249 City Tour [1]

[Survive the cultist: You were able to overcome the event]

The familiar notification appeared in my vision and I stopped doing whatever I was doing as I looked up.

Immediately, a series of notifications flooded my vision.

[ Main Quest Activated: Survive the cultist.]

: Character Progression + 385%

: Game Progression + 11%

Failure

: Calamity 1 + 7%

: Calamity 2 + 9%

: Calamity 3 + 13

The first one I paid attention to was the question window which I glanced at for a brief moment before another notification appeared, taking my attention.

Game Progression EXP + 13%

Game Progression : [0%[42%]100%]

"."

I watched in silence as the bar slowly went up.

Even now, I still don't know what it did, but seeing that it increased all the way up to 42%, I had a feeling that I would soon know.

It was then the turn of the one area that I paid particular attention to.

Character Progression EXP + 385%

Exp : [0%-[96%]100%]

I felt the mana inside of my body surge.

The sensation was one that I had felt multiple times before, and yet still couldn't get used to. It was that good.

The sensation didn't last for very long.

It was over before I knew it, and I glanced at my level.

Level : 38 [Tier 3 Magician]

Exp : [0%-[96%]100%]

"Alright, I'm not too far away from reaching Tier 4."

About one level away.

This was good. Especially since I had been lagging compared to the others due to what had happened with the Dragon's Will.

Soon, the last notification appeared, and I held my breath.

[ Active Main Quest: Prevent the Calamities from awakening or dying.]

Aoife K. Megrail : Slumber

: Progress - 7%

Kiera Mylne : Slumber

: Progress - 13%

Evelyn J. Verlice : Slumber

: Progress - 9%

[Julien D. Evenus]

I waited for what felt like an eternity.

....The criteria were still unknown to me. I didn't know exactly what would increase the percentage, nor did I know what it did. So far, the percentages were still rather low, and I was happy to see that none of them rose in the time that I was gone.

Who knows what would've happened in the time that I was gone?

'It seems like everything is under control for now.'

But I knew that it was only for now. The situation was going to without a doubt, turn more serious and riskier further down the line and whatever I was seeing right now was merely an illusion to make me feel safe.

'So stressful.'

I leaned back on the wooden chair and blankly stared at the ceiling of the room.

My mind was filled with all sorts of thoughts. So much so that I didn't notice the subtle knocking coming from the door.

To Tok

It wasn't loud, and thus I wasn't able to hear it the first time.

To Tok!

But it became a lot more clear to me the second time as I turned to look in the direction of the door.

'Who could it be?'

I didn't think it was any of the cadets given how exhausted everyone was.

That meant only one real possibility.

'The Royal Guards?'

Indeed, if it was them, then it would make sense that they would come visit. At least, if they heard of what happened during the incident.

"Haa..."

I sighed again.

'....And here I wanted to have a break.'

I guess I was never allowed to rest.

To Tok!

"I'm coming. I'm coming."

Seeing how impatient the person standing outside was, I had no choice but to hurry to the door and open it.

Clank!

"Yes, please give me a moment to change. I only just got here and I need to"

My thoughts stopped at the sight that greeted me behind the door.

With shoulder-length black hair, a height that was just about the same as mine, deep black eyes, and looks that could be said to be otherwordly, a woman stood in front of me with an expressionless look.

"...."

In silence, I observed the woman in front of me.

She looked about to be my age, but there was something about her that felt vaguely familiar.

But what exactly?

What...

"Ah."

And then I realized.

"You..."

I looked at the young girl in front of me with open eyes.

"....You're Delilah, aren't you?"

***

At the same time.

Megrail Estate.

"Brother."

Aoife walked ahead and greeted the man who stood before her. He was just like she remembered, and he seemed healthier than she had last seen him.

She sighed in relief at the sight.

'That's good. Just a little bit longer...'

Aoife pursed her lips as she put on a smile.

"How have you been, ki?"

'Ki' was the nickname her brother used to address her.

"I've been good."

Aoife answered with a smile. She was like a completely different person than how she showed herself on the outside.

.....This was more in line with her true personality.

She wasn't originally like this. In fact, there used to be a time when all the maids feared her due to her playful nature.

But that was all in the distant past.

Circumstances forced her to be the way that she was. She wasn't competitive by nature, and she was rather soft-

hearted, but the incident that took place a while back forced her to be obsessed with becoming stronger.

It was for that reason that she was so obsessed with the title of Black Star and her achievements.

The changes in her were noticeable for everyone to see, and Gael wasn't a big fan of it.

"You look paler than before. You're pushing yourself hard, aren't you?"

"It's okay. I'm only pale because of what just happened. You don't need to worry too much."

"....Right."

Gael nodded quietly, staring down at Aoife with his yellow pupils.

Aoife stared back without an ounce of fear. Had it been the past, she would've been scared of his gaze, but now...

Not so much.

He stared at her like that for a few seconds before eventually sighing.

"Alright, fine. You win."

Gael looked at her helplessly.

"....It looks like you also no longer take me seriously."

"Ah, no...!"

Aoife's expression changed as she suddenly turned extremely apologetic.

