something you said you really wanted to see in the North?”
“Ah…”
The Young Lady nodded and looked up at the sky. After glancing at the sky and checking the Clock, she lowered her head with a dejected expression and spoke in a weak Voice.
“I don’t think I can see it.”
“What is it?”
“It’s… something.”
“Please tell me. I can make anything happen for you.”
“Well…”
“Yes.”
“Well… you know that Light Green Picture.”
“Ah…”
I let out a small laugh as I recalled the picture the Young Lady wanted to see. Then, glancing at the sky, I smiled.
“If it’s that, I think I can show it to you.”
As long as we had enough Time… Oh?
A gentle breeze began to blow.
And then.
Something light green started painting the Night Sky.
Aurora.
The picture the Young Lady had wanted to see was spreading across the sky like a watercolor painting.
“Wow…”
“Didn’t I tell you?”
“Ricardo…!”
“I can do anything…”
I had intended to say we could stay in the North until we saw the Aurora. But as the timing worked out perfectly, I thought we were lucky.
‘Huh?’
The Young Lady suddenly threw herself into my arms, and our bodies overlapped.
“It’s amazing!”
“Oh…”
The Young Lady was smiling and bouncing with excitement.
And I…
Stood still, touching my lips, as if frozen.
“Indeed.”
“Hehe…!”
“It’s so beautiful.”
I had my first kiss.
For the first time since becoming an adult.