Chapter 81: Wish Fulfillment

Have they decided not to open for business at all today?

I could sense the presence of Ellie and Lydia inside, but the door to the Fairy and Silver Coin was firmly closed with a sign indicating they were closed for the day.

“Hmm….”

Clack, clack… click.

“Ellie! Miss Lydia! What should we have for lunch? I feel like eating something with meat!”

“Wh-what! I haven’t opened the door yet?! How did you get in!”

“Jonah. Did you break the doorknob? But I didn’t hear any sound….”

Likewise, having sensed my presence, Ellie, who was walking through the hall, and Lydia, who was quietly sipping her drink, looked at me with startled expressions.

I responded to their intense reaction with a double peace sign.

“I just picked the lock and came in?”

“How?!”

“Even if it’s a latch and not a lock….”

Ellie and Lydia were dumbfounded. It’s actually not that impressive. I just slightly put the new power I obtained, Basilieus, to use.

The wide open door frame. I pointed to the latch area. There, unlike the other smoothly trimmed parts, something like a protruding branch was attached.

“The door frame is made of wood. I could manipulate it with the new power I got.”

If you extract the branch from the door frame and release the latch, then push it, it’s done.

“…But it’s already a dead tree?”

“Anyway, it’s wood, and it’s a plant.”

“……”

Ellie closed her mouth tightly. Meanwhile, Lydia cut the elongated branch and examined it, mumbling blankly.

“This. It’s alive?”

“It grows because it’s alive.”

“…How can a living branch come out of a dead tree?”

“That’s why it’s a miracle, isn’t it?”

“……”

“……”

Ellie and Lydia, powerless, look at each other and lean their heads together, whispering softly.

“Um, I get that it’s amazing, but it’s not that great, you know? Just looking at the result, it may look like I revived a dead plant, but technically, it’s more like my divine power transformed into a branch. It’s so inefficient that I can only produce something this small.”

“I’m surprised you’re handling it so well already.”

“We don’t have powers, but we’ve seen people who do. It’s the first time we’ve seen someone adapt as quickly as Jonah.”

“Well, you know….”

It’s the first time I’ve gained powers in a labyrinth, but I’ve obtained skills and powers from the gacha several times.

Knowledge being forcibly engraved, a foreign power taking root within me at some point.

It’s something I’m already familiar with, having experienced it several times.

Of course, since I couldn’t tell the two of them, I just shrugged and pretended to be smug.

“It’s because I’m a genius. Ahem.”

“That might be true… Lydia. What do you think? You’ve been observing him closely.”

“Yes. In my eyes, Jonah is a genius. But there’s something more than just talent.”

“Isn’t that the Goddess’s blessing?”

“Maybe.”

The two nodded as they exchanged their conversation calmly.

No, I was joking, but if you acknowledge it so seriously, it makes me feel really awkward?

I sighed deeply and sat in the seat in front of the counter.

“Alright, both of you come here. We have something to talk about, don’t we?”

“…Ah.”

“That’s right.”

Murmuring half-jokingly, the two locked the door again and sat down next to me.

Just until a moment ago, we were talking about trivial things as usual, but as soon as I said I had something to say, the atmosphere between Ellie and Lydia changed.

The air felt strangely heavy. The first to speak was Ellie.

“Jonah. Have you decided to tell us now?”

“It’s okay. We’ll listen to whatever you have to say. We’re on your side.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean…?”

This time, when I looked puzzled, Ellie shook her head with a bitter expression.

“There’s no need to pretend you don’t know anymore. I’m sorry. I’m sorry for making you make that choice. I’m sorry I couldn’t do it for you.”

“…Huh?”

Ellie said that while patting my shoulder. Lydia was not much different.

“Now that we’ve cleared the first floor, Jonah is my porter. I won’t let you go until you pay back all the money you borrowed. …So from now on, keep entering the Labyrinth with me.”

Since she was talking about debt with a serious face and telling me to repay it.

On the first floor, I fought alone and took all the profits… If I become a porter, I’ll only get porter wages.

Just how long does she plan on dragging me around?

Isn’t this child exploitation? But if you’re going to exploit me, can’t you exploit my sperm instead?

Suppressing the nonsense that kept trying to escape my mouth, I pondered Ellie and Lydia’s words.

I suddenly came out as a saint (not). Ellie apologized for making me shoulder the burden alone. Lydia was trying to keep me somehow.