"That... I've just grown a lot. It doesn't have anything to do with what you're saying. I'm just"

Her words were cut off short by Gael who smirked at her in amusement.

"Still so gullible."

"...?"

It took a moment for Aoife to realize what had happened, and when she did, her face changed.

"You...!"

She had been tricked by him.

Her face turned red from embarrassment, and she raised her hand in preparation to hit him. She was just about to do that when all of a sudden, Gael's expression turned extremely serious.

It was to the point where Aoife found herself stopping whatever she was about to do.

"Actually, Aoife. I want to talk to you about something serious."

"Yes...?"

Aoife sat up straight.

What could her brother want?

Why did he look so serious all of a sudden?

For some reason, Aoife found herself swallowing hard as she prepared to hear what he had to say next.

Soon, Gael's lips parted open and Aoife felt her entire body tense. Especially since she felt a formless, almost oppressive aura rise up from his body.

It made her back tingle.

"You..."

He went on to say slowly,

"....Do you have a boyfriend?"

"Eh?"

***

It was hard to get used to the looks.

....I thought that I had gotten used to them, but staring at the young woman who walked alongside me, I found myself at a complete loss for words.

As if her every action had some sort of magnetic power to them, the gazes of all the people in the street turned to look in her direction.

Some would glance my way, but most would look in her direction.

"Wow, what the fuck."

"....Is this for real?"

"So beautiful."

I could hear the whispers of those around me. Hearing them, I grew somewhat uncomfortable.

"Remind me again why you're in this appearance?"

"Why not?"

Delilah replied, her deep black eyes looking around the bustling city of Bremmer in wonder.

"It has been a while since I've been here."

"Oh."

But that still didn't really answer the question.

I understood her not wanting to show up in her real appearance which was known to everyone. But couldn't she show up in her child form?

That would attract a lot less attention than right now.

"There's a few places that I want to go that won't allow me to enter in that form."

Well, that explained one mystery.

It still didn't answer the other questions.

For example,

"Can't you just change your appearance like you did with mine when I joined those from the Aurora Empire?"

Indeed, it was thanks to Delilah that I was able to join those of the Aurora Empire with different looks. Because illusions were easy to see through by strong people, Delilah used some sort of weird skill to completely change my facial structure.

It seemed like a pretty useful skill that she could've used for this situation.

"It's annoying."

Such was her answer.

Baffled, I looked at her, and could only follow from behind as she dragged me around the city. I didn't know what she wanted, but it seemed like she needed me for something.

"Let's go here."

Delilah pointed towards a certain cafe.

It looked pretty popular given the long line. I thought about asking why but gave up when I thought back to her previous answers.

'Looks nice.'

'....Why not?'

'It's pretty.'

I just followed without question.

"Welcome."

The barista greeted us on entry.

Delilah to be exact.

She may look like a younger version of herself, but her looks were undeniable. I paid the interaction no mind looked at the board and thought about what to order.

'Let's see... It looks pretty expensive.'

The prices were what I would expect from the capital.

Overpriced.

"Hm?"

I was just about to order something when I realized that Delilah was no longer next to me. Don't tell me that I lost her... When I looked around, I was relieved to see her in the sweet section.

"Is there something that you want?"

"Maybe this?"

Delilah pointed at the chocolate cake.

"Yes."

The barista seemed more than happy to help her as he retrieved a piece of the cake.

"No."

But he was stopped by Delilah who looked at the cake with narrowed eyes.

"All of it."

"Eh...?"

Delilah raised her head.

"I want all of it."

"...."

As expected, her obsession with chocolate and sweets existed in whichever form she was in.

I approached the barista.

"Can we have it to go?"

"Would you like it to go?"

"No."

"..."

Was I just ignored?

"By the way, are you from a big guild?"

"Yes."

"...!"

The barista almost shouted. If not for the fact that I glared at him before he could do so, he probably would've.

"Wow."

He whispered.

"No wonder you looked so pretty. Can I have your autograph later?"

"....Okay."

I had long lost my words and made my way toward one of the seats where I finally sat down and looked outside the window where people flocked the city streets of Bremmer.

At the same time, I kept glancing at Delilah who had also found her seat and was devouring her food. She was treating the slices of cake like chips with the way she was eating. She didn't even spare the crumbs that fell on the plate as she used her thumb to pick them up.

'I don't think I'll ever get used to this sight.'

But it wasn't like I didn't understand where she was coming from...

"Julien."

"Yes."

"Do you want some?"

Delilah offered.

I looked at her plate and shook my head.

"I'm good."

"Do you not like sweets?"

"No."

"I see, but you should try. It's good."

"No, and clean up your mouth."

Taking a tissue, I dabbed her mouth.

It was filled with crumbs.

"Here too."

There were crumbs all over.

"Just how are you eating...?"

I dabbed her cheeks.

How did it get there?

For some reason, I felt a sense of deja vu.

"Ah."

It was then that I recalled and pulled my hand away.

"Right, sorry. A habit of mine."

"....It's fine."

Delilah answered, looking down at the cakes.

"I don't mind."