“…Ah.”

I see. I understood everything.

“Ellie.”

“Yeah.”

“Ellie and I will keep seeing each other in the future, right? Isn’t that so?”

“Uh…yes, that’s right?”

“Then please don’t say you’re sorry. I’ve received a lot of help from Ellie so far, and I plan to continue doing so. Ellie is always someone I’m grateful for. Always.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Jonah…”

Ellie’s eyes reddened slightly. She was perhaps moved. Good. This side is settled somehow. Next is Lydia.

Staring intently at Lydia’s expressionless face, I slowly opened my mouth.

“Miss Lydia.”

“Yes.”

“You said it, didn’t you? That you’re always on my side.”

“That’s right. I am Jonah’s…”

Whether she was mumbling or stopped herself from speaking, one thing is certain: Lydia also harbors goodwill towards me.

However, unlike Ellie, who helps me selflessly, it seems clear that Lydia has some expectations from me.

It probably has something to do with me being a saint (not)….

“Hmm.”

As expected, if there is only one reason Lydia would go this far.

A knight.

Lydia’s ultimate goal is not to succeed and live well like other adventurers.

The Labyrinth and adventurer life are merely means to an end. A means to gain power and fame as a knight.

What Lydia truly desires is to become a knight and revive her family.

Then, one question inevitably arises. Can’t she become a knight right now?

It’s not like she wants to become a duke.

Nevertheless, the reason Lydia remains an adventurer instead of a knight is…is it only one reason?

The reason why Lydia, whose skills and character are proven, cannot receive a knight title anywhere.

There must be that level of ‘disgrace’ hanging over Lydia’s family.

From that perspective, the title of the saint’s companion was an irresistible bait.

Who in the world would point fingers and call the saint’s party member disgraceful.

Although I don’t intend to enter the Temple yet, I can’t keep my distance from it forever, so becoming an official saint is just a matter of time.

So, from Lydia’s point of view, I am the perfect asset to buy at a low point right now.

Who knows. Perhaps if I become a saint officially, I might make Lydia an honorary paladin.

Unlike ordinary knights, paladins do not inherit their authority, but the position guarantees honor beyond that of an average knight.

At least it would be enough to dispel the disgrace that the family has been burdened with.

I organized my thoughts up to this point and patted Lydia on the shoulder. As if I were appointing her as a knight.

“Although Miss Lydia told me not to, but I truly believe that Miss Lydia is already a wonderful knight.”

“That is…”

“Stand up straight. Show your chest wide, and hold your head high. My knight. You haven’t done anything wrong.”

“…….”

Her lips parted slightly, and her eyes opened so wide, it was to the point they couldn’t get any bigger.

I smiled at her. Adding a touch of the noble young master’s act that Lydia was so engrossed in before.

“Thank you for everything until now. And I look forward to your continued support.”

“…Yes!”

Lydia nodded a beat late with a stiff expression.

Alright. This wraps up the whole coming out as a saint (not) thing.

I still hesitate to reveal the gacha ability itself… But there’s no longer a need to hide what I got from the gacha or to come up with plausible excuses to deceive.

I can just say, ‘The Goddess of Love gave it to me’.

Inside the now quiet shop. Somehow, it feels like I’m the only one who talked after suggesting we chat…

Anyway, since the result is good, isn’t it okay?

Lying flat on the table, I rubbed my cheek against the cold wood and said,

“Oh, right. I just went to Eden and met Eve, didn’t I?”

“Huh?! Oh! Right. You said you had some business to attend to?”

“That’s right. When I made the Unicorn Dagger, instead of payment, I promised to lend her the power I got from the World Tree once. Today, I just showed her what kind of power it is.”

“…It’s impressive that she allowed it. It’s practically like making it for free, isn’t it?”

“It could also be because there was still a little debt left for saving Lemon and Apple. Ah, and just in case, I should tell you this.”

“Oh. What is it?”

“I was proposed to by Eve.”

“……”

“……”

Ellie, who habitually took out a Magic Herb cigarette, paused.

Lydia, on the other hand, covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes rolling wildly.

A suffocating silence.

Exactly three seconds later, Ellie lit the cigarette and stood up.

“Alright. I’m going to step out to go kill Eve or whatever for a bit.”

“Stop with the murder threat…!”

Why are you saying that so calmly